Collins, Andrew Thomas
2333 Private Andrew Thomas Collins - 10th Light Horse Regiment
Andrew Thomas Collins was born in Wallaroo South Australia on to William Henry and Jemima Collins.
The family soon moved to Western Australia and took up residence in Fremantle.
Andrew found work as a miner in the goldfields of WA though also lived in Fremantle prior to the Great War.
Prior to enlistment Andrew's address was 49 High Street Fremantle (later renumbered 37 High).
Andrew tried to enlist early in the war but was knocked back due to his eyesight. He tried again on the 22nd January 1916 and this time was accepted for service.
The medical officer who passed him as fit recorded Andrew's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 5 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 136lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-36 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Hazel;
Hair - Brown.
His next of kin was listed as his sister Ida Collins who resided at 37 Swanbourne Street Fremantle.
After his successful enlistment Andrew was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He requested to be assigned to the Light Horse so after passing a riding test Andrew was sent to the Light Horse Training squadron.
He was then transferred to the 17th Reinforcements to the 10th Light Horse Regiment. He trained with this group in WA until the 16th May 1916. They had received their orders to depart and entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Surada. The ship then set sail for Egypt.
After arriving in Egypt in June, Andrew was sent to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Squadron at Tel-el-Kebir. Andrew joined the 10th Light Horse Regiment on the 12th August 1916.
He served with them at the Romani action and while the next few months were dedicated to patrol work, in December 1916 Andrew saw action at the Battle of Magdhaba and in January 1917 at Rafa.
On the 7th February 1917 Andrew was evacuated to hospital as he had suffered a hemorrhage to the lungs. He was initially sent to the 24th Stationary Hospital but was then transferred to Cairo where he was admitted to the 14th Australian General Hospital.
Andrew had recovered in April 1917 and had returned to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Regiment when he fell ill with bronchitis. He was then returned to the 14th Australian General Hospital. He recovered and then rejoined the training regiment on the 16th May 1917.
On the 6th September 1917 Andrew rejoined the 10th Light Horse Regiment and remained with them in the lead in to the Beersheba operations. However on the 27th October 1917 Andrew was returned to the training regiment. He then rejoined the 10th Light Horse on the 6th December 1917.
In January 1918 Andrew fell ill with pleurisy and was sent to the 45th Stationary Hospital at El Arish but was then transferred to the 31st General Hospital at Port Said. On the 28th Jnauary Andrew was again transferred, this time to the 14th Australian General Hospital.
From February to July 1918 Andrew was sent between hospitals and rest camps and the training regiment, but his health did not appear to be standing up to the harsh conditions.
To exacerbate matters, Andrew was then diagnosed with venereal disease and in August 1918 was sent to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital. He only spent a few days there and on the 9th August 1918 was transferred to the Desert Mounted Corps Rest Camp at Port Said. He remained here for the rest of the war.
The medical authorities diagnosed Andrew with debility which enabled Andrew to be sent home shortly after the Armistice. On the 15th January 1919 he boarded the transport ship Berrima and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 10th February 1919.
After his arrival home, Andrew was admitted to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle.
He was then discharged from the AIF on the 30th March 1919.
After the war Andrew moved to New South Wales where he worked as a mining engineer. He was living at St Mary's Macquarie County.
Andrew Thomas Collins died in Sydney NSW on the 30th December 1939. He was buried at St Mary Magdalene Anglican Churchyard.