Middle East Commando / 1st Special Service Regiment

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ADAMSON, Alexander Naismith

Middle East Commando
Lance Corporal Alexander Adamson, Depot M.E. Commando, was reported missing on 2nd June 1941 during operations in Crete. Later found to have been captured and transported to Stalag 3D in Germany.
 
Sources
[1] Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/27, WO417/96
[2] Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/1.

[3] Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 101.

ADAMSON, R.H.

Middle East Commando

Private R.H. Adamson, Depot M.E. Commando, was reported missing on 2nd June 1941 during operations in Crete. Later found to have been captured and transported to Stalag 3D in Germany.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/1.

BRODIE, Alexander Clare Cunningham

Middle East Commando
Captain Alexander Brodie served in the Middle East Commando. This Commando was short lived and he eventually returned to his Unit [1].
  • 11 July 1944  (Captain)  (5th Bn The Black Watch) awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished service whilst commanding 'A' Company during operations at Colombelles, North West France [2][2A].

BROOK, Harold

No 8 Commando
SAS
Lance Corporal Harold Brook died [1] during operations in France with 1st Special Air Service Regiment having left the Commandos. He was reported as missing in action during Operation Houndforce [2]. 
 

CLIFFORD, Bernard Edward

Middle East Commando
Guardsman Bernard Clifford was reported missing 2 June 1941 during operations in Crete. Later found to have been taken prisoner of war. On 26 October 1943 he was repatriated to the UK. Discharged from the service as permanently unfit 23 January 1944.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/27, WO417/31, and WO417/68.
Coldstream Guards Enlistment Registers.
Coldstream guards Prisoners of War Registers.
Coldstream Guards Discharge Registers. 
 

CRAWFORD, T. McG.

Middle East Commando

Private T.McG. Crawford, Depot M.E. Commando, was reported missing on 2nd June 1941 during operations in Crete. Later found to have been captured and transported to Stalag 344 in Poland.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/11.

DAVIDSON, Alexander

No 11 Commando
SAS
Lance Sergeant Alexander Davidson was killed in action serving with 1 SAS having left the Commando. He had previously been attached to No.11 Commando since August 1940. He also served in the ME Commando and 1SSR.
 
Sources
CWGC.
The SAS and LRDG Roll of Honour 1941-1947, author ex Lance Corporal X, QGM.
 

DUFFY, Michael James

Middle East Commando
Lieutenant Michael Duffy died during operations in Libya with the Middle East Commando (redesignated as 1 Special Service Regiment).
 
Service details are LRDG 1942, Middle East Commando (A Squadron) (2Lt) 1942, KIA Libya with D Squadron 1 Special Service Regiment
 
Sources
CWGC.
War Diary Records of ME Cdo Depot and 1 SSR.
Special Forces ROH website.
 

DUNBAR, W.

SBS
Sergeant W. Dunbar, 'M' Section of the  Special Boat Section, was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the Field. He had taken part in Operation Whynot, a raid in Sicily commencing on 11 August 1942 to disrupt a German bomber base in range of a relief convoy for the beseiged island of Malta. They landed by canoes launched from HM Submarine Una and were captured after the raid as they tried to make good their escape. 
  • Escaped from the Italian prison camp in which he was detained.

FASSAM, Joseph William

Joseph William Fassam 1st SRS
No 8 Commando
Middle East Commando
SAS
Lance Bombardier Joseph Fassam died during operations at Termoli Italy with the Special Raiding Squadron having left the Commando.
Service 
No. 8 Commando;  
4 Special Service Battalion;
'B' Battalion Layforce;
Royal Artillery;
Middle East Commando, 'A' Squadron;
1st SAS;
Special Raiding Squadron.
 
Sources
CWGC.
[Service and Image] The SAS and LRDG Roll of Honour 1941 -1947.
 

FENTON, D.

Middle East Commando

Corporal Fenton, attached Middle East Commando Depot, was reported missing 2 June 1941 during operations in Crete, later found to be a prisoner of war. 

Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/30, WO417/38, and WO417/96.
Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/1.

KEALY, Michael Robert Bayley

No 8 Commando
Middle East Commando
SBS
Served in No.8 Commando and Layforce [1].
Commanded No.1 S.B.S. Middle East after departure of Major R.J. Courtney M.C. [2].
Returned to the UK 28 July 1943 [2].
Senior Officer in command of the newly formed 'A' and 'B' Special Boat Groups, 2  Special Boat Section [2].
10 January 1944 embarked with Unit for Supreme Allied Command, South East Asia (S.A.C.S.E.A.) [2][3].

MacPHEE, J.P.

Middle East Commando

Lance Corporal J.P. MacPhee was reported missing on 2nd June 1941 during operations in Crete. Later found to have been captured and transported to Stalag 4C.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/1.

MURPHY, P.

