Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions

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BAKER, Kenneth

Corporal
5618955
No 8 Commando
Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions
Devonshire Regiment
Killed in action or died of wounds

Corporal Kenneth Baker was killed in action during operations in Libya with Layforce. Son of Thomas and Sarah Baker, of Torrington, Devon; husband of Sylvia Emily Jane Baker, of Torrington.

BLACKWELL, Alun Trevor

Lance Corporal
3655742
No 2 Commando
Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions
South Lancashire Regt (Prince of Wales Volunteers)
Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
Private Alun Blackwell enlisted with the South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales Volunteers) in October 1939. In 1940 he volunteered for the Independent Companies and took part in the Scissors Force expedition to Norway.

GRAY, Edward James

Private
5774940
Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions
No 1 Commando
Commando Basic Training Centre
Royal Norfolk Regiment
Extract from Service Record
19.05.1939 enlisted Royal Norfolk Regiment, civil occupation Gamekeeper, Cator Estate.
23.04.1940 volunteered for Special Service; posted No.8 Independent Company.

HARE, Owen Stewart

Second Lieutenant
129412
Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions
Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment
Died on war service
Died in the UK
Second Lieutenant Owen Hare, 1st Special Service Bn., died result of a mountaineering accident on Ben Nevis during training at STC Lochailort.
Register of deaths records the Informant as Padre Basil Pitt, Army Chaplain. 

LACEY, K.R.V.

Sergeant
2035016
Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions
Royal Engineers
Sergeant Lacey, 1 Special Service Battalion*, was reported as a prisoner of war during operations in the Middle East.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/96 (shows 1 SS Bn)..

PROWSE, Alfred Charles

Lance Corporal
5620784
No 8 Commando
Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions
Devonshire Regiment
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Alfred Prowse died during operations in Libya with 'B' Battalion Layforce. Son of Arthur and Mable Ellen Prowse of Sidmouth, Devon.
 
Sources
CWGC.

RAISBECK, Robert Douglas Grant

Corporal
2930958
No 4 Independent Company
Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (Liverpool Scottish)
Corporal Robert Raisbeck was reported missing, later found to have been taken prisoner of war on 30 July 1941.He served with No.4 Independent Company and 'B' Company No.1 Special Service Battalion (later No.2 Commando).

RUDGE, William Francis

Sergeant William Rudge DCM 2 Commando
Sergeant
3654948
No 2 Commando
Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions
South Lancashire Regiment
Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
Sergeant William Rudge, 5 troop, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallant and distinguished service in Italy [1].
Recommendation
Gulf of Salerno 13 Sept. 1943.

THOMAS, John Smith

Private
3319284
Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions
'Layforce'
Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
Private John Thomas, 3 Special Service Bn. was reported missing in the Middle East on 20 April 1941 (Bardia Raid) later found to be a prisoner of war.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists  / National Archives files WO417/24 and WO417/27.

TUNSTALL, Harry

Lance Corporal
804447
No 6 Commando
Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
Died on war service
Died in the UK
Lance Corporal Harry Tunstall , 101 troop, died during the very short period his unit was re-designated as 5 Special Service Bn., before reforming again as No.6 Commando. His death is recorded as by drowning in the Westminster Abbey Commando ROH database.

TURNER-HUGHES, Reginald Tudor

Captain
105521
Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions
Royal Welch Fusiliers
Died on war service

Captain Reginald Turner-Hughes, No 3 Special Service (SS) Bn., from Lillington Manor, Leamington Spa*, died on war service. Precise details on how he met his death are not known to this archive.

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