Robert Cottrell-Hill

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Robert Charles Cottrell-Hill
BornRobert Charles Hill
7 November 1903
Khadki, Maharashtra, India
Died10 November 1965 (aged 62)
Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1924–1959
RankMajor-General
UnitBorder Regiment
Commands held71st Indian Infantry Brigade
British Forces in Berlin
Battles/warsArab revolt in Palestine
World War II
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
& Bar
Military Cross
Mentioned in dispatches

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.

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[]

  1. ^ a b c DNW Medals
  2. ^ a b c d Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  3. ^ "No. 34582". The London Gazette. 23 December 1938. p. 8177.
  4. ^ Generals.dk
  5. ^ Axis History Forum
Military offices
Preceded by Commandant, British Sector in Berlin
1955–1956
Succeeded by
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