Salerno (ROH)

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ALLAN, Hugh Bryan

No 2 Commando
Lance Corporal Hugh Allan died [1] during the action at Jaconti, near Vietri. He was originally buried "at the bottom of Jaconti village (East side). Map Ref. 601307."[2].
 
Sources
[1] CWGC.
[2] 2 Commando Casualties Salerno document below.
 

BARRY, John

No 2 Commando
Private John Barry died [1] of wounds received at Dragone Hill, Salerno, on the 13th September 1943.  He died at 67 General Hospital CMF [2].
 

BENNETT, Derick S.

No 2 Commando
Private Derick Bennett, 6 troop, died [1] on the 13th September 1943 during operations at Dragone Hill, Salerno.  He was originally buried by a house at the top of the steps on the West side of Hill.  Map ref.

BENSON, Robert Edwin

41RM Commando

Lance Corporal Robert Benson died during operations at Salerno, Italy, this date being that of the action on the hills by the village of Piegolelle (or Piegolette).

Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/127.

BETTS, Joseph

41RM Commando

Marine Joseph Betts was reported missing presumed killed during operations at Salerno, Italy [1]. At the time his Commando were engaged in the valley south of La Molina and the nearby hills close to Vietri.

Sources
[1] CWGC.
[1] Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/127.

BLOWER, Alfred

Private Alfred Blower 2 Commando
No 2 Commando
Private Alfred Blower, 4 troop, died [1] of wounds received at Dragone Hill, Salerno, on the 13th September 1943 [2].  He died at 67 General Hospital CMF [2] .
 
Extract from the Liverpool Evening Express - Friday 08 December 1944.
Private Alfred Blower (26), The King’s Regiment (Liverpool), serving with a Commando unit, of Fontenoy Street, Liverpool, 3, has been killed in action in Italy. He was an old boy of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Toxteth. [3]

BOWMAN, Lionel George

Lionel Bowman 2 Commando
Original Grave of Private Bowman
No 2 Commando
Private Lionel Bowman, 5 Troop, died during operations at Salerno. Before enlisting Lionel was a newspaper representative from Wanstead.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Troop notes kept by LSgt Rogers MM of 5 Tp.
 
Notes
There are photos in our gallery of the cross at his grave, and another with the CWGC headstone in place.
 

BROOME, Richard Frank

No 2 Commando
No 4 Independent Company
Captain Richard Broome, OC 5 troop, died [1] during operations at Salerno and was originally buried on the forward slope of Dragone Hill [2].
 
Richard Broome volunteered from the South Lancs for the Independent Companies when they were raised. He joined No 4 Independent Company as a Lieutenant and saw action during an operation in Norway.  

BULLOCK, Donald Charles

41RM Commando

Sergeant Donald Bullock was reported missing presumed killed during operations at Salerno on the 13th September 1943 [1][2a]. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for leadership, gallantry and devotion to duty on the 10th September 1943 [2][2a].
Recommendation
"Gulf of Salerno 9-10 Sep 43

BURNS, Charles

No 2 Commando
Gunner Charles Burns, 6 troop, died [1] during operations at Dragone Hill, Salerno. He was buried as far as is known by the 6th Yorks and Lancs on the forward slope of hill [2].
 
Sources
[1] CWGC.
[2] 2 Commando Casualties Salerno document below.
 
Notes

CHRISTIAN, Thomas Edward

41RM Commando

Sergeant Thomas Christian died during operations at Salerno, Italy. 

Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM104/128.

Notes
At the time of his death his commando were engaged in operations at the valley south of La Molina and the nearby hills close to Vietri.
 

CRAIG, Robinson Ostle

No 2 Commando
Private Robinson Craig died [1] during operations on the 11th September at Dragone Hill, near Vietri Salerno,and he was buried there the following day, his grave being marked with a cross. However it was never again found and Private Craig is one of the many who now have no known grave [2].
 

DAY, Arthur Frank

No 2 Commando
Private Arthur Day died [1] on the 17th September at Piegolelle (aka Piegolette), near Salerno, Italy. He was initially buried jointly with two Royal Marine Commandos in a vineyard 30 yards South of Piegolelle [2].
 

DOANE, Herbert

41RM Commando

Marine Herbert Doane died during operations at Salerno, Italy, this date being that of the action on the hills by the village of Piegolelle (or Piegolette in English.)

Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/130.

DRURY, Charles Henry

No 2 Commando
Private Charles Drury, 2 troop, died [1] during operations at Dragone Hill, Vietri, near Salerno [2].
 
Sources
[1] CWGC.
[2] 2 Commando Casualties Salerno document below.
 
Notes 
The document @ [2] below differs in date to that shown on the CWGC database. The document states he died on the 14th September of wounds received at Dragone Hill, Vietri, on the 12th September.
 

FINCH, Ernest Walter

41RM Commando

Lance Corporal Ernest Finch died during operations at Salerno, Italy, this date being that of the action in the valley south of La Molina and the nearby hills close to Vietri.

Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/130.

FISHER, Edward

41RM Commando

Marine Edward Fisher died during operations at Salerno and Vietri, Italy.

Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/130.

HARRIS, Andrew

41RM Commando

Marine Andrew Harris died during operations at Salerno, this date being that of the action on the hills by the village of Piegolelle (or Piegolette in English.)

