Albert Rueben DONOHUE, No11 Cdo

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 24/04/2012 17:42:27

I am seeking help in finding out with what units my Father served with .
I have a photo dated 1940, showing him as a Cpl .
In 1940 he was posted to No 11 Commando and in 1943 to No 9 Commando.
However in the photo I cannot see the Black hackle which is said to have been worn by these units.
Can somebody please help as to where these units would have been during this time.
Dad served from 1938 'til 1959 with various Regiments.
As can be seen on his medal ribbon he served in North Africa and Italy with Layforce 3, Middle East Land Forces and Central Mediterranean Force.
I have a photo of him as a sergeant and his service number was 22974294 (formerly 907338. Albert Reuben Donohue.

Any information would be gratefully received.

Donny
ex 1 Kings

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 06/10/2010 21:17:10

Hi Donny and welcome to the CVA

There are several points in your post which I will address. The first is that in order to find out what units your father served with you should apply for his Army Service Record. How to do so can be found here:
http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html

Secondly there is information about these units at the following links:
Nos. 9 +11 Cdo - avery good breakdown on the Combined Operations site here:
http://www.combinedops.com/Black%20Hackle.htm
and
http://www.combinedops.com/No%209%20Commando.htm

The second photo you posted with him in the kilt looks pre Commando or very early stage Commando ( possibly in an Independent Company). As regards the black hackle the officers got them first and then the OR's see comments from above link :

The officers all have, and the men will have bonnets with large black hackles in the side. These are very smart but a bit embarrassing to the Sassenach officers...

There is also good information on No.9 Cdo provided by a veteran Ronald 'Ken' Young sadly not long before he died :
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/1093.page

On the CVA site there is a good history on No.9 Commando here:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/site/mambots/editors/fckeditor/editor/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=

Do not forget to read the document at the end of that history on 9 Cdo operations 11/9/43- 8/5/45

Please post any photos you have that you think may be of interest and I will transfer them in due course to our photo gallery.

Regards

Pete

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 06/10/2010 22:22:25

Pete,
thanks for your speedy response. Regarding the photo in 'the kilt'. Prior to joining No 11 Commando in 1940 my Dad was embodied in the RA in 1939. Not RA dress in the photo so must have been early Commando. Unfortunately I do not have any other photos of him in 9 or 11 Commando.
I will look at the posts you suggested.

Some names from old papers I have are:

Major Pedder
Capt Murdoch
Sgt Joe Corcoron
Ted Brown
Ted Fielding
Cyril Holton
Tommy Kelly

These men, I believe where in 3 troop No 11 Commando and made the trip to Lamlash on the Isle of Arran and stayed in a small cottage there next to 'Andreville' and the police station.

Can anybody recognise the names or places ?

Donny

Donny wrote:Pete,
Some names from old papers I have are:

Major Pedder
Capt Murdoch
Sgt Joe Corcoron
Ted Brown
Ted Fielding
Cyril Holton
Tommy Kelly

These men, I believe where in 3 troop No 11 Commando and made the trip to Lamlash on the Isle of Arran and stayed in a small cottage there next to 'Andreville' and the police station.

Can anybody recognise the names or places ?

Donny

No 11 commando was formed on 23 June 1940 under the command of Lt Col RRH (Dick) Pedder.
and Lamlash was certainly the place that No11 trained - and were billeted in the local houses & cottages.

Nick

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 18/10/2010 23:11:58

Hello Donny

Just wanted to say hello as my father George Dowse was also in No 11 (Scottish ) Commando and Layforce.

Sorry i cannot help you with your query but its nice to know that there are other people on the site with connections to No 11.

However Arran was definately the training ground and Dad told me he '' BORROWED '' a horse and rode around the island when he had some free time.

Geoffrey

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 03/11/2010 20:21:48

Donny

I am meeting next week with the daughter of one of the Landlady's who billetted No.11 Commandos whilst they were at Lamlash. She knows the cottage you describe and will make some enqs. I will let you know any information I get.

