This section of the website contains a comprehensive list

of those with the Collett name who lost their life

during the First World War

 

The information has been extracted from the

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register

 

According to these records a total of 157 Collett men died during the war, comprising 112 from the British Army, 16 from the Royal Navy, 3 from the Royal Flying Corp/Royal Air Force (including New Zealander Captain Clive Franklyn Collett), 11 from Australia, 11 from Canada, and 4 from New Zealand.

 

Each list is in alphabetical order by Christian name and wherever possible additional information has been added in italics after the military details.

 

So far it has been discovered that there were three sets of two brothers who lost their lives during the campaign.

 

Up to September 2017 only eighty-three of the deceased have been identified as being members of the Collett Family Lines displayed on this website and against each entry there is a cross-reference to the appropriate line.

 

 

 

BRITISH ARMY

 

Name

 

Rank

Regiment

Date of Death

Collett, A

Lance Corporal

7616

The King’s Royal Rifle Corps

15 December 1916

Collett, A E

Driver 845344

Royal Field Artillery

11 September 1917

For further details of A E Collett – the only son of Alfred Ernest Collett

see Part 39 – The Clanfield Oxfordshire Line (Ref. 39Q1)

Collett, A F

Private 235569

Leicestershire Regiment

27 May 1918

Collett, Albert

22 years

Private 16326

1st Battalion South Midland Division Royal Warwickshire Regt

5 September 1916

 

Albert was born in 1894 at Bidford-on-Avon in Warwickshire and his name is listed on the Bidford-on-Avon War Memorial.  A detailed account of the Battle of the Somme in which he lost his life can be found on www.bidfordwarmemorial.co.uk

Albert was the husband of Marie Collett of 122 Golden Hillock Road, Small Heath in Birmingham, the son of Jack and Ellen Collett, and the cousin of Albert Henry Collett (Ref. 57A/P15) of Armscote [below].  He died during the Battle of Guillemont on the Somme and was buried at La Neuville British Cemetery in Corbie – see historical note below.

For further details of Albert Collett and his family

see Part 57 - The Bakers of Abbots Morton in Worcestershire Line (Ref. 57A/P7)

 

La Neuville Cemetery in Corbie is situated a few miles east of Amiens in the Somme department of France.  The vast majority of the graves are of officers and men who died of wounds received during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

 

Collett, Albert Edward 31 years

Driver T/327134

 

Army Service Corps

9 November 1918

Albert Edward was born at Leeds in 1887 and was buried at Leeds Cemetery.  He was the husband of Margaret Collett of 67 Esplanade Kaiti Gisborne in New Zealand and the son of the late Albert and Ellen Collett of Armley in Leeds.  Albert’s brother had been killed during the previous year – see William Lawton Collett (Ref. 36R78).

For further details of Albert Edward Collett and his family

see Part 36 - The Leeds Line (Ref. 36R2)

Collett, Albert Henry 20 years

Private 265814

Royal Warwickshire Regiment

25 July 1916

 

Albert Henry was born in 1896 at Armscote in Warwickshire and in 1901 was living at Cleeve Prior in Worcestershire.  He was the cousin of Albert Collett (Ref. 57A/P7) of Bidford-on-Avon [above], and his name appears on the Thievpal Memorial – see later historical note.

For further details of Albert Henry Collett and his family

see Part 57 - The Bakers of Abbots Morton Worcestershire Line (Ref. 57A/P15)

Collett, Albert Henry 37 years

Private 203515

Worcestershire Regiment

19 August 1917

Albert Henry was the first child of the marriage of George Henry and Sarah Collett of Bredon near Tewkesbury, where he was born in June 1880 and where he was working as a navvy in 1901.  His father was also born at Bredon, while his mother came from Westmancote near Bredon.  He was buried at the White House Cemetery in St Jean-les-Ypres, grave ref. II.A.26.

For further details of Albert Henry Collett and his family

see Part 5 - The Tewkesbury Line (Ref. 5Q10)

Collett, Albert Herbert 41 years

Lance Corporal 23199

Royal Warwickshire Regt

16 September 1918

Albert Herbert was born in 1877 at London New Cross and was the husband of Florence Collett of 28 St Paul’s Road at Balsall Heath in Birmingham, and the son of Harry and Sarah Ann Collett.

Collett, Aldin (Alden)

Corporal 8103

 

7th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

11 April 1917

Alden was born in 1888 and was the son of Charles Collett of Chipping Sodbury.  He was buried at the Basra War Memorial in Iraq and his name appears on Panel 17

For further details of Alden Collett and his family

see Part 64 - The Gloucestershire Upper Swell Line (Ref. 64P54)

Collett, Alfred (T A)

19 years

Private G/71552

23rd Battalion

Royal Fusiliers

1 April 1918

Alfred of Hull was born there in 1898 and was the son of Isaac Collett and Mary Ann Gubby of 6 Waterloo Cottages at Harefield in Uxbridge.  His father Isaac Collett was born at Harefield 1866 and his mother at Southall, Middlesex in 1863.

Alfred was killed on the front line at Mesnil and was buried in the Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extension.  He is also listed here under the name of T A Collett.

For further details of Alfred Collett and his family

see Part 41 - The Middlesex Harefield Line (Ref. 41Q16)

 

The Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extension on the Somme was begun in July 1916, and used again as a front-line cemetery in 1918.

 

Collett, Alfred Ernest 33 years

Private 26826

Royal Fusiliers

 

13 November 1916

 

Alfred Ernest was born in 1883 at Kentish Town and was the son of Alfred and Amelia Collett of 15 Christchurch Avenue in Wembley.  Alfred Ernest’s father was born at Shudy Camps in Cambridgeshire during 1856.

Alfred’s name is on the Thievpal Memorial in the Somme department of the Picardy region of northern France – see historical note below.  His name is also included amongst those listed on a tablet in St Silas the Martyr Church in Kentish Town.

For further details of Alfred Ernest Collett and his family

see Part 70 - The Colletts of Shudy Camps in Cambridgeshire (Ref. 70P25)

 

The Thievpal Memorial was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and is the biggest British Battle Memorial in the world.  It was built between 1928 and 1932 and is sited just a few miles to the south-west of the village of Thievpal which was totally destroyed during the Battle of the Somme between 1st July and 4th November 1916. 

 

It contains the names of 72,000 British and South African soldiers who have no known grave.  Many of the Collett men listed here have their names included on this memorial.

 

Collett, Arthur

30 years

Private 23212

10th Battalion

Worcestershire Regiment

23 October 1916

Arthur R Collett was born at Worcester during 1886 and his name appears on the Thievpal Memorial.

For further details of Arthur Collett and his family

see Part 64 - The Gloucestershire Upper Swell Line (Ref. 64P22)

Collett, Arthur 24 years

Lance Corporal

7625

Cameron Highlanders

14 September 1914

Arthur was born at Totley in 1890 the youngest son of Charles and Mary Ann Collett of Ecclesall Bierlow, and the brother of Herbert Collett who was killed three years later in 1917.  Charles was born at Sandhurst in Gloucestershire in 1837, the son of Rebecca.

Collett, Arthur 19 years

Private 22658

The King’s Liverpool Regt

30 July 1916

Arthur was born at Liverpool in 1897 the son of Charles and Emma Alice Collett of 29 Earle Road, Edge Hill in Liverpool.  Charles was born in 1864, the son of Henry and Mary Collett of Liverpool.  Arthur’s name appears on the Thievpal Memorial.

Collett, Arthur Ernest 35 years

Private 25936

The Queen’s Royal West Kent Regt

4 October 1918

Arthur Ernest was born in 1883 the husband of Catherine Lillian Collett of 97 Sydney Road, Hornsey in London and the son of A & E Collett of 41 High Road, Wood Green in London.

For further details of Arthur Ernest Collett and his family

see Part 46 - The Charlton-on-Otmoor (Oxon) Area Line (Ref. 46P27)

Collett, Arthur J 31 years

Private G/4765

Middlesex Regiment

18 August 1916

Arthur J was born in 1885 at Fencott the son of William and Emma Collett of Charlton-on-Otmoor.  Tragically his father died during the two-week period between being notified of Arthur’s death and that of his older brother William who died on 5th September 1916 as, on that second occasion, he was referred to as “the late William Collett”.  Arthur’s name appears on the Thievpal Memorial - see brother William Collett (Ref. 46P46).

For further details of Arthur John Collett and his family

see Part 46 - The Charlton-on-Otmoor (Oxon) Area Line (Ref. 46P48)

Collett, Arthur Leigh 25 years

2nd Lieutenant

 

8th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

18 November 1916

Arthur Leigh was born at Victoria in Prince Edward Island, Canada, on 8th December 1890 and was buried at Grandcourt Road Cemetery in Grandcourt, Somme; grave reference B89see historical note below, while a brass monument raised in his honour can be found in the Church of St John the Evangelist on Prince Edward Island.  A tribute in the Toronto Star newspaper on 28th November 1916 recorded that Arthur Leigh Collett was a Rhodes Scholar in 1912-1913,and, according to his Attestation Paper completed on 13th September 1914, he was still a student at that time as well.

 

Grandcourt Road Cemetery is situated on the site of the Ancre Battlefield just north of Thievpal.  The struggle to take Grandcourt began on 1st July 1916 (the first day of the Battle of the Somme) and was secured during the night of 5th February 1917.  It was briefly taken back by the Germans between April and August 1918.  The cemetery contains the graves of 389 British soldiers and one from Canada.  A further 108 graves are unnamed.

 

Collett, Arthur Thomas 34 years

Private T/205129

The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regt

4 October 1917

Arthur Thomas was born in 1882 the husband of Beatrice E Collett of 26 Belgrave Crescent in Bath and the son of Mrs M A Collett of 6 Highbury Terrace in Bath.

His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial – see historical note below.

For further details of Arthur Thomas Collett and his family

see Part 31 - The Third Wiltshire Line (Ref. 31P4)

 

Tyne Cot Memorial is situated north-east of Ieper.  It is one of four memorials to those missing in the Belgian Flanders area of the Ypres Salient.  The memorial bears the names of 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known.

 

Collett, C E

Private 203086

Royal Warwickshire Regt

16 July 1918

Collett, Charles Edwin 41 years

Private 11143

2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regt

2 March 1916

He was actually Charles Ernest Lewis Collett who was born in 1875, the brother of Miss M Collett of 138 Fort Road in Bermondsey, London.  He was buried at St Sever Cemetery in Rouen - see historical below.

Charles Edwin’s sister was likely to be (Ethel) Maud Collett born in 1884 and they were two of the four children of Joseph and Jane Elizabeth Collett of St Mary Lode in Gloucester.

For further details of Charles Edwin aka Charles Ernest Lewis Collett and his family see Part 2 - The Secondary Line (Ref. 2P87)

 

The St Sever Cemetery at Rouen was primarily the burial ground for those servicemen that died in the many hospitals in the Rouen area.  It was extended in 1916 and contains over 3,000 commonwealth graves.

 

Collett, Charles Henry

Rifleman A/203226

The King’s Royal Rifle Corps

27 September 1917

His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Collett, C J

Sapper 452448

Royal Engineers

 

4 November 1918

For further details of Cecil John Collett and his family

see Part 3 – The Chedworth Line (Ref. 3P22)

Collett, Charles John 32 years

Sapper 6798

11th Field Company Royal Engineers

 

11 January 1915

Charles John who died in France has his name listed on The Touret Memorial at Le Touret Military Cemetery at Richebourg L’ Avoue - see historical note below.  He was born at Oxford in 1882 the son of Charles John James and Laura Alice Collett nee Aldridge. 

For further details of Charles John Collett and his family

see Part 37 - The Oxford City Line (Ref. 37P3)

 

Richebourg L’ Avoue is a village in the department of the Pas-de-Calais situated between Bethune and Lille.  The Touret Memorial commemorates 13,000 servicemen who were killed before 25th September 1915 who had no known grave.

 

Collett, Charles Robert

Private 55856

14th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers

2 September 1918

Collett, Charles William

Rifleman R/27208

The King’s Royal Rifle Corps

20 May 1917

Charles William’s name appears on the Arras Memorial – see later historical note.

Collett, Charles William

Sergeant 34173

Machine Gun Corps Infantry

7 May 1917

 

Charles William was born around 1896 in Kensington the son of the late Charles Collett and Sophia Faber (formerly Collett) of 40 South Row, North Kensington in London.  Charles senior was born at Kensal Green in 1865, the son of Henry Collett also of Kensal Green. The name of Charles William Collett name is included on the Neuville-Vitasse (London) Memorial reference XVI.L.7 – see historical note below.

 

Neuville-Vitasse is a village in the department of the Pas-de-Calais, five kilometres south-east of Arras.  The London Cemetery stands on the west side of the road to Arras in a shallow valley.

Neuville-Vitasse was attacked by the 56th London Division on 7 April 1917 and captured by the same Division on 9 April.  The village was almost entirely lost to the German Army at the end of March 1918 but was regained at the end of the following August. 

The London Cemetery was made by the 56th Division in April 1917 and was greatly extended after the Armistice when graves were brought in from other burial grounds and from the battlefields between Arras, Vis-en-Artois and Croisilles.

The casualty details are as follows: British 713, Canadian 23, Australian 11, making a total of 747 burials.

 

Collett, Christopher William 21 years

Private 9673

Royal Warwickshire Regt

15 May 1918

 

Christopher William was born in 1897 the son of Christopher and Rachel Collett of 36 Fair Green, Diss in Norfolk, where he was born.  He was killed in Mesopotamia and buried in the Baghdad North Gate War Cemetery in Iraq.

For further details of Christopher William Collett and his family

see Part 30 - The Third Suffolk Line (Ref. 30Q20)

Collett, Clarence Henry 27 years

Private 14/165

8th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment

14 July 1916

Clarence Henry was born in 1889 the son of Thomas and Rosa Collett of “Melksham” East Ella Drive, Anlaby in Hull.  The house name provides a clue to the origins of the family.  Clarence’s name appears on the Thievpal Memorial.

For further details of Clarence Henry Collett and his family

see Part 35 - The Melksham to Wisconsin Line (Ref. 35O73)

Collett, Cyril Frederick

Private 13375

 

Worcestershire Regiment

31 October 1914

 

Cyril Frederick died during the First Battle of Ypres and his name is included on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial – see historical note below.

For further details of Cyril Frederick Collett and his family

see Part 43 - The Staffordshire Line (Ref. 43Q71)

 

The Ypres Menin Gate Memorial is situated on the east side of the town of Ieper (formerly Ypres) in West Vlaanderen, Belgium.  It is one of four memorials to the missing soldiers in Belgian Flanders covering the area of Ypres Salient.  More information on this subject can be found on this website in the file entitled “Clive Franklyn Collett”.

 

Collett, Cyril Joseph 20 years

Gunner 162399

Royal Field Artillery

6 April 1918

Cyril Joseph was born in 1898 at Bicester and was the son Thomas and Mary Collett who were living at 191 Cowley Road in Oxford at the time of his death.  It seems very likely that Cyril’s father was Thomas Collett who was born at Bicester in 1879 who in turn was the youngest of five children of George and Fanny Collett – George having been born at Witney in 1846.

Collett, David

Private 6531

1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment

 

18 October 1914

David was the son of George and Amy Collett of 40 Harford Street, Lakenham in Norwich.  The name of David Collett appears on Panel 8 of the Le Touret Memorial – see historical note below.

For further details of David Collett and his family

see Part 18 - The Suffolk Line (Ref. 18P147)

 

The Le Touret Memorial was primarily established to commemorate the lives of 13,000 servicemen who died during the Battle of Loos from 1914 through to 25th September 1915 who had no known grave.

 

Collett, Denis

Private 45492

8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars

31 March 1918

Collett, E

27 years

Private G/2945

16th Battalion Middlesex Regt

23 October 1916

E Collett was born in 1889 and was the son of the late Mrs Emily Collett.  His name appears on the Thievpal Memorial.

Collett, Edmund

24 yrs

Private 35594

King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt

19 September 1918

Edmund was born in 1894 and was the son of the late Robert Collett and Agnes Catherine Collett of 21 Bradburn Street, Cheatham in Manchester.  Edmund’s older brothers Frederick Collett (Ref. 11P47) and Frank Collett (Ref. 11P48) were both killed earlier in 1915 and 1917 respectively, Frederick also a member of the King’s Own Royal Lancashire Regiment, with Frank serving with the Canadian Infantry.

For further details of Edmund Collett and his family

see Part 11 - The Welford-on-Avon Line (Ref. 11P52)

Collett, Edward John 31 years

Sergeant 12748

5th Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

1 May 1917

Edward John was born in 1886 at Appleford in Berkshire, the husband of Rose Elizabeth Collett of Bedford Road, Wilshamstead just south of Bedford and the son of James and Sarah Collett of Appleford.  Wilshamstead is today known as Wilstead.  Edward John was buried at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery at Saulty in Pas de Calais – Grave IX.F.II.  His name is also listed on the Wilstead War Memorial.

