Lieutenant-Colonel R.A. Bramwell-Davis
10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

These successful operations were due to the magnificent leadership determination and courage of Lt-Col Bramwell Davis. He was always seen wherever there was trouble, quietly giving orders and encouragement. During the fight for the village, he twice organized and personally led attacks against enemy strong points holding up his advance. When organizing a section stalk to eliminate a SP gun, he was wounded. He refused to be evacuated until such time as the Battalion was consolidated and he had hand over to his Second in Command who had to be brought forward.

(D.S.O. citation, 7 Jun 1945)

Born on 8 October 1905 in Scotland, Ronald Albert Bramwell-Davis was commissioned into the Highland Light Infantry after graduating from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1925. In addition to army service, he played cricket and polo. He served in Hong Kong and in India on the North West Frontier. From 1941 to 1942 and 1943 to 1944, he was attached to the British Joint Staff Mission in Washington, D.C.

By February 1945, he was given a field command, succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel H.P. Mackley of the 10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Within weeks, he earned the Distinguished Service Order for the capture of Kranenburg:

Throughout the whole operation, Lt Col Bramwell-Davis moved about under enemy fire encouraging his men, and displayed the highest qualities of leadership. His Battalion took a large number of prisoners, and killed many enemy. By his personal example and bravery he ensured the success of the operation and despite casualties which were not light, he maintained a high state of morale in his Battalion.

Just a month after being awarded the D.S.O., he received a Bar for actions on 14 April 1945, when he was also wounded. Major F.B.B. Noble took over for the final weeks of the fighting but Bramwell-Davis resumed command in early May.

Postwar, he held various command, attended Canadian Defence College, and served as chief of staff for Scottish Command then Southern Command. He became colonel of the Highland Light Infantry in 1957. After a thirty-five-year army career, Bramwell-Davis retired in 1960 as a major-general.

Bramwell-Davis died on 12 May 1974 at Tidworth military Hospital.