Walter Collison was the son of Clara Collison and husband of Doris Mary Collison, of Cosham, Hampshire.

As a Petty Officer Torpedo Gunner’s Mate, he was in charge of TRIUMPH’s torpedoes, responsible for keeping these large and complex weapons in working order during patrols. He was also in charge of the fore-ends, where spare torpedoes were kept, and reloaded into the tubes after firing. Finally, in an attack, Frank was the man who pressed the actual firing handles when the “fire” signal (a bell and light) were activated from the control room.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (London Gazette of 20 January 1942) “for courage, skill and resolution in successful submarine patrols” and a Bar to the DSM (London Gazette of 5 May 1942) “for daring, enterprise and devotion to duty in successful patrols in HM Submarines“.

Walter Collison died when HMS TRIUMPH was lost with all hands having apparently struck a mine in the Aegean Sea.  He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 62, Column 2.