Colin Rawlins

Colin Guy Champion Rawlins, (5 June 1919 – 23 October 2003) was a British civil servant, businessman, and decorated Royal Air force officer.

Early life and education Rawlins was born on 5 June 1919 in the Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham, London, England. His parents were R. S. C. Rawlins and Yvonne Blanche Andrews. When his mother died in 1924, he and his sister lived with relations in the Union of South Africa for the next two years.

At the beginning of World War II, Rawlins was called up for active service. He then joined No. 144 Squadron RAF, flying Handley Page Hampden medium bomber. On 12 May 1941, he was shot down near Enkhuizen, the Netherlands, by Helmut Woltersdorf.

Post-Military Rawlins was Director of Zoos of the Zoological Society of London from 1966 to 1984. For service during World War II, he was also awarded the 1939–1945 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star, and the War Medal 1939–1945.