Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Four: Private E. O. Collinson, 16th Battalion Canadian Infantry, killed in action, France/Flanders, 18 May 1915
1914-15 Star (28603 Pte., 16/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (28603 Pte., 16-Can. Inf.); Memorial Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘28603 Pte. E. O. Collinson’; with cap badge

St. John Service Medal, silver (Hon. Surg. F. W. Collinson, 23rd February 1904) swivel ring suspension; with a University of Edinburgh Prize Medal, for Chemistry, 1881-82, named to ‘F. W. Collinson’, 51mm., bronze, generally extremely fine (7) £180-220

Eric Osmond Collinson was born in Broughton, Lancashire on 17 December 1889, son of Rev. Samuel Edward Collinson, of Broughton Vicarage, Preston. Employed in Poultry Farming, he attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Valcartier on 23 September 1914. Serving with the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) Canadian Infantry, he entered France on 13 April 1915. Was reported as wounded and missing on 18 May 1915 at the battle of Festubert. It was later reported that ‘from information available, he was last seen going through a gap in a hedge, on which a machine gun was turned, during an attack. Nothing further has since been received concerning him.’ As a result he was presumed to have died on or since 18 May 1915. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. With copied service papers.

Dr Frederick William Collinson, uncle (?) of the above, held the degrees M.B. 1885; M.D. (Edinburgh) 1900; F.R.C.S., 1902. Was a J.P. and was a Consultant Medical Officer for Health at Lytham.