James Hill (British Army officer)
| James Hill | |
|---|---|
Major General Matthew Ridgway, commander of U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps, (left) decorates James Hill with the American Silver Star, 1945. Pictured also in the middle is Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
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| Nickname(s) | "Speedy" |
| Born |
14 March 1911 Bath, Somerset, England |
| Died | 16 March 2006 (aged 95) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1931–1948 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Unit |
Royal Fusiliers Parachute Regiment |
| Commands held |
9th Parachute Battalion 3rd Parachute Brigade |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars Military Cross Silver Star (United States) King Haakon VII Liberty Cross (Norway) Légion d'Honneur (France) |
Brigadier Stanley James Ledger Hill DSO & Two Bars, MC (14 March 1911 – 16 March 2006) was a British Army officer, who served as commander of the 3rd Parachute Brigade, part of the 6th Airborne Division, during World War II. Born in Bath, Somerset, Hill was educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst before joining the British Army in 1931 and being commissioned into the Royal Fusiliers. He commanded a platoon for a short period, and was then attached to the command post of Field Marshal Lord Gort during the Battle of France in May 1940, where he oversaw the evacuation of Brussels as well as the beach at De Panne during the evacuation of Dunkirk. After a brief period of time in the Irish Free State, he volunteered for parachute training and joined the 1st Parachute Battalion, and was its commanding officer when its parent formation, the 1st Parachute Brigade, was deployed to North Africa.
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