yeovil at War
robert rendell collins
Died in Mesopotamia after the Armistice
Robert
Rendell Collins
was born in the
spring of 1896
in Yeovil, the
son of cellarman
Walter Rendell
Collins
(1867-1958),
originally from
Farnham, Surry,
and Yeovil-born
Emily Charlotte
née Beer
(1872-1930). In
the 1901 census
Walter and Emily
were listed at 4
Wellington
Street with
their two sons
Robert and
Frederick, aged
5 and 3
respectively,
and Emily's
mother Mary.
There would
later be another
son, Jack, born
in 1907.
In the 1911 census the family were still living at 4 Wellington Street; Walter was now working as a brewer's assistant, presumably just around the corner at Brutton's Brewery, while 15-year old Robert was employed as an ironmonger's assistant. most likely at Hill, Sawtell & Co of High Street.
During the Great War it is known that Robert enlisted in the 1st/4th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry but it is not known when. Indeed details of his military career are all but impossible to find, probably because he died after the Armistice.
The 1st/4th Battalion was formed in August 1914 in Lower Bristol Road, Bath as part of South-Western Brigade in Wessex Division. On 9 October 1914 the Battalion sailed from Southampton, landing at Bombay, India, on 9 November 1914. On 23 February 1916 it landed at Basra as part of 37th Indian Brigade, 3rd Indian Division. The Battalion remained in Mesopotamia for the rest of the war. On 5 May 1916 it transferred to 41st Indian Brigade. It is most likely that Robert was in Mesopotamia after this time. In March 1918 the Battalion was transferred to 56th Indian Brigade, which was attached to 14th Indian Division in September 1918.
Unfortunately there are no details available concerning Robert's death other than he died at the age of 23 on 24 December 1918 and is buried in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq - Grave XX.F.13. His name is recorded on the War Memorial in the Borough.