For further details of Edward John Collett and his family

see Part 34 - The Appleford Berkshire Line (Ref. 34Q20)

Collett, Ernest

28 years

Lance Corporal 7948

Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment

11 November 1914

 

Ernest was born in 1886, the husband of Ethel Emily Collett of 75 Pownall Road, Dalston in London.  His name appears on Panel 57 of the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.

Collett, Ernest George

Private 7646

 

First Battalion Wiltshire Regiment

12 March 1915

 

Ernest George Collett was the husband of Mrs E Townsend (formerly Collett) of 3 Gordon Gardens in Swindon and the son of William John and Ellen Collett of 13 Page Street (late renamed Beckhampton Street) in Swindon.  Another son also lost his life during the Great War – see also John Collett (Ref. 28P74).

Ernest was killed during the Second Battle of Ypres and his name appears on Panel 53 of the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.

For further details of Ernest George Collett and his family

see Part 28 - The Faringdon Line (Ref. 28P73)

Collett, F

Gunner 86413

Royal Garrison Artillery

10 October 1918

For further details of Frederick Collett and his family

see Part 35 - The Melksham to Wisconsin & Ontario Line (Ref. 35P52)

Collett, Frederick

Lance Corporal 8668

King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt

20 February 1915

Frederick’s name appears on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.  He was the elder brother of Frank Collett (Ref. 11P48) and Edmund Collett (Ref. 11P52) who also perished during the war, the latter also serving with the King’s Own Royal Lancashire Regiment.

For further details of Frederick Collett and his family

see Part 11 - The Welford-on-Avon Line (Ref. 11P47)

Collett, F G

Lance Corporal 23105

Machine Gun Corps Infantry

24 November 1916

For further details of Frederick George Collett

see Part 5 - The Tewkesbury Line (Ref. 5Q12)

Collett, Frederick John James

22 years

Corporal 242131

2nd / 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

28 August 1917

Frederick John James was born at Berkeley in 1895 and was the son of John and Elizabeth Collett of the Post Office Christchurch near Coleford in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.  Frederick’s name appears on the Wieltje Farm Memorial - B17.

For further details of Frederick John James Collett and his family

see Part 1 - The Main Gloucestershire Line (Ref. 1P19)

 

The Wieltje Farm Cemetery was made and used by fighting units (in particular by the 2nd/4th Gloucestershire Regiments) during the period from July to October 1917.  There are only 115 Commonwealth servicemen from the First World War buried or commemorated at this small cemetery. Ten of the burials are unidentified and there are special memorials to twenty casualties whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.  The site also contains the grave of one German soldier.

 

Collett, Frederick Victor

Private 20160

Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

10 June 1915

For further details of Frederick Victor Collett and his family

see Part 35 - The Melksham to Wisconsin Line (Ref. 35P75)

Collett, Francis William

Private 6300

1st Battalion Essex Regiment

 

6 August 1915

Collett, Frederick William 24 years

Private 2670

16th Battalion Middlesex Regt

1 July 1916

Frederick William was born in 1892 and was the son of Frederick William and Emma Collett of 26 Durban Road in Beckenham in Kent.  Frederick William Collett senior was a carpenter born in 1864 at Plumstead in Kent and in 1881 he was living at 61 Hudson Road in Plumstead the home of his widowed mother Sarah Collett who was born at Trottiscliffe in Kent in 1823.  Also living with them was his unmarried brother George R Collett, a driller, born at Deptford in 1857.

The day Frederick William Collett junior died, 1st July 1916, was the first day of the Battle of the Somme and during that first day almost 20,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen were killed.  His body was buried at the Auchonvillers Military Cemetery.

Collett, Frederick Yeeles 18 years

Private 45529

8th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

8 August 1918

Frederick Yeeles was the son of Daniel and Eliza Collett of 1 Poplar Cottages at Batheaston in Bath.  Panel 7 of the Vis-an-Artois Memorial bears his name along with 9,000 men who lost their lives in the final push for Victory in Picardy and Artois which ended with the Armistice on 11th November 1918.

For further details of Frederick Yeeles Collett and his family

see Part 21 - The Cornwall Line (Ref. 21b/D18)

Collett, George A

25 years

Private 134918

Royal Fusiliers

 

20 November 1920

George A Collett (who is listed incorrectly on the CWGC website as C A Collett), was born at Battersea in 1895, the son of Henry James and Harriet Elizabeth Collett of 31 Landseer Street in Battersea.

For further details of George A Collett and his family

see Part 41 - The Middlesex Harefield Line (Ref. 41Q6)

Collett, George F

Corporal 11942

 

7th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

10 February 1917

George F was buried at the Amara War Cemetery in Iraq; grave reference XXIX.B.1/40 and his name is one of those listed on the Cirencester War Memorial.

Collett, George

21 years

Private

Royal Fusiliers London Regiment

15 September 1916

George was born in 1895 and was the son of Charles John and Eliza Collett of 25 Station Road in Rickmansworth.  His name appears of the Thievpal Memorial.

Collett, George Cyril 19 years

Rifleman 52510

Royal Irish Rifles

 

2 September 1918

George Cyril was born in 1899 and was the son of W H Collett of Luddington just south-west of Stratford on Avon.  His name appears on Panel 9 of the Ploegsteert Memorial – see historical note below. 

For further details of George Cyril Collett and his family

see Part 11 - The Welford-on-Avon Line (Ref. 11Q17)

 

The Ploegsteert Memorial is situated a few miles south of Ieper (Ypres). It commemorates more than 11,000 British and South African serviceman who were killed during the war but have no known graves.  It forms part of the Berks Cemetery Extension named after the 1st/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment who set it up in June 1916.

 

Collett, George Edward Archie

Private 203402

1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt

9 August 1917

For further details of George Edward Archibald Collett and his family

see Part 35 - The Melksham to Wisconsin & Ontario Line (Ref. 35P53)

Collett, George Russell 21 years

Rifleman

1st Battalion The Rangers London Regiment

17 August 1918

George Russell was born in 1897 and was the son of William Russell and Elizabeth Collett of 82 Glyn Road in Clapton, London.  William Russell was born at neighbouring Clerkenwell in 1865 and his parents were William and Maria Collett.

William senior was born in 1835 at Limehouse in London and was a railway carman.  His wife Maria was born in 1843 in the City of London.  In 1881 the family was living at 8 Cloth Fair in St Bartholomew in London.  At that time the family was made up of son William Russell plus daughters Elizabeth born in 1869, Henrietta born in 1872, and Maria born in 1876, and sons George born in 1874 and Edward L born in 1880.

Collett, George William 16 years

Private 3279

Royal Warwickshire Regt

18 July 1916

George William was born in December 1899 at Newark and was the son of Joseph Collett and Elizabeth Combes.  He was killed at Albert Somme and his name appears on the Thievpal Memorial.

For further details of George William Collett and his family

see Part 2 - The Secondary Line (Ref. 2Q90)

Collett, H

Pioneer 288317

Royal Engineers

 

22 February 1918

H was buried at the Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery and his name is included on a brass plate in St Hildeburgh’s Church at Hoylake in Cheshire.  It was originally in Holy Trinity Church in Hoylake until it was demolished in the 1970s.

Collett, H A

Private 2780

1st Battalion Welsh Guards

 

5 March 1917

Collett, H E

Private G/51710

Royal Fusiliers

 

17 February 1917

Collett, Harold

Private P/6849

Royal Fusiliers

 

29 April 1917

Harold from Dudley was born there in 1879 the son of Thomas Collett of Bourton-on-the-Water and Annie Walker of London.  His name appears on Bay 3 of the Arras Memorial at Pas-de-Calais - see historical note below.

For further details of Harold Collett and his family

see Part 14 - The John Kyte Collett Line (Ref. 14O42)

 

The Arras Memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens is situated in the town of Arras and commemorates 35,000 British, South African and New Zealand servicemen who were killed between the spring of 1916 and August 1918.

 

Collett, Harold John 19 years

Rifleman S/9529

Rifle Brigade

 

14 November 1916

 

Harold John was born in 1897 and was the son of Thomas and Sarah Collett of 127 St Paul’s Road, Moseley in Birmingham.  His name appears on the Thievpal Memorial.

