Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Collington a general labourer, born 1861 in Wymeswold, Leicestershire, and his wife Rebecca Collington (nee Carter, married on the 1st August 1886 in St. John the Baptist Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire), born 1865 in Kirkby Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire. John James was born in the 1st quarter of 1887 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, and was baptised on the 10th July 1887 in St. John the Baptist Church, Besston, he had one sibling, a brother Ernest Isaac, born 1890 in Wymeswold, in April 1891 the family home was at Brook Street, Wymeswold. In March 1901 John was residing in the family home at Brook Street, Wymeswold, together with his father, a grazier, his mother and siblings, Ernest, Alfred, born 1894, Edith Eliza, born 1897 and Florence Sarah, born 1899, the latter three siblings were all born in Wymeswold. In April 1911 John was employed as an iron shaper and planer and was residing in the family home at Brook Street, Wymeswold, together with his father, a grazier and cattle dealer, his mother and siblings, Ernest, Edith, Florence, Frederick Charles, born 1902, Frances May, born 1903 and George E., born 1905, the latter three siblings were all born in Wymeswold. On the 25th October 1913, John married Julia Ann Turlington in the Loughborough Registry Office, Leicestershire, the Registrar being Edwin Arthur Jannatt, witnesses J. G. Turlington and D. Neal. John and Julia had one child, a daughter Rebecca Grace who was born on the 10th May 1914 in Loughborough, Leicestershire.
John attested into the 4th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derby Regiment (Militia) to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 21st November 1903 in Derby. He gave his place of birth as Beeston, Nottinghamshire, his age as 17 years and 11 months and his trade or calling as farm labourer, and his present employer as Mr. J. Collington of Wymeswold, Leicestershire. He gave his present home address as 12, Biddle Street, Beeston, Nottinghamshire. He stated that he was unmarried. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3½ inches in height, weighed 119 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 30½ and 33 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had brown eyes. It was noted that he had a scar of a cut on his left wrist. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Militia service on the 21st November 1903 in Derby. He gave his father John, mother Rebecca and brother Ernest of Brook Street, Wymeswold, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Nottinghamshire & Derby Regiment as a Private, service number 9824 on the 21/11/03. Commenced drill training on the 21/11/03. Transferred to the Regular Army, (Nottinghamshire and Derby Regiment) character recorded as good on the 26/2/04. John attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve on the 26th February 1904 in Nottingham. He gave his place of birth as Beeston, Nottinghamshire, his age as 18 years and 2 months and his trade or calling as labourer. He stated that he was unmarried. He confirmed that he was currently serving with the 4th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derby Regiment – Militia. He gave his father John, mother Rebecca, brother -?-, sister -?- all of Wymeswold, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3½ inches in height, weighed 122 pounds and he had a chest measurement of 34½ to 37 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had brown eyes. It was noted that he had a scar of a cut on his left wrist. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service on the 26th February 1904 in Nottingham. A follow up medical examination after six months service and a gymnastics course recorded his height as 5 foot 4 inches, he weighed 127 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34 to 37 inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Nottinghamshire & Derby Regiment as a Private, service number 9190 on the 26/2/04. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derby Regiment at Parkhurst on the 7/7/04. Posted to Aldershot on the 24/11/04. Transferred to Section “B” Army Reserve on the 25/2/07. Continued in Section “B” Army Reserve on the 25/2/08. Mobilized at Derby on the 5/8/14. Posted to the 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derby Regiment on the 5/8/14. Admitted to 25th Field Ambulance suffering from a compound fracture of the skull on the 26/1/15. Died of wounds received in action on the 28/1/15. A summary of his service records, Home Service, 26/2/04 – 2/10/14, 10 years 219 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 3/10/14 – 28/1/15, 118 days. Total service, 10 years 337 days. John was awarded the 1914 Star, British and Victory medals. On the 16th July 1915 a letter and parcel was forwarded from the Officer in charge of Records, No.6 District, Lichfield to John’s wife, Mrs. A. Collington, c/o Mrs. Turlington, Mountsorrel Road, Quorn, Loughborough, the contents being the personal property belonging to her late husband, consisting of 1 muffler, 1 fork, 1 comb, 1 holdall, 1 spoon, 1 shaving brush, 1 housewife, 2 pr. socks, 1 toothbrush and 1 belt. On the 4th August 1915 a further letter and parcel was forwarded from the Officer in charge of Records, No.6 District, Lichfield to John’s wife, Mrs. A. Collington, c/o Mrs. Turlington, Mountsorrel Road, Quorn, Loughborough, the contents being the personal property belonging to her late husband, consisting of 1 disc, 7 xmas cards, 4 letters and 1 time table. John’s widow was awarded a pension of 15 shillings per week for herself and her one child to commence on the 16th August 1915. The following information was provided by John’s widow, Julia Ann Collington of Mountsorrel Road, Quorn, Loughborough on the 25th April 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Geo. E. Payne, a Baptist Minister of The Manse, Quorn on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Widow of soldier, Julia Ann Collington of Mountsorrel Road, Quorn. Children of soldier, Rebecca Grace, born May 10th 1914 of Mountsorrel Road, Quorn. Father of soldier, John Collington of Brook Street, Wymeswold. Mother of soldier, Rebecca Collington of Brook Street, Wymeswold. Full blood brothers of soldier, Ernest Collington, age 29 of Wharf Street, Leicester, Alfred Collington, age 25 of Mountsorrel Road, Quorn, Fred Collington, age 16 of Brook Street, Wymeswold and George Collington, age 13 of Ruddington, Nottinghamshire. Full blood sisters of soldier, Edith Collington, age 22 of No.4, Balmoral Avenue Nottingham, Florence Collington, age 19 of Willoughby Ridge, Six Hills and May Collington, age 15 of Brook Street, Wymeswold. John’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 26 Jan-15 – Near RICHEBOURG. Two platoons of Brigade Grenadiers are also sent to these H.Q., one platoon is sent to trenches and the other is held in reserve. Fairly quiet night. Casualties. Other ranks. Killed nil. Wounded 12. Total to date. Killed 53. Wounded 206.
On Saturday February 27th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – Official intimation has been received by Mrs. Collington, of Quorn, that her husband, Private James Collington, of the Sherwood Foresters, has died from wounds received in January. A letter received by Mrs. Collington from an army chaplain stated that her husband was shot in the head, and died without regaining consciousness. Private Collington was a reservist, and at the outbreak of war lived in Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough, and was employed at the Brush Works.
On Monday January 29th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS” – IN MEMORIAM. COLLINGTON.- In loving memory of Pte. J. J. Collington, 1st Batt. Sherwood Foresters, who died of wounds, Jan. 27th 1915. Two years have passed away. Since that sad and mournful day. But memories, they do oft recall. To us, the one who gave his all. From Ethel and Gu?