Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Collington an agricultural labourer, born 1855 in Wymeswold, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Collington (nee Dawson, married 10th November 1881 in the Parish Church, Cadeby, Leicestershire), born 1855 in Cadeby, Leicestershire. John William was born 9th October 1884 in Wymeswold and baptised on the 7th December 1884 in Wymeswold, his siblings were, Annie Eliza, born 1882, Dawson Ethel, born 29th August 1887 and baptised on the 5th June 1892 in Wymeswold and Sarah Jane, born 13th November 1889 and baptised on the 5th June 1892 in Wymeswold, all his siblings were born in Wymeswold, in April 1891 the family home was at Brook Street, Wymeswold. In March 1901 John was absent from the family home at Wysall Lane, Wymeswold, residing there was his father, an agricultural labourer, his mother and siblings Sarah, Tom Wilfred, born 1892 and Herbert, born 1895, the latter two siblings were both born in Wymeswold, John was employed as a general servant and grazier and was residing at Brook Street, Wymeswold. In April 1911 John was absent from the family home at Mill House, Wymeswold, residing there was his father, a general labourer, his mother and brother Herbert, a general labourer, John was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India.
John attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 9 years with the Colours and 3 years in the Reserve on the 3rd March 1905 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Wymeswold, Loughborough, Leicestershire, his age as 20 years and 4 months and his trade or calling as labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He expressed a wish to enlist in the Grenadier Guards. He gave his father John, mother Sarah, brothers Thomas and Herbert and sisters Sarah Jane and Ethel all of Wysall Lane, Wymeswold, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 10¾ inches in height, weighed 171¾ pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 39 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had brown eyes. It was noted that he had a large irregular shaped mole below his left buttock and a linear scar on the outer aspect of his right wrist. His physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 5th March 1905 in Leicester. A follow up medical examination after six months service and a gymnastics course recorded his height as 5 foot 11 inches, his weight as 183 pounds, and he had a chest measurement of between 38 and 41½ inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 7662 on the 6/3/05. Posted to 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Colchester on the 1/7/05. Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on the 23/5/06. Embarked aboard S.S. Dongola on the 21/9/06. Posted to Belgaum, India on the 13/10/06. Appointed paid Lance Corporal on the 23/11/06. Awarded 1st Good Conduct Badge (without pay) on the 3/3/07. Reverts to Private on the 23/5/08. Posted to Madras, India on the 13/2/11. Embarked aboard R.I.M.S. Dufferin on the 21/11/12. Transferred to Section “B” Army Reserve on the 16/12/12. Enrolled into Section “A” Army Reserve on the 3/4/13. Confirmed Section “B” Army Reserve on the 17/12/13. Mobilized at Leicester on the 5/8/14. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 5/8/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 8/9/14. Landed at St. Nazaire on the 10/9/14. Appointed Lance Corporal on the 28/10/14. Promoted acting Corporal on the 30/7/15. Confirmed in rank of Corporal on the 5/8/15. Appointed paid Lance Sergeant on the 21/12/15. Transferred to Base on the 23/8/16. Joined 12th Infantry Brigade Depot in Calais on the 25/8/16. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 19/1/18. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 19/1/18. Joined the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 18/1/18. Killed in action, in the field on the 21/3/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 6/3/05 – 20/9/06, 1 year 199 days. India, 21/9/06 – 12/12/12, 6 years 83 days. Home Service, 13/12/12 – 8/9/14, 1 year 270 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 9/9/14 – 28/8/16, 1 year 354 days. Home Service, 29/8/16 – 18/1/18, 1 year 143 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 19/1/18 – 21/3/18, 62 days. Total service, 13 years 19 days. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by John’s mother Sarah Collington on the 29th August 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Claud H -?-, Vicar of Wymeswold, Wymeswold Vicarage, Nr. Loughborough, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, John Collington of Wysall Lane, Wymeswold, Loughborough. Mother of soldier, Sarah Collington of Wysall Lane, Wymeswold, Loughborough. Full blood brothers of soldier, Tom W. Collington, age 26, returned to Canada with his draft. Sergeant Herbert Collington, M.M., age 24 of 116th Heavy Battery, R.G.A. Full blood sisters of soldier, Ethel Littler, age 31 (Mrs. J. E. Littler) of 12, Bevis Road, Portsmouth. Sarah J. Brown, age 29 (Mrs. T. Brown) of 15, Eastwood Street, Bagnall.
