No 12 Commando

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'French coast - Operation Farenheit'

Wednesday, November 11, 1942

Location

Pointe du Plouezec
France
48° 45' 16.5924" N, 2° 55' 47.2476" W
An overnight intelligence gathering raid on a signals station on the French coast at Pointe de Plouézec. The raiding force set out from Dartmouth harbour on board MTB 344, commanded by Lt. Cdr. Freddie Bourne RN and crew, accompanied by a small number of commandos who used a Dory to land.
Officers included Major Geoffrey Appleyard, Captain's Peter Kemp and Captain Oswald Rooney. Commando NCO's included amongst others Sgt Sam Brodison, Sgt. Barry, and LCpl Ellis Howells.

'Norway - Operation Checkmate'

Wednesday, April 28, 1943

Location

Kopervik
Norway
59° 17' 1.3452" N, 5° 18' 24.7572" E

Operation CheckmateA combined operations raid on Axis shipping in the harbour at Kopervik, Norway. This raid was a No 14 Commando operation. The raiders managed to sink several ships using limpet mines, but were eventually captured and initially taken to Haugesund for interrogation before being transported to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp.

'Norway - Operation Crackers'

Monday, February 22, 1943
An intelligence gathering operation originally planned to include the destruction of observation posts in the Norwegian fjords, but due to bad weather the raiders took over an unmanned observation post for a week of intelligence gathering before making good their escape. 
 

12 Commando

History of the Unit

12 Commando

No 12 Army Commando - The ‘Irish’ Commando.

Volunteers for No 12 Commando gathered in Belfast and Londonderry and marched the 67 miles to Crumlin where the unit was formed on 5th August 1940 under C.O. Lt. Col S.S. Harrison MC &bar (nickname Peachy).

12 Commando Nominal Roll

In 1946 the Army Council decided that the Army Commandos were to be disbanded and no provision was allowed or made for any depository or office which would have at least contained a complete Roster of Names of the men who served in the various units. 
 

12 Commando Operations

These are some of the operations that No 12 Commando took part in, either on their own, or as part of a Combined Operations assault.  In many cases only a handful of Commandos from No 12 took part rather than the Commando as a whole. They are in date order and form part of our overall history of No 12 Commando.

Click on the links for more detail about each.

Operation Chess - France, July 1941

Operation Kitbag - Norway, November 1941(aborted)

Operation Anklet - Norway, November 1941

12 Commando, Redesignation of 4 (Para) Troop,1943

Type: Letters
Author: Content Admin
Year of Publishing: 2014
Keywords: Rooney, Lovat,
Download
A letter to Captain Oswald B (Mickey) Rooney of 4 (Para) Troop, No12 Commando from Lord Lovat, HQ Special Service Brigade, on the reallocation of No.12 Commando. Document and image courtesy of Capt Rooney's son, Chris Rooney. Lovat added a footnote to Mickey Rooney: "OC No 9 'is short of a good subaltern who can be added to the 27 other ranks. Please contact him."
 

ALLUM, Frank Edmund

Frank Edmund Allum
Gunner
914187
No 12 Commando
No 1 Commando
Royal Artillery
Gunner Frank Allum was attested into the Royal Artillery in 1939. He was wounded May 1940 in France serving with 145 Field Regiment RA. Volunteering for the Commandos he served in both No.12 and No.1 Commando.
 
Sources

BASSETT-WILSON, Paul Francis

Paul Bassett-Wilson MC
Captain
165718
No 9 Commando
No 12 Commando
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Military Cross (MC)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Captain Paul Bassett-Wilson MC died during operations with No.9 Commando at Lake Comacchio, Italy [1].
A former pupil of Stowe School and student at Trinity College [2], he had earlier served as a Lieutenant in No.12 Commando. 

BEGGS, Harold Raymond

Troop Sergeant Major
7011764
No 12 Commando
Royal Ulster Rifles, 1st Bn.
TSM Harold Beggs served in No.12 Commando from 1940 until it was disbanded. He went onto serve with the 6th Airborne during the DDay landings at Normandy. Post war he ran a successful bakery business in Dunoon and was member of the Commando Association residing Strone, Argyll.

BLOUNT, Arthur Harvey

Corporal
3972221
No 12 Commando
South Wales Borderers
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Arthur Blount was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire, later confirmed killed in action. Arthur was part of a demolition team who embarked for the raid on HMS Campbeltown. Son of Charles George Blount, and of Annie Blount, of Morden, Surrey.

BOLDEN, Stanley

Stanley Bolden 12 Commando
Lance Corporal
3316568
No 12 Commando
SAS
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Military Medal (MM)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Stanley Bolden, No.12 Commando, was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the Field [1][2].

BOWLES, Eric Charles

Lance Corporal
5384691
No 12 Commando
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Eric Bowles, 'D' troop, based at Hamble, died while in a  trawler patrol that was attacked by enemy aircraft. 
 
Sources
CWGC
No 12 Cdo War Diary ,National Archive file W0 218 / 28.

BRETT, Gerrard

Lieutenant (later Captain)
126498
No 12 Commando
Royal Ulster Rifles
Military Cross (MC)
Lieutenant Brett was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during Operation Chariot at St Nazaire 27/28 March 1942. Wounded on board HMS Campbeltown and later prisoner of war [1][1a][2][2a][4a].

BRODISON, Samuel James

Sam Brodison
CSM Samuel Brodison MM 12 Commnando
Company Sergeant Major (later RSM)
6977705
No 10 Commando
No 12 Commando
Small Scale Raiding Force (62 Commando)
Royal Irish Fusiliers
Military Medal (MM)
Company Sergeant Major Samuel Brodison was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service carrying out beach obstacle reconnaissance in France during May 1944 [1][2].
Recommendation

CALLAWAY, Thomas, Frederick

Thomas Callaway12 Commando
Corporal
5499065
No 12 Commando
Hampshire Regiment
Corporal Thomas Callaway was one of the commando contingent who embarked on HMS Campbeltown for Operation Chariot, the raid at St. Nazaire 28 March 1942.
He was reported missing but later found to be a prisoner of war.
 
Sources

CHETWYND, Samuel Ernest

Corporal
4977274
No 12 Commando
Sherwood Forresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Samuel Chetwynd was reported missing 28 March 1942 after operation Chariot at St. Nazaire, later confirmed killed in action. He embarked for the raid on motor launch ML 457 as part of Captain Pritchard's Demolition Control Party and has no known grave. Son of Mr. and Mrs.

CLAPTON, John Francis

Lieutenant John Clapton 6 Commando
Lieutenant (later Captain)
258657
No 6 Commando
No 12 Commando
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Military Cross (MC)
Lieutenant John Clapton was awarded the Military Cross [1] in recognition of gallant and distinguished service on 28 January 1945 whilst leading a small Recce patrol at a wood near Linne [2].

CONNOR, James

James Connor 12 and 6 Commando
Corporal
2883201
No 12 Commando
No 6 Commando
Gordon Highlanders
James Connor served in No.4 (Para) Troop of No.12 Commando from November 1941 until it was disbanded in 1943, after which he moved to No.6 Commando. He was wounded on 12 June 1944 at Normandy. His commando service ended in January 1946 when the Army Commandos were disbanded.

COTTON MINCHIN, Douglas James Maurice

Capt. Cotton Minchin
Captain
77634
43543
43RM Commando
Commando Basic Training Centre
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Captain Douglas Cotton Minchin was reported missing March 1945 after his patrol came under fire during operations in Italy, later presumed killed in action. He has no known grave. Son of Capt. H. Cotton Minchin and Mrs. Cotton Minchin, of Cagnes-sur-Mer, Alpes Maritimes, France.

