Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An impressive post-war O.B.E. group of ten awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel N. Collins, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, was wounded by a gunshot at Vendresse in September 1914: C.O. of the 1st Battalion by the renewal of hostilities, he served in the B.E.F. from September 1939 to April 1940

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge; 1914 Star, with clasp (2 Lieut. N. Collins, L.N. Lanc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. N. Collins); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Lieut. Col. N. Collins, Loyal R.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, these three privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Col. N. Collins, Loyal R.); Coronation 1937; Civil Defence Long Service, E.II.R., this privately inscribed, ‘Lieut. Col. N. Collins, O.B.E., 14th January 1966’, together with identity discs (3), mounted court-style as worn, the third somewhat polished but otherwise generally very fine and better (13) £600-800

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1964.

Neville Collins was born in Altrincham in February 1892 and educated at Moreland House School and Radley College. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, direct from the Militia in May 1913, and, following the outbreak of hostilities, went out to France on 12 August 1914, where he was wounded by a gunshot at Vendresse during the battle of the Aisne on 25 September. Evacuated home, he saw further action in that theatre of war in the 1st Battalion in August-October 1915, not least at the battle of Loos, and again from July 1918, though latterly on staff duties attached to 71st and 18th Infantry Brigades.

Between the Wars, Collins served out in Ireland in 1921-22, was advanced to Major in 16 July 1931 and to Lieutenant-Colonel in October 1937, and witnessed further active service in Palestine (Medal & clasp). C.O. of the 1st Battalion by the renewal of hostilities, he served in that capacity in the B.E.F. from September 1939 until April 1940 - but was away on leave when the German invasion of the Low Countries commenced a few days later. He subsequently remained employed in the U.K., serving successively as Acting Adjutant General to Scottish, Eastern and Southern Commands, and was placed on the Retired List in March 1946. Active in Civil Defence duties thereafter, he was actually awarded his O.B.E. in respect of services to the Royal British Legion.

Sold with a large quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s Coronation Medal 1937 certificate; commission warrant for 2nd Lieutenant, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, dated 23 May 1913; his hand written statements of service for 1914-22, and 1913-46, the latter on official Army Form B., together with assorted confidential Annual Officer’s Reports, including one dated at Haifa in October 1936 (’He did well as a Company Commander in the Palestine Emergency in 1936’); letter of appointment to the command of the 1st Battalion, The Loyal Regiment, dated 18 May 1937, and War Office letter on retirement, dated 18 January 1946, and much besides.