Allegiance United Kingdom Years of service 1915–1919 | Rank Captain Name Lewis Collins | |
 | ||
Born 7 November 1894
Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland ( 1894-11-07 ) Died 1 June 1971(1971-06-01) (aged 76)
Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland Buried at Western Cemetery, Dundee Service/branch British Army
Royal Air Force | ||
Lewis collins you take my selfcontrol
Captain Lewis Isaac Collins (born 7 November 1894 – 1 June 1971) was a Scottish World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.
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Biography
Collins was born in Dundee, Scotland, the son of Isaac John and Helen Isles (née McFee) Collins.
He first served as a sapper in the City of Dundee (Fortress) Engineers, a Royal Engineers Territorial Force unit, before being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) on 20 September 1915. He was soon transferred, joining the 10th (Service) Battalion of Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment) on 27 September 1915. He was promoted to lieutenant on 27 March 1917, and to captain on 1 May 1917.
Collins was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps and posted to No. 18 Squadron as an observer/gunner. Between 25 March and 17 June 1918, with pilot Captain David A. Stewart flying an Airco DH.4, he gained five victories, and in September was awarded the Military Cross. He was transferred to the unemployed list on 25 February 1919.
On 21 September 1927, following the death of his father, Collins and his brother David, took over and continued the family business of I. J. Collins, Tailors and Clothiers, of 12–14 Whitehall Street, Dundee.
On 18 October 1939, soon after the start of World War II, Collins was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the National Defence Company.
Collins died in Dundee on 1 June 1971, and is buried in the Western Cemetery there.