Percy Alfred Collins (January 22, 1905 – 1990) was an Australian sailor. He appeared on an Australian postage stamp in 1995.[ citation needed]
Collins was born in Murwillumbah in 1905. [1] He was William and Ellen Collins’ (née Foley) fourth child. [2]
In 1927 Collins became a stoker for the Royal Australian Navy; in 1939 he was promoted to the rank of petty officer. [3] In 1940 he was selected to be part of the HMAS Napier commissioning crew [4] (this was the first of the Navy’s new “N” class destroyers).[ citation needed]
Collins died in 1990.[ citation needed]
In 1941 during the Battle of Crete, his actions resulted in saving a ship. For this he received a Distinguished Service Medal. It was stated that he had “virtually kept the ship mobile,” enabling it to proceed to port.
In October 1945 he received a Bar to his D.S.M. for his "courage, endurance, and skill" while undertaking escort duties "under hazardous and trying conditions". He was one of only two RAN sailors to receive a D.S.M. and Bar. [5]
The Australian War Memorial received his medals upon his death, [6] along with his portrait which had been painted by Alfred Cook in 1956. [7]