Awarded for actions at the Battle of Beersheba, 31st October 1917

"For most conspicuous bravery, resource and leadership when, after deployment, prior to an attack, his battalion was forced to lie out in the open under heavy shell and machine-gun fire which caused many casualties. This gallant non-commissioned officer repeatedly went out under heavy fire and brought wounded back to cover, thus saving many lives.

In subsequent operations throughout the day, Corporal Collins was conspicuous in rallying and leading his command. He led the final assault with the utmost skill in spite of heavy fire at close range and uncut wire. He bayonetted fifteen of the enemy and, with a Lewis gun section, pressed on beyond the objective and covered the reorganisation and consolidation most effectively although isolated and under fire from snipers and guns.

He showed throughout a magnificent example of initiative and fearlessness"

John Collins moved with his family from Somerset to Merthyr Tydfil when he was 10 years old. He enlisted in the Royal Horse Artillery at he age of 17 and saw action in the Second Boer War in South Africa, whilst also serving in India.

At the outbreak of WW1, John re-enlisted with the Welsh Horse Yeomanry, which later merged into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. In 1915, he was sent to Gallipoli before being evactuated to Egypt and then moving to Palestine.

On 31st October 1917 during the Battle of Beersheba at Wadi Saba, John's battalion was forced to lie out in the open under heavy shell bombardment and machine gun fire. He repeatedly went out and rescued many wounded men and in later operatrions, rallied his troops and led a final assualt against the enemy with great skill, in spite of uncut wire and heavy close range fire. He bayoneted 15 enemy troops and covered the reorganisation and consolidation with a Lewis gun, even though he was isolated and under continual sniper fire.

It was from these actions that John was awarded the Victoria Cross and decorated by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 1th June 1918.

John is buried at Pant Cemetery, Merthyr Tydfil and his medals are on display at the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, Caernarfon Castle.

The following is an extract from Heart of a Dragon – the VCs of Wales and the Welsh Regiments. 1914-82 by W. Alister Williams;

As dawn broke over the eastern horizon, the Turkish artillery opened with very accurate shrapnel fire on the British troops on the hills and at 06.48, D and A Companies moved forward into the heavy shrapnel fire and, as soon as they came within range, into machine-gun fire. Just over half an hour later, a message was received that the British artillery were having to cease firing as they were unable to see their targets because of the dust. Despite this, and ignoring their casualties, the battalion edged forward to the final crest of the hills before charging the enemy positions. Every effort was made to silence the Turkish machine-guns but to no avail, and the battalion paid a very heavy price in men killed or wounded.

The ridge was traversed with a hail of lead and a line of dead, all shot through the head, that marked the limit of the advance testified alike to the determination of the attack and to the accuracy of the Turkish shooting. It became clear that to call on men shooting from behind no sort of cover to use their rifles against machine-guns very strongly entrenched was throwing away lives to no purpose. Automatically everyone drew in under cover of the last ridge and waited for some turn in the battle which would afford the infantry the opportunity to push on and bring matters to a definite conclusion. (Historical Records of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry).

The sight of so many of his comrades lying exposed in front of the ridge was too much for Collins. With total disregard for his own safety, he rushed forward several times to bring the wounded back behind the ridge from where they could be carried back to receive emergency medical treatment.

Over to their right, the 60 Division had been held up whilst trying to take Hill 1070 and the limited artillery was concentrated on that area of the front. This precarious situation continued for several hours and at about 11.00, Capt Fitzhugh, leading the Lewis Gun section stood up to try and identify the position of a Turkish machine-gun which was causing his men considerable problems. As he panned across the front with his binoculars, he was shot in the head by a sniper and killed. Although only a junior NCO, Collins was now acting a rallying point for the men in his section and others around him. Less than an hour later, the artillery switched its fire to the Turkish positions in front of the 74 Division and obliterated a particularly strong redoubt in front of the 25 RWF. This had an immediate effect and the fire from the Turks in front died down as their trenches disappeared under the barrage of exploding shells. The infantry then fixed bayonets and advanced through the still uncut wire defences, enfiladed by rifle and machine-gun fire as they tried to take what little cover there was. Within a few minutes, they had captured the enemy position, killing large numbers and taking 140 prisoners. Collins was at the forefront of this charge and is reported to have bayonetted fifteen of the Turkish defenders. Having secured the trench, he then led members of the Lewis gun section and set up defences ready to repel any possible counter-attack. The fighting in this sector ended at about 15.00. Miraculously, despite being under fire for over nine hours, Collins escaped unscathed. The attack had cost the battalion 2230 casualties.