EAST AFRICA HERO

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 225, 24 September 1942, Page 3

EAST AFRICA HERO

“POSTHUMOUS” V.C. AWARD London, Aug 10. A British soldier-hero of the campaign in East Africa who was given up for dead two years ago recently received his Victoria Cross at a Buckingham Palace investiture. He is Eric Wilson, East Surrey Regiment, 30-year-old son of the rector of Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, who was awarded the V.C. for most conspicuous gallantry on active service in Somaliland. Captain Wilson was thought to have been killed and it was not for three days after the announcement of his "posthumous” decoration that he was found to be alive. A year later, when the British forces reached Eritrea, he was released from captivity. At the time of his capture Captain Wilson was in command of machinegun posts manned by Somali soldiers in the key positions on Observation Hill, a post in the defensive organisation of Tug Argan Cap in British Somaliland. Captain Wilson and his Somali gunners beat off attacks on their post, causing such heavy enemy casualties that they brought up a pack battery to within 700 yards. They scored two direct hits on Captain Wilson’s post, wounding him severely. Nevertheless, Captain Wilson repaired his guns and carried on. The enemy eventually over-ran Captain Wilson’s post, and though, in addition to his wounds, he was suffering from malaria, he fought until he was overcome.