Brothers Thomas and Daniel Collins
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| Swansea Cenotaph |
To what extent were the individuals commemorated on the Swansea Cenotaph related to one another? In many cases, they were connected as brothers, fathers, uncles, or cousins.
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| Thomas Collins Swansea Cenotaph credit - Mr. Gary Williams |
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| Daniel Collins Swansea Cenotaph credit - Mr. Gary Williams |
Private Thomas Collins, served with the 14th
Battalion, Welsh Regiment, however, he was attached to the Royal Engineers, 254th
Tunnelling Company. Who lost his life on the 22nd of June 1916, aged
22.
Younger brother
Able Seaman Daniel Collins, served with the Royal Naval
Volunteer Reserve, on board S.S. Greavesash. Who lost his life on the 26th of
February 1918, aged 21.
They were sons of Jack and Rachel Collins, of 58 Colbourne
Terrace.
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| Thomas Collins credit - Mr Gary Williams |
On the morning of 22nd June 1916, Sapper William
Hackett and four other miners of 254 Tunnelling Company were driving a tunnel
towards the enemy lines below the cratered surface of the Givenchy sector of
northern France. At about one-quarter of the way towards the German trenches at
a depth of about 35 feet, the timbered gallery 4’3” high by 2’6” wide was still
in the early stages of development; it was served by a single shaft – the
Shaftesbury Shaft. At 2.50am the explosion of a heavy German mine (the Red
Dragon) blew in 25 feet of the tunnel, cutting the five men off from the shaft
and safety. On the surface, a rescue party was immediately organised. After two
days of digging an escape hole was formed through the fallen earth and broken
timbers, and the tunnellers contacted. William Hackett helped three men to
safety. However, with sanctuary beckoning, and although himself apparently
unhurt, he refused to leave until the last man, seriously injured 22-year-old
Thomas Collins of the Swansea Pals (14th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment), was
rescued. His words were said to be, “I am a tunneller, I must look after the
others first”. The rescuers worked on but were frequently immobilized by
German shelling and mortaring of the shaft-head. Conditions above and below
ground became more treacherous by the minute. Eventually the gallery collapsed
again, entombing the two men. Both still lie beneath the fields of Givenchy
today.
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| William Hackett VC |
William Hackett was awarded a Victoria Cross.
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| Daniel Collins credit - Mr. Gary Williams |
Who were Thomas and Daniel Collins?
Thomas was born in 1895, and Daniel was born 1897, they were
the sons of John Collins and Rachel Bowling.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the Collins family were
living at 5 Castle Wells.
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| 1901 Census |
John Collins, aged 40, is a widower he is employed as a Dock
Labourer. His children are
Tom, aged 6; David, aged 4; John, aged 2, and Z, aged 6
months.
Also present is Rachel Balling, who is a servant
By the time of the 1911 Census, John and Rachel were married
and they were living at 5 Castle Wells.
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| 1911 Census |
John, aged 52, was employed as a Dock Labourer, while Rachel is aged 39. The census suggests that they were married in 1894. Their children are
Thomas, aged 16, who is employed at Bottley Stores; Daniel,
aged 14; John, aged 12; Nellie, aged 10, who all attend school; Alice, aged 8;
James, aged 5; and William, aged 2.
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| Daniel Collins Plymouth Naval Memorial credit - findagrave |
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| Thomas Collins Theipval Memorial credit - findagrave |
Thomas' name is commemorated on the Theipval Memorial, while Daniel’s is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
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