Promenade
proper brummie kid
One of the many strengths of the Birmingham History Forum is the amazing number of images of old Birmingham. It was while trawling through these that I came across this entry for Cecil Street. See
Being the custodian of the WW1 database for the Worcestershire Regiment I wondered whether there were any hits on this street in any of the database records. This is what I found.
In 1918 or 1919 a 54-year-old widow, Emily Elizabeth Collins, moved into number 17 Cecil Street which I believe to be the house with the boarded-up windows in the photo in post 23. She must have been at the lowest point in her life.
Emily was born in Birmingham in about 1864 and about 1886 married Henry Collins – according to the 1911 census five of the couple’s six children had survived, Thomas Henry (b. 1889), Frederick (1890), Harry (b. 1895), Mary (b. 1896) and John (b. 1904).
The middle child, Harry Collins, was born on 5 August 1895 in Aston Road, Birmingham and was baptised a few days later in St Lawrence’s Church in the city. According to census returns the family was living at 7 back 33, Tower Street, Birmingham in 1901 and in 1911 at 12 House 2 Court, Bagot Street when Harry was working as a chemical worker in a dry soap factory. It is not known where the family was living between 1911 and 1918.
In about May 1914 Harry enlisted in the Army, in Birmingham, as a regular soldier and was posted to the Worcestershire Regiment as Private No 8855. When war broke out on 4 August 1914 he was still under training and did not cross to France with the original contingent of his Battalion. Harry eventually crossed to France on 2 November 1914 as part of a reinforcement draft for the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. He survived a number of significant engagements but was killed in action in the Arras sector on 28 April 1916 aged 21. His remains were never found and identified and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France.
The Regimental History of the Worcestershire Regiment takes up the story of what happened on 28 April 1916: - “The front line ran across a wilderness of mine craters and both sides were working feverishly on the construction of fresh mines. Shell-fire was incessant. On the first day there were several casualties (1 killed, 5 wounded) including the Medical Officer of the Battalion. That evening a minor enterprise carried out by two officers of the Regiment, Major A. C. Johnston (then Brigade Major) and Captain G. S. Briscoe, succeeded in establishing a post on the near lip of 'Broadmarsh Crater' a point previously unreached. The following day (April 28th) was broken only by sniping and bombing around the new post. Nothing much occurred until darkness fell. Then, at about 7.30 p.m. a terrific explosion shook the ground. A huge mine had been exploded by the enemy under the parapet near the left flank of the Battalion's line. A storm of firing followed as the enemy attacked. The new post at "Broad-marsh Crater" was overwhelmed, but around the fresh crater formed by the explosion the bombers of the 3rd Worcestershire fought stubbornly. The defence was inspired by 2/Lieut. J. D. W. McMichael and by Captain T. P. Muspratt who, although severely wounded, refused to leave his company, and continued in command during four hours of heavy fighting until the danger had passed. Captain Muspratt was awarded the M.C. [Military Cross] and Pte. A. G. Boothman, who showed great bravery in this fight, was awarded the D.C.M [Distinguished Conduct Medal]. The enemy seized the crater but their further advance was checked. Casualties, 3rd Worcestershire - 6 killed, 14 missing believed killed, one officer (Captain T. P. Muspratt) and 47 men wounded.”
Harry’s entry in the Arras Memorial Register reads: - “COLLINS, Private, HARRY, 8855. 3rd Bn. Worcestershire Regt. 28 April 1916. Age 21. Son of Mrs. Emily Elizabeth Collins, of 17, Cecil St., Newtown Row, Birmingham. His brothers Frederick and Thomas Henry also fell.”
His brother Frederick Collins had been killed in action on 1 April 1916 (four weeks before Harry) whilst serving with The Rifle Brigade and the eldest brother Thomas lost his life in Belgium on 25 April 1918 while serving with The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Thomas is the only one to have a known grave. Emily’s grief was not constrained to the loss of her three sons but also by the loss of her husband who died in late 1916/early 1917 at the age of 53.
In the 1939 Register Emily Collins was living with her married daughter, Mary Jackson, at 5 Blew Street, Birmingham. Emily lived to a ripe old age, dying in 1955 at the age of 92. However, it was a two-year period of her life between 1916 and 1918 that was to prove so traumatic.
I would be interested to know if anyone is able to find out more about the family or indeed correct my genealogical blunderings. I have looked at the Birmingham newspapers on the British Newspaper Archive and also searched the internet for any mention of the brothers being commemorated on a war memorial – unfortunately I drew a blank on both. The icing on the cake would be to uncover a photo of Harry.
