'ME Cdo. Roll of Honour'

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"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them."
 
The history of 50, 51, and 52 Middle East Commandos is a complex one.  Between September and December 1941 decisions were being made to disband them and create a new Commando. Reformed in January 1942 as Squadrons of a new Middle East Commando operating primarily with the 8th Army in North Africa before being redsignated in April 1942 as the 1st Special Service Regiment.  Some died in captivity, or after being sent elsewhere on detachments. The details of how some met their death are not known to this archive.
Click on any name for more information.
 
The Fallen from the Middle East Commandos
50 Middle East Commando
 
51 Middle East Commando
 
52 Middle East Commando
 
Layforce 'B' Battalion
 
Layforce 'D' Battalion
 The following are listed on the CWGC database by Regiment only, however their names are either on the Westminster Abbey Commando ROH database as Layforce, or if with an asterisk, the Special Forces ROH website with unit as shown. This in itself is not sufficient to establish Commando service for the CWGC to amend their records. 
We will remember them
 
and all ranks who served in the Commando and have since passed on in the passage of time, who are also remembered by their proud families and comrades.
 
Archive pages: 
50ME Commando
51ME Commando
52ME Commando
Middle East Commando / 1st Special Service Regiment
Below is an A-Z view of the Roll of Honour with information about each of the Fallen. Displaying 1 - 50 of 50

BATE, James Howard

50ME Commando
Corporal James Bate was reported missing presumed drowned whilst attempting to escape the enemy during operations on the occupied Greek island of Castelorizzo (Operation Abstention). He joined the Commando on the 15th Ocotber 1940.
 

BEAUMONT, William Blair

52ME Commando
Private William Beaumont was reported missing on 1st June 1941 during operations in Crete. He was later found to have died in Germany whilst a prisoner of war [2].
 
Sources
[1] CWGC.
[2] Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/27, WO417/30, WO417/39, and WO417/34.
 
Notes - Berlin 1939-1945 Cemetery

BROWN, Jack

Middle East Commando
'Layforce'
Trooper Jack Brown, 'D' Bn., Layforce, was shot and killed whilst a prisoner of war and attempting to escape. The Casualty Lists show he was captured at Crete at the time of the evacuation of allied forces.
 
Service
The Tank Museum archives record the following:
  1. "X"1 list Depot Commando Training and Holding Unit 2/2/41 (Yorkshire Hussars 6/41) 

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.
 

FISCHER, M.

51ME Commando
Private Fischer died during operations in Eritrea.
 
Notes - Asmara War Cemetery
The Italian stronghold of Keren was taken by Commonwealth forces at the end of March 1941 and the retreating Italian force pursued to Asmara, which was occupied on 1 April.   Asmara War Cemetery contains the graves of those killed in the latter stages of the East African campaign, or who died subsequently at the garrison stationed at Asmara. (Source: CWGC.)
 

FROST, Henry Shelmerdine

51ME Commando
Captain Henry Frost died [1] during operations in Eritrea when leading a patrol up a steep gulley running South from Beit Gabru to harass enemy positions [2]. He received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of distinguished service [3].
 
Sources
[1] CWGC.
[2] Account by Lt. Col. Cator in the book Middle East Commandos by Charles Messenger.
[3] London Gazette 35396, page 7347 published 30 December 1941.
 

GILLINGHAM, Reginald John

'Layforce'
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Reginald Gillingham was reported missing presumed died during operations in Burma on 19 June 1942, his secondary unit recorded as 'B' Batallion Layforce on each of the casualty listings [1][2].
  • 2 January 1924 enlisted Royal Tank Corps aged 18. Former trade 'Shop Assistant'. Residence 'Fisherton Salisbury Wiltshire' [3].
Sources
[1] Casualty Lists 1939-45 / National Archive files WO417/57, WO417/66, WO/417/100.
[2] CWGC.

