John Collins (VC)

Braving fire, he brought wounded men back alive at Beersheba

John Collins (VC, DCM) was a Welsh soldier whose career stretched from the South African War to the First World War campaigns in Gallipoli and Palestine. Born in West Hatch, Somerset, he moved with his family to Merthyr Tydfil as a boy. He enlisted in the Royal Horse Artillery in 1895 and served in South Africa during the Boer War, and later in India. After leaving the Army, he worked as a collier in South Wales. He enlisted in the Welsh Horse Yeomanry, which served as infantry at Gallipoli. The unit later moved to Egypt and became part of the garrison in the Libyan desert before joining the 25th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Collins served in Palestine, where his Distinguished Conduct Medal recognised further bravery at Foka in November 1917, after his Victoria Cross action.

At Beersheba on 31 October 1917, the battalion was pinned down in exposed ground by heavy shell and machine-gun fire, with many men wounded. Collins repeatedly crossed the fire-swept area to bring wounded soldiers back to cover. As the attack developed, he rallied and led his men through close-range fire and uncut wire. In the final assault he used his bayonet against the defenders, then advanced with a Lewis-gun section beyond the objective. Though isolated and under fire from snipers and guns, he helped cover the reorganization and consolidation of the position. His repeated rescues and leadership kept the attack moving through a dangerous phase of the battle and saved the lives of wounded men.

Collins was promoted to sergeant and received the Victoria Cross from King George V at Buckingham Palace in June 1918. He was later wounded in France and discharged in 1919. After returning to civilian life, he worked as a security guard at Dowlais Steelworks and remained connected to his community and regiment. During the Second World War he served in the Home Guard at Dowlais. He died in Merthyr Tydfil in 1951 and was buried at Pant Cemetery. His Victoria Cross is held by the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum.

The Victoria Cross citation describes Collins repeatedly going forward under heavy shell and machine-gun fire to rescue wounded men. It also records his role in rallying his unit, leading the final assault through close-range fire and uncut wire, and helping the Lewis-gun section secure the captured ground while isolated under continued enemy fire. The award was gazetted in The London Gazette, issue 30433, 14 December 1917.

Sources: Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Regeneration Trust, “John Collins V.C., D.C.M., M.M.”; Imperial War Museums, War Memorials Register, “Sgt J Collins VC DCM MM”; Victoria Cross Online, “John Collins VC DCM”; The London Gazette, issue 30433, 14 December 1917, Victoria Cross citation for John Collins.

[Biographical and award record](https://www.victoriacross.org.uk/pucollin.htm)