Charles Kenneth Beer 40RM Commando

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 18/07/2013 22:53:26

I'm trying to research my grandads service record during ww2, I'm not even sure what unit he was in, my dad thought 42 rm commando out of Plymouth as he was from cornwall, it can't be that as they were active in Burma & india as far as I can see. I know he fought in the Italian campaign, we have several photos of him in Naples 1945 with his commrades, (I can post if need be). The reason we don't know much about his service is that he never talked about it, he died in 91 when I was 8. The closest unit I could pin him down to is 43 rm commando. I've tried to search for him using forcesrecords.com but no trace. Any info would be most helpful. Thanks

Hi, Welcome to the forums.

When you say

I'm trying to research my grandads service record

do you have his official service record ? If not, I suggest you apply for the official records.

Its not a difficult task, but can require some patience in waiting for the reply.

You need his service number and also need to know if he was a Royal Marine Commando or Army Commando in order to apply to the correct office. However, be warned that the official records may not be as full as you hoped, but will at least give you some concrete evidence.

https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

There are several examples of service records on this website.

we have several photos of him in Naples 1945 with his commrades, (I can post if need be). T

Yes please, they might provide clues, add to the CVA library of photos and possibly somebody might spot a relative amongst his comrades.

If you get the chance, a visit to the Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth is a good morning spent.

http://www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk/exhibitions

Good luck, and let us know what you find out.

Thanks Mark

I will scan the pics tomorrow and then post them at the weekend.

My dad has dug out a letter from his brigade major after receiving gun shot wounds on 9/10/44. He says it says from Plymouth Royal Marine barracks X 11339 (does this mean any reference to his unit etc????)

Ive also downloaded the 2 forms from gov.uk to get his service records however we don't have his servive no.!! All we can give them is name DOB, place of birth and that he obviously fought in the Italian campaign in ww2.

I find it strange that on sites like forces records there is no trace of him tho !!

Here are the pics of him I mentioned, a couple of them are from when he must have first joined up the rest of him and comrades in Naples 1945.

More photos these all in Naples 1945

More

I now have my grandads service records.

He was called up late 1942, joined royal marines Jan 1943, did his training etc in achnacarry, looks as though he was stationed on 'HBL' & 'HOC' (all on home turf) and eventually joined 40 Rm Commando 21.8.44 embarked from UK on same date disembarked Naples 5.9.44, embarked Malta 7.9.44 then wounded 9.10.44 whilst 'on special operations', gun shot wounds to back & left side, 10.10.44 transferred to casualty clearing station spent 2 months in hospital then in march 1945 transferred to HMS Byrsa, looks like he saw the rest of the war out on there and between Naples was discharged 11.5.46.

Would love to know which speacial op & where etc he was on when he was wounded.

Hi ( sorry you did not leave your name)

I note you have received your Grandfather's service records and they confirm service in 40RM Commando. This is an excellent result for you. Are you able to scan the relevant section that reflects his Commando Service and send it to me. I will then enter the photo of him wearing a Beret into the 40RM Commando gallery. It is likely that this is his Royal Marine Blue Beret rather than his Commando Green Beret. I would have expected him to have had either the RM Commando patch or the Combined Ops patch on his shoulder if when a RM Commando. You asked about the Special Op. 40RM Commando were involved at the time of his wounding. I believe this will be Houndforce in Albania. Sarande, Albaniia to be more precise. It involved 40RM Commando and No.2 (Army) Commando, and other elements. A good account can be read here:

http://www.assyriatimes.com/assyrian/knowledge/assyrian-paratroopers-in-albania-and-greece/3318

My email address is on the Contact Us section on the Menu on the left of your screen

Regards

Pete Rogers

Hi Pete, its Phil sorry.

They have just arrived today, i will scan them at work tomorrow and send you them tomorrow evening.

Thats very interesting about where you think he may have been wounded, makes sense cos they would have sailed to Albania from Malta rather than the western side of Italy (Naples), gonna read the link youve sent now Pete.

Cheers

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 15/07/2013 23:45:46

Hi Phil

Tirana Park Cemetery has the graves of some of the Fallen on that day from 40RM Commando as can be seen here:

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx?cpage=1

In Memory of the following from 40RM Commando, Royal Marines, who died on the 9th/10th October 1944 and are Remembered with Honour at Tirana Park Cemetery:

Captain William Jenkin Hiles
Captain Michael Stuart MacPherson
Sergeant Major James Sidney Bain
Marine Ronald Pincher
Marine George Stephen Pratt
Marine William James St. Ange
Marine James Valentine Salt

All their graves can be seen seen on this link to our War Graves album: http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+War+Graves+Memorials+and+Plaques/graves/War+Graves+Albania/tirana+park/

We Will Remember Them

Cheers Pete

Yes I agree 100% thats the special op he must have been involved in, probably his first and last moment in combat too. Any of the marines that died could have been his pals too.
Its really satisfying to finally know a bit about what he did and why I now know he didnt talk about the war at all.

i'll sned you the relevant pages from the records tomorrow evening, some of it is hard to decipher, you might be qble to shed a bit more light on it for me if you are used to looking at these records

Cheers

I have now received grandad's official service record only took a fortnight! Please have a look and see if you can decipher them those of you have experience in looking at them & let me know what you can.

Looks like from him joining the marines he was in HOC in UK then in August 1944 transferred to 40 RM Commando and embarked for Naples, Italy then a few days later to Malta, he was then involved in 'special operations' where he was wounded with gun shot wounds to back & left side on 9.10.44 (concurs with the letter sent home to his parents see attached)
Found out with help from Pete that this was the Sarande special op in Albania which 40 were involved in, 7 from 40 cdo were killed and a few more wounded inc grandad.

He then spent 2 months in hospital recovering and was then transferred to HMS Byrsa to see out the war eventually being de-mobbed in may 1946.

Got his medal card too qualified for 39-45 star, war medal & italy star, bit suprised he didnt get defence medal, I thought it was for non operational service men/women for 1080 days service?? Surely he completed that in the 1252 days he served in which he wasnt on operations??

Anyway have a look any feedback on any aspect is greatly appreciated.

Phil

Part 2

Wounded letter home & medal entitlement card

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 17/07/2013 11:32:39

Hi Phil, wow what a surprise getting the service records so quickly, and they look really comprehensive, from Charles's enlistment notice, to becoming a Royal Marine, then a Commando, getting wounded and all the way through to his final pay.

Thanks for sharing the records, documents and pictures with everybody, they are a tribute to your granddad, and might also provide clues to future researchers.
I will certainly have a more detailed look at the weekend, but for real insights I will leave that to the much more experienced people on these forums.

A small point I can add, Form B103 has an entry for Dalditch 3/4/1943

I recently went to the site of Dalditch camp in Devon, and took a few pictures of what little remains, but hopefully, it might add a little colour to this entry on Charles's record, as it did for me.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/4033.page

Thanks again Phil !