John Augustine Collins
Sir John Augustine Collins | |
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HM Australian Squadron (1944, 1945–46) (1935–37, 1939–41)Task Force 74 (1944–45) HMAS Shropshire (1943–44) China Force (1942) HMAS Sydney | |
Battles/wars |
|
Awards | Mentioned in Despatches (United States)Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands) Officer of the Legion of Merit |
Other work | High Commissioner to New Zealand (1956–62) |
Early life and education
John Augustine Collins was born in
Second World War
In the early
Relations between the RAN and
Following the outbreak of
After the
Collins was then appointed Senior Naval Officer, Western Australia, based at
During 1943, Collins commanded HMAS Shropshire and took part in the Bougainville campaign, the Battle of Cape Gloucester, and operations off the Admiralty Islands and Hollandia (Dutch New Guinea).[1]
In mid-1944, Collins was made commander of the Australian-US Navy Task Force 74, and commander of the Australian Naval Squadron, with HMAS Australia as his flagship. He became the first graduate of the RAN College to command a naval squadron in action, during the bombardment of Noemfoor, on 2 July 1944.
Collins was badly wounded in the first kamikaze attack in history, which hit Australia on 21 October 1944, in the lead up to the Battle of Leyte Gulf.[1] He did not resume his command until July 1945. When the war ended Collins was the RAN's representative at the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay.[1]
Post-war service and legacy
Collins was appointed
The latest class of Australian submarine, the
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Vice Admiral Sir John Augustine Collins". Royal Australian Navy.
- ^ "No. 34907". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 July 1940. p. 4653.
- ^ "The Order of the Bath – Companion (Military) (Imperial) (CBE) entry for Vice Admiral John Augustine COLLINS". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 July 1940. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
HMAS Sydney-Colleoni action
- ^ "No. 35823". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 December 1942. p. 5461.
- ^ L, Klemen (1999–2000). "Commodore John Augustine Collins". Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942.
- ^ "No. 39105". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1950. p. 35.
- ^ "The Order of the British Empire – Knights Commander (Military) (Imperial) (KBE) entry for Vice Admiral John Augustine COLLINS, CB". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 January 1951. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Australia's Argonauts: The remarkable story of the first class to enter the Royal Australian Naval College. Canberra: Echo Books. 2016. p. 580.
Further reading
- L, Klemen (2000). "Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942".