Sergeant Robert Hilton

Robert 'Bob' Hilton was born in November 1961 at Wattisham, Suffolk. His father, David, was serving as a Corporal in the RAF Police at nearby RAF Wattisham at the time. His mother, Pamela, was from Stowmarket, Suffolk.

Bob left school at 15  to begin a trade apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery. He joined the Territorial Army on his 18th birthday, 6 November 1979.

Bob applied to join the Regular Army in 1981, and was sent to the Depot The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces at Browning Barracks, Aldershot joining 476 Platoon in July 1981. He passed out of the Depot on 2 April 1982, with 478 Platoon and was posted to the The 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA).

As a reward, he was granted leave until 10 April. Upon reporting to 2 PARA, Bob recalls being informed by the Adjutant, Captain David Wood, of three things:

'One, we were not going on a nice sunny tour of Belize. Two, we were going to war and three, we would still have to pass a selection test to see if we were good enough for ‘his’ battalion!

Bob subsequently passed however, and was sent to 3 Platoon, A-Company. His first Platoon Commander was Lieutenant Guy Wallis, Platoon Sergeant was Jim Beattie and the Section Commander was Corporal ‘Boogie’ Agnew.

Soon afterwards, 2 PARA Battle Group embarked for the Falklands. Bob travelled onboard the Motor Vessel(MV) Norland (a hastily converted North Sea Ferry) from Portsmouth on 29 April 1982, bound for the South Atlantic and the recapture of the Falkland Islands. During the conflict, Bob took part in the Battle of Darwin Hill and Goose Green and assault on Wireless Ridge.

Returning to the UK, Bob continued to serve in The Parachute Regiment for over twenty years. During his career he served across A, C, D, Support and HQ Coys of 2 PARA, completing four operational tours with the Intelligence Cell of C Coy, 2 PARA. In total, Bob served on seven operational deployments to Northern Ireland, Op Palliser to Sierra Leone in May 2000, Op Bessemer to Macedonia in Autumn 2001, and Op Fingal to Afghanistan in early 2002. He also completed two garrison tours to Belize in the 1980s.

Bob was promoted to Lance Corporal in December 1989, became a Corporal in June 1992, and was made a Sergeant in March 2001.

Bob retired from from Regular Army Service in July 2003. In the latter part of his service career, he became increasingly interested in Parachute Regimental history and volunteered at the Airborne Forces Museum, Aldershot after leaving the Army.

His interest in Regimental and Airborne history continued to broaden, and helped establish him as a subject specialist. He worked as a Battlefield Tour Guide to veterans, enthusiast groups and school parties visiting First and Second World War battlefield sites across North West Europe. After volunteering for the new Airborne Assault Museum at IWM Duxford, Bob was appointed as Assistant Curator in January 2014. Bob is now seen as a historian of note. Particularly of the history of the battle for Arnhem Bridge. In 2017 his book, "Freddie Gough's Specials at Arnhem" was published. It is a history of the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron. Bob also contributes many articles, images and profiles to ParaData.org.uk

His profile picture shows Bob in Kabul, March 2002. During his service with Intelligence Section, Sergeant for 2 PARA.