Born in the parish of St. Mary's, Cork.
Enlisted at Dublin into the 3rd Light Dragoons on the 10th of November 1845.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Labourer.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Lt. brown hair.
Absent, 3rd-18th of June 1846. Confined, 9th — 29th of June, and released "in order to embark for India" on the 30th of June 1846.
He joined the regiment on the 5th of April 1847.
Engaged during the whole of the campaign in the Punjab up to the occupation of Peshwar.
Was wounded in action at Chiliawala on the 13th of January 1849.
Transferred to the 17th Lancers on the 1st of July 1853.
From Private to Corporal: 11th of December 1854.
Corporal to Sergeant 11th of October 1855.
Transferred to the Depot of the Military Train on the 9th of February 1857. Regimental No. 1310.
Transferred to the 1st Battalion, 1st of April 1857.
Attached to the Cavalry Depot at Maidstone from the 15th of June — 17th of December 1857.
Transferred to the 7th Battalion, 1st of November 1859.
Transferred back to the 1st Battalion, 1st of April 1860.
Embarked for St. John's, Nova Scotia, aboard the S.S. "Adriatic", 18th of December 1861.
Transferred to the 6th Battalion, 17th of March 1856.
Transferred to the Woolwich Depot, 17th of January 1866.
Died at Chatham on the 17th of January 1867.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Punjab medal with clasps for Chilianwala and Goojerat.
Further medal information archived.Died at Chatham on the 17th of January 1867.
Next of kin: Wife, Catherine Collin, living in Chatham, Kent.
Death registered
John Collins [sic] 42, March Quarter 1867, Medway.
[RM: See also MJ Trow's The Pocket Hercules, a biography of Captain William Morris, 17th Lancers (published 2006). Collin swore an affadavit in support of Morris's claim for a VC. From this it can be deduced that Collin charged with the 17th and should be included among their survivors.]
Death registration kindly provided by Chris Poole.