Wartime memorabilia given to veteran’s former school

HE WAS involved in some of the key moments of the Second World War in a naval career that spanned the majority of the conflict.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Oct 2012, 07:00 BST

And now Charles Trevor Bowman Wilson’s wartime memorabilia has been donated to the Harrogate independent school which he and his sons attended. Medals, log books, letters, cap tallies and photographs belonging to Mr Wilson, who served in the Royal Navy from 1940 to 1946, will be kept in Ashville College’s archives and form the centrepiece of a display marking Armistice Day.

His son Martin, who also 
served in the Royal Navy, said: “Like many other who served in the Second World War, he seldom talked about his experiences.

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“I decided to donate my father’s war-time memorabilia to Ashville College, as the school played an important part in his life, as well as that of mine and my brother.”

Mr Wilson rose from the rank of Ordinary Seaman to Lieutenant, and was involved in landings at Anzio, Salerno, Avola, Ajaccio and Normandy whilst serving on board HMS LST (Landing Ship, Tank) 425. On board LST 425, he took part in five D-Day amphibious landings in the Mediterranean and Normandy. He was Mentioned in Dispatches for the Normandy assault.

Mr Wilson, whose family owned drapery shops, died in 1993 aged 78.

Related topics:Ashville CollegeRoyal NavyHarrogate