 |
| George Hollins |
The Military medal was awarded to other ranks for "acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire".
The local newspaper - The Lichfield Mercury reported the news
Friday 6th September 1918 Lichfield Mercury
The Military Medal has been awarded to Sapper Hollins, Royal Engineers, Queen St. Rugeley. The medal was awarded to Sapper Hollins for fetching a dead man under heavy fire. He has received the congratulations of his commanding officer upon his gallant action. Sapper Hollins went out with the local territorials in March 1915, coming home a sergeant and home expired man in March 1916. In June of …, he voluntary re-enlisted with the Royal Engineers and went out to the front in the following December, and has been out there ever since. He is the son of Bandmaster Hollins and before joining the army was a bricklayer. His brother Sergeant Horace Hollins, Royal Fusilliers has been killed in action.
George Hollins was the youngest child of William and Sarah Hollins (nee Wood) and was born in 1886 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. He had 3 brothers; William (born 1875), Horace (born 1879) and Charles (born 1884) and two sisters Mary Ann (born 1877) and Harriet
(born 1881).
Horace had served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers and had been out in France since September 1915 and had been killed in April 1916, William had been a member of the old Territorials and now worked on munitions and Charles had been discharged from the army. Mary Ann’s husband Fred Williscroft had been discharged from the army in September 1914 and Harriet husband James Fisher had been killed on 13th October 1915 during the assault on the Hohenzollern redoubt.
George had married Emily Mary Hiley in 1907 at St. John the Baptist, Armitage and in 1911 they were living at 24 Queen Street, Rugeley with their had two children George (Born 1908) and Sarah (Born 1911), with George working as a bricklayer.
At that time (1911) most of George’s family were living close by. His parents William and Sarah lived at 64 Queen St, with his sister Harriet, his brother Charles lived at 45 Queen Street and his sister Mary Ann was living at 66 Queen St with her family.
George's father, William, was a well known local bandmaster and all the family were members of the local territorial band.
George’s wife Emily had lost two brothers in the War
Fred Hiley was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, he had been born in Rugeley and had enlisted in Lichfield. He died of his wounds on the 22nd July 1916 and his buried in the Languenesse (St.Omer) Saivener Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
The Lichfield Mercury reported the loss on Friday 4th August 1916
Mr & Mrs Wm. Hiley, of Queen Street, Rugeley, have been notified that their son Pte. Fred Hiley of the Lincolnshire Regiment, died on the 23rd July from wounds received in action on the previous day. Pte Hiley was the 3rd North Staffordshire Regiment (Militia) when the war was declared, and in mobilisation was transferred to the Lincolns, with whom he went to the front in June 1915. Was a single man 20 years of age. He was previous to being called up working the town as bricklayers labourer.
Her other brother, William Hiley was serving as a Private with the 1/6th North Staffordshire Regiment, he was born in Rugeley and his parents lived at 90 Queen Street just a few doors from George & Emily. He was killed on the 9th September 1917 and is buried at Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France
The Lichfield Mercury reported the death on Friday 2nd November 1917
Mr & Mrs Hiley, Queen Street, Rugeley, have received official notification that their elder son, private William Hiley, Staffs Regiment has been killed in action. Private Hiley who was 22 years of age, joined the forces with his territorial battalion at the commencement of the war and proceeded to France in February 1910 (typo 1916?) in a letter of sympathy to his parents, the officer commanding his company writes “His death was instantaneous, so therefore painless. Your son served under for the last 17 months. During this period, I have always found him a hardworking, conscientious and courageous solider, always willing, cheerful under all circumstances and making his comrades cheerful too. He is be proud and you by your great sacrifice, have also helped the great cause as your son has done in paying the supreme sacrifice by giving him for his country’s sake. Private Hiley’s youngest brother Private Alfred Hiley was killed in France in August.
The 1/6th Battalion war diary for the 9th Sept 1917 mentions very little and does not record and casualties for the day
In the line – General routine – Enemy very active on reserve line and tunnel exits otherwise nothing to report
Both Hiley brothers are remembered on the Rugeley War memorial – alongside George's brother, Horace Hollins and Brother in Law, James Fisher.
 |
| Rugeley War Memorial |
No comments:
Post a Comment