COX, Jack, A.

Jack Cox 12 and 3 Commando
Corporal (Acting Sergeant)
6215811
No 12 Commando
No 3 Commando
Middlesex Regiment
Corporal Jack Cox was wounded on 11 April 1945 during operations in Western Europe. On this date No.3 Commando were in action at the River Aller near the town of Essel. He had previously served in No.12 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association.

COX, Victor John

Sergeant
5671612
No 12 Commando
Somerset Light Infantry
Executed
Sergeant Victor John 'Jack' Cox, No 12 Commando, was assigned to No.14 Commando for Operation Checkmate.  He was captured on the raid at Kopervik in Norway on 29th April 1943. Sergeant Cox was imprisoned and later executed after being taken to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and shot.

CRUDEN, Peter Ramsay

Captain Peter Cruden 12 and 6 Commando
Captain
179476
No 12 Commando
No 6 Commando
Royal Artillery
Black Watch
Mentioned in Despatches
Silver Star (USA)
Peter Ramsay Cruden was commissioned Second Lieutenant Royal Artillery 22 March 1941[1].
  • Lieutenant in the Parachute Troop of No.12 Commando before No.6 Commando [2][3]. 

DALY, Thomas

Thomas Daly 12 Commando
Sergeant
S/231037
No 12 Commando
Holding Operational Commando
Royal Army Service Corps

Thomas Daly served in No.12 Commando HQ from April 1941 and after No.12 was disbanded on the staff at the Holding Operational Commando until April 1946.
Read more in Linked Content below.

DARLINGTON, Kenneth Carr

Kenneth Darlington MM 12 Commando
Private
3605415
No 12 Commando
SBS
No 4 Commando
Border Regiment
Military Medal (MM)
Private Kenneth Darlington was awarded the Military Medal[1] for gallantry during Operation Cartoon, a successful raid on Stord Island. The target was the demolition of an Iron Pyrite mine.

DEERY, Stewart

Sergeant
6977293
No 12 Commando
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Military Medal (MM)
Sergeant Stewart Deery, No.12 Commando, was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service during Operation Chariot at St Nazaire. He had embarked on HMS Campbeltown for the raid and was taken prisoner of war afterwards [1][a][1b][2][2a]. 

DENNIE, J.

Private
2980471
No 9 Commando
No 12 Commando
Highland Light Infantry
Served in No.12 Commando prior to No.9 Commando [1].
30 December 1943, No.9 Commando,  wounded Italy (Operation Partridge [2][4].
19 March 1944, No.9 Commando, wounded Anzio beachhead, Italy (Operation 'X') [3][5].

EAGER, William

Lance Corporal (later Colour Sergeant)
7043628
No 6 Commando
No 12 Commando
Royal Irish Fusiliers

Lance Corporal William Eager, No.6 Commando, was wounded 24 March 1945 at the crossing of the River Rhine at Wesel (Operation Widgeon). Previously served in No.12 Commando until it was disbanded when he moved to No.6 Commando. Member of the Commando Association from Titchworth, Hampshire.

EMMERSON, John Kenneth

Ken Emmerson 2 Commando and 1 Brigade HQ
John Kenneth Emmerson
Lance Corporal
No 2 Commando
No 12 Commando
1 Special Service (Commando) Brigade
No.2 Commando, No.12 Commando and 1 Commando Brigade HQ.
Post war member of the Commando Association from Wakefield, Yorkshire.
 
Sources
Obituaries in Commando Association newletter 88 (1989).

FERGUSON, William John

Corporal
7903097
No 12 Commando
Royal Armoured Corps

Corporal William Ferguson was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire, later found to have been wounded and taken prisoner of war. He had embarked on board HMS Campbeltown for the raid.

