14 Commando

This was a very short lived Commando unit raised for the specific purpose of operations in Norway. Mountbatten wrote to the Chiefs of Staff in November 1942 expressing his view for the need of Arctic specialists from any source for winter operations in Norway. They agreed and No.14 Commando was formed on the 3rd December 1942, initially under Lt Col. E.A. M. Wedderburn, Royal Scots, with a total of 15 Officers and 40 OR's including some Canadian RNVR's. Their first HQ was at Ewe Bank Cottage, Beauly, Inverness-shire.
 
The Commando consisted of two troops,  a boating troop and a skiing troop, and at some stage were in the Shetlands along with some from 12 Commando (North Force) , 6 Cdo (101 tp), Norwegians, Canadians, and some others.
 
Lieutenant John Godwin and 4 ORs were attached to No 12 Commando for Operation Crackers [view]  in Norway. Not long after their return he led another raiding party of No 14 Commando for Operation Checkmate. [view]
 
On the 15th July 1943 authority was given for No. 14 Commando to be disbanded this being completed in August 1943, although the skiing troop remained for a period. 
 
Sources
[1] No 14 Cdo War Diary, National Archives refs. WO 218/58 and Unit Card for 14 Cdo. WO 379/ 115.
[2] Commandos -The Definitive History of Commando Operations in the Second World War author Charles Messenger. The book was endorsed by Brigadier Peter Young, and met with approval of the Commando Association. 
[3] Godwin's Saga, A Commando Epic author Kenneth Macksey. 
 

14 Commando Roll of Honour

Units: 
Lieut. John GODWIN
Petty Officer Alfred John ROE
Petty Officer Harold HISCOCK
Able Seaman Keith MAYOR
Able Seaman Neville BURGESS
Able Seaman Andrew Anthony WEST
 

Sergeant Cox was attached from No. 12 Commando and is remembered on their Roll of Honour. Click on his name for more.

Below is a view of the Roll of Honour with information about each of the other men.

BURGESS, Neville Arthur

Able Seaman Neville Burgess 14 Commando
Able Seaman
C/JX354547
No 14 Commando
HMS Fox, RN
Executed

Able Seaman Neville Burgess  was one of the raiding party at Kopervik, Norway (Operation Checkmate). Captured and later executed at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. Son of Arthur and Doris Burgess, of Beverley, Yorkshire.

GODWIN, John

Lieutenant John Godwin, 14 Commando
Lieutenant
No 14 Commando
Mentioned in Despatches
Executed
Lieutenant John Godwin, a veteran of Operation Crackers * [view], was an Argentinian in the RNVR. Commanding Officer of the raiding party at Kopervik, Norway.

HISCOCK, Harold

Petty Officer Harold Hiscock, 14 Commando
Petty Officer
LT/JX 217862
No 14 Commando
HMS Quebec / Royal Naval Patrol Service
Executed

Petty Officer Harold Hiscock, a Canadian from Newfoundland, was one of the raiding party at Kopervik, Norway (Operation Checkmate). He was captured and later executed at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. 

MAYOR, Keith

Able Seaman Keuth Mayor 14 Commando
Able Seaman
D/JX 363471
No 14 Commando
HMS Fox, RN
Mentioned in Despatches
Executed

Able Seaman Keith Mayor was one of the raiding party at Kopervik, Norway (Operation Checkmate). He was captured and later executed at Belsen Concentration Camp having been transferred there from Sachsenhausen. He has no known grave. Son of John and Gertrude L.

ROE, Alfred John

Petty Officer Alfred Roe 14 Commando
Petty Officer Motor Mechanic
P/MX 98752
No 14 Commando
HMS Fox, RN
Mentioned in Despatches
Died on war service

Patty Officer Alfred Roe was one of the raiding party at Kopervik, Norway. He was captured and later died of typhus at Belsen Concentration Camp having been transferred there from Sachsenhausen. Husband of Dorothy Elizabeth Roe, of Manor Park, Slough, Buckinghamshire.

WEST, Andrew Anthony

Able Seaman
D/JX363264
No 14 Commando
HMS Fox, RN
Executed

Able Seaman Andrew West was one of the raiding party at Kopervik, Norway (Operation Checkmate). He was captured and later executed at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. Son of Patrick West, and of Sarah West, of Glasgow.