John Collins

Gunner John Collins – Royal Artillery

Commemoration at Danygraig Cemetery

Some of the war casualties buried at Danygraig Cemetery were originally commemorated on their own family headstones. Over time, however, many of these personal inscriptions have worn away and become illegible. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) carries out surveys to check whether military headstones need replacing and whether family headstones have stood the test of time. If not, the CWGC ensures the casualty is remembered by placing a memorial tablet with the individual’s details. These tablets do not always include full personal information but serve as a lasting record of service and sacrifice.

This is the case for Gunner John Collins, who served with the Royal Artillery and died on the  25^th July 1940.

Early Life

John Collins was born in Swansea in 1919, the son of John Collins and Gwladys Lewis.

1921 Census

The 1921 Census records the family living at 48 Dyfatty Street. John senior, then 26, was employed as a firewood merchant, while his wife Gwladys, aged 23, kept the home. Their two young sons were John junior, aged 2, and Ronald junior, just 10 months old.

Also present in the household were William Lewis, Gwladys’s grandfather, a retired 86-year-old, and Mary E. Collins, John senior’s mother.

Burial

John Collins
Danygraig Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Following his death in July 1940, Gunner John Collins was laid to rest at Danygraig Cemetery. Originally, his grave was marked on the family headstone, but as the inscription faded, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission placed a memorial tablet to ensure his service would not be forgotten.

Legacy

Though Gunner John Collins was originally remembered on his family’s headstone, the fading of inscriptions meant his details risked being lost to time. Thanks to the work of the CWGC, his name and service are now preserved at Danygraig Cemetery, ensuring his memory continues alongside that of his fellow servicemen.