Lieutenant-Colonel J.E.L. Corbyn
4th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment

This Commanding Officer who held the position of Second in Command in his bn before taking command has always shown himself to be cool and resourceful in action and his never failing cheerfulness has always had a tonic effect upon all who have come into contact with him.

(D.S.O. citation, 11 Oct 1945)

Born on 14 June 1913 in British India, John Edwin Lorne Corbyn was commissioned into the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1933. While attached to the King’s African Rifles, he earned the Military Cross during the East Africa campaign in March 1941. He later qualified as a staff officer and served as brigade major for the 214th Infantry Brigade in Normandy.

In August 1944, Corbyn was assigned to 4th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment as the new second-in-command. He replaced Lieutenant-Colonel R.E. Osborne-Smith who went on to command 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. At the end of January 1945, Corbyn succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel E.L. Luce in command of the 4th Wilts. For the crossing of the Rhine, he received the D.S.O.: “By his courage and outstanding example this officer held the enemy attacks and maintained the spirit of his men under very trying conditions.”

He was wounded by friendly fire in April 1945 and temporarily replaced by Major W. M. Allen. The regimental history, The Maroon Square, recorded: “it was hoped that Lieut-Colonel Corbyn was not seriously wounded, though ever since he had been with the Battalion he had continually walked about unconcernedly where the danger was greatest and had had some remarkable escapes.”

A recovered Corbyn resumed command shortly after VE-Day. He retired from the army at the rank of brigadier in 1958. Corbyn died on 8 July 1999.