ROBERTS, Donald Leslie

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Known as: 
Don
Rank: 
Sergeant
Unit / Base: 
'Special Boat Section'
Prior Police Service: 
Somerset Constabulary
Service: 
Army
Number: 
14241829
Born: 
Friday, December 31, 1915
Died: 
1996
Place died: 
Somerset
1939 Somerset Police Officer for past 2 years residing St. Andrews Road, Taunton, rank Police Constable, collar number 198 [1][2]. 
1942 volunteered for the Commandos as part of the Police Intakes to the Commando Depot (Commando Basic Training Centre), Achnacarry. Attached 2 SBS [2][2a].
1943 (Sergeant) took part in Operation Hardtack 28 at Petit Port, Channel Islands [3].
1945 serving in 'C' Group, 2 SBS, Far East [4].
Post war re-joined Somerset Constabulary,  played rugby (scrum half) for Somerset Police and between 1945 and 1949 had twenty three appearances for Somerset County. In 1951 he was promoted from Detective Sergeant to Inspector [2][5][6].
 
Sources
[1] The 1939 Register covering Taunton.
[2] Article on his retirement in the Cheddar Valley Gazette 06 October 1967.
[2a] " SBS Timeline [Linked Content below].
[3] 'SBS in World War 2', p.118, author G.B. Courtney.
[4] Condolence letter he wrote now in gallery [view...].
[5] Article on a court case in the Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser 16 April 1949.
[6] Somerset RFU Handbook 2017/2018 Season, p23.
 
Additional content: 
ROBERTS, Donald Leslie (2 SBS) - newspaper article on retirement
Archive pages : 
Special Boat Section/Squadron/Service

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