Frederick Edward-Collins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Frederick Edward-Collins
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Edward-Collins as Flag Officer Commanding Gibraltar and Mediterranean Approaches
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| Birth name | George Frederick Basset Edward-Collins |
| Born | 26 December 1883 Bodmin, Cornwall |
| Died | 17 February 1958 (aged 74) Lostwithiel, Cornwall |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 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) |
Sir George Frederick Basset Edward-Collins (born December 26, 1883 – died February 17, 1958) was an important British naval officer. He served in the Royal Navy for many years, especially during the early 1900s. He became an Admiral and played a role in both the First World War and the Second World War.
Contents
Early Life and Family
George Frederick Basset Edward-Collins was born in a town called Bodmin in Cornwall, England. His father, Edward Charles Edward-Collins, owned land in the area. George also had an older brother named Charles Edward-Collins, who became a Major General in the army.
Edward-Collins joined the navy on January 15, 1898, when he was about 14 years old. This was the start of his long career at sea.
Early Commands and World War I
As a young officer, called a midshipman, he was assigned to the ship HMS Goliath in 1900. This ship sailed to the China station, a naval base in Asia. During the First World War, Edward-Collins served on two other important ships: HMS Superb and HMS Tiger.
Leading Ships and Squadrons
After the First World War, Edward-Collins took command of several ships. He led the light cruisers HMS Carysfort from 1925, and HMS Comus until 1927. Later, he was captain of the large battlecruiser HMS Renown from 1930 to 1932.
In 1935, he became the Chief of Staff for the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. This meant he was a key helper to the main commander in that region.
World War II Service
From 1938 to 1940, Edward-Collins commanded the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, a group of warships. In 1940, he became the second-in-command of the Home Fleet, which protected Britain's waters. He also led the 18th Cruiser Squadron for several months in 1940.
In December 1940, he was given a very important job: Flag Officer Commanding Gibraltar and Mediterranean Approaches. This meant he was in charge of naval operations around Gibraltar, a key British territory. He was promoted to admiral in 1943 and retired from the navy in 1944.
Awards and Special Recognition
Edward-Collins received several important awards for his service.
- In 1939, he became a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
- He was mentioned in official reports for his bravery in 1940.
- In 1941, he became a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
- He also received an award from Poland, the Order of Polonia Restituta, in 1942, for helping the Polish Navy.
