Robert Wilson (Royal Artillery officer)

Robert Wilson
Nickname(s) Tug
Born 4 November 1911
Bristol, Gloucestershire
Died April 2002
West Berkshire
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1939–1958
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/wars Second World War
Korean War
Awards Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and Bar, Efficiency Decoration, Mentioned in Dispatches

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Wilson DSO TD (4 November 1911 – April 2002) was a British Army officer of the Second World War who escaped twice from captivity having been taken prisoner of war.

Wilson 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 operation 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. 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

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34676. p. 6181. 9 September 1939. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  2. ↑ 'Wilson, Robert' in British Army Officers 1939–1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 3 July 2015
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35465. p. 893. 24 February 1942. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  4. ↑ 'Wilson, Robert' in British Army Officers 1939–1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 3 July 2015
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37396. p. 6188. 20 December 1945. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  6. ↑ 'Wilson, Robert' in British Army Officers 1939–1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 3 July 2015
  7. ↑ 'Wilson, Robert' in British Army Officers 1939–1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 3 July 2015
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