41 Independent Commando RM

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'41 Independent Commando RM'

In October 1942 the 8th RM Battalion was disbanded and those who volunteered for, and passed the training, formed a new 41RM Commando.  The Commando saw service in WW2 at Sicily and Salerno, Normandy and Walcheren, and the advance through Holland into West Germany. At the end of the war 41 RM Commando was disbanded.

41 Commando RM

In October 1942 the 8th RM Battalion was disbanded and those who volunteered for, and passed the training, formed a new 41RM Commando. At the end of the war 41 RM Commando was disbanded.

In 1950 a new 41 Independent Commando was formed at Bickleigh before deploying to the war in Korea. Awarded a United States Presidential Unit Citation for services with the 1st Division United States Marine Corps at the Chosin Reservoir,  North Korea, Nov/Dec. 1950. The Commando returned to Bickleigh to be disbanded there in 1952.

BABB, Ronald Benjamin

Corporal Ronald Babb died [1] in the Korean war during a raid on the night of 6th/7th October, when two troops of the Commando landed under the command of Major D. L. St. M. Aldridge, R.M., at Churonjang.  A rail and road tunnel was blown up with two tons of explosive and completely blocked [2] . 
 

Extract from the Western Morning News - Thursday 12 October 1950

BAINES, James

Acting Quartermaster Sergeant James Baines B.E.M. was awarded the Military Medal during the Korean war for gallant and distinguished service with 41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines, in operations in Korea. [1].
 

BAKER, Roy

Corporal Roy Baker, 41 Independent Commando RM, was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat 'V' decoration bestowed by the President of the United States of America, for gallant and distinguished services during operations in the Korean war.

BARNES, Charles Ernest

Sergeant Charles Barnes, 'B' Troop, died during operations at Hodo Pando, Korea. He was part of a raiding party that landed by canoe and were engaged in a daylong firefight. Sergeant Barnes received a Mention in Despatches for gallant and distinguished service with 41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines, in operations in Korea. 
 

BRAMBLE, George

Marine George Bramble was awarded the M.M. during the Korean war for gallant and distinguished service  in operations in Korea. [1]. He later also received a MiD for distinguished service in operations in Korean waters. [2].
 
Sources
[1] London Gazettes Supp. 39230, page 2749.
[2] London Gazettes Supp. 39660, page 5208.
 
Notes

CRITCHLEY, Evan

Leading Sick Berth Attendant Evan Critchley was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal during the Korean war for distinguished service with 41 Independent Commando RM in operations in Korean waters. 

CRUSE, Ernest

Corporal Ernest Cruse was awarded the M.M. during the Korean war for gallant and distinguished service with 41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines, in operations in Korea [1]. 
 
He was commissioned from QuarterMaster Sergeant to 2nd Lieutenant on the 18 Sept. 1961 [2]. In October 1970 was a Lieutenant at the CTCRM [3].
 

DODDS, Roy Reginald

Sergeant  Roy Dodds, 40 Commando RM*, was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished services in Palestine during the period 27th March, 1948 - 30th July, 1948. [1].
  • Korean War (Quartermaster Sergeant with 41 Independent Commando RM) awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for distinguished service in operations in Korean waters. [2].

GRANT, Ferris Nelson

Major Ferris Grant, 41 Independent Commando RM, was awarded the Legion of Merit, Degree of Officer, decoration bestowed by the President of the United States of America, for gallant and distinguished services during operations in the Korean war.
 
In H.M. The Queen's birthday honours of January 1967 the then Major General Ferris Nelson Grant was appointed C.B.
 
Sources
London Gazettes Supp. 40253 page 4684.
London Gazettes Supp. 44210, page 2.
 

HINE, Malcolm

Marine Malcolm Hine was awarded the M.M. during the Korean war for gallant and distinguished service with 41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines, in operations in Korea. 
 

JONES, Peter Raymond

Marine Peter Jones died [1] during an amphibious operational landing from the USS Perch on the coast above Hungnam and west of Tanchon [2]. This raid was against enemy railway communications North East of Shako [3]. 
 

