Tasmanian War Casualties

WW1

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Collins, Vivian Phillip

Born 4^th May 1895 Launceston Tasmania to Lewis Pratt and Julia Cecilia Collins (nee Oram) an orchardist who embarked Adelaide 10^th February 1917 on board “HMAT Seang Bee” with the 12^th Infantry Battalion

He was resting in a shell hole on Anzac Ridge when another shell landed right on top of him killing him instantly on 30^th October 1917. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium

Through the medium of the Reverend H N Baker, rector of St John’s, Mr and Mrs Lewis P Collins of “Westella” Trevallyn on Saturday received the sad news that their second son, Private Vivian Phillip Collins, had been killed in action on October 30^th. In Private Collins a very fine stamp of young man has laid down his life for his country in his 23^rd year. In early youth Private Collins aspired to a military career and on leaving high school went up for admission to the military college at Duntroon but was unsuccessful. He then took up orcharding on the West Tamar but the war came, and with it the call to duty. As soon as he was of age he enlisted. While at school he had been in the cadets and qualified for a commission but the papers went astray and could never be traced. At Claremont he went through the non coms school coming out on top and was sent along the North West Coast in connection with the formation of a camp of instruction at Stanley but eventually went to the officers’ school at Duntroon although he fully qualified for a commission he did not get it on account of his age being under 23. He left Tasmania at the beginning of February last and arrived at Salisbury Plain early in May. He went away from here as Company Sergeant Major but like others who went with reinforcements he was unable to retain his stripes. He was sent to the non coms school of instruction at Tidworth where he obtained one of the best certificates ever issued from the school and also a recommendation that he should be sent to the officer’s school at Oxford. Owing to his not having been to the front the recommendation was not entertained and he was sent to the officers’ school at Salisbury Plain where he passed out fourth obtaining an average of 81% of marks for all subjects. He left for the front on September 27^th and would no doubt, after having seen some service, soon have got a commission. Unfortunately for a young man of so much promise he was killed just about a month after landing in France. Private Collins was a splendid athlete and a good oarsman. He rowed with a winning crew for his school. He belonged to the Tamar Rowing and Union Jack gymnasium clubs. He was also a member of the Lodge of Hope. Wherever he went, he was well liked and all who knew him will regret to hear of his death.

The Weekly Courier 22^nd November 1917

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Tasmanian War Casualties, Honouring the past, building understanding.