Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of ten awarded to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel John Robert Collins, Royal Garrison Artillery, late Imperial Yeomanry

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s breast badge, silver and enamel; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Pte., Imp. Yeomanry Bearer Coy.); British War and Victory Medals (Major); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Major, R.G.A.) correction to initials; Defence, unnamed; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., hallmarks for 1919, with top bar; Special Constabulary Long Service, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Sub-Inspr. John R. Collins); St. John Service Medal, silver base metal (45804 A/Cty/Commr. J. R. Collins, Bucks. S.J.A.B. 1951) mounted as worn, very fine and better (10) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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M.C. London Gazette 17 September 1917. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in observing for his battery and carrying out an effective report from a completely exposed position in advance of our outpost line. He and his two telephonists were under hostile shell fire and within close range of the enemy advanced posts, and were in great danger of being cut off; but they maintained communication throughout with great coolness and determination’.

John Robert Collins was born in 1878, the only son of Colonel John Robert Collins, C.B., East Surrey Regiment. During the Boer War he served as a Private in the Imperial Yeomanry Bearer Company. In March 1901 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 26th Middlesex (Cyclist) Volunteer Rifle Corps, The Rifle Brigade. In May 1903 he was appointed an Instructor of Musketry of the 26th Middlesex (Cyclist) Corps. In December 1904 he resigned his commission. In September 1905 he was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Middlesex R.G.A. Volunteers and was advanced to Lieutenant in March 1907. On the creation of the Territorial Force he was appointed to the 13th County of London Battery, 5th London Brigade, and a short while later was transferred to the 5th London Ammunition Column. In March 1910 he was transferred to the Essex and Suffolk R.G.A. (T.F.), and was transferred to the T.F. Reserve of the R.G.A. in November 1913’.

Soon after the outbreak of the Great War, he transferred back to the Essex and Suffolk R.G.A. and was promoted to Temporary Captain in October 1914. He was seconded for duty with the regular R.G.A. in September 1916, and in May 1917 he was promoted to Captain. As an Acting Major he served on the Western Front and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery in action. Continuing to serve in the T.A. after the war, he was awarded the T.D., this published in the London Gazette of 27 July 1920. In November 1921 he transferred to the Essex Coast Brigade R.G.A. (T.A.) and was promoted to Major in April 1923. Collins was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1926 and in 1931 he transferred to the T.A.R.O. An active member of the Special Constabulary and Order of St. John; he was appointed a Serving Brother of the latter in December 1940 (London Gazette 3 January 1941) and was promoted to Officer in December 1945 (London Gazette 1 January 1946). In 1951 he was awarded the St. John Service Medal as Acting County Commissioner, Buckinghamshire St. John Ambulance Brigade. Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Collins, M.C., T.D., died on 3 May 1958’.

Sold with copied gazette extracts and other research.