Michael Collens

Alternate name(s): 
Joseph; M. Cullen; Collin; Collins; Terrien
Date of birth: 
Sunday, 28 November 1897
Ethnicity/Nationality: 
Ukrainian
Profession: 
agricultural worker; railway worker
Hometown(s): 
Calgary, Alberta; Kolchedian, Russia
Date of Immigration to Canada: 
1901
Political affiliation: 
Communist Party of Canada, 1935
Affiliations to union and social groups: 
Canadian Labor Defence League; Involved in street protests
Prior military experience: 
"Black Devils," Canadian Army in France during World War I, 1915-1919
Approximate date arrived in Spain: 
1937-02-09 left
1937-03-17 arrived
Unit: 
Abraham Lincoln Battalion, Company 3, Section 3 from 16 April 1937; Attached to the Training Base Tarazona on 30 September 1937; Transferred to 13 Brigade Training Base Casas Ibanez on 28 October 1937; 13 Brigade, 53 Battalion from 8 November 1937 to 1 February 1938; 15 Brigade from 2 May 1938-13 July 1938; 13 Brigade from 13 July 1938-16 October 1938; Served at Jarama, Brunete, Tardunite, Huesca and Ebro Offensive; Rank Cabo
Final status: 
Sick 2 March 1938; WIA in right leg on 22 October 1937 at Fuentes de Ebro, hospitalized in Madrid for 12 days; Survived; Originally refused readmission to Canada by Colonel O'Kelly; Returned to Canada 1939
Disciplinary record in Spain: 
Allegedly a discipline problem; Jailed for 10 days for insubordination
Sources: 
RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 544, ll. 2-3; Opis 6, Delo 545, ll. 34-37; Momryk; Petrou
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