James Wilson (British Army officer)
Sir James Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 April 1921 |
| Died | 17 December 2004 (aged 83) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1977 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Service number | 180730 |
| Commands | 1st Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers 147th Infantry Brigade North West District South East District |
| Battles / wars | World War II Mau Mau Uprising |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross |
Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander James Wilson KBE MC (13 April 1921 – 17 December 2004) was a British Army officer who commanded South East District.
Military career
[edit]Born the son of Major-General Bevil Wilson and educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, Wilson originally enlisted with the King's Shropshire Light Infantry and was then commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in December 1940.[1][2] He served in World War II in North Africa and in Italy earning the MC for taking the village of Lusia.[2][3]
After the war he served as private secretary to the Commander-in-Chief of the newly independent Pakistan Army.[2] He served in Kenya during the Mau Mau Uprising in 1954 and became Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1962.[4] He was appointed chief of staff for the United Nations force in Cyprus in 1964, Commander of 147th Infantry Brigade in 1966 and Director of Army Recruiting at the Ministry of Defence in 1967.[4] He went on to be General Officer Commanding North West District in 1970, Vice Adjutant-General in 1972 and General Officer Commanding South East District in 1974 before retiring in 1977.[4]
In retirement he was given the colonelcy of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers from 1977 to 1982. He was also chairman and then chief executive of the Tobacco Advisory Council[2] and a Football Correspondent for The Sunday Times.[2]
Family
[edit]In 1958 he married the Hon. Jean Margaret Rankeillour, daughter of Arthur Hope, 2nd Baron Rankeillour; they had two sons, one step-son and two step-daughters.[4]
Works
[edit]- 'Unusual Undertakings: A Military Memoir' by James Wilson
References
[edit]- ^ "No. 35052". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 January 1941. p. 470.
- ^ a b c d e "Lt-Gen Sir James Wilson". The Daily Telegraph. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ "No. 37235". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 August 1945. p. 4268.
- ^ a b c d Debrett's People of Today, 1994
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1921 births
- 2004 deaths
- People educated at Winchester College
- Alumni of New College, Oxford
- British Army lieutenant generals
- Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Recipients of the Military Cross
- Rifle Brigade officers
- British military personnel of the Mau Mau Uprising
- Lancashire Fusiliers officers
- British Army personnel of World War II
- King's Shropshire Light Infantry soldiers