Frederick Edward-Collins

Sir Frederick Edward-Collins

Edward-Collins as Acting Governor and Commander in Chief of the Fortress of Gibraltar
Birth name George Frederick Basset Edward-Collins
Born (1883-12-26)26 December 1883
Bodmin, Cornwall
Died 17 February 1958(1958-02-17) (aged 74)
Lostwithiel, Cornwall
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Years of service 1898–1944
Rank Admiral
Commands held 18th Cruiser Squadron
2nd Cruiser Squadron
HMS Renown
HMS Comus
HMS Carysfort
Battles/wars Boxer Rebellion
First World War
Second World War
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Mentioned in Despatches
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Order of Polonia Restituta, fourth Class (Poland)
Relations Major General Charles Edward-Collins (brother)

Admiral Sir George Frederick Basset Edward-Collins KCB, KCVO, ADC, DL (26 December 1883 – 17 February 1958) was a British senior officer in the Royal Navy during the first half of the twentieth century.[1][2]

Early life

Edward-Collins was born in Bodmin, Cornwall,[3] the son of Edward Charles Edward-Collins, a local landowner. He was the younger brother of Charles Edward-Collins.[4][5]

Naval career

Edward-Collins enrolled in the navy on 15 January 1898.[6] He served as a midshipman on the HMS Goliath in 1900.[7] During the First World War Edward-Collins served on both the HMS Superb and HMS Tiger.[8]

Edward-Collins commanded the light cruisers HMS Carysfort from April till September 1925, and HMS Comus from September 1925 till April 1927. He was also captain of the battlecruiser HMS Renown from December 1930 till March 1932,[9] and was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet on 13 September 1935.[10] From 1938 until 1940 he commanded the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, and later in 1940 he became second in command of the Home Fleet.[7] In 1942,[7] during the Second World War, Edward-Collins served as the acting Governor and Commander in Chief of the Fortress of Gibraltar.[11] He reached the rank of Admiral on 21 January 1943,[3] and retired on 7 February 1944.[3]

Awards and recognition

Edward-Collins became Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on 17 June 1939.[12] He was mentioned in dispatches in 1940,[13] and became Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 1 January 1941.[14] He was awarded the Order Odrodzenia Polski (4th class) in recognition of services to the Polish Navy[15][16] on 22 December 1942.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Gregory-Smith, Frank (2008). Red Tobruk. Pen and Sword. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-84415-862-1.
  2. ↑ "Edward-Collins, Admiral Sir (George) Frederick (Basset)". Who Was Who (online ed.). Oxford University Press. April 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  3. 1 2 3 "Admiral Sir George Frederick Basset Edward-Collins K.C.B., K.C.V.O.". admirals.org.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945". unithistories.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015. line feed character in |title= at position 26 (help)
  5. ↑ "Indian Army Officers 1939-1945". unithistories.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015. line feed character in |title= at position 21 (help)
  6. ↑ "Name Edward-Collins, George Frederick Basset Date of Birth: 26 December 1883 ...". The National Archives. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 Gilbert, Martin (2000). The Churchill War Papers: The Ever-Widening War 1941. Ebury Publishing. p. 452. ISBN 9780434007394. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "The Ottawa Journal from Ottawa, · Page 12". The Ottawa Journal. 16 May 1939. p. 12. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  9. ↑ "Royal Navy Warship" (PDF). Gulabin. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  10. ↑ Svonavec, Stephen. "Royal Navy Flag Officers, December 1, 1937". Fleet Organization Web Site. Stephen Svonavec. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "ANDES, General (C-in-C Polish Forces in Russia). Visits Gibraltar..inspects rock's defences w. acting Gov: Sir F.E.Collins & other officials". ITN Source. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  12. ↑ Christopher McCreery (2008). On Her Majesty's Service: Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada. Dundurn. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-77070-282-0.
  13. ↑ "Supplement to the London Gazette, 11 July 1940" (PDF). The Gazette. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 January 1941" (PDF). The Gazette. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  15. ↑ Andrzej S. Bartelski. Polish decorations for British Royal Navy personnel. Warsaw.
  16. ↑ "Admiralty Fleet Orders" (PDF). Australian Navy. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette. 22 December 1942. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
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