Brigade Signals

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1 Special Service Bde Signals Troop War Diary June-Sept 1944

This section contains a transcript taken from the War Diary covering specific periods. It is a basic transcript for private research and educational use only. Whilst we always endeavour to achieve accuracy, we acknowledge that there may be dates and/or entries missing, and other possible errors, The actual War Diaries can be found at the National Archives in Kew.

ANDERTON, E.F.

3 Special Service (Commando) Brigade
Marine 'Andy' Anderton, 3 Brigade Signals, of Christchurch, Hants., was a member of the original Commando Association.
[Source: Commando Association newsletter 110 issued March 2000.]
 

ARMSTRONG, Robert

Brigade Signals

Robert enlisted on the 12th June 1941 and then volunteered for the Commandos. After his commando training he served with the Special Service Brigade Signals Troop and 2 Commando Brigade Signals. 

AUSTEN, Alexander Fred

Brigade Signals
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Alexander Austen, 1st Special Service Brigade Signal Troop, was awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of his exemplary service [1].
 
Recommendation including Record of Service
1929 enlisted in the Royal Corps of Signals.

BECKETT, John Arthur

Special Service Brigade
Lance Sergeant John Beckett, Brigade Signals 2 Section, died in a road traffic collision along with two others.
 
All three men died as a result of a truck crash in Dundee. The truck in which they were travelling came down the hill on Law Street, crashed through railings and hit a tree in Dudhope Park. Signalman Arthur Brian Burns died at the scene, Sergeant John Arthur Beckett and Lance Corporal Andrew Gray Paterson died later that evening at Dundee Royal Infirmary. Four other men were injured and detained in hospital.
 

BURNS, Arthur Brian

Special Service Brigade
Signalman Arthur Burns, Brigade Signals 2 Section, died in a road traffic collision along with two others.
 
All three men died as a result of a truck crash in Dundee. The truck in which they were travelling came down the hill on Law Street, crashed through railings and hit a tree in Dudhope Park. Signalman Arthur Brian Burns died at the scene, Sergeant John Arthur Beckett and Lance Corporal Andrew Gray Paterson died later that evening at Dundee Royal Infirmary. Four other men were injured and detained in hospital. [1]
 

CHRISTIE, Thomas John

Brigade Signals
Lieutenant Thomas Christie, Lines Officer 1st Commando Brigade Signal Troop, was awarded the M.C. [1] in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during operations in NW Europe, specifically whilst laying out a communications line over a demolished railway bridge across the River Rhine at Wesel [2].
 
  • Commissioned at OCTU from the ranks 20 December 1944 [3].
Sources
[1] London Gazette Supp. 37302, page 4999.

CLUBE, Gordon Murray

Brigade Signals
Lieutenant Gordon Clube served in 1 Special Service Brigade Signals [1].
  • 11 November 1939 (Private) (Artists Rifles) commissioned Second Lieutenant [2].
  • 3 February 1944 relinquishes his commission on account of ill-health, and is granted the hon. rank of Lt [3].
  • 14 October 1949 awarded The Efficiency Medal (Territorial) [4].
Sources
[1] Commando Association newsletters 46 and 93.

DAVIES, Norman

1 Special Service (Commando) Brigade
Signalman Norman Davies died during operations in Germany.
 
Notes
At the time of his death his Bde. were engaged in operations near Wesel.
 

HERRING, David Warren

Brigade Signals

Signalman David Herring, Royal Corps of Signals, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in recognition of distinguished services in the field. The National Archives file records his award under Escape and Evasion Reports [1].

JAMES, Clifford Vizetelly

Brigade Signals
Lieutenant Clifford James, 2 Special Service Brigade Signals Officer, was awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service during operations at Salerno between 9-16 September 1943 [1][1A].
  • January 1945 received a Mention in Despatches for gallant and distinguished services in Italy. [2]
The death of Major Clifford James, 2 Brigade Signals, of Bristol, Avon., was announced in Commando Association newsletter 112 issued March 2001.
 
Sources

JONES, Harold

Harold Jones RM
Brigade Signals

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. "

KING, Leonard Sydney

Brigade Signals
Corporal Leonard King, Special Service Group Signals RM, was awarded the Military Medal for courage and enterprise in reconnaissance operations.
Recommendation
"This NCO was a member of a military force which landed in the vicinity of Ault, on the North East coast of France, on the night of 17/18 May 1944, to make a reconnaissance on beach obstacles and mines the nature and potentialities of which were not known.

KIRKHOPE, William Adamson Forbes

Brigade Signals
Signalman William Kirkhope, 2 Special Service Bde. Signals, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal [1] in recognition of gallant and distinguished service on the 13th September 1943 at Salerno when he volunteered to repair a vital line of communications that had been cut on the Vietri to Salerno road, an area that was under heavy enemy mortar and M.G. fire [2]. 
 

KNIGHT, John E.

Brigade Signals
Jack Knight served in Brigade Signals. Post war he was secretary of the Birmingham Branch of the Commando Association.
(Image source: CVA Gallery Bde Sigs reunion 16th July 1988.)
 

LEAHY, Arthur John

John Leahy Brigade Signals
Brigade Signals
Officer Commanding the Special Service Brigade Signal troop. 
 
Service History
5 Commando - July 1940 to November 1940 
3 Commando (raising Special Service Brigade Signal Section) - Nov 1940 to Dec 1940 
Special Service Brigade Signals - Dec 1940 to October 1943. 

Jan 1944 to Dec 1944, Major Leahy was D.C.S.O. SS Group (Deputy Chief Signals Officer, Special Service Group) and, according to War Diaries, visited 1 SS Brigade Signals Troop at Le Plein, 16th July 1944. 
 

PATERSON, Andrew Gray

Special Service Brigade
Lance Corporal Andrew Paterson, Brigade Signals 2 Section, died in a road traffic collision along with two others.
 
All three men died as a result of a truck crash in Dundee. The truck in which they were travelling came down the hill on Law Street, crashed through railings and hit a tree in Dudhope Park. Signalman Arthur Brian Burns died at the scene, Sergeant John Arthur Beckett and Lance Corporal Andrew Gray Paterson died later that evening at Dundee Royal Infirmary. Four other men were injured and detained in hospital.
 

RICHARDSON, Sam Scruton

3 Special Service (Commando) Brigade
Captain Sam Richardson, 3 Commando Brigade HQ Signal Officer, received a Mention in Despatches for distinguished service while operating with the Army in Burma and on the Eastern Frontier of India.
 
Sources

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.

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