Bombardier Harold John Unwin Collins Royal Artillery & Kent County Special Constabulary
Harold John Unwin Collins
The Man Harold John Unwin Collins was born on Wednesday 1st May 1901 at 99 Harrow Road, Knockholt, Bromley Kent, son of John Thomas, a Coal Merchant, Carman and later Bookseller and Elizabeth Sarah Jane nee Unwin. He had one brother Frederick James Unwin born in 1904.
The 1911 census shows the family living at Ash Tree Cottage in Knockholt and Harold Still at school and. For the duration of World War I, Harold was too young to fight and by 1921, now aged 20 was living with the family at 4 Ash Tree Cottage, having become an Electrical Engineer at Sevenoaks and District Electricity Company.
Harold joined the local Kent County Special Constabulary during the 1920s and on Saturday 26th August 1932, married Eunice Lillian Inkpen in St Katherine’s Church Knockholt. The wedding received local press coverage as the ceremony was a double wedding at the same time as his brother Frederick who married Olive Hilder Sparkes. His Best Man was Mr E Ede and the service conducted by the Reverend C Hobley. A reception was held at Knockholt Village Hall and they honeymooned in Torquay. They had four children Son Peter John born 1933, Marion E E 1937 – but died shortly after her birth, Pamel Annie 1938 and Marilyn E J 1942.
Harold was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1935 and as World War II loomed on the horizon he enlisted into the Royal Artillery Territorial Army with service number 40449. The 1939 Register shows Lilian living at Stonebank, Knockholt together with Harold’s mother and Peter, Harold already having been embodied and called up serving in the Coast Artillery and Searchlight Regiment for the duration of the war and promoted to Bombardier.
At the end of the War he was awarded his Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ this appearing in Army Order 105 of 30th June 1945. He remained in the TA following the war and awarded a clasp to the EM in AO 162 of 30th November 1951.
Harold and Eunice continued lived at Stonebank, Knockholt and he became a Superintendent at the Ashford Kent Power Station. In later life they lived at 445 Hythe Road, Willesborough, Ashford, Kent and he passed away on 16th December 1971 aged 70.
Eunice lived a further 18 years dying on 11th April 1998 having remarried to Ernest Arthur Lyne in 1981.
The 1911 census shows the family living at Ash Tree Cottage in Knockholt and Harold Still at school and. For the duration of World War I, Harold was too young to fight and by 1921, now aged 20 was living with the family at 4 Ash Tree Cottage, having become an Electrical Engineer at Sevenoaks and District Electricity Company.
Harold joined the local Kent County Special Constabulary during the 1920s and on Saturday 26th August 1932, married Eunice Lillian Inkpen in St Katherine’s Church Knockholt. The wedding received local press coverage as the ceremony was a double wedding at the same time as his brother Frederick who married Olive Hilder Sparkes. His Best Man was Mr E Ede and the service conducted by the Reverend C Hobley. A reception was held at Knockholt Village Hall and they honeymooned in Torquay. They had four children Son Peter John born 1933, Marion E E 1937 – but died shortly after her birth, Pamel Annie 1938 and Marilyn E J 1942.
Harold was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1935 and as World War II loomed on the horizon he enlisted into the Royal Artillery Territorial Army with service number 40449. The 1939 Register shows Lilian living at Stonebank, Knockholt together with Harold’s mother and Peter, Harold already having been embodied and called up serving in the Coast Artillery and Searchlight Regiment for the duration of the war and promoted to Bombardier.
At the end of the War he was awarded his Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ this appearing in Army Order 105 of 30th June 1945. He remained in the TA following the war and awarded a clasp to the EM in AO 162 of 30th November 1951.
Harold and Eunice continued lived at Stonebank, Knockholt and he became a Superintendent at the Ashford Kent Power Station. In later life they lived at 445 Hythe Road, Willesborough, Ashford, Kent and he passed away on 16th December 1971 aged 70.
Eunice lived a further 18 years dying on 11th April 1998 having remarried to Ernest Arthur Lyne in 1981.
Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Efficiency Medal 'Territorial' & clasp. Special Constabulary Faithful Service Medal.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Harold John Unwin Collins were acquired from e-Bay during March 2014 and of interest because of the double long service award and clasp on the Efficiency Medal, seemingly representing pre–World War II Territorial service.
No detail could be found on Ancestry.com due to the high number of Harold Collins, despite his three initials, being shown as H J V on his Efficiency Medal.
However, 11 years later following the release of World War II Medal Index Cards on Ancestry, a random check was made to confirm the awards of Harold’s Defence and War Medals.
Not only did his card confirm his entitlement but also gave his full name as Harold John Unwin Collins, his third name beginning with U and not V. This enabled another search of Ancestry Newspaper Archives and Forces War Records, revealing far more information including a photograph of Harold, albeit poor quality.
It was then possible to piece together a more detailed biography of a man and his family who hitherto had been overlooked.
No detail could be found on Ancestry.com due to the high number of Harold Collins, despite his three initials, being shown as H J V on his Efficiency Medal.
However, 11 years later following the release of World War II Medal Index Cards on Ancestry, a random check was made to confirm the awards of Harold’s Defence and War Medals.
Not only did his card confirm his entitlement but also gave his full name as Harold John Unwin Collins, his third name beginning with U and not V. This enabled another search of Ancestry Newspaper Archives and Forces War Records, revealing far more information including a photograph of Harold, albeit poor quality.
It was then possible to piece together a more detailed biography of a man and his family who hitherto had been overlooked.
Harold Collins' miniature group of medals
(Note Special Constabulary Medal)
Marriage of Harold John Unwin Collins to Eunice Lilian Inkpen
and
Frederick James Unwin Collins to Olive Hilder Sparkes.
Saturday 26th August 1932
St Katherine’s Church Knockholt.
Eunice Lilian Collin’s
Second marriage to
Ernest Arthur Lyne 1981
with possibly
Peter, Pamela and Marilyn on the right
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal:: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 40449 BMBR. H.J.V.COLLINS. R.A.
- Special Constabulary Medal: HAROLD COLLINS
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This page last updated 5 Mar 25
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