Edwin Daniel COLLINGS

Edwin Daniel COLLINGS Update Details

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COLLINGS, Edwin Daniel

Service Number:	799
Enlisted:	14 December 1915, An original member of D Company
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	40th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 3 November 1889
Home Town:	Launceston, Launceston, Tasmania
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Machinist
Died:	Killed in action, France, 28 March 1918, aged 28 years
Cemetery:	Heilly Station Cemetery Plot VII, Row A, Grave No. 46.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Launceston Cenotaph

World War 1 Service

14 Dec 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 799, 40th Infantry Battalion, An original member of D Company
1 Jul 1916:	Involvement Private, 799, 40th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: ''
1 Jul 1916:	Embarked Private, 799, 40th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Hobart

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Edwin Daniel Collings was awarded a Military Medal, 'For conspicuous and gallantry and devotion to duty in action East of Ypres on 4th October 1917. The Company to which he belonged was held up by an enemy strong-point. The Lewis Gun near this point being out of action, Private Collings rushed forward with his rifle, shot two of the enemy and took the remainder prisoner, thus enabling his Company to go forward. Throughout the action, he displayed great courage and initiative and set a fine example to the rest of his Company.'

Collings was killed in action on 28 March 1918 and the following account from the Red Cross wounded and missing file of Arthur Bonser of the 40th Battalion, a mate of Bonser reported, “He was buried by a shell at Heilly near Mericourt at about 4pm on the 28 March, with three other men, Ptes. J.Roughly, and Jack Collins of both of D Company 13th Platoon and H.Briggs of C Company. I came up about a quarter of an hour after it happened and they had not been dug up but the bodies were recovered the same night. They had all been killed outright. They were buried the next day close by the church of Heilly.”

All four above named men are buried in the same row in the Heilly Station Cemetery.

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