Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.S.O. group of four awarded to Major H. S. Collins, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and Royal West African Frontier Force, wounded in action, Togoland, 22 August 1914 and again at Ypres, 21 April 1916; in later life he was convicted of libel and certified insane

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt, gold and enamel, complete with brooch bar, in Garrard, London case of issue, reverse centre slack and a little damaged; 1914-15 Star (Lieut., Shrops. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) these three in named card boxes of issue, first good very fine; others extremely fine (4) £1800-2200

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1916. ‘Capt., Shropshire Light Infantry’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 15 June 1916.

Hamilton Stratford Collins was born on 7 October 1887. He was educated at Charterhouse and at the Royal Military College. From the College he was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry on 6 October 1906. He was advanced to Lieutenant on 29 March 1909. He was employed with the Gold Coast Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force until September 1914, serving in the conquest of Togoland. Collins was wounded at the Chra River, Togoland on 22 August 1914 - suffering a bullet wound and two bayonet wounds to the left leg, and was invalided to England. Recovering, he served in France with the K.S.L.I., being appointed a Temporary Captain in March 1915 and Captain in June 1915, but was invalided to England in July 1915 suffering from a fever. During January-March 1916 he served as a Temporary Major. Returning to the Western Front Captain Collins was wounded in action at Ypres, 21 April 1916, suffering a wound from a machine-gun bullet to his right forearm. On 30 October 1918 he was appointed an Acting Major. For his wartime services he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O. Major Collins was placed on Half Pay on account of ill-health caused by wounds on 3 March 1920. He retired with the rank of Major due to ill-health caused by wounds on 7 August 1920.

After the war Collins served as an Assistant Commissioner in the Gold Coast Colony. It was in 1930-31 when living in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, that Collins published an account accusing Mr Angus Colin Duncan Johnstone, Provincial Commissioner of the Gold Coast Colony of murder, accepting bribes and immorality.

On 8 September 1931, at the Central Criminal Court, London, Major Collins was convicted of publishing a defamatory libel and was sentenced to 9 months’ imprisonment. He lodged an appeal which was heard on 26 October 1931 but it was dismissed. As a result of his conviction he was removed from the Army and deprived of the rank of Major (London Gazette 11 December 1931); he was however allowed to remain a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. A letter was sent by the War Office to the Secretary of the Prison Commission to apprise Collins of above situation but in a return letter from the Prison Commission to the War Office, dated 12 January 1932, it stated:

‘.... I am desired to enclose herewith a copy of a report from the Medical Officer of Wormwood Scrubs Prison, from which it will be seen that not only was Collins insane on reception but that there is every reason to believe that he was insane for a considerable period before committing the crime.’

The report stated:

‘... In consequence of his conduct and demeanour I considered that he was insane at reception. Interviews and daily conversations with him disclose the existence of a system of delusions concerning his colleagues abroad, his relatives and acquaintances which would require a considerable period to develop, and in my opinion, they were intimately associated with his offence. ... He is very suspicious, over-bearing and hostile, and was abusive and violent without provocation. He slept badly at times and was dirty in his habits. He was certified insane on 30-10-31 and was transferred to Hanwell Mental Hospital on 6-11-31’

As a result of Collins’ state of mind at the time of his trial and conviction, he was granted a free pardon, the Warrant signed by the King on 7 July 1932. The pardon annulled his conviction, and his removal from the Army and deprivation of rank were likewise repealed.

With copied service papers and papers relating to his conviction and subsequent developments; copied newspaper extracts; together with copied m.i.c. and other research. His m.i.c. suggests that his trio may possibly be of a later issue (bearing the date 8.1.31).