Middle East Commando

Private P. Murphy was reported missing on 2nd June 1941 during operations in Crete. Later found to have been captured and transported to Stalag 344 in Poland.

Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/1.

NEWBY, George Eric

SBS
Lieutenant George Newby, 'M' Section of the  Special Boat Section, was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the Field [1][2][3]. He had previously served in 1 Special Service Regiment. He was part of Operation Whynot, a raid in Sicily commencing on 11 August 1942 to disrupt a German bomber base in range of a relief convoy for the beseiged island of Malta. They landed by canoes launched from HM Submarine Una and were captured after the raid as they tried to make good their escape [4][5].

NIXON, Malvern

No 11 Commando
SAS
Private Malvern Nixon died when his jeep patrol was attacked whilst en route to harass the enemy in Southern Tunisia. He was serving with 1st SAS  ('B' Sqn.) at the time of his death having left the Commandos. He had previously served in No 2 Independent Company,  No 11 Commando, Layforce, the Middle East Commando, and 'L' Detachment SAS. 
 

PATTERSON, R.

Middle East Commando

Private R. Patterson, Depot M.E. Commando, was reported missing on 2nd June 1941 during operations in Crete. Later found to have been captured and transported to Stalag 4F in Germany.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/1.

ROSENSTEIN, Natan

51ME Commando
Lance Corporal Natan Rosenstein, an Austrian of Jewish Faith, served in the Commando from November 1941 and died of illness in July 1942.  
 
Sources
CWGC.
The SAS and LRDG ROH 1941-1947/ Service Record.
 

SCAIFE, J.

Middle East Commando

Private J. Scaife, Depot M.E. Commando, was reported missing on 1st June 1941 during operations in Crete. Later found to have been captured and transported to Stalag 344 in Poland.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/1.

SELERI, Peter Alexander Shaw

Middle East Commando
Awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallant and distinguished service during operations in Germany on 18 November 1944 having left the commando* and now serving 8th Armoured Brigade Group [1][2].
  • 28 January 1949 (Captain) (Hon. Major) awarded the Efficiency Medal (Territorial) [3].
Sources
*Nominal Roll of Officers on strength of the Commando (War Diary).
[1] London Gazette 37853, page 324.
[2] National Archives file WO373/147/530.

SENIOR, Fred

Fred Senior 1st SAS
No 8 Commando
Middle East Commando
SAS

Lance Sergeant Fred Senior died when his jeep patrol was attacked whilst en route to harass the enemy in Southern Tunisia. He was serving with 1st SAS  ('B' Sqn.) at the time of his death having left the Commandos. He had previously served in both No 8 Commando and the Middle East Commando, and 'L' Detachment SAS.

SHORTEN, Raymond Herbert

52ME Commando
'Layforce'
SAS
Lieutenant Raymond Shorten left the Commando in July 1942 to join 'L' Detachment SAS. He  died in October during operations with the SAS at Sidi Barrani.
 
 Nov 40, enlisted General List
 Dec 40, 52 ME Cdo
 Jan 41, wounded
 Mar 41, merged into D Bn,Layforce
 Apr 42, merged into ME Cdo C Sqn
 July 42, joins L Det, SAS Bde.
 
Sources
CWGC.

STAPLES, Montague

No 8 Commando
Middle East Commando
SAS
Montague Staples was killed serving with the 1st SAS, 'C' Sqn. having left the Commando. 
In August 1940 he volunteeered for Special Service joining No 8 Commando. After periods of training No 8 Commando became part of Layforce at the end of January 1941 embarking as 'B' Battalion for service in the Middle East. When Layforce was being disbanded he was posted to the Middle East Commando Depot at Geneifa, and then attached to various units for brief periods. He volunteered for the 1st SAS in Egypt on the 26 September 1942 and was posted to 'C' Squadron. 

THIRKELL-WHITE, Derek John Plantaganet

No 1 Commando
Captain Derek Thirkell-White died during operations with the King's Own Regiment at Leros having left the Commando. He had earlier served with the Middle East Commando (redesignated as 1 Special Service Regiment) in July 1942.
 
Sources
​War Office Casualty List 1402
ME Cdo Depot and 1 Special Service Regt. War Diary Nominal Roll of Officers July 4th  1942 ref. National Archives WO 218 / 159.
 

TOWNSEND, Eric

Captain Eric Townsend MD MC
Middle East Commando
Captain Eric Townsend M.D. R.A.M.C. attached to the Middle East Commando was awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service during operations in Egypt [1]. In 1944 he additionally received a Mention in Despatches for gallant and distinguished service in Italy [2].
Recommendation for M.C.
"Captain Townsend showed conspicuous bravery on the afternoon of June 14th, when the patrol he was with was subjected to 4 hours dive bombing and machine gunning by enemy aircraft.

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