No 4 Commando

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A partial nominal roll for Dieppe

The following list contain the names, ranks and numbers of the officers and men of No4 Commando who participated. It also includes some from No 10 (IA) Commando Free French  and 'X' troop, and others including some US Rangers, who were attached to the Commandos for the raid. It does not contain those from No 3 Commando and 40RM Commando as no such full list of names has been found. 

This is a transcript of the introduction  by the author of the original list that was compiled for No 4 Commando. A few amendments and additions have been made since then with sources shown.

ADLAM, William George Henry

Sergeant William Adlam MM 4 Commando

Sergeant William Adlam was awarded the MM whilst serving with the Glosters as part of the British Expeditionary Force 1939-40 [1]. On his return to the UK he volunteered for the newly formed No 4 Commando and in November 1940 was attached to 'G' troop [2].  In August 1942 he took part in Operation Jubilee, the Dieppe raid [3].

BALL, Joseph

Funeral of Fus. Joseph Ball No 4 Commando

Fus. Ball was shot and killed in circumstances that remain to this day somewhat lacking of any official acount.  It is believed that the fatal shot was fired by a patrol of the Dutch Navy.

Photos of his funeral are in our gallery.  [Go to gallery.]

A report into the shooting written in 2012 by Jack Bakker can be found here [View report.]

BARRASS, Nicholas William

Lt. Barrass was killed during operations at Flushing.
 
Whilst engaged in a house clearance, he was killed by a sniper who fired from an adjacent building. The author of the book below describes him as being "a tall quiet spoken policeman, who had played football for Gateshead. "
(Source: Swiftly They Struck by Murdoch C. McDougall who served as a Lieut. in No 4 Commando.) 
 

BROOKING, Alfred

Private Fred Brooking 4 Commando
Private Alfred 'Fred' Brooking was one of a group of early volunteers for No 4 Commando, serving in 'G' and later 'B' troop [1].  He took part in almost all their raids and operations throughout the war.  Our Gallery contains images of him back from the Lofoten Raid [view] and he is also named on the nominal roll for those from No 4 Commando who took part in Operation Jubilee at Dieppe [view].

BYRNE, Patrick Joseph

Sergeant Patrick Byrne was awarded the MM in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in NW Europe [1].
 
Post war service
  • 27th May 1954 commissioned Lt. (Qr.Mr) in the Foresters [2].
  • 29th January 1957 received a MiD in recognition of distinguished services in Cyprus for the period 1st July to 3lst December, 1956 [3].
  • 2nd July 1959 promoted Captain (Qr.Mr.) Parachute Regiment [4].

CHITTY, John Albert

Lance Sergeant John Chitty, 'C' troop and a veteran of the Dieppe raid, died by drowning during a training exercise codenamed Exercise Brandyball. This was a mock seaborne raid on cliffs near Zennor, St Ives, Cornwall known as The Brandys.
 

CLARKE, Charles Thomas Alexander Carlos

Sandy Carlos Clarke No 4 Commando
'Sandy' Carlos Clarke was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on the 12th October 1940 [1]. He did his training at Achnacarry in late 1943 after which he joined No 4 Commando and fought with them at Normandy being wounded shortly after D Day and evacuated back to the UK.  After he had recovered from his wounds he rejoined No 4 Commando and took part in the Walcheren campaign. Later he was sent with the advance party of No 4 Commando to Recklinghausen [2]. 
 

DARLINGTON, Kenneth Carr

Kenneth Darlington MM 12 Commando

Private Kenneth Darlington enlisted into the 8th Bn, Border Regt, at Carlisle in 1940. He volunteered for, and was attached to, No.12 Commando serving in 'D' troop as part of North Force, Shetland Islands & Norway in 1942-43.  He was attached to 2 SBS for a 3 month period, then attached to No.4 Commando in 1944/45.  He was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry during Operation Cartoon, a successful raid on Stord Island. The target was the demolition of an Iron Pyrite mine. Demobbed Germany 1946.

DOBBS, Cyril

Cyril Dobbs MM 4 Commando
Sergeant Cyril Dobbs was awarded the M.M., [1] for his gallantry on the night of the 24/25 February 1945 whilst a member of a Fighting Patrol sent out across the River Maas to bring back a prisoner [2].
 
He also served in No. 4 Commando [3].
 
Sources
[1] London Gazettes Supp. 37061, page 2336.
[2] National Archives file WO 373/53/898.
[3] Commando Association newsletter 114 issued March 2002.

DONKIN, Henry

A Veteran of Dunkirk, Pte Donkin, 'F' troop,  was shot and killed whilst engaging the enemy during operations at Flushing.
(Source: The Fighting Fourth by Maj James Dunning.)
 

DOUGLAS, Walter

Private Walter Douglas served in No 4 Commando. He died in an accident at work in 1946 after being released from military service.
 
Sources
Hull Daily Mail - Tuesday 24 December 1946 - Family notices.
British Newspaper Archive (website britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk); The British Library Board.
 

ELMS, Frank

2/Lieut. Elms was killed during operations at Normandy.

The No 4 Commando War Diary records "5th to 6th July 1944 Place: Hauger - A patrol under Lieut. Elms proceeded to recce the BOIS DU BOISSON - GONNEVILLE ROAD for the purpose of observing enemy movements and locating any possible new dispositions for the intended fighting patrol that was to put in an attack in that area at night. Lieut. Elms had the misfortune to be hit and severely wounded when approaching the FDLs and later died."
 

