Just read this which made me chuckle. On page 192 in The Fourth Division 1939-1945. At dawn on July 21st , the Bedfords advanced up the main road from Montevarchi ........ The country was difficult , and the infantry had been hurrying; the company commander was not sure of the map reference of his position. He chose from the map a hillock which he reckoned he should be able to see, and sent a radio message to 22nd Field Regiment to put down a few rounds on it. Within a few minutes the first shells whistled down and burst among his own men, fortunately without doing any harm. He was then able to report his position with some accuracy.
I hope that's a true story as it's incredible! I'll check the book tonight to see if it's in there. Alex
Turns out it's spot on! Was not just a case of a shit officer, infact I think he did bloody well. D Coy had taken casualties and were being mortared so the exact position had been lost on the map due to the fighting... Alex.
There is only one thing more dangerous than an officer with a map. and that is an officer with a map AND a compass.
The men are often reassured by the sight of an officer poring over a map--provided there's a sergeant peering over his shoulder. I've been reading/listening to a lot about jungle work in Malaya recently and it seems that practically everybody has story about a wet-behind-the-ears officer leading them into a swamp.
I see he was awarded an MC in 1942. Recommendation for Award for Wilson, Arthur Richard Alfred Rank: Lieutenant ... | The National Archives
This reminded me of a quote from one of my Chindit 1 Sergeants and his commander in Burma: Fred told me that when he joined the ranks of 7 Column he felt a bit like a spare part. He had been an Intelligence Sergeant in previous units and so, quite naturally Major Gilkes placed him in charge of recording the column's routes and daily map references whilst in Burma. He mentioned that the maps issued to the Chindits were of the half-inch variety, with large areas left bank and described as unchartered or un-surveyed. He recounted an amusing conversation between himself and the Major after the Column had been in Burma for approximately eight weeks: Gilkes: "So Thompson, where do you think we are then?" Thompson: "I am not sure sir" Gilkes: "Well Sergeant, you should jolly well know where we are, you have the maps!" Thompson: "Yes sir, but there is nothing bloody well written on them!".
Major Arthur Richard Alfred WILSON 117627 5th East Yorkshire Regiment Born : 9th January 1915 Partrington, Yorkshire Died : 3 Q 1991 York Commissioned in the East Yorkshire Regiment (London Gazette 16th February 1940 p.916 Lt. A.R.A. Wilson Joins 5th East Yorkshires 10th June 1942 Hull Daily Mail Monday 23rd October 1944 Retires London Gazette 18th March 1958 p.1764 Major Wilson's army career appears to have been with the East Yorshire Regiment. There is also : ARTHUR RICHARD ALAN WILSON 1913 - 1970 He may be the Beds & Herts Major?
Nothing to stop an officer one one regiment serving in another. Happened all the time. Newspaper does say he's in North Italy, which would tie up with 4th Div. Though finding the other ARA Wilson does cast doubt on my idea it the same chap. Didn't think there'd be 2 with same initials.
it is him. 4th Div history page 229 says........"Major ARA Wilson MC ordered D Company to dig in about fifty yards from the river to the south of the bridges."
