Bar to the Military Cross

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HARRISON, Stewart Sandbach (LtCol)

No 12 Commando
Commanding Officer of No. 12 Commando.
 
A veteran of World War One and recipient of the Military Cross, announced in July 1918, and later a bar to the Military Cross in August 1919.
 
Sources
London Gazette Supp. 30780, p7909 and Supp. 31745, p924.
List The Bugle , author Maj. Gen. Corran Purdon CBE, MC, CPM.
Commando Association obituaries newsletter 70 issued March 1980.
 

LAPRAIK, John Neilson

51ME Commando
SBS
SAS
Acting Captain John Neilson Lapraik was awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East [1].
Recommendation
“On May 1st, the 51st M.E. Commando was ordered to capture Commando Hill. Capt. Lapraik went first during the climb, he was the first man to gain a footing on the top and by at once engaging the enemy with his revolver enabled the unit to gain a first footing over the shelf of rock at the summit, which they were subsequently enabled to exploit.

LUNN, Eric John Alfred

Captain Eric Lunn SBS
SBS
Captain Eric Lunn was awarded the Military Cross twice and also received a Mention in Despatches for his gallantry during operations with 2 Special Boat Section [1][2][3].
He joined the SBS as a Second Lieutenant from the Commando Depot on 24 September 1942 and took part in several operations notably Oran Harbour. He then joined the SBS operating in the Mediterranean and was promoted Captain. By February 1944 he was at Strategic Allied Command South East Asia (SACSEA) with 'Z' SBS [4]. 
Military Cross

MARSHALL, Lionel Guy Bradford

Capt Marshall 40rm commando
40RM Commando
Captain Lionel Marshall MC and bar died during operations in Albania.*
  • Awarded the MC for "gallant and distinguished services in operations leading to the capture of Termoli."
  • Awarded a bar to his MC for "courage, leadership and resource in operations which led to the crossing of the Garigliano River in the face of determined opposition, from the enemy."
Sources
CWGC.
MC: LG Publication date: February 1944 ; Supplement 36367; Page: 687

MCGONIGAL, Ambrose Joseph

Ambrose McGonigal MC
No 12 Commando
SBS
Lieutenant Ambrose McGonigal was awarded the M.C. [1] for distinguished service during a raid on the enemy held island of Sark on the night of the 27th December 1943. This was a reconnaissance operation to obtain certain information and if possible capture a prisoner. Very soon after landing the raiding party inadvertently entered a minefield and the resultant explosions killed one member of the party and badly injured a second. Whilst evacuating from the minefield a further 4 mines exploded killing the already injured man, and wounding Lt. McGonigal and 2 others.

MOORE, Edward Lewis

Captain Ned Moore 3 Commando Medical Officer
No 3 Commando
Captain Edward Moore, M.B., R.A.M.C., Medical Officer attached to No. 3 Commando, was awarded the Military Cross [1] in recognition of gallant and distinguished service after the landing at Agnone Sicily, and during the advance to the bridge at Malati on the night of 13/14 July 1943[2].
 

MOORE, John Jeremy

John Jeremy Moore
3 Cdo. Bde. RM
Major General John Jeremy Moore served as the commander of the British land forces during the Falklands War in 1982.
  • Lieutenant - awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service with 40 Commando RM in Malaya during the period 1st January to 30th June, 1952 [1].
  • Captain - awarded a Bar to the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service whilst Commander of 'L' Company 42 Commando RM during a hostage rescue operation at Limbang, Sarawak, on the 12th December 1962 [2].

PETERS, David Robert

Maj David Peters MC and bar 2 Commando
No 2 Commando
Trooper David Robert Peters, a Cadet from the 102nd Officer Cadet Training Unit, was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on the 9th March 1940 [1].
  • Attached to No 2 Commando from at least January 1943 [2].
  • 15 March 1945 (Temporary Captain) publication of his award of the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field [3].

POLLARD, Gordon

Maj Gordon Pollard MC MM
No 3 Commando
The then Sergeant Gordon Pollard, RA,  was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East (Egypt and Libya) during the period May, 1942 to October, 1942.
 
On the 16th May 1943 he was commisioned as Second Lieutenant. Subsequently he joined No 3 Commando remaining with them for the remainder of the war, his final rank attained in the Commandos was Major.
 

SUTHERLAND, David (Lt Col)

No 8 Commando
SBS

(The following is from the Times obituary.)
 
LIEUTENANT David Sutherland and Royal Marine John Duggan were the only two to return from Operation “Anglo”, a raid on the Italian-occupied island of Rhodes by the Special Boat Service in September 1942. The SBS team was pursued relentlessly; it had attacked two airfields and destroyed aircraft positioned to support Rommel’s threatened advance on Cairo and to bomb supply convoys to beleaguered Malta. 

WEBB, Gordon Geoffrey Henry

Capt Gordon Webb MC 4 Commando
No 4 Commando
Gordon Webb was called up for military service as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery on the 9th September 1939. [1]  However in 1936 at Trinity College he had completed the requirements  necessary for the Officers Training Corps and was therefore eligible for consideration for a commission which he received. [2]
 

WESTLEY, Eric Roy

No 3 Commando
Captain Eric Roy Westley was in command of 3 troop during the attack on Le Plein, Normandy, where he was wounded in the hand, but rejoined the troop immediately after medical treatment in the field. The recipient of two Military Crosses for gallant and distinguished services, he was posted to the South Staffordshire Regiment on the 21st November 1945 and later resigned his commission on the 26th March 1951.
 
Sources:
MC: LG Supplement 36637, Page 3605
Bar to MC: LG Supplement 36679, Page 4044.

YOUNG, Peter

Brigadier Peter Young
Then then Major Peter Young
No 3 Commando
Peter Young was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1939. He served in France with the British Expeditionary Force before being wounded and evacuated back to the UK at Dunkirk.  Joining No 3 Commando in the first selction of officers after its formation, the next few years would see Peter Young rise to the temporary rank of Lieut. Colonel and assume command of No 3 Commando in late 1943. He took part in the early raids on Lofoten and Vaagso, being awarded his first MC for his "gallant and distinguished services" during the latter. 
 

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