King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Victoria Cross Holders of the King's Own Royal Regiment

2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin VC

Victoria Cross awarded posthumously to 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin, 1st/4th (Territorial Force) Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

Joseph Henry Collin was born on 11th April, 1893 in Jarrow, County Durham, and later moved to Carlisle, where he was educated at St. Patrick’s School. At the outbreak of war he was working at Hepworths in Carlisle, but in 1915 he enlisted in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders with whom he served in France, being promoted to Sergeant.  He had three numbers with the Argylls, 2692, 7468 and then 253892.  He was selected for a commission, and then was posted in October 1917 as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 1st/4th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment in France.

During extremely heavy fighting near Givenchy on 9th April, 1918 he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for the following action:-

“For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice in action.

After offering a long and gallant resistance against heavy odds in the Keep held by his platoon, this officer, 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 Lieutenant Collin attacked the machine gun 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.

The heroic self-sacrifice of 2nd Lieutenant Collin was a magnificent example to all.”

2nd Lieutenant Collin is buried in Vielle-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, France. Every year Carlisle schools compete for the ‘Collin Shield’, a trophy for a mile race presented in his memory by his family. His Victoria Cross was presented to the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum by his family in 1956.

2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin VC
Accession Number: KO1017/141 and KO2590/375

The Victoria Cross of 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin VC.
Accession Number: KO0838/01

World War One Memorial Plaque for 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin VC, which was acquired by the museum at auction supported by a public appeal and funding from the MLA/V&A Museum Purchase Grant Fund.
Accession Number: KO2647/01

Original Grave of 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin, King's Liverpool graveyard in Cuinchy, it was later relocated to Vielle Chapelle British Military Cemetery.
Accession Number: KO2897/01

View of King's Liverpool Graveyard in Cuinchy
Accession Number: KO2897/02

Recommendation for the award of the Victoria Cross to 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin VC.  This is a carbon copy of the original hand-written recommendation.
Accession Number: KOLIB0186/02-753

Statement of Evidence for the award of the Victoria Cross to 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin VC.
Accession Number: KOLIB0186/02-754

Statement of Evidence for the award of the Victoria Cross to 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin VC.
Accession Number: KOLIB0186/02-755

Givenchy Sector, 9th June 1918
Accession Number: KOLIB0186/01-063

Part of the above map showing Orchard Keep.
Accession Number KOLIB0186/01-063