Archive
No 11 Commando
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Displaying 1 - 96 of 96'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.
11 Cdo. Roll of Honour
The Fallen from No. 11 Commando
11 Commando
History of the Unit
11 Commando Nominal Roll
For historical & research purposes, we have tried to compile the names of all No.11 Commando volunteers which were obtained from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Lists of Casualties, the No.11 Commando War Diary, papers from the National Archives and further research by members of the CVA and various other resources.
11 Commando Operations
These are some of the operations that No 11 Commando took part in, either on their own, or as part of a Combined Operations assault. No 11 Commando became part of Layforce.
ADAMS, Jack
Private Jack Adams died during operations at Litani River.
AINSLIE, William Robson Milne
Lance Corporal William Ainslie, 2 troop, died during operations at Litani River.
BAILLIE, Alexander Charles
Lance Corporal Alexander Baillie died during operations at Litani River.
BALLANTYNE, Alexander A.
Lance Corporal Alexander Ballantyne died 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.
BARRAND, Peter Charles
Lance Corporal Peter Barrand is believed to have drowned off the coast of Libya after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ.
Sources
CWGC.
The book Get Rommel, author Michael Asher.
BERTIE, James John William
Corporal James Bertie died during operations at Litani River.
BEST, George
Private George Best died during operations at Litani River.
BLAIR, David Arthur
Captain David Blair was the O.C. No. 11 Commando 6 troop.
- Appointed M.B.E. (Military Division) 7th April 1944 [1].
Recommendation
BOULTON, David
Lieutenant David Boulton died serving with the Durham Light Infantry during the Battle of Lingevres.
BRYAN, Gerald Jackson
Lieutenant Gerald Jackson Bryan, RE, was awarded the Military Cross [1] for his gallantry during Operation Exporter, the battle of Litani River [view]. He was seriously wounded and lost a leg during this action [2].
BURROWS, Charles William
Gunner Charles Burrows died during operations at Litani River.
BURTON, Kenneth Harwood
Sergeant Kenneth Burton died during operations at Litani River.
Kenneth Burton, born in Rhondda, Wales, was a butcher's assistant when he enlisted at Pontypridd aged 18 on the 23rd June 1930 and was posted to the 1st King's Dragoon Guards on 26th June 1930. On the 4th March1932 he was posted to the Royal Dragoons, aka The 1st Royal Dragoons in India, before moving on to Egypt on the 20th November 1935. He returned to the UK on 13th May 1936, and a few months later on the 29th September 1936 was discharged to the Army Reserve.
CAMPBELL, William
Private William Campbell died during operations at Litani River.
CARR, Richard Philip
Captain Richard 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. (London Gazettes Supp. 34931, page 5201.)
CHANTRELL, William
Private William Chantrell died during operations at Litani River.
CHEYNE, John
Sergeant John Cheyne, 8 troop, was posted to 'L' Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade, on the 28th August 1941. He died during Operation Squatter targetting an airfield at Timimi, west of Tobruk, Libya, whilst attached to 'L' Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade.
CHISHOLM, James Alexander
Sergeant James Chisholm died during operations at Litani River.
COHEN, Aaron Harry
Corporal Aaron Cohen died during operations at Litani River.
COODE, Donald Alastair
Lieutenant Donald Coode, 1 troop, died during operations at Litani River.
COOKE, John
Lance Bombardier John Cooke died during operations at Litani River.
CRAIG, James Cross
Lance Corporal James Craig died during operations at Litani River.
DIBB, Edgar
Corporal Edgar Dibb died during operations at Litani River.
DINSDALE, Henry
Private Henry Dinsdale died during operations at Litani River.
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. **
EARDLEY, Albert William
Lance Corporal Albert Eardley died during operations at Litani River.
FARMILOE, William Arthur
Captain William Farmiloe, also known as Robin, Officer commanding 3 Troop, died during operations at Litani River.
View our gallery entry here Captain Farmiloe.
Notes
FRASER, Thomas Coupar
Private Thomas Fraser died during Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ.
GALLAGHER, Denis
Private Denis Gallagher died during operations at Litani River.
GIBBS, William Gore
Gunner William Gibbs died during operations at Litani River.
GORNALL, James
Gunner James Gornall, 3 troop, was awarded the M.M. in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field [1].
GREIG, Robert
Corporal Robert Greig died during operations at Litani River.
HAMILTON, Alexander
Driver Alexander Hamilton died during operations at Litani River.
HAMILTON, Robert Scott
Private Robert Hamilton died during operations at Litani River.
HARLAND, Edwin
Private Edwin Harland died during operations at Litani River.
HARMER, Reginald
Corporal Reginald Harmer served in No. 11 Commando until it was disbanded. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal [1] in recognition of gallant and distinguished service on the 12th July 1943 with the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment during operations near Solarino, Sicily [2].
