COLLINGS, Norman Clarence
| Service Number: | 2825 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Norwood, South Australia, Australia, 23 April 1890 |
| Home Town: | Evandale, Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fishmonger |
| Died: | Accidental injuries, Adelaide, South Australia, 23 March 1920, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
Payneham Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Norwood St Bartholomew's Anglican Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2825, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2825, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide | |
| 21 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2825, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
| 21 Aug 1916: | Imprisoned Mouquet Farm | |
| 29 Apr 1920: | Honoured Military Medal | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 2825, 10th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Norman Collings was a fishmonger, from Norwood, South Australia. He married Martha Alice Tingay during August 1915, in between his date of enlistment and his embarkation for overseas in September 1915.
Norman was captured by the Germans during an attack by the 10th Battalion on the Pozieres, Mouquet Farm position on 21 August 1916. He had been wounded in the face by shrapnel.
In late September 1917 he and two men escaped from their German prisoner of war camp and made their way on foot, mostly at night, to the Dutch border. The three were all later awarded a Military Medal for their effort. He arrived in England on 4 November 1917. Due to the fact he was an escaped prisoner of war, Collings was sent home to Australia during March 1918.
Tragically, Norman Collings, his wife and their three year old son all perished in fire/explosion in their family restaurant in King William Street, Adelaide, in March 1920. Norman's Military Medal, which he he had not received, was held in trust for his surviving 18 month son.
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