A letter inside from John’s mother records:-
Wysall Lane
Wymeswold
Aug. 12.
Sir
I thank you kindly for sending me this disc of my son late J. W. Collington, No. 7662 it was the disc he worn tied on him through all his war life, I suppose it was sent from Germany.
Mrs Collington
This letter was received by Infantry Records, Lichfield and dated 13th August 1920.
John’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 21 Mar-18 - The Battalion were near VAULX. On the 20th March at midnight a telephone message was received from the Brigade Major ordering the Battalion to “Stand To” in battle positions at 5.30am on the 21st March in accordance with instructions laid down in the 71st Infantry Brigade Defence Scheme. At the time working parties were out as follows:- 6 officers and 216 other ranks from “B,” “D” and Headquarters Companies. 1 officer and 76 other ranks from “A” Company. 1 officer and 76 other ranks from “C” Company. Working parties were ordered to return by Brigade Major. At 4.30am “B” and “A” Companies left camp for the assembly area (I.3.C.) 5 officers and 110 other ranks strong. The working parties not having returned from work. At 5.30am the positions were taken up in the assembly area, “C” Company were already in position. A heavy bombardment commenced at 5.00am. Apparently the alarm this time was a genuine one. At 6.30am 6 officers and 216 other ranks of “B,” “D” and Headquarters Companies reported in assembly area. They had not returned too long from working parties (5.15am) and were somewhat exhausted, having marched five miles each way to work, and having done a heavy nights work. Some shelling of Battalion assembly area during the morning, but no casualties were sustained. No news was received from “A” Company whose battle position was 1 platoon in C.29.a. Company less one platoon in VAULX – MORCHIES line. At 7.30am wire received from Brigade advising that enemy were concentrating in CORN HILL VALLEY. At 9.30am Commanding Officer visited Brigade Headquarters and received verbal instructions to move 2 Companies owing to the enemy having driven in the left front of the Brigade sector. At 10.40am “C” and “D” Companies were ordered to move. Officer Commanding “C” Company to go to right Battalion Headquarters and place his Company at the disposal of the Officer Commanding 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT, and “D” Company to hold the trench running from LAGNICOURT SWITCH and C.29.b. 10.90 to C.29.b. 90.70 to cover the southern exits from LAGNICOURT, and trenches C.29.b. 90.70 to C.30.a. 30.80. The reasons for the move were that information had been received that the enemy was in LAGNICOURT, and these two Companies were sent forward to protect the left flank of the Brigade, as apparently LAGNICOURT SWITCH was not held and enemy had broken through, reaching C.28.b. 90.90 and the strong point C.29.a between 10.00 and 11.00am. At 10.57am “C” and “D” Companies moved off to take up their new positions. At 2.00pm nothing of note occurred in the vicinity occupied by Battalion Headquarters and “B” Company until at 1.40pm orders came from Brigade that “B” Company was to be ready to move into the VAULX - MORCHIES line and take up a position between LAGNICOURT – MARICOURT WOOD ROAD and VAULX WOOD. Order to move received at 2.00pm. At 2.10pm “B” Company moved off, followed immediately by Battalion Headquarters, move steadily carried out despite very heavy Machine Gun fire in the neighbourhood of VAULX WOOD. The Company and Battalion Headquarters reached the trench with comparatively few casualties. “B” Company took up a position rather too much to the left, but they arrived just in time to eject a few of the enemy who had managed to force an entry into the VAULX - MORCHIES line. The line was too thickly held on the left of our front, and very thinly on the right. Attempts made to side step to the right were fraught with difficulty owing to the trench not being continuous, and the gaps to cross when one had to go over the open were swept by Machine Gun fire and marked down by enemy snipers. No touch could be obtained with the troops on the right of LAGNICOURT – MARICOURT WOOD ROAD, owing to the fact there was no trench line for a considerable distance. At about 