50th Northumbrian Division

Lt-Col. W.R. Cox

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Lieutenant-Colonel W.R. Cox
7th Battalion, Green Howards

During the whole of the action Lt-Col Cox has continually on the move under small arms and mortar fire. His complete disregard for his own safety at a critical period and the calm manner in which he moved about directing the attack and encouraging the Coys was a fine example and great inspiration to all ranks.

(D.S.O. citation, 1 Mar 1945)

Born on 13 June 1905 in Herefordshire, William Reginald Cox was commissioned with the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry after completing Royal Military College Sandhurst in 1925. He rose to captain and adjutant before attending staff college at Camberley in 1939. Following general staff officer appointments, he became commanding officer of 11th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment in July 1942. Six months later the unit was reconstituted as the 1st Battalion—the original had been destroyed after the surrender of Singapore.

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Lt-Col. R.H.W.S. Hastings

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Lieutenant-Colonel Robin Hastings
6th Battalion, Green Howards
2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps

I want it to be clearly understood that I, who was there and saw it, have nothing but admiration for the way the Bn fought yesterday afternoon. The withdrawal was given entirely on my order, it was carried out perfectly, and it was given chiefly because of the threat of tanks to our Lines of Communication. The men of the Bn deserve more credit for their performance yesterday than for many other battles for which we will have received more credit.

(Quoted in 6th Green Howards war diary, 12 Jun 1944)

Born on 16 January 1917 in Rugby, Warwickshire, Robin Hood William Stewart Hastings was an horse racer, a graduate of Christ Church, Oxford University and a commissioned officer in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps since 1938. In response to press criticism about “undergraduate hooliganism,” in 1937 he wrote a joint letter with George Haig, 2nd Earl Haig, to the Daily Telegraph, “Whereas our father sowed their wild oats in the comparatively secluded company of dons and tutors, our audience is only limited by the circulation of the daily papers … The public gaze is misdirected. The foundations of the Empire are hardly likely to be shaken by the hail of stones.” Hastings’ and Haig’s letter went on to claim the Empire was “however, threatened by the words and actions of those undergraduates whose principal diversion is to pass treasonable motions,” presumably a reference to radical, Communist, or pacifist elements at the university.

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Lt-Col. T.G.L. Charles

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Lieutenant-Colonel T.G.L. Charles
5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment

Soon after landing and during the unsettled first few days, he had the machinery of comd excellently organised and fully under control, being quite indifferent to and in no way allowing enemy action or movements to interfere with the arrangements. The same zeal and marked efficiency characterised all Lt-Col Charles’ work when he too over comd of 5 E Yorks.

(D.S.O. citation, 21 Jun 1945)

Born on 12 November 1909 Eastbourne, Sussex, Thomas Leslie Gwyther Charles was commissioned into the Essex Regiment in 1930, and served in India and the Middle East. In July 1936, he was injured in a RAF bomber crash in Egypt that killed seven. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he mobilized as adjutant in the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment.

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Lt-Col. G.W. White

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Lieutenant-Colonel G.W. White
5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
12th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps

… continuous active operations almost always in contact with the enemy. He has done outstanding work for units and has made himself an excellent Staff Captain through his energy, resource and unruffled temperament. He refused to go sick in spite of ill-health during the Dec/Jan operations, when his determination kept him at duty.

(M.B.E. recommendation, 8 July 1941)

Born on 6 July 1912 in Farnham, Surrey, Gilbert William White was a cricket player and commissioned in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps since completing Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1933. Following prewar service in Palestine fighting the Arab Revolt, White was posted to the newly formed 7th Armoured Division in 1940 as a staff officer. For “his energy, resource and unruffled temperament” during the Western Desert campaign, he was made Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in July 1941.

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Lt-Col. R.B. James

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Lieutenant-Colonel R.B. James
5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment

It was a severe blow to hear from 5 E Yorks that Lt Col R.B., DSO, had been killed by shellfire. No one was with him at the time, but he was killed instantaneously … It would not be fitting here to attempt an expression of what the E Yorks must be feeling, or of their admiration of Col. James.

(HQ 69 Inf Bde Information Bulletin No. 31, 3 Aug 44)

Born in October 1912 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Robert Brian James was a commissioned officer in the Essex Regiment since 1932. Before the Second World War, he had served in Palestine and later earned a Distinguished Service Order for bravery during the Anglo-Iraqi War in May 1941. Within two years, he would be awarded a pair of D.S.O. Bars for skillful leadership commanding the 5th East Yorks in North Africa and Sicily.

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Lt-Col. P.H. Richardson

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Lieutenant-Colonel P.H. Richardson
7th Battalion, Green Howards
2/6th Battalion, Queen’s Royal Regiment

For some reason I don’t know why neither B or D boys seem to possess any means of dealing with the tanks though the M10’s did knock out one and I think I got the commander of one myself with a Bren. We suffered quite a few casualties and bit by bit parties got put in the bag … If I had only had tanks myself or more PIATs things might have been different. I could have knocked out three tanks myself if I had only been carrying a PIAT at 30-50 yds range.

(Lt-Col. P.H. Richardson, 10 Aug 1944, war diary appendix)

Born on 23 July 1909 in British, India, Philip Herbert Richardson was a commissioned officer in the Queen’s Royal Regiment since 1930. Following prewar service in China and India, he attended Staff College, Camberley in 1941. Following a posting as brigade major, he served as second-in-command of the 2/5th Battalion, Queen’s Royal Regiment in North Africa, and next transferred to the 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in Sicily.

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