ELLISTON, Roland Desmond
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Known as:
Lofty
Rank:
Private
Unit / Base:
52ME Commando
Regiment/Corps:
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
Service:
Army
Number:
5949114
P.O.W. number:
95395
P.O.W. camps:
Born:
Tuesday, May 11, 1920
Died :
Tuesday, November 25, 1997
Place died:
Irvine, Ayrshire
Age:
77
Roland Desmond Elliston, a farm worker from Colchester, Essex, enlisted into the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment on 1 July 1936. Served in Palestine; awarded the General Service Medal Palestine Clasp March 1940. Posted 52 Middle East Commando 1 November 1940 on its formation at Geneifa. Active service included Egypt, Sudan, and Crete. Reported missing 2 June 1941 during operations at Crete, later confirmed captured 1 June 1941. His Commando at the time formed part of 'D' Bn., Layforce.
Sources
[1] Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/27, WO417/34, and WO417/92.
[2] Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/1.
[3] Dir. of Mil. Int.: Liberated Prisoner of War Interrogation Questionnaire 1945/6 / National Archives file WO344/101/2.
[4] War Office Campaign Medal and Award Rolls / National Archives file WO100/505.
[5] [Image] Teresa McCormack, daughter.
Notes
All personal details confirmed with his daughter. Year of birth given on source [3] is 1918. True year of birth was 1920 indicating he was only 16 when enlisting.
Photo of Commando in Gallery:
Yes
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