Pte Kenneth George Hellyer, No4 Cdo, D Troop

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 05/04/2013 17:49:33

I am trying to find out information on how my Great Uncle died. His details are:

Hellyer
Forename Kenneth George
Unit 4 Commando (D Troop)
Rank Private
Number 6296547
Date of death 8th July 1942
Age 19
Gravesite Carshalton (All Saints) Churchyard,Surrey Sec.T Grave 27
Additional information parent unit Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
born London N
resided Sussex
son of John and Ethel May Hellyer,Carshalton,Surrey
drowned off Arran during training exercise
body washed up 2 days later Brodick Bay
Image(s): No images added.

Many Thanks.

Hi

I remember this story. I quote from Major James Dunning's book "It had ton be tough." - "We were not so fortunate when stationed near Troon. We were involved in a night landing on the Isle of Arran, disembarking from a landing craft, tank (LCT). As we sliently approached the beach the ramp was lowered and the order'Toops out' given. the tow leading soldiers went stright ahead off the lowering of the ramp into the water of almost five feet deep. As they did the LCT continued to drift inshore on the incoming tide, pushing the two sholdiers under. Seeing what had happened the following commandos jumped off the sides of the ramp assuming that their mates had recovered and were now in the clear .... There was no indiication that there was anything was amiss and the landing as encouraged. The book goes on about this.

If you Pm me the email i will send you the photos of the raid.

Bes wishings.

Bill

Hi Erika

This is a full account from the book correcting my spelling it was rushed

"We were not so fortunate when stationed near Troon. We were involved in a night landing on the Isle of Arran, disembarking from a landing craft, tank (LCT). As we sliently approached the beach the ramp was lowered and the order 'Out troops' given. The two leading soldiers went straight ahead off the lowered ramp into the water which was almost five feet deep. As they did the LCT continued to drift inshore on the incoming tide, pushing the two soldiers under. Seeing what had happened the following Commandos jumped off the sides of the ramp assuming that their mates had recovered and were now in the clear. At this stage, having had plenty of training and also been on a raid in Norway, our self discipline and silence could not be faulted. There was no indication that anything was amiss and the landing continued as planned. It wasn't realized the two were missing until much later, the normal drill being that if anyone was initially missing all troops 'pressed on regardless', anticipating that any straggler would catch up as soon as possible. Unfortunatly when the two did not appear at any stage during the exercise, our worst fears materialized in the light of the morning when the bodies were found washed up on the foreshore. Both were popular members of D Troop and the tragedy was compounded by the fact that one had recently married a local Troon girl and she was now a widow."

I see Norway is mentioned so there is a chance he was on the Lofoton raid in Norway.

Checked did not have photos of this but I have a photo of the gravestone of the other chap who died. It is in Troon Cemetery.

I will send a copy of the war grave by email.

Best wishes.

Bill

Dear Bill,

Thank you ever so much. I find it quite touching that he was remembered in this way and as a popular member of the troop too. I will pass the information on to my mother. Do you think it is worth asking for his service record? Would he have finished his training?

I have visited his grave and have a picture if you or anyone else is interested. I must visit Arran etc one day.

Many thanks again (for the photo too)
Erika.

Erika

I would get the service record as it is part of your family history. I will email another suggestion to you.

Why not post the grave on the site under No4 Commando.

Best wishes.

Bill

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 09/04/2013 13:51:20

Erika has kindly sent in this photo of her great uncle which is now placed in the No.4 Cdo album :

In Memory of Private 6296547 KENNETH GEORGE HELLYER
The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) and No. 4, Commando
who died age 19 on 08 July 1942
Remembered with honour at CARSHALTON (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD

Here is the link to the photo of Pte Hellyer and also of his grave:

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/in+remembrance/hellyer/

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 09/04/2013 13:57:10

Bill Harvey has sent in some photos of a Remembrance cross he recently placed on the beach at Brodick, Isle of Arran, in memory of Pte's Hellyer and Orchin who were drowned during training. We have a photo of the grave of Pte Orchin:

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+War+Graves+Memorials+and+Plaques/graves/UK/TROON+Cemetery/OrchinSF.jpg.html

In Memory of 6145620 Lance Corporal Stanley Frederick Orchin and 296547 Private Kenneth George Hellyer
No. 4, Commando
who died on the 08 July 1942
Both remembered with honour at TROON CEMETERY, Ayrshire, and CARSHALTON (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 09/04/2013 16:19:48

My dad told me about this - and every time we travelled in the Highlands, he'd talk about it - it had a lasting effect on him.

I've followed the links and realise that they're standing in the same row on the Keswick photographs. As it says in the book mentioned, they were trained to just keep going ... but their deaths were deeply felt.

I'm wondering if it should be No.4 Commando under the photo of the headstone, and not No.3 as is written at the moment? Just wondering.

Thanks for pointing this out Eileen. I have now updated the photo of Pte. Hellyer's grave