Rfn Michael (Mick) COLLINS, 5 Troop, No5 Cdo

Hey Nic
Ive still got my dad's Commando Ass. badge too!

Stephen Donnison wrote:Hey Nic
Ive still got my dad's Commando Ass. badge too!

Stephen,

Do you know I was starting to think it was unique - I've never seen any others in my 52 years!
I hope it doesn't offend anyone if I use it as my avatar!
It is meant to be in homage to these great heroes - not to try and make anyone believe that I was a Commando.

This message was edited 6 times. Last update was at 18/04/2007 15:29:22

Well ,Nic and Stephen I have one as well , my Mother wanted me to have it after my Dad passed away. They are a treasure .
I am using the beret dagger made from a spoon as mentioned in a previous thread. Two years ago I was in England and visited some of my Dad's family and one of my Aunts gave it to me thinking that that it was more of a direct line through me . Needless to say i was quite pleased an honoured.

BTW... I should mention I am in Canada. Likewise I hope no one minds the avatar

Dusty's son wrote: Well ,Nic and Stephen I have one as well , my Mother wanted me to have it after my Dad passed away. They are a treasure .
I am using the beret dagger made from a spoon as mentioned in a previous thread. Two years ago I was in England and visited some of my Dad's family and one of my Aunts gave it to me thinking that that it was more of a direct line through me . Needless to say i was quite pleased an honoured.

BTW... I should mention I am in Canada. Likewise I hope no one minds the avatar

Hi Dusty's son,
That is a nice memento! Do you know if your dad made it himself? You have it pointing down in your avatar, is this because your dad was in No2 (as discussed in another thread) or was it common to all Commandos to wear the dagger inverted in their berets?
NIC

I actually saw a badge on eBay last year..

I have to admit I don't know if he made it himself . As to having the dagger facing down , my aunt and uncle told me that it was worn pointing down and Bob Bishop said as well that it was worn that way .

BTW. - In one of those "small world " twists it turns out Bob and I live about ten miles apart , he and his wife Janet have welcomed me to their home a few times , he has an exceptional memory of places and events that we discussed over a pint or two.

TTT (To The Top) :D

Oops.... I have turned it around the other way

Thanks NIC Btw- My Dad was also from Walthamstow and went to Wood Street school

hello Nic,have you thought about writing a piece and having it printed in "dispatches"?? i think you`d hit a wider audience that way as a lot of the men that i spoke to at the weekend don`t go on the internet,just a thought!! Have you booked FW yet?? Bye,take care,Denise xx

lushershouse wrote:hello Nic,have you thought about writing a piece and having it printed in "dispatches"?? i think you`d hit a wider audience that way as a lot of the men that i spoke to at the weekend don`t go on the internet,just a thought!! Have you booked FW yet?? Bye,take care,Denise xx

Yes, that's a great idea Denise, I'm going to start working on that right now.

Cheers,
Nick xx

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 15/08/2007 12:29:40

Thought I'd post this clipping as previously I thought it was when Mick was still in KRRC - before he'd volunteered for the Commandos; however, on reflection it would appear that, given that he was born in October 1925 and that the clipping describes him as 21, this must make it 9th February '47??

Oh how very confusing!

The only photo of my dad (Mick) and me!
He was already looking very ill and, sadly, he died when I was a year old.

Thats a really sad photo mate
My dad died New Years day and they had a bed for my mam who they thought would miscarry ,, that was me! So I never knew mine either but ive just realised I went to his funeral. I was born 6 months later

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 25/08/2007 23:17:03

Thanks for that Stephen (and to Janet & Bob for their email),

Yes I suppose it is sad but at the same time it is a happy photo - a proud Father holding his son! It is certainly one of my most valued possessions!

I'm sorry that you never actually got to meet your dad Stephen but at least you can be proud of him and celebrate his life and achievements, as I celebrate the life of my dad.

To date, as well as the memorial stone on his grave, there are two trees (one on the Isle of Wight and one in the National Botanic Garden of Wales), a commemoration brick at the CVA Memorial and a Silver platen in the RC Church in Fishguard all of which celebrate my father's life...

Perhaps that photo is of a proud son being held by his proud father...

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 14/02/2008 23:01:05

just managed to get my father's copy of Green Beret back from another member of the family and, reading the footnote about that he added about the 23rd March 1944, I realised that I got it wrong - Mick must have been in 5 Troop, No 5 Commando and not 3 Troop as I previously thought!

His footnote was written in hospital either when he was convalescing from his wounds or whilst he was in the TB Sanitorium

Nick