Next of kin plaque : Corporal Charles Hugh Collins, 24th Battalion, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'CHARLES HUGH COLLINS'.

Born at Gisborne, Victoria, Charles Hugh 'Charlie' Collins was employed as a labourer in Melbourne when he enlisted in the AIF on 20 March 1915. After initial training he was appointed a private, service number 854, to D Company, 24th Battalion. He left Melbourne aboard HMAT A14 Euripides on 10 May. In Egypt the battalion conducted further training before landing at Gallipoli in early September, where it shared the defence of the Lone Pine trenches. Collins received a shrapnel wound to the wrist in early December and was evacuated to hospital in Egypt. He rejoined his unit on 11 March 1916 and sailed with them to France at the end of the month.

In November 1916 Collins was evacuated to hospital suffering from trench fever. He rejoined his battalion in February 1917. He was promoted lance corporal in April. Collins was wounded in the face, nose and shoulder on 5 October, during the battle for Broodseinde Ridge in Belgium and was evacuated to England. He returned to France in April 1918.

At daybreak on 4 July, Collins, who had recently been promoted corporal, was resting in a dugout near Villers Bretonneux when it was hit by a high explosive shell. He was killed instantly. He was 22. Collins was initially buried in a French civilian cemetery at Blangy Tronville but was reinterred in the Longueau British Cemetery after the war.

This commemorative plaque was sent to his sister, Mrs Jessie Neate, in November 1922.