Michael Collins was born in Bermondsey, London, in April 1884 to Irish Catholic parents Michael and Mary. His parents were both born in Ireland, Michael c1847 and Mary c1857, but it is not known exactly when they moved to England or when and where they were married. Michael was the third eldest of four brothers – James (born c1879) and John (born c1881) were the eldest two, and William (born c1890) was the youngest.
It would appear that Michael’s family were transitory since the places of birth registered for Michael and his brothers indicate that they moved between Clerkenwell and Bermondsey at least twice between 1879 and 1901. It is likely that they moved due to Michael’s father’s job as a foreman so that he could be close to his place of work. Michael and his two older brothers were probably all employed in the building trade as well; the 1901 Census list James’ occupation as a bricklayer labourer, whilst John and Michael are listed as general labourers. At this time the family lived at 3 Long Lane in Bermondsey.
Michael originally enlisted in the army on the 29th December 1903, joining the Royal Field Artillery of the Northamptonshire Regiment in January 1904. His medical record describes him as being 6ft 1” tall, weighing 135lbs, with brown eyes and black hair. He was granted a third class Certificate of Education after being in the army for six months, which suggests that he could have received some kind of general schooling once enlisting – it is highly likely that he may not have received a full formal education whilst a child due to the family’s transient nature.
Eight months after joining the army Michael was accused of desertion and two other charges (which are unclear). He was found not guilty of desertion but guilty of absence without leave (and one other charge, which is again unclear). He was sentenced to fourteen days’ detention in September 1904, some spent in the Guard room and some in prison, and was put under stoppages. He returned to duty towards the end of September 1904 and was transferred to India in February 1905, where he served until the end of October 1907.
By April 1908 Michael had purchased a discharge from the army. It is not known for certain what he did or where he lived after having left the army. However, it is likely that he lived in Greenwich as he married waitress Rosamond Ruth Amy Sheppard on 21st October 1911 at Greenwich Registry Office. Rosamond was born in 1889 to parents William and Rosamond, and lived at 8 Orlop Street, off of Trafalgar Road in Greenwich.
Michael re-joined the Northamptonshire Regiment as soon as the British declared war on Germany. He joined the 1st Battalion in Blackdown near Aldershot serving with 2nd Brigade, 1st Division. They landed at le Harve on the 13th of August 1914 and were involved in The Battle of Mons (and the subsequent retreat), The Battle of the Marne and The Battle of the Aisne. Michael received a gunshot wound to his left leg on the 19th September 1914, although it is unclear if this happened during battle as The Battle of the Aisne took place between the 12th and 15th of September, four days before he received his gunshot wound. He was at home from 24th September 1914 to early September 1916, it is unclear if all this time was spent recovering from his injuries (he did lost 26 days pay for going absent in April 1915). Michael’s first daughter, Ellen Edith, was born on 5th October 1914.
Michael re-joined his regiment towards the end of September 1916 and was probably involved in the Battles of the Somme. However, Michael’s next year of service was to be marred by illness. In November 1916, less than two months after re-joining his regiment, he was hospitalised with fever for around five days. He was again beset by illness, this time influenza, in March 1917 and appears to have been out of service for around a month, receiving treatment in the field and in Rouen. Despite these setbacks, Michael was promoted to Lance Corporal in May 1917, although he did not receive a Lance Corporal’s salary until April 1918. Michael’s health continued to decline and by the end of July 1917 he had been sent back to England, to Winchester, for treatment for bronchitis. Although he returned to France in mid-August 1917, he was in a rest camp until the end of the month and did not re-join his regiment in the field until the end of September.
Once back in the field, Michael likely saw action in the Third Battle of Ypres, which took place from 31st July to 10th November 1917. Michael’s run of poor luck continued and on the 10th April 1918 he received a second gunshot wound, this time to his left forearm, during the Battles of the Lys, most likely in the phase known as the Battle of Estaires, which took place from 9th to 11th April 1918. His medical history record also states that he was gassed. Michael was sent to hospital in Sheffield, however, whilst his gunshot wound healed, he complained of coughing, blood spitting and tightness of chest. He was declared medically unfit due to infection on active service and was discharged from the army at the end of June 1918. His records indicate that the infection stemmed from the bronchitis he suffered from in the summer of 1917. It seems that Michael was sent to a sanatorium, but it is not known exactly when or where.
Michael received a military pension, his pension record states that his disability was tubercle of lungs due to infection and that his disability was 100% and permanent. However, the duration of the pension he was awarded was just 26 weeks, and ran out at the end of 1918.
By 1919 the family were living in Whitworth Road, Greenwich. Rosamond gave birth to their second daughter, Patricia Alice, on 27th February 1919. However, Patricia was not to know her father, as Michael eventually died of tuberculosis of the lung. He passed away at home on 22nd May 1919, with Rosamond present. He was buried in Greenwich Cemetery on 28th May 1919.
Rosamond remarried in the spring of 1921, to John F Dray. Her address is listed on Michael’s Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate as 278 Ash Kirk Avenue, Welling.
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This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to Michael Collins, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.