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50ME Commando
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Displaying 1 - 31 of 31'Layforce'
Three UK based Army Commando units, Nos. 7, 8, and 11 Commandos, were initially combined within 'Force Z' for operations initially envisaged against Rhodes in the Eastern Mediterranean. Other elements of the Force included a number of men from No.3 Commando and the Canoe section of No.8 (Guards) Commando. They sailed from the Isle of Arran on the 31st January 1941, and arrived at Suez on the 7th March.
'ME Cdo. Roll of Honour'
"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."
'Rearguard action on Crete'
Location
Suda Bay
Island of Crete
Greece
35° 29' 13.0272" N, 24° 5' 7.6704" E
Monday, May 26, 1941
26th - 31st May 1941. The Commandos were No. 7 (U.K.), and Middle East Commando, formed by the amalgamation of No. 50 and 52 (M.E.) Commandos.
ALBALADEJO, A.
Layforce
Private A. Albaladejo, a Spanish volunteer attached to 'D' Bn. Layforce, was reported missing in Crete on 2 June 1941; found to have been wounded, captured and later transported to Stalag 344.
Sources
Casualty Lists 1939-45 / National Archives files WO417/30; WO417/34; and WO417/92.
Prisoners of War Lists, Second World War, 1943-1945. / National Archives file WO392/20.
BATE, James Howard
50ME Commando
Corporal James Bate was reported missing presumed drowned whilst attempting to escape the enemy during operations on the island of Castelorizzo. He joined the Commando on the 15th Ocotber 1940.
BLACKBURN, Thomas
50ME Commando
Trooper Thomas Blackburn was reported missing presumed drowned during operations on the island of Castelorizzo.
CHAPMAN, Alfred James
50ME Commando
British Military Mission 204
Source: Burma Star Association Membership List.
CORDA, F.
'Layforce'
50ME Commando
Spanish volunteer who served in 'D' Bn., Layforce. Reported missing on 2 June 1941 during operations in Crete. Later found to have been taken prisoner of war and transported to Stalag 21A at Thorn, Poland.
Notes/Sources
Prisoners of War 1715-1945 / National Archives file WO392/10 shows surname as CORDA.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/28 shows surname as JORDA.
DAWES, Ernest William
50ME Commando
The circumstances of the the death of Private Ernest Dawes are not known to this archive. At the time of his death his Commando were engaged on operations on the island of Castelorizzo.
ENGLAND, Leslie Frank
50ME Commando
The circumstances of the the death of Trooper Leslie England are not known to this archive. At the time of his death his Commando were engaged on operations on the island of Castelorizzo.
FROST, Terence Ernest Manitou
50ME Commando
Terence Ernest Manitou Frost, better known as the renowned artist Sir Terry Frost, was born in Leamington Spa. In 1933 he joined the Territorial Army. He served in France and was then sent out to the Middle East serving in Palestine, Lebanon and the Sudan with the Middle East Commandos. Reported missing during operations in Crete 6 June 1941; found to have been taken prisoner and later transported to Stalag 383, Hohenfels.
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30 December 1997 Knighted for services to art and education.
GREENWOOD, Jack
50ME Commando
Corporal Jack Greenwood died by drowning after taking part in operations on the island of Castelorizzo on the 28th February. He was reported missing believed drowned attempting to escape. His body was later found and identified.
Sources
CWGC
50 Me Cdo Casualty List 25th-28th Feb. 1941 in Crete (War Office Oct 1941) Ref. National Archives /WO361/124
The Middle East Commandos, author Charles Messenger.
HERAS, Bravlio
50ME Commando
Private Bravlio Heras, 50 Middle East Commando, and from Spain, died [1] whilst a prisoner of war having been captured during operations in Crete in 1941 [2]. He is believed to have been killed by Russian fire at Stalag 4C.
Sources
CWGC.
British Army Casualty Lists 1939-45.
KNOTT, Harry Leonard
50ME Commando
The circumstances of the the death of Fusilier Harry Knott are not known to this archive. At the time of his death his Commando were engaged on operations on the island of Castelorizzo.
LOCKINGTON, Arthur
50ME Commando
Trooper Arthur Lockington died whilst assigned from the Commando to Middle East Detachment 2, later redesignated 2nd Special Service Detachment (SSD 2), in Burma.
