50026 Second Corporal
H.T. COLLOM
Royal Engineers
by
Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis ©2008
Collom enlisted as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers for service in the Great War of 1914 to 1918. He was posted to the 96th Field Company in the 20th Division for service in France and Flanders.
The 96th Field Company was formed at Aldershot in September of 1914 and proceeded to Witley in February of 1915 and then to Salisbury Plain for training in April of 1915. The unit disembarked at Boulogne on the 27th of May 1915 and took part in the following major actions during its time in the theatre of war:
Mount Sorrel: 2-13 June 1916
Delville Wood: 15 July - 3 September 1916
Guillemont: 3-6 September 1916
Flers-Courcelette: 15-22 September 1916
Morval: 25-28 September 1916
Le Transloy: 1-18 October 1916
Pilckem: 31 July - 2 August 1917
Langemarck: 16-18 August 1917
Menin Road: 20-25 September 1917
Polygon Wood: 26 September - 3 October 1917
Cambrai: 20 November - 3 December 1917
St. Quentin: 21-23 March 1918
Rosieres: 26-27 March 1918
Pursuit to Mons: 28 September - 11 November 1918
During the war Collom was promoted to the rank of 2nd Corporal. For his service he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
REFERENCE:
Battle Honours of the Royal Engineers. The Royal Engineers Journal, 1925-1932.