Arthur William Ekins, a Wood Machinist from Stoke Newington, London, joined the Territorial Army in May 1937. Lance Corporal Ekins, No.2 Commando, was reported missing at Brac 6 June 1944, later confirmed a prisoner of war. At this time a small number of commandos from No.2 Commando were engaged in a failed attempt to locate and liberate their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel 'Jack' Churchill, who had been captured during Operation Flounced on the island of Brac a few days earlier.