WOOLLEY, Arthur Rupert
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Rank:
Lieutenant Colonel
Unit / Base:
'30 Commando Assault Unit'
Regiment/Corps:
Royal Marines
Service:
Royal Navy
Born:
Friday, April 2, 1909
Died :
Monday, May 4, 1987
Age:
78
Arthur Woolley joined the Royal Marines on 1 December 1939 and after his basic training was posted to the 5th Batallion Royal Marines Brigade.
- Promoted Temporary Captain April 1940, Acting Temporary Major November 1941, and Second in Command of 5th RM Bn. June 1942.
- After a brief spell as OC No.2 Landing Group Beach Unit he returned as Major (Second in Command) of 5th RM Bn., which, by this time, had been re-designated as No.45 Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines.
- January 1944 promoted Acting Acting Temporary Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer of 30 Assault Unit RM. He remained in this role until February 1945.
- December 1944 awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty during the landing of Allied Forces on the coast of Normandy [1].
- After leaving 30AU he became Naval Provost Marshall at Naples.
- April 1945 Commanding Officer RM Holding Commando.
- Post war he returned to a business career and in 1960 became Chairman of the Appeals Committee of the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, a post he held for 8 years.
- 1 January 1970 appointed O.B.E. (Civil Division) for services to the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind [2].
Sources
Service details
-
Obituary in the Globe and Laurel Jan/Feb. 1988 edition.
-
Navy Lists as shown in linked content below.
Awards
[1] London Gazette 36858, page 5915.
[2] London Gazette 44999, page 13.
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