COLLISSON, Frederick Norman
| Service Numbers: | 2613, 2613B |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 July 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | East Sheen, England, 21 October 1893 |
| Home Town: | Crafers, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | St Peter's College, Adelaide South Australia |
| Occupation: | Jackaroo |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 1 October 1916, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm) Plot 6, Row M, Grave 26, |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Crafers WW1 Memorial, Hackney St Peter's College Fallen Honour Board, North Adelaide Christ Church Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 2613, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' |
|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2613, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 1 Oct 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2613B, 10th Infantry Battalion |
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Embarkation Roll (static.awm.gov.au) incorrectly records Surname spelling as COLLINSON
"LATE PTE. F. N. COLLISSON.
The Rev. R. K. Collisson, B.A., and Mrs. Collisson, of the Rectory, Crafers, have been officially informed of the death of their son, Pte. Frederick N. Collisson, who was killed in action in France on October 1." - from the Adelaide Observer 04 Nov 1916 (nla.gov.au)
From the book Fallen Saints
Frederick Norman Collisson of Crafers, South Australia was born in East Sheen, London and migrated to Australia with his family when he was three years old.
During his time at St Peter's College he served two years in the cadets and after leaving school worked in the country as a station hand. After enlisting at Keswick on 2 August 1915 and a short stint at Exhibition Camp, he joined the 6th quota of reinforcements for the 27th Battalion.
Private Collisson (listed on embarkation roll as Collinson) sailed from Adelaide aboard HMAT Benalla on 27 October 1915 and was posted to the 10th Battalion in Egypt.
Near the end of March, 2613b Private Collisson proceeded to France aboard the Saxonia and remained with the battalion until he was killed in action at Hill 60 on 1 October 1916; he was 22 years of age.
Witness Statements [i]
When interviewed by a Red Cross representative in February 1917, Private Harold Tierney correctly reported that prior to joining the 10th Battalion in Egypt, Collisson was with the 6th reinforcements for the 27th Battalion. According to Tierney, Collisson was a machine gunner and cook and was hit by a ‘Wis-bang’ shell and killed instantly at Ypres. ‘I didn’t see him hit, but saw him afterwards lying on a stretcher. He was buried about 200 yards away. His number should be 2613B.’
In April 1917, Private Gillen Lucas said during an interview that he saw Collisson killed by a shell, and heard him say, ‘Oh, I’m hit.’ Lucas said Frederick had died almost immediately and that he was buried by the battalion Pioneers at the Ypres Salient. Referring to Collisson as ‘Colly’, he said he saw him carried to the grave and described him as short with medium colouring.
Private William Balnaves when interviewed in April 1917 said he saw the Pioneers digging his grave. ‘His body was beside it covered in a blanket. I was not on duty and asked whose body it was. I don’t know whether it is a military cemetery but there were fifty or sixty other graves. I knew him fairly well. I understand 7 were killed by the same shell. He was in M.G.’
Private Godfrey Worrall said he and others were sitting in a trench when the battalion was in the front line at Ypres when about 1.30 p m a ‘whizbang got Collisson in the forehead and other parts of his body.’ Worrall who claimed to have been nearby said Collisson was killed instantly. ‘We left the body covered over for the pioneers to bury and left that locality the same afternoon. Collisson joined up in August 16, after Pozieres.’
Frederick’s older brother Donald enlisted in May 1916 and served in the 28th Battalion; he was wounded in 1917 and returned to Australia in 1918.
[i] Australian War Memorial, Australian Red Cross wounded and missing enquiry bureau files – Collisson, Frederick Norman / 0771208 viewed 21 October 2005
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