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 5RM in June 1942.
After a brief spell as OC No.2 Landing Group Beach Unit he returned as Major (Second in Command) of 5RM which, by this time, had been redesignated as 45RM Commando.
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.