Sources
[1] London Gazette 36251, page 5062.
[2] National Archives file WO373/3/154.
HUGHES, Albert Edwin
Lance Corporal Albert Hughes died in North Africa.
HURST, Ben
Private Ben Hurst died during operations at Litani River.
JOHNSTON, Robert
Corporal Robert Johnston died of exhaustion and malaria 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.
Sources
CWGC
His niece Mary Johnston.
JONES, Charles Ernest
The exact circumstances of the death of Trooper Charles Ernest Jones is not known to this archive. The date of his death was 5 days before Operation Exporter, the raid at Litani River, and coincides with the date of mobilisation for the raid.
JONES, Harold
Corporal Harold Jones died during operations at Litani River.
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.
KEYES, Lt Col. Geoffrey Charles Tasker, VC
Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Keyes MC died during the raid on Rommel's HQ. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
KING, Ernest Taylor
Lance Corporal Ernest King died during operations at Litani River.
KINGHORN, Robert
Private Robert Kinghorn died during operations at Litani River.
KNIGHT, Denis Hammond
Second Lieutenant Denis Knight died during the period the Commando were based for training on the Isle of Arran. He was found with a gunshot wound to his head in the dwelling house in Lamlash where he was billeted. Cause of death given by Captain J. P. Baird RAMC. Certified by William Grant, Procurator Fiscal.
LANG, John
Lance Corporal John Lang died during operations at Litani River.
Read more about John Lang on our Forum [HERE].
LISTER, Richard
Private Richard Lister died during operations at Litani River.
MACARTHUR, Robert
Lance Bombardier Robert Macarthur died during operations at the Litani River.
MACQUARRIE, Donald Maclean
Lance Corporal Donald MacQuarrie, 8 troop, died during operations in North Africa.
MCAULEY, Michael
Lance Corporal Michael McAuley died during operations at Litani River.
MCGONIGAL, Eoin Christopher
Lieutenant Eoin McGonigal, formerly 7 troop of No.11 Commando, was posted to 'L' Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade, on the 15th August 1941. He died during Operation Squatter targetting airfields at Timimi, west of Tobruk.
Sources
The SAS and LRDG Roll of Honour 1941 - 47. www.sas-lrdg-roh.com/index.html
MCGUIRE, John
Corporal John McGuire died during operations at Litani River.
MCKAY, Robert
Corporal Robert McKay died during operations at Litani River.
MCKEOWN, John
Private John McKeown died during operations at Litani River.
MCNINCH, William Matthew
Lance Sergeant William McNinch died during operations at Termoli Italy with the Special Raiding Squadron having left the Commando.
MULLEN, James Cassidy
Private James Mullen died during operations at Litani River.
MUNRO, George
Sergeant George Munro, a veteran of the Litani River raid, died during operations with the S.B.S., on the island of Samos after leaving the Commando.
Postings
Sep 1940 - volunteered for 11 Cdo. Mar 1941- arrive Middle East - 'C' Bn Layforce Aug 1941- 11 Cdo absorbed into ME Cdo Jan 1943 - volunteered for SAS Mar 1943 - posted to D Sqn - promoted Sgt - D Sqn becomes SBS.MURPHY, James
Private James Murphy died during operations at Litani River.
NAPIER, Bevil Charles Alan
Major Bevil Charles Alan Napier was attached to the Commandos from the Gordon Highlanders.
He was promoted from 2/Lieutenant to Lieutenant on the 1st January 1941. In August 1943 whilst a Captain (T/Major) he was awarded the MC for "gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East." (London Gazettes Supp. 35077 page 960 and Supp. 36146 page 3819.)
NIXON, Malvern
Private Malvern Nixon died when his jeep patrol was attacked whilst en route to harass the enemy in Southern Tunisia. He was serving with 1st SAS ('B' Sqn.) at the time of his death having left the Commandos. He had previously served in No 2 Independent Company, No 11 Commando, Layforce, the Middle East Commando, and 'L' Detachment SAS.
O'SULLIVAN, William Martin
Sergeant William O'Sullivan died during operations at Litani River.
OLIPHANT, Archibald Johnston
Lance Bombardier Archibald Oliphant died of wounds received during operations at Litani River.
Notes
Ramleh War Cemetery was used "by various Commonwealth hospitals posted in turn to the area for varying periods." (Source: CWGC)
PADBURY, John
Corporal John Padbury died during operations at Litani River.
PARNACOTT, Geoffrey Alfred Henry
Lieutenant Geoffrey Parnacott, 4 troop, died during operations at Litani River.