Collett, Harry

28 years

Private 39538

South Staffordshire Regt

29 October 1918

 

Harry was born in 1890 the husband of Nellie Collett of New Buildings in Wednesfield Road, Willenhall in Staffordshire and the son of Harry and Maria of Willenhall.  He is buried at Stagleno in Genoa and his name is included in the list on the Willienhall War Memorial.

Collett, Henry George 33 years

Private 267061

1st Bucks Battalion of the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry

9 October 1917

Henry George was the husband of Hannah Collett of 86 Watlands View at Porthill in Stoke-on-Trent and the son of Henry George and Alice Collett of Stoke-on-Trent.  He was buried at the Dozinghem Military Cemeterysee historical note below.

Henry George junior was born on 23.07.1884 and his wife Hannah Slater was born on 08.08.1889 both at Stoke-on-Trent.

For further details of Henry George Collett junior and his family

see Part 11 - The Welford on Avon Line (Ref. 11P63)

 

The Dozinghem Military Cemetery lies near Krombeke.  It contains over 3,000 graves and was one of three cemeteries set up by the troops when establishing casualty clearing stations in readiness for the July 1917 offensive.  The name given to each was very cryptic in that they where Mendinghem, Dozinghem, and Bandaghem.

 

Collett, Henry William Howell

Private 16019

The King’s Liverpool Regt

30 July 1916

Henry William Howell was the son of the Reverend William and Emily Collett of Ferney Queen’s Park in Chester.  His name appears on the Thievpal Memorial.

For further details of Henry William Howell Collett and his family

see Part 9 - The Aldsworth Line (Ref. 9O47)

Collett, Herbert

31 years

Private 235127

York & Lancaster Regiment

2 July 1917

Herbert was born in 1886 the husband of Clara Collett of Ecclesall in Sheffield, and the brother of Arthur Collett who was killed in 1914 aged 24.  The brothers were the sons of Charles and Mary Ann Collett of Ecclesall Bierlow.  The name of Herbert Collett appears on Bay 8 of the Arras Memorial at Pas-de-Calais – see historical note above.

Collett, Herbert Paris

Corporal 242048

7th Battalion of The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regt

23 May 1918

Herbert was buried in the Chauny Communal Cemetery at Aisne in France – 1.A.11

For further details of Herbert Paris Collett and his family

see Part 33 - The Bourton-on-the-Water Line (Ref. 33Q7)

 

The Chauny Communal Cemetery at Aisne in France was extended (The British Extension) after the Armistice and was made for the burial of remains brought in from the battlefields of the Aisne and from the smaller cemeteries in the surrounding countryside.

 

Collett, John

Sergeant 8108

 

D Company 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment

9 April 1917

John Collett of Stratton St Margaret was one of the two sons of William John and Ellen Collett of 13 Page Street (later renamed Beckhampton Street) in Swindon to be killed during the war - see also Ernest George Collett (Ref. 28P73).

John enlisted on 8th March 1908 and initially saw active service during the Boer War in South Africa and then in Gibraltar. 

He was buried at Neuville-Vitasse (London) Cemetery two days after the village of Neuville-Vitasse was attacked by the 56th London Division.  The village was secured by the same Division on 9 April 1917, the day John died.

For further details of John Collett and his family

see Part 28 - The Faringdon Line (Ref. 28P74)

Collett, John

Private 6017

2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

9 May 1915

John’s name appears on Panel 7/8 of the Ploegsteert Memorial.  The memorial forms part of the Berks Cemetery Extension named after the Royal Berkshire Regiment who set it up in June 1916.

Collett, John

20 years

Private

22nd Battalion Manchester Regiment

1 July 1916

John was born in 1896 and was the son of William John and Margaret Collett of 56 Carruthers Street, at Ancoats in Manchester.  His name appears on the Thievpal Memorial.  He was one of almost 20,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen to be killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Collett, John Elvin

Private 40682

Northumberland Fusiliers

11 February 1917

John Elvin’s name appears on Panel 2 of the Ploegsteert Memorial.  His brother Harry Collett (Ref. 36R27) lost his life as a seaman with the Royal Navy in 1916.

For further details of John Elvin Collett

see Part 36 - The Barwick-on-Elmet (Leeds) Line (Ref. 36R26)

Collett, John Ernest

Lance Corporal 13313

3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

11 December 1915

John Ernest was the son of John and Mary Ann Collett of the Market Place at Kineton in Warwickshire.

Collett, John G

Rifleman 323979

City of London Rifles London Regt

21 May 1917

John G’s name appears on Bays 9/10 of the Arras Memorial.

Collett, John Harry 38 years

Acting Bombardier 96570

Royal Garrison Artillery

18 August 1917

John Harry was born in 1879 the husband of Anne May Collett of 71 Battle Road, St Leonards-on-Sea at Hastings and was the son of John and Theresa Collett of Stanstead.

Collett, John Henry 24 years

Private 681125

22nd Battalion London Regiment

 

3 September 1918

John Henry was born in 1894 and was the son of John Henry and Mary Collett of 8 Salisbury Street, Jamaica Road at Bermondsey in London.

Collett, John William 20 years

Private 10253

South Lancashire Regiment

30 September 1916

John William was born in 1896 and was the son of John and Eliza Collett 10 of Lateward Road in Brentford.  His name appears on the Thievpal Memorial.

Collett, Joseph

Private 26885

10th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

25 March 1918

Joseph’s name appears on Bay 6 of the Arras Memorial.  His younger brother Sidney Frederick Collett (Ref. 15P17) died in 1917.

For further details of Joseph Collett and his family

see Part 15 - The Kenilworth and Coventry Line (Ref. 15P16)

Collett, Joseph George 38 years

Private 13538

Royal Warwickshire Regt

10 July 1916

Joseph George was born in 1878 the son of William Collett.  He was buried at the Khartoum War Cemetery

Collett, Joseph Henry

Private SR/584

Middlesex Regiment

1 July 1916

Joseph Henry’s name appears on the Thievpal Memorial and was another fatality of the first day of the Battle of the Somme.  He was born at Old Ford in Middlesex during 1874 and was the husband of Alice Emily Fulgoni and in 1901 they and their family were living at 83 Pritchards Road in Bethnal Green

For further details of Joseph Henry Collett and his family

see Part 50 - The London to New Zealand Line (Ref. 50P12)

Collett, Joseph McKennes 21 years

Private 200287

Royal Scots

 

12 October 1917

Collett, Louis Arthur

Private 16810

1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment

4 June 1916

Louis Arthur’s name appears on Bay 3 of the Arras Memorial. 

For further details of Louis Arthur Collett and his family

see Part 18 - The Suffolk Line (Ref. 18Q34)

Collett, Oliver Harold

Private 2179

9th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt

4 October 1918

Oliver Harold was the son of Henry and Elizabeth Collett 285 Bearwood Road at Smethwick in the West Midlands.

Collett, P A

Private M/338338

Army Service Corps

14 April 1918

Collett, Percy

28 years

Sergeant

Royal Warwickshire Regt

1 September 1918

Percy was born in 1890 the husband of Jessie Collett of 41 Enderby Road at Perry Common in Erdington, Birmingham and was the son of Mr & Mrs Herbert Collett.  Percy’s name appears on the War Memorial in Tehran.

Collett, Percy Frank

Private G/16220

12th Battalion East Surrey Regiment

30 June 1916

Percy Frank was buried at the London Rifle Brigade Cemetery at Comines-Warneton in Hainaut, Belguim.

For further details of Percy Frank Collett and his family

see Part 27 - The Harewood Yorkshire Line (Ref. 27Q5)

 

The London Rifle Brigade Cemetery is situated 800 metres from Ploegsteert and 15 km to the south of Ieper.  It was begun by units of the 4th Division in December 1914, and used by fighting units and field ambulances until March 1918. The cemetery owes its name to the 22 burials of the London Rifle Brigade of the 4th Division in Plot 3, made in January, February and March 1915.  The cemetery now contains 335 Commonwealth and 18 German burials of the First World War

 

Collett, Percy James 27 yrs

Private

South Wales Borderers

6 May 1918

Berlin South West Cemetery

Percy James was born in 1891 and was the foster son of Mrs E Harris 26 Sparkbrook Street in Coventry.  He was buried at the South West Cemetery in Berlin.

Collett, Peter

28 years

Private 20137

The King’s Liverpool Regt

25 September 1915

Peter was born in 1887 the son of Mrs Jane Cadman (formerly Collett) of 62 Junction Street at Ancoats in Manchester.

