42-456: Lieutenant Colonel Eric Charles Twelves Wilson VC (2 October 1912 – 23 December 2008) was an English British Army officer and colonial administrator. He received the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. At the time of his death, he was last surviving British Army recipient of
84-485: A Vickers machine-gun post in action in spite of being wounded and suffering from malaria . Some of his guns were blown to pieces by the enemy's field artillery fire, and his spectacles were smashed. He was wounded in the right shoulder and the left eye, and he was assumed to have been killed. For his actions, likened in the Daily Sketch to another Rorke's Drift , Wilson was awarded the Victoria Cross . Wilson has
126-767: A prisoner of war camp in Eritrea . In 1941, when the Italian forces in East Africa surrendered following the East African Campaign , Wilson was released from captivity. He returned to England and received his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace in July 1942. With his captain's rank made permanent in 1941, and with the rank of temporary major, he served as adjutant of the Long Range Desert Group and then as second in command of
168-595: A second power station at the source of the White Nile ; an extension of the original Nalubaale Power Station . The extension was completed in 2003, named the Kiira Power Station , and is capable of producing 200 megawatts of hydroelectric power at maximum utilization. Jinja is a major station on the Uganda Railway and is a port for Lake Victoria ferries . Jinja Airport , a small civilian and military airport,
210-502: Is a crown above a four-pointed "Bath" star , also colloquially referred to as a "pip" . The crown has varied in the past with different monarchs; the current one being the Tudor Crown. Most other Commonwealth countries use the same insignia, or with the state emblem replacing the crown. In the modern British Armed forces, the established commander of a regiment or battalion is a lieutenant colonel. From 1 April 1918 to 31 July 1919,
252-536: Is a rank in the British Army and Royal Marines which is also used in many Commonwealth countries. The rank is superior to major , and subordinate to colonel . The comparable Royal Navy rank is commander , and the comparable rank in the Royal Air Force and many Commonwealth air forces is wing commander . The rank insignia in the British Army and Royal Marines , as well as many Commonwealth countries,
294-416: Is booming with numerous hotels, guesthouses, resorts, pavilions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, night dance clubs, theatres, golf courses, illuminations, amusement centres, zoos, bathing pools, sliding centres, casinos, cinemas, recreational centres, with many more opening up in the city. The city also has several educational establishments including the following: The Qaddafi Barracks, an institution of
336-610: Is located at Kimaka , about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of Jinja's central business district. A bridge, known as the Source of the Nile Bridge , was built across the Nile , connecting the town of Njeru to Jinja. Construction started in 2013 and the completed structure was commissioned on 17 October 2018. The Kampala–Jinja Highway connects Jinja with the capital. Jinja is commonly regarded as "the adventure capital of East Africa" due to
378-695: Is the Kakira Sugar Works (KSW), a member of the Madhvani Group of companies. KSW is one of the largest sugar factories in East Africa, employing over 7,500. The factory burns bagasse byproducts from sugar manufacturing to generate 50 megawatts of electricity for internal use and sale to the national grid. Sugar cane cutting median wages are about UGX:1,000 per day. The headquarters of Nile Breweries Limited are in Njeru , in Buyikwe district in central Uganda, near
420-730: The Earls of Radnor ) in 1943. They had two sons. After they divorced in 1953, Wilson married Angela Joy Gordon, and they had one son. After Wilson left the Army in 1949, he joined the Overseas Civil Service in Tanganyika . He learned several African languages, and served in Tanganyika until independence of the British East African countries which led to his retirement in 1961. In 1962 Wilson
462-622: The Eastern Region of Uganda , located on the north shore of Lake Victoria . Jinja is in Jinja District , Busoga sub-region , in the Eastern Region of Uganda. It is approximately 81 kilometres (50 mi) east of Kampala , the capital and largest city of Uganda. It sits along the northern shores of Lake Victoria , near the source of the White Nile , at an average elevation of 1,204 metres (3,950 ft) above sea level. The city
