4 Commando Commanders
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LEGARD, Charles Percy Digby
Known as:
Percy
Rank:
Lieutenant Colonel
Unit / Base:
4 Commando
Regiment/Corps:
Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
Service:
Army
Number:
36705
Born:
Sunday, June 17, 1906
Died :
Saturday, February 16, 1980
Acting Lieutenant Colonel Legard was the first Commanding Officer of No.4 Commando on its formation in June 1940. He remained as such until replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Lister MC during the re-organisation into 3 Special Service Bn. towards the end of the year. He returned to the 5th Royal Inniskillings, retiring from service on 19 May 1949 and was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
An accomplished sportsman he competed for Great Britain in the Modern Pentathlon during the 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics. In the 1936 Winter Olympic Games he competed in the men's individual Nordic Combined event. Post war he competed in the demonstration winter pentathlon competition of the 1948 games. The following year he competed in the first ever Badminton Three Day horse trial.
Sources
Major James Dunning, author of 'The Fighting Fourth'.
Commando Association newsletter 92.
London Gazette 38615, page 2462.
Burkes Peerage 2003 volume 2, page 2285. / peerage.com website.
The website Olympedia.org
Archive pages :
LOVAT, Lord
Title:
15th Lord Lovat
Birth name:
FRASER, Simon Christopher Joseph
Known as:
Shimi
Rank:
Brigadier
Unit / Base:
4 Commando
Special Service (Commando) Group, Brigade, and Brigade Signals
Regiment/Corps:
Lovat Scouts
Service:
Army
Number:
44718
Honours & Awards:
Born:
Sunday, July 9, 1911
Died :
Thursday, March 16, 1995
Lord Lovat first enlisted in the Scots Guards in 1932, leaving the army in 1937. Two years later at the outbreak of war he rejoined the Army in the Lovat Scouts.
Lord Lovat was part of a small but elite group of men who formed the idea of a Special Training Centre, agreed on the location, and devised and implemented a course of training once it was approved. This became the first of many Special Training Centres, STC Lochailort.
The training took place in and around the camp at Lochailort, Lord Lovat's role being Fieldcraft instruction.
After being appointed Commanding Officer of No 4 Commando, Lord Lovat was awarded the Military Cross for his actions during a raid at Hardelot in April 1942. He was further awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallant and distinguished service during the Dieppe raid on 19 August 1942. In 1943, when the Commandos were organised into Special Service Brigades, he left No 4 Commando to take up a new command. 6 June 1944 D Day Officer Commanding 1st Special Service Brigade at Normandy, France.
Sources:
DSO: London Gazette 35729, page: 4328
MC: London Gazette 35620, page 2971.
The book It Had To Be Tough author Major James Dunning.
Photo of Commando in Gallery:
Yes
Archive pages :
DAWSON, Robert William Palliser
Rank:
Lieutenant Colonel
Unit / Base:
4 Commando
Regiment/Corps:
The Loyal Regt.
Service:
Army
Number:
130068
Honours & Awards:
Died :
Wednesday, May 4, 1988
Age:
74
Lieutenant Robert Dawson was one of the first subalterns to join No 4 Commando in 1940, later taking part in the Dieppe raid as Captain of 'C' troop.
- 1943 promoted Major and 2nd in command of No 4 Commando replacing Major Derek Mills-Roberts who left to command No 6 Commando.
- April 1943 Lord Lovat left No 4 Commando and Major Dawson became Commanding Officer.
- 1944 awarded the Distinguished Service Order for "gallant and distinguished services in Normandy." He was wounded twice during he action at Ouistreham on the 6th June 1944 but continued to lead the attack. The citation adds that "It was due to his leadership and direction that the attack was successfully pressed home [1].
- 1945 Mentioned in Despatches for "gallant and distinguished service in NW Europe" [2].
- Awarded the Croix de Guerre [3].
Post war Lt Col Dawson was a regulat attendee at remembrance events in France and Holland.
- 1 January 1959 (Political Branch, British Military Government Berlin) appointed C.B.E. (Civil Division) [4].
- President of the Commando Association1959/60 and 1978/9 [5].
Commando Association obituary by Henry Brown OBE.
"Much has already, and rightly, been recorded of Robert Dawson's tuly sterling service as a Troop and later the Commanding Officer of No. 4 Commando.
The men of this Commando Unit, both French and British, at all times followed him willingly and with devotion, having full confidence in his wise and fearless leadership.
All were proud and privileged to serve under his command. One cannot adequately describe in words Robert Dawson's true worth to our Association, or the degree to which he will be greatly missed.
In particular, we shall treasure the memory of his two terms as an outstanding President, and the many years he served as a Trustee of the Commandos' Benevolent Fund.
Whenever we sought his wise counsel, which was often, this was always forthcoming and there was never any doubt that the opinions he so kindly expressed had originated only after much careful thought.
We will never forget his charm, kindness and understanding, and will always feel very privileged to have known him. We deeply mourn the passing of a very dear friend and comrade, and a very staunch supporter of our Commando cause.
Our very deep and sincere sympathy goes out to his dear widow, Jean and her lovely family, in the irreparable loss thet have sustained" [6].
Sources
[1] London Gazette 36679, page 4043
[2] London Gazette 37213, page 4053
[3] National Archives WO373/185.
[4] London Gazette 41589, page 20.
[5] Commando Association newsletters 29 and 67.
[6] Commando Association newsletter 87.
The Fighting Fourth by Maj. James Dunning.
Photo of Commando in Gallery:
Yes
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