WOOLLEY, Arthur Rupert

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 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.
  • Navy Lists as shown in linked content below.
Awards
[1] London Gazette 36858, page 5915.
[2] London Gazette 44999, page 13.