Harold A Collison, DCM

COLLISON, H A

• Rank: Serjeant
• Service No: P/3479
• Date of Death: 04/07/1918
• Regiment/Service:Military Police Corps G.H.Q. Detective Staff.
• Awards: D C M
• Grave Reference: IV. C. 13.
• Cemetery: LES BARAQUES MILITARY CEMETERY, SANGATTE
• CWGC

Murdered Shot.

Second Lieutenant Paterson, John K; of 3rd Bn. Essex Regiment, attached 1st Bn. was executed on 24/09/1918 for the murder of Sgt. Harold Collison, the military policeman who tried to arrest him. (Ref. PRO WO 339/111890).

Harold Arthur Collison

• Birth: Staplehurst
• Death: July 4 1918, France & Flanders
• Residence: Middlesbrough
• Enlistment: Middlesbrough
• Rank: Sergt.
• Regiment: Corps of Military Police
• Battalion: Foot Branch.
• Casualty type: Died
• Number: P/3479
• Notes: Formerly 126485, R.H. and R.F.A., D.C.M.

The Gazett, DCM award:

P/3479 L./Cpl. (A./Sjt.) H. A. Collison, Military Foot Police (Middlesbrough)

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has served at the front during many engagements. His duties, which mainly consisted in making inquiries into the alleged looting of the dead, took him frequently into positions of great personal danger.

Harold COLLISON was Sgt No1 Middlesbrough Police prior to joining the army.

Harold Arthur Collison was born 8th September 1877 at Staplehurst and attested for the Royal Artillery on 19.3.1896 in London. Regimental number 14573. He served only in the UK and was transfered to the army reserve. Appointed Middlesbrough Borough Police 1.4.1903 as PC6 and lived at 178 Cannon Street, Middlesbrough which was the police station, with his wife Louisa and children. Promoted Sergeant 1 on 18.4.1912.

26.11.1915 he attested for service at Middlesbrough and asked to serve with the Royal Horse Artillery, unfortunately this was closed and the officer commanding at the recruitment office stamped his form as 'may be accepted'.

3.12.1915 he was accepted as Gunner 126485 RH & RFA and sent to Woolwich.

11.7.1916 transferred to MFP as Private P/3479 and appointed Acting Lance Corporal the same day.

29.7.1916 Went to France and within a short time promoted to Acting Detective Sergeant.

3.7.1918 he and Detective Lance Corporal P/1199 Stockton were in the process of arresting Patterson when he was shot and killed. At the court of enquiry Brigadier General Radcliffe confirmed how Collison was killed and said that he considered Collison partly to blame for his death in not arresting Patterson when he first came across him.

26.10.1918 Mrs Collsion received her husbands personal effects which included his DCM and MSM. She received a pension of 27s.11d a week for herself and children from the army, this later went up to 35/- when it included a war bonus. The police refunded her husbands rateable deductions (money he paid in for his pension) of £22.15s.5d.

Sources and References

• http://redcarobserver.co.uk/tale-remembrance/