Captain Robert Midwood

{ Bob }

20 Jan 1915 - 03 Nov 1981

Bob Midwood served in GHQ Liaison Regiment prior to attendance at an Officer Cadet Training Unit. He was granted an emergency commission in The Reconnaissance Corps on 24 January 1942 and transferred to The Parachute Regiment on 14 December 1942.

He qualified as a military parachutist on Course 44 which ran from 28 December 1942 to 8 January 1943 and subsequently served with No 2 Platoon, 22nd Independent Parachute Company, the pathfinder unit for 6th Airborne Division which took part in the Normandy landings.

On the night of 5 June 1944, Bob Midwood took off from Harwell airfield in an Albermarle aircraft bound for DZ-K in Normandy. The stick parachuted onto the DZ shortly after midnight, and came under heavy fire almost immediately on landing.

Bob Midwood sustained injuries while jumping onto the DZ but continued to take part in operations including commanding a patrol to protect a REME recovery section working on an LZ and marking drop zones for supply drops.

He was evacuated to 86 General Hospital on 19 June to have his injuries treated.

Bob Midwood returned to active service and was wounded for a second time, in January 1945, during the Ardennes campaign.

Profile under development.

Read More

Service History

Robert  Midwood

Photos_11

Group photos_8

Solo photos_5

Documents_5

Official documents_4

  • Sgt Midwood's recommendation for officer training, 1940.

    Sgt Midwood's recommendation for officer training, 1940.

    1 Item
  • 6 Airborne Division Special Order of the Day, signed by members of Lt Bob Midwood's stick, 4 June 1944.

    6 Airborne Division Special Order of the Day, signed by members of Lt Bob Midwood's stick, 4 June 1944.

    1 Item
  • Letter conferring honorary rank of Captain to Bob Midwood, 1945.

    Letter conferring honorary rank of Captain to Bob Midwood, 1945.

    1 Item

Letters and Cards_6

  • Casualty telegram for Lt Bob Midwood, Normandy, July 1944.

    Casualty telegram for Lt Bob Midwood, Normandy, July 1944.

    1 Item
  • Letter From Air Marshal Leslie Hollinghurst to Captain Bob Midwood, 16 November 1948.

    Letter From Air Marshal Leslie Hollinghurst to Captain Bob Midwood, 16 November 1948.

    2 Items
  • Letter from the Pegasus editor to Acting Capt Bob Midwood, 1972.

    Letter from the Pegasus editor to Acting Capt Bob Midwood, 1972.

    1 Item

Newspaper extracts_2

  • Articles in The Sunday Express, debating who was first to land in Normandy, June 1954.

    Articles in The Sunday Express, debating who was first to land in Normandy, June 1954.

    2 Items

Post-combat reports_1

  • Post Op Report By Capt Midwood on Pathfinders Troop's drop onto Drop Zone K, Normandy, October 1944.

    Post Op Report By Capt Midwood on Pathfinders Troop's drop onto Drop Zone K, Normandy, October 1944.

    3 Items

Latest Comments

There are currently no comments for this content.

Add your comment