Regards

Pete

Update: Trip postponed due to weather. Hope to get there soon.

Donny

I have just written an ebook about No.11 (Scottish) Commando, it is available to download for free at the following website: www.litaniriver.com

I spent nearly five years researching the history of the unit including meeting some of the survivors, unfortunately I don't recall your fathers name but will double check my records and let you know.

Cheers

Ian McHarg

Cyril Holton was my father. He was Liverpool Irish, and trained as a commando in Galashiels, where he met my mother, Isobel Young. He was invalided out of the army after a spell as a sniper in the Libyan desert, when he injured his neck during paratroop training in, I think, Egypt. he convalesced in Tanganyika (as was), came home to marry my mother, then spent 15 years or so working in Nigeria. He died in 1970.

if anyone has more information about his army service, I would be very grateful. He rarely spoke about his war.

Brian Holton

Hi Brian, I found this this week.

What a great find, good work
Donny

Donny

I attach an email I have just received:-
Hello Bill,

Yes, the commando display is permanent, however, depending when you were leaving on the Wednesday, we have further information in our archive which is open on Wednesdays. Please let me know about the Wednesday, if it is not suitable I might be able to get someone to come in on another of the days you are on the island to let you into the archive. The Museum is open every day from 10.30am until 4.30pm. we will do our best to let you see all that we have, mostly 11th Commando. I look forward to meeting you.
Regards
Tom

Tom Macleod
Hon. Secretary/Manager
Isle of Arran Heritage Museum

[email protected]

Perhaps you could approach Tom as No11 Commando like my fathers Commando No4 did training on Arran and Lamlash is on the Isle of Arran.

Best wishes.

Bill Harvey

Bill , thank you for the heads up, i will follow that through.
Regards
Donny

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 22/04/2012 21:27:13

Donny wrote:
thanks for your speedy response. Regarding the photo in 'the kilt'. Prior to joining No 11 Commando in 1940 my Dad was embodied in the RA in 1939. Not RA dress in the photo so must have been early Commando. Unfortunately I do not have any other photos of him in 9 or 11 Commando.
I will look at the posts you suggested.

Some names from old papers I have are:

Major Pedder
Capt Murdoch
Sgt Joe Corcoron
Ted Brown
Ted Fielding
Cyril Holton
Tommy Kelly

These men, I believe where in 3 troop No 11 Commando and made the trip to Lamlash on the Isle of Arran and stayed in a small cottage there next to 'Andreville' and the police station.

Can anybody recognise the names or places ?

Donny

Chris Brown, son of Cpl Ted Brown, No11 Cdo, has just informed me that he has photos of his father & friends (Wally & Don), outside the Lamlash Police Station. Some of the photos feature Nancy Hyslop and her mother - so it's possible that Ted, Wally and Don were billetted at Nancy's house...
It's also possible that 'Don' is a nickname for Donohue.

nick

I have posted Ted Brown's sub-album in the No11 Album of the Gallery.
There are photos of a Cpl who's name is 'Don' - he does bare a resemblance to CplAlbert Donohue...

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/11/Ted+Brown/

Nick

Information received from Chris Brown 21 Aug 2012.

Donny has been in touch with Chris who tells us:

Chris Brown wrote:...The photos of 'Don' are indeed of his father [Cpl Albert Donohue], confirmed by his mother, and were much appreciated by his family as these are the only photos in existence as far as we know.

Donny is at present, taking a trip to Arran where he plans to visit the Heritage Museum to try and find out more of his father's time on Arran. He will send me any information he can find out about my Dad [Cpl Ted Brown] if anything comes to light.
I said he should try and get to meet Jessie Taylor, who, just this evening, phoned me to say he has made contact with her. Jessie now agrees that Dad was probably with 3 troop as was Don so I think we can safely change Dad's details from 1 to 3 troop...

Nick