WORLD WAR I

The residents of Collyweston were asked to serve. Men and Women of every age and every class joined did their bit for the war effort.

Farms produced food for the soldiers, women and children made things like blankets. It is noted in the Minutes of Parish Council meeting 20th July 1916 mentioning names of men over military age eligible to act as Parish Constable.

Collyweston's men signed up for military service to fight. Many were sent to Flanders in Belgium.

Unfortunately Flanders campaign saw some of the most intense fighting of the entire war. Official records taken from the WWI monument in St Andrew Church show that 12 of men did not return.

Known details of these men are detailed below.

List of Collyweston residents who gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWI for all of our freedoms today

Alfred Baxter

Son of John & Emma Baxter, Town Street, Collyweston

Remembered with Honour

Second-Lieutenant William Collins Close

Son of Robert Henry and Emma Close, of Geeston House, Ketton, Stamford, Lincs.

3rd Bn. attd. 6th Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment

Died 20th March 1917 aged 20

Remembered with Honour – Arras Memorial

Rifleman Quintin Wilfred Edgar Hand

Born Collyweston Feb 9th 1894 and baptised at St Andrew’s Nov 11th 1894 son of Mary Anne Barnett Hand.

Grandson of Frederick & Elizabeth Hand of Collyweston Road, Collyweston

Service Number C/4663 17th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps

Died 26/04/1918 aged 24

Remembered with Honour – Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery

Private Walter Hand - Military Medal

Son of William & Caroline Hand, Collyweston

Service Number 27038 1st Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Died 03/05/1917 aged 19

.Remembered with Honour - Arras Memorial

Private Harry R Hull

Son of John Hull of Easton-on-the-Hill, husband of E Blesset (formerly Hull) of Orlingbury, Wellingborough

Service Number 20881 7th Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment

Died 12th June 1916 aged 28

Remembered with Honour – Ration Farm (La Plus Douve) Annexe

Private Frank Bruce

Son of John William and Sarah Bruce of Pilsgate Grange, Stamford

Service Number 315031 16th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment

Died 12th July 1918 aged 23

Remembered with Honour - St Venant-Robecq Road British Cemetery, Robecq

Arthur Nicholls

Born 1894 son of Alfred & Eliza Nicholls of The Lane Easton

Remembered with Honour

Charles Nicholls

Born 1859 son of Alfred & Eliza Nicholls of The Lane Easton

Remembered with Honour

Private Arthur Scott

Son of Henry and Sarah Scott, husband of Olive Emma Smith (formerly Scott) of Hall Yard Collyweston

Service Number 17255 7th Bn., Northamptonshire Regiment

Died 27th September 1915 aged 38

Remembered with Honour - Loos Memorial

Private George Wimpset Smith

Born 1889 son of Frank & Ada Smith, Cuckoo Lodge, Collyweston

Service Number 58572 6th Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment

Died 18th September 1918 aged 29

Remembered with Honour - Vis-en-Artois Memorial

Corporal George H Wright

Service Number 10398 6th Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment

Died 21st July 1917

Remembered with Honour - Essex Farm Cemetery

Private Thomas Wyles

Son of Jeremiah & Eliza Wyles , Collyweston and later Thornhaugh

Service Number 16841 "B" Coy. 7th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment Died 14th July 1916 aged 20

Remembered with Honour - Thiepval Memorial

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

A thank you to Dr Chris Brookings and Sandra Johnson for their work in compiling this information.