FLYNN, John

Lance Corporal John Flynn, a radio operator, was awarded the MM in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the combined attack on Dieppe on 19 August 1942 [1].
 
Citation

GILCHRIST, Donald Johnston

Donald Gilchrist was serving as a Captain in the Cameronians when he volunteered for the Commandos. After acceptance he went to Achnacarry in February/March 1942 and successfully completed his Officer Training after which he was retained there as an Instructor. Achnacarry had just opened as the new Commando Depot, later renamed the Commando Basic Training Centre, and staff were needed to assist with the initial intakes. 
 

HARRIS, George Francis

George Harris enlisted and was posted to the 6th Bn., The Border Regiment before being attached to 520 Petrol Unit, RASC. 
 
On the 26th April 1940 he volunteered for and was attached to No 10 Independent Company and embarked with them for overseas duty, sailing to Freetown, Sierra Leone and returning to the UK via Dakar and Gibraltar a month later.
 

HOODLESS, Donald Samuel

Lance Corporal Donald Hoodless, 'C' troop and a veteran of the Dieppe raid, died by drowning during a training exercise codenamed Exercise Brandyball. This was a mock seaborne raid on cliffs near Zennor, St Ives, Cornwall known as The Brandys.
 

JONES, Harold

Harold Jones RM

Marine (Acting Temororary Corporal) Harold Jones, 4 Commando Brigade Signal Troop, was awarded the MM for "gallantry, determination and great devotion to duty during assault operations at  Walcheren and Flushing whilst attached to No 4 Commando. "

KERR, J.

Former Corporal J. Kerr (4 Cdo) collapsed and died at the wheel of his car on the 20th April, 1962. (Source: CA Newsletter 35 issued Sept. 1962).
 

LOVAT, Lord

Lord Lovat first enlisted in the Scots Guards in 1932, leaving the army in 1937.  Two years later at the outbreak of war he rejoined the Army in the Lovat Scouts.  Lord Lovat was part of a small but elite group of men who formed the idea of a Special Training Centre, agreed on the location, and devised and implemented a course of training once it was approved. This became the first  of many Special Training Centres, STC Lochailort.

The training took place in and around the camp at Lochailort, Lord Lovat's role being Fieldcraft instruction.

MACKENZIE, Alistair Campbell

Lt Mackenzie died in an accident at Troon.
 
Educated at Aberdeen Grammar School, he entered the University to take Economics, and became an enthusiastic member of the O.T.C., distinguishing himself in shooting. He took part in the Lofoten Islands raid.
 
He received his commission to 2/Lt on the 2nd October 1939. The entry in London Gazettes shows his first name spelt as Alister.

MANN, Richard

Lance Corporal Richard Mann MM
Lance Corporal Richard Mann, 'C' Troop, was awarded the MM [1] in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the combined attack on Dieppe. 
 

Citation for the MM

MAYBURY, John

Original grave of Cpl Maybury 4 Commando
Cpl. Maybury, 2 troop, was shot and killed during operations codenamed Intemperate 1 and 2, against the  German occupied island of Schouwen, Holland. 
 
His death is referred to in the book The Fighting Fourth by Maj. Dunning as "an ex-guardsman and one of the Commando's star footballers, who had been with the unit from its earliest days."
(Operation source: No 4 Cdo War Diary/Report by Capt. K. Wright No 4 Cdo. IO)
 

MCCARTHY, Peter Francis

Sergeant Peter McCarthy was awarded the MM in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the combined attack on Dieppe [1].
 
He is also named as serving at the CMWTC and attached at some stage to 46RM Commando. [2]. 
 
Sources
[1] London Gazettes Supp. 35729, page 4328.
[2] Nom. Roll for 46RM Cdo 6th Jun 44  -May45.
 

MERCER, Duncan Thompson

Lance Corporal Duncan Mercer died 5 days after operations at Dieppe. He has no known grave.

Stephen, son of Bill Lewis 3 Commando, adds, "He was in 4 Commando on the Varengeville Battery Raid. He is commemorated at the Brookwood Memorial in Surrey and at the little church in Varengeville- sur-Mer. He worked with my mother as a greengrocers delivery boy and then joined the Kings Regiment. He was very popular and terribly missed."
 

MILLS-ROBERTS, Derek (Brig)

Born in 1908; educated at Liverpool College and Oxford University; worked for his father's firm of solicitors, 1935; joined Supplementary Reserve of Officers, Irish Guards, 1936; joined 1 Bn, Irish Guards, 1939-1942, and served in Norway; transferred to special services No 4 Commando, 1942; took part in Dieppe Raid, Aug 1942; Lt Col, 1943; Commanding Officer, No 6 Commando, North Africa, 1943; Brig, 1944; commanded 1 Special Service Bde (later 1 Commando Bde), North West Europe, 1944-1945; accepted the surrender of FM Erhard Milch at Neustadt, May 1945; retired from Army, 1945; commanded 12

MULLARD, Sidney John

Sergeant Sidney Mullard was awarded the MM in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in North West Europe [1] +[2]. He was later recommended for O.C.T.U. and on the 27th July 1945 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant (Camerons) [3].
 
The death of Lt. Sidney J. Mullard (No. 4 Cdo.) of Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs. was announced in Commando Association newsletter 119 issued September 2004.
 
Sources
[1] London Gazettes Supp. 36994, page 1543, 22 March 1945.

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