GREENWOOD, Jack

50ME Commando
Corporal Jack Greenwood died by drowning after taking part in operations against the enemy occupied Greek island of Castelorizzo on the 28th February (Operation Abstention). He was reported missing believed drowned attempting to escape.  His body was later found and identified.
 
Sources
CWGC
50 Me Cdo Casualty List 25th-28th Feb. 1941 in Crete (War Office Oct 1941) Ref. National Archives /WO361/124
The Middle East Commandos, author Charles Messenger.
 

HARRISON, Ronnie

52ME Commando
Lance Sergeant Ronnie Harrison, 'C' Company, died during operations in Eritrea to disrupt enemy communications between Kohr Kumar and Khor Abder.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Charles Messenger's book The Middle East Commandos.
 
Notes

HERAS, Bravlio

'Layforce'
50ME Commando
Private Bravlio Heras, 50 Middle East Commando, and from Spain, died [1] whilst a prisoner of war having  been captured during operations in Crete in 1941 [2]. He is believed to have been killed by Russian fire at Stalag 4C. 
 
Sources
CWGC.
British Army Casualty Lists 1939-45.

HILL, Francis John

52ME Commando
Trooper Francis Hill died during operations at Crete. He was attached to the Commando on the 13 January 1941.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/27.
Tank Museum archives re Cdo service

HUMPHREY, Bert

52ME Commando
Private Bert Humphrey died during operations at Crete. He had been reported missing 2 June 1941.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists 1939-45 National Archives file WO417/27.
 

LUMBRERA, Francisco

Francesco Lumbrera 50ME Commando
'Layforce'
50ME Commando
Private Francisco Lumbrera*, 50 Middle East Commando, and from Spain, died whilst a prisoner of war having been captured during operations in Crete in 1941. He is believed to have been killed by Russian fire at Stalag 4C Wistritz bei Teplitz,Germany. 
 
Source
CWGC.
[Image] : Tony Fajardo, via Special Forces Roll of Honour website.

MATHER, James Henry

Pte James Mather 50ME Commando
50ME Commando

Private James Mather was reported missing 2 June 1941 during operations in Crete and later found to be a prisoner of war [1]. He had been imprisoned at Stalag 4C, a prisoner of war camp at Wistritz bei Teplitz, Sudetenland ( part of former Czechoslovakia) [2a]. He died shortly after his release in 1945 due to ill treatment whilst a prisoner [3]. 

His brother, 851729 Sergeant Kenneth Mather,  16 Defence Regiment R.A.,  also died during WW2 on the 13th February 1942 aged 20. He is remembered on the Singapore Memorial [1].

MAXWELL, Thomas Turnbull

'Layforce'

Guardsman Thomas Maxwell was wounded during operations in Crete on 2 June 1941 and became a prisoner of war. He died whilst a prisoner of war cause of death not known to this archive. 

Sources
CWGC
British Army Casualty Lists 1939-45 / National Archives file WO417/27, 29, 30, and 60.
Westminster Abbey Commando Roll of Honour file ref. National Archives DEFE/2/843.

MCCORMICK, John

50ME Commando
Private John McCormick died during operations against the enemy occupied Greek island of Castelorizzo (Operation Abstention). 
 
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/48.

MOYLES, Gerard

Middle East Commando
'Layforce'
Lance Corporal Gerard Moyles died during the evacuation of allied forces from Crete. 
 
Service
The Tank Museum archives record the following:
  1. "X"1 list Posted to Depot Commando Training Wing and Holding Unit 31/1/41 (Cheshire Yeomanry 6/41) 
  2. Reported missing 2/6/41 (Cas. 137/41 ) 
  3. Died (BC) 2/6/41.
Sources
CWGC.
Tank Museum archives

PARKINGTON, Oswald

'Layforce'
Pte. Parkington died during operations in Crete. Elements of Layforce were engaged in a rearguard action during the evacuation. 
 