For further details of Peter Collett and his family

see Part 43 - The Staffordshire Line (Ref. 43Q29)

Collett, R

Corporal 1518

Machine Gun Corps (Motors)

16 April 1918

 

His name appears on a headstone in the cemetery at Voormezeele Enclosure No. 3, grave reference XIII.C.17.  The stone also provides the additional information that he was attached to 4 Battery of the Machine Gun Corps.

Collett, R

Rifleman 266415

Prince of Wales’ Own West Yorkshire Regt

4 May 1918

 

He was buried in Leeds Hunslet Old Cemetery.

Collett, Robert H

Private 049696

Royal Ordnance Corps

1 December 1919

 

Robert H was buried at Cologne Southern Cemetery and his name is included on the list on the Cirencester War Memorial.

Collett, Reginald Jack 31 years

Private 52926

8th Battalion

Royal Fusiliers

 

24 November 1917

Reginald Jack was born in 1892 the son of the late Henry and Harriet Collett of 65 Henry Street in Kenilworth.  He was killed during the early days of the Battle of Cambrai and his name appears on Panel 3/4 of the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval Nord in Francesee historical note below.

For further details of Reginald Jack Collett and his family

see Part 15 - The Kenilworth Line (Ref. 15N38)

 

The Cambrai Memorial is situated near the village of Louverval.  It commemorates the lives of 7,000 British and South African servicemen who died in the Battle of Cambrai lead by Sir Douglas Haig from 20th November through to December 1917.

 

Collett, Reuben Kemp 20 years

Rifleman 2806

1/6th Battalion

City of London Rifles, London Regt

14 November 1915

Reuben Kemp Collett was born at Camberwell on 10th August 1895, the fourth son of Reuben Collett of 114 Loughborough Park in Brixton by his wife Anna Eliza Higgins the daughter of Alfred Higgins.  He was educated at Bellenden Road High School in Camberwell and was a clerk before he volunteered and enlisted in September 1914.  He trained at Burgess Hill and served with the Expeditionary Force in France from March 1915.  He was seriously wounded in action at the Battle of Loos on 25th September 1915.  He died in New End Hospital in Hampstead, following which he was buried at the Hampstead Cemetery.  He also lost a brother during the war – see Sydney John Collett.

Collett, Robert H 31 years

Private 7644

First Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

9 May 1915

Robert H was born in 1884 and was the son of Mrs Elizabeth Ann Dance of 12 Midland Road, Watermoor, in Cirencester.  His name appears on Panel 17 of the Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais – see earlier historical note.

Collett, Ronald Frederick 21 years

Private 24228

2nd / 6th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment

29 September 1917

Ronald Frederick was born in 1896 and was a native of West Bromwich.  He was the son of Frederick Thomas and Ada Collett of 177 Heathfield Road at Handsworth in Birmingham.  Ronald was buried at Bridge House Cemetery near Ieper in Belgium – Ref. B21.

For further details of Ronald Frederick Collett and his family

see Part 57 - The Bakers of Abbots Morton Line (Ref. 57P14)

 

The Bridge House Cemetery is located 5km north-east of Ieper and was named after a farmhouse.  It was made by the 59th (North Midland) Division at the end of September 1917 and around the time that Ronald was killed.  All the graves but five are those of soldiers of that division, and all except one date from 26-28 September and the Battle of Polygon Wood.  The cemetery contains forty-five First World War burials, four of them unidentified.

 

Collett, Samuel

Private 7868

2nd Battalion

Worcestershire Regiment

14 November 1914

Samuel’s name appears on Panel 34 of the Ypres Menin Memorial.

Collett, Sidney Thomas 23 years

Private 2868

Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

23 July 1916

Sidney Thomas was born in 1893 and was the son of Edwin and Sarah Ann Collett of 50 Argyle Street off Iffley Road in Oxford.  His name appears on the Thievpal Memorial. 

For further details of Sidney Thomas Collett and his family

see Part 38 - The Oxford [Wolvercote] Stonemasons Line (Ref. 38P52)

Collett, Sydney

20 years

Private 18137

Royal Warwickshire Regt

28 January 1917

 

Sydney was born in 1897 and was the son of Mr Sidney and Mrs Charlotte Collett of Block 2 in Cook Street in Coventry.  He was buried at the London Road Cemetery at Coventry.  His older brother Joseph Collett died at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

For further details of Sidney Frederick Collett and his family

see Part 15 - The Kenilworth & Coventry Line (Ref. 15P17)

Collett, Sydney John 27 years

Private 42629

Lancashire Fusiliers

7 April 1918

Sydney John Collett was born at Camberwell in 1891 but later he came from Badsey near Evesham.  He was the third son of Reuben Collett of 114 Loughborough Park in Brixton by his wife Anna Eliza Higgins the daughter of Alfred Higgins.  His brother Reuben Kemp Collett had previously been killed in action during the war.  Sydney’s name appears on the Pozieres Memorial – see historical note below.

 

The Pozieres Memorial at Somme relates mainly to the crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied 5th Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefield.  The memorial commemorates the lives of 14,000 British casualties who had no known grave and who died between 31st March and 7th August 1918.

 

Collett, T

Private 9821

1st Battalion

Royal Warwickshire Regt

3 July 1917

T was the brother of Mr C Collett of 243 Catford Lane at Smethwick in Staffordshire.

Collett, T A

Sergeant G/61683

17th Battalion

Royal Fusiliers

4 May 1918

Collett, T A

19 years [see Alfred]

Private G/71552

23rd Battalion

Royal Fusiliers

1 April 1918

Collett, Thomas

21 years

Rifleman Y/1277

The King’s Royal Rifle Corps

14 November 1916

Thomas was born in 1895 and was the son of George and Alice Collett.

Collett, Thomas Edwin 33 years

Lance Corporal

F/670

Middlesex Regiment

28 July 1916

Thomas Edwin was born in 1883 the husband of Eliza Collett of 264 Pier Road at Gillingham in Kent.

Collett, Thomas Theodore 20 years

Second Lieutenant

3rd Company 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment

15 February 1917

Thomas Theodore was born in 1897 and was the son of the late Reverend Thomas Collett Vicar of Scotby, Carlisle and Maude Collett of 12 Garden Road in Tunbridge Wells.  Thomas was buried in Grove Town Cemetery at Meaulte in Somme, France.

For further details of Thomas Theodore Collett and his family

see Part 18 - The Suffolk Line (Ref. 18R1)

 

The Grove Town Cemetery contains 1,395 First World War burials and was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.  In September 1916, the 34th and 2/2nd London Casualty Clearing Stations were established at this location, known to the troops as Grove Town, to deal with casualties from the Somme battlefields. They were moved in April 1917 and, except for a few burials in August and September 1918, the cemetery was closed.

 

Collett, Thomas William

Private 2030

7th Battalion

The King’s Liverpool Regiment

16 May 1915

He was buried at Rue-des-Berceaux Military Cemetery in Richebourg-L'Avoue.

New information discovered in early 2017 has provided more details about Thomas William Collett from Liverpool who was the second child of Joseph Collett and Elizabeth Sweetland and, upon their wedding day at Liverpool in 1880, the bridegroom’s father was named as Richard Collett who, so far, has not been traced.  Thomas was 26 years of age when he was killed in action on the frontline, where his older brother Joseph Richard Collett was injured two days after, who was also serving with the King’s Liverpool Regiment.  At the moment, the origins of their family are not known, although brief details are set out in Collett Newsletter No 128 – February 2017.

 

Richebourg is a village and commune to the north of Bethune in the Pas de Calais district of northern France.  The Rue-des-Berceaux Military Cemetery was begun in January 1915, and used until February 1917.

 

Collett, William

28 years

Rifleman 306477

Prince of Wales’ Own West Yorkshire Regt

25 July 1917

William was born at Leeds in 1889 the son of Albert and Ellen Collett of Armley in Leeds.  His body was buried at the Coxyde Military Cemetery in Belgium.  His brother Albert Edward Collett died of his injuries towards the end of the following year – see Albert Edward Collett (Ref. 36R77)

For further details of William Lawton Collett and his family

see Part 36 - The Barwick-in-Elmet [Leeds] Line (Ref. 36R3)

 

The Coxyde Military Cemetery is today known as Koksijde.  In June 1917, Commonwealth forces relieved French forces on six kilometres of front line from the sea to a point south of Nieuport, and held this sector for six months.  Coxyde was about ten kilometres behind the front line.  The village was used for rest billets and was occasionally shelled, but the cemetery, which had been started by French troops, was found to be reasonably safe.  It became the most important of the Commonwealth cemeteries on the Belgian coast and was used at night for the burial of the dead brought back from the front line.

