COLLINS, William Herbert
| Service Number: | 3748 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 August 1915, Bendigo, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, April 1892 |
| Home Town: | Golden Square, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Marist Brothers College Bendigo |
| Occupation: | Farm hand |
| Died: | Influenza, Sutton Veny, United Kingdom, 1 February 1919 |
| Cemetery: |
Tidworth Military Cemetery, England Row A, Grave No. 72 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor, Bendigo Marist Brothers College Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3748, Bendigo, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3748, 5th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3748, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 25 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3748, 5th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , GSW to left arm. Evacuated to England. Rejoined unit 7 January 1917. | |
| 15 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3748, 5th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line, Lagnicourt | |
| 4 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3748, 5th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second) | |
| 20 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3748, 5th Infantry Battalion, Menin Road | |
| 22 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 5th Infantry Battalion, Belgium | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3748, 5th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge | |
| 14 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3748, 5th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, Hazebrouck | |
| 9 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3748, 5th Infantry Battalion, The Battle of Amiens, Lihons | |
| 18 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3748, 5th Infantry Battalion, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, Outpost Line | |
| 1 Feb 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3748, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3748 awm_unit: 5 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1919-02-01 |
Brothers
William was one of four brothers from Bendigo who enlisted. Brothers Clune (lied and enlisted at 16), Frank and Leo survived all the way from Gallipoli. Leo from the first day. All 4 were wounded and returned to the fighting a number of times. Against the odds the joyful news was received at home that all 4 had survived the war. Then came the news that William had died while waiting to be shipped home. His mother had a stroke at the news and died soon after.
Submitted 21 July 2024 by Colin Fordham
Biography contributed by Robert Wight
A farm labourer from Bendigo, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte Collins embarked with the 12th Reinforcements, 5th Battalion from Melbourne on HMAT Ceramic on 23 November 1915.
Later wounded in the left arm he was evacuated to England. Following his recovery he re-joined his battalion and was promoted to Lance Corporal.
Subsequently developing pneumonia he was again evacuated to England and admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital where, on 1 February 1919, he succumbed to his illness and was buried in the Tidworth Military Cemetery, Wiltshire, England with full military honours.
Source: AWM
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