LUMBRERA, Francisco
50ME Commando
Private Francisco Lumbrera*, 50 Middle East Commando, and from Spain, died [1]
MATHER, James Henry
50ME Commando
Private James Mather was taken prisoner of war May 1941 in Crete, and died shortly after his release in 1945 due to ill treatment whilst a prisoner [1].
He had been imprisoned at Stalag 4C, a prisoner of war camp at Wistritz bei Teplitz, Sudetenland ( part of former Czechoslovakia). His POW number being 12534. [2]
MCCORMICK, John
50ME Commando
The circumstances of the the death of Private John McCormick are not known to this archive. At the time of his death his Commando were engaged on operations on the island of Castelorizzo.
Sources
CWGC.
CWGC.
MENA, J
Layforce
Private J. Mena, a Spanish volunteer attached to 'D' Bn. Layforce, was reported as a prisoner of war in German hands (in Germany) after operations in Crete 1941. In 1943 he is reported as repatriated to the UK.
Sources
Casualty Lists 1939-45 / National Archives files WO417/35 and WO417/69.
MUNRO, George
No 11 Commando
50ME Commando
SBS
Sergeant George Munro, a veteran of the Litani River raid, died during operations with the S.B.S., on the island of Samos after leaving the Commando.
Postings
Sep 1940 - volunteered for 11 Cdo. Mar 1941- arrive Middle East - 'C' Bn Layforce Aug 1941- 11 Cdo absorbed into ME Cdo Jan 1943 - volunteered for SAS Mar 1943 - posted to D Sqn - promoted Sgt - D Sqn becomes SBS.PEMBERTON, Hugh
50ME Commando
The circumstances of the death of Private Hugh Pemberton are not known to this archive.
POLLARD, Jack Kenneth Verdon
50ME Commando
Trooper Jack Pollard was reported missing presumed drowned attempting to escape the enemy during operations on the island of Castelorizzo.
POSTELLO, R.
'Layforce'
50ME Commando
Lance Corporal Postello was a Spanish volunteer who served in 'D' Bn., Layforce. He was reported missing on 2 June 1941 during operations in Crete. He was later found to have been taken prisoner of war and transported to Stalag 383 at Hohenfels, Bavaria.
Sources
Prisoners of War 1715-1945 / National Archives file WO392/20.
British Army Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/28.
ROBINSON, George Edgar
50ME Commando
Trooper George Robinson was reported missing presumed drowned whilst attempting to escape the enemy during operations on the island of Castelorizzo.
SHARMAN, Richard
50ME Commando
The circumstances of the the death of Lance Sergeant Richard Sharman are not known to this archive. At the time of his death his Commando were engaged on operations on the island of Castelorizzo.
SMITH, Michael Arnold
50ME Commando
Second Lieutenant Michael Arnold Smith was reported wounded and missing during operations in Crete between 25 -28 February 1941. He was later reported killed in action 28 February [1][2].
SWINBURN, Arthur
50ME Commando
Arthur Swinburn enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment on 24th November 1928 for 9 years, and then a further 3 years in Reserve, before volunteering for the Commandos in 1940 [1]. He rose to the rank of WO2 whilst in the Commandos and received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period November, 1941, to April, 1942 [2].
TAYLOR, Alfred George
50ME Commando
The circumstances of the the death of Lance Corporal Alfred Taylor are not known to this archive. At the time of his death his Commando were engaged on operations on the island of Castelorizzo.
TAYLOR, Graham Cecil Gordon
50ME Commando
The full circumstances of the death of Captain Graham Taylor are not known to this archive. At the time of his death his Commando, as part of Layforce, were engaged in a rearguard action on Crete.
As a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Bn. The Leicestershire Regiment, he had been awarded the MC for distinguished services rendered in the field in connection with operations in Palestine during the period 1st April to 30th July, 1939.
Sources
CWGC
TUNSTALL, Francis Barnard
50ME Commando
Private Francis Tunstall was reported missing presumed drowned attempting to escape the enemy during operations on the island of Castelorizzo Crete on the 28th February.
WESTON, Richard John
50ME Commando
Lance Sergeant Richard Weston died during operations at Sicily whilst serving with the Durham Light Infantry. He had previously served as a Trooper in 50 ME Commando taking part in operations on Crete. When the main force left Crete he and others were left behind but he managed to escape back to allied lines.
Sources
CWGC.
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