Captain Arthur "Robbie" Burns, DSO, QPM, OBE (1917 – 2008) was awarded the DSO for his service in Italy in 1944, and later had a distinguished career in the British Colonial Office and the English police. He served throughout the Italian campaign as a subaltern and later as a captain. He was wounded twice in the Anzio beachhead. He was later posted to the Middle East. In 1946, after serving in the British Palestine Mandate, he returned to the police service in his native Derbyshire.
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Arthur Burns was born on November 18, 1917 at Darley Abbey, Derbyshire, and educated at Kedleston Road School, where he was the school swimming champion. He played soccer for Derby Boys and rugby for Derby RFC before going to the local technical college.
Burns joined the police in 1939, continuing a family tradition which had been started by his great-grandfather in 1840 and ended when his daughter retired from the Force in 1996. After two years he volunteered for combatant service in the Army and did his training in Scotland, where he acquired the nickname "Robbie".
On the afternoon of October 8, 1944, 1st Battalion the Duke of Wellington's Regiment was ordered to attack Monte Cece, north-east of Florence, which was strategically held by the Germans and stood in the path of the main Allied axis of advance. C Company led the advance with A Company, commanded by Captain Burns in support. When C Company was held up by heavy machine-gun and mortar fire, Burns was ordered to get A Company through. The Commanding Officer was killed and C Company's commander was wounded. Alfred Burns then took command of both A and C Companies.
He led two platoons in an attack on the crest under intense fire. Burns took control of the ridge, wiping out the machine-gun posts and consolidating his position. The enemy counter-attacked but was repulsed with heavy casualties. Private Burton, a member of Burns' company, was awarded the Victoria Cross in the same action that earned Burns his DSO.
In 1956 he was seconded to the Colonial Office for two years' duty in Cyprus as Assistant Commissioner of Police during the Emergency. He was awarded a Colonial Police Medal at the end of his tour.
He served as Deputy Chief Constable of Norwich City, and later in the same position in Essex. He subsequently became Chief Constable of Suffolk. He advanced rapidly through the ranks to take charge of Derby CID.
He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 1975 and was appointed OBE the following year.
After retiring in 1976 he settled at Duffield, Derbyshire. He died in 2008, aged 90. A widower, he was survived by his daughter.
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