Colin, FA
(1896 - 1917)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
31st August 1896
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1911 - 1915
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
41 Alleyn Park, Dulwich
REGIMENT
7th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
FINAL RANK:
2nd Lieutenant
DATE OF DEATH:
3rd May 1917
AGE AT DEATH:
20
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Monchy, near Arras
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Arras Memorial Bay 6
2nd Lieutenant Felix Augustus Colin
Born Felix Augustus Cohn in Johannesburg on August 31st 1896, he was the second of what would go on to be five sons of German citizen August Sylvester Cohn. Shortly after his birth the family moved to England, and in 1901, August and his first two sons became naturalized British citizens. After spending time at boarding school near Harrogate, Felix came to Dulwich, as his elder brother already had and as his three younger brothers would go on to do. After leaving the College Felix changed his surname from Cohn to Colin, a move which had already been undertaken by his elder brother Alfred some years earlier; this was very likely an attempt to avoid any potential issues in the army surrounding the “German-ness” of his original surname.
Felix was twice refused entry into the army on medical grounds, but on the third attempt was successful in enlisting in the Public Schools Battalion, before transferring to the Officers Cadet Battalion in July of 1916, with whom he was based at Magdalen College, Oxford. After this he took a commission in the East Surrey Regiment in December, and shortly afterwards proceeded to France. He was serving with the 7th Battalion near Arras on May 3rd 1917 when he received a major head wound; after patching this up he returned to command of his men, but fell later that day.
