6 Commando Commanders
Archive pages:
MACALPINE, Ian Ferguson
Rank:
Lieutenant Colonel
Unit / Base:
6 Commando
Holding Operational Commando
43RM Commando
Regiment/Corps:
Black Watch
Service:
Army
Number:
135469
Honours & Awards:
Private Ian Ferguson Macalpine was commissioned Lieutenant on 22 June 1940 [1].
- 18 August 1942 promoted War Substantive Major [2].
- 18 August 1942 promoted Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, OC No.6 Commando [2].
- November 1942 (Operation Torch North Africa) hospitalised with heart problems during the battle for Green Hill [3].
- 23 September 1943 Mentioned in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in North Africa (Operation Torch) [4].
- February 1944 Officer Commanding Holding Commando [5].
- September to October 1944 Officer Commanding 43RM Commando [6][3][3a].
- 21 April 1947 relinquishes his commission and granted the Honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel [7].
Sources
[1] London Gazette 34877, page 3770.
[2] Army Lists 1839-1946, Jan 1945 Black Watch Regiment.
[3] The Green Beret, author Hilary St. George Saunders.
[3a] Nothing Much to Lose, author Michael McConville
[4] London Gazette 36180, page 4227.
[5] Navy Lists, Feb.1944, Holding Commando.
[6] Navy Lists, October 1944, 43RM Commando
[7] London Gazette 37939, page 1817.
Photo of Commando in Gallery:
Yes
Additional content:
Archive pages :
MILLS-ROBERTS, Derek
Rank:
Brigadier
Unit / Base:
4 Commando
6 Commando
Special Service (Commando) Group, Brigade, and Brigade Signals
Regiment/Corps:
Irish Guards
Service:
Army
Number:
69334
Honours & Awards:
Died :
Wednesday, October 1, 1980
Born in 1908; educated at Liverpool College and Oxford University; worked for his father's firm of solicitors, 1935; joined Supplementary Reserve of Officers, Irish Guards, 1936; joined 1 Bn, Irish Guards, 1939-1942, and served in Norway; transferred to special services No 4 Commando, 1942; took part in Dieppe Raid, Aug 1942; Lt Col, 1943; Commanding Officer, No 6 Commando, North Africa, 1943; Brig, 1944; commanded 1 Special Service Bde (later 1 Commando Bde), North West Europe, 1944-1945; accepted the surrender of FM Erhard Milch at Neustadt, May 1945; retired from Army, 1945; commanded 125 Infantry Bde, Territorial Army, 1947-1951; died in 1980. (Source: Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives.)
Obituary in Commando Association newsletter 72
"We are indeed sad to have to report the death on October lst last, of Brigadier Derek Mills-Roberts, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., formerly Officer Commanding No. 6 Commando, also a Commander of the lst Commando Brigade, and during the periods 1949-50 and 1958-59, President of The Commando Association.
The following are extracts from appreciations by Brigadier The Lord Lovat and Brigadier Peter Young :
Derek Mills-Roberts was one of our most successful Commando leaders in World War ll and will be remembered by friends and contemporaries as a Happy Warrior. While preserving at all times the discipline, tradition, and turnout of a guardsman, Mills-Roberts typified the indomitable morale and resourcefulness of those hand picked willing men, drawn from many regiments.
Always ready to follow a good officer who led from the front, they cheerfully endorsed the principle that one volunteer was worth ten pressed men when shock troops were required to mount a hazardous operation. He took over No 6 Commando in North Africa when it had had a bad time, and by his leadership and sheer professional skill, turned it into a superb unit, winning the Distinguished Service Order.
A week after D-Day, though shot through the leg, he took over the 1st Commando Brigade, which he commanded in Normandy, Holland and Germany until the end of the war in Europe. His exploits which won him a Bar to the DSO were too numerous to name here.
Old comrades will remember Derek as a fearless, kindly, and simplehearted Commander, who looked after his men and never let them down. He could be fierce with those who did not live up to his standards. But, if his men were somewhat in awe of him, they honoured him as a forthright and fearless leader".
Award Sources:
MC: LG publication date: 2 October 1942; Supplement: 3572; Page: 4328
DSO: LG publication date: 20 April 1943; Supplement: 35987; Page: 1846
MiD: LG Publication date: 20 March 1945; Supplement:36994; Page: 1557
DSO (bar): LG publication date: 19 June 1945; Supplement: 37138; Page: 3231
Photo of Commando in Gallery:
Yes
Archive pages :
COADE, Charles Courtenay
Known as:
Bill
Rank:
Lieutenant Colonel
Unit / Base:
6 Commando
Regiment/Corps:
South Staffordshire Regiment
Service:
Army
Number:
117368
Temporary Major Charles Courtenay Coade, Second in Command, was wounded when hit by a stick grenade during operations on DDay at Normandy. He returned on 8 August 1944, was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer. He remained as such until January 1945 when Lt. Col. Tony Lewis DSO assumed command.
Sources
No.6 Commando War Diary June -August 1944 / Pegasus Archive.
British Army Casualty Lists 1939-45 / National Archives file WO417/6.
Clash By Night, author Derek Mills-Roberts.
The Green Beret, author Hilary St. George Saunders.
[Image] CVA Gallery.
Photo of Commando in Gallery:
Yes
Archive pages :
LEWIS, Anthony David
Known as:
Tony
Rank:
Lieutenant Colonel
Unit / Base:
4 Commando
6 Commando
Regiment/Corps:
Dorsetshire Regiment
Service:
Army
Number:
95626
Honours & Awards:
Born:
Saturday, April 3, 1920
Died :
Friday, January 21, 2000
Operations:
Officer Commanding No 6 Commando from June 1944 onwards.
Commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1939 he served in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. A veteran of Dunkirk, he was promoted Lieutenant 3rd January 1941. After a brief spell with No 4 Commando, he rejoined the Dorsets to take part in Operation Torch. He joined No 6 Commando whilst out in North Africa.
When Brig Derek Mills Roberts took command of the 1st Special Service Brigade at Normandy after Lord Lovat's wounding, he chose Tony Lewis to replace him as Commanding Officer of No 6 Commando. His original choice, Major Courtenay Coade, 2i/c No.6 Commando, had also been wounded on D Day.
Aged just 24 the then (Temp) Lt. Col. Lewis, whom Field Marshall Montgomery used to refer to as his "boy colonel", led No 6 Commando in France until 8 August 1944 when Lt. Col. Coade returned from injury, and again from January 1945 throughout the remainder of the war. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for "gallant and distinguished services in NW Europe." The French Government later awarded him the Croix de Guerre with palm.
- 3 July 1952 (Captain) (Dorsetshire Regiment) promoted Major.
- 1 June 1953 appointed MBE (Military Division) for setting up the Kenya National Service scheme.
- 2 November 1960 promoted Lieutenant Colonel.
- 3 April 1975 retired with the rank of Colonel.
Additional Sources:
DSO: LG 37138, page 3231 MBE: LG 39863, page 2950 Maj: LG 39588, page 3631. Lt Col: LG 42293, page 1717Photo of Commando in Gallery:
Yes
Archive pages :