FINDLEY, Frederick George

Troop Sergeant Major
5041667
No 6 Commando
Royal Army Service Corps
Military Medal (MM)
Troop Sergeant Major Frederick Findley was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during the withdrawal from Djebel el Azag, Tunisia [1][2].
Recommendation

HENRIQUES, Robert David Quixano

Colonel
38714
Special Service Brigade
No 12 Commando
Royal Artillery
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Territorial Decoration (TD)
Silver Star (USA)
Bronze Star Medal (USA)
Major Robert Henriques was the Brigade Major of the Special Service Brigade throughout the operation at Vaagso in Norway on 27 December 1941 [1].
  • Former Troop Leader of 'E' troop No. 12 Commando [1a].

HISLOP, James Buchanan

Private
2828230
No 6 Commando
Seaforth Highlanders
8 November 1942 wounded North Africa (Operation Torch).
26 February 1943 wounded North Africa (Battle of Steamroller Farm).
May also have served in No.12 Commando.
Member of the Commando Association from Devizes, Wiltshire.
 

HOLLINGSWORTH, D.H.

Private
4979103
No 6 Commando
No 12 Commando
Sherwood Foresters
Served in No.12 Commando (disbanded 1943), prior to No. 6 Commando [1].
06.06.1944 wounded North West Europe (Normandy) [2].
24.01.1945 wounded Western Europe (Montfortbeek / Maasbracht, Holland) [3].

HOWELLS, Ellis

Ellis Howells 1st SBS
Lance Corporal Ellis Howes
Lance Corporal
3910267
No 12 Commando
Small Scale Raiding Force (62 Commando)
SBS
South Wales Borderers
Special Air Service Regiment
Mentioned in Despatches
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Corporal Ellis Howells was killed in action having left the Commandos and joined the 1st Special Boat Service, S.A.S. Regiment, Army Air Corps. He died during an attack on a railway bridge at Limpljani in the former Yugoslavia.

HOYLE, Robert

Robert Hoyle 12 Commando
Corporal
3450633
No 12 Commando
Lancashire Fusiliers

Corporal Robert Hoyle embarked on HMS Campbeltown for the raid at St. Nazaire on 28 March 1942. Reported as missing after the raid he was later found to have been taken prisoner and transported to Stalag 344 at Lamsdorf, Poland.

HUNTINGTON, John, Memories of No 12 and No 1 Commando

Type: Personal Papers
Author: John Mewett
Year of Publishing: 2015
Keywords: Memories of Sgt John Huntington 'E' Troop No 12 Commando and 3 Troop No 1 Commando
Download

Sgt John Huntington was in E Troop No 12 Commando and 3 Troop No 1 Commando.

This document is Johns memories as detailed in letter form over the course of 5 years to John Mewett. Unfortunately before the project was complete JH died but what was related makes for a very interesting first hand account of life in a commando unit.

JOHNSON, James

Lance Sergeant
2879375
No 12 Commando
Gordon Highlanders
Military Medal (MM)
Lance Sergeant James Johnson was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service during Operation Chariot 28 March 1942. Wounded and prisoner of war. 
Recommendation

JONES, Harri Havard

Corporal
3962759
No 12 Commando
Welch Regiment
Killed in action or died of wounds
Corporal Harri Harvard Jones was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St Nazaire, later presumed killed in action at sea. Corporal Jones was part of a demolition team who embarked for the raid on motor launch ML 268. He has no known grave.

LEAVER, John Charles

Private
3962766
No 1 Commando
No 12 Commando
Welch Regiment

Private John Leaver, 5 Troop, was wounded on 23 January 1945 during operations in Burma. He previously served in No.12 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association from Cardiff.

LEE, William

Sergeant (later Troop Sergeant Major)
3451602
No 3 Commando
No 12 Commando
Lancashire Fusiliers
Sergeant William Lee was wounded 5 October 1943 during operations at Termoli, Italy. Also served in No.12 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association from Rochdale, Lancashire.
 
