Collins, Cyril Markham John

Sonny was born on 30 October 1896 at Reed, Hertfordshire, the elder son of John and Mary Anne (nee Bysouth) Collins.

Cyril was called up for service and signed up at Bedford, Bedfordshire on 31 January 1916.  He was posted to the 8th Northamptonshire Regiment, Regimental Number 24148.  He was based at the Regimental Depot, Gibraltar Barracks in Northampton, Northamptonshire, and assigned to various battalions until on 4th November 1916 he was posted to the 1^st Northamptonshire Regiment and embarked for the Western Front, France.  This battalion saw active service in the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and the Battles of Passchendaele.  Cyril sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm on 20 October 1918 and returned to England where he was again posted to the Regimental Depot in Northampton.  He survived the War and was demobbed on 24 January 1919 and discharged on 31 March 1920.

Cyril was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Before enlisting he worked as a horseman on Grange Farm, Barkway, Hertfordshire.

Sonny married Ethel Maud Stoten at Barkway, Hertfordshire in the 1^st quarter 1920.  They had four children: Joan M A born 1920, Joyce E born 1923, John W born 1926 and Geoffrey A born 1928, all born at Barkway, Hertfordshire.  The 1926 Electoral Register shows Sonny registered in Ashwell, Hertfordshire but Ethel does not appear until 1930.  The 1939 census shows them living in Mill Street, Ashwell.

He died at Ashwell, Hertfordshire in the 3^rd quarter 1977.