The below information was prepared by Kevin O’Callaghan, and provided to the NSW War Memorials Register in 2021. It was taken from official records in three countries, plus family knowledge of Captain Colls' travels.
Ted Colls lived an extraordinary life, serving in Colonial (Western Australia), British, South African and Canadian Militia, the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and the British Army.
- 1895–1900 (5 years):
- Force: Militia (possibly South Australia)
- Corps: Infantry
- Rank: Sergeant
- Location: Western Australia
- 8 May 1900–20 July 1901 (2 years):
- Force: 4th Contingent (Western Australia Mounted Infantry)
- Regiment number: 6
- Corps: Infantry
- Rank: Sergeant
- Theatre: South Africa
- Conflict: Boer War
- 1901–1902 (10 months)
- Force: Imperial Yeomanry
- Corps: Cavalry
- Rank: Lieutenant
- Country: United Kingdom
- Theatre: South Africa
- Conflict: Boer War
- 1902–1903 (1 month):
- Force: Central South African Railway Volunteers
- Corps: Infantry
- Rank: Unknown
- Country: South Africa
- Theatre: South Africa
- Conflict: Post-Boer War
- 1908–1914 (6 years):
- Force: 5th Regiment of the Royal Highlanders of Scotland
- Corps: Infantry
- Rank: Sergeant
- Country: Canada
- 1914–1916 (2 years):
- Force: 13th Canadian Infantry Battalion – Canadian Expeditionary Force
- Regimental number: 24007
- Corps: Infantry
- Rank: Sergeant
- Country: Canada
- Theatre: France
- Conflict: First World War
- 1916–1918 (2 years):
- Force: North Staffordshire Regiment
- Corps: Infantry
- Rank: Captain
- Country: United Kingdom
- Theatre: France
- Conflict: First World War
After leaving South Africa, he went to live in Canada, working on the Canadian Pacific Railway, where he stayed until the the First World War. He returned to Canada after the war and remained there until about 1921, when his wife, whom he left in 1900, tracked him down and brought him back to Australia.
Captain Colls died in 1928 and is buried at Fawkner Cemetery in Melbourne, Victoria. His tombstone includes his rank and his Regiment, North Staffordshire.