John Collins VC – Centenary Commemoration – 2017

A Commemoration of the Centenary of the Award of the Victoria Cross to Sergeant John Collins, 25th Welsh Horse and Montgomeryshire Yeomanry will take place at :
West Hatch Parish Church and Village Hall on Sunday, 29 October 2017

As part of the Centenary commemorations of World War I the Department of Communities and Local Government will lay commemorative paving stones in the birth place of each Victoria Cross recipient, to honour their bravery and to provide a lasting legacy within the communities of their local heroes. The Victoria Cross was introduced by 1856 by Queen Victoria to honour acts of valour during the Crimean War. The bronze Cross is cast from the metal of Russian guns captured at Sevastopol during the Crimean campaign. During World War I a total of 628 Victoria Crosses were awarded, 145 of these were awarded to servicemen born overseas, in 19 countries, who fought for Britain. Sergeant John Collins VC is the only Somerset born VC holder from the First World War. He was born locally in Bickenhall on 10th September 1877.

Details of the Commemoration Programme and of the Citation for Sgt. John Collins VC appear below:

 

Programme of Commemoration of the Centenary of the Award of the Victoria Cross to Sergeant John Collins

Citation for John Collins VC (1877 -1951)