Tony Paget

Lieutenant Anthony Francis McLeod "Tony" Paget DSO (5 November 1924 – 5 March 1945) was a junior British Army officer who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for conspicuous gallantry while serving with the 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry during Operation Veritable in February–March 1945 during the Second World War.

Tony Paget
Born(1924-11-05)5 November 1924
Kensington, London, England
Died5 March 1945(1945-03-05) (aged 20)
Klever Reichswald, Germany
Buried
Mook War Cemetery, Germany
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1943–1945
RankLieutenant
Service number288266
UnitOxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsDistinguished Service Order
Mentioned in despatches
Croix de guerre (France)
RelationsSir Bernard Paget (father)

Early life

Paget was born in Kensington, London, the younger son of the future General Sir Bernard Paget. He was educated at Radley College, Radley, Oxfordshire.

Second World War

During the Second World War Paget joined the British Army and commenced training with the Welsh Guards and Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU). On 30 July 1943, Paget was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, his father's regiment.[1] He was posted to the 1st Battalion (the 43rd), attached to the 71st Infantry Brigade, itself one of three brigades forming the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division. He served throughout most of the North-West Europe Campaign of 1944–1945 in the Second World War.

In July 1944 Paget was awarded the Croix de guerre and mentioned in despatches for his role in the battle of Cahier during the battle for Caen: a vital objective of the Allies during the Battle of Normandy. He was later wounded in France and evacuated to England. He returned to his battalion in December 1944.

By now promoted to lieutenant, Paget died on 5 March 1945 from wounds received near Weeze, Germany, during the action for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry,[2] in Operation Veritable. Paget is buried in Mook War Cemetery, Limburg, the Netherlands. There is a memorial plaque commemorating his life in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. His elder brother was Sir Julian Tolver Paget, 4th Baronet (1921-2016).

Lieutenant Tony Paget died on 5 March 1945, aged just 20 years.[3]

References
  1. "No. 36191". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 September 1943. p. 4353.
  2. "No. 37040". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 April 1945. p. 2078.
  3. Obituary The Times 23 March 1945 and The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (the 43rd/52nd Regiment of Foot) Philip Booth (1971).
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