No 11 Commando
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Displaying 1 - 132 of 132'Layforce'
Three UK based Army Commando units, Nos. 7, 8, and 11 Commandos, were initially combined within 'Force Z' for operations initially envisaged against Rhodes in the Eastern Mediterranean. Other elements of the Force included a number of men from No.3 Commando and the Canoe section of No.8 (Guards) Commando. They sailed from the Isle of Arran on the 31st January 1941, and arrived at Suez on the 7th March.
'Rommel HQ - Operation Flipper'
Location
The raiding party landed 14 November. The attack on Rommel's HQ by units from Layforce took place 17 November. The raiding party included a group from No 11 Commando (see What Links Here above) led by Lt Col Keyes supported by others, including two from No 7 Cdo who had escaped from Crete, Sgt Fred Birch (No 7 Cdo & 51ME Cdo) and Cpl John Kerr (No 7 Cdo & 51ME Commando)
11 Cdo. Roll of Honour
11 Commando

This Commando was formed on 23rd June 1940 in Galashiels. After formation it marched from Galashiels to Ayr and then on to the Isle of Arran for amphibious training.
11 Commando Nominal Roll
For historical & research purposes, we have tried to compile the names of all No.11 Commando volunteers which were obtained from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Lists of Casualties, the No.11 Commando War Diary, papers from the National Archives and further research by members of the CVA and various other resources.
11 Commando Operations
These are some of the operations that No 11 Commando took part in, either on their own, or as part of a Combined Operations assault. No 11 Commando became part of Layforce.
ABLEWHITE, C.A.
ADAMS, Jack

AINSLIE, William Robson Milne

CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/30.
BAILLIE, Alexander Charles
Lance Corporal Alexander Baillie died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
BALLANTYNE, Alexander A.
Lance Corporal Alexander Ballantyne died whilst assigned from the Commando to Middle East Detachment 2, later redesignated 2nd Special Service Detachment (SSD 2), in Burma.
Some additional detail can be found on this link to a message on our Forum.
BARR, Edward
BARRAND, Peter Charles
BEATTIE, Alexander

Corporal Alexander Beattie was taken prisoner of war on 21 November 1941 after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ.
BERTIE, James John William
Corporal James Bertie died during operations at Litani River.
BEST, George
Private George Best died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
BLAIR, David Arthur

BOGLE, James

Private James Bogle was reported missing 24 November 1941 after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ, later found to be a prisoner of war. After his release in 1945 he served two years in Germany in the Scottish Rifles*.
BOULTON, David

BRADY, J.
Signalman J. Brady was wounded 9 June 1941 during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
BROWN, Leslie Jock

CWGC.
BRUCE, Charles
Sergeant Charles Bruce, from Brechin, Angus, was reported missing 24 November 1941 after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ, later found to be a prisoner of war at Camp 59 in Italy from which he managed to escape back to allied lines after the Italian Armistice. Post war member of the Commando Association last residing in Australia.
BRYAN, Gerald Jackson

BULLOCK, Howard Ernest
Gunner Howard Bullock from Worcestershire died of wounds received during operations at Litani River in the Middle East.
BURROWS, Charles William
Gunner Charles Burrows from Beckenham, Kent, died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
BURTON, Kenneth Harwood
BUTLER, Howard Herbert Cosens
BYRNE, John Vincent

CAMPBELL, William
Private William Campbell died during operations at Litani River.
CARR, Richard Philip

CHANTRELL, William
Private William Chantrell died during operations at Litani River.
CHEYNE, John

CHISHOLM, James Alexander
Sergeant James Chisholm died during operations at Litani River.
CLARK, P.
Private Clark was wounded 9 June 1941 during operations in Syria.
COHEN, Aaron Harry

Corporal Aaron Cohen died during operations at Litani River.
COODE, Donald Alastair

Lieutenant Donald Coode, 1 troop, died during operations at Litani River.
COOKE, John
Lance Bombardier John Cooke from Pontefract died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
RA Casualty Card.
CRAIG, James Cross
Lance Corporal James Craig died during operations at Litani River.
DAVIDSON, Alexander

Private Alexander Davidson was reported missing 24 November 1941 after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ, later found to be a prisoner of war.
DAVIDSON, Alexander
DEAN, L.W.
DIBB, Edgar
Corporal Edgar Dibb died during operations at Litani River.
DINSDALE, Henry
Private Henry Dinsdale died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/36.
DOVE, George

Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
[Image] CVA Gallery.
DRORI, Avishalom
Corporal Avishalom Druri was Jewish and from Palestine. He volunteered for the British Army and was first posted to the Pioneer Corps before being attached to 51 Middle East Commando. He later joined 'C' Battalion Layforce (No.11 Commando) and was taken prisoner of war during the raid on Rommel's HQ (Operation Flipper).
DUFFY, Joseph Aloysius
Private Joseph Duffy joined L Detachment, SAS, from No 11 Commando on the 28th August 1941 and was accidentally killed in training due to a parachute failure, along with his friend and fellow Seaforth Highlander, Private Kenneth Warburton. Location given as East side of the Great Bitter Lake. The pair became the Regiment's first casualties.
DUNCAN, George Ian Alistair

EARDLEY, Albert William
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
RE Enlistment Register for 1939 (enlisted 26 April 1939)..
RE Casualty Card.
FARMILOE, William Arthur


FRASER, Thomas Coupar

GALLAGHER, Denis
Private Denis Gallagher died during operations at Litani River.
GIBBS, William Gore
Gunner William Gibbs died during operations at Litani River.
GLITHEROE, G.E.
Corporal Glitheroe was wounded on 9 June 1941 during operations at the Litani River in Syria.
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
GORNALL, James
GREIG, Robert
Corporal Robert Greig died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
GUNN, David
HAMILTON, Alexander
Driver Alexander Hamilton died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
HAMILTON, Robert Scott
Private Robert Hamilton died during operations at Litani River.
HARLAND, Edwin
Private Edwin Harland died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
HARMER, Reginald

HUGHES, Albert Edwin
Lance Corporal Albert Hughes died in North Africa.
HURST, Ben
Private Ben Hurst died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
JOHNSTON, Robert

- 9 June 1941 (Private) wounded during Operation Exporter at Litani River, Syria.
JONES, Charles Ernest
JONES, G.
JONES, Harold
KEARNEY, Joseph Francis
KEITH, Douglas
KEYES, Lt Col. Geoffrey Charles Tasker, VC

KING, Ernest Taylor
Lance Corporal Ernest King died during operations at Litani River.
KINGHORN, Robert
Private Robert Kinghorn died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
KNIGHT, Denis Hammond
Second Lieutenant Denis Knight died during the period the Commando were based for training on the Isle of Arran. He was found with a gunshot wound to his head in the dwelling house in Lamlash where he was billeted. Cause of death given by Captain J. P. Baird RAMC.
LAING, J.
Private Laing was reported wounded and missing 9 June 1941, and later a prisoner of war, during operations in Syria. In 1942 a further report stated he was now not a prisoner of war.
LANG, John

Lance Corporal John Lang died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Read more about John Lang on our Forum [HERE].
LAPPIN, James

LISTER, Richard
Private Richard Lister died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/30.
LOCK, Charles
Corporal Charles Lock was reported missing 24 November 1941 after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ, later found to be a prisoner of war. Post war member of the Commando Association from Walmer, Kent.
MACARTHUR, Robert
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/28.
MACQUARRIE, Donald Maclean


Lance Corporal Donald MacQuarrie, 8 troop, died of wounds in the Middle East. He had been reported wounded in the Middle East on 24 November 1941 after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ.
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/35, WO417/41, WO417/48, WO417/50, and WO417/56.
MCADAM, Leslie
MCAULEY, Michael
Lance Corporal Michael McAuley died during operations at Litani River.
MCGONIGAL, Eoin Christopher

MCGUIRE, John
Corporal John McGuire died during operations at Litani River.
MCKAY, Robert
Corporal Robert McKay died during operations at Litani River.
MCKENZIE, James Burnett
Private James McKenzie was reported missing in the Middle East 24 November 1941 after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ, later found to be a prisoner of war since 19 November 1941.
MCKEOWN, John
Private John McKeown died during operations at Litani River.
MCNINCH, William Matthew

MELLOWS, Charles Henry

MORE, George Robert Melville Harvey


- January 1944 operating with the SOE in Serbia's Kopaonik Mountains [2].
- 1945 awarded a bar to his Military Cross for distinguished service [3][3a].
MULLEN, James Cassidy
Private James Mullen died during operations at Litani River.
MUNRO, George
MURPHY, James
Private James Murphy died during operations at Litani River.
MURRAY, Robert

Private Robert Murray was reported missing 24 November 1941 after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ, later found to be a prisoner of war.
NAPIER, Bevil Charles Alan

- August 1943 (Temporary Major) awarded the Military Cross for "gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East." (London Gazette 35077 and 36146.)
NICOL, Charles

Sergeant Charles Nicol was reported missing 24 November 1941 after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ, later found to be a prisoner of war.
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/35 and WO417/95.
Prisoners of War Records / National Archives files WO392/1, WO392/11, and WO392/21.
[Image] CVA Gallery image of 8 Troop No.11 Commando.
NIXON, Malvern
O'SULLIVAN, William Martin
Sergeant William O'Sullivan died during operations at Litani River.
OLIPHANT, Archibald Johnston
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/26.
PADBURY, John
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/30.
PARNACOTT, Geoffrey Alfred Henry

Lieutenant Geoffrey Parnacott, 4 troop, died during operations at Litani River.
PAXTON, Charles Henry
Private Charles Paxton, 10 Troop, was reported missing on 24 November 1941 after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ in Libya, and later found to be a prisoner of war.
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/36.
Prisoners of War / National Archives files WO392/1, WO392/11, and WO392/21.
Photo of 10 Troop in Gallery.
PEDDER, Richard Robert Newsham (Lt Col)

PLUNKETT, John
Fusilier John Plunkett died during operations at Litani River.
POMFORD, Douglas
PURSE, Jack
Lance Corporal Jack Purse died during operations at Litani River.
RICHARDS, Charles Geoffrey

ROBB, Leslie
Private Leslie Robb died during operations at Litani River.
ROBERTSON, Andrew
Gunner Andrew Robertson died of wounds received during operations at Litani River.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
Notes
Ramleh War Cemetery was used "by various Commonwealth hospitals posted in turn to the area for varying periods." (Source: CWGC).
ROFT, Peter W.
Private Peter Roft was wounded on 9 June 1941 during operations at the Litani River in Syria. Post war member of the Commando Association from Brechin, Angus.
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 85.
ROONEY, Lawrence
Private Lawrence Rooney died during operations at Litani River.
RYAN, E.
SCEALES, James Stewart Macewan

Captain Sceales had served as Officer Commanding 7 troop whilst attached to the Commando before rejoining his Regiment.
Promoted Major he was reported wounded in 1944 during operations in Italy. On 12 May 1944 it was further reported that he was dangerously ill [1].
SCOTT, Thomas Fields

SEVERN, Clive

SMITH, John Rolland
Sergeant John Rolland Smith died during operations at Litani River.
SMITH, Peter
Gunner Peter Smith, from Glencraig in Fife, was reported missing in 1942 (full date not reported) during operations in the Middle East , later found to be a prisoner of war [1][1a]. He was subsequently killed as a result of aerial bombardment [2][2a].
STEVENSON, Thomas
Corporal Thomas Stevenson died during operations at Litani River.
STYLES, Alexander Mundie
Signaller Alexander Styles died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
TAIT, Duncan Robert

TERRY, Jack

TEVENDALE, Lewis Legertwood Legg

THOMPSON, Royce
Private Royce Thomspson died during operations at Litani River.
TITTERTON, Cyril Arthur
Lance Corporal Cyril Titterton died during operations at Litani River.
VARNEY, Frank Ernest

Lance Corporal Frank Varney, 10 Troop, was reported missing on 24 November 1941 after Operation Flipper, the raid on Rommel's HQ in Libya, and later found to be a prisoner of war.
WALLACE, Hugh
WARBURTON, Kenneth
WILSON, John Marshall Prentice
WOOD, Alfred Joseph
WOODNUTT, Desmond
Sapper Desmond Woodnutt died during operations at Litani River, Syria.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
RE Enlistment Register for 1939 (enlisted 16 Oct. 1939).
RE Casualty Card.
WORRALL, Frederick William Gordon
YOUNGER, Matthew Scott

Matthew Younger was wounded 9 June 1941 during operations at Litani River, Syria. Post war member of the Commando Association.
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