 

The cemetery was used again during the Second World War, chiefly for the burial of casualties sustained during the defence of the Dunkirk-Nieuport perimeter in May 1940.  The cemetery now contains 1,507 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, the French graves from this period having since been removed.  The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

 

Collett, William

28 yrs

Corporal 13189

11th Battalion Cheshire Regiment

3 July 1916

William was born in 1888 the husband of May Eleanor Collett of 20 Cemetery Road in Ipswich and the son of Mr & Mrs J Collett of 62A Churchgate in Stockport.  His name appears on the Thievpal Memorial.

Collett, William

Lance Corporal

73852

Gloucestershire Regiment

30 May 1918

William was the son of Sarah Collett of Bread Street in Stroud.

Collett, William

36 years

Private 12223

6th Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

5 September 1916

William was born at Fencott near Charlton-on-Otmoor in October 1880 and was the son of the late William and Emma Collett of Charlton-on-Otmoor in Oxfordshire.  Less than two-weeks earlier William’s brother had been killed – see Arthur J Collett (Ref. 46P48).

For further details of William Collett and his family

see Part 46 - The Charlton-on-Otmoor (Oxon) Area Line (Ref. 46P46)

Collett, William

Private 65691

61st Company Infantry Machine Gun Corps 

15 April 1918

William was born in Fulham and later lived at Leagrave in Luton.  His name appears on Panel 11 of the Ploegsteert Memorial.

For further details of William Collett and his family

see Part 49 - The Kirtlington to California Area Line (Ref. 49P9)

Collett, William

35 years

Private 29412

12th Labour Battalion Lincolnshire Regt

4 April 1917

William was born at Sheffield in 1882, the son of widow Mary Collett of 48 Freedom Street in Sheffield.  His siblings were John H (born 1874), George F (born 1875), violet (born 1877) and Francis (born 1879), all born in Sheffield.  In 1881 the family was living at 3 Burton Street in Nether Hallam, a parish within Sheffield.  Mother Mary Collett had been born at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire in 1851.

Collett, William Robert

32 years

Private 7790

First Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment

1 November 1914

 

William Robert was born in 1882 the husband of Mrs Collett of 171 Gloucester Street in Cirencester and the son of Robert Collett of 3 Quarry Villas at Stratton near Cirencester.  His name appears on Panel 22/34 of the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.

For further details of William Robert Collett and his family

see Part One - The Main Line 1800 to 1920 (Ref. 1P52)

Collett, William Alfred 21 years

Private 10237

2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regt

30 October 1914

William Alfred was born in 1893 and was the son of the late Joseph W Collett and Rose Blanche Collett.  His name appears on Panel 33 of the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.

Collett, William Edwin 21 years

Corporal 48324

C Battery 82nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery

27 October 1917

William Edwin was born in 1896 and was the son of Maria Collett of Nethercote Hill in Lacock near Chippenham in Wiltshire.  He was awarded the Military Medal and his name is amongst those on the Tyne Cot Memorial listed as ‘missing in Belgian Flanders’ during the Ypres Salient conflict.

For further details of William Edwin Collett and his family

see Part 62 - The Trowbridge to New Zealand Line (Ref. 62O25)

Collett, William H 23 years

Corporal 11239

3rd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

28 October 1918

William H was born in 1895 the son of Lewis and Selina Collett of Lillingstone Lovell in Buckinghamshire.  He was buried in the Lillingstone Lovell Cemetery.

For further details of William H Collett and his family

see Part 46 - The Charlton-on-Otmoor (Oxon) Area Line (Ref. 46P59)

Collett, W R

19 years

Rifleman S/20722

1st Battalion Rifle Brigade

18 May 1916

W R (William Reuben) joined the Rifle Brigade in June 1916 and was sent to the Western Front at the conclusion of his training and fought at St Eloi and the Somme.  He gave his life for King and country at the Battle of Arras and was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.

William Reuben Collett was born at Battersea, the youngest of the three surviving sons of Reuben John Collett and his wife Helen Eliza Collett of Battersea.  The family of five was residing at 75 Tasman Road in Stockwell, London in 1911 when William Reuben was 13.  His father was 44 and a compositor, his mother was also 44, and his two brothers were Leonard who was 21 and an engine tuner and George who was 18 and a machine manager for a printer, both born at Battersea.  In 1881 Reuben John Collett was 14 years old born 1867 at Lambeth in Surrey and was living at 74 New Road Battersea, at which time he was an apprentice compositor living with his widowed mother Emily Clara Collett, a tailoress of Lambeth.  His father Reuben John Collett was born at Lambeth in 1867, the son of Emily Clara Collett also of Lambeth and born there in 1840.

Collett, Walter Victor 19 years

Private 15221

10th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt

23 July 1916

Walter Victor was born in 1897 and was the son of George and Emma Collett of Blackwell north of Shipston-on-Stour in Warwickshire.  His name appears on the Thievpal Memorial.

For further details of Walter Victor Collett and his family

see Part 11 - The Welford Line (Ref. 11Q25)

 

 

ROYAL NAVY

 

Name

 

Rank

Regiment

Date of Death

Collett, Arthur Benjamin 26 years

Lieutenant

Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve

19 October 1918

Arthur Benjamin was born in 1892 at Great Yarmouth and was the son of James Collett of 2 Highfield Road in Cape Town, South Africa.  He was buried at Dunkirk Town Cemetery.  A further naval record states that Collett, Arthur B, Ty/Lieutenant, RNVR, out of Plumpton in Devon, died on 19 October 1918 when his ship hit a mine.

Collet, Charles Herbert 27 years

Flight Commander

Royal Naval Air Service

19 August 1915

Charles Herbert Collet(t) was born in Calcutta on 4th February 1888, the second son of James Francis Herbert Collett of ‘Woodleigh’ Westend, Millbrook, Southampton, late of the Public Works Department of the Government of India, an engineer, and his wife Teresa the daughter of Francis and Teresa Pilley.  He was educated at Elizabeth College in Guernsey and Dulwich College in London, and joined the Royal Marine Artillery on 1st September 1905.  He was promoted to Lieutenant on 1st July 1906 and transferred to the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corp in 1913 where he was gazetted Flight Commander on 23rd February 1915. 

At the outbreak of the war he served on the Western Front, taking part in the defence of Antwerp until the evacuation, and after at the Dardanelles.  He successfully carried out the first long distance air raid into enemy territory of the war, when he bombed the Zeppelin Sheds at Dusseldorf on 23rd September 1914.  Conditions were rendered very difficult by the misty weather, but Flight Lieutenant Collett flying a Sopwith tractor biplane made a long flight and dropped three bombs on the Zeppelin Sheds within 400 feet.  His plane was hit by one projectile but returned safely back to base.  During two sorties he was shot down, but on both occasions he managed to avoid capture and escaped to safety.

While in the Dardanelles he participated in the landing on the Gallipoli Peninsular on25th April 1915 and engaged with many hostile enemy aeroplanes.  It was four months later that he lost his life when he was taking off from Imbros Aerodrome, when at 150 feet, his engine cut out and the plane plummeted to ground and burst into flames.  He was buried at the Lancashire Landing Cemetery in Turkey.

While he was serving with the Royal Marine Artillery he received the DSO and was twice mentioned in Despatches.  While stationed at Royal Naval Flying School at Eastchurch he was the first officer of the Naval Air Service to loop the loop.  A further naval record states that Collet, Charles H, Flight Commander (Lieutenant, RMA), 3rd Wing, RNAS, died on 19 August 1915 as a result of an air crash at Gallipoli.

Collett, Ernest Harry 25 years

Leading Cooks Mate M/2997

Royal Navy

9 July 1917

Ernest Harry was born in 1892 the husband of Mrs F B Weeks (formerly Collett) of 6 Elm Terrace, Cobham Road at Strood in Kent.  He served and died on board HMS Vanguard and his name appears on the Chatham Naval Memorial reference 25.

For further details of Ernest Harry Collett and his family

see Part 39 - The Clanfield Oxfordshire Line (Ref. 39P19)

 

HMS Vanguard was a battleship and suffered an internal explosion while in Scapa Flow on 9th July 1917 killing all but 19 of her crew of 823.

 

Collett, Frank

Private PLY/10685

Royal Marine Light Infantry

13 May 1915

Frank served and died on board HMS Goliath and his name appears on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. 

