Sergeant Colin Anson 10IA Commando 3 troop (aka X troop)

This message was edited 8 times. Last update was at 05/04/2013 18:19:31

As a result of an email sent to me recently with details of a speech made by Colin Anson, who was a Sgt in 3 troop or X troop of 10 IA Commando, I decided to see if I could find and make contact with Colin. I managed to track him down and have now spoken on a couple of occasions with him and what a nice gentleman he is. There have been accounts written about 3 troop in books, films, etc. He was unaware of the CVA but has kindly sent me a picture of himself. This photo was taken after the war when he managed to find his mother in Frankfurt. I have other information to post, including the speech, and will do so in due course. I have invited Colin to join us in the CVA and I am hopeful he will take up my offer. My thanks to the person who sent me Colin's speech

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 07/09/2010 16:19:47

Colin has kindly sent in a photo of 3 troop with names and details. I have placed these in the 3 troop album of 10 IA Commando along with the above photo of him and his mother.

Here is the link to the photo of Colin and his mother which includes a bit more information about him:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/x+troop/colin+anson+speech/

Here is a link to the troop photo with an adjacent outline sketch of that photo with all the details. Colin says :

The group picture of 3-Troop was taken on a meadow above Aberdyfi (as it is spelled now) in, I think, early '43. A limited number of prints was taken off the plate (yes - glass plate!) which was then destroyed as we were camera shy and security conscious. The meadow at the top of Church Street has since been built on.

I have placed them in their own sub album:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/x+troop/3+troop+photos/

Colin also says of the names provided :

The list was compiled by the late Sjt. Harry Drew, who reverted to his original name of Nomburg and served in the US Paras, afterwards as a postman in NY City. He had an encylopaedic knowledge of the Troop, but even so it is not 100% reliable. But the best there is.

I have now posted in the 3 troop 10 Inter Allied Commando album the 3 pages of the speech Colin gave at the Imperial War Museum on the 4th September 2007. The IWM was hosting a reunion of refugees from Nazism who served in the British Forces in WW2. My thanks to Colin for permmiting us to display his speech on our site.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/x+troop/

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 23/10/2021 23:16:59

Colin has messaged me to let me know he has sent off his application to join us in the CVA and I am delighted to be the first to welcome him. He has also identified one of the 2 unidentified Commandos from 3 troop in a photo we have. That photo with the updated information can be seen on this link:
https://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/x+troop/D-Day+Gold+Beach-at+centre+and+right_+two+members+of+No_3+Troop+Misc_.jpg.html

Colin also mentions an incident involving Maurice Latimer who is in another photo we have:
https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/x+troop/Walcheren+Cpl+Latimer.jpg.html

Colin says the following

" Latimer - Walcheren: thereby hangs an amusing tale. There was a troublesome observation post on a tower at Westkappelle, directing artillery fire into their landing area. Freddy Grey (now reverted to Manfred Gans) walked straight up to that tower with his Tommy gun pointing downwards and called on the Germans to surrender "before our tank guns go into action against you"! Out came a rather cocky Sergeant, who started demanding a lot of conditions. Freddy kept him talking, making sure to keep the sergeant's back turned towards the tower, because he saw Latimer sneak into the tower and shepherding the German soldiers behind a row of damaged housing towards a prisoner collection point. (I don't know whether the photo actually shows that particular lot of prisoners?) He then informed that sergeant that he could not continue to demand surrender terms, because he had no soldiers left to surrender!

Thanks for sharing your memories with us Colin