Robert Cottrell-Hill
Major-General Robert Charles Cottrell-Hill CB CBE DSO* MC (born Robert Charles Hill; 7 November 1903 – 10 November 1965) was Commandant of the British Sector in Berlin.
Robert Charles Cottrell-Hill | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Charles Hill 7 November 1903 Khadki, Maharashtra, India |
| Died | 10 November 1965 (aged 62) Oxford, Oxfordshire, England |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1924–1959 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Unit | Border Regiment |
| Commands held | 71st Indian Infantry Brigade British Forces in Berlin |
| Battles/wars | Arab revolt in Palestine World War II |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order & Bar Military Cross Mentioned in dispatches |
Military career
Educated at Bedford School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst,[1] Cottrell-Hill was commissioned into the Border Regiment in 1924.[2] He served with the 1st Battalion, Border Regiment and was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for bravery at El Yamun near Jenin in Palestine, during the Arab revolt, in 1938,[1] and was later mentioned in dispatches for his services there.[3]
He served in World War II initially as a brigade major[1] and latterly as Commander of the 71st Indian Infantry Brigade.[4] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for services in Arakan in 1944 and a Bar to his DSO for an assault landing at Ramree Island, located off the coast of Arakan, in 1945.[5]
In 1948 he became Deputy Director of Infantry at the War Office and in 1950 he was made Chief of Staff at Malaya Command.[2] He returned the War Office as Director of Military Training in 1953 and became Commandant of the British Sector in Berlin in 1955.[2] He joined the Regular Commissions Board in 1957 and retired in 1959.[2]
References
- DNW Medals
- Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- "No. 34582". The London Gazette. 23 December 1938. p. 8177.
- Generals.dk
- Axis History Forum
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir William Oliver |
Commandant, British Sector in Berlin 1955–1956 |
Succeeded by Francis Rome |