No 11 Commando

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'Layforce'

Three UK based Army Commando units, Nos. 7, 8, and 11 Commandos, were initially combined within 'Force Z' for operations initially envisaged against Rhodes in the Eastern Mediterranean.  Other elements of the Force included a number of men from No.3 Commando and the Canoe section of No.8 (Guards) Commando.  They sailed from the Isle of Arran on the 31st January 1941, and arrived at Suez on the 7th March.

CARR, Richard Philip

Capt. Carr, 1 troop, was attached to the Commandos from the Royal Artillery. He was taken prisoner of war early in 1942 and, despite several escape attempts, remained in captivity for the remainder of the war.
 
He was awarded the MC whilst serving as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Artillery for 'gallant and distinguished services in action' at Dunkirk.
(Sources: London Gazettes Supp. 34931, page 5201.)
 

CHEYNE, John

Jock Cheyne 11 Commando
Sgt Cheyne, 8 troop, was posted to 'L' Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade, on the 28th August 1941. He was killed during operations targetting an airfield at Timimi, west of Tobruk,  whilst attached to 'L' Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade. 

DUFFY, Joseph Aloysius

Pte. Duffy joined L Detachment, SAS, from No 11 Commando on the 28th August 1941 and was killed in training due to a parachute failure with his friend and fellow Seaforth Highlander, Pte. Warburton. Location given as East side of the Great Bitter Lake. The pair became the Regiment's first casualties.​ 

DUNCAN, George Ian Alistair

Lieutenant George Duncan served in No 11 Commando. We have a possible photo of him in our gallery which we would like verified by family in due course.

His gallantry medals were awarded after leaving the Commando and whilst he was further attached to the Special Boat Section *.

In addition there is reference in a book to a Lt Duncan MC as being a prisoner of war in Camp 21, Chiete, Italy in 1943. **

FARMILOE, William Arthur

Captain Farmiloe, 3 Troop, was killed during operations at Litani River.
 
Entry in London Gazettes (Supplement 34693 page 6496)  "2nd Bn. L.R.B., Rifle Bde.—Cpl. William Arthur Farmiloe (96875) (late Cadet Lance Corporal, Winchester Coll. Contgt., Jun. Div., O.T.C.) to be 2nd Lt. 2nd Sept. 1939."
 

JOHNSTON, Robert

Corporal Robert Johnston was killed whilst assigned from the Commando to Middle East Detachment 2, later redesignated 2nd Special Service Detachment (SSD 2), in Burma.

Some additional detail can be found on this link to a message on our Forum.

KEITH, Douglas

Pte. Douglas Keith, formerly 11 Commando,  was posted to 'L' Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade, on the 28th August 1941, and was taken prisoner after Operation Squatter.  He died whilst being transported on the Italian prison ship SS Sebastiano Venier, after it was was torpedoed by a British submarine.

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