4.30pm a runner crossed this road with a message from the Officer Commanding 459th Field Company, saying they were holding the line on the right, but were, so far as they knew unsupported, as they had no touch with troops on either flank. At 5.30pm one Company of the 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT (25th Division) reported in VAULX - MORCHIES line, they were put in on left of Brigade sector. “B” Company side stepping to the right. Remainder of sector on right as far as LAGNICOURT – MARICOURT WOOD ROAD held by a portion of the 509th Field Company, and one Company of the 11th Battalion of the LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT (“C” Company commanded by Captain SPENCER). At 6.40pm orders were received from Brigade that Battalion Headquarters should move at dusk to Brigade Headquarters in VAULX, Brigade Headquarters is moving to H.12.d between VAULX and BEUGNATRE. At 8.00pm the move was completed Headquarters shared with 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT, 8th BORDER REGIMENT, 1st KING’S SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY, 2nd YORK AND LANCASTER REGIMENT and 1st EAST KENT REGIMENT (BUFFS). So far, no news at all of “A,” “C” and “D” Companies. One further Company of 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT had been put in the VAULX - MORCHIES line at dusk one immediately on each side of the LAGNICOURT – MARICOURT WOOD ROAD. At 8.30pm a runner arrived from “A” Company with the report that 1 platoon of “A” Company had been practically wiped out at strong point C.29.a during the morning. The remainder of the Company are in battle position in VAULX - MORCHIES line between CRUCIFIX - MORCHIES and C.29.a. 30.20 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT and 2nd SHERWOOD FORESTERS had also withdrawn to this line, and the disposition in the Brigade sector was:- right to left 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT “A” Company and “C” Company, 2nd SHERWOOD FORESTERS, 459th Field Company 9 men with a Machine Gun, “D” Company (right at MORCHIES - CRUCIFIX, left at C.29.c. 60.50), 2 Companies of the SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT, “B” and “C” Companies of the 11th Battalion of the LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT and 1 Company of the SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT. The left of the sector being in line with the North East corner of VAULX WOOD. The strengths of the various units and Companies as far as known at the present time, “A” Company 1 officer and 70 other ranks, “C” Company 1 officer and 37 other ranks, “D” Company 3 officers and 112 other ranks, “B” Company 4 officers and 110 other ranks, Battalion Headquarters 4 officers and 40 other ranks. 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT 120 all ranks, 2nd SHERWOOD FORESTERS 120 all ranks. Returns came up during the night and were sent to all Companies. Lieutenant G. MANSFIELD returned from leave and joined “D” Company. Lieutenant FRAMPTON 71st TRENCH MORTAR BATTERY joined our “D” Company. Casualties, other ranks “A” Company 6 killed, 22wounded, 24 missing, “B” Company 2 killed, 7 wounded, “C” Company 4 killed, 12 wounded, “D” Company 2 killed, 10 wounded, 1 missing. Officer’s killed, Lieutenant, Acting Captain J. H. HARBOTTLE, Lieutenant C. F. ATTER, Lieutenant C. T. LANCASTER, 2nd Lieutenant G. A. ROBERTS, 2nd Lieutenant N. G. FIDOE. Officer’s wounded Lieutenant C. H. WATSON, 2nd Lieutenant A. G. ESCUDIER, 2nd Lieutenant W. JONES. Officer’s missing Lieutenant J. O. VESSEY M.C., 2nd Lieutenant T. C. A. CLARKE.
On Friday April 19th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. – WYMESWOLD. – SGT. J. W. COLLINGTON KILLED. – Mrs. Collington, Wysall-lane, Wymeswold has received official news that her son, Sergt. J. W. Collington was killed in action on March 21st. Sergt. Collington was in the Leicester’s for thirteen years, six of which were spent in India. He served two years at the front, and was then returned to England as drill instructor. In January this year he again went to France and having completed his period of service on March 3rd, he expected to receive the usual long leave, but this was cancelled owing to the German offensive.