Lt-Col. F.W.A. Butterworth

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Lieutenant-Colonel F.W.A. Butterworth
2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment

During the operation, his personal leadership was of a very high order and his presence on the battlefield at places where he was most … was an inspiration to all ranks. His personal attention to detail in the planning period and his drive, determination, and leadership during battle were responsible for the Bn seizing four important objectives almost entirely within the time laid down by Bde HQ.

(D.S.O. recommendation, 20 Sep 1944)

Born on 18 November 1906 in Headingley, Yorkshire, Francis Wyndham Arthur Butterworth was commissioned in the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own) in 1925 after attending Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In 1936, he joined the Sudan Defence Force and served as second-in-command of the Equatorial Corps during the first phase of the Second World War. For his administrative and security work in Sudan, he awarded with Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1942.

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Lt-Col. D.R. Wilson

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Lieutenant-Colonel D.R. Wilson
2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
7th Battalion, Green Howards
2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers

He has throughout combined a high sense of duty with a humane understanding of the many factors affecting the morale of the soldier, and his work has been of a constantly high standard.

(O.B.E. citation, 1 Jan 1957)

Born on 15 January 1912 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Douglas Richard Wilson attended Radley College and Royal Military College, Sandhurst before being commissioned into the Lincolnshire Regiment in 1932. His father Colonel Richard Henry George Wilson (1874–1944) had commanded the 8th, 1st, and 1/5th Battalions during the First World War. Following overseas service with the 1st Battalion in Hong Kong and India in the 1930s, the younger Wilson was attached the headquarters staff of the 9th Infantry Brigade during the battle of France.

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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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Lt-Col. C.L. Firbank

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Lieutenant-Colonel Cecil Firbank
2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment

Despite the great destruction wrought by the atomic bomb, infantry has in no way been reduced to the role of an occupation force in any future major conflict. With each new weapon that has appeared down through the history warfare that have been some who have claimed that the knight in armor or the soldier with a rifle is no longer of use. But wars will be fought by infantry men as long as we have wars.

(Quoted in Montreal Star, 16 Nov 1955, 3)

Born in British India on 1 August 1911, Ronald Clarence Macdonald was a field hockey player educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In 1931 took a commission with the Royal Warkwickshire Regiment, which his father had earlier commanded. He attended staff college and following instructional duties, was assigned to the 1/6th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment.

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Lt-Col. R.C. Macdonald

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Lieutenant-Colonel R.C. Macdonald
1/6th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers
2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

All our families are very much happier about our departure now that there is an armistice. We don’t know quite what we shall find when we get there, but we shall be busy enough competing with the cold, if nothing else.

(Quoted in Birmingham Gazette, 1 Aug 1953, 5)

Born in British India on 1 August 1911, Ronald Clarence Macdonald was a field hockey player educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In 1931 took a commission with the Royal Warkwickshire Regiment, which his father had earlier commanded. He attended staff college and following instructional duties, was assigned to the 1/6th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment.

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Lt-Col. J.F.M. Macdonald

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Lieutenant-Colonel J.F.M. Macdonald
1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers

His coolness and determination inspired the leading Coy to rally and resist the enemy counter attack with spirit; the enemy was finally firmly held. With considerable skill and power of decision, though he himself was under heavy mortar and sniper fire, this fine officer quickly re-act his fire plan

(D.S.O. citation, 30 November 1951)

Born on 7 November 1907 in Norfolk, John Frederick Matheson Macdonald was commissioned with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers after graduating from Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1927. Following staff postings, he served as second-in-command of the 6th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers during the early phase of the Normandy campaign. He took command of the 1st Battalion, KOSB on 26 July 1944, a week after Lieutenant-Colonel G.D. Renny had been wounded and evacuated.

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Lt-Col. B.A. Innes

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Lieutenant-Colonel B.A. Innes
7th Battalion, Black Watch

The proposed Assembly will have 150 more Politicians and well over 1000 extra bureaucrats who will all have to be paid for out of the annal block grant. This can only mean less for essential services as above … The S.N.P. (or tartan socialists) like the other variety want to get at other men’s wealth.

(The Strathearn Herald, 24 Feb 1979, 6)

Born on 22 July 1904 in Dagshai, India, Berowald Alfred Innes was a commissioned officer with the Black Watch since completing Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1924. He was promoted to captain in 1937 and made acting major one month after the outbreak of the Second World War. He was wounded in the Battle of France. His brother Flying Officer Herome Alexander Innes was killed in a training accident in 1940.

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Lt-Col. M.C.K. Halford

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Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Halford
Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment

The battalion did the work, and I got the DSO.

(Quoted in Daily Telegraph, 21 Jan 1999, 29)

Born on 28 October 1914 in Yateley, Hampshire, Michael Charles Kirkpatrick Halford was a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge and commissioned in the York and Lancaster Regiment, which had been commanded by father and maternal grandfather. He served during the Arab Revolt in Palestine 1936 and became adjutant for the Hallamshire Battalion in 1939.

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Lt-Col. P.R. Ashburner

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Lieutenant-Colonel P.R. Ashburner
4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment

He has always worked hard and has had on many occasions to do much more than is own work owing to battle casualties among the other officers at Brigade Headquarters–through the many changes of personnel including the Commander; carried through every action, he has remained the cheerful, confidant personality on which the Brigade has come to rely for the continuity of its success in fighting the Germans.”

(Military Cross citation, 29 Mar 1945)

Born on 18 July 1910. In Mount Abu, India, Peter Robert Ashburner was the son of a British Army brigadier and polo player. After graduating from Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was commissioned into his father’s regiment Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) in 1930. His served in Normandy and North West Europe as brigade major for 71st Infantry Brigade, for which he received the Military Cross:

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