Remembering former Worcestershire player CGA Collier who was killed in action 100 years ago today at Mametz, France – two days after his 30th birthday.
Chris Collier, was the ninth Worcs CCC first class cricketer to die during the first two years of The Great War.
While attached to ‘C’ battery, Royal Field Artillery, 73rd Brigade, Collier was killed along with five comrades by a large bursting shell which buried them alive.
Welsh poet, Owen Sheers, wrote about the Battle of Mametz Wood.
Staff Serjeant Collier, (Royal) Army Ordnance Corps, died just six weeks after his Pears teammates, Arthur Isaac and Billy Burns, and only two miles away.
Chris (Joe) Collier’s grave may be visited at Flatiron Copse Cemetery, memorial X.H.6., east of Mametz Wood on The Somme.
This lies between the massive Thiepval Memorial and the impressive South African Memorial at Delville Wood.
More details about CGA Collier’s life and cricket for WCCC 1910-14 (52 games), are given on page 175 of Pears 150 by Andrew Thomas which is available on match-days in the Worcestershire Supporters Association shop.
