Date of birth:

August 29th, 1921 (London, United Kingdom)

Service number:

193114

Nationality:

British

SOE Jedburgh Teams Douglas (Codename AGURE) and Reindeer.

Dick Rubinstein attended University College School between 1929 and 1939 and then went on to Imperial College to read aeronautical engineering. He joined the Territorial Army in 1938. And in 1941 he successfully tried for a commission and became a searchlight troop commander (69 Searchlight Regiment, RA, Royal Fusiliers) in Norfolk, commanding six searchlight sites and over 80 men.
As he sought a more active role in the war he applied and was accepted for Special Operations Executive and was trained to become a Jedburgh member.
For his first mission he was dropped on August 6 1944 into Brittany just north east of Vannes. Up to the end of August the team was able to assist an SAS team and the local resistance but much of the region was already clear of Germans so they were extracted and arrived back in the UK the 24 of August.
For their second missions night of 15th September dropped in Jura, 28 kms. south east of Besancon to assist the Maquis in harassing the German retreat.
A next mission was in Burma when he was dropped on 25th January, 1945 as a part of the famous Force 136. Their mission consisted also of harassing and ambushing retreating Japanese troops.
After the war he finished his studies, joined the Terrritorial Army and found employment with DeHaviland/Hawker Siddeley in Hatfield, with whom he stayed until retirement. He retired from the TA in 1971.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Captain

Unit:

Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

November 7th, 1946

Citation:
"Major Rubinstein was landed by parachute behind the enemy lines in January 1945 and by his initiative, determination and efficiency, contributed materially to the effectiveness of the guerrilla forces then operating in the Kutkai area (of Burma). On returning in March 1945, he immediately volunteered for further operations , and early in April 1945 was dropped by parachute near Pyinmana. Here, in an area through which large numbers of Japanese troops were passing daily, he quickly organised the local Burmese resistance forces with such success that ten days after landing, he and his forces ambushed a party of the enemy , killing one major-General, six officers and seventeen other ranks, the majority of whom were NCO’s. From the period 8th April to 8th June Major Rubinstein’s party of guerrillas, operating firstly in the Pyinmana area and later south of Toungoo, inflicted over 400 casualties on the enemy.

The success of the operation was entirely due to Major Rubinstein’s initiative, determination and personal courage. "

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Captain

Unit:

Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

August 30th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Captain

Awarded on:

February 8th, 1949

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Citation:
“Capt. Rubinstein volunteered for missions in occupied France and was dropped with an allied team for the first time in Morbihan on Aug 6th 1944 and the second time in Jura on 15th Sept. 1944. Although these two areas were particularly heavily controlled by the enemy, he was able to organise an important information system, which proved to be most useful for the Allied advance. This officer displayed the greatest bravery under all circumstances as well as complete devotion to his mission and to the common cause."

Signed by De Gaulle, 16th Jan. 1946.

With Bronze Star.

• - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37244/supplement/4372
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37780/supplement/5466
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38535/supplement/742
  - https://secret-ww2.net/content/uploads/2023/05/MAJOR-RICHARD-RUBINSTEIN-1.pdf
  - https://www.specialforcesroh.com