PEDDER, Richard Robert Newsham (Lt Col)
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Pedder was commissioned as an officer on the 27th August 1924 and served with the Highland Light Infantry until the outbreak of WW2.
As Commanding Officer, No. 11 (Scottish) Commando, which later became "C" Battalion of Layforce, he was killed in action during the raid at Litani River, Syria.
PLUNKETT, John
Fusilier John Plunkett died during operations at Litani River.
POMFORD, Douglas
Corporal Douglas Pomford joined the S.B.S. when No. 11 Commando was disbanded. He was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the field [1].
PURSE, Jack
Lance Corporal Jack Purse died during operations at Litani River.
RICHARDS, Charles Geoffrey
Second Lieutenant Charles Richards, 5 troop, died during operations at Litani River.
ROBB, Leslie
Private Leslie Robb died during operations at Litani River.
ROBERTSON, Andrew
Gunner Andrew Robertson died of wounds received during operations at Litani River.
Notes
Ramleh War Cemetery was used "by various Commonwealth hospitals posted in turn to the area for varying periods." (Source: CWGC).
ROONEY, Lawrence
Private Lawrence Rooney died during operations at Litani River.
SCEALES, James Stewart Macewan
Captain Sceales had served as OC 7 troop whilst attached to the Commando before rejoining his Regiment.
Promoted Major, he was killed during operations with the 1st Bn. A&SH at Cassino. He is named on the casualty lists from the 1st Argyll's regimental history for their period in Italy.
SCOTT, Thomas Fields
Corporal Thomas Scott served in 11 Commando 10 troop. [1]
In October 1945 it was announced that he had been awarded the George Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field. [2] There is an SOE file held in his name at the National Archives. [3].
The death of Cpl. Tom Scott GM, of Westfield, Bathgate, West Lothian, was announced to members in Commando Association newsletter 82 issued March 1986.
SEVERN, Clive
Lance Corporal Clive Severn died at sea. He received a posthumous MiD "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East. [Source: London Gazettes Supp. 36065, page 2870.]
SMITH, John Rolland
Sergeant John Rolland Smith died during operations at Litani River.
SMITH, Peter
Gunner Peter Smith died whilst a prisoner of war.
Historical information for Krakow Rakowicki Cemetery.
Those buried here died while prisoners of war during the German occupation, most of the graves coming from the cemetery at the large camp at Lamsdorf, Stalag VIIIB (after 1943 known as Stalag 344), where there was a hospital of 450 beds used only for Commonwealth prisoners. (Source : CWGC.)
STEVENSON, Thomas
Corporal Thomas Stevenson died during operations at Litani River.
STYLES, Alexander Mundie
Signaller Alexander Styles died during operations at Litani River.
TAIT, Duncan Robert
Lance Corporal Bob Tait, No.11 Commando 8 Troop [image in gallery], attached to Layforce, was awarded the Military Medal [1] in recognition of gallant and distinguished conduct during operations at Litani River, Syria, 9/10 June 1941 [2].
TERRY, Jack
Sergeant Jack Terry was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal [1] in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during the Rommel raid in the Middle East. It was during this raid that his commanding officer Lt. Col. Geoffrey Keyes was killed. Sgt. Terry made good his escape and later joined the Special Air Service. Post war he joined Nottingham Police and served for the next 28 years [3].
Citation
At Sidi Rafa.
TEVENDALE, Lewis Legertwood Legg
Warrant Officer Class 1 R.S.M. Lewis Tevendale was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal [1] in recognition of his initiative and daring during the battle of Litani River on the 9-10 June 1941 when he assumed command of a detachment after all of its officers had been killed [2].
THOMPSON, Royce
Private Royce Thomspson died during operations at Litani River.
TITTERTON, Cyril Arthur
Lance Corporal Cyril Titterton died during operations at Litani River.
WALLACE, Hugh
The full circumstances of the death of Corporal Hugh Wallace are not known to this archive.
WARBURTON, Kenneth
Pte. Warburton was killed in training as a result of parachute failure whilst attached to 'L' Detachment SAS. He had previously served in 11 Commando 6 troop. Also killed was his friend and fellow Seaforth Highlander, Pte. Joe Duffy. Location given as East side of the Great Bitter Lake.
WOOD, Alfred Joseph
Sergeant Alfred Wood died during operations in North Africa. The full circumstances of his death are not known to this archive.
WOODNUTT, Desmond
Sapper Desmond Woodnutt died during operations at Litani River.
WORRALL, Frederick William Gordon
Sergeant Frederick Worrall was awarded the M.M. [1] in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during Operation Exporter [more....], otherwise known as the Battle of Litani River [2].
Sources
[1] London Gazette Supp. 35363, page 6875.
[2] National Archives file WO373/27/47.
Notes
The Source @ [2] above lists his first name as Frank.
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