Wilson Hodgson Charlton GC

Place/date of birth: Lanchester, County Durham/April 9, 1907

Rank when awarded GC (and later highest rank): Acting Flight Lieutenant (Squadron Leader)

Date of bravery: September-October, 1940

London Gazette citation:

Acting Flight Lieutenant Wilson Hodgson Charlton (44837)

Flight Lieutenant Charlton is responsible for all work in connection with enemy bombs in an area comprising the greater part of two counties. Both by day and night, during recent months, he has dealt with some 200 unexploded bombs. He has successfully undertaken many dangerous missions with undaunted and unfailing courage.

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Other decorations:N/A

Place/date of death: Roehampton, Surrey/May 12, 1953

Grave/memorials: Name on Honours Board, RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Bosley’s, Marlow, 2012

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum