My Grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Collinson (known as Frank) was a tailor's cutter in Leeds in the summer of 1917 when he enlisted at age 18. After spending time with a training battalion he was eventually posted to France with the Durham Light Infantry 20th Battalion in April 1918. He served as batman to James Wood DCM until October of 1918. At some point during October both men were involved in an action in Belgium which resulted in the officer being badly wounded. Frank came to his aid, carrying Wood back to safety and medical aid. On the 18th November 1918 Wood wrote a letter from his home in Newcastle to Frank to thank him for his actions and to tell him that he had recommended him (3 times) for the distinguished conduct medal (which was never awarded). Despite being seriously ill and likely to loose his right leg Wood also asks Frank where he put his compass and complains that it has probably been stolen. Clearly the whereabouts of the compass was of some concern to him. Wood also tells Frank that his wife died a week ago in the influenza pandemic and ends the letter with the remarkably understated So it has been a rather sad homecoming. John Sheen's book The Wearside Battalion (Pen & Sword Military, 2007 ISBN 9781844156405 British Library Shelfmarks m09/.14887 and YC.2008.a.12140) covers the actions of the 20th Durham Light Infantry at the end of the war in chapter 9. Although Wood's letter refers to his wounds of the 2nd October Sheen records an attack on 21st October where 2nd Lieutenant J Wood is wounded. From February 1919 to September 1919 Frank performed with The Tonics concert party, accompanying other acts and performing piano solos. Programmes show the Tonics performing at the Central Y M C A Cologne 44 Friesenstrasse on 19th June where in act 7 of part 1 Collinson Worries the Piano and on 12th August 1919 at the British Empire Leave Club Cologne where Frank Collinson performed a Pianoforte solo ampa\n At the end of 1919 Frank returned to life in Leeds as a tailor's cutter but also continued to play the piano, becoming a well known figure in many of the pubs and concert venues in the city.
2 photographs of Private Benjamin Franklin Collinson taken at F Scrimshaw's in Leeds ; A photograph of The Tonics Concert Party. (Frank is on the back row 3rd from the left) ; A letter dated 18th November 1918 from James Wood DCM to My Dear Collinson ; A programme for The Tonics Concert Party performance at the British Empire Leave Club in Cologne 12th August 1919 ; A programme for The Grand Concert by The Tonics at Central Y M C A Cologne 19th June 1919 ; A poster for the Tonics Concert Party in a mixture of mirth melody and music tonight at 6. (Undated)