44RM Commando

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3 Commando Brigade, Burma Operations

Location

Myanmar
21° 54' 50.274" N, 95° 57' 22.4028" E
Saturday, January 1, 1944
The reports at the foot of this page relate to the operations of the Commando Units attached to 3 Commando Brigade that took place after the 1st January 1944.
 
Link of interest
There were a large number of casualties in the Burma Campaigns, both battle and illness.
Lieutenant Colonel R. Wigglesworth, M.B., B.S. Lond., Royal Army Medical Corps, wrote an excellent article titled

BEACH, George Edgar

44RM Commando
Marine George Beach died during operations at Kangaw, Burma.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/127.
ROH in 44RM Commando Achnacarry to the Arakan , author Tony Mackenzie.
 

BEDFORD, John Robert

44RM Commando
Corporal John Bedford died during operations at Alethangyaw, Burma.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/127.
Register of Births Oct, Nov, Dec. 1919 / General Register Office UK.
ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
 

BOLAM, Edward Charles

Edward Bolam 44 Royal Marine Commando
44RM Commando
Marine Edward Bolam, from Low Fell in Gateshead, died during operations at Kangaw.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/128.
[Image] Newcastle Evening Chronicle - Wednesday 14 February 1945,  © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of The British Library Board.
 

BOWEN, Albert Victor

44RM Commando
Corporal Albert Bowen died in India.
 
Sources
[1] CWGC.
[2] Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/128.
[3] ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
 

BURTON, Harold Rex

46RM Commando
44RM Commando
Major Harold Burton, commanding  'A' Troop 46RM Commando, received a Mention in Despatches for good services whilst operating with the 21st Army Group in NW Europe [1][1a][1b].
  • October 1944 Second in Command 46RM Commando [2].
  • April 1945 3 Commando Brigade HQ [3].
  • June 1945 Second in Command of 44RM Commando in the Far East [4]][4a][4b].
Sources
[1]  London Gazette 36979, page 1386.

DOOLEY, Arthur

44RM Commando
Corporal Arthur Dooley, 'C' Troop, died in a training accident at the Commando Basic Training Centre, Achnacarry, Scotland. 
Extract from the  No. 44RM Commando War Diary
19th September 1943.
p.m. 2" mortar accident resulting in death of Sgt Gibson and Cpl A. Dooley, both of C Troop.  
Extracts from personal Service Record 

EDWARDS, Vincent

44RM Commando
Marine Vincent Edwards died at 61 Indian Field Ambulance during operations at Kangaw, Burma.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/130.
 

FARRELL, William Henry

44RM Commando
Marine William Farrell died at the Military Hospital, Onich from a bullet wound accidentally received during training at the Commando Basic Training Centre. The cause of death was recorded as a "gunshot wound to the neck." 
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/130.
Register of Deaths in the district of Ballachulish via website scotlandspeople.gov.uk.
 

FLEMING, Robert Frew

44RM Commando
Corporal Robert Fleming died during operations at Kangaw, Burma.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/130.
ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
 

FOOT, Frank

44RM Commando
Lance Corporal Frank Foot died during operations at Kangaw, Burma.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/130.
ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
 

FOUCHE, Stefanus Louis

Stefanus Fouche
48RM Commando
44RM Commando
Lieutenant Stefanus Fouche, South African Forces attached to 48RM Commando 'Y' Troop, was wounded on 6 June 1944 during the Normandy landings and evacuated back to the UK. He rejoined the Commando in August and in November took part in the attack at Walcheren [1].
  • June 1945 Lieutenant Fouche joined 44RM Commando 'A' Troop in the Far East [2].
  • 6 August 1945 Kharakvasla, India, wounded by grenade shrapnel during practise assault landings and night exercises [2].

GIBSON, Eric Hookway

44RM Commando
Sergeant Eric Gibson died in training at the Commando Basic Training Centre. The War Diary for 19th September 1943 states, "p.m. 2" mortar accident resulting in death of Sgt Gibson and Cpl A. Dooley, both of C Troop". 
 
His former occupation was "assistant golf professional"  and the cause of death is recorded as "multiple injuries head, neck, and chest."  He was seen after death by Capt. J.E. Symondson RAMC, Medical Officer at the CBTC.  

HAW, Charles Walter

44RM Commando
Marine Charles Haw, 'A' Troop, died [1] at Fakir Point near Akyab after being accidentally shot as his section prepared to carry out a patrol to the Baronga Islands."[2].
 
Sources
[1] CWGC
[2] ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
 

HEATH, Alfred

44RM Commando
Lance Corporal Alfred Heath died during operations at Kangaw.
 
Sources
[1] CWGC
[2] ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
 

KIRBY, Peter

44RM Commando
Corporal Peter Kirby died during operations at Kangaw.
 
Sources
[1] CWGC
[2] ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
 

MACKINNON, James

44RM Commando
Second Lieutenant James Mackinnon died during operations at Alethengyaw.
 
