No 12 Commando
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Displaying 1 - 86 of 86'French coast - Operation Farenheit'
Wednesday, November 11, 1942
Location
Pointe du Plouezec
France
48° 45' 16.5924" N, 2° 55' 47.2476" W
An overnight intelligence gathering raid on a signals station on the French coast at Pointe de Plouézec. The raiding force set out from Dartmouth harbour on board MTB 344, commanded by Lt. Cdr. Freddie Bourne RN and crew, accompanied by a small number of commandos who used a Dory to land.
Officers included Major Geoffrey Appleyard, Captain's Peter Kemp and Captain Oswald Rooney. Commando NCO's included amongst others Sgt Sam Brodison, Sgt. Barry, and LCpl Ellis Howells.
'French Coast - Operation Foxrock'
Sunday, May 31, 1942
Location
St Valery en Caux
France
49° 51' 38.0952" N, 0° 42' 30.8052" E
Night of 31st May/1st June. This was a planned operation by 100 men from No 12 Commando at St Valery en Caux which was aborted after the raiding party were spotted by German naval forces.
'Norway - Operation Carey'
Monday, April 12, 1943
Location
Norway
Northforce section of No 12 Commando in operations in the Norwegian Fjords.
'Norway - Operation Checkmate'
Wednesday, April 28, 1943
Location
Kopervik
Norway
59° 17' 1.3452" N, 5° 18' 24.7572" E
A combined operations raid on Axis shipping in the harbour at Kopervik, Norway. This raid was a No 14 Commando operation. The raiders managed to sink several ships using limpet mines, but were eventually captured and initially taken to Haugesund for interrogation before being transported to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp.
'Norway - Operation Crackers'
Monday, February 22, 1943
An intelligence gathering operation originally planned to include the destruction of observation posts in the Norwegian fjords, but due to bad weather the raiders took over an unmanned observation post for a week of intelligence gathering before making good their escape.
12 Cdo. Roll of Honour
The Fallen from No.12 Commando
| Lieut. R.D. O'SULLIVAN Lieut. R.E.C. PRICE Sgt. V.J. COX Cpl. A.H. BLOUNT Cpl. S.E. CHETWYND |
12 Commando
History of the Unit
No 12 Army Commando - The ‘Irish’ Commando.
12 Commando Nominal Roll
In 1946 the Army Council decided that the Army Commandos were to be disbanded and no provision was allowed or made for any depository or office which would have at least contained a complete Roster of Names of the men who served in the various units.
12 Commando Operations
These are some of the operations that No 12 Commando took part in, either on their own, or as part of a Combined Operations assault. In many cases only a handful of Commandos from No 12 took part rather than the Commando as a whole. They are in date order and form part of our overall history of No 12 Commando.
Click on the links for more detail about each.
Operation Chess - France, July 1941
Operation Kitbag - Norway, November 1941(aborted)
Operation Anklet - Norway, November 1941
12 Commando Troop Locations Operation Foxrock June 1942
Type: Files
Year of Publishing: 2015
Keywords: 12 Commando Operation Foxrock Troop Locations June 1942
Sheet indicating Troop locations 1st-30th June 1942 12 Commando
National Archives Document Ref WO218/41
12 Commando, Redesignation of 4 (Para) Troop,1943
A letter to Captain Oswald B (Mickey) Rooney of 4 (Para) Troop, No12 Commando from Lord Lovat, HQ Special Service Brigade, on the reallocation of No12 Cdo.Lovat has added a footnote to Mickey Rooney
OC No 9 'is short of a good subaltern who can be added to the 27 other ranks. Please contact him.
Document courtesy of Capt Rooney's son, Chris Rooney
12 Commando, Letter From Lord Mountbatten
Type: Official Letters
Year of Publishing: 2015
Keywords: Mountbatten Harrison 12 Commando E Troop
Letter sent from Lord Mountbatten to Lt Col Harrison after a visit to No 12 Commando .....troop mentioned is E Troop commanded by Lt Pinckney.
ALLUM, Edward Thomas
Gunner
No 12 Commando
No 1 Commando
Royal Artillery
Gunner Edward Allum was attested into the Royal Artillery in 1939. After volunteering he served in both No.12 and No.1 Commando.
Sources
Royal Artillery Attestations Register for 1939.
