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.

ADAMSON, Ronald H.

Middle East Commando
Private Ronald 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.

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]. 
 

BROWN, Leslie Jock

Cpl. Leslie Brown 1st SAS
'Layforce'
SAS
Killed in action or died of wounds

Corporal Leslie Brown had previously served in the Commandos before joining 'B' Squadron of the 1st Special Air Service. He died when his jeep patrol was attacked whilst en route to harass the enemy in Southern Tunisia.

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.

CRAWFORD, Thomas, McG.

Middle East Commando
Private Thomas Crawford, Middle East Commando Depot, was reported missing on 2nd June 1941 during operations in Crete. Later found to be a prisoner of war.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/11.

DAVIDSON, Alexander

No 11 Commando
SAS
Killed in action or died of wounds
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.

DUFFY, Michael James

Middle East Commando
Killed in action or died of wounds
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.

DUNBAR, W.

SBS
Military Medal (MM)
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.

FASSAM, Joseph William

Joseph William Fassam 1st SRS
No 8 Commando
Middle East Commando
SAS
Killed in action or died of wounds
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;

FENTON, David

Middle East Commando

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

GRAHAM, John Malise

Middle East Commando
Military Cross (MC)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Companion of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (CIE)

Lt. Col. John Malise Graham, MC,  is listed as the senior officer on a roll of Officers serving with Middle East Commando (1st S.S. Regiment) 1st July 1942.[1]

HORE, D.

Middle East Commando
Sergeant Hore was reported missing 14 September 1942 during operations in the Middle East (Tobruk), later found to be a prisoner of war.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/58 and WO417/94.
Prisoners of War / National Archives files WO392/11 and WO392/21.
 

KEALY, Michael Robert Bayley

No 8 Commando
Middle East Commando
SBS
Mentioned in Despatches
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].

MACKAY, J.S.

Middle East Commando

Private Mackay was reported missing 14 September 1942 during operations in the Middle East (Tobruk), later found to be a prisoner of war at Camp 70, Monte Urano, Italy. In 1944 it was reported he was no longer a prisoner.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/55 and WO417/79.
Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/21.

MITCHELL, W.

Middle East Commando

Private Mitchell was reported missing 14 September 1942 during operations in the Middle East (Tobruk), later found to be a prisoner of war.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/55 and WO417/79.
Prisoners of War / National Archives files WO392/1 and WO392/21.

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
Military Cross (MC)
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.

NIXON, Malvern

No 11 Commando
SAS
Killed in action or died of wounds
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.

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
Died on war service
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
Silver Star (USA)
Territorial Efficiency Medal
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

SENIOR, Fred

Fred Senior 1st SAS
No 8 Commando
Middle East Commando
SAS
Killed in action or died of wounds

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.

SHORTEN, Raymond Herbert

52ME Commando
'Layforce'
SAS
Killed in action or died of wounds
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.
 

TOWNSEND, Eric

Captain Eric Townsend MD MC
Middle East Commando
Military Cross (MC)
Mentioned in Despatches
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.

WALSH, Thomas

Middle East Commando
Died in service
Sergeant Thomas Walsh, Black Watch attached Middle East Commando, was reported missing 14 September 1942 during operations in the Middle East (Tobruk), later found to be a prisoner of war in Italy before being transported to captivity in Germany. After his release at the end of the war all the Army Commandos were disbanded.

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