THOMAS COLLINGS
Born: 6th December 1890, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich.
Died: 8th October 1915; age 24; KiA at Loos.
Enlistment Location: Wandsworth, London.
Date of Entry Therein: 3rd February 1915 – France.
Rank: Lance Corporal; Service Number: 11813
Regiment: Gloucestershire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & the 1915 Star.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 60 to 64.
Pas de Calais,
France.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Edward Thomas & Julia Collings, of Cemetery Road, Ipswich.
Brother-in-law to ARTHUR GEORGE DOWNES.
CENSUS
1901 2, Lincoln Villas, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich.
Thomas was 10 years old and living with his parents, siblings & widowed paternal grandfather.
Edward Thomas Collings, 44, a Market Gardener – own account, born Bealings, Suffolk.
Julia Collings (nee Clodd), 42, born Waldringfield, Suffolk.
Annie Collings, 21, born Ipswich.
George Collings, 20, a Gardener, born Ipswich.
Harry Collings, 16, a Railway Clerk, born Ipswich.
Jessie Collings, 14, a Tailoress, born Ipswich.
Arthur Collings, 13, born Ipswich.
Julia Mary Collings, 6, born Ipswich.
John Collings, 84, born Kenninghall, Norfolk.
1911 2, Lincoln Villa’s, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich.
Thomas was 20 years old, an Education Office Clerk – East Suffolk Education Office. He was living with his parents & siblings.
Edward, 56, a Market Gardener.
Julia, 54.
Arthur, 23, a General Merchant’s Clerk.
Julia, 16, a Dressmaker.
Thomas was educated at Nacton Road Council School, Ipswich, before moving on to Ipswich Grammar School for Boys.
Soldiers’ Effects to Edward T. Collings – father.
A family note: My great grandpa Edward Collings in 1915. He is on his smallholding in Felixstowe Road, and in mourning (armband) for his son Thomas killed at Loos France in 1915. Edward and his wife were early members of the Ipswich Building Society which is how he came to buy his small holding on Felixstowe Road (The California land rush). The small holdings were ½ acre each and had a pair of houses in the middle of two plots, the idea being to aid each other. Sadly, Edward’s house has now gone and other houses have been built along the road frontage in front of the others, but they can still be seen today I understand. One of his grandsons carried on the fresh produce tradition and opened two fruit & veg shops – one at Garrick Way, and one at Meredith Road. Images and words courtesy of Lin Jensen.
Thomas’s mother Julia
Thomas is also remembered on the war memorial at ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH, Ipswich, and at Northgate High School. Formerly Ipswich Grammar School for Boys, and commemorated on his parent’s headstone at Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Leave a Reply