The CWGC list him by his Regiment only. His name is however recorded on the Westminster Abbey Commando ROH as being a member of Layforce.  His name is therefore held on our ROH in the hope that further information establishing, or otherwise, any Commando service will come to light in the future.
 

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.
 

SHARMAN, Richard

50ME Commando
Lance Sergeant Richard Sharman was reported missing presumed killed in action.
At the time of his death his Commando were engaged in operations against the enemy occupied Greek island of Castelorizzo (Operation Abstention). 
 
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/48.
The Middle East Commandos, author Charles Messenger.
 

SHIELDS, Ronald Francis

51ME Commando
Lance Sergeant Ronald Shields, ‘D’ Squadron, died from burns received from an accidentally ignited petrol drum thrown up on the beach by sea at El Rakham Bay.
 
Sources
CWGC
Middle East Depot Commando War Diary Jan to June 1942 entry for 10th May.
National Archives file WO 218/159.
 

SMITH, Michael Arnold

50ME Commando
Second Lieutenant Michael Arnold Smith was reported wounded and missing during operations between 25 -28 February 1941.  He was later reported killed in action 28 February. At the time of his death his Commando were engaged on operations against the enemy occupied Greek island of Castelorizzo (Operation Abstention). 
 
Sources
Casualty Lists 1939-45 / National Archives files WO417/2.
CWGC.
The Middle East Commandos, author Charles Messenger.
 

STOTT, Charles Henry

52ME Commando
Trooper Charles Stott died whilst a prisoner of war. He was reported missing on 2 June 1941 during operations at Crete but later found to have been captured. 
 
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists 1939-45 / National Archives files WO417/27, 31, and 44.
 

TAYLOR, Graham Cecil Gordon

50ME Commando
Captain Graham Taylor was reported missing presumed killed in action during operations in Crete.
  • 1 April to 30 July 1939 (Second Lieutenant) (2nd Bn. The Leicestershire Regiment) awarded the Military Cross for distinguished services rendered in the field in connection with operations in Palestine.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/9.
London Gazette 34758, page 8529.
 

THOMAS, Leslie

52ME Commando
'Layforce'
Trooper Leslie Thomas died during the evacuation of allied forces from Crete. No 52 ME Commando (as part of 'D' Bn Layforce) were engaged in a rearguard action whilst the evacuation took place. 
 
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists 1939-45 / National Archives file WO417/30.
Tank Museum archives. 
 

THOMAS, Norman

'Layforce'
Private Norman Thomas was reported as missing in action on Crete on the 2nd June 1941, however he had been taken prisoner. He died whilst a prisoner of war cause of death not known to this archive.
 
The CWGC and Casualty Records list him by his Regiment only. His name is however recorded on the Westminster Abbey Commando ROH as being a member of Layforce and dying as a Prisoner of War.  His name is therefore held on our ROH in the hope that further information establishing, or otherwise,  any Commando service will come to light in the future.
 

ULRICH, Itzchaz

51ME Commando
Private Itzchaz Ulrich died during operations in Eritrea when on a patrol up a steep gulley running South from Beit Gabru to harass enemy positions. 
 
Sources
CWGC.
Account by Lt.Col. Cator in Middle East Commandos, author Charles Messenger.
 
Notes - Keren War Cemetery
Keren was the last Italian stronghold in Eritrea and the scene of the most decisive battle of the war in East Africa in February and March 1941. (Source: CWGC)

WAJNSZTEJN, Shmaryahu

Shmaryahu Wajnsztejn 51ME Commando
51ME Commando
Private Shmaryahu Wajnsztejn died during operations in Eritrea when on a patrol up a steep gulley running South from Beit Gabru to harass enemy positions. 
 
Sources
CWGC.
Account by Lt. Col. Cator in Middle East Commandos by Charles Messenger.
 
Notes - Keren War Cemetery
Keren was the last Italian stronghold in Eritrea and the scene of the most decisive battle of the war in East Africa in February and March 1941. (Source: CWGC)

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