Midshipman Mark Taylor COLLIER RN
HMS Royal Oak

Date of birth: 28th July 1901
Date of death: 16th November 1994

Died aged 93
Unknown
Mark Taylor Collier was born at South Brent in Devon on the 28th of July 1901 the son of George Collier, Managing Partner of a wine and spirit store, and Anne Collier of "Winfield", South Brent.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until December 1914 where he was a member of the Choir. He was a member of the Football XI in 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914 and of the Cricket XI in 1912, 1913 and 1914. The school magazine wrote the following of his 1911 football season: - "(Left half) - A wonderful performer, considering his age and inches; throws capitally from the line; must resume his straightness in tackling and kicking, and forswear the "googly" touch."

Of his 1912 football season they wrote: - "(Back) - Has learnt much though not yet reliable; is a poor tackler, but is quick to seize an opportunity and kicks strongly; should be of the utmost service next season."

They wrote of his 1913 football season: - "(Back) - Has been of the greatest service; kicks cleanly and with fair judgement, but is a poor tackler, and does not always feel the responsibility of his position; unfortunately has imbibed a dislike for heading; this has placed an unfair strain upon his volleying, and depreciated his worth."

Of his 1914 football season they wrote: - "(Right back) - Failed somehow to reach the high standard for which his work in past seasons had prepared us. Much of his game is sound, but he has a bad habit of elevating the ball, and robust tackling finds no place in his repertoire."

They wrote the following of his 1912 cricket season: - "Played one priceless innings, but otherwise did little to justify his "colours"; must take his net practice more seriously and study defence."

Of his 1913 cricket season they wrote: - "A very useful bowler with an easy action - a natural off break. Will never make a sound bat until he conquers his left wrist - fair on the off side. As a rule a quick and safe field. Keen as mustard."

They wrote of his 1914 cricket season: - "A stylish and effective bat, with splendid scoring strokes on the off, but his idea of dealing with the half volley is quite moderate. Has lost much of his bowling sting. Smart and sound in the field."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him in their April 1915 edition: - "Has already been for a term at Osborne. Prevented from taking the December examination, he was given by the Admiralty a special trail in January, and passed all tests with flying colours. It is our great regret that he thus missed his chance of gaining the award of "Honourable Mention" for which he was a strong candidate. His future is big with promise."

He entered the Royal Naval College Osborne on the 15th of January 1915 where he was head of his class and passed out 17th out of 125 boys in his term.

He went on to Dartmouth Naval College from September 1916 to August 1917 where he passed out 7th out of 114. He was appointed as a Cadet Captain in 1917 and as a Midshipman in the Royal Navy on the 15th of September 1917. He joined the crew of the battleship HMS "Royal Oak" on the 26th of September 1917 and served with her until the 1st of June 1919 during which time he was present at the German surrender in the Baltic. He then served on the destroyer HMS "Waterhen" from the 1st of June to the 24th of November 1919, after which he returned to HMS "Royal Oak" from the 24th of November 1919 to the 15th of September 1920. He was promoted to acting Sub Lieutenant on the 15th of September 1920 and volunteered for the submarine service on the 23rd of October 1920, passing the exams with a mark of 90% on the 15th of November 1920. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on the 15th of May 1921 and was posted to HM Submarine H33 as their Third Officer on the 18th of November 1921.

On the 15th of October 1922 he was promoted to Lieutenant and in 1923 he joined the submarine K26 for a cruise of the Canary Islands; later in the year they sailed for the Mediterranean. By 1926 he was attached to the submarine depot ship HMS "Vulcan" based at Portland and later that year he was appointed to submarine L21, part of the First Submarine Flotilla, based at Chatham.
On the 8th of June 1928 he obtained his aero certificate (8297) at the Hampshire Aeroplane Club flying a DH60 Moth aircraft.

He was married to Mary E. (nee Holman) in 1938 and they had a daughter.

He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on the 15th of October 1930 and from the 1st of February to the 21st of November 1939 he commanded the Submarine Depot Ship HMS "Alecto". On the 8th of October 1940 he was given command of the destroyer HMS "Bradford" when she was at Halifax, having previously been the USS "McLanahan" as part of the American Lend Lease program. From the 21st of March 1941 to the 24th of June 1941 he commanded the sloop HMS "Leith" during which time the ship was engaged in providing escort to convoys as they passed through the Western Approaches.

He was mentioned in despatches on the on the 29th of June 1943.

He retired from the Navy with the rank of Commander on the 28th of July 1946 and lived at Broadpark, South Brent in Devon.
Went on to Royal Naval College

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