Sources

LEMON, Frederick

Lance Corporal
7903450
No 12 Commando
North Irish Horse / Royal Armoured Corps

Lance Corporal Fred Lemon embarked on HMS Campbeltown for Operation Chariot, the raid at St. Nazaire 28 March 1942. Reported missing after the raid, found to have been taken prisoner and transported to Stalag 344 at Lamsdorf, Poland.

MACKENZIE, Hugh

Hugh Mackenzie 12 and 1 Commando
Private
2889297
No 12 Commando
No 1 Commando
Gordon Highlanders
Hugh Mackenzie served in No.12 Commando from October 1941 and when it was disbanded he was attached to No.1 Commando embarking with them for operations in the Far East. Commando service ended on 18 October 1945 at the Holding Operational Commando.

MAGINNIS, John

John Maginnis 12 and 6 Commando
John Maginnis post war
Rifleman
7018924
No 6 Commando
Royal Ulster Rifles
Rifleman John Maginnis volunteered for the Commandos whilst serving in the Royal Ulster Rifles. He joined No.12 Commando and after it was disbanded moved to No.6 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association from Titchfield, Hampshire.

MCGONIGAL, Ambrose Joseph

Ambrose McGonigal MC
Lieutenant (later Honorary Major)
113419
No 12 Commando
SBS
Royal Ulster Rifles
Military Cross (MC)
Bar to the Military Cross
Mentioned in Despatches
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.

MEWETT, Robert

Robert Mewett 1 Commando
Bob Mewett 1 Commando
Private
6460252
No 1 Commando
No 12 Commando
Middlesex Regiment
Private Robert Mewett served in No 12 Commando and later in Burma with No 1 Commando 4 troop. Post war member of the Commando Association.
 
Sources
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 66 (1978).

MOLLOY, Joseph

Corporal
7019264
No 12 Commando
Royal Ulster Rifles
Corporal Joseph Molloy was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire, later found to be a prisoner of war. He was one of the commando contingent who embarked on HMS Campbeltown.
 
Sources

PAGE, Alan George

Lance Sergeant
6984004
No 12 Commando
No 6 Commando
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Lance Sergeant Alan Page, No.6 Commando, was wounded 6 June 1944 during operations at Normandy, France. He had previously served in No.12 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association from Leicester.

PARNWELL, Basil Arthur

Major
94526
No 12 Commando
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) 12th Bn.
Lieutenant Basil Parnwell was attached to No.12 Commando on 7 February 1942 [1] later becoming their Adjutant until it was disbanded in 1943 after which he is reported to have moved to the Commando Mountain Warfare Training Centre (CMWTC) [2].

PERRY, Alfred Charles

Alfred Perry 1 Commando
Alf Perry 12 and 1 Commando
Lance Sergeant
1057916
No 1 Commando
No 12 Commando
Served in No.12 Commando and later with No.1 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association from Lee, London.
Far East Service
05.02.1944 Corporal, No.1 Commando 3 Troop, promoted Lance Sergeant.

PILLING, Harry

Harry Pilling 1 Commando
Company Sergeant Major
2619518
No 12 Commando
No 1 Commando
Grenadier Guards
Served in No.12 and No.1 Commandos. Active service in Norway, North Africa and Burma. 
 
Sources
CVA Photo Gallery.
 

PINCKNEY, Philip Hugh

Captain
100670
No 12 Commando
SAS
Royal Artillery
Executed

Captain Philip Pinckney was executed whilst a prisoner of war. At the time he was serving with 2 SAS and had been captured on Operation Speedwell after parachuting with 6 others into Bologna, Italy. The aim of the operation was to disrupt enemy railway movements.

PURDON, Corran William Brooke

Corran Purdon 12 Commando
Lieutenant (later Major General)
112917
No 12 Commando
Royal Ulster Rifles
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Military Cross (MC)
Colonial Police Medal
Lieutenant Corran Purdon volunteered for the Commandos whilst serving as a young officer with the Royal Ulster Rifles, and was attached to No.12 Commando. He took part in raids on Norway and St Nazaire.

