Frank Collins (British Army soldier)
| Frank Collins | |
|---|---|
| Religion | Church of England |
| Alma mater | Oak Hill Theological College |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | British |
| Born |
1956 or 1957 Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Died |
16 June 1998 (age 41) Stockbridge, Hampshire, England |
Frank Collins (1956/57 – 16 June 1998), was a Church of England clergyman and the first 22 SAS soldier to enter the building in the Iranian Embassy Siege in 1980. Whilst with 22 SAS B Squadron Air (7) Troop, Collins served with both Al Slater and Charles "Nish" Bruce. He left the service in 1989 to work in security and later pursued training for ordained ministry.[1]
After becoming vicar of St Peter with St Owen and St James in Hereford, he was commissioned as a chaplain in Territorial Army unit the 23 SAS Regiment and served as padre with the The Parachute Regiment.[1]
His autobiography, Baptism of Fire,[2] was published by Doubleday in 1997. He committed suicide by gassing himself in his car a year later when he became depressed after being told to resign from the army as chaplain by the army authorities who were not happy about the book.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 "SAS hero in suicide over book". The Independent. 17 September 1998. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ↑ , Baptism of Fire: The Astonishing True Story of a Man of God, Frank Collins PB. ISBN 0-552-14582-3, ISBN 0-385-40916-8