Lieutenant-Colonel Bob Lidwill
8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry

We had our C.O., Bob Lidwill—a great character. He was a regular soldier who had been in GHQ in Cairo, a staff job, who dropped his rank to get back to an infantry battalion, which not many headquarters staff did. And he became our C.O., and a very brave man. He never seemed to be shaken at all. Very bold, very cool and calm despite how much stuff was flying around.

(George Pearson Chambers, IWM interview, 1988)

Born on 26 July 1914 in County Galway, Ireland, Robert Peisley Lidwill was the son of a British Army colonel and commissioned officer in the King’s Regiment since 1934. He was promoted to captain in summer 1940. His older brother Captain George Ronald Lidwill died during the Norway campaign in April 1940. Lidwill joined the 8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in July 1942 and fought in the North African campaign.

On 22 March 1943, commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel M.L.P. Jackson was killed in action during the Battle of Mareth. Lidwill, who had been left out of battle, subsequently assumed command. After the defeat of the Germans in Tunisia, the 50th Division prepared to participate in the invasion of Sicily.

After seizing a bridgehead on 16 July 1943, Lidwill earned the D.S.O. for “personal courage in the face of heavy enemy opposition.” Before the end of the year, the 50th Division returned to the United Kingdom to prepare for the invasion of Normandy.

The 8th DLI landed on Gold Beach on 6 June 1944, but due to casualties to senior officers, Lidwill acted as commander of 151st Infantry Brigade for the early phase of the operation. He rejoined the 8th DLI later in June until 7 August when he was badly wounded by a mortar barrage. He was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel C.F. Hutchinson, formerly of 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, but when he proved physically unfit, Major H.R.D. Oldman, 2 i/c of 7th Battalion, Green Howards took over.

Lidwill died in County Tipperary on 3 August 1994.