REEVES, Walter

Bombardier
883888
No 12 Commando
Royal Artillery
Bombardier Walter Reeves was attested into the Royal Artillery in 1938 and was later attached to No.12 Commando after volunteering for the Commandos. Embarked HMS Campbeltown for Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire 28 March 1942 and was a prisoner of war after the raid.

ROBERTS, Edwin Albert

Edwin Albert Roberts
Sergeant (later Captain)
6482225 and 320954
Special Service Brigade
Royal Fusiliers
Somerset Light Infantry
Metropolitan Police
In 1939 Edwin Albert Roberts from Nunney, Somerset, joined the Metropolitan Police and was posted to Islington Police Station, 277 Upper Street, London N1 [1][2].

SIMS, Eddie

Private Edward Sims 12 Commando
Eddie Sims 12 and 6 Commando
Private
No 12 Commando
No 6 Commando
Royal West Kent Regiment
Private Sims served in the Parachute Troop of No 12.Commando until 1943 when it was disbanded, then in No 6 Commando. He was batman to Captain Peter Cruden [1][2].

STEADMAN, Charles Emanuel

Charles Steadman 9 Commando
Sergeant
1508032
No 12 Commando
No 9 Commando
Royal Artillery
Monmouthshire Regiment 2nd Bn.
South Wales Borderers
1938 attested into the Royal Artillery [1].
05.10.1939 transferred to 2nd Bn. Monmouthshire Regiment [1].
Volunteered for and attached to No.12 Commando which disbanded early [2][2a].

SYNNOTT, James Francis

Jimmy Synnott 3 Commando
James Francis Synnott
Sergeant
4453883
No 3 Commando
Royal Artillery
James Synnott enlisted into the Royal Artillery on 7 February 1939. He later volunteered for the Commandos. Sergeant James Synnott, 3 Troop, was shot and wounded 11 April 1945 during operations at the River Aller. Previously served in No.12 Commando.

TEMPLEMAN, George

George Templeman_6 Commando
Private
4975737
No 12 Commando
No 6 Commando
Sherwood Foresters
Served in No.12 Commando until it was disbanded then moved to No.6 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association from Titchfield, Hampshire.
 
Sources
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 108 (1999).

TEMPLETON, James, A.

Private
14000097
No 6 Commando
No 12 Commando
Royal Scots
Private Jimmy Templeton was wounded 24 March 1945 during operations at the crossing of the River Rhine at Wesel (Operation Widgeon). Also served No.12 Commando.
Post war member of the Commando Association from Hove, Sussex.
 
Sources

TOOGOOD, David Cyril

Corporal
No 12 Commando
SBS
Wiltshire County Constabulary
David Toogood served in No.12 Commando and later 2 SBS HQ. He had volunteered for the Commandos in 1942 whilst serving as a Police Constable at Corsham, Wiltshire. He joined the County Police Force on his 19th birthday and Corsham was his first posting.

TOUGH, Alexander

Lance Corporal
6482290
No 12 Commando
SBS
Royal Fusiliers
Metropolitan Police
Alec Tough joined the Metropolitan Police on 6 March 1939, later residing at the Police Section House in Crawford Place, Marleybone. He volunteered for the Commandos in 1942 and served in No.12 Commando before joining the Special Boat Section.

TOWSE, Alfred Burley

Lance Sergeant
14241859
No 12 Commando
No 6 Commando
Scots Guards
Hove Borough Police Force
Corporal Alfred Towse served in No.12 Commando before joining No.6 Commando. He was wounded in France on 7 August 1944. Alfred Towse joined the Hove Borough Police Force on 5 July 1939.