Commando Association Lost Legions List 1.
ALLUM, Frank Edmund
Gunner
No 12 Commando
No 1 Commando
Royal Artillery
Gunner Frank Allum was attested into the Royal Artillery in 1939. He was wounded May 1940 in France serving with 145 Field Regiment RA. Volunteering for the Commandos he served in both No.12 and No.1 Commando.
Sources
Commando Association newsletter 114.
BARTHOLOMEW, Peter Ian
Known as:
Barty
Lieutenant Colonel
No 3 Commando
Somerset Light Infantry
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Peter Ian Bartholomew served in No 12 Commando until their disbandment when he moved to No 3 Commando. He participated in the D Day landings as Captain of 2 troop. On the Commando's return to NW Europe from the UK in 1945, he took command of No 3 Commando with the rank of Acting Lieutenant Colonel.
BASSETT-WILSON, Paul Francis
Captain
No 9 Commando
No 12 Commando
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Military Cross (MC)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Captain Paul Bassett-Wilson MC died during operations with No.9 Commando at Lake Comacchio, Italy [1].
A former pupil of Stowe School and student at Trinity College [2], he had earlier served as a Lieutenant in No.12 Commando.
BLOUNT, Arthur Harvey
Corporal
No 12 Commando
South Wales Borderers
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Arthur Blount was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire, later confirmed killed in action.
Arthur was part of a demolition team who embarked for the raid on HMS Campbeltown, and was the son of Charles George Blount, and of Annie Blount, of Morden, Surrey.
Arthur was part of a demolition team who embarked for the raid on HMS Campbeltown, and was the son of Charles George Blount, and of Annie Blount, of Morden, Surrey.
Sources
CWGC.
BOLDEN, Stanley
Known as:
Sammy
Lance Corporal
No 12 Commando
SAS
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Military Medal (MM)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Stanley Bolden, No.12 Commando, was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the Field [1][2].
He was later killed in action serving as a Corporal with the 2nd SAS Regiment during an attack on the German 51 Mountain Corps HQ at Albinea Italy [3][4].
BOWLES, Eric Charles
Lance Corporal
No 12 Commando
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Eric Bowles, 'D' troop, based at Hamble, died while in a trawler patrol that was attacked by enemy aircraft.
Sources
CWGC
No 12 Cdo War Diary ,National Archive file W0 218 / 28.
BOWMAN, Thomas Horne
Known as:
Tom
Lieutenant
No 12 Commando
No 1 Commando
Lieutenant Thomas Bowman served in No.12 Commando ( Para Troop) and then No.1 Commando 6 Troop in the Far East.
Post war he had a business in Camberley Surrey and was also an actor. He had a role in the "My Fair Lady" New York Broadway Revival which ran from March 25, 1976 to February 20, 1977.
BRETT, Gerrard
Lieutenant (later Captain)
No 12 Commando
Royal Ulster Rifles
Military Cross (MC)
Lieutenant Brett was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during Operation Chariot at St Nazaire 27/28 March 1942. Wounded on board HMS Campbeltown and later prisoner of war [1][1a][2][2a].
Recommendation
BRIERLEY, Herbert
Sergeant
No 12 Commando
No 9 Commando
Sergeant Herbert Brierley served in Nos.12 and 9 Commandos.
Source: Obituaries Commando Association newsletter 35.
BRODISON, Samuel James
Company Sergeant Major (later RSM)
No 10 Commando
No 12 Commando
Small Scale Raiding Force
Royal Irish Fusiliers
Military Medal (MM)
Company Sergeant Major Samuel Brodison was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service carrying out beach obstacle reconnaissance in France during May 1944 [1][2].
Recommendation
CALLAWAY, Thomas, Frederick
Known as:
Cab
Corporal
No 12 Commando
Hampshire Regiment
Corporal Thomas Callaway was one of the commando contingent who embarked on HMS Campbeltown for Operation Chariot, the raid at St. Nazaire 28 March 1942.
He was reported missing but later found to be a prisoner of war.
Sources
St Nazaire Society website.
CHETWYND, Samuel Ernest
Corporal
No 12 Commando
Sherwood Forresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Samuel Chetwynd was reported missing 28 March 1942 after operation Chariot at St. Nazaire, later confirmed killed in action. He embarked for the raid on motor launch ML 457 as part of Captain Pritchard's Demolition Control Party and has no known grave.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chetwynd; husband of Elizabeth Chetwynd, of Shildon, Co. Durham.
CHUNG, Ronald Robert Fong
Known as:
Ron
Corporal
No 12 Commando
Royal Engineers
Corporal Ron Chung was reported wounded and a prisoner of war on 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St Nazaire. He had embarked on HMS Campbeltown for the raid.
Post war Ron was a regular attendee at Commando Association events. His son Martin also completed Commando training and received his own green beret on 30 May 1980.
CLAPTON, John Francis
Lieutenant (later Captain)
No 6 Commando
No 12 Commando
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Military Cross (MC)
Lieutenant John Clapton was awarded the Military Cross [1] in recognition of gallant and distinguished service on 28 January 1945 whilst leading a small Recce patrol at a wood near Linne [2].
- Served in No.12 Commando 4 Parachute Troop prior to moving to No.6 Commando [3].
Sources
COOPER-KEY, Caryll Astley
Major
No 12 Commando
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
30 January 1930 commissioned Second Lieutenant, Yorks. and Lancs. Regt. [1].
1 August 1938 (Lieutenant) promoted Captain, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers [2].
August 1940 second in command of No.12 Commando on its formation [3].
15 June 1942 second in command of 142 Commando Company [4].
COTTON MINCHIN, Douglas James Maurice
Captain
43RM Commando
Commando Basic Training Centre
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Captain Douglas Cotton Minchin was reported missing March 1945 after his patrol came under fire during operations in Italy, later presumed killed in action. He has no known grave.
Son of Capt. H. Cotton Minchin and Mrs. Cotton Minchin, of Cagnes-sur-Mer, Alpes Maritimes, France.
COX, Jack, A.
Known as:
Jack
Corporal
No 12 Commando
No 3 Commando
Middlesex Regiment
Corporal Jack Cox was wounded on 11 April 1945 during operations in Western Europe. On this date No.3 Commando were in action at the River Aller near the town of Essel. He had previously served in No.12 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association.
1976 serving as a Police Sergeant at Saltney, just over the Welsh Border from Chester.
COX, Victor John
Known as:
Jack
Sergeant
No 12 Commando
Somerset Light Infantry
Executed
Sergeant Victor John 'Jack' Cox, No 12 Commando, was assigned to No.14 Commando for Operation Checkmate. He was captured on the raid at Kopervik in Norway on 29th April 1943. He was imprisoned and later executed after being taken to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and shot.
CROFTS, Arthur Probert
Fusilier
No 12 Commando
Royal Welch Fusiliers
Died on war service
Died in the UK
Fusilier Arthur Crofts died as a result of an accident.
Son of Minnie Crofts; husband of Mary Elizabeth Crofts, of Droylsden.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/56.
CRUDEN, Peter Ramsay
Captain
No 12 Commando
No 6 Commando
Royal Artillery
Black Watch
Mentioned in Despatches
Silver Star (USA)
Peter Ramsay Cruden was commissioned Second Lieutenant Royal Artillery 22 March 1941[1].
- Lieutenant in No.12 Commando [2].
- 6 June 1944 (Lieutenant) (No.6 Commando) shot and wounded in shoulder by sniper at Normandy [3][3a].
DALY, Thomas
Known as:
Tom
Sergeant
No 12 Commando
Holding Operational Commando
Royal Army Service Corps
Thomas Daly served in No.12 Commando HQ from April 1941 and after No.12 was disbanded on the staff at the Holding Operational Commando until April 1946.
Read more in Linked Content below.
DARLINGTON, Kenneth Carr
Private
No 12 Commando
SBS
No 4 Commando
Border Regiment
Military Medal (MM)
Private Kenneth Darlington was awarded the Military Medal[1] for gallantry during Operation Cartoon, a successful raid on Stord Island. The target was the demolition of an Iron Pyrite mine.
DEERY, Stewart
Sergeant
No 12 Commando
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Military Medal (MM)
Sergeant Stewart Deery, No.12 Commando, was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service during Operation Chariot at St Nazaire. He had embarked on HMS Campbeltown for the raid and was taken prisoner of war afterwards [1][a][1b][2][2a].
Recommendation
DEXTER, Stanley
Gunner
No 12 Commando
Royal Artillery
Died on war service
Gunner Stanley Dexter from Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, died in service, cause not known to this archive.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/57.
Royal Artillery Casualty Card.
EAGER, W.
Lance Corporal
No 6 Commando
No 12 Commando
Royal Irish Fusiliers
Lance Corporal Eager was wounded 24 March 1945 during operations at the crossing of the River Rhine at Wesel (Operation Widgeon). Previously served in No.12 Commando.
Post war member of the Commando Association, last known residing Titchworth, Hampshire.
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/90.
Commando Association Lost Legion List 4.
FERGUSON, William John
Known as:
Fergie
Corporal
No 12 Commando
Royal Armoured Corps
Corporal William Ferguson was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire, later found to have been wounded and taken prisoner of war. He had embarked on board HMS Campbeltown for the raid.
FINDLEY, Frederick George
Troop Sergeant Major
No 6 Commando
Royal Army Service Corps
Military Medal (MM)
Troop Sergeant Major Frederick Findley was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during the withdrawal from Djebel el Azag, Tunisia [1][2].
Recommendation
FYNN, Francis West (Lt Col)
Known as:
Ted
Lieutenant Colonel
No 2 Commando
No 12 Commando
Gordon Highlanders
Military Cross (MC)
Mentioned in Despatches
Bronze Star Medal (USA)
Lieutenant Colonel Francis West Fynn M.C. was appointed Commanding Officer of No 2 Commando from June 1944 after Lt Col Churchill was taken prisoner of war.
A former Lance Sergeant in the Royal Artillery T.A., he was appointed Second Lieutenant on the 23rd December 1939 [1].
HARRISON, Stewart Sandbach (LtCol)
Known as:
Peachy
Lieutenant Colonel
No 12 Commando
Irish Guards
Military Cross (MC)
Bar to the Military Cross
Commanding Officer of No. 12 Commando.
A veteran of World War One and recipient of the Military Cross, announced in July 1918, and later a bar to the Military Cross in August 1919.
Sources
London Gazette Supp. 30780, p7909 and Supp. 31745, p924.
HENRIQUES, Robert David Quixano
Colonel
Special Service Brigade
No 12 Commando
Royal Artillery
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Territorial Decoration (TD)
Silver Star (USA)
Bronze Star Medal (USA)
Major Robert Henriques was the Brigade Major of the Special Service Brigade throughout the operation at Vaagso in Norway on 27 December 1941 [1].
- Former Troop Leader of 'E' troop No. 12 Commando [1a].
- 2 June 1943 (Captain)(Temporary Major)(Acting Lieutenant Colonel) appointed M.B.E. (Military Division) [2].
HILL, David Henry
Private
No 12 Commando
Middlesex Regiment
Died on war service
Died in the UK
Private David Hill died during training after a fall from cliffs near Camborne Cornwall.
HOWELLS, Ellis
Lance Corporal
No 12 Commando
Small Scale Raiding Force
SBS
South Wales Borderers
Special Air Service Regiment
Mentioned in Despatches
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Ellis Howells was killed in action having left the Commandos and joined the 1st Special Boat Service, S.A.S. Regiment, Army Air Corps. He died during an attack on a railway bridge at Limpljani in the former Yugoslavia. Previously served No.12 Commando, the Small Scale Raiding Force, No.10 (Inter Allied) Commando, and Fynnforce.
HOYLE, Robert
Corporal
No 12 Commando
Lancashire Fusiliers
Corporal Robert Hoyle embarked on HMS Campbeltown for the raid at St. Nazaire on 28 March 1942. Reported as missing after the raid he was later found to have been taken prisoner and transported to Stalag 344 at Lamsdorf, Poland.
HUNTINGTON, John, Memories of No 12 and No 1 Commando
Type: Personal Papers
Year of Publishing: 2015
Keywords: Memories of Sgt John Huntington 'E' Troop No 12 Commando and 3 Troop No 1 Commando
Sgt John Huntington was in E Troop No 12 Commando and 3 Troop No 1 Commando.
This document is Johns memories as detailed in letter form over the course of 5 years to John Mewett. Unfortunately before the project was complete JH died but what was related makes for a very interesting first hand account of life in a commando unit.
JENKINS, David William Phillip
Private
No 12 Commando
Welch Regiment
Died on war service
Private David Jenkins was accidentally killed in the UK.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/29.
JOHNSON, James
Lance Sergeant
No 12 Commando
Gordon Highlanders
Military Medal (MM)
Lance Sergeant James Johnson was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service during Operation Chariot 28 March 1942. Wounded and prisoner of war.
Recommendation
JONES, Harri Havard
Corporal
No 12 Commando
Welch Regiment
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Harri Harvard Jones was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St Nazaire, later presumed killed in action at sea. Corporal Jones was part of a demolition team who embarked for the raid on motor launch ML 268. He has no known grave.
Son of David John and Martha Ann Jones, of Rhymney, Monmouthshire.
LEAPHARD, Clark Edmond John
Known as:
Eddy
Major
No 6 Commando
Gloucestershire Regiment
Reconnaissance Corps
Parachute Regiment
Military Cross (MC)
21 December 1940 commissioned Second Lieutenant, Gloucestershire Regiment [1].
Served No.12 Commando and from 30 May 1943 No.6 Commando [2] .
Temporary Major, No.6 Commando, awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service on 11 April 1945 during the assault on Essel Bridge over the River Aller [3].
LEAVER, John Charles
Private
No 1 Commando
No 12 Commando
Welch Regiment
Private John Leaver, 5 Troop, was wounded on 23 January 1945 during operations in Burma. He previously served in No.12 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association from Cardiff.
LEMON, Frederick
Known as:
Fred
Lance Corporal
No 12 Commando
North Irish Horse / Royal Armoured Corps
Lance Corporal Fred Lemon embarked on HMS Campbeltown for Operation Chariot, the raid at St. Nazaire 28 March 1942. Reported missing after the raid, found to have been taken prisoner and transported to Stalag 344 at Lamsdorf, Poland.
MAGINNIS, John
Known as:
Mac
Rifleman
No 6 Commando
Royal Ulster Rifles
Rifleman John Maginnis volunteered for the Commandos whilst serving in the Royal Ulster Rifles. He initially joined No 12 Commando and on their disbandment moved to No 6 Commando.
MALONEY, Daniel
Private
No 12 Commando
No 1 Commando
East Lancashire Regiment
Private Daniel Maloney, from Hulme Manchester, served with No.
MARTIN-SMITH, Patrick Geoffrey Brian
Captain
No 12 Commando
30 Commando Assault Unit
Worcestershire Regiment
Military Cross (MC)
War Service
18 May 1940 commissioned Second Lieutenant.
1940 - 1943 No.12 Commando.
1943 - 1944 No.30 Commando.
July 1944 - May 1945 No.1 Special Force, SOE.
1945 awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished service.
26 Sept 1967 retired from military service.
MCGONIGAL, Ambrose Joseph
Lieutenant (later Honorary Major)
No 12 Commando
SBS
Royal Ulster Rifles
Military Cross (MC)
Bar to the Military Cross
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Ambrose McGonigal was awarded the M.C. [1] for distinguished service during a raid on the enemy held island of Sark on the night of the 27th December 1943. This was a reconnaissance operation to obtain certain information and if possible capture a prisoner.
METCALFE, Thomas Gibson
Known as:
Tom
Sergeant
No 12 Commando
Border Regiment
Mentioned in Despatches
Sergeant Thomas Metcalfe received a Mention in Dispatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Norway.
Recommendation
Operation Cartoon
Operation Cartoon
MEWETT, Robert
Known as:
Mawler
Private
No 1 Commando
No 12 Commando
Middlesex Regiment
Private Robert Mewett served in No 12 Commando and later in Burma with No 1 Commando 4 troop.
MOLLOY, Joseph
Corporal
No 12 Commando
Royal Ulster Rifles
Corporal Joseph Molloy was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire, later found to be a prisoner of war. He was one of the commando contingent who embarked on HMS Campbeltown.
Sources
British Army Casualty Lists 1939-45 / National Archives file WO417/43.
NASH, Douglas James
Sergeant
No 12 Commando
Worcestershire Regiment
Military Medal (MM)
Douglas Nash was awarded the MM in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field on the 26th December 1943.
The death of Sgt. Douglas J. Nash, MM (12 & 6 Cdos) of Cleveland, Ohio, USA., formerly of Birmingham, was announced in Commando Association newsletter 75 issued September 1982.
O'SULLIVAN, Robert Deyos
Lieutenant
No 12 Commando
Royal Ulster Rifles
Died on war service
Lieutenant Robert O'Sullivan died by drowning as a result of an accident.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/4.
No 12 Cdo War Diary entry for 10th Apr.1943. National Archives WO 218 / 57.
PAGE, Alan George
Lance Sergeant
No 12 Commando
No 6 Commando
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Lance Sergeant Alan Page, No.6 Commando, was wounded 6 June 1944 during operations at Normandy, France. He had previously served in No.12 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association from Leicester.
PARNWELL, Basil Arthur
Major
No 12 Commando
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) 12th Bn.
Lieutenant Basil Parnwell was attached to No.12 Commando on 7 February 1942 [1] later becoming their Adjutant until it was disbanded in 1943 after which he is reported to have moved to the Commando Mountain Warfare Training Centre (CMWTC) [2].
- Special Operations Executive (SOE) [3].
PINCKNEY, Philip Hugh
Captain
No 12 Commando
SAS
Royal Artillery
Executed
Captain Philip Pinckney was executed whilst a prisoner of war. At the time he was serving with 2 SAS and had been captured on Operation Speedwell after parachuting with 6 others into Bologna, Italy. The aim of the operation was to disrupt enemy railway movements.
PRICE, Randall Emerson Connop
Lieutenant
No 12 Commando
Gloucestershire Regiment
Died on war service
Died in the UK
Lieutenant Randall Price died following an operation Wrexham hospital. [1] and [2]
PURDON, Corran William Brooke
Lieutenant (later Major General)
No 12 Commando
Royal Ulster Rifles
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Military Cross (MC)
Colonial Police Medal
Lieutenant Corran Purdon volunteered for the Commandos whilst serving as a young officer with the Royal Ulster Rifles, and was attached to No.12 Commando. He took part in raids on Norway and St Nazaire.
QUILLIN, Douglas Gordon.
Sergeant
No 7 Commando
No 12 Commando
No 5 Commando
South Lancashire Regiment
Sergeant Douglas Quillin served in Nos. 7, and 12 Commandos, and later in No. 5 Commando in the Far East.
Sources
REEVES, Walter
Known as:
Jumbo
Bombardier
No 12 Commando
Royal Artillery
Bombardier Walter Reeves was attested into the Royal Artillery in 1938 and was later attached to No.12 Commando after volunteering for the Commandos. Embarked HMS Campbeltown for Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire 28 March 1942 and was a prisoner of war after the raid. Post war member of the Commando Association residing Barnstaple, Devon.
SIMS, Edward, G.
Known as:
Ted / Eddie
Private
No 12 Commando
No 6 Commando
Royal West Kent Regiment
Private Edward Sims served in No 12 Commando until it was disbanded in 1943, then in No 6 Commando. He was batman to Captain Peter Cruden [1][2].
- Post war in June 1946 he was one of ten commandos chosen at random to sit with the Queen in the Royal Box at the Albert Hall concert in aid of the Commando Benevolent Fund [3].
STEVENS, John William
Private
No 12 Commando
Hampshire Regiment
Died on war service
Died in the UK
Private John Stevens died in training.
Sources
SYNNOTT, James Francis
Known as:
Jimmy
Sergeant
No 3 Commando
Royal Artillery
Sergeant James Synnott, 3 Troop, was shot and wounded 11 April 1945 during operations at the River Aller. He had previously served in No.12 Commando. Post war Jimmy was a member of the Commando Association.
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/91.
TEMPLETON, J.A.
Known as:
Jimmy
Private
No 6 Commando
No 12 Commando
Royal Scots
Private Jimmy Templeton was wounded 24 March 1945 during operations at the crossing of the River Rhine at Wesel (Operation Widgeon). Also served No.12 Commando.
Post war member of the Commando Association from Hove, Sussex.
Sources
Casualty Records / National Archives file WO417/90.
Commando Association newsletter 87.
Casualty Records / National Archives file WO417/90.
Commando Association newsletter 87.
TENNICK, Maurice William
Corporal
No 12 Commando
No 1 Commando
Kings Own Scottish Borderers
Tynemouth Police
Corporal Maurice Tennick served in No.12 Commando and No.1 Commando. Promoted Corporal 2 February 1944.
Maurice was a serving Police Officer who volunteered as part of the Police Intakes to the Commandos. In 1939 he was a Police Constable residing at 50 Falstaff Road, Tynemouth.
Post war member of the Commando Association residing North Shields.
TIBBLES, Harry
Private
No 6 Commando
Border Regiment
Military Medal (MM)
Private Harry Tibbles, a Bren Gunner with No.
TOWSE, Alfred Burley
Known as:
Jock
Lance Sergeant
No 12 Commando
No 6 Commando
Scots Guards
Brighton and Hove, Sussex Police
Corporal Alfred Towse served in No.12 and No.6 Commandos and was wounded in France on 7 August 1944.
He was a Police Officer who had volunteered for the Commandos rejoining the Police and serving at Brighton and Hove after the war ended. Final rank attained Lance Sergeant.
Sources
TURNER, Frederick William Morgan
Corporal
No 12 Commando
Gloucestershire Regiment
Died on war service
Died in the UK
Corporal Frederick Turner, No.12 Commando, died by drowning in Loch Linne whilst serving at the Commando Depot, Achnacarry.
Also recorded as dying by drowning on this date were Private Pat McCarthy, Fusilier James Scullion, and Gunner Alan Haydon [see Linked Content below].
TYREMAN, George Vincent
Private
No 4 Commando
No 12 Commando
Lincolnshire Regiment
Lincolnshire Police
Private George Tyreman, 'C' Troop, was wounded during operations at Normandy, France. Post war member of the Commando Association residing Lincolnshire.
1n 1939 he was a Clerk with Lincolnshire Police later joining as a Constable. He volunteed as part of the Police Intakes to the Commandos. In 1963 he was promoted Inspector at Scunthorpe.
Sources
WALDIE, Robert Gibson
Lieutenant (Temporary Captain)
No 3 Commando
King's Own Scottish Borderers
Military Cross (MC)
Captain Robert Waldie, 2 troop, was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in 1943 at Termoli, Italy.
Recommendation
WHAM, James Howie
Known as:
Jimmy
Sergeant
No 9 Commando
No 12 Commando
Royal Scots
Military Medal (MM)
Private (Acting Corporal) James Wham was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service on 19 March 1944 in Italy. Final rank attained Sergeant.
Recommendation
"Ref Map-Italy, 1/25,000 Sheet IV SE
WHITTINGHAM, Laurence
Corporal
No 1 Commando
No 12 Commando
Post war Laurence Whittingham from Wallasey, Cheshire, died from illness whilst serving as a Police Lieutenant in the Federation of Malaya Police. He had been ill with Scrub fever after a long spell on Jungle Patrol in the Kinat Hills, Ipoh.
WOOLLARD, George
Private
No 1 Commando
No 12 Commando
Black Watch
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Private George Woollard was wounded on 31 January 1945 during operations with No.1 Commando 6 Troop at Kangaw, Burma. He had previously served in No.12 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association residing Gateacre, Liverpool.
WRIGHT, Robert Ernest
Corporal
No 12 Commando
Royal Engineers
Corporal Robert Wright was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire, France, later found to be wounded and a prisoner of war. He embarked for the raid on HMS Campbeltown.
Obituary
‘Norway - Operation Anklet’
Friday, December 26, 1941
Location
Lofoten Islands
Norway
68° 4' 46.5924" N, 13° 22' 27.0876" E
300 men from No 12 Commando, and some from the Royal Norwegian Army, landed on the Lofoten Islands about 300 miles North of Vaagso. Since the first Lofoten raid in March such operations were seen as a useful tactic to confuse the enemy and consequently divert enemy forces for future defence.
‘Norway - Operation Cartoon’
Saturday, January 23, 1943
Location
Norway
59° 47' 20.7456" N, 5° 23' 6.756" E
An operation to destroy the pyrite mine on the island of Stord near Leirvik. The party landed at two locations half at Sagvaag, and the remainder on the other side of the bay. They were responsible for the complete destruction of the Transformer at the Pyrite mine.
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