William Edmund Collinge was born in Haslingden, Lancashire on 27 February 1911, the son of Evelyn Harcourt and Annie Jane Collinge (née Howorth). He joined the Royal Navy as an Engine Room Artificer Apprentice on 3 January 1927, and, on 18 September 1929, Midshipman (E) William Collinge was appointed to the RN Engineering College, Keyham. He was promoted Sub Lieutenant (E) on 1 October 1932, and he was appointed to the battleship HMS VALIANT on 1 September 1933 and was promoted to Lieutenant (E) on 1 March 1934.

On 20 December 1935, he joined HMS DOLPHIN, qualified as a submariner and, on 11 October 1936 he was appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MEDWAY at Hong Kong ‘for Submarines‘. On 5 September 1937 he was appointed to HMS RAINBOW as the Engineer. On his return home, he was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN ‘for Submarines‘ on 6 February 1939. On 17 April 1939 he was appointed to HMS TRIAD as Engineering Officer   He was awarded the DSC – see Supplement to London Gazette dated 28 June 1940 ‘for Submarine actions against the enemy’. On 15th October 1940 TRIAD encountered the Italian submarine ENRICO TOTO in the Gulf of Taranto – both submarines were surfaced at the time. Both submarines fired torpedoes and there was an exchange of gunfire – HMS TRIAD was seen to dive but was lost with all hands.

William Collinge is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel No. 37 Column No. 1.