KNOCK, Douglas Alexander

Surgeon Lieutenant Douglas Knock was attached to 41 Independent Commando RM at the time of his death in Korea. He was killed whilst the Commando were engaged in operations with US Forces as part of Taskforce Drysdale, named after their Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Douglas B. Drysdale , heading out from Koto-ri in an attempt to relieve allied forces at Hagaru-ri.  This was during what later became known as the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
 

LANGTON, Henry

Corporal Henry Langton was awarded the M.M. during the Korean war for gallant and distinguished service with 41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines, in operations in Korea. 

LANSDOWNE, Arthur John

Marine Arthur Lansdowne, 41 Independent Commando RM, was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat 'V' decoration bestowed by the President of the United States of America, for gallant and distinguished services during operations in the Korean war.

MAILL, Joseph Jeremiah

Sergeant Joseph Maill, 41 Independent Commando RM, was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat 'V' decoration bestowed by the President of the United States of America, for gallant and distinguished services during operations in the Korean war.

MARSH, Leslie George

Captain Leslie Marsh, a veteran of service with 40RM Commando in WW2, was awarded the M.C. during the Korean war for gallant and distinguished service in operations in Korea. He remained in military service taking part in operations at Borneo, Suez, and Aden. He retired with the rank of Brigadier.
 
Sources
London Gazettes Supp. 39230, page 2749.
Obituary in the Daily Telegraph 25 June 2005.
 

MOON, Sidney James

Sergeant Sidney Moon, 41 Independent Commando RM, was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat 'V' decoration bestowed by the President of the United States of America, for gallant and distinguished services during operations in the Korean war.

NICHOLLS, Reuben

Marine Reuben Nicholls died whilst attempting to escape having been taken Prisoner of War in Korea.

The following entry is from the RMA on their Facebook page

REUBEN NICHOLLS RM, 1925-51 Award of the Elizabeth Cross.

Marine Reuben Nicholls, an Assault Engineer, was taken prisoner by Chinese forces in the Korean War in 1950. On New Years Day 1951 he wrote a letter to his parents. That was the last they heard from him. Over the next three years correspondence from Government Departments variously indicated that he was alive, dead, and died on this or that date.

OVENS, Patrick John

Lt PJ Ovens

Lieutenant Patrick Ovens served  for a period at the CBTC and is shown in a photo entitled "Commando Basic Training Centre - Officers Mess - 1945." 

He joined 46RM Commando shortly before it was disbanded.

Post war he served as a Captain with 41 Independent Commando RM in Korea being awarded the Military Cross in 1951 for " gallant and distinguished service".  [1]

POUNDS, Edgar George Derek

Edgar George Derek Pounds
Lieutenant Edgar George Derek Pounds was an instructor at the Commando Basic Training Centre in 1945 [1].
 
Captain Edgar Pounds, 41 Independent Commando RM, was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat 'V' decoration bestowed by the President of the United States of America, for gallant and distinguished services during operations in the Korean war [2].
 
He later received a MiD for for distinguished services in operations against terrorists in Cyprus serving with 45 Commando RM. [3]. 
 

ROBERTS, Gerald Frederick Dawson

Lieutenant Gerald Roberts received a MiD during the Korean war for gallant and distinguished service with 41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines, in operations in Korea [1].  He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal bestowed by the President of the United States of America for gallant and distinguished service in Operations in Korea. [2].
 

STODDART, Anthony

Lieutenant Anthony Stoddart received a Mention in Despatches, announced in April 1951, in recognition of distinguished service in operations in Malaya [1].
  • Captain Anthony Stoddart served with 41 Independent Commando RM during the Korean War and in August 1951 was Commander of 'D' Troop [2]. 
  • 23 April 1952 Lt. (Local Capt.) A. Stoddart to relinquish the rank of Local Captain [3].
Sources
[1] London Gazette 39215, page 2389.

TWIGG, Richard

Marine Richard Twigg was awarded the M.M. during the Korean war for gallant and distinguished service with 41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines, in operations in Korea. 

VARDY, Stanley

Marine Stanley Vardy received a MiD during the Korean war for gallant and distinguished service with 41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines, in operations in Korea. 
 

WHITING, John

Sergeant John 'Jack' Whiting, 41 Independent Commando RM, was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat 'V' decoration bestowed by the President of the United States of America, for gallant and distinguished services during operations in the Korean war.

WYETH, Kenneth

Marine Kenneth Wyeth died wilst a prisoner of War having been captured during operations at Chosin on the 29th November 1950.
 
[AFM ROH / Admiralty announcement in The Times published 14th April 1951 / BKVA website]
 

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