Lieutenant-Colonel Hank Carson
1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles

His tactical ability has always been sound, his planning painstaking and thorough. His battalion has always maintained a high morale and in the most difficult conditions their cheerfulness has been noticeable and outstanding. This is to a very large extent due to the personality and example set by their commanding officer.

(O.B.E. citation, 29 Apr 1952)

Born on 18 July 1909 in Mussoorie, British India, Robert John Heyworth Carson was educated at Charterhouse and RMC Sandhurst. After taking a commission the Royal Ulster Rifles in 1929, he served around the world including in Northern Ireland, Palestine, Egypt and Hong Kong. Carson briefly commanded the 70th (Young Soldiers) Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles, a unit formed in 1940 for underaged soldiers too young for conscription. In February 1943, he succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel R.J.R. Campbell in command of the 1st Battalion, RUR.

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