Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Wilson DSO* TD (4 November 1911 – April 2002) was a British Army officer of the Second World War. He escaped twice from captivity, having been taken and becoming a prisoner of war.
Robert Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Tug" |
| Born | 4 November 1911 Bolton, Lancashire |
| Died | April 2002 West Berkshire |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1939–1958 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Service number | 97240 |
| Battles / wars | Second World War Palestine Emergency Korean War |
| Awards | Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and Bar, Efficiency Decoration, Mentioned in Dispatches |
Military career
editWilson worked as a draughtsman for the Bristol Aeroplane Company and served as a gunner in the Territorial Army, before commissioning into the 5th Survey Regiment of the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 2 September 1939.[1]
He served in the Battle of France with the 3rd Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery before being evacuated from Dunkirk. In November 1940 he joined a 'Folbot' section of No. 8 (Guards) Commando and saw service in the Middle East. In April 1941 he was a founder member of Roger Courtney's Special Boat Service (SBS) and participated in operations in the Mediterranean and North Africa.[2] In February 1942 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his role in six SBS raids in Egypt and Libya.[3] In September 1942 he was captured during an operation in Italy and was marked for transportation to a German prisoner of war camp, but successfully escaped at Modena station. Wilson was recaptured in Rome on 8 January 1944 and held at Stalag IV-B.[4] He was later transferred to Oflag VIII-F and then to Oflag 79, which was liberated by US forces on 12 April 1945. On 20 December 1945 he was awarded a Bar to his DSO is recognition for his actions during and after his capture.[5]
Between February 1946 and September 1947, Wilson served as Battery Commander, 66th Airborne Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery in Palestine during the Palestine Emergency. He then returned to UK and served as a Battery Commander in heavy anti-aircraft and light anti-aircraft regiments and then as a Staff Officer Royal Artillery at the Army Air Transport Development Centre. From 1951 to 1953 Wilson was a Battery Commander in the 14th Regiment Royal Artillery, and served in the Korean War. On 24 April 1953 he was Mentioned in Dispatches.[6] Between 1953 and 1956 he was Second-in-Command of the 38th Training Regiment RA in North Wales, before serving as Commanding Officer of the 37th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA in Malta. Wilson retired from the regular army in April 1958 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Wilson was the subject of a 1985 book by Rex Woods, called Special Commando : the wartime adventures of Lt-Col Robert Wilson, DSO and Bar.[7]
References
edit- ^ "No. 34676". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 September 1939. p. 6181.
- ^ 'Wilson, Robert' in British Army Officers 1939–1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 3 July 2015
- ^ "No. 35465". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 February 1942. p. 893.
- ^ 'Wilson, Robert' in British Army Officers 1939–1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 3 July 2015
- ^ "No. 37396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 December 1945. p. 6188.
- ^ 'Wilson, Robert' in British Army Officers 1939–1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 3 July 2015
- ^ 'Wilson, Robert' in British Army Officers 1939–1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 3 July 2015