Royal Air Force"},"serviceyears":{"wt":"1915–1919"},"rank":{"wt":"Captain"},"unit":{"wt":"[[Dundee Fortress Royal Engineers|City of Dundee (Fortress) Engineers]]
[[Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)]]
[[Alexandra,Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment)]]
[[No. 18 Squadron RAF]]"},"commands":{"wt":""},"battles":{"wt":"World War I"},"awards":{"wt":"[[Military Cross]]"},"relations":{"wt":""},"laterwork":{"wt":""}},"i":0}}]}" id="mwBw">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-header,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-subheader,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-above,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-title,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-image,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-below{text-align:center}
Lewis Isaac Collins | |
---|---|
Born | Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland | 7 November 1894
Died | 1 June 1971 76) Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland | (aged
Buried | Western Cemetery, Dundee |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1915–1919 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | City of Dundee (Fortress) Engineers Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment) No. 18 Squadron RAF |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Awards | Military Cross |
Captain Lewis Isaac Collins MC (born 7 November 1894 – 1 June 1971) was a Scottish World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. [1]
Collins was born in Dundee, Scotland, the son of Isaac John and Helen Isles (née McFee) Collins. He was educated at the High School of Dundee. [2]
He first served as a sapper in the City of Dundee (Fortress) Engineers, a Royal Engineers Territorial Force unit, before being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) on 20 September 1915. [3] He was soon transferred, joining the 10th (Service) Battalion [1] of Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment) on 27 September 1915. [4] He was promoted to lieutenant on 27 March 1917, [5] and to captain on 1 May 1917. [6]
Collins was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps and posted to No. 18 Squadron as an observer/gunner. Between 25 March and 17 June 1918, with pilot Captain David A. Stewart flying an Airco DH.4, he gained five victories, and in September was awarded the Military Cross. [1] He was transferred to the unemployed list on 25 February 1919. [7]
On 21 September 1927, following the death of his father, Collins and his brother David, took over and continued the family business of I. J. Collins, Tailors and Clothiers, of 12–14 Whitehall Street, Dundee. [8]
On 18 October 1939, soon after the start of World War II, Collins was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the National Defence Company. [9]
Collins died in Dundee on 1 June 1971, and is buried in the Western Cemetery there. [1]
Wing Commander Hubert Dinwoodie, was an officer in the Royal Air Force and a recipient of the George Cross shortly after the end of the Second World War for defusing bombs in Germany in 1946.
Captain Gerald Gordon Bell was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with sixteen aerial victories while serving in the British Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force.
Group Captain Geoffrey Hilton "Beery" Bowman, was a British First World War fighter ace credited with 32 victories. After attaining the rank of major in the Royal Flying Corps, he later became a group captain in the Royal Air Force.
Flight Lieutenant James Anderson Slater was a British First World War flying ace, credited with 24 aerial victories. He served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) as an instructor after the war until killed in a flying accident.
Flight Lieutenant Frank Neville Hudson was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.
Flight Lieutenant William Geoffrey Meggitt was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.
Lieutenant Frank Tremar Sibly Menendez was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.
Captain Herbert James Hamilton was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.
Douglas Alfred Savage, (1892–1967) was a British flying ace of the First World War, credited with seven aerial victories.
Lieutenant Colonel Alan Machin Wilkinson was a British First World War flying ace credited with nineteen aerial victories. He was one of only about 25 pilots twice awarded the DSO during the war, five of whom were also holders of the Victoria Cross.
Lieutenant-Colonel William Earle Molesworth was a British First World War flying ace credited with eighteen aerial victories.
Wing Commander Cyril Marconi Crowe was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 victories.
Captain Ronald Frank Strickland Mauduit was a British cavalry officer and First World War flying ace credited with nine aerial victories.
Captain Ian Patrick Robert Napier was a Scottish World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.
Lieutenant Colonel Spencer Bertram Horn was a British soldier and World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. Although seconded to aviation duty during the First World War, he returned to his Dragoon Guards regiment after the war ended. Horn then served in India in the 1920s and 1930s, while his cavalry unit modernised to tanks. Horn would serve in India during the Second World War, and retire from active duty on 3 October 1946, and from the reserves on 15 November 1950.
Wing Commander Gwilym Hugh Lewis was a British flying ace during World War I. He was credited with 12 confirmed aerial victories. He went on to a very successful career as an insurance broker. Lewis was the next to last surviving British ace from the war, as well as the longest lived, dying eight months before his hundredth birthday. His wide range of friends included Prime Minister Winston Churchill, playwright Noël Coward, and fellow aces Stan Dallas, Mick Mannock, and George McElroy.
Captain William Lewis Wells was a British World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories. His exceptional valour twice won him the Military Cross.
Captain Cecil James Marchant was an English flying ace during World War I. He was credited with nine aerial victories.
Captain John William Aldred was an English World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. He began military service in World War I as an infantryman and transferred to flight duty as an observer. After scoring two aerial victories and winning the Military Cross, he qualified as a fighter pilot, scored six more triumphs, and earned a Bar to his MC in lieu of a second award.
Captain Alfred John Brown was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.