Collins, Percy Frederick

Percy Frederick Collins was born in Pershore, Worcestershire and baptised at St. Andrews Church, Pershore on 18th June 1896. He was the first child of Frederick and Ellen Collins. By the 1901 census, Percy had a younger brother, Victor, and the family were living at Newlands in the Holy Cross parish of Pershore.

By 1911, Frederick and Ellen has moved to Warwick and were living at 39 Albert Street with their four children: Percy Frederick (14), Victor James (12), William Thomas (9) and Winnifred May (4). Frederick was a Machinist at an Oil Engineering Works and Percy was an Errand Boy for a Wine Merchant while his younger siblings were still at school.

Percy was invalided out in 1916 and died at home. He is buried in Warwick Cemetery and his brother Victor, who died in the war just 3 months earlier is commemorated on the base of his memorial:

The inscription reads:
Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends
In Loving Memory of Our dear sons
PERCY F. COLLINS R.W.R. died June 21st 1918 aged 22 from illness contracted in France.
VICTOR J. COLLINS R.W.S.R. presumed killed 25th April 1918