Matthew Collins

British Major Matthew Collins, age 38, was killed on March 23, 2011, in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb. 

He was killed just six days before he was due to return home. Military officials said that his death was a devastating blow.

Jesus, take Matthew
with you to heaven

Matthew Collins came from Backwell in Somerset. He commissioned into the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in August 1996, and travelled all over the world with the Battalion, serving operationally in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as on exercise in Belize, Kenya, Oman and the Falkland Islands.

Major Collins was the Company Commander of Number 3 Company and deployed on Operation HERRICK 13 as the Commander of the Advisory Team to the 3rd Kandak of the UK’s partnered Afghan Brigade. In this role, through his professional excellence, natural intelligence and force of personality, he has made a significant improvement to the operational capability of the Afghan soldiers and officers he advised.

Major Collins was passionate about his family. He spoke often of his wife, Lucy, his daughter, Freya, and his son, Charlie. He also leaves behind his father, Derek, mother Tricia, and brothers, Mark, Nick and Chris.

The family of Major Collins have made the following statement: “Not only a soldier but a caring husband, devoted father to Freya and Charlie, caring son, wonderful brother and friend to many. We will all miss him and remember him always.”

Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that Matthew Collins is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen