Sapper Duncan Collins

Duncan Collins was born at Liverpool, England, on 30 June 1901. A draughtsman by trade, he had completed an eight-year apprenticeship with Northern Electric and was working as a mechanical draughtsman at Dominion Engineering Works in Lachine, Quebec, before enlisting at Montreal on 14 July 1941. He had also served in the Canadian Army Reserve in 1940–41. Collins enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Canadian Artillery and transferred to the Royal Canadian Engineers effective 16 March 1942, serving thereafter as a Sapper and military draughtsman. His overseas service from November 1941 to September 1945 included the United Kingdom, Italy and Northwest Europe. He was awarded the 1939–45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and War Medal 1939–45. He was discharged at Montreal South on 18 October 1945 on demobilization. Duncan Collins died at Chateauguay, Quebec, on 4 November 1981, aged 80.

1901-06-30 — Born
1941-07-14 — Joined on enlistment as Gunner, Royal Canadian Artillery
1941-07-19 — Transferred at own request to 1st Survey Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
1941-07-21 — Proceeded on command to Craig Street Drill Hall
1941-08-01 — Proceeded on command and attached for all purposes to C.A.(B) Training Centre 41
1941-10-01 — Attached to Canadian Artillery Training Centre A1
1941-10-21 — Ceased attachment and transferred to Support Group, 5th Canadian Armoured Division
1941-10-22 — Taken on strength, Headquarters Support Group, 5th Canadian Armoured Division
1941-10-22 — Qualified as Draughtsman (Topographical), Group C; granted Group C trade pay
1941-10-24 to 1941-10-27 — Proceeded on and returned from special leave
1941-11-13 — Taken on strength Canadian Army Overseas; overseas service began
1941-11-23 — Disembarked and attached to 17th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, for rations/quarters
1941-12-08 to 1941-12-13 — Granted landing leave and returned
1942-02-19 — Granted 7 days privilege leave with free travel warrant
1942-03-16 — Transferred from Royal Canadian Artillery to Royal Canadian Engineers; remained on strength of Headquarters Support Group, 5th Canadian Armoured Division; rank Sapper
1942-05-07 — Granted 7 days privilege leave with free travel warrant
1942-08-14 — Granted 7 days privilege leave
1942-12-22 — Trade tested for Draughtsman Group A; qualified Group C
1942-12-23 — Granted 7 days privilege leave with ration allowance
1943-01-01 — Granted tradesman rate of pay of $1.75 per diem as Draughtsman, Group C
1943-03-31 — Granted 9 days privilege leave
1943-04-30 — Received spectacles following ophthalmic examination
1943-06-16 — Granted 7 days privilege leave with ration allowance
1943-10-05 — Struck off strength to 1 C.E.R.U.
1943-10-06 to 1943-10-16 — Attached to Headquarters, Royal Canadian Artillery, 5th Canadian Armoured Division
1943-10-26 — Embarked and struck off strength Canadian Army (United Kingdom) for Mediterranean service
1943-10-27 — Taken on strength Canadian Army Mediterranean
1943-11-01 — Disembarked for service in Italy
1944-05-08 — Posted to X-10 List, Royal Canadian Engineers, while attached to 1 Echelon
1944-06-26 — Posted from X-10 List as Draughtsman (Topographical), Group C
1944-08-09 — Posted to X-10 List and attached to A.H.Q./C.H.A.T. as Draughtsman (Topographical), Group C
1944-09-20 — Posted from X-10 List to X-4 List, Royal Canadian Engineers, and posted to 2nd Canadian Special Construction Section as Draughtsman (Topographical), Group C
1944-09-21 — Taken on strength from X-4 List, Royal Canadian Engineers, as Draughtsman (Topographical), Group C
1944-10-30 — Posted to X-3 List, Royal Canadian Engineers, and admitted sick with fever/pyrexia
1944-10-31 — Taken on strength X-3 List from 2nd Canadian Special Construction Section as Draughtsman (Topographical), Group C
1944-11-04 — Discharged from No. 5 Canadian General Hospital and struck off X-3 List to 2nd Canadian Special Construction Section
1944-11-05 — Taken on strength from X-3 List, Royal Canadian Engineers, as Draughtsman (Topographical), Group C
1945-03-12 — Qualified as Draughtsman, Group B
1945-04-07 — Embarked and struck off strength Canadian Army Central Mediterranean Force
1945-04-09 — Disembarked for service in Northwest Europe
1945-04-24 — Struck off strength to 2nd Special Construction Platoon as Draughtsman Group B
1945-04-25 — Taken on strength, 2nd Special Construction Platoon, as Draughtsman Group B
1945-04-28 — Granted trades pay as Draughtsman, Group B
1945-08-02 — Struck off strength from 2nd Special Construction Platoon to 262 CD-MD 4 as Draughtsman Group B
1945-08-03 — Taken on strength, 262 CD-MD 4, from 2nd Special Construction Platoon as Draughtsman Group B
1945-08-22 — Struck off strength to repatriation organization
1945-09-03 — Struck off strength Canadian Army Overseas and No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot; overseas service ended
1945-09-12 to 1945-10-16 — Granted leave and rations allowance
1945-10-18 — Discharged to return to civil life on demobilization
1981-11-04 — Died aged 80