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#1732852450801504-507: The Royal Air Force maintained the rank of lieutenant colonel. It was superseded by the rank of wing commander on the following day. Certain regiments of the British Army have honorary appointments as Regimental Lieutenant Colonel and Deputy Regimental Lieutenant Colonel . These are similar in nature and less in rank to Colonel of the Regiment . Jinja, Uganda Jinja is a city in
546-450: The Source of the Nile , from which the brewery has been drawing its water since 1956. Building of the brewery commenced in 1952 and was completed four years later. Bottles of Nile Beer, renamed Nile Special Lager, the company's flagship brand, were first consumed in 1956. In 2001, Nile Breweries Limited was fully acquired by South African Breweries . MM Integrated Steel Uganda Limited is one of
588-750: The Ssese Islands Archipelago , Kalangala District , in Lake Victoria . The factory in the islands crushes the fruit, and the crude palm oil is transported to Jinja for refining into edible oil and other products. Kiira Motors Corporation , also known as the Kiira EV Project, a locally based startup car company, expects to set up the first car manufacturing facility in Uganda, based in Jinja. The Kiira EV Project received 40 hectares (100 acres) of land at
630-572: The Uganda Army (UA). According to journalist Nelson Bwire Kapo, Amin even declared Jinja the new capital of Uganda, but soon fled to Arua and from there into exile. Parts of the local UA garrison belonging to the Eagle Colonel Gaddafi Battalion remained, drunkenly harassing and murdering local civilians, but most soldiers gradually deserted and fled Jinja. The TPDF and their UNLA allies assaulted Jinja on 22 April 1979, occupying
672-653: The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), are in Jinja. They are the location of the Uganda Junior Staff College , one of the about a dozen military schools in Uganda . The town is also the site of the Uganda Senior Command and Staff College , another UPDF institution, located in the Kimaka neighbourhood about 3 miles (5 km) north of Jinja's central business district. In 1993, construction began on
714-597: The Ugandan Super League . Jinja hosts the regional offices of the Uganda Red Cross Society, a humanitarian organization. On 1 July 2020, the government of Uganda awarded city status to about one half-a-dozen municipalities. Jinja was one of those localities. As part of the qualifications to become a city, Jinja expanded to include the former Jinja Municipality, Bugembe Town Council , Mafubira sub-county and Budondo sub-county. The estimated population of
756-544: The 11th (Kenyan) King's African Rifles, part of the 25th East African Brigade in 11th East African Division , in the Burma Campaign . Having contracted scrub typhus he was hospitalised for two months and then returned to East Africa to command an infantry training establishment at Jinja in Uganda. He was promoted to acting lieutenant-colonel in June 1945 and was seconded to The Northern Rhodesia Regiment in 1946. He retired from
798-634: The 1950s. In 1954, the construction of the Owen Falls Dam submerged the Ripon Falls . Most of the "Flat Rocks" that gave the area its name disappeared under water as well. Both the Baganda on the western side and the Busoga on the eastern side of the Nile called the area "the stones" which is "ejjinja" in both languages. The name "Jinja" derives from this. A description of what the area looked like can be found in
840-752: The Army in 1949 and although at this time his permanent rank was major, he was granted the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel. The formal citation for Wilson's VC, published in the London Gazette in October 1940 when he was still presumed dead, reads: The KING has been pleased to approve of the award of The Victoria Cross to : Lieutenant (acting Captain) Eric Charles Twelves Wilson, The East Surrey Regiment (attached Somaliland Camel Corps). For most conspicuous gallantry on active service in Somaliland. Captain Wilson
882-478: The Jinja District and the 14th-largest metropolis in the country. The majority of the population are of Bantu origin. Lusoga is the main local language. Jinja has a large population of inhabitants who are defined as "working urban poor". The average annual household income is estimated at US $ 100. Jinja has the second largest economy in Uganda. In the past, factories chose Jinja as their base because of
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#1732852450801924-669: The Jinja Industrial and Business Park. Production is expected to start in 2018. The government of Uganda will provide funding to the initial production and setting up of a factory for the project. Jinja city's strategic location at the source of River Nile with numerous power generating plants makes it ideal for industrialisation. Jinja city is considered to be the tourism hub of Africa with numerous adventure activities for tourists such as, kayaking, watching games, traditional dances, sailing, native fights and tag of wars, horse riding, experience night life, bike riding, village walks, visit
966-531: The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 82,800. In 2011, UBOS estimated the population at 89,700. In 2014, the national population census put the population at 72,931 However, the Municipality Authority contested the recent census of 2014, saying it under-counted Jinja's population. According to the 2014 national population census data, Jinja is the largest metropolitan area in
1008-662: The Victoria Cross in the Second World War, and the earliest and oldest recipient. Wilson was born at Sandown on the Isle of Wight , where his father Cyril Charles Clissold Wilson was a curate . His mother's maiden name was Twelves. His grandfather Charles Thomas Wilson was the first missionary from the Church Mission Society to visit Buganda , in 1877. He was educated at Marlborough College , where fees were reduced for
1050-615: The city after encountering little resistance. The remaining UA troops mostly fled, and Jinja's civilian residents greeted the TPDF-UNLA force with cheers. The operation was accompanied by some looting in the city. Following the end of hostilities, Tanzanian officers reportedly used Jinja as a hub to transport stolen goods from Uganda to Mwanza , including cars, tons of coffee, large amounts of gasoline, and war materiel. The national census of 2002 estimated Jinja's population to be 71,213 of which 36,325 were males and 34,888 were females. In 2010,
1092-464: The enemy, determined to put his guns out of action, brought up a pack battery to within seven hundred yards, and scored two direct hits through the loopholes of his defences, which, bursting within the post, wounded Captain Wilson severely in the right shoulder and in the left eye, several of his team being also wounded. His guns were blown off their stands but he repaired and replaced them and, regardless of his wounds, carried on, whilst his Somali sergeant
1134-713: The intervening valleys and on the lower slopes—as interesting a picture as one could wish to see." Jinja was among the Ugandan cities affected by the Uganda–Tanzania War of 1978–1979. After the Fall of Kampala to the coalition of the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) and the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA), Ugandan President Idi Amin initially fled to Jinja. There, he attempted to rally remnants of
1176-443: The leading manufacturers of steel in the region. It has completed a $ 47 million (Shs122 billion) plant to produce 50,000 tonnes of steel products a year and directly employs 1,800 people. The company has projected to invest US$ 600 million through 2018. Bidco International Oil Refining Company maintains a palm oil factory in the city. The palm oil fruits come from Bidco's 6,500 hectares (16,000 acres) plantation on Bugala Island in
1218-451: The museum, water rafting, visit Busoga Kingdom palace, camping, visiting the beaches, hiking mountains, fishing, food tasting, tubing the Nile, bungee jumping, sun bathing, trekking, swimming, water skiing, visiting forests, windsurfing, cabling, canoeing, cycling, tour sugarcane plantations and factories, visit Jinja city Port Pier, visit the source of river Nile, visit Makwanzi, Busowoko and Itanda waterfalls. The tourism sector of Jinja city
1260-539: The nearby electric power station at the Owen Falls Dam . Since the early 2000s, the economy of Jinja has picked up steadily. The main economic activities take place in the central business district. A new market for fresh produce was completed during the fourth quarter of 2014. The facility can accommodate up to 4,500 vendors and cost US$ 13.7 million to construct, with a loan from the African Development Bank from 2011 until 2014. The biggest local employer
1302-399: The notes of John Hanning Speke , the first European to lay eyes on the source of the Nile : Though beautiful, the scene was not exactly what I expected, for the broad surface of the lake was shut out from view by a spur of hill, and the falls, about twelve feet deep and four to five hundred feet broad, were broken by rocks; still it was a sight that attracted one to it for hours. The roar of
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1344-597: The rare distinction of being mistakenly awarded a " posthumous " VC, announced in The London Gazette on 16 October 1940. At the time the award was made, he was believed to be missing in action , presumed dead. He had, however, been captured by the Italians. An official report in The Times on 16 October indicated that he had survived, but another captured officer was surprised to find the "late" Captain Wilson still alive in
