No.K/37221, Stoker 2nd class, Albert William COLLINSON
Aged 25
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Albert William Collinson was born on 10th March 1892 (Naval records) in Bainton, Yorkshire,(Driffield Q2-1892 9D:359), son of Henry and Charlotte COLLINSON (née MAW).
1901 census...Aged 9, as Albert E, he was at Half Penny Gate, Bentley & Risby, Beverley,with his father Henry COLLINSON [37] horseman on farm, born Middleton on the Wold; his mother Charlotte [35] born Watton, Yorks; sister Mary A [15] and brother Amos [3]. All three children were born in Bainton. 1911 census...he has not been found in this census. His parents were at North Gate, Walkington, Beverley with his brother Amos [13] and Annie [9] born Risby, E.Yorks. In Q2-1916 in Soham he married Ethel Jane FLETCHER [20-3-1896] of Soham Fen. Their daughter Audrey was born on 26-8-1916. |
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His Naval Service record has him signed at Chatham on 20th October 1916 for hostilities only, born Driffield, Yorkshire, a farm labourer. He was 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm) tall, chest 38.5" (97.8 cm), brown hair and eyes. He underwent training at HMS Pembroke II ( a "stone frigate" ie shore base) before posting to HMS Vanguard on 30th January 1917. Just before midnight on 9th July 1917 at Scapa Flow, HMS Vanguard suffered an explosion, probably caused by an unnoticed stokehold fire heating cordite stored against an adjacent bulkhead in one of the two magazines which served the amidships gun turrets 'P' and 'Q'.[1] She sank almost instantly, killing an estimated 804 men; there were only two survivors. In terms of loss of life, the destruction of the Vanguard remains the most catastrophic accidental explosion in the history of the U.K., and one of the worst accidental losses of the Royal Navy. The official terminology for these deaths is "Killed or died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action" Local press report:- Mrs. A. Collinson, of Soham Fen, has received official information that her husband, Stoker Albert W. Collinson of H.M.S. Vanguard is reported missing. The late Stoker Collinson, who hails from Yorkshire, had been resident in Soham for some time, and his young widow is a native of Soham Fen. He enlisted in the Navy in October,1916, and underwent the usual course of training at Chatham until the New Year, when he undertook duties on the vessel which was unfortunately doomed to destruction. The widow is left with one child. and COLLINSON - In loving memory of my dear husband, Stoker Albert W. Collinson, H.M.S. Vanguard, of Soham Fen, who lost his life by an explosion on his ship, July 9th, 1917, aged 25 years.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
