Herbert [Harry] John Victor Coote

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 06/03/2012 22:20:47

I am looking for any information on my grandfather Bert/Harry who was a Royal Marine Commando during the Second World War or anyone that knew him.
Any information would be gratefully received.

Thanks,

Ian Coote

Hi Ian,

Do you know which RM Commando Unit your grandfather was in?

Nick

No but I know that he was based in Plymouth and his number was either PLY2138 or 21038. I've googled all the places that I know he went and the recurring unit is 41 Commando, but my father has told me that he was a signaller and may have been attached to different units-I'm not sure if this is how it works?

Thanks,

Ian

Ian,

It certainly was the case for Signalers to be attached to various Commando units. My Father was a Signalman in 2 S.S Brigade Signal Troop and was supporting 41RM and 2 Commando at Salerno and then went on to another Commando unit in France then on to 45RM. Unfortunately this makes it a little more difficult to trace the movements as the specific details of the attachments were not in my Fathers service records. However, from what I've seen from some of the other service records for Commandos you can get lucky and have lots of detail.

Worth trying to get hold of his service records for starters then dig a bit deeper. The National Archives have a fair bit of info related to 41RM but I believe you have to arrange a visit to view.

Regards and good luck

Vic Lewis

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 18/02/2010 23:27:18

Hiya Vic,

That sounds promising, I think my Grandad was at Salerno, I know he was in Sicily. He was also in North Africa earlier on and Le havre later on.

Thanks ever so much for your help,

Ian,

I seem to remember him telling me about them shooting some captured Mausers and shooting at the gulls in the sea in order to see how the compared to their rifles. I think this was at Le Havre. I know he had the marksman badge on the cuff of his tunic which I had as a kid but I'm not sure if he was a sniper. Like most people of his generation he never said much so I'm a bit shaky on the details as I was only a lad when I heard half this stuff.
My Dad has told me that he was at Achnacarry and when my Mum visited with him she swore that it was my Grandad in the photos there so I am hoping to go up soon.
Ian

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 19/02/2010 03:35:32

Ian,

to narrow your search I can tell you that your grandfather's RM service number was NOT PLY/21038

This number belonged to a Marine Streams, 41 RM Cdo who died taking part in Operation Husky - the Invasion of Sicily,

STREAMS, Albert Edward; Marine (Pens); PLY/21038; RM 41 Commando; Died of Wounds, 10 July 1943

Regards,
nick

Thanks Nick,

Is there any joy on PLY2138 then?
Soory, bit new to all this but i'll get the hang ofit.

Ian

Nothing yet Ian but all that I did was complete an elementary search for the two numbers you provided to try and eliminate one - only the one was listed was Marine Streams and that is because, very sadly, he fell in action.

Don't give up hoping and searching you never know when a snippet of valuasble info may crop up - often when least expected..

Nick

My parents have just moved and unearthed my Grandad's service medals. They are adressed to him and the number is ply/y2138 as opposed to the number that I posted earlier. Is the extra 'Y' of any significance?

Thanks,
Ian

bowtr wrote:... They are adressed to him and the number is ply/y2138 as opposed to the number that I posted earlier. Is the extra 'Y' of any significance?

Ian,
Any idea when your Grandfather joined up?

Nick

NIC wrote:

bowtr wrote:... They are adressed to him and the number is ply/y2138 as opposed to the number that I posted earlier. Is the extra 'Y' of any significance?

Ian,
Any idea when your Grandfather joined up?

Nick

Hiya Nick,
About three years before the outbreak of WWII until about three years after. I'll try and get some dates.
Thanks,
Ian

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 28/04/2011 18:18:44

Hi Ian,

Are you sure that it is a 'Y'?
Could it be a badly written 'X' or any other letter - or even a figure?

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 02/05/2012 18:44:27

NIC wrote:Hi Ian,

Are you sure that it is a 'Y'?
Could it be a badly written 'X' or any other letter - or even a figure?

Nick

Hiya Nick,

You could well be right. I'm getting some application forms for more information sent off soon. Anyway, below is a photo of him in the slim chance that anyone recognises him and I will also get a copy of what I think is his passing out photo in case anyone else is in it.
Also I was watching a film on YouTube which made the hairs on the back of my head stand up as I'm sure the commando throwing the grenade at 5:45 is him and my father is sure he was at Antwerp and Walcheren. Therefore 41 Commando still looks like it could be right. I've added the link to the video in case anyone else hasn't seen it as it's pretty good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIber1VFkn4

I've just got some documents about my Grandad. So far I know he enlisted on 15th February 1937 and was demobbed on 15th February 1949, though I have another document that said he was relesed on 21st April 1949.
I can finally confirm that his number was PLY/X 2138. I will take some pictures of the document with places he was attched to and put them up on here.

regards,

Ian