L/Cpl 15501 Arthur William Collinson

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Arthur William Collinson was born on 09th December 1891 in Liverpool, the son of Stanley Wier Collinson and his wife Helen (nee Roberts) of 113 Lodge Lane. Stanley, from London, and Helen, born in Liverpool, married on the 09th December 1888 at St Michael’s Church, Toxteth. Stanley was a widowed 35 year old manager of Lodge Lane with a son Stanley Blake born in 1881 in Prescot, father John deceased, whilst Helen was aged 27 of Cedar Grove, father Edward deceased.

His father’s first marriage was to Dorset born Eleanor/Helen Mary Blake on the 29th September 1879 at St Mary’s Church, Edge Hill, Liverpool. Stanley was a 24 year old manager of 24 Byford St, father John deceased, whilst Eleanor was aged 22 of Spekefield Cottages, father Henry Walter. A son Stanley Blake was born in the March Qtr 1881 and since Helen Mary died aged 23 in the same Qtr one can surmise this was during childbirth.    

Stanley and his second wife Helen had five children together; Arthur had an elder sister Helen Elizabeth and younger siblings Ethel, Hilda Mary, and Ernest Walter (who died in infancy).

He was baptised with his sister Ethel on the 16th May 1894 at St Clement's Church, Toxteth. The baptism register records his birthdate as 09th December 1892, but his birth was registered in the March quarter of 1892 so this was apparently a recording error at the time of the baptism. We can assume that Arthur was born on 09th December 1891, which matches his age on censuses and that given in newspaper notices at the time of his death.

At the time of the 1901 Census the family live at 50 Lime Grove, Toxteth Park, Liverpool with five children. His father ,Stanley, is aged 46, a portmanteau maker (leather bag), mother Helen is aged 39, Stanley, 20, is a hairdresser, Arthur is 9, Mabel 7 and Hilda 5. 

The 1911 Census shows that the family are still at the same address. His father, aged 56,  occupation recorded as a ‘trunk and umbrella repairer’  is working on his own account at home, his mother is 49. They have been married for 22 years and have had 5 children, 4 of whom have survived. Helen, 21, is a fruiterer's assistant,  Arthur aged 19 years is living with his parents and working as a paint manufacturer’s clerk,17-year old Ethel is a domestic servant, and Hilda, 15, has no occupation. Half-brother Stanley is married with his own family.

At the time of his enlistment he was employed in the offices of Messrs Goodlass, Wall & Co (paint and varnish manufacturers) of Seel Street. 

Arthur enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool in the first week of September 1914 as Private No 15501 in the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment [1st Liverpool Pals].

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

Arthur crossed to France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915.

His service records show that he was given 3 days Field Punishment No 1 for falling out on in line of march without permission on 12th February 1916 and that he was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 27th May 1916.

Arthur was killed in action on 30th July 1916, aged 24, whilst serving with ‘B’ Company in the attack on the German held stronghold of Guillemont during the Somme offensive.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.   

Arthur was initially declared as Missing, and his parents placed an appeal for information in the Liverpool Express.

"Information wanted. Mr. S. Collinson, of 50, Lime Grove, Lodge Lane, Liverpool seeks information regarding his son, Lance Corp Arthur Collinson, No 15501, of the Pals".

The local paper printed on 14th August 1916 showed the family were awaiting news, under the heading: 

"Family in Suspense" -

"Mr.S. Collinson, of 50, Lime Grove, Lodge Lane, Liverpool, has received unofficial news that his son, Lance-corporal Arthur Collinson, of the "Pals", has been killed.  Mr. Collinson will be grateful for any information about his son."

Sadly, his death was soon confirmed, with a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 25th August 1916 under the heading:

"Popular with Athletes" -

"Mr. S. W. Collinson, of 50, Lime Grove, Lodge Lane, has received official notification that his son, Lance-corporal Arthur W. Collinson, has been killed in action.  Prior to joining the "Pals" in September, 1914, he was employed on the office staff of Messrs. Goodlass, Wall and Co Ltd., Seel Street, Liverpool. He was twenty-four years of age and a great favourite in athletic circles."

His family posted a notice on the same day:

"July 30, killed in action, aged 24 years Lance-corporal Arthur Collinson, "Pals", the dearly-loved son of Mr. and Mrs. A. [sic] Collinson, 50, Lime Grove, Sefton Park. (One of the best and loved by all.)"

The Liverpool Echo reported on 26th August 1916;

"Mr. S. W. Collinson, 50 Lime Grove, Sefton Park, has now received official notification that his son, Lance-Corporal Arthur W. Collinson has been killed in action on July 30th. Prior to joining the Pals on their formation he was engaged on the office staff of Messrs. Goodlass, Wall and Co., Seel street, for many years he was much esteemed. In athletic circles his loss will be deplored. He was 24 years of age".

Arthur's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his father, who was awarded a pension of 5 shillings a week from February 1917. (The pension card gives cause of death as Killed in Action, and a pension ledger as Died of Wounds.)

Arthur was remembered by his family one year later in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost at Battle of Guillemont”:

“In loving memory of Lance-corporal Arthur Collinson (Collie), 1st Pals, killed in action July 30, 1916.

God has taken our loved one from our home,

But never from our hearts.

- From his sorrowing Mother, Dad, and Sisters, of 50, Lime Grove, Sefton Park.”

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918: 

"In ever-loving memory of Lance-Corporal Arthur Collinson (Collie) (1st Pals), killed in action, July 30, 1916.

   Out of the stress of the doing

   Into the peace of the done.

His sorrowing Mother, Dad, and Sisters. - 50, Lime Grove, Sefton Park." 

"In loving remembrance of our dear chum, Collie (Lance-Corporal Arthur Collinson) (1st Pals), killed in action, July 30, 1916. - Never forgotten by his Pals George and Don (on service)." 

Arthur is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 11 Right

His father Stanley died in 1924 aged 69.

At the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 his mother, 78, was still at 50 Lime Grove with daughter Helen, 49, and married daughter Ethel Law, 45, and her husband.

His mother, Helen, died soon afterwards at the age of 79.

We currently have no further information on Arthur William Collinson, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.