Peter Collins

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with sadness that we report the death of Brigadier Peter Ernest Collins on 8 Feb 17, aged 94 (29 Oct 22 – 8 Feb 17).

The notice was published in the Daily Telegraph Obituaries on 13 Feb 17. Peter Collins served as a Gunner Cadet from Feb 40 to Feb 41 before commissioning in the Royal Artillery in 1942. He attended No 65 AOP Pilot course in 1948/49 and served with 652 (AOP) Sqn. He was at Staff College in 1953 (and later at the general Science Staff College in 1960) before returning to RD in 50 Regt RA.

He returned to flying duties in 1962 when he attended No 18 Helicopter Course. Following a period on the staff of HQ 1 Wing Army Aviation he converted to Scout and joined 656 Sqn AAC in the far east, where HQ 4 Wing Army Aviation was formed to meet the operational needs in theatre. He served on the staff of the Army Aviation Centre in 1967 and then as Colonel GS Land Air Warfare as it developed as the Directorate of Army Aviation in 1970/71. He served as Commander Army Aviation BAOR and then as Commandant of the Army Aviation Centre before he retired in 1977.

Our thoughts are with his wife, Elisabeth, his daughters, Victoria and Jennifer and his six grandchildren. He requested that his body should be given to medical science therefore there will be no funeral. A thanksgiving for Brigadier Peter’s life is to be held at a later date.