Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sapper (Combat Engineer)

Unit:

3/1st Battalion Punjab Regiment, 25th Indian Infantry Brigade, 46th Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

February 8th, 1945

Recommendation:
"Sapper Wilson was attached to 3/1st Punjab Regiment from 31st June to 12th August 1944 as an official interpreter. On 1st August 1944 he accompanied a reconnaissance patrol to Civitella (Map Ref 738029) and when the patrol came under machine gun fire, he continued to advise the patrol commander regarding enemy positions. Against on the 5th August, Sapper Wilson accompanied a fighting patrol to Montone, which became heavily engaged in a fierce fight with a strong enemy position. Sapper Wilson displayed great bravery and by his efforts and complete disregard for personal safety evacuated one wounded Indian other rank, several hundred yards down a steep hill in full view and under heavy enemy fire. On this occasion, the information Sapper Wilson was able to obtain from the civilians in the neighbourhood was of extreme value and afforded considerable assistance to the patrol commander. Between 20th and 24th August in the area Point 618,6227, Sapper Wilson frequently on his own initiative proceeded deep into enemy territory, to obtain valuable information from civilian sources. Information which he brought back, on one occasion enabled him to lead a patrol to within 200 yards of an enemy position resulting in its capture and casualties on the enemy. On the 12th August, Sapper Wilson was attached to the Lovats Scouts, still in his capacity of interpreter. Whilst accompanying a patrol on the 14th August in the Ponte Ale Piera area 3746, Sapper Wilson detached himself from the patrol and went ahead unaccompanied and approached a house occupied by the enemy, and succeeded in capturing single handed, four armed enemy soldiers. He continued to perform his duties in this manner until curtailed bu the Officer Commanding Lovats Scouts, and it was with reluctance that Sapper Wilson permitted himself to be accompanied by an escort while performing his duties as interpreter and obtainer of information from civilian sources behind the enemy lines. Throughout his attachment to this formation his conduct has been exemplary and the information obtained of extreme value to our patrols and the utmost importance to operations in this area."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

8th Army Clasp

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)