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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.
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them."
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.
Gunner John Abbott was awarded the MM in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the combined attack on Dieppe.
Spr Adderley was killed during operations at Dieppe.
Trooper Victor Adderton was awarded the MM in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the combined attack on Dieppe.
Pte Anderson was killed during operations at Dieppe.
LCpl Baker, 1 troop, was killed during operations at Agnone and 3 Commando Bridge.
Pte Barrett was killed during operations at Dieppe.
RSM Beesley died whilst a prisoner of war in Poland having been captured during operations at Dieppe.
His nephew William Patterson adds
LCpl Bowler was killed during operations in the area of Chateau d'Amfreville, Normandy.
Pte Boyce was killed during operations at St Nazaire. He was one of the commando contingent on ML 262.
Cpl Boyle was killed during operations at Agnone and the Punta dei Malati Bridge.
LCpl Bridle was killed during operations in the area of Chateau d'Amfreville, Normandy.
Pte Broadbent was killed during operations at Dieppe.
Pte Broster was killed during operations at Dieppe.
Pte Bryan was killed during operations at Dieppe.
Lt Butler, 5 troop, was killed during operations at Agnone and the Punta dei Malati Bridge.
Guardsman Leslie 'Jock' Campbell, 3 troop, was killed during operations at Normandy on D Day [1]. The grave where he was first buried is shown in a film taken at Pegasus Bridge on the 28th July 1944 and now on the IWM website [view film]. [2].
Pte Cardozo was killed on D Day during operations at Normandy.
LCpl Carlisle was killed during operations at Vaagso.
Pte Catterall was killed during operations at Termoli.
Lt Cave, 5 troop, was killed during operations at Agnone and the Punta dei Malati Bridge.
Pte Chillingworth died of wounds during operations at Normandy.
Enlisted 4th November 1940 and after volunteering for the Commandos, was posted to the Commando Depot on the 12th October 1942, joining No 3 Commando on the 11th November 1942. Source: Extract from service record in gallery entry.
After a brief spell as 2i/c No 5 Commando, the then Major Churchill moved to 2i/c No 3 Commando. Shortly after Lt Col Newman was taken prisoner at St Nazaire in 1942, Major Churchill was promoted Lt Col. to replace him as OC No 2 Commando. Lt Col Churchill remained OC until he was also taken prisoner in 1944.
An account by Bob Bishop No 2 Commando from his history of No 2:
There is a1942 photo of 4 troop with a Commando surname M'Clelland in the 3 Commando gallery but we cannot say as yet if this man is identical.
Troop Sergeant Major Vernon Coaker was killed during operations on D Day.
We have numerous photos in our gallery of him in both 3 and 4 troops and it is clear that he had served in the Commando since at least June 1942 (the first dated photo). Although we have only listed the two operations where we have confirmed references that he served, it is likely that he would have been with No 3 Commando on all their operations since at least June 1942.
Pte Coffin was killed during operations at Normandy in the Chateau d'Amfreville area.
Sgt Cork was killed during operations at Vaagso.
Joe Rogers MM
No 2 Commando
Bob Mewett
No 12 & No 1 Commando
Mick Collins
No 5 Commando
