The Spanish Flu on the home front

Mary Ann Elizabeth Hollins, my second cousin twice removed, was born in 1877 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. The second oldest child of William and Sarah Hollins (nee Wood). She had one older brother William (born 1875, Rugeley), one younger sister Harriet (born 1881, Rugeley) and three younger brothers Horace (born 1879, Rugeley), Charles (born 1884, Rugeley) and George (born 1886, Rugeley)

Her father William was the well-known local band master of the territorials for over 50 years and had worked at the Phoenix Tannery for the same length of time. The family home was on Queen Street, Rugeley and like most families in Rugeley had suffered losses during the War.

Her older brother William, had moved to Coventry and was working on munitions after being in the old volunteers. Horace had been killed in France in 1916 serving with the Royal Welch Fusiliers. Charles had been discharged before 1916 and George had just been awarded the Military Medal for bravery whilst serving in the Royal Engineers. Harriet’s husband, James Fisher had been killed during the attack on the Hohenzollern redoubt in Oct 1915, One the first men from Rugeley killed in action.

Mary married Frederick John Williscroft on the 11th April 1898 in Rugeley, their first child, also called Frederick John was born a year later in 1899. Mary and Frederick had six more children, Edith Mary (born 1901), Horace William (born 1902), Elsie Hannah (born 1906), Sarah Lillian (born 1909), Harriet (born 1912) and Leslie (born 1913)

Frederick worked as a labourer at the Stokes and Negus Phoenix Tannery along with Mary’s father. In 1911 Frederick and Mary were living next door to her parents
He had enlisted with the 6th North Staffordshire Regiment on the 30th July 1914. At 5ft 8 ½ inches and 35 years 10 months old.

Fred Williscroft

Frederick was discharged from the army on September 28th 1914 due to being medically unfit.

During the summer and autumn of 1918, the second wave of the Spanish flu pandemic swept across the world. It infected some 500 million people around the world and resulted in the deaths of 50 to 100 million (3-5% of the world’s population). Most influenza outbreaks disproportionately killed the young, elderly or people with existing underlying conditions. In contrast, the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic predominately killed previously healthy young adults.

Although under reported in Britain, Germany, France and the United States due to war time censorship and the need to maintain morale at the front, nowhere was safe. On the 11th October 1918 the Lichfield Mercury reported that

“An epidemic of influenza raging in Lichfield and all the schools, with the exception of the high school, have been closed”

Two weeks later on the 1st November 1918 the Lichfield Mercury reported

“The Lichfield mercury reported on the influenza epidemic that was causing acute anxiety in Lichfield. Worries about the epidemic caused many schools to be closed in the city and the outlying villages; so many cases had been reported that a lack of nursing staff soon became evident.

A number of reasons had been put forward to account for the rapid spread of the disease in Lichfield, which included overcrowding in homes, with medical staff soon realising that the disease spread more quickly in such circumstances and the rate of mortality was higher. The lack of milk “an essential food in all cases of illness”, was another problem faced by the medical authorities in the city and a number of people suggested the setting up of an invalid kitchen in Lichfield where nourishing foods could be obtained either free or at a nominal cost.”

It was during this period that Mary Williscroft, aged just 41, died from pneumonia after catching influenza during the Spanish flu epidemic. She left behind her husband Fred and their seven children.
Fred Williscroft re-married on 19th June 1919 to Florence Jane Gould (Nee Eccleshall) at St. Augustines Church, Rugeley. Florence’s husband Joseph Gould had passed away aged 29 in January / February 1919.

For gallantry and devotion to duty under fire

On the 6th September 1918 my second cousin twice removed George Hollins, who was serving as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers was awarded the Military Medal.

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

Lost at the Somme

William Herbert Hollins (My third cousin once removed) was serving as a Lance Corporal with the 7^th Battalion Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry. He had enlisted in November 1915 and had been out in France since April 1916.

