Ernest George Collett was born at Stratton St Margaret on 20th July 1889, the second son of William John Collett and his wife Ellen Beams. He later married Ellen Iles who was born at Highworth in 1893. The marriage took place during 1914 and resulted in the birth of a daughter Ellen later that same year. Both mother and daughter were referred to within the family as Nelly. Ernest was the first of five brothers to see active service during the conflict. He was Private 7646 with the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment and died on 12th March 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres. His name appears on Panel 53 of the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial. What is interesting is the fact that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has the following next-of-kin details for him. “Ernest George Collett was the husband of E Townsend (formerly Collett) of 3 Gordon Gardens in Swindon”. An investigation into this has now revealed that it was during 1921 when the widow Ellen Collett married Albert Townsend, and that their son Albert William Townsend was born later that same year. Ellen Townsend, formerly Collett nee Iles, died on 22nd February 1968, and was followed by her son who passed away in 1983. Another member of the Townsend family, possibly the niece of the aforementioned Mr Townsend, marriage Albert William James Collett (Ref. 28P111) around 1950. Ernest George Collett was also listed as the “son of Mr & Mrs W Collett of 13 Page Street of Swindon”. Page Street was later renamed Beckhampton Street.

Victoria Collett