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Sir Frederick Edward-Collins
The Royal Navy during the Second World War GM852 (cropped).jpg
Edward-Collins as Flag Officer Commanding Gibraltar and Mediterranean Approaches
Birth name George Frederick Basset Edward-Collins
Born (1883-12-26)26 December 1883
Bodmin, Cornwall
Died 17 February 1958(1958-02-17) (aged 74)
Lostwithiel, Cornwall
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Years of service 1898–1944
Rank Admiral
Commands held 18th Cruiser Squadron
2nd Cruiser Squadron
HMS Renown
HMS Comus
HMS Carysfort
Battles/wars Boxer Rebellion
First World War
Second World War
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Mentioned in Despatches
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Order of Polonia Restituta, fourth Class (Poland)
Relations Major General Charles Edward-Collins (brother)

Admiral Sir George Frederick Basset Edward-Collins KCB KCVO ADC DL (26 December 1883 – 17 February 1958) was a British senior officer in the Royal Navy during the first half of the twentieth century.

Early life

Edward-Collins was born in Bodmin, Cornwall, the son of Edward Charles Edward-Collins, of Trewardale, Blisland, a local landowner. He was the younger brother of Charles Edward-Collins.

Naval career

Edward-Collins enrolled in the navy on 15 January 1898. As a midshipman he was appointed to HMS Goliath on 27 March 1900, on her first commission, to the China station. During the First World War Edward-Collins served on both HMS Superb and HMS Tiger.

Edward-Collins commanded the light cruisers HMS Carysfort from April till September 1925, and HMS Comus from September 1925 till April 1927. He was also captain of the battlecruiser HMS Renown from December 1930 till March 1932, and was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet on 13 September 1935. From 1938 until 1940 he commanded the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, and later in 1940 he became second in command of the Home Fleet. From June to November 1940 he commanded the 18th Cruiser Squadron. In December 1940 Edward-Collins became Flag Officer Commanding Gibraltar and Mediterranean Approaches. He was promoted to admiral on 21 January 1943, and retired on 7 February 1944.

Awards and recognition

Edward-Collins became Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on 17 June 1939. He was mentioned in dispatches in 1940, and became Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 1 January 1941. He was awarded the Order Odrodzenia Polski (4th class) in recognition of services to the Polish Navy on 22 December 1942.

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