Cecil Street and Ladypool Road : Newbie needs advice
I am trying to find information and preferably photos of my grandads shop in Ladypool Rd and our old house in Cecil St ,Hockley . I would like to fine some history of the Cecil St house, in particular a suicide that took place at sometime . Any leads or advice on how to proceed would be greatly...
birminghamhistory.co.uk
Being the custodian of the WW1 database for the Worcestershire Regiment I wondered whether there were any hits on this street in any of the database records. This is what I found.
In 1918 or 1919 a 54-year-old widow, Emily Elizabeth Collins, moved into number 17 Cecil Street which I believe to be the house with the boarded-up windows in the photo in post 23. She must have been at the lowest point in her life.
Emily was born in Birmingham in about 1864 and about 1886 married Henry Collins – according to the 1911 census five of the couple’s six children had survived, Thomas Henry (b. 1889), Frederick (1890), Harry (b. 1895), Mary (b. 1896) and John (b. 1904).
The middle child, Harry Collins, was born on 5 August 1895 in Aston Road, Birmingham and was baptised a few days later in St Lawrence’s Church in the city. According to census returns the family was living at 7 back 33, Tower Street, Birmingham in 1901 and in 1911 at 12 House 2 Court, Bagot Street when Harry was working as a chemical worker in a dry soap factory. It is not known where the family was living between 1911 and 1918.
In about May 1914 Harry enlisted in the Army, in Birmingham, as a regular soldier and was posted to the Worcestershire Regiment as Private No 8855. When war broke out on 4 August 1914 he was still under training and did not cross to France with the original contingent of his Battalion. Harry eventually crossed to France on 2 November 1914 as part of a reinforcement draft for the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. He survived a number of significant engagements but was killed in action in the Arras sector on 28 April 1916 aged 21. His remains were never found and identified and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France.
The Regimental History of the Worcestershire Regiment takes up the story of what happened on 28 April 1916: - “The front line ran across a wilderness of mine craters and both sides were working feverishly on the construction of fresh mines. Shell-fire was incessant. On the first day there were several casualties (1 killed, 5 wounded) including the Medical Officer of the Battalion. That evening a minor enterprise carried out by two officers of the Regiment, Major A. C. Johnston (then Brigade Major) and Captain G. S. Briscoe, succeeded in establishing a post on the near lip of 'Broadmarsh Crater' a point previously unreached. The following day (April 28th) was broken only by sniping and bombing around the new post. Nothing much occurred until darkness fell. Then, at about 7.30 p.m. a terrific explosion shook the ground. A huge mine had been exploded by the enemy under the parapet near the left flank of the Battalion's line. A storm of firing followed as the enemy attacked. The new post at "Broad-marsh Crater" was overwhelmed, but around the fresh crater formed by the explosion the bombers of the 3rd Worcestershire fought stubbornly. The defence was inspired by 2/Lieut. J. D. W. McMichael and by Captain T. P. Muspratt who, although severely wounded, refused to leave his company, and continued in command during four hours of heavy fighting until the danger had passed. Captain Muspratt was awarded the M.C. [Military Cross] and Pte. A. G. Boothman, who showed great bravery in this fight, was awarded the D.C.M [Distinguished Conduct Medal]. The enemy seized the crater but their further advance was checked. Casualties, 3rd Worcestershire - 6 killed, 14 missing believed killed, one officer (Captain T. P. Muspratt) and 47 men wounded.”
Harry’s entry in the Arras Memorial Register reads: - “COLLINS, Private, HARRY, 8855. 3rd Bn. Worcestershire Regt. 28 April 1916. Age 21. Son of Mrs. Emily Elizabeth Collins, of 17, Cecil St., Newtown Row, Birmingham. His brothers Frederick and Thomas Henry also fell.”
His brother Frederick Collins had been killed in action on 1 April 1916 (four weeks before Harry) whilst serving with The Rifle Brigade and the eldest brother Thomas lost his life in Belgium on 25 April 1918 while serving with The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Thomas is the only one to have a known grave. Emily’s grief was not constrained to the loss of her three sons but also by the loss of her husband who died in late 1916/early 1917 at the age of 53.
In the 1939 Register Emily Collins was living with her married daughter, Mary Jackson, at 5 Blew Street, Birmingham. Emily lived to a ripe old age, dying in 1955 at the age of 92. However, it was a two-year period of her life between 1916 and 1918 that was to prove so traumatic.
I would be interested to know if anyone is able to find out more about the family or indeed correct my genealogical blunderings. I have looked at the Birmingham newspapers on the British Newspaper Archive and also searched the internet for any mention of the brothers being commemorated on a war memorial – unfortunately I drew a blank on both. The icing on the cake would be to uncover a photo of Harry.
