A breakdown of the Grohote raiding force
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THE ATTACK ON THE GERMAN HELD VILLAGE OF GROHOTE IN THE ISLAND OF SOLTA, DALMATIA. SATURDAY 18TH MARCH 1944. SOMETIMES KNOWN AS "DETAINED 1".
The Expedition set out in two L.C.I.'s, one from Vis and the other from Komiza. A spare L.C.I. came too, from Komiza. Each towed an L.C.A. Two L.C.A.'s contained three Italian 47mm anti tank guns and 600 rounds. The other was packed with reserve food and ammunition of all kinds, and more was carried in the spare L.C.I.
The Vis L.C.I. entered Tatinja Cove C.623 first, and beached at Green beach at midnight.
It contained:-
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-
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Officers
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R&F
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2 Troop, 2 Commando
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2
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50
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3 Gun Crews for 47mm. guns (Two from 101 L.A.A. Regt.* One from No. 2 Commando.)
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3
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21
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4 Vickers M.G., 10 b.p.g. and crews from 43(RM Commando
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1
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40
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Americans -
A Unit (Yugoslavian)
B Unit (Greek)
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17
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138
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H.Q. Officers - Col. Churchill, Admiral Cowan, R.M., Lieut. Webb R.M.
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3
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-
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The Komiza L.C.I. beached at Red Beach at 0005hrs, 19th March containing:-
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Officers
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R&F
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1 Troop, 2 Commando
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3
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30
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3 Troop, 2 Commando
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3
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30
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4 Troop, 2 Commando
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3
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37
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HW Troop, 2 Commando, with two 3" Mortars and 330 bombs
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2
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33
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L.C.A. Protection Party, No. 2 Commando
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1
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11
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The Spare L.C.I. did not beach , but ferried ashore by L.C.A. :-
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Officers
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R&F
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Commando H.Q.
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4
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20
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Brigadier Miles (Force 133)
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1
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..
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Reserve rations and ammunition in case the Assault Force was marooned on Solta.
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-
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-
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Additional support of 36 Kittyhawk dive bombers, carrying 2, 3, or 4 bombs each, was provided by the R.A.F. The R.A.F. sea rescue launch was also used to return badly injured men from the raiding party to Vis.
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Casulalties
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-
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Capt. Prescott
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Wounded
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Lt. Manusos, U.S.A.
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Wounded
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Cpl. Mallitsis, U.S.A.
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Killed
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Cpl. Cox (2 Cdo)
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Died of Wounds
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Pte. Ritchie (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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Dvr. Habib (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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L/Cpl. Ryder (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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Gnr. Sawyer (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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Fus. Spinks (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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Pte. Pembrey (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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Pte. Letts (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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Pte. Lucas (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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L/Cpl. Miles (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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Pte. Eagleson (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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Lieut. Parnell (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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Lieut. McMenamin (2 Cdo)
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Wounded
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Two American enlisted men
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Slightly wounded
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Four Rank and File of 2 Commando
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Slightly wounded
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Prisoners
1 Officer, 97 Rank and File, and 6 Croat police.
Source
Report by Lieut. Col. J.M.T.F. Churchill, Commainding No. 2 Commando dated 7th April 1944. The full report is held at the National Archives with the No. 2 Commando War Diary.
*Notes
The report later mentions that this was in fact 101 Light Anti Aircraft Battery, R.A. This Unit at the time was based on Vis (No.2 Cdo War Diary.)
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