Introducing me.

[Laura11]

Hi I'm Laura from Durham. I joined your group yesterday so pardon any daft mistakes while I find my way around your v impressive site. I'm looking for WW1 soldiers. My 6 great-uncles (the Collins family) were born in Audenshaw, and lived in Ashton 1880's-1900's. I'm working on the thinking that they probably joined up to fight but I have absolutely nothing to go on. All I have is birth certificates, nothing else. Any suggestions will be gratefully received as I don't know where to start!

[Tim Bell]

Hi Laura,

Welcome to the forum.   

As a start, use the search function in the general forum with 'Collins Ashton'.  I found the 19th Casualty report for:-
16th sept.
pte 12589 john,broadhurst collins,5 windsor terrace,chapel lane,ashton on mersey
sent on convalescent leave.

Some of the people on the forum have amazing records that have helped me build some great personal history.  To assist them, it is best to specify as much detail as possible.

Good luck

Tim

[grimmy]

Audenshaw is in Ashton-Under-Lyne.

[Tim Bell]

Laura,

Try pte 29457 john collins,4 tate st,oldham.  He is shown on the 16th Database as having died (I think) on 23/4/17.

My enthusiasm to help led me to the wrong Ashton perhaps, and Oldham is still not the same place, but I hope the search function works for you.  If you list the first names, the more helpful members regularly astound new people like us.

Also try CWGC site.  There are 23 WW1 references to M/Chr Regt Collins.

Tim

[tonyrod]

HI LAURA, welcome to the forum,  just list their full names and  dates of birth and anything  else you have on them, we all have our different ways of searching,

[Wendi]

I agree with tony Laura,

HI LAURA, welcome to the forum,  just list their full names and  dates of birth and anything  else you have on them, we all have our different ways of searching,

Wendi 

[pete th]

Hi Laura, welcome to the forum. I hope you find what you're looking for   

Regards
Pete

[Laura11]

Thank you v much for the replies. More detail as suggested:
Parents:  1911 census shows Frederick and Mary Anne Collins living at 84 Burlington St,Ashton.
Can't find son no 1, Frederick 31 and a leather dresser.
No 2 Charles Richard 29 and a postman living in Oldham.
No 3 Alfred Arthur 27 lived in Audenshaw.
No 4 William Henry 24 living in Ashton, cotton cap packer.
No 5 Joseph 20 living at home, working in a cotton warehouse.
No 6 Ernest 15 living at home, working as a laundry hand.
Any thoughts about which regiment any of them may have joined? I have no family info- docs, letters,medals,anything. I've looked at CWGC but without any service details I'm stuck.What about WW1 War memorials in Audenshaw/Ashton- might there be a name there? They were Methodists so not in parish church memorials.

[Tim Bell]

FROM CWGC
COLLINS, CHARLES RICHARD

Rank:
    Serjeant
Service No:
    6762
Date of Death:
    27/09/1918
Age:
    36
Regiment/Service:
    King's Shropshire Light Infantry

    7th Bn.
Grave Reference
    E. 10.
Cemetery
    MORCHIES AUSTRALIAN CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Son of Frederick and Mary Ann Collins, of Ashton-under-Lyne; husband of Jessie Collins, of 1O, Simons Rd., Market Drayton, Salop.

[Tim Bell]

COLLINS, JOSEPH

Rank:
    Private
Service No:
    32584
Date of Death:
    28/03/1918
Age:
    27
Regiment/Service:
    Royal Army Medical Corps

    107th Field Amb.
Grave Reference
    VIII. E. 2.
Cemetery
    WARLOY-BAILLON COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

Additional Information:

Son of Frederick and Mary Ann Collins, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancs.

[Laura11]

Many thanks Tim for finding 2 of them. It's good to know where they are after all this time; I really appreciate this.
Laura11

[Tim Bell]

Laura,
I'm happy to have helped a little, despite my novice skills.  As we know two boys weren't in the Manchester Regt, it's likely others weren't necessarily in their City Regt.  A good starting point is probably the pay for websites like ancestry.  I use the subscription in my local library and have found individual's service records.  When you have this, you will have some new stepping stones.

This site and forum is great for Manchester Regt and some members have wide knowledge of other men of the City.  Equally, you can follow up your research on other units on http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php. The host site has extensive records on other units such as Kings Shrops.  There's a few Manch. experts there too.

If you find Manchester men, please let us know.

Tim

[Wendi]

Good work Tim    !

Laura for #1 son have you checked the death records ?

Wendi

[Laura11]

Thanks again to Tim and Wendi for suggestions and help. I've joined Ancestry.co.uk, KSLI website and looked at WW1 RAMC. Can you point me in the direction of learning about the Ashton Pals- would this be worth investigating? However, I'm just happy to know where 2 of the 6 are. V much appreciated. Laura.

[Tim Bell]

Laura,

I think this dismisses the Ashton Territorials propect http://ashtonpals.webs.com/gallipolisoldiers23rdjuly.htm

Keep hunting

T