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   Civilian Eleanor Ida Sinclair Collen
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 01/02/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: Civilian - British (British Civilian)
Date Of Birth: 11/02/1879
Died: 23/05/1943 (Died by accident)
Age: 64
Summary      
Eleanor Ida Sinclair Collen was the daughter of Thomas John Browne and his first wife, Sara Henderson Sinclair, formerly of Thomas Street, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Eleanor was born on 11 February 1879 in Dungannon. By 1911 she was living in York and was a nurse at York County Hospital. In September 1920 she married William Collen. Eleanor Ida Sinclair Collen died at 20 Bethia Road, Bournemouth on 23 May 1943, in the same incident as killed her father. Eleanor was aged 64.
Further Information
Eleanor Ida Sinclair Collen was the daughter of Thomas John Walker Browne and Sara Henderson Sinclair. Thomas Browne and Sara Sinclair were married on 24th April 1878 in the district of Newry & Mourne.
Eleanor Ida Sinclair Collen was the daughter of Thomas John Browne and his first wife, Sara Henderson Sinclair, formerly of Thomas Street, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
Eleanor was born on 11 February 1879 in Dungannon.
Sara formerly lived at Thomas Street, Dungannon, and was his first cousin. They had five children.
Known family: Thomas John Browne, Sara Henderson Browne, Eleanor Ida Sinclair Browne (born 11 February 1879), Ethel Browne (born 11 February 1879), Lilian Browne (born 8th August 1881), William Browne (born 30th March 1883), Thomas Browne (born 21st April 1884), Eleanor was born on 11 February 1879 in Dungannon.
By 1911 she was living in York and was a nurse at York County Hospital.
In September 1920 she married William Collen (1862-1932) in Rathsdown. He was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and became the County Surveyor for Dublin, 1891-1924. A biography of him says: “A man of intelligence and energy, Collen was a pioneer and advocate of steam-rolling for roads and procured and maintained a steam-roller at his own expense until he had converted the county council to his views. He was responsible for the improvement of many roads in the county, especially in the southern portion”.
The 1901 census lists Ida as age 21, living with the family at house 5 in Whitepoint Road, Queenstown Urban, County Cork. Her father was employed as a Medical Inspector for the Irish Fever Board.
Eleanor Ida Sinclair Collen died at 20 Bethia Road, Bournemouth on 23 May 1943; in the same incident as killed her father. Eleanor was aged 64.
By 1911 she was living in York and was a nurse at York County Hospital.
In late 1920 she married William Collen in Rathsdown. He was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and became the County Surveyor for Dublin, 1891-1924. A biography of him says: “A man of intelligence and energy, Collen was a pioneer and advocate of steam-rolling for roads and procured and maintained a steam-roller at his own expense until he had converted the county council to his views. He was responsible for the improvement of many roads in the county, especially in the southern portion”.
She later became the widow of William Collen when he died in 1932.
The Luftwaffe carried out a bombing raid on 23rd May 1943 against the town of Bournemouth in Dorset, England. The air attack destroyed 22 buildings and damaged over 3,000 in central Bournemouth. Some 131 people were killed and hundreds were injured.
Civilian Eleanor Ida Sinclair Collen was killed at 20 Bethia Road, Bournemouth on 23rd May 1943. She was 64 years old.
Eleanor Ida Sinclair Collen was buried on 29th May in Bournemouth East Cemetery. She was buried in the East Cemetery with the grave reference T4-172.
Eleanor’s father, Thomas J W Browne, died in the same incident.
The CWGC record Eleanor Ida Sinclair Collen as being from 20 Bethia Road. She is recorded as the daughter of Thomas John and Sara Henderson Brown, of Thomas Street, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. She was the widow of William Collen. She died at 20 Bethia Road, Bournemouth.
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Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Thomas Street Dungannon Central CWGC lists parents in Thomas St, Dungannon 54.505436 -6.770178
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Browne family Lists Ida as age 21 living with the family at house 5 in Whitepoint Road, Queenstown Urban, Cork
2 Air Raid on Bournemouth Details of Air Raid on Bournemouth
3 Bournemouth Echo Snapshots of the Past
4 Bournemouth WW2 Civilian War Dead Grave Ref: East Cemetery T4-172
5 Thomas John Browne - Father Civilian died in same incident
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023