Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Frederick Collins was born on 15 December 1887, the youngest of William and Elizabeth (née Bentley) Collins. William and Elizabeth married in 1871 at Timaru and had three children (two sons and a daughter) born there in the early to mid-1870s. The three eldest childre attended Timaru Main School. Young Fred started at Miss Lissaman’s School before going to Waimataitai School in 1893 then to Woodbury in 1895. Elizabeth (Bentley) Collins died in January 1897 and Frederick transferred to Waimate School in February 1897. He went back to Woodbury in September 1898, his guardian then John MacDonald, his sister Miriam’s husband. William Collins died in August 1905.

Frederick Collins registered for war service on 1 June 1916 in South Canterbury and was medically examined on 3 June at Geraldine. South Canterbury’s quota for the Nineteenth Reinforcements left for camp on 26 July 1916. The South Canterbury military district was congratulated on being able to send forward a full quota – 104 men, including F. Collins. A civic farewell took place – luncheon in Stafford Tea Rooms and speeches at the Drill Shed. Frederick attested on 27 July 1916 at Trentham. A stock agent for Farmers Co-op Stores at Geraldine, single, and Presbyterian, he named his sister as next-of-kin – Mrs J. W. Macdonald, Ealing, South Canterbury. He had served with the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles for seven years, discharged when his time expired. Large crowds witnessed the parade of the Nineteenth Reinforcements in Wellington on 15 November 1916. “The general appearance of the men was much admired, and they were given many rounds of cheers as they passed through the streets.” Lance Corporal F. Collins embarked with the 3rd Battalion of the 19th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington per the “Tahiti” on 15 November 1916 and disembarking at Devonport, England on 29 January 1917.

He was wounded and admitted to hospital in October 1917. A big contingent of returned soldiers – F. Collins, 32307, among them - arrived at Auckland on 31 January 1918. He had embarked at Avonmouth per the “Maheno” on 24 December 1917. Frederick Collins was discharged on 3 March 1918, no longer physically fit for War Service on account of wounds received in Action. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Fred returned to his position as a stock agent, residing at the Fairlie Hotel in 1919 and with the C. F.C.A. at Temuka in 1922. He was later a station hand and a shepherd. Frederick Edwin Collins – loved brother of Miriam L. Macdonald – died at Christchurch on 10 November 1953, aged 65 years, and was interred privately at Waimairi Cemetery. His headstone is inscribed thus – In loving memory of Frederick Edwin Collins, 1st N.Z.E.F. 32307, loved brother of Miriam L. Macdonald, Dec. 15th 1887 – Nov. 10th 1953. Frederick was predeceased by his older brothers; Miriam who had been widowed in 1948, died in June 1957 and was privately interred at Waimairi.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [15 April 2026]; Timaru Herald, 2 June 1916; 25 July 1916, Evening Post, 2 November 1917, 31 January 1918, Press, 11 November 1953 (Papers Past) [14 & 15 April 2026]; School Admission records (Soutth Canterbury Branch NZSG) [15 April 2026); Waimairi Cemetery headstone image (Find A Grave) [15 April 2026]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.