1386-594: The sons of clergymen, and he became a house captain. Although he wore glasses, he was awarded a prize cadetship to attend the Royal Military College, Sandhurst . Wilson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in The East Surrey Regiment on 2 February 1933. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1936 and was seconded to the 2nd ( Nyasaland ) Battalion The King's African Rifles in 1937 serving in East Africa, where he learned to speak Nyanja . He
1428-641: The suburb of Njeru in Buyikwe district approximately 20 minutes from the Jinja Central Business District. Among the places of worship , they are predominantly Christian churches and temples : Roman Catholic Diocese of Jinja ( Catholic Church ), Church of Uganda ( Anglican Communion ), Presbyterian Church in Uganda ( World Communion of Reformed Churches ), Baptist Union of Uganda ( Baptist World Alliance ), Assemblies of God . There are also Muslim mosques. Jinja has two major football teams Bul FC and Gaddafi FC, both of whom play in
1470-542: The very many activities in town that one could engage in, especially for tourists. Local attractions include white-water rafting , the "Source of the Nile", and bungee jumping. About 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Jinja is the Bujagali Power Station . The hydroelectric facility is providing 250 megawatts of electric power. Since 2015, the city has hosted the Nyege Nyege Festival , at Discovery Beach in
1512-415: The waters, the thousands of passenger fish leaping at the falls with all their might, the fishermen coming out in boats, and taking post on all the rocks with rod and hook, hippopotami and crocodiles lying sleepily on the water, the ferry at work above the falls, and cattle driven down to drink at the margin of the lake, made in all, with the pretty nature of the country—small grassy-topped hills, with trees in
1554-636: Was appointed Deputy Warden of London House , a residence at Goodenough Square in the Bloomsbury district of London. This residence is for university graduates from the Commonwealth of Nations pursuing graduate studies in the United Kingdom. In 1966 Wilson was promoted to Warden of London House, holding the position until he retired in 1977, after which he lived in Stowell, Somerset . At the time of his death, he
1596-406: Was founded in 1901 by British settlers. It was planned under colonial rule in 1948 by Ernst May , German architect and urban planner. May also designed the urban planning scheme for Kampala, creating what he called "neighbourhood units". Estates were built for the ruling elite in many parts outside the centre city. This led to the area's ' slum clearance ' which displaced more than 1,000 residents in
1638-564: Was in command of machine-gun posts manned by Somali soldiers in the key position of Observation Hill, a defended post in the defensive organisation of the Tug Argan Gap in British Somaliland. The enemy attacked Observation Hill on 11 August 1940. Captain Wilson and Somali gunners under his command beat off the attack and opened fire on the enemy troops attacking Mill Hill, another post within his range. He inflicted such heavy casualties that
1680-459: Was killed beside him. On 12 and 14 August the enemy again concentrated field artillery fire on Captain Wilson's guns, but he continued, with his wounds untended, to man them. On 15 August two of his machine-gun posts were blown to pieces, yet Captain Wilson, now suffering from malaria in addition to wounds, still kept his own post in action. The enemy finally over-ran the post at 5 p.m. on 15 August. Wilson married Ann Pleydell-Bouverie (a descendant of
1722-720: Was one of only ten Victoria Cross recipients still alive. He was the last surviving British Army recipient of the Second World War, as well as being the earliest and oldest recipient. His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum , London. He suffered from prostate cancer in later life, and died after a stroke. He was buried in Stowell, survived by his second wife and their son, and both of his sons from his first marriage. Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom) Lieutenant colonel ( Lt Col ),
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1764-692: Was then seconded to the Somaliland Camel Corps in 1939. In August 1940, Wilson was 27 years old, and by then an acting captain attached to the Somaliland Camel Corps, when Italian forces commanded by General Guglielmo Nasi invaded British Somaliland (now Somaliland ). During the Italian conquest of British Somaliland the heavily outnumbered British-led forces made their stand on the hills around Tug Argan . During this battle, from 11 to 15 August 1940 at Observation Hill , Captain Wilson kept
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