COLLINS, John

John Collins was born in Dudley and lived at 190 Queens Cross. He was living in London during the first part of the war and enlisted in the Army Service Corps as a driver in a M T section. He transferred to the Middlesex Regiment later in the war and in 1918 was attached to the 19th Battalion of the London Regiment. They were in the 47th Division and experienced a great deal of action in that year. At tits start the Battalion was stationed near Cambrai and the Hindenburg Line, facing the first German Spring offensive on the 21st March. Without serious casualties they were forced back over the old Somme battlefield and through High Wood where they had fought so bravely in 1916 to Albert. In August they were in the old Amiens defence line when the advance to victory began. On the 22nd they attacked the enemy in strength and with tanks. The German forces were ready with artillery and the gains were limited. However, the great 'hundred days' had begun and victory was in sight. Private John Collins was killed on this day and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois and Dudley Memorials.