Paul William Bradley Collins (named after an uncle who was killed while serving with RAF Ferry Command) is a born and bred Newfoundlander, with a doctoral degree in History from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). He is a recognized author, speaker, and consultant on Newfoundland during the Second World War and an expert on Newfyjohn’s role in the Battle of the Atlantic.
Dr. Collins has contributed to such respected publications as The Northern Mariner, Newfoundland and Labrador Studies, Action Stations, The Newfoundland Quarterly, and the Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador Website, and has also published numerous articles online.
In 2010, Dr. Collins’ essay “From Defended Harbour to Trans-Atlantic Base” on St. John’s’ development as a Second World War naval base appeared in the award-winning Occupied St. John’s: A Social History of a City at War 1939-1945 published by McGill-Queen’s University Press (available here). His own The “Newfyjohn” Solution: St. John’s, Newfoundland as a Case Study of Second World War Allied Naval Base Development During the Battle of the Atlantic (available here) was released in 2014 and is the product of extensive research at the City of St. John’s Archives; The Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador (PANL); Libraries and Archives Canada (LARC); and The National Archives (TNA/PRO), Kew, London, UK. Most recently, Calgary-based WriteAdvice Press issued The 20th Anniversary Edition of Dr. Collins’ best selling historical novel Dangerous Waters as both a paperback and ebook (available here).
Full Curriculum Vitae available as PDF (right click to download)