Trying to piece together information about Thomas Wake

I am just beginning to research my fathers service history. I only have my conversations with him as a base.
He was originally in the Royal Navy but volunteered for and joined the Royal Naval Commandos. He was involved in the following, some in the RNC but some perhaps after joining the SBS.

Dieppe raid.
North Africa landings, I know he was in Tunisia.
Landing In Sicily and Italy.
Based in Alexandria.
Raid with SBS on airfields in Crete.
Finished the war in Haifa, working in the docks area.

My dad was a member of forward observation parties who landed prior to the main landings. He was a morse operator, part of a 5 man team that directed bombardments by the fleet. As part of this duty I am aware that he would often be behind enemy lines, coordinating strikes against enemy positions for days after landings.

Firstly does anyone know of him, Thomas Wake.
Secondly, are the duties listed those of a RNC or SBS.
Thirdly, where to from here? I have no records and would appreciate help in pointing me in the right direction.

Dad died nearly 6 years ago, so the information I remember him relating is all I have to go on.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 22/09/2012 10:47:38

Hi James

Did your father ever mention the unit named COBU ?

Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU) http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/

Attached below is a bit about the history of naval gunfire support, with particular reference to the Combined Operations Bombardment Units of the Second World War. This is a Royal Artillery Historical Document. When you check their list of operations you will see similarities to those of your father. Have you applied for his Service Record yet?

This of course is just one immediate thought that comes to mind. As you will see with other posts, we always ask people if they have any photos or documents that might provide clues

Hi, I reccomend applying for your father's Royal Marine service records, that will give you some concrete information to work on.

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/ServiceRecords/

Here are a couple of sample records

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/3587.page

This one being my late grandfather.
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/3577.page

As Pete mentioned, if you can upload any photos, documents or pictures of other items it may give somebody a clue.

Good luck.

Also

National archives
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/royalmarines.htm

Royal Marines museum
http://www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 22/09/2012 21:01:24

James, do you know what unit your father was with at Dieppe ? My grandfather George always said he was at Dieppe, his brief comments sounded like A Commando. His record shows him being with 8th Battalion Royal Marines at the time, but later he is recorded being with A/40 Commando who were at Dieppe.

You can see this here http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/3577.page

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 12/01/2017 00:47:35

James

Just in case you haven't seen them here are our galleries for the 2 units that you mentioned you thought your father may have been in:

Royal Naval Commandos - http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/rn+cdos/?&g2_fromNavId=xf8787e8c&g2_navId=x1b61c863&g2_GALLERYSID=5103753e72d85de8e8114dd05efdf5e1

SBS - http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/

As can be seen towards the bottom of Page 2 of a document about the SBS which can be accessed from the above link, men from COBU did train for operations with the SBS

Pete

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 22/09/2012 23:42:39

The Imperial War Museum online archive shows a few photos of radio operators and others from Bombardment Units. It might be worth browsing through them. You never know !

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search?query=FOB&items_per_page=10&submit=&filter[contentDate][0]=%22Second%20World%20War%22

The direct links are a bit awkward to post it would seem, but if you go to their online site you can search and also filter results

I have reproduced some of the IWM photos under their terms of licence and placed them in our gallery:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/

Thanks for the really useful information, I will follow all the links and apply for the records that you request.

I will have to await confirmation but I believe he was in 40 Commamdo at Dieppe, he told me he never made the beach, spent quite sometime behind a burning tank in the water before swimming out to be picked up.

Although I don't recall him mentioning the COBU, the picture makes sense. he did mention during one of his recollections that the forward ops party was made up of 5 men, which included an Army Captain and Sargeant.

I would be happy to receive any further advise or comments and will now busy myself following the information already provided, thanks again.

James.

Having read the details supplied by Markh, it triggered a memory that he told me he was injured, in Italy I think and was sent to hospital at "Kilmacombe"(no sue about spelling) after having a hole blown in his ear drum. Is there anyway of tracking him via his hospital admission?

Hi James,

Good luck James. Report back your findings, it may trigger off more information for yourself or others.

I think and was sent to hospital at "Kilmacombe

My granddad's service records list a number of hospitals, so hopefully when you get your dad's records they might show where he was in hospital, however no other details were given. so we could only guess from a few anecdotes the family has.

Speaking of hospital records, I actually have a first world war document from a field hospital, listing the many wounds my great grandfather received at Arras France, where he lost a leg.
Perhaps some WW2 hospital records still exist somewhere ?

Hi Everyone

My father was in hospital in Kowloon Hong Kong. He was with No 1 Cdo at the time. He is mentioned in No 1's War Diary but there is not a mention as for to why he was there.
After 12 yrs I have no further imformation about it, after extensive research, other than it was an RAF hospital in a former school.

I think military hospital records are scarce............perhaps someone researching RAMC can help.

Regards
John M

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 27/09/2012 09:40:20

Hi James

You may also be interested in this account of the RN Commandos :

http://www.commandoveterans.org/site/royal-navy-commandos

Regards

Pete

** Updated 27/9/12.... See also this forum message : http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/801.page

It appears more and more likely that my dad was a member of the Combined Operations, 148 Commando. I have applied for some information from the pensions department and await confirmation of this, however I think it's fairly certain that he was the naval rating member of COBU FOO parties. These guys also worked closely with the SBS, and would explain why he was it would seem he was on Crete with the SBS as part of "Operation Albumen" in April 1942.

Thanks for all the help guys, please keep it coming if you can, I have found out so much in such a short time.

James

Just on a technical note in WW2 it was simply COBU rather than 148 Commando RA. That was formed post war from 148 Battery RA as part of the new 29 Commando RA after the success of the WW2 Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU)