NAM.1991-03-30-4

Oral history interview with Brig Alexander David Robin Graham Wilson. Five sound cassettes, 1 Mar 1991 and 14 Jun 1991, recalling his service in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s) 1936-1961. From Sandhurst Wilson joined the 2nd Bn in India, saw service on the North West Frontier in 1937 and was posted to Malaya in 1939. He was involved in the fighting around the causeway to Singapore and was evacuated shortly before the island fell. Returning to India he served at various locations until moving into Burma in 1944, where the first interview ends. In April 1944 he began jungle training and was appointed Brigade Major to 6th Brigade. After seeing action at Kohima he went to Staff College, Jan 1945, and on leaving six months later was posted to 2nd Division, preparing for the invasion of Japan, and was engaged in POW recovery until Dec 1945. In 1946 he joined 1st Bn Argylls in Jerusalem as second-in-command, before being posted to the War Office as GSO III Infantry 3 Training in 1947. Rejoining the 1st Argylls he went with them to Hong Kong and subsequently Korea, and saw action with 27 Brigade at Hill 282 on 5/6 Sep 1950. Returning to UK, he commanded the Depot at Stirling for a year before a three year stint as an instructor at Staff College. In 1955 he joined 2 Para, before proceeding to Dunoon as Training Officer of 8 Argylls (TA), who he returned to command 1958-61 after a tour as MA to Montgomery at SHAPE with Richard Gale. After service at NATO he became a Defence College Instructor in 1961. Interview conducted on 1 March 1991.