TYREMAN, George Vincent

Private
14241777
No 4 Commando
No 12 Commando
Lincolnshire Regiment
Lincolnshire Police
Private George Tyreman, 'C' Troop, was wounded during operations at Normandy, France.
Post war member of the Commando Association residing Lincolnshire.
1939 employed as a Clerk with Lincolnshire Police later joining as a Constable.

WALDIE, Robert Gibson

Lieutenant (Temporary Captain)
126151
No 3 Commando
King's Own Scottish Borderers
Military Cross (MC)
Captain Robert Waldie, 2 troop, was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in 1943 at Termoli, Italy.
Recommendation

WARD, William G.

Private
5052724
No 12 Commando
No 1 Commando
North Staffordshire Regiment
Private William Ward, No1 Commando, was wounded 31 January 1945 during operations at Kangaw, Burma. He had previously served in No.12 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association from Duston, Northampton.
 
Sources

WEBSTER, Roland Hutchinson

Gunner
14241640
No 12 Commando
No 4 Commando
Royal Artillery
Consiborough Police Station ??
Roland Hutchinson Webster enlisted 23 July 1942 and after his training was attached to No.12 Commando on 24 September 1942. He transferred to No.4 Commando on 15 July 1943. On 10 June 1944 he was wounded during operations at Normandy, France.

WHAM, James Howie

Sergeant
3065655
No 9 Commando
No 12 Commando
Royal Scots
Military Medal (MM)
Private (Acting Corporal) James Wham was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service on 19 March 1944 in Italy. Final rank attained Sergeant.
Recommendation
"Ref Map-Italy, 1/25,000 Sheet IV SE

WHITTINGHAM, Laurence

Whittingham 1 Commando
Corporal
No 12 Commando
No 1 Commando
Served in No.12 Commando and later in the far East with No.1 Commando 5 Troop.
Post war Laurence Whittingham from Wallasey, Cheshire, died of illness at Batu Gaja Hospital, Perak, Malaya, whilst serving as a Police Lieutenant in the Federation of Malaya Police.

WILSON, Alexander

Alexander Wilson 12 and 6 Commando
Private
No 12 Commando
No 6 Commando
Served in No.12 Commando until disbanded and then moved to No.6 Commando. Post war member of the Commando Association from Droxfield, Hampshire.
 
Sources
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 94 (1992).

WILTON, Max Robert

Private
13099961
No 6 Commando
No 12 Commando
Pioneer Corps
Wounded 20 August 1944 France.
Also served 1st Commando Brigade.
Post war member of the Commando Association from Cromer.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/76.

WOOLLARD, George

Private
14241724
No 1 Commando
No 12 Commando
Black Watch
Liverpool City Police
Private George Woollard served in No.12 Commando and later No.1 Commando. He was wounded 31 January 1945 during operations with No.1 Commando 6 Troop at Kangaw, Burma.

WRIGHT, Robert Ernest

Corporal Robert Wright 12 Commando
Bob Wright
Corporal
2009393
No 12 Commando
Royal Engineers
Corporal Robert Wright was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire, France, later found to be wounded and a prisoner of war. He embarked for the raid on HMS Campbeltown.
Obituary

‘Norway - Operation Anklet’

Friday, December 26, 1941

Location

Lofoten Islands
Norway
68° 4' 46.5924" N, 13° 22' 27.0876" E

300 men from No 12 Commando, and some from the Royal Norwegian Army, landed on the Lofoten Islands about 300 miles North of Vaagso. Since the first Lofoten raid in March such operations were seen as a useful tactic to confuse the enemy and consequently divert enemy forces for future defence.

‘Norway - Operation Cartoon’

Saturday, January 23, 1943

Location

Norway
59° 47' 20.7456" N, 5° 23' 6.756" E
An operation to destroy the pyrite mine on the island of Stord near Leirvik. The party landed at two locations half at Sagvaag, and the remainder on the other side of the bay.  They were responsible for the complete destruction of the Transformer at the Pyrite mine.
 

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