 

HMS Goliath was a battleship torpedoed by a Turkish destroyer Muavenet-I-Millet off De Tott’s Battery in the Dardanelles on 13th May 1915 with the loss of 570 men.

 

For further details of Francis Ernest (Frank) Collett and his family

see Part 2 - The Secondary Line (Ref. 2P27)

Collett, Frederick James 21 years

Able Seaman J/46313

Royal Navy

17 October 1917

Frederick James was born in 1896 and was the son of Frederick Arthur and Amy Matilda Collett of 11 MacKenzie Road at Beckenham in Kent.  He served and died on board HMS Mary Rose and his name appears on the Chatham Naval Memorial reference 21.

 

HMS Mary Rose was a destroyer that was sunk on 17th October 1917 by the German cruisers Brummer and Bremes off the coast of Norway.

 

For further details of Frederick James Collett and his family

see Part 71 - The Lambeth and Bermondsey Colletts (Ref. 71Q16)

Collett, Frederick William 25 years

Able Seaman

SS/1669

Royal Navy

1 November 1914

Frederick William Collett was born in 1889 the husband of May A Collett of 41 Alfred Street at Kings Heath in Birmingham and the son of Frederick William Collett of Worcester.  He served and died on board HMS Good Hope and his name appears on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial reference 2.

 

HMS Good Hope was a cruiser attacked and sunk by two German cruisers the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau during the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile

 

For further details of Frederick William Collett and his family

see Part 56 - The Line of Thomas Collett of Alcester (Ref. 56P4)

Collett, Harry

23 years

Ordinary Seaman J/49879

Royal Navy

31 May 1916

Harry was born in 1893 the son of Benjamin and Lucy Ann Collett of The Gasworks at Gomersal in Leeds.  He served with HMS Shark and his name appears on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial reference 14.  HMS Shark was lost at sea in the Battle of Jutland.  His brother John Elvin Collett (Ref. 36R26) was killed in action at Flanders in February 1917.

For further details of Harry Collett and his family

see Part 36 – The Barwick-on-Elmet (Leeds) Line (Ref. 36R27)

Collett, Henry Willie 18 years

Boy 1st Class J/18135

Royal Navy

26 November 1914

Henry Willie was born in 1896 and was the son of William Thomas and Sarah Ann Collett of Corner House at Bletchingdon in Oxfordshire.  He served and died on board HMS Bulwark and his name appears on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial reference 3.

For further details of Henry William Collett and his family

see Part 38 - The Oxford [Combe] Stonemasons Line (Ref. 38q37)

 

HMS Bulwark was a battleship destroyed by an internal explosion on 26th November 1914 while loading ammunition at Sheerness.  Only 12 men survived the blast.

 

Collett, Jack

18 years

Air Mechanic 2nd Class F/20396

 

Royal Navy Air Service

11 December 1917

Jack was born in 1899 and was the son of Edwin and Fanny Collett of 1 Cornwallis Road in Walthamstow and served with HMS Airship C27.

For further details of Jack Collett and his family

see Part 21 - The Cornwall Line (Ref. 21Q118)

 

HMS Airship C27 was the second airship to be shot down in action.  On that fateful day three German seaplanes attacked the vessel bringing it down with the loss of all five crew members, including Jack Collett.  Airship C26 was subsequently dispatched to locate the downed sister ship but run out of fuel and came down in occupied Holland where the crew were interned for the remainder of the war.

 

Collett, John Francis

Able Seaman J/19404

Royal Navy

28 January 1916

John Francis Collett was the son of Mr William Henry & Mrs Ellen Collett of 50 Lawn Road at Hampstead in London and served with HMS Astraea.

For further details of John Francis Collett and his family

see Part 2 - The Secondary Line (Ref. 2Q31)

Collett, John Henry 32 years

Private PLY/14601

Royal Marine Light Infantry

31 May 1916

John Henry was born in 1884 the husband of Katherine T Collett of 6 Bishop’s Buildings in Exeter and the son of Andrew and Sarah Collett of Knightcote near Leamington Spa.  John Henry’s name appears on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.  A further naval record states that Collett, John H, Private, RMLI, 14601 (Ply), of HMS Indefatigable died on 31 May 1916 when his ship was sunk during the Battle of Jutland.

For further details of John Henry Collett and his family

see Part 49 - The Kirtlington [Oxon] to California Line (Ref. 49P6)

Collett, John William 19 years

Ordinary Seaman

SS/16825

Royal Navy

5 June 1916

John William was born in 1897 the son of Harry and Annie Collett of 23 Kent Road in Southsea.  He served and died on board HMS Hampshire and his name appears on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial reference 14.

 

HMS Hampshire was a cruiser that, on 5th June 1916, hit a mine off the Orkney Islands with only 12 survivors.  A passenger on board the vessel was British Commander-in-Chief, Lord Kitchener, age 66, who was travelling to St Petersburg for a meeting with the Czar of Russia and his Generals to try to persuade them to remain in the war against Germany.  Only a small number of men survived and they were instructed to say nothing of the night’s event, for fear of creating panic at the loss of Lord Kitchener.

 

For further details of John William Collett and his family

see Part 55 - The Wakefield & Leeds Line (Ref. 55R23)

Collett, Leonard

33 years

Leading Seaman

23971

Royal Navy

1 January 1915

Leonard was born in 1882 the husband of Elsie Louisa Collett of 42 Cornwall Road at Handsworth in Birmingham and the son of the late Mr & Mrs Collett of Wimbledon.  He served and died on board HMS Formidable and his name appears on the Chatham Naval Memorial.  He was awarded the Messina Medal.

 

HMS Formidable was a battleship that was sunk off Portland Bill by a torpedo from the German submarine U-24 on 1st January 1915 resulting in the death of 547 men from her crew of 780.

 

Collett, N C

Probationary Flight Officer

 

Royal Navy Air Service

29 January 1918

 

N C was buried at Bromley, Plaistow in Kent grave reference A95.  A further naval record states that Collett, Norman C, Ty/Py/Flight Officer, Royal Naval Air Service died on 29 January 1918 in an air crash in the United Kingdom.

For further details of Norman Charles Collett and his family

see Part 51 - Descendents of the Gloucestershire Line (Ref. 51Q5)

Collett, Robert William 24 years

Stoker 1st Class

SS/111186

Royal Navy

3 September 1917

Robert William was born in 1893 and was the son of George and Sarah Collett of Islington.  He served with HMS Pembroke and he was buried at Islington Cemetery.  A further naval record states that Collett, Robert W, Stoker 1c, SS 111186 (Ch), HMS Pembroke died on 3 September 1917during the bombing of Chatham Naval Barracks.

Collett, William Alfred

Private CH/1902 S

 

Royal Marine Light Infantry

28 April 1917

William Alfred’s name appears on Bay 1 of the Arras Memorial.  A further naval record states that Collett, William A, Private, RMLI, S 1902 (Ch), RND, 1st RM Battalion, died on 28 April 1917 when he was killed in France.

For further details of William Alfred Collett and his family

see Part 18 – The Suffolk Line (Ref. 18Q147)

 

ROYAL FLYING CORPS & ROYAL AIR FORCE

 

Name

 

Rank

Regiment

Date of Death

Collett, Clive Franklyn

Captain MC and Bar

Royal Flying Corp

23 December 1917

Clive Franklyn was the son of Horace and Alice Collett of New Zealand and was buried at Comely Bank Cemetery in Edinburgh grave reference K903. 

See Part 62 – The Trowbridge to New Zealand Line (Ref. 62O36)

and separate web file entitled Clive Franklyn Collett

Collett, Ernest Joseph

Private 328156

Royal Air Force

1 July 1919

 

Ernest Joseph was buried at Blandford Cemetery in Dorset grave reference 62.

Collett, George

Leading Airman 76978

Royal Air Force

20 February 1919

George was the husband of Violet May Collett of 69 Clifton Street in Exeter and was buried at Exeter Higher Cemetery grave reference 40.

This is NOT George Henry Collett (Ref. 34Q10) of Barnstaple

 

 

AUSTRALIA

 

Name

 

Rank

Regiment

Date of Death

Collett, Arthur

32 years

Private 3703

Australian Infantry AIF

22 July 1916

Arthur was born in 1884 and was the son of Robert D and Grace Collett of Eldorado in Victoria.

