7182, Bandsman, 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.
Died of Wounds on the 7th November 1914 aged 21.
The grave of Bandsman Theodore Augustus Collins in the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France.
Theodore Collins was born in Benington, Hertfordshire, the son of William and Mary Augusta Collins. He joined the Army at a young age and trained as a Musician. As a professional soldier he was sent to Belgium at the outbreak of the Great War as part of the original British Expeditionary Force.
His Battalion arrived in France on the 14th August 1914, just 10 days after the outbreak of the Great War. As part of the 1st Division, Theodore would have taken part in the Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, including the rearguard action of Etreux, The Battle of the Marne,the Battle of the Aisne, including participation in the actions on the Aisne heights and the action of Chivy, and The First Battle of Ypres.
On the 1st November 1914 the Battalion were moved into a position between Zonnebeke Wood and Veldhoek near Ypres. Over the following week their positions were heavily shelled and the Battalion suffered a large number of casualties. On the 5th November, two shells fell into their positions and 10 men were killed and a further 10 wounded, one of which is believed to have been Theodore Collins. He was taken to a General Hospital in Boulogne where he died from the effects of his injuries.
He is buried in the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France. (III. B. 43.)
The Benington war memorial incorrectly records him as A.T. COLLINS.
Medal Entitlement: 1914 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal.