No 3 Commando

3 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. 

3 Commando

History of the Unit

3 Commando
Many of the original members of this Commando had served with the British Expeditionary force in France and had been evacuated from Dunkirk. The Commando was formed in Plymouth on 23rd June 1940 the Commanding Officer was LtCol. J.F. Durnford –Slater.

3 Commando Operations

These are the main operations that No 3 Commando took part in, either on their own, or as part of a Combined Operations assault. They are in date order and form part of our overall history of No 3 Commando. No 3 Commando were part of 1 Special Service/Commando Brigade from Autumn 1943.

Click on the links for more detail about each.

Operation Ambassador

Operation Archery

Operation Claymore

Operation Flodden (part of Operation Jubilee)

ALDERSON, John

Captain Alderson MC, OC 6 troop,  was was killed during the action at Leese in Germany.
 
He had rejoined No.3 Commando after being wounded in the knee at Amfreville during the Normandy landings. He was awarded the Military Cross "In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Normandy."
 

Citation

ALLEN, John Duncan

On the 9th July 1943 the then Sergeant John Duncan Allen was awarded the George Medal in recognition of conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner. This was awarded for "saving a life in a rock climbing accident in Gibraltar on the 21st March 1943." 
Sources: London Gazettes Supplement 36085 page 3103 and Memoirs of a Fighting Commando in WW2 by Brig Durnford-Slater.
 

BARTHOLOMEW, Peter Ian (Lt Col)

Peter Ian Bartholomew No 3 Commando
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. 
 
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallant and distinguished service in North West Europe, the award being published in June 1945.
(Source: London Gazettes Supp. 37138, page 3231.)

BUTLER, Brian Dear

Major Butler MC was killed at Chateau d'Amfreville during severe mortaring of their HQ. He and five others were killed. Lt T.N. Skelly and three others wounded. He had previously been awarded the Military Cross whilst a T/Captain for "gallant and distinguished services in Italy".
 
Sources: No 3 Commando War Diary dated 11th June 1944.
London Gazettes publication date 25th January 1944; Supplement 36349; Page 518.
 

Pages

Register on our Forum and post any additional information that you may hold.
All content researched and administered by the Commando Veterans Archive www.commandoveterans.org