HUNTER, John Edmund

No 2 Commando
Lance Corporal John Hunter, 5 troop, died [1] during operations at Dragone Hill, Salerno, on the 13th September 1943 and was originally buried by the 6th Yorks and Lancs. However his grave was never found [2]. 
 

JACKSON, Joseph (Pte)

No 2 Commando
Private Joseph Jackson died during operations at Salerno [1].
 
We have a document that outlines these details: He held a temporary or acting rank of Lance Corporal; he was killed in action "on the 17th September 1943 at the bottom of Marine Hill, Piegolette (Piegolelle) Village"; and that he was originally buried " Between house (map ref 694323) and bottom of Marine Hill, 7 yards East side of House." [2].
 

KILLEEN, Martin

No 2 Commando
Private Martin Killeen died [1] during operations on the 10th September at Vietre Sul Mare (Map ref 614298).  He was initially buried in the Orange Grove at back of a school in Vietri (Map ref 618298) [2].
 

RADCLIFFE, Frederick

Private Radcliffe 2 Commando
No 2 Commando
Private Frederick Radcliffe died [1] during operations at Salerno, this date being that of the action on the hills by the village of Dragonea, above Vietri sul Mare [2].
 
Frederick Radcliffe was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs Radcliffe, 9, Lorton Street, Liverpool, 8. He was an old boy of Chatsworth Street School.  A brother is a prisoner of war in Germany [3]. 
 
Sources
[1] CWGC
[2] No 2 Cdo War Diary September 1943.

READER, Ronald

41RM Commando

Marine Ronald Reader died during operations at Salerno, this date being that of the action in the valley south of La Molina and the nearby hills close to Vietri.

RUBIN, Leonard

No 2 Commando
Lance Sergeant Leonard Rubin died during operations at Vietri, Salerno. In 1943 he was serving as a Corporal in the Heavy Weapons Troop. See photos in the main gallery.
 

SCOTT, William Cameron

41RM Commando
Marine William Scott died during operations at Salerno, this date being that of the action on the hills by the village of Piegolelle (or Piegolette in English.)
 

Extract from the Dundee Evening Telegraph Saturday 09 October 1943.

SMITH, James

LCpl James Smith
No 2 Commando
Lance Corporal James Smith died [1] during operations at Dragone Hill,  Salerno, on the left flank North of Jaconti. He was initially buried 20 yards past a T junction (Map ref. 600310) from Dragone to Padacouni, and 20 yards in from the road, ie. South on the left hand side. Map ref. 600309. His body was never found [2].
 

SOALL, John James

RN Commando
Able Seaman John Soall, RN Beach Commando 'K', died during operations at Salerno [1][2].
 
Sources
[1] C.W.G.C.
[2] National Archives file ADM 358/1892 - Admiralty: Casualty Branch: Enquiries into Missing Personnel, 1939-1945 War.
 
Notes
Not listed as Commando on CWGC, only as HMS COPRA. Message sent to CWGC 3/1/2020.
 

STILES, Arthur

41RM Commando

Marine Arthur Stiles died during operations at Salerno, this date being that of the action on the hills near the village of Piegolelle (or Piegolette in English.)

TAAFFE, William

41RM Commando

Marine William Taaffe died during operations at Salerno, this date being that of the action on the hills by the village of Piegolelle (or Piegolette in English.)

His brother also Fell -  C/KX 152295 Stoker 1st Class Geoffrey Taaffe,  aged 20, H.M. Submarine Usurper. 12th October 1943. Chatham Naval Memorial.

THOMSON, Hugh

Lance Corporal Hugh Thomson 6 Commando
41RM Commando
Lance Corporal Hugh Thomson died [1] during operations at Salerno, this date being that of the action on the hills by the village of Piegolelle (or Piegolette in English.) [2]
 
Extract from the Dundee Evening Telegraph - Wednesday 13 October 1943
"Commando Marine Killed :-  Mrs Thomson, 12 Walton Street, Dundee, has received intimation that her husband, L/Cpl. Hugh Thomson (34), Royal Marine Commando, has been killed. He was reported missing over a week ago.

TIERNEY, Norman

41RM Commando
Acting Regimental Sergeant Major Norman Tierney died during operations at Salerno, this date being that of the action in the valley south of La Molina and the nearby hills close to Vietri.
 
He received a postumous MiD "For gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty in leading a successful counter-attack against a strongly held enemy position in Italy. He did not return from the attack. " 
 

TONER, Peter

41RM Commando

Marine Peter Toner died during operations at Salerno, this date being that of the action on the hills by the village of Piegolelle (or Piegolette in English.)

WELLESLEY, Henry Valerian George

No 2 Commando
Captain Henry Wellesley, the 6th Duke of Wellington, died during operations at Salerno. He was in charge of 2 troop with orders to attack and take the village of Piegolelle (also seen spelt as Piegolette). This was heavily defended by the Germans firing from the heights called 'The Pimple'. He was awarded a posthumous M.I.D.
 

WRAY, Peter Francis Hugh

41RM Commando
Lieutenant Peter Wray died during operations at Salerno, this date being that of the action on the hills by the village of Piegolelle (or Piegolette in English.) He received a Mention in Despatches for "distinguished services in Sicily."​​
 
Sources
CWGC.
London Gazettes Supp. 36454, page1557.
 

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