VENN, Henry Albert

Primary tabs

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit / Base:

'Royal Naval Beach Commandos'

Service:

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Died :

Tuesday, June 6, 1944

Killed in action or died of wounds

Age:

Cemetery/Memorial:

Bayeux War Cemetery

Henry Albert Venn, aged 26, occupation Clerk, arrived Belfast Docks UK on 4 November 1941 from Argentina on board the SS Highland Monarch. Ports of Voyage, La Plata, Montevideo, and Port of Spain [1].
13.11.1942 Temporary Sub-Lieutenant RNVR [2].

06.06.1944 Royal Naval Beach Commando 'Fox' (NP 1504) died of wounds to his liver at Normandy, France [3][3a].

Also served Royal Naval Beach Commando 'Mike' prior to Normandy [4].
Son of Vivian and Maria Esther Venn, of Quilmes, F.C.S., Argentina [3].

Sources

[1] Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department, Inwards Passenger Lists. Kew, Surrey. / National Archives Series BT26.

[2] Navy Lists / National Library of Scotland website.

[3] CWGC.
[3a] National Archives file ADM 358/2378.

[4] D.E.F.E.2 / 987 file on R.N.B.C. 'M'.

Report on his death / National Archives file ADM 358/2378.

Notes

There are numerous unsourced references on websites that state Lieutenant Venn was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and in 'F' Commando and an Assistant Beachmaster at Sword Beach. The CWGC do not list any award and as yet I have not found a London Gazette entry or National Archives award entry. Nor have I found any definitive source as to his role at the time of his death other than HMS Copra (a records base, not his unit, for Commbined Operations personnel). I would welcome anyone with definitive sources to get in touch. In the meantime I am seeking a copy of NA file ADM358/2378 referencing his death. Admin (PR).

Primary Roll of Honour:

'R.N.B.C. Roll of Honour'

Additional content:

Normandy - Operation Overlord

RN Beach Commando 'Mike'

Archive pages :

RN Beach Commando