He was the oldest son of William and Amy Hollins (nee Saunders) and in 1916 he was just 19 Years old. His father William was working on munitions and his uncles had all joined up. Horace had been killed in April1916, Charles was still serving and George had just re-enlisted in the Royal Engineers after coming home following serving with the 6th North Staffords. His two aunt’s husbands - James Fisher, had just been killed at Hohenzollern Redoubt in October 1915 and Fred Williscroft had been discharged from the army in August 1914.

William Herbert Hollins

The battle of the Somme began on the 1^st July, with heavy losses for the attacking British forces including his half first cousin Albert Hollins. The battle dragged on throughout the following weeks and months into one of terrible attrition.
 

The 7^th DCLI were positioned in the ‘Brompton Road’ Trench, near Guillemont, which they had moved into on the 21^st August, having relieved the 3^rd Rifle Brigade and 12^th Royal Fusiliers who had ‘gained and retained’ the railway station’ after heavy fighting. They remained in this frontline trench under heavy bombardment with significant German counter attacks occurring on the 23^rd and 24^th August. The net was closing around the village and the Germans were desperate to retain this high ground, throwing artillery and ‘bombs’ at the Brompton Road line.  The DCLI’s final engagement in this area involved a heavy bombardment and follow up attack by the enemy who were targeting the supply lines to the frontline.

Bombarding the supply lines and DCLI HQ which was situated in and around the Station, plus an advance on the Brompton Road. Again the attack was repulsed and finally on the 25^th August the DCLI were relieved from the frontline and returned to Carnoy (3 miles South West of Trones Wood for R&R. 

Throughout this ‘rest’ period, the 7^th Battalion were repeatedly marching back to this sector at night to repair and rebuild trenches. The weather is noted as atrocious with persistent storms and heavy rain.

On the 29^th of August, the DCLI once again moved forward and relieved the 10^th Rifle Brigade. They had just completed a 9 hour fatigue (trench repairs) and were immediately moving straight back into action. New trenches had been dug and immediately attracted enemy fire, such that when the DCLI came up to take occupancy they found very little cover, many dead or wounded and the trenches literally ‘knee deep’ in mud.

This would have been William’s final experience as no sooner had the DCLI completed the relief of the frontline, the enemy shelling started once again.

The Battalion War diary for the night of the 30^th/31^st August reads as follows:

“Very wet night. Men very tired, many of the men developing a form of trench foot. Incessant bombardment in support and reserve trenches. Many tear or lachrymatory shells used by Hun in this area. Bombardment so heavy and general that attack by enemy was expected but did not materialise.”

It can be assumed that William lost his life during this bombardment, and due to the poor weather and terrain it’s not difficult to understand why his body remains unidentified or indeed lost.

Guillemont Station (Sept 1916)

This would have been directly behind William as he fought in the Brompton Road Trench.

William is commorated at the Thiepval Memorial on Pier and Face 6B. On the same panel are 5 comrades from the 7^th Battallion who were listed as killed on the 31^st August.

L.Cprl Edgar Fuller 15592 Age 25

Pte Ernest Came 22316

Pte Ernest Hazel Griggs 17455

Pte Archie Smith 24477 aged 27

Pte James Herbert Tullett 24347

The Coventry Evening Telegraph reported the news of William’s death on Saturday 23^rd September 1916

Mr & Mrs W. Hollins, 11 Francis Street have received official notice that their son Corpl. W.H. Hollins 23942, Duke of Cornwall LI was killed in action in France on August 30^th last. He enlisted on Nov 30, 1915 and was in France four months. Previous to joining the colours he was employed at Messrs. Matherson, Huxley and Watson Ltd.

The following notice appeared in the Coventry Evening Telegraph on the 30^th August the following year and the year after that.

Hollins – In Loving memory of Lance Corporal William Herbert Hollins, DCLI who was killed in action in France August 30^th 1916. Deeply mourned by father, mother, brothers and sisters.

He sleeps not in his native land,

But under foreign skies,

And far from those who loved him best

In a hero’s grave he lies.

With thanks to Stan Hollins who provided the original research.

At 12.30 Gas was heard

Sergeant Horace Hollins (My second cousin twice removed) was serving with the 10^th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers and on the 30^th April 1916 Horace was in the trenches at Kemmel, Belguim.