Collett, Ernest Oswald 20 years

Bombardier 19618

Australian Field Artillery

28 September 1917

Ernest Oswald was born in 1897 and was the son of Ernest Augustus and Lucy Alice Collett of Hokitika, Ferncroft Avenue, East Malvern in Victoria and was buried at the St Sever Cemetery in Rouen – see historical note.

Collett, Frank

24 years

Private 1519

19th Battalion

Australian Infantry AIF

20 December 1915

Frank was born in 1891 at Sydney and was the son of the late Percy Collett and Elizabeth Gibbs (formerly Collett) of Burwood in New South Wales.

Collett, Gerald Arthur 28 years

Corporal 2363

Imperial Camel Corps

5 June 1917

Gerald Arthur was born in 1889 the husband of Emily E Collett of Balcarres in Royalist Road Mosman in New South Wales and was the son of George Edward and Helen Maud Collett.  His name appears on Panel 59 of the Jerusalem Memorial.

For further details of Gerald Arthur Collett and his family

see Part 22 – The Somerset & Wiltshire Line (Ref. 22P18)

Collett, Henry

21 years

Private 1519

24th Battalion Australian Infantry AIF

14 October 1915

 

Henry was born in 1894 and was the son of William Henry & Emily Collett of The Post Office at Maryborough in Victoria.  He was buried at the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac (grave ref. ID.19) – see historical note below.

For further details of Henry Collett and his family

see Part 8 – The Australia Main Line (Ref. 8Q3)

 

The Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac contains the known graves of eleven New Zealanders including nine who served with the Australian Imperial Force in Turkey.

 

Collet, Herbert

26 years

Private 605

Australian Imperial Infantry Force 25th Battalion

4 August 1916

Herbert Collet(t) born in 1890, the son of Fernand Louis Collet and Marie Ines Collett of Pozieres, Mawbray Road, Chatswood, NSW.  He was buried in Grave IU17 at Becourt Military Cemetery at Becordel-becourt.

Collett, John Montague

Private 5967

Australian Infantry AIF

27 November 1916

John Montague Collet(t) was a native of Linkwood Park, Table Cape in Tasmania and was the son of John Thomas and Anne Collett of Armytage in Victoria.  He was buried at the Plymouth Efford Cemetery.

Collett, Joseph Wilton 20 years

Private 4161

Australian Infantry AIF

6 March 1917

Joseph Wilton was born in 1897 and was the son of Joseph William and Lucinda Collett of Ulmarra, Clarence River in New South Wales and was buried at St Sever Cemetery at Rouen.

For further details of Joseph Wilton Collett and his family

see Part 12 – The Oxfordshire Chipping Norton Line (Ref. 12P6)

Collett, Percy Philip 22 years

Trooper 3414

Australian Light Horse

11 April 1918

Percy Philip was born in 1896 a native of Appin in New South Wales and was the son of Arthur and Rebecca Jane Collett.  He was buried at the War Cemetery in Jerusalem.

For further details of Percy Philip Collett and his family

see Part 20 – The Suffolk to Australia Line (Ref. 20Q30)

Collet, R S

Private 2782

Australian Imperial Infantry Force 35th Battalion

15 July 1917

R S Collet name appears on the Ypres Menin Gate, panel 7, 17, 23,, 25, 27, 29, 31

For further details of Robert Stratfold Collett and his family

see Part 63 – The Collett-Stratfold-Collet Line (Ref. 63P6)

Collett, Wallace Edward 35 years

Private 2149

Australian Imperial Force

4 July 1919

Wallace Edward was born in 1884 the husband of Mrs Henrietta Collett of Summerhill and was buried in Sydney.

For further details of Wallace Edward Collett and his family

see Part 15 – The Kenilworth & Coventry Line (Ref. 15O12)

 

 

CANADA

 

Name

 

Rank

Regiment

Date of Death

Collett, Albert Edmond Gordon

24 years

Private 722088

Manitoba Regiment CI

28 August 1918

Albert Edmond Gordon was born in 1894 the husband of Elizabeth Collett of 26 Primrose Street at Manningham in Bradford and the son of John and Carrie Collett of Larkspur Farm at Winnipeg in Manitoba.

Collett, Ernest

20 years

Private 794068

2nd Battalion

Canadian Machine Gun Corps

8 August 1918

Ernest was born in 1898 and was the son of Mrs Robinson Collett of Eel River, Bridge North County in New Brunswick.

Collett, F

27 years (sic)

Private 808414

Alberta Regiment Canadian Infantry

3 June 1917

Frank was actually born in 1887 and was the son of the late Robert and Agnes Catherine Collett of 21 Bradburn Street at Cheetham in Manchester.  His grave is at the La Chaudiere Military Cemetery in Vimy.  His older brother Frederick Collett (Ref. 11P47) was killed in 1915 and his younger brother Edmund Collett (Ref. 11P52) was killed in 1918, both of them serving with the King’s Own Royal Lancashire Regiment.

For further details of Frank Collett and his family

see Part 11 - The Welford-on-Avon Line (Ref. 11P48)

Collett, F 29 years

Private 1037755

Canadian Forest Corps

6 December 1918

F was born in 1889 and was the son of James and Sarah Maria Collett of 226 Whitehorse Road in Croydon and was buried at the Croydon Mitcham Road Cemetery.

Collett, Frederick Percival

Lance Corporal 113143

Central Ontario Regiment CI

9 April 1917

Frederick Percival was the husband of Florrie Collett of 55 Dufferin Street at Barrie  in Ontario.

Collett, F T

Private 59187

2nd Battalion

Eastern Ontario Regiment CI

15 September 1916

Collett, F W

Sapper 2504079

Canadian Engineers

10 October 1918

Collett, H 31 years

Sapper 678245

6th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops

6 August 1917

H was born at Hadzor near Droitwich and was the husband of Mary Collett of 337 Dawlish Road at Selly Oak in Birmingham.  He was the son of Henry and Hannah Collett.

Collett, Joseph Clovis 23 years

Private 817032

New Brunswick Regiment CI

6 November 1917

Joseph Clovis was born in 1894 the husband of Myrtle Ethel Collett of Marsh Bridge at St John in New Brunswick and was the son of Mrs H Collett 19 Brunswick Street in St John.  His name appears on Panel 26/28 of the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.

Collett, Percy Stapleton 29 years

Private 817913

Eastern Ontario Regiment Princess Patricia’ C Light I

30 October 1917

Percy Stapleton was born in 1888 and was the son of the late George Alfred Collett and his name appears on Panel 10 of the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.

For further details of Percy Stapleton Collett and his family

see Part 18 – The Suffolk Line (Ref. 18Q9)

Collett, V

Private 412564

1st Battalion Western Ontario Regiment CI

13 June 1916

V’s name appears on Panel 10 of the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.

 

 

NEW ZEALAND

 

Name

 

Rank

Regiment

Date of Death

Collett, Charles William 42 years

Private 47622

Wellington Regiment NZEF

25 August 1918

Charles William was born in 1876 and was the son of Thomas George and Mary Ann Collett of Mangaroa in Wellington New Zealand. 

For further details of Charles William Collett and his family

see Part 6 – The New Zealand Line (Ref. 6P5)

Collett, George Herbert 24 years

Private 51256

Canterbury Regiment NZEF

3 December 1917

George Herbert was the son of James and Priscilla Collett of 3 Bond Street at Grey Lynn in Auckland New Zealand.  He was buried at Hooge Crater Cemetery, 4 kilometres east of Ieper.

For further details of George Herbert Collett and his family

see Part 58 – The Line of Henry Vine Collett (Ref. 58P24)

Collett, John Spowart 31 years

Private 8/3533

1st Battalion Otago Regiment NZEF

23 October 1918

John Spowart was the son of Samuel Collett and Marion Spowart of Irwell Street at Gore near Invercargill, where John was born.  He also served at Suez in Egypt, while his name appears on the Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial at Pas de Calais.

For further details of John Spowart Collett and his family

see Part 13 – The Stroud to South Africa & New Zealand Line (Ref. 13Q6)

Collett, Stanley Beaconsfield

37 years

Rifleman 25/1689

NZ Rifle Brigade

 

5 April 1918

Stanley Beaconsfield was born in 1881, the son of Henry and Rosa Collett of Chippenham in Wiltshire, and his name can be found at the Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension Number 1.

For further details of Stanley Beaconsfield Collett

see Part 62 – The Trowbridge to New Zealand Line (Ref. 62N26)

 

The Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No 1 contains 1,335 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also seven French and 13 German war graves from this period.  Doullens is a town in the Department of the Somme, approximately 30 kilometres north of Amiens on the N25 road to Arras.