The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Collins
- First Name:
- Charles Leslie
- Nick Name:
- Curly
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX10282
- Classification:
- Motorcycle Orderly
- Company:
- 'B' Company, No 7 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 18.12.1940
- Discharged:
- 4.02.1946
- DOB:
- 28.01.1922
- Place of Birth:
- Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Albert HenryCollins
- Mothers's Name:
- Eugene 'Jean' Vlctoria Collins (nee Clarke)
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Apprentice Fitter
- Singapore:
- A. G. H. Roberts Barracks Changi, Selarang Barracks Changi. Sime Road Camp, X10 Party, Changi Gaol Camp.
- Force:
- 'H' Force Thailand, Group No. 3
- Camps Thailand:
- Kanu II Malayan Hamlet, Kanchanaburi Hospital 1.10.1943 (beri‐beri)
- POW#:
- 1/7325
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Darwin-Sydney, 1st Netherlands Military Hospital Ship Oranje, Sydney-Melbourne-Perth by troop train.
General Description
Collins was wounded in action at West Mandai on 14/2/1942. Admitted to 2/10th AGH located at Cathay Building. Soldier was admitted with fractured left elbow caused by shrapnel. Discharged to Unit 27/4/1942. Soldier was given ‘B’ Medical Classification and spent much of his time in Changi area due to reconstructive surgery required to his elbow. He was selected for ‘H’ Force Group No. 3 and could have evaded the draft but Collins decided he wanted to be included.
Please read further about ‘H’ Force Thailand
As a result of this injury Curly was unable to carry a heavily-loaded basket of rock. A Japanese guard hit him with a pick handle across the mouth, smashing his two front teeth. Curly was left with two stumps and exposed nerves. Nearly 60 years later Curly recalled with a rueful smile, four men were required to sit on him while Camp Doctor Fagan removed the two stumps with no anaesthetic! (Information from To Hell-Fire, Purgatory and Back by Ian Saggers from diaries of his late father Major Bert Saggers)
Read further about ‘H’ Force Group No. 3
Changi Square Incident
Bampong
Kanburi 2 days – Kanburi Hospital 1/10/1942 Beri-Beri.
Malayan Hamlet K11
Train to Singapore
Sime Road 1/12/44 – 5/5/44
Changi Gaol
X10 Party – Anti-tank ditches. Please read further
Burst appendix 1945 – Dr. Nairn operated.
Recovered from Changi 4/9/1945.
Charles ‘Curly’ Collins married about 1947 Perth to Jean Lorraine Hunt. His parents Albert Henry Collins and Eugene ‘Jean’ Victoria Clarke married Coolgardie in 1912.
Albert Collins who was born New Zealand about 1886, died 1957 East Coolgardie. Jean died in 1965 Como. She was born in Victoria in 1896.
Curly and Jean lived at 26 Sackville Terrace, Scarborough during 1970s and 1980s. Curly was employed as a boilermaker.
Curly died 11 November 2000 at Sorrento.
If Collins family members would like to add to the above information about Curly’s history we would ask you to contact us at email: 2nd4thmgb@gmail.com
Camp Locations:
- Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
- Roberts Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Sime Road Camp - Singapore
- Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
- Kanu II, 152.30k - Thailand