Originally from Rugeley, Staffordshire he had served in the Boer War and on his return had married Emily Leader in 1904 and then moved to Coventry working as an Iron Moulder.

Horace Hollins

The battalion war diary details the events of the early morning of the 30th April 1916.

War Diary – 10^th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers 30^th April 1916

Kemmel Trenches

At 12.30 gas was heard hissing from the cylinders and the cloud seen. Rapid fire was at once opened. Alarm gongs and Strombos horns were sounded. Gas was by far the thickest opposite our right at E.1, where the trenches were only 35 to 40 yards apart. Some men were gassed at this point before they could get their helmets properly adjusted, but in the main helmets were perfectly satisfactory.

The Germans had difficulty in leaving their lines, and only at one point did a few enter our trench, coming through the gap on our right into E.3, but they retreated when met by Lieut. Piercy and a few bombers. Capts. Bell and Follit took up the supporting platoons from Regent St. Dugouts, and by 1.21 the gas had cleared, and the situation was well in hand.

The gas came over in two waves. Regent St. Dugouts, Pall Mall, and Piccadilly were fairly heavily shelled, the barrage being just behind Regent St. Dugouts and the head of Regent St.

The Brig. Gen. was at Kemmel Shelters, and was in continuous communication with O.C> 10^th R.W. Fus.

As we had about 26 casualties and 50 cases of men suffering from gas, a company was asked for to reinforce Regent St. Dugouts, and one company to garrison G.H.Q. line at Lindenhoek in case the enemy renewed his attack.

When it got light some dead were seen near the enemy’s parapet, and two wounded were actually brought into our trench for purposes of indentification. Our heavy artillery must have done good work, as the Germans were not able to advance in large numbers, and their communications to the rear were being shelled by our lighter guns. Meanwhile 12” shells fell into their lines.

The remainder of the day was quiet. In the evening about 10pm the gas alarms were heard on our right, and the alarm was taken up by us. E trenches reported no gas; F trenches reported very slight, which subsequently turned out to be a mistake, arising from clouds of smoke from bursting shells and trench mortar bombs.

Note: It is extremely difficult under these conditions to judge whether gas is present or not when helmets are worn. During the evening trench F.5 was taken over by 1^st G. H., we leaving two Lewis guns and one bombing squad.

Casualties :

Killed - 5 O.R.

Killed (Gassed) - 3 O.R.

Wounded - 2/Lt E. Vaughan and 24 O.R.

Wounded (Gassed) - Capt. E.W. Bell, 2/Lt E.W. Edwards and 45 O.R.

From Commonwealth War Graves Commission website

The eight soldiers killed were:

Lance Corporal H Dudley (aged 21)

Pte. J.T. Fisher

Pte. T harries (aged 21)

Pte. Michael Hester (aged 30)

Pte. Francis Valentine Horton (aged 27)

Pte. Charles Shepley

Pte Frank Sigley (aged 25)

And

Sgt. Horace Hollins (aged 37)

He left behind his wife, Emily, who at the time of Horace’s death had moved back from Coventry and was living back in Rugeley at 73, Queen Street and his two children Harold (aged 10) and Mabel (aged 8)

All eight are buried in Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetry in Belguim, which is located about 9 Kms south west of Leper on a road connecting Leper to Kemmel.

It is not known which three were killed by gas.

Horace's death was reported in the local papers of both Rugeley and Coventry.

26^th May 1916 – Lichfield Mercury

Rugeley sergeant killed in action. Information has been received that sergeant Horace Hollins, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, has been killed in action. Sergeant Hollins was a reservist. He joined the Grenadier Guards in 1900 and fought in the Boer War. On the outbreak of the present war he joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers and was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant. He is the second son of bandmaster Hollins, of Rugeley, who has served upwards of fifty years with the colours. He was for 37 years in the old volunteers. Bandmaster Hollins has had 4 sons and 2 sons in law, all of whom have answered their countrys call. Sergeant George Hollins, 1/6 th North Staffords, has just returned from the front, his time having expired. Charlie has been discharged and William, who was a member of the old volunteers, is now working on munitions. A son-in-law Private Jim Fisher, was one of the first Rugeley men to be killed in action, and his other son in law has been discharged from the army.

