Roy Collins (1921 - 1943)

Born 8 Jan 1921 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Died 5 Nov 1943 at age 22 in Thailand

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Biography

Roy Collins was born in New South Wales, Australia

Roy Collins was a prisoner of war during the Second World War.

Roy Collins died as a prisoner-of-war in Thailand during the Second World War.

On 4th November 1941 Roy enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force, his nation's all-volunteer expeditionary force for the fast-escalating Second World War. Indeed, just weeks later the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and invaded Malaya. ^[2] Posted to the 2/15th Field Regiment, Australian Artillery, a unit of the 8th Division, he was rushed to Singapore following a very brief training. He became a prisoner-of-war on 15th February 1942 when the entire garrison was ordered to surrender before the overwhelming Japanese forces. After initially incarcerated in the sprawling Changi Prison, Roy became one of the POWs 'selected' for work on the infamous Burma-Thai Railway as one of Japan's slaves. Aged just 22 years, he died as a result of illness and malnutrition on 5th November 1943. Roy Collins' name is located at panel 15 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra and at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Mon State, Myanmar. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #173/1921
2. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: NX50429 Gunner Roy Collins; accessed 8 Nov 2022
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial roll of honour: NX50429 Gunner Roy Collins; accessed 8 Nov 2022

• Roy Collins (The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/ : accessed 16 Mar 2024)