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Brigadier Sir Mathew John Anthony (Tony) Wilson, 6th Baronet of Eshton Hall (1874), Officer of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Military Division, 1979), Military Cross (1972). Born 2nd October 1935, married, a son, a daughter.

Military Career:

Educated at the British elite military academy at Sandhurst (Royal Military Academy Sandhurst) Wilson joined the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (K.O.Y.L.I.) on his 21st birthday on 2nd October 1956 and thus represented the fourth consecutive generation of his family, servicing with this regiment.

During the next years, Wilson took an active part in combat operations in Aden, Borneo, Malaya and Cyprus, as well as - of course - in Northern Ireland.

In 1970 he was promoted to Major and was awarded the honorary title of „Member of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Military Divison)“ in 1971. Shortly afterwards, in May 1972, he received the "Military Cross for Gallant Services" for servicing in Northern Ireland. This award, which was given to many British soldiers for their then NI tours, covered the period from 1st November 1971 to 31st January 1972. As this time saw a significant increase in the death toll, one of the key events of the brutal Northern Ireland conflict occurred on 30th January 1972, the so-called "Bloody Sunday", when paratroopers of the 1st Battalion of The Parachute Regiment shot at unarmed civilians, instantly killing thirteen men. Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel followed in 1975 and after new engagements in Northern Ireland and Hong Kong, his honorary title was upgraded in an „Officer of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Military Division)“.

With his promotion to Colonel he moved to the General Staff of the Ministry of Defence in London, where on 30th June 1980 he was promoted to Brigadier (one-star general) and simultaneously took over command of the 5th Infantry Brigade which he led during the Falklands War.

On the 31st December 1982 Wilson stepped down from all his military posts and went into retirement on 31st January 1983 - just being 47 years old.

Falklands War:

There, Wilson led the 5th Inf Brig, a major unit of the British Army. The second major unit was the Royal Marines' 3rd Commando Brigade, commanded by the then Brigadier Julian Thompson. Wilson's unit was responsible for the southern flank of the eastern isle and was advancing there towards the islands capital, Stanley. First, the luck of war was with Wilson as he could execute a risky maneuver (the so-called "bold move") within the first days he was on the islands, which allowed his men to capture a vast area of land for the British task force. In the ongoing advance a devastating Argentine air attack on two British landing ships (RFA Sir Galahad and RFA Sir Tristram) occured at noon, 8th June 1982, while they were anchored in Port Pleasant (also known as Fitzroy or Bluff Cove. 46 British soldiers and 3 Asian crewmembers died instantly, 115 men were injured with burns of all levels of difficulty. On the British side, this single event was the largest loss of lives in the whole campaign. At the time of the attack, some British TV-teams have been on the spot and so the British people could see this tragic event live and in color. This in contrary to the desperate attempts of government and military leaders who tried to keep away as much information as possible from the public while the war was going on.

But Wilson and his 5th Infantry Brigade are not only remembered for this tragic event.

Wilson went into the history of the Falklands War for another event, too, as he was the only high-ranked British officer, who was completely ignored from any battle honors, medals or titles after the hostilities had ended and the awards were given.

On 31st December 1982 Wilson stepped down from all his military posts.

After 1982:

From 1983 to 1985 Wilson was managing director of the British "Wilderness Foundation United Kingdom“, a non-profit organization that provides the opportunity to its seminar participants to experience nature and wilderness.

With his wife Janet Mary, née Mowll, Mathew John Anthony Wilson emigrated to the United States of America shortly after the Falklands War and lives since then - largely retreated from the public - in the U.S. states of Florida and Vermont. The Wilsons got married on 1st December 1962, they have two children, son Matthew Edward Amcotts Wilson, born 13th October 1966 and daughter Victoria Mary Wilson Roskill, born 31st August 1968. From their childrens' marriages the Wilsons are three-time grandparents.

Since 1995 he can be found in the U.S. state of Florida's company register as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Florida-based company „Dolphin Voyaging Inc.“, which was dissolved in 2008.

Wilson's son was on duty as a Captain in the 1st Batallion, The Light Infantry of the British Army and a „Mentioned in Despatches“ was awarded to him in May 1993 for his Northern Ireland tour.

His daughter is a lawyer in London.

Literature:

There are no publications from himself about his military career. He has published the following books on traveling and sailing:

• Taking Terrapin Home A Love Affair with a Small Catamaran, 1994
• The Bahamas Cruising Guide with the Turks and Caicos Islands, 1997
• The Land of War Elephants Travels Beyond the Pale Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, 2003
• Seeking Havens Travels Along a Line of Latitude 17 Degrees South in Andean Peru, Bolivia, and the South Pacific, 2006

His time in the Falklands War was covered only in one military history book:

• The lonesome Commander, Martin Mahle, M+V-Verlag Münster, Germany, 2012, ISBN 978-3-86991-663-7 (original German title: Der allein gelassene Kommandeur, ISBN 978-3-86991-664-4)

External Links:

• Biography 6th Baronet of Eshton Hall: http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/w/4533/Mathew+John.aspx
• Imperial War Museum, London, Images: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205039832 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205018295
• Online-Article Newspaper "Craven Herald & Pioneer" 10th May 2008: http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/2257237.sir_matthhew_tours_ancestral_home/

Sources and References:

1. The peerage - A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain
2. London Gazette 22nd February 1957
3. London Gazette 31st December 1970
4. London Gazette 22nd May 1972
5. London Gazette 25th June 1979
6. London Gazette 26th January 1981
7. London Gazette 14th March 1983
8. The Falklands War: The Bluff Cove Disaster, Robert S. Bolia, MILITARY REVIEW, Nov-Dec 2004
9. The Official History of the Falklands Campaign, Volume II, Seite 607, Sir Lawrence Freedman, 2005
10. Wilderness Foundation United Kingdom
11. London Gazette 10th May 1993

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