COLLINS, Alexander William

COLLINS, Alexander William – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 2158
RANK : Private
UNIT : 2nd Light Horse Regiment
ENLISTMENT DATE : 4/11/1915
AGE : 21
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Toowoomba, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : New South Wales
RELIGION : Church of England
OCCUPATION : Stockman
DATE OF DEATH : 3/06/1977
PLACE OF BURIAL : Brisbane, Queensland

MEMORIALS : Yelarbon War Memorial, Yelarbon Roll of Honour

View Veteran’s Service File : COLLINS, Alexander William

NOTES : Alexander William Collins was born in Warialda, New South Wales and his parents were Alexander and Celia Collins (nee Crowell). The family moved to Roseneath, Yelarbon and at the time of his enlistment young 22-year-old Alexander was living and working in Toowoomba as a stockman.

Together with his younger brother Clarence Matthew Collins 2157, the brothers volunteered for the Australian Imperial Forces on 4 November 1915 as members of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment.

They embarked from Brisbane on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth on 28 March 1916.

Younger brother Godfrey Henry Collins 6313 enlisted on 4 August 1916.

Alexander was returned to Australia from Suez aboard the Kanowna on 23 September 1916.

His brother Clarence remained at the front and did not return to Australia until 4 March 1919.

Alexander married Eve Urquhard on 5 April 1920. The couple moved around at bit with Alexander’s job in the railways and spent time living in Goondiwindi, Beaudesert, Ellinthorpe, and Killarney before finally settling in Brisbane.

Copyright 2026 Deborah C Wheeler and Duncan McLean, Southern Downs Military History

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