Bob Plant (soldier)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Blurton "Bob" Plant, MC
(28 July 1915 – 18 April 2011) was a soldier in the British Army
.
Plant was born in Burton upon Trent
, and attended Burton Grammar School. He joined the British Army
in September 1939, and six months later received a commission in the Royal Artillery
(RA). After serving in Syria
, he took part in the Allied invasion of Sicily
, and was awarded the Legion of Merit
for his assistance of the U.S. 133rd Infantry in Scapoli
, southern Italy.
Plant was awarded the Military Cross
for his actions in Tufo
on 21 January 1944, during the Battle of Monte Cassino
. Holding the high ground in the rocky region, as British troops tried to break through the German southern flank to clear the way for the Allied landings at Anzio (Operation Shingle
), Plant's company was outnumbered and their positions twice overrun by German forces, with Plant eventually wounded and captured. When the German medic treating his wounds was killed by a British shell, Plant took the opportunity to escape and made his way through his own regiment's bombardment to rejoin his company, where he praised them for their "terrifying" barrage.
Following his recovery, Plant was demobilised from the army and worked as a sales director for Mander Brothers
in Wolverhampton
. He died, aged 95, on 18 April 2011.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(28 July 1915 – 18 April 2011) was a soldier in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
Plant was born in Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
, and attended Burton Grammar School. He joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in September 1939, and six months later received a commission in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
(RA). After serving in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, he took part in the Allied invasion of Sicily
Allied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...
, and was awarded the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
for his assistance of the U.S. 133rd Infantry in Scapoli
Scapoli
Scapoli is a city and comune located in province of Isernia, which is part of the region of Molise, southern Italy.It is notable for its bagpipes museum and for the international bagpipe festival which, each year in the month of July, attracts pipers from around the world to come and perform in...
, southern Italy.
Plant was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for his actions in Tufo
Tufo
Tufo is a town and comune in the province of Avellino, Campania, southern Italy. As of 2009 its population was of 938.-History:The name of the town derives from the tuff , the volcanic rock that is widely present in the subsoil of the whole area of the country.-Geography:Situated in the...
on 21 January 1944, during the Battle of Monte Cassino
Battle of Monte Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four battles during World War II, fought by the Allies against Germans and Italians with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.In the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Winter Line was being anchored by Germans...
. Holding the high ground in the rocky region, as British troops tried to break through the German southern flank to clear the way for the Allied landings at Anzio (Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
), Plant's company was outnumbered and their positions twice overrun by German forces, with Plant eventually wounded and captured. When the German medic treating his wounds was killed by a British shell, Plant took the opportunity to escape and made his way through his own regiment's bombardment to rejoin his company, where he praised them for their "terrifying" barrage.
Following his recovery, Plant was demobilised from the army and worked as a sales director for Mander Brothers
Mander Brothers
Mander Brothers was a major employer in the city of Wolverhampton, in the English Midlands, a progressive company founded in 1773. In the 19th century the firm became the Number One manufacturers of varnishes, paints and later printing inks in the British Empire...
in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
. He died, aged 95, on 18 April 2011.