General News
18 October, 2025
Mervyn Aubrey Lascelles Collins
Mervyn Aubrey Lascelles Collins was born at Toolondo on August 3 1922, the son of Herbert Harold Collins.
He had military service before enlisting for World War II in the regular army, having served in the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) from November 5 1941 until September 15 1942.
His service number in the CMF was V225027.
Mervyn enlisted in the CMF at Hamilton on November 5 1941.
He became a corporal in 101 Motor Regiment.
During this service he did a regiments signal training course and a T11 driver operator course.
Mervyn was promoted to corporal.
His unit on discharge was HQ Signals HQ AMF.
Mervyn enlisted in the regular army (service number VX 105364) in Rowville in Melbourne on September 16 1942.
His locality was recorded as Horsham and his trade was given as radio mechanic.
He spent time in training courses with Wing School RAAF.
He entrained to 5 Military District (5 MD) and detrained in the Western Australia Line of Communication Area on October 29 1942.
Mervyn completed courses at No18 Tank Wireless Claremont, WA, on December 21 1942 and Wing AFV School Puckapunyal.
He completed a tank wireless operator course at Puckapunyal on January 29 1943 and a motorcycle course in August 1943, qualifying in both.
After training on April 21 1943, he was detached for duty with 2/1 Australian Brigade on June 26 1943.
His rank of corporal was confirmed on September 20 1943.
He attended further training schools in November 1943 and at 7 ATS Western Australia on December 29 1943.
Mervyn marched out to rejoin his unit on January 6 1944.
He was promoted to acting sergeant on March 29 1944.
He was posted to the Z Special Force, transferring from 101 Australian Motor Regiment, on July 27 1944.
His rank of sergeant was confirmed on January 5 1945.
He departed for service outside Australia the following day.
While overseas he served at Hollandia, New Guinea, where the Allies were doing reconnaissance.
Hollandia had earlier given its name to a battle between Allied and Japanese forces.
[CROSSHEAD]The Battle of Hollandia
The Battle of Hollandia (code-named Operation Reckless) was an engagement based on Allied intelligence successes that led to a decision to land there.
Intelligence gained from breaking the codes protecting Imperial Japanese Army radio messages showed that the Hollandia area was only lightly defended, with Japanese forces being concentrated in the Madang-Wewak region.
The majority of the Allied force was provided by the United States, with the bulk of two US Army infantry divisions being committed on the ground.
Air and naval support consisted largely of US assets, although Australia also provided air support during preliminary operations and a naval bombardment force.
The battle took place between April 22 and June 6 1944 and formed part of the New Guinea campaign.
The operation consisted of two landings: one at Tanahmerah Bay and the other at Humboldt Bay, near Hollandia.
The landings were undertaken simultaneously with the amphibious invasion of Aitape (Operation Persecution) to the east.
The battle was an unqualified success for the Allied forces, resulting in a withdrawal by the Japanese to a new strategic defense line in the west of New Guinea and the abandonment of all positions in the east of the island.
Mervyn departed Hollandia aboard Isolater on February 24 1945.
He disembarked in Moratai on March 7, where he ceased to be attached to Services Reconnaissance Department (Z Special unit) SRD1 on April 13 1945.
He was admitted to 2/2 Australian Commando Squadron on November 27 1945.
Mervyn was discharged from 2/1 Australian Commando Squadron and Recruit Training Section on December 3 1945.
He sailed for Australia and disembarked in Brisbane on December 16 1945.
He was marched out to General Details Depot (GDD) Victoria Line of Communication for R/A on January 3 1946.
Mervyn was transferred in from Z Special Unit via GDD Victoria Line of Communication Area Authority on March 7 1946.
He was then transferred out to Western Command for demobilisation.
Mervyn was discharged on May 27 1946 at Karrakatta.
By this time Mervyn had served in the AIF from September 16 1942 to May 27 1946, totalling 1665 days.
His active service comprised 1161 days in Australia and 344 days overseas.
He served in Dutch New Guinea from January 6 to February 1945.
He served from February 21 to December 16 1945 in Morotai.
He then served in Borneo.
His last rank was sergeant and his unit was Z Special Unit.
Mervyn service is commemorated on the Horsham Fire Brigade WWII Honour Roll.
Mervyn and his family moved to Wodonga in 1965 so that he could work at the newly opened TV transmission station at Mt Baranduda, to Wodonga’s south.
A memorial service for Mervyn was held at 10.30am on January 15 2010 at St Stephens Uniting Church, Wodonga.
With thanks: Sally Bertram, RSL Military History Library. Contact Sally at sj.bertram@hotmail.com or call 0409 351 940.
