# John Collins (VC)

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Recipient of the Victoria Cross, born 1880

John Collins Born (1880-09-10)10 September 1880 West Hatch, Somerset, England Died 3 September 1951(1951-09-03) (aged 70) Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan, Wales Buried Pant Cemetery, Merthyr Tydfil Allegiance United Kingdom Branch British Army Service years 1895–1907, 1915–1919 Rank Sergeant Unit Royal Welch Fusiliers Conflicts Second Boer War First World War Gallipoli Campaign Battle of Beersheba Awards Victoria Cross Distinguished Conduct Medal Mentioned in dispatches

**John Collins** [VC](/source/Victoria_Cross), [DCM](/source/Distinguished_Conduct_Medal) (10 September 1880 – 3 September 1951) was a recipient of the [Victoria Cross](/source/Victoria_Cross), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to [British](/source/United_Kingdom) and [Commonwealth](/source/Commonwealth_of_Nations) forces.

## Biography

John Collins grave, Pant Cemetery

Born in [West Hatch](/source/West_Hatch), Somerset, his family moved to [Merthyr Tydfil](/source/Merthyr_Tydfil), South Wales, when he was 10 years old.[1]

He enlisted in the Royal Horse Artillery in 1895 and served in South Africa during the [Boer War](/source/Boer_War) and was one of the first troops to enter [Ladysmith](/source/Battle_of_Ladysmith) with the relief column.[2] He also saw service in India. Although his war records were destroyed during the [London Blitz](/source/The_Blitz) of 1940, it is likely that he left the Army in 1907, when he worked as a collier at the [Bedlinog](/source/Bedlinog) Colliery.

He enlisted in the newly formed [Welsh Horse Yeomanry](/source/Welsh_Horse_Yeomanry) in 1915 and the regiment was sent to [Gallipoli](/source/Gallipoli) (it had been converted to an infantry regiment) and carried out mining and sapping duties in the area around [Hill 60](/source/Battle_of_Hill_60_(Gallipoli)). They were evacuated to Egypt as part of the last British troops to leave the peninsula. The Welsh Horse provided part of the garrison in the Libyan desert until January 1917, when they were merged with the 1/1 [Montgomeryshire Yeomanry](/source/Montgomeryshire_Yeomanry) and then formed the 25th Battalion, [The Royal Welch Fusiliers](/source/The_Royal_Welch_Fusiliers), [British Army](/source/British_Army).[3][4] During the last week of October, the 25 RWF were positioned on the right of the 74 Division, in the centre of the line where, along with 24 RWF they were to be the brigade's two attacking battalions. At this time, Collins was 37 years old, and an acting [corporal](/source/Corporal) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.[5]

On 31 October 1917, during the [Battle of Beersheba](/source/Battle_of_Beersheba_(1917)) at Wadi Saba, [Beersheba](/source/Beersheba), [Palestine](/source/Palestine_(region)), when, after deployment, prior to an attack, his battalion was forced to lie out in the open under heavy shell and machine-gun fire which caused many casualties. Corporal Collins repeatedly went out under heavy fire and brought back many wounded to cover, thus saving many lives. In subsequent operations throughout the day, he was conspicuous in rallying and leading his command. He led the final assault with the utmost skill in spite of heavy fire at close range and uncut wire. He bayoneted 15 of the enemy and with a Lewis gun section, pressed on beyond the objective and covered the reorganization and consolidation most effectively although isolated and under fire from snipers and guns.[6][7][8]

He later achieved the rank of [sergeant](/source/Sergeant) and was discharged in 1919.

He was decorated with the Victoria Cross by HM King [George V](/source/George_V) at [Buckingham Palace](/source/Buckingham_Palace) on 1 June 1918. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum](/source/Royal_Welch_Fusiliers_Museum), [Caernarfon Castle](/source/Caernarfon_Castle), Gwynedd, Wales,[9] where there is a plaque in the entrance to his memory.[10] A painting of Collins by G Ethridge is on display at Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery.[11]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mtht_1-0)** ["Heritage Plaques — People"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140428042101/http://www.mtht.co.uk/HeritagePlaquesPeople.html). Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Regeneration Trust. Archived from [the original](http://www.mtht.co.uk/HeritagePlaquesPeople.html) on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Creagh, O'Moore. ["The VC and DSO — Volume I"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140427220612/http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/Biographical/library/The-VC-and-DSO-Volume-I/files/assets/basic-html/page276.html). Standard Art Book Co. p. 276. Archived from [the original](http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/Biographical/library/The-VC-and-DSO-Volume-I/files/assets/basic-html/page276.html) on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Sergeant John COLLINS"](http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/pucollin.htm). Victoria Cross Society. Retrieved 27 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Victoria Crosses are held by the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum"](http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ccwelchf.htm). The Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum. Retrieved 27 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The Royal Welsh Fusiliers Victoria Crosses"](http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/british_regiment/royal_welsh_welch_fusiliers_victoria_cross.htm). Medals of the Regiments. Retrieved 27 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Evans, Roger (2004). *Somerset's Forgotten Heroes*. Dovecote Press. p. 51. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1904349323](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1904349323).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["John Collins"](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7747520). Find a Grave. Retrieved 27 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["No. 30433"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30433/supplement/13223). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 14 December 1917. p. 13223.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Stewart, Iain. ["Grave Locations for Holders of the Victoria Cross in Wales"](http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/cowalgla.htm). Victoria Cross UK. Retrieved 27 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Sgt J Collins VC DCM MM"](http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.50667/fromUkniwmSearch/1). *War Memorials Archive*. Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 27 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Acting Quartermaster Sergeant John Collins (1880–1951), VC"](https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/acting-quartermaster-sergeant-john-collins-18801951-vc-153576). *[Art UK](/source/Art_UK)*. Retrieved 27 April 2014.

v t e Royal Welsh Predecessors 1st generation Royal Welch Fusiliers (1689–2006) South Wales Borderers (1689–1969) 41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot (1719–1881) 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot (1756–1881) 2nd generation Welch Regiment (1881–1969) 3rd generation Royal Regiment of Wales (1969–2006) Victoria Cross William Wilson Allan David Bell Gonville Bromhead Edward Stevenson Browne Alexander Cobbe Nevill Coghill William Griffiths Frederick Hitch Alfred Henry Hook Dudley Graham Johnson William Jones Teignmouth Melvill Ivor Rees John Williams John Henry Williams Angus Buchanan James Cooper Campbell Mellis Douglas James Fynn Edric Gifford Robert Jones Thomas Murphy Albert White Ambrose Madden Hugh Rowlands William Charles Fuller Hubert William Lewis Edgar Myles Tasker Watkins Frederick Barter Edward William Derrington Bell John Collins James Llewellyn Davies Joseph John Davies Charles Doughty-Wylie Albert Hill George Monger Luke O'Connor Henry Weale Thomas Bernard Hackett Robert Shields William Henry Thomas Sylvester William Herbert Waring See also Battle of Rorke's Drift Prince of Wales's feathers Men of Harlech Firing Line Prince of Wales' Division Welsh Guards 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards

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