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Displaying 1 - 125 of 125In 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.
scan of letters documenting the formation of No5 Commando in 1940
Scan of original document listing the first Commanding Officer and Troop Leaders of No5 Commando on its formation in 1940. Listed are prospective subalterns for each troop.
Raymond Thomas Casamajor Addington, the third son of the 6th Viscount Sidmouth, joined No 5 Commando as a 2/Lieutenant upon their formation in July 1940 [1] [3]. He was promoted Lieutenant on the 1st January 1941 [2]. Lieutenant Addington took part with No 5 Commando in Operation Ironclad at Madagascar [3].
Sources
Commando Association newsletter 73.
Commando Association Lost Legions List 1.
Private James Beech, HQ 3 Special Service (Commando) Bde., reported initially by the War Office to have died a prisoner of war in Japanese hands, died in Poona Hospital, India, a victim of infantile paralysis. [1+2]
On the 31st January 1945 he is listed as being wounded whilst with No 5 Commando. [3]
Sergeant John Blakemore died during operations in Madagascar.
Lieutenant Robert Burtinshaw died during Operation Chariot, the raid at St Nazaire 28 March 1942. He was Officer in Charge of a Demolition Team on HMS Campbeltown. He received a posthumous Mention in despatches for his "gallant and distinguished services in action against the enemy during the raid."
Sources
CWGC
London Gazette 37162, page 3494 and 37629 page 3273 (errata).
Storming St Nazaire, author James Dorrian.
After a brief spell as 2i/c No 5 Commando, the then Major John Malcolm Thorpe Fleming Churchill (later affectionately known by some as Mad Jack) moved to 2i/c No 3 Commando. Wounded during Operation Archery at Vaagso 27 December 1941.
The full circumstances of the death of Private Frederick Clifford are not known by this archive.
Former Driver H. J. T. Cole of No. 5 Commando, later a Sergeant in the Royal Australian Army, died in 1955. [Source: Commando Association newsletter 23].
Mick Collins, 5 troop, met his good friend and Commando Pal, Geoff Hill, at the King's Royal Rifle Corps recruiting office as they were enlisting. They later volunteered for special service in the Commandos together, trained at Achnacarry together and were paired up as Commando Pals. They fought side by side in Burma where they were both WIA on 23 March 1944. Post WWII they remained in close friends and stayed in contact until Mick sadly died in February 1956.
Rifleman Henry Cook , No 5 Commando HQ, died as a result of an accident.
Private Charles Cooke died during operations in Madagascar.
Lieutenant Robert Dashwood received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Burma.
Sources
London Gazette 37730, page 4691.
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 110 issued March 2000.
The full circumstances of the death of Lance Corporal Henry Edwards are not known by this archive.
Sergeant William Ferguson died during Operation Chariot, the raid at St Nazaire. He was one of the commando contingent on HMS Campbeltown.
Sources
CWGC.
St Nazaire Society.
Private James Fleming died as a result of a fall from a train. [1] and [2]
Private Frederic Godden died in service, cause not known to this archive.
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Sam Hartley received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Burma. Post war member of the Commando Association.
Sources
London Gazette 37425, page 383.
Awards in 3 Cdo Bde Jungle Book issue 9.
Commando Association newsletters 16 and 53.
Private James Hodges, 5 troop, died during operations at Maungdaw.
Private George Hulmes died during operations in Madagascar.
Sergeant George Ide died during Operation Chariot, the raid at St Nazaire. He was one of the commando contingent on HMS Campbeltown.
Sources
CWGC,
St Nazaire Society website.
Lance Sergeant Bertie Johnson died during Operation Chariot, the raid at St Nazaire. He was one of the commando contingent on HMS Campbeltown.
The death of Sergeant Joseph Robert Kerr (14 & 5 Cdos) of Hensingham, Whitehawn, Cumbria, was announced in Commando Association newsletter 68 issued March 1979.
The full circumstances of the death of Lance Corporal Robert Lycett are not as yet known by this archive.
Private Jack McNiff died during the period when No 5 Commando were involved in operations in Madagascar.
The full circumstances of the death of Rifleman Charles Miles are not known by this archive.
Bombardier William Nelson died during the period his Commando were engaged in operations in the Maungdaw and Ramree area.
Corporal George Ormesher died during operations in Madagascar.
Private James Parker was mortally wounded by a premature explosion of a no.
Captain John Peebles MC was mortally wounded by a premature explosion of a no. 68 grenade on a field firing exercise at Cheverton Down, nr Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. The Coroner later recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Private Fred Sayer, a Signaller in 4 Troop, received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Burma. Post war member of the Commando Association.
Sources
[1] London Gazette 37425, page 383.
[2] Awards in 3 Cdo Bde Jungle Book issue 9.
[3] Commando Association newsletter 47.
Pte Serrick was born in Nova Scotia. He was one of a group of young Canadians who were recruited into the Manchester Regiment by a Col R B Willis DSO - a retired officer in the Royal Canadian Regiment who had also served in 'The Manchesters'. This group of Canadian volunteers became known as the 'Halifax Hundred'.
Rifleman Alfred Stapleton died during operations at Kangaw.
Lance Corporal George Stokes died during Operation Chariot, the raid at St Nazaire. He was one of the commando contingent on HMS Campbeltown and part of Lt Burtinshaw's demolition party.
Sources
CWGC.
St Nazaire Society website.
A personal account of the memories of Ted Stuart, No 5 Commando, who volunteered for Mission 204.
Lance Corporal David Walker, Medical Section, received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Burma. Post war member of the Commando Association.
Sources
London Gazette 37425, page 385.
Awards in 3 Cdo Bde Jungle Book issue 9.
Commando Association newsletter 54.
Private Haydn Walters died of illness in Kedgeon, near Poona, India,
Former Sergeant John James 'Paddy' Ward (5 Cdo) died whilst at sea and was buried in New Jersey. (Source: Commando Association newsletter 35.)
Private Douglas Wright died during operations in Madagascar.
Joe Rogers MM
No 2 Commando
Bob Mewett
No 12 & No 1 Commando
Mick Collins
No 5 Commando