Ajax Veterans Street Dedication: Collis Lane

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Street Name: Collis Lane
Name of Veteran: Joseph H.B. Collis July 19, 1917-Oct. 23, 2012
Rank: Stoker
Ship Served: HMS Ajax
Date of Service on Ship: January 1936 to October 1937
Year of Visit/Dedication: 2005
Veteran or Family Visit:
Veteran of the Battle of the River Plate: No
Died at Battle: No

Joseph (Joe) Collis was born July 19, 1917 in Hullavington, Wiltshire, England. At the age of 18 he joined the Royal Navy and after training served on HMS Ajax from January 1936 to October 1937. From the Ajax Joe served on several more ships, throughout the war and beyond;

HMS Acheron: Oct 1937 to Aug 1939 - Transferred from Stoker to Joiner
HMH/S Isle of Jersey: Aug 1939 to Oct 1939
HMS Repulse: Oct 1939 to Sept 1940
RNB Portsmouth: Sept 1940 to June 1942 -Transferred from Joiner to Shipwright
HMS Despatch: June 1942 to Oct 1943
HMS Armadillo: Oct 1943 to June 1945
HMS Perseus: June 1945 to March 1946
HMS Golden Hind (Base in Australia): March 1946 to April 1946
HMS Gould: April 1946 to Oct 1946
HMS Sultan: Oct 1946 to Dec 1946
RNB Portsmouth: Dec 1946 to Sept 1947
Royal Fleet Reserve: Sept 1947 to April 1957

After twenty two years in the Royal Navy, Joe Collis retired in 1957. He returned to his career before service as a carpenter/joiner. In 1987 he retired as Managing Director of Wood Working Company in Faringdon, Oxfordshire.

Joe’s son Malcolm is the Archivist of HMS Ajax and River Plate Veterans Association and his daughter-in-law, Judi, is Membership Secretary of the Association.

Joe Collis died on October 23, 2012 at the age of ninety five.

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