Dare Wilson

Major-General Ronald Dare Wilson, (3 August 1919 – 15 August 2014) was a senior British Army officer, author, and park warden. He was decorated during World War II, commanded 22 Special Air Service Regiment in the early 1960s and ended his military career as Director of Army Aviation. He was instrumental in introducing attack helicopters and high-altitude military parachuting to the British military. In retirement, he served as the National Park Officer (equivalent to Chief executive) of Exmoor National Park.

Early life Wilson was born on 3 August 1919 in Burnopfield, County Durham, England. He was educated at Shrewsbury School His first posting was as a scout car platoon commander.

He attended the Middle East Staff College in Haifa in Palestine and then joined the Eighth Army as a staff officer. This was later changed to seniority from 3 March 1941.

Post-WWII In October 1945, he was posted to the Palestine and was appointed officer commanding a squadron of the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. He then worked in the headquarters of the 6th Airborne Division. Near the end of the British Mandate, he commanded a company of the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment. It was awarded for his actions while leading a patrol across the River Maas, near Nijmegen, Netherlands, on the night of 27 January 1945. They had been ordered to take an enemy soldier prisoner and bring him back across the river for interrogation. He was awarded a number of medals for service during World War II; the 1939–45 Star, the Italy Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, and the War Medal 1939–1945.

On 7 January 1949, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) 'in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Palestine during the period 27 March 1946 and 26 September 1946'. He was also awarded the General Service Medal with Palestine 1945–48 clasp.