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Cenotaph record

John Law Collins

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All Black from 1964 to 1965, New Zealand Maori Representative from 1964 to 1966

John Law Collins

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Identity

About

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Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    1 February 1939 AWMM Tokomaru, Manawatu-Wanganui AWMM
  • Date of birth
    1 February 1939 Public - Lorraine M - Other relative - 10 October 2015 - Family Records
  • Place of birth
    Tokomaru Bay, East Coast, New Zealand Public - Angela - Other relative - 3 May 2016 - Family History (John Collins is my Uncle. My Father, Edward Collins, is his brother)
  • Birth notes
    • Tokomaru Bay, East Coast, New Zealand Public - Angela - Other relative - 3 May 2016 - Family History (John Collins is my Uncle. My Father, Edward Collins, is his brother)
    • Son of William COLLINS & Maraea Tangi Makawe nee' COCKERY Public - Lorraine Mona - Other relative - 5 September 2023 - Personal knowledge
  • Address before enlistment
    Malaya Tokomaru Bay AWMM
  • Post war occupation
    Wool classer/Civilian AWMM
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mother - Mrs Tangi Collins of Tokomaru Bay Public - Lorraine M - Other relative - 10 October 2015 - Family Records
  • Relationship status
    single
    married 1966 Ingrid Nia King Public - Lorraine M - Other relative - 10 October 2015 - Family Records

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Husband of Ingrid; father of two.

      All Black 1965 - 1965; also represented New Zealand as a New Zealand Maori 1964 - 1966. AWMM
    • JOHN LAW COLLINS - Gisborne Photo News
      John Collins is 25 years of age, and is the son of Mrs T. Collins, Tokomaru Bay, and the late Mr B. W. Collins. He was born in Tokomaru Bay, and spent all his school years there, until coming to Gisborne to work as a wool-classer for Gisborne Sheep-farmers.
      In 1958 he made his debut in first-class rugby when he played for Poverty Bay against East Coast at Ruatoria.
      In 1959 he played in a North Island All Black trial match at Napier.
      After enlisting in the New Zealand Army for service in Malaya, Collins virtually tossed serious rugby aside, but while overseas played for the Commonwealth Services team and the All Malayan rugby side.
      This year (1964) he returned to Gisborne, and was immediately snapped up by the P.B. selector, promoted to captain, and established himself as the star back of the team.
      Still virtually unknown outside of Gisborne, he was "discovered" by the national selectors while playing against Bay of Plenty at Rugby Park, when he made one of his classic 70-yard solo runs, cutting through the defence as though it didn't exist, to score under the posts.
      Since then, he has not looked back, being selected for the North Island team for the annual inter-island match, and for the Maori All Blacks' tour of Fiji. The tour was his first N.Z. representation.
      A big man for a five-eighths, he is a dashing player, and could well have greater things to come.
      Prior to the Maori All Blacks' tour, he had played only 19 first-class games in New Zealand, 15 of them for Poverty Bay.
      He was then re-employed by Sheepfarmers Public - Lorraine M - Other relative - 10 October 2015 - Gisborne Photo News 13 August 1964
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    29 May 2007 Death Notice Gisborne Herald
    Age 68 AWMM
    Gisborne, Gisborne Death Notice Gisborne Herald
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Whangara Urupa, Whangara, Gisborne District, New Zealand AWMM
  • Cemetery name
    Whangara Urupa, Whangara, Gisborne Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 10 October 2015 - Family Information
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Former All Black and Poverty Bay rugby great John Law Collins died in Gisborne on Monday. He was 68.
    Second five-eighth Collins was 25 when he became an All Black in the 1964-65 season.
    He played a total of three tests against Australia and South Africa, all of which New Zealand won.
    He also represented New Zealand Maori from 1964 to 1966.
    He made his debut for Poverty Bay in 1958 and his last season was 1968 in a career interrupted by active service in the New Zealand Army in Malaysia.
    He played 50 games for Poverty Bay and was a Marist club stalwart.
    He is survived by wife, Ingrid, and two children. Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 10 October 2015 - NZ Herald 30 May 2007
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of John Law Collins

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  • Uncle John, kind heart and always a softie. Miss your smile.
    Public - Vivienne - Other relative - 28 February 2017
    Report 
  • Dad, you were an inspiration to me and I still miss you every day. You will always be in my heart and I thank you for the man you have made me today.
    Public - Aaron - Sibling - 18 May 2016
    Report 
  • To my Dearest Uncle you are always in our hearts and miss you. From your nephew and family Chris , Jackie, Steven, Jordan, CJ and Olivia-Rose Kaua /Steel.
    Public - Chris - Other relative - 17 March 2016
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • The New Zealand Herald AWMM
    • Pugsley, C. (2003). From emergency to confrontation: the New Zealand armed forces in Southeast Asia, 1949-1966. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. AWMM
      Pugsley, C. (2003). From emergency to confrontation: the New Zealand armed forces in Southeast Asia, 1949-1966. Oxford, UK. OUP. AWMM
    • Gurr, Robert M. (1995). Voices from a border war : a history of 1 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, 1963 to 1965. Melbourne, Vic.: Robert Gurr. AWMM
    • The New Zealand Herald AWMM
    • 1NZR Roll 1961-1963 - Bill Russell, Malayan Veterans Association Scrapbook – 40th Anniversary edition. AWMM
    • DECEASED, 1 NZ Regiment, 1961-63 – Internet resource. AWMM
    • This record was partially created from Cemetery research completed by Carol Foster (2021). AWMM
    • Malayan Veterans Assn. (2004-). Selamat : Newsletter of the Malayan Veterans' Association Inc. AWMM
      Short obituary July 2007 AWMM
    • FARELF Nominal Roll Part 2 1962-1963- Archives New Zealand, Wellington, CAJN CH189/Box70 41/4/11 (R21234083) AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
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05 September 2023Lorraine MonaGisborne Other relative
28 February 2017VivienneAuckland, New ZealandOther relative
18 May 2016AaronScotlandSibling
03 May 2016AngelaHastings, Hakes Bay New ZealandOther relative
17 March 2016ChrisHamiltonOther relative

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