Sources
[1] CWGC
[2] ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
 

MANGER, Harold Charles Walter

44RM Commando
Reverend Harold Manger died during operations in Kangaw. He received a Mention in Despatches for distinguished service in the Far East.
 
Sources
[1] CWGC.
[2] The book 44RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan, author Tony Mackenzie.
[3] London Gazette Supp. 36925, page 756.
 
Notes

MARTIN, Arthur

44RM Commando
Captain Arthur Martin, Signals Troop, and one of the original 3rd RM Bn., officers, was killed during operations at Kangaw. He received a Mention in Despatches for distinguished service while operating with the Army in Burma and on the Eastern Frontier of India.
 
Sources
CWGC​
London Gazette 36925,page 757.
44RM Commando Achnacarry to the Arakan by Tony Mackenzie.
 

MUSTOW, Joseph

44RM Commando
Lance Corporal Joseph Mustow died during operations at Kangaw.
 
Sources
[1] CWGC
[2] ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
 

NELSON, Desmond

44RM Commando
Marine Desmond Nelson, 'A' troop, died [1] at Silchar as a result of contracting cerebral malaria. This was the first fatality brought about by disease. Rev. F.W. Cornwall R.N.V.R. conducted his funeral at Silchar Cemetery (Gauhati). The escort, firing party, and pallbearers, were all from his troop. [2].
 
Sources
[1] CWGC

O'REILLY, John

44RM Commando
Marine John O'Reilly died in service the full circumstances of which are not known to this Archive. His death is recorded in a Royal Marines Historical society booklet as "died of other causes during war service, such as road accidents, accidental drowning, etc."
 
Sources
CWGC.
RM Historical Society booklet "A Register of Royal Marines War Deaths 1939-1945.
 

OWEN, Alan Roger

44RM Commando
Marine Alan Owen, X troop, died [1] in a traffic accident whilst the Commando were based at Ashurst just a few days after their redesignation as a Commando unit, and the day before the whole Commando moved to Achnacarry for their Commando training. He was hit by a jeep driven by an American serviceman [2].
 
Sources
[1] CWGC
[2] The book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
 

OWEN, John Ivor Headon

45 Cdo. RM
44RM Commando
Captain John Owen served with 44RM Commando during operations in the Far East [1]. Post war he served with 42 Commando RM in Borneo and commanded 45 Commando RM in Aden [2]. 
  • 1st January 1963 (Major) appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) [3].
  • 1968 (Lieutenant Colonel) received a Mention in Despatches for gallant and distinguished service in Aden [4].
Sources
[1] Commando Association (WW2) newsletter 109 issued Sept. 1999.

PINKNEY, James

44RM Commando
Marine James Pinkney died during operations at Kangaw.
 
Sources
[1] CWGC
[2] ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
 

POLKINGHORNE, Eric

44RM Commando
Marine Eric Polkinghorne died [1] on active service during operations in Burma [2]. 
 
Sources
[1] CWGC
[2] ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
[3] ROH in the 3 Cdo Bde Third Jungle Book issue 9 (below).
 

SCOTT, Douglas

Marine Douglas Scott 44 Commando
44RM Commando
Marine Douglas Scott, from Hexham, died during operations at Kangaw.
 
Sources
CWGC
ROH in the book '44 RM Commando, Achnacarry to the Arakan', author Tony Mackenzie.
Newcastle Journal - Monday 12 March 1945 - via The British Newspaper Archive. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of The British Library Board.
 

STOCKLEY, Gordon Herbert

Royal Marines
Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Stockley died whilst serving at RMB Eastney.
 
He had previously served as officer commanding 44 RM Commando from December 1944 to June 1945.  In 1945 the then Captain ( acting Lieut. Colonel)  Stockwell received a mention in despatches for gallant and distinguished service whilst attached to the Allied Land Forces, South East Asia.
[Sources: London Gazettes supp. 37318, page 5181 & rank amended in supp. 37346 page 5532.]
 

STOCKWELL, John Neville

3 Special Service (Commando) Brigade
44RM Commando
Marine John Stockwell, 3 Commando Brigade Signal Troop, died during operations at Kangaw.
 
In the Third Jungle Book Issue 9 page 57 at the end of an article on the Brigade Signal Troop (BST) the following is written, "To complete this story of the B.S.T. it is well to remember the BEM and three MiD's that have been awarded the troop, and to deplore the loss in action of an old member - Jack Stockwell. To his wife go the troop's deepest sympathy and sincerest wishes for the future."
 
Sources
CWGC.

WHITE, Augustus Ronald

44RM Commando

Lieutenant Augustus White received a Mention in Despatches for distinguished service while operating with the Army in Burma and on the Eastern Frontier of India [1].
He was wounded during the Commando's first operation at Alethangyaw rejoining and becoming 'D' Troop leader in June 1944 [2].

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