Newspaper

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer – Saturday 29 June 1918

Sec. Lieut. Joseph Henry Collin, the first Carlisle man to be awarded the V.C., was killed on April 9 last, during the German Spring offensive. The second son of Mr Joseph Collin, a local railway worker, of 8 Petteril Terrace, Harraby, Carlisle, Sec. Lieut. Collin was educated at St. Patrick’s school, Carlisle, and when he enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, in 1915, he was almost 25 years of age and was a shop assistant in the Carlisle establishment of Mssrs. Joseph Hepworth and Son (Limited), clothiers, Leeds. During his training period in this country he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and later fought in the battles of the Somme and Ancre. Subsequently he obtained a commission, and after his training course he returned to France in October last. As a youth he was a keen footballer, and he had won prizes as a sprinter.


Manchester Evening Times – 25 July 1918

Lancashire V.C

Parents receive decoration from the King

There was a good attendance of the general public at the open-air investiture held by the King at Buckingham Palace today.

There were 285 honours and decorations conferred, including two recipients of the V.C. Captain Percy Storkey, of the Australian Infantry, and Private James Duffy of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, while Mr and Mrs L. Collins received the V.C. awarded to their son, the late Second Lieutenant Joseph Collins of the Royal Lancashire Regiment. K.C.B’s were conferred upon Lieutenant General Sir Herbert Cox and Major-General Guy Bainbridge, the latter also being knighted by the King. Major-General Thomas Yarr also received the accolade, together with the titles of K.C.M.G. and C.B.

There were 42 recipients of the D.S.O., and 100 received the Military Cross.

Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham