[1] He enlisted in the Royal Horse Artillery in 1895 and served in South Africa during the Boer War and was one of the first troops to enter Ladysmith with the relief column.

The Welsh Horse provided part of the garrison in the Libyan desert until January 1917, when they were merged with the 1/1 Montgomeryshire Yeomanry and then formed the 25th Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers, British Army.

Corporal Collins repeatedly went out under heavy fire and brought back many wounded to cover, thus saving many lives.

He led the final assault with the utmost skill in spite of heavy fire at close range and uncut wire.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd, Wales,[9] where there is a plaque in the entrance to his memory.