Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Michael James COLLINS was born in 1891 in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia to parents Margaret (nee SLATTERY) and Patrick COLLINS.  He was the third born of nine children.

A 24 year old, single, packerman at the Crago Flour Mill, who was still living at the home of his parents at 46 Lambert Street Bathurst at the time, Michael enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in Lithgow, NSW, on 2nd August 1915.  He was assigned as a Private, regimental number 3514, and allocated to the 11th reinforcements for the 4th Infantry Battalion.  After completing his recruit training at the Liverpool Camp, Michael embarked in Sydney aboard HMAT "Port Lincoln" on 14th October 1915, for active service overseas.

After arriving in Egypt, Michael joined the 4th Infantry Battalion in Tel-el-Kebir on 21st January 1916.  Still in a period of reorganisation after Gallipoli, he was then taken on strength with the newly raised 56th Infantry Battalion in Tel-el-Kebir on 13th February, due to the expansion of the AIF.  This Battalion, part of the 5th Division, was comprised of Gallipoli veterans from the 4th Battalion, and fresh reinforcements from New South Wales.  Five days later, on 18th February, Michael was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, however, he reverted to Private at his own request soon after.

Following a period of further training in Egypt, the 56th Battalion embarked aboard HMT "Huntsend" in Alexandria for the Western Front on 21st June 1916, arriving in Marseille Harbour, France, about 0530hrs on 29th June. Their first major battle was to be a baptism of fire, being involved in the Battle of Fromelles, on 19 - 20th July. This came to be known as one of the biggest disasters in Australian military history, with the 5th Division suffering over 5,500 casualties in a period of just 24hrs.  It was during this battle, on 20th July, when Michael was first wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to the scalp.  He was evacuated via No. 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, to the 30th General Hospital in Calais.  On 2nd August, he embarked for England via Hospital Ship "Dieppe", and was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital later that day.  Following his recovery, he was admitted to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Perham Downs on 24th August, and 2 days later marched into the 14th Training Battalion.  Michael returned to the 56th Battalion in France on 24th September.

On 3rd January 1917, Michael was again appointed a Lance Corporal, but once again, reverted to Private at his own request on 17th March.  He was appointed Lance Corporal a third time on 17th April, and sent to the Musketry School of Instruction on 29th April, for a period of one week.  On 15th May 1917, the 56th Battalion trenches were stretched accross the Riencourt - Queant sector during the Second Battle of Bullecourt, when German heavy artillery began a fierce bombardment upon them at 0330hrs.  Michael became one of many casualties, and was evacuated via the 14th Australian Field Ambulance to the 5th Divisional Dressing Station at Hooge Crater for two days, suffering shell shock, before returning to the trenches on 19th May.  He was again reverted to Private at his own request, on 9th June.

In a long overdue break from the trenches, Michael marched into a Summer Rest Camp in France on 28th June 1917.  It was during this time that he was photographed with his Battalion mates, Bruce Ernest LUKE and Charles Albert PENFOLD in a photographic studio "somewhere in France", for the postcard shared on this site.  They rejoined their Battalion on 9th July.  Michael then proceeded on leave to the U.K. from 16th September until 2nd October 1917.  He was appointed to Lance Corporal for the fourth time on the following day.

From 10th to 23rd May 1918, Michael attended the Australian Corps Gas School in Aveluy, France.  This training equipped him to instruct others in gas attack drills, proper use of gas masks, and use of gas warning devices and dispersal equipment.  He was then promoted to the rank of temporary Corporal on 23rd June, becoming substantive in that rank on 26th July.  On 1st September 1918, during an attack at Peronne in support of the 2nd Division, Michael was wounded in action for the third time, sustaining a gunshot wound to the right thigh.  This would end his involvement in the War.  He was evacuated to the 37th Casualty Clearing Station via the 9th Australian Field Ambulance, then to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen.  On the 3rd September, he was transferred to the Southern General Hospital in Birmingham, England.

Having recovered, Michael proceeded on furlough to Littlemoor Camp in Weymouth on 20th September, after which he marched into No. 2 Convalescent Depot in Weymouth on 4th October.  He then marched into No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Sutton Veny on 10th October, followed by the Overseas Training Brigade on the 24th October.  Hostilities having ended, Michael embarked to return to France on 28th November, rejoining his Battalion in La Groise on 1st December 1918.

On 13th April 1919, Michael embarked in England aboard HMAT  "Wyreema" for return to Australia, arriving in Sydney on 3rd June. He was subsequently discharged in the 2nd Military District, Sydney, on 26th July 1919, due to the termination of his period of enlistment.  Michael was later awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service.

On 17th September 1919, Michael married Elma Vera GIBBONS at the Cathedral of St Michael and St John in Bathurst, New South Wales, and they went on to have 6 children together (Elma, William, Margaret, Maisie, Noel and Patricia).

Michael James COLLINS died at his residence at 9 Waratah Street, Granville NSW, on Saturday 8th November 1952.  He was 61 years old.  He was buried at the Rookwood Catholic Cemetery at Lidcombe, New South Wales.

Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia (Service Record);  Australian War Memorial (56th Infantry Bn Unit War Diaries);  Births, Deaths and Marriages NSW;  and various newspaper articles on Trove.