COLLINS, William Henry

William Collins was the son of John and Emily Collins of 12 Hopyard Lane, Sedgley. He enlisted in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and was sent to the 11th Battalion. This unit had been based at home from 1915 to 1918 and on the 5th May 1918 was sent to the Western Front. The situation there was critical and even this inexperienced unit was called to action. It went to the Flanders front near Kemmel and was involved in the final defence against the third German Spring offensive. The enemy were halted but the cost was high. Private William Collins was killed in action on the 20thJune. He was 22 years of age and is buried in Meteren Military Cemetery (V B 584) and commemorated on the Sedgley Memorial. His brother Alfred was killed in action in 1916.