Coventry Telegraph

Coventry Military Band

Sergeant Hollins Killed

Seventeen members of the Coventry Military Band are serving with the colours, and of those Sergt. Horace Hollins has been recently killed in action. Corpl. W. Owen, another member, was the first of the bandsmen to be wounded.

Sergt. Hollins came from a military family. His father has thirty-seven years of military service to his credit, and all his brothers have served as volunteers, Territorials, or Regular soldiers. His younger brother has recently come to Coventry for munitions work after thirteen months of active service in France. His brother in law was killed in action a short time ago while rescuing wounded comrades. Sergt. Hollins served through the South African campaign and shortly after the outbreak of the present war was called to the colours and rejoined his old regiment the Grenadier Guards. He then served as instructor in several depots, and finally went to the front with the 10^th Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He was home on leave a month ago, and was killed on the Sunday following his return. In his early career he was a bandsman in the North Staffordshire Regiment, serving with his father and three brothers. When he came to Coventry he joined the Coventry Military Band, and played with them for twelve years. He was very popular among local bandsmen, and by his straightforwardness and honesty of purpose earned the respect and good wishes of all his associates. He leaves a widow and two children.

Horace is also remembered on the Ancient Order of Foresters role of honour memorial in Rugeley and the Rugeley war memorial.

Ancient Order of Foresters Memorial - Rugeley

His second cousin and my Great Uncle Edward Hollins sounded the Last Post when the Memorial was first dedicated.

Returning home to Rugeley

On the 10^th April 1916 Acting Sergeant George Hollins returned home to Rugeley, his time in the army having expired. George had been serving in the 1/6^th North Staffordshire Regiment arriving with the rest of the Territorials in France on the 5^th March 1915 originally as a private before being promoted to acting sergeant.

George Hollins

George Hollins (my second cousin twice removed) 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 was serving with the Royal Welch Fusiliers and had been out in France since September 1915, William had been a member of the old Territorials and was now working 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 13^th October 1915 during the assault on the Hohenzollern redoubt.

George had married Emily Mary Hiley in 1907 at St. John the Baptist, Armitage. 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.

Band of Brothers

On the 27th September 1915 Horace Hollins, my 2nd cousin twice removed, arrived in Boulogne, France with the 10th Royal Welch Fusiliers.

Horace was born in 1879 in Rugeley, Staffordshire to William and Sarah Ann Hollins (nee Wood). He had one older brother, William (born 1875) and two younger brothers, George (born 1886) and Charles (born 1884) as well as two sisters, Mary Ann (born 1877) and Harriet (born 1881). Both Mary Ann and Harriet were married, to Fred Williscroft and James Fisher respectively.

The family had a military background, Horace’s father; William had served in the army for 37 years as a colour sergeant and in the territorials and was well known in Rugeley as the local military band master. All his brothers and brothers in law played in the band and all had answered their country’s call out the outbreak of war.

Horace himself had previously been a solider with the Grenadier Guards, enlisting in 1900 and serving throughout the Boer War. Shortly after the outbreak of the Great War he re-joined his old regiment serving as an instructor in several depots before joining the Royal Welch Fusiliers as a Sergeant.

Horace had married Emily Leader (Born Rugeley 1882) in 1904 at St. Augustine’s church, Rugeley. They moved to Coventry shortly afterwards, where Horace joined the Coventry Military Band. They had two children Harold James (born 1906) and Mabel (born 1908). By 1911 Horace was working as an Iron Moulder and the family were living at 1 Francis St, Foleshill, Coventry.

His elder brother William had also moved to Coventry around the same time as Horace and was also working as an Iron Moulder (Motor parts) and was living with his wife Amy (nee Saunders) and his seven children (another son was born in 1912) at 11 Francis St, Coventry.