The Warwickshire Regiment


Brigadier Harry Illing CBE MC


Harry Charles Illing was born in London in 1920 and commissioned while serving in the Artists Rifles in 1939. By mid 1940 he was an officer in the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwicks. He landed with the battalion on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day commanding A Company at the age of 24. He was commended for his conduct, and at the battle of Lebisey he was twice wounded and won the MC for outstanding bravery.

Another tough battle took place at Leeste where the battalion came up against the 18th SS Training Battalion. Harry won a bar to his MC, presented by Monty. After the war he was with the regiment in the Middle East and as a Company Commander in Korea. He had staff appointments in Malaya and London, also a spell in Aden with the 1st Battalion.

In August 1962 he was appointed Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Warwicks in Germany. He was commanding the battalion when the regiment was re-titled Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers in 1963. He left the regiment for more staff work in 1965 and retired in 1975. In 1974 he was appointed Deputy Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, succeeding Major-General Macdonald.


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