Post by anthony on Dec 30, 2008 2:04:31 GMT
Lieutenant-Colonel Eric Wilson, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in Somaliland in August 1940 died on 23 December 2008, aged 96. Wilson was an officer of the East Surrey Regiment attached to the Somaliland Camel Corps. He was thought to have been killed in action at Observation Hill where he manned a machine gun post for five days. Wilson was wounded early in the fight, suffered malaria during the action and his post was eventually overrun with everyone killed except himself who was left for dead. However, after recovering consciousness he was captured by the Italians. He was imprisoned at Adi Ugri in Eritrea and was released the following year.
Wilson was the last living British Army recipient of World War 2. There are now just four living World War 2 recipients; one Australian Army, two Gurkhas and one RAF. With four post World War 2 living recipients, with one each from Korea, Sarawak, Vietnam and Iraq, there are now just eight surviving VC recipients.
Wilson was the last living British Army recipient of World War 2. There are now just four living World War 2 recipients; one Australian Army, two Gurkhas and one RAF. With four post World War 2 living recipients, with one each from Korea, Sarawak, Vietnam and Iraq, there are now just eight surviving VC recipients.