A SCARCE & MOST COLLECTABLE
ROYAL FLYING CORPS
DEATH PLAQUE.
To:
27855. Cpl. Robert Simpson Collins (Royal Engineers)
Later 2/Lt, 2 Sqd ROYAL FLYING CORPS (Pilot).
From Carlisle. Killed 9th March 1918.

(ROBERT COLLINS IN ROYAL ENGINEERS DRESS UNIFORM)
His M.I.C gives him as Killed In Action, which is actually true, as he was in fact killed on an operational sortie, as the following information confirms :

"On 9th March, 2/Lt Collins and Lt Heney M.C.,while leaving on a bombing raid in Armstrong Whitworth FK8, serial number B5786, were killed and burnt just after taking off from the aerodrome at Hesdigneul. Collins turned when the aircraft was in an almost stalled condition and it spun in from about 300 feet. The aircraft immediately caught fire and the bombs blew up.

Hesdigneul Aerodrome was home to No 2 Squadron RFC from the 30th of June 1915 to June 1918. The airfield is situated to the south west of Bethune and now lies beneath houses and a sports ground.

An Armstrong Whitworth FK8
Lt John Bower Lewis Heney MC, formerly 9th Bn Canadian Field Artillery, (Attached RFC) was also killed in the accident and is buried in the next plot to 2/Lt Collins at Chocques Cemetery. Heney had been involved in another crash (in thick fog) with a Lt Thompson a few days earlier. See picture of their crashed FK8 above.
Lt J.B.L.HENEY M.C.
(The Observer)Age 23
Son of Frederick A. and Ida M. Heney,
of Westboro', Carleton Co.
Ontario.

It is also suggested that Robert Collins had twice been shot down and survived. To be confirmed. He is also entitled to a 1914 Star & Bar Trio with star to R.A. pair to RFC.

[BIOGRAPHY]
Robert S. Collins was a native of Carlisle in Cumbria. He had enlisted in the R.E. before the outbreak of war and was a pre-war regular soldier. A very early entrant, he landed with the R.E. in France on 13th August 1914. He then applied for a commission in the RFC and underwent flying training during 1916 until mid-1917 at School of Military Aeronautics, Christ Church, Oxford. He was commissioned as 2/Lt into the R.F.C. on 21st June 1917. He then proceeded to join No.2 Squadron at Hesdigneul Aerodrome near Bethune in France. He was the son of Hannah and the late Matthew Collins and the husband of Ethel Isobel Collins of Savoy Cafe, Dalton Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire.
At the time of his death he was 30. His medals were applied for by his widow, Ethel, on 27th September 1919 and were later sent to her at 23 Brighton Street, Barrow-in-Furnace.

He is commemorated with eternal honour in CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY, FRANCE. (Grave Reference: V. D. 5.)

A RARE R.F. C. OFFICER'S PLAQUE WITH AN INTERESTING HISTORY
SOLD

2/Lt. Collins' service records survive in hard copy form at the National Archives, Kew.