Joseph Henry Collin VC

b. 10/04/1893 Jarrow, South Tyneside. d. 09/04/1918 Givenchy, France.

Joseph Henry Collin (1893-1918) was born in Jarrow, County Durham on 11th April 1893. His father, also named Joseph, was an engine fitter. He married Fanny Eliza Mursell on 26th August 1876 at the Church of St John the Baptist, Northwood, Isle of Wight. She was a general servant in 1861, and was serving in the home of Richard Barrow in 1871 in Cowes. Sadly, she died in 1885. Joseph senior remarried in 1887 to Mary McDermond (sometimes spelt McDermott and McDermont). They were living in Carlisle by 1891. Joseph junior had eight siblings from his father’s two marriages, all born in Carlisle, except the eldest, George, who was born on Isle of Wight.

Joseph was educated at St Patrick’s School, Carlisle. He was employed by clothier Messrs Joseph Hepworth & Son of Leeds, Yorkshire. Joseph enlisted in 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Dunoon on 7th January 1915. He was appointed acting lance corporal on 18th November 1915 and acting corporal on 2nd February 1916 but reverted to private when he embarked for France on 1st August 1916 to join 19th Infantry Base Depot. He joined 1/6th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Pioneers) on 27th August, serving in 16 Platoon, D Company. He was an acting sergeant when he applied for a commission on 30th January 1917 and returned to Britain on 21st February to attend officer training at 9th or 10th Officer Cadet Battalion, Gailes, Ayrshire. He was commissioned in 1/4th King’s Own on 29th August and was described as 5ft 8in, with medium complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair and his religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He joined the Battalion in France in October.

Joseph H Collin VC

On 9th April 1918 at Givenchy, France, Collin, with only five of his men remaining, slowly withdrew in the face of superior numbers, contesting every inch of the ground. The enemy were pressing him hard with bombs and machine-gun fire from close range. Single-handed 2nd Lt. Collin attacked the machine gun and team. After firing his revolver into the enemy, he seized a Mills grenade and threw it into the hostile team, putting the gun out of action, killing four of the team and wounding two others. Observing a second hostile machine gun firing, he took a Lewis gun, and selecting a high point of vantage on the parapet whence he could engage the gun, he, unaided, kept the enemy at bay until he fell mortally wounded.

Collin was originally buried in King’s Liverpool Graveyard at Cuinchy. After the war his remains were reinterred in Vielle-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, Lacouture. His posthumous VC was gazetted on 28th June 1918, and less than a month later, on 25th July, his parents were presented with the medal by King George V at Buckingham Palace. He is also commemorated with the Collin VC Memorial Shield, donated by the family in 1919, and last awarded in 1988, with Collin Place in Carlisle, on the family headstone in Carlisle Cemetery, on Carlisle War Memorial, with a blue plaque at Petteril Terrace, Carlisle, on a plaque in the Regimental Chapel in Lancaster, a plaque at Palmer Community Hospital, Jarrow, and with two VC commemorative stones at Joseph Collin House in Jarrow, and at Carlisle War Memorial.

In addition to the VC he was awarded the British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-19. The VC only was presented to the Regiment in 1956. It is held by the King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment Museum, Lancaster. Joseph’s memorial plaque was auctioned in Carlisle on 11th August 2006. It was purchased by the Museum for £2,500, assisted by public donations, and is displayed alongside his VC.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: ROYAL LANCASTER REGIMENT MUSEUM, LANCASTER.

BURIAL PLACE: VIELLE-CHAPELLE CEMETERY, LACOUTURE, FRANCE.

PLOT III, ROW A, GRAVE 11