L/Sgt. Len Bayliss 3 Troop, No2 Cdo.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 25/01/2012 11:54:20

Hello

My grandfather is Len Bayliss he served in the commando's during the second world war and took part in the St Nazaire Raid. I have been able to obtain a great deal of information about him due to letters that he wrote to my nan from 1939 until 1944.

However I would love to hear from anyone who believes they may have information about him. His close friend was John DONALDSON .

Thank you for your time

Mandy

This message was edited 7 times. Last update was at 29/12/2009 18:55:46

Hi Mandy

I have received your private message and will respond accordingly by email to you. I have posted this message just to let others know, and also to mention that, if your Grandfather was a close friend of John Donaldson, then that would almost certainly confirm that he was in 3 troop. L/Cpl. John "Jock" Donaldson was in 3 Troop on HMS Campbeltown under Lieut. John Roderick MC. Sadly he was mortally wounded on board just before John Roderick's assault party landed.

In Memory of Lance Corporal 2884838 John Donaldson
Gordon Highlanders and No. 2 Commando
who died age 25 on 28 March 1942
Remembered with honour at the BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL

On another message relating to 2 troop I see Mark has mentioned the book Storming St Nazaire. An excellent book. Your Grandfather is not however mentioned in the index there but neither are many others. The author Jim Dorrian has done much research on the raid and is still in contact with survivors and the St Nazaire Society. I will email him to see if he has any information that might be of interest to you

*** update *** I have just checked page 116 the above book and your grandfather Len Bayliss is named as part of John Roderick's team and his position on HMS Campbeltown shown.

This message was edited 6 times. Last update was at 03/07/2010 09:49:49

Further to the above Mandy has sent me some documents and letters that she had which I will post in due course. She is hoping to send more which would be great. James Dorrian in his book on page 116 has Lt Roderick and his men from 3 troop grouped together. They are listed as Roderick, Stutchbury, Bayliss, Woodiwiss, Finch, Donaldson, Howarth, Thrift, Simpson, Jarvis, Gardner, Holland, Sherwin, Gooch. They were an Assault Party positioned on the deck on the starboard side of the ship, the other Assault Party on the Campbeltown being that of Donald Roy and his team from 5 Troop on the port side.

Finally Mandy take a look at this link to a photo of 3 Troop in our gallery which includes several of the names mentioned above including John Donaldson. Not all are named so your grandfather may be in there. Sadly the names are not clearly identified to individuals but hopefully we might find more information. I will email you a copy of the picture for you and your family to have a closer look

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/3+troop/no+2+commando+3+troop.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

Pete

Thank you very much yes we all have a copy of this photo. My grandfather Len is the front row four from the left . His friend John was A cpl I believe and I wonder if he the the man second in from the left . Sadly I will never know .

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 30/12/2009 11:46:52

Thanks to Mandy I have been able to create a sub album as a tribute to her grandfather L/Sgt Len Bayliss in the 3 troop album of 2 Commando. . In there I have placed a photo cropped from the troop photo of Len himself, and the newspaper cutting of Len standing to attention as some of the fallen from St Nazaire were buried. Also copies of the letters to his home reporting him initially as missing, then as a POW. Finally a letter from Len to his wife.
Thank you Mandy for sharing these items with the CVA. Here is the link to the album. As usual the photos will enlarge when clicked on:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/3+troop/len+bayliss/

Pete

Thank you so much I will ensure that my family are aware of this

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 31/12/2009 15:06:35

Hi again Mandy

I have had this prompt response from the author Jim Dorrian, " Len ,Royal Fusiliers, 6467968, was in 3 Troop - in Lt Johnny Roderick's assault party going over the starboard bow of Campbeltown. He definitely got ashore, but was not with any of the three men I interviewed. One of his comrades does remark that when the party reassembled at the Old Mole, Len was not there, and so may have been captured in the area of the dry dock itself."

Regards

Hello Mandy

I wish you a very happy new year.

After the battle in St Nazaire, your grandfather have been captured and participated to the ceremonie the 1st April 1942 in the Escoublac cemetery with some survivors of the raid.
You can see your grandfather, Sgt Len Bayliss in the picture in "Album Operation Chariot", "The fallen from St Nazaire being buried", the soldier on the right is your Grandfather.

Concerning L/Cpl J. Donaldson, he would be on the photo of 3 troop album, third rank, position 10, from left to right.
The soldier, first rank position 2, will be H. Smart

Best regards

Bernard Petitjean

Sorry it's been such a long time since I have been on this site due to studying. I have been able to visit the escoublac cemetery which was very emotional to say the least . I was able to pay my respects to my grandfathers friends which meant a great deal to me.