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BORWICK, Michael George

Temporary Captain (later Lieutenant Colonel)
64017
50ME Commando
'Layforce'
Royal Scots Greys, Royal Armoured Corps
Mentioned in Despatches
Deputy Lieutenant (DL)
  • 25 February 1941, Kastelorizzo, Captain, 50 Middle East Commando, engaged in Operation Abstention [1].
  • 28 March 1941, Geneifa, Captain, 'C' Company, 'D' Bn., Layforce [2].

CARR, William

Lieutenant
170245
'Layforce'
Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment
William Carr, an Agricultural Advisor from Fulford, York, served in the Yeomanry from April 1939 untill called up in August 1939. He was later seconded to the Middle East Commando and 'D' Battalion of Layforce. Captured 1 June 1941 at Crete.
 
Sources

CLEMENT, Robert Andrew

Lieutenant
88691
No 3 Commando
Royal Scots Fusiliers
Territorial Decoration (TD)
27.12.1941, Lieutenant, 2 Troop, Operation Archery, Vaagso, Norway [1]. 
19.08.1942, Lieutenant, Operation Jubilee, Dieppe, France, wounded and prisoner of war [2].
16.02.1966, Lieutenant, ceased to belong to the T.A. Reserve of Officers [3].

COLLETT, Harry Burke

Harry Burke Collett 52 ME Commando
Harry Burke Collett 1940 later 52ME
Lieutenant
117486
52ME Commando
Yorkshire Hussars
09.02.1940 commissioned Second Lieutenant, Yorkshire Hussars [1].
02.06.1941 Lieutenant, 52 Middle East Commando ('D' Bn., Layforce), reported wounded and missing in Crete, later confirmed wounded and prisoner of war since 30 May 1941 [2][3][4][5].

CUMMINGS, John

Lieutenant
77341
No 3 Commando
King's Own Royal Regiment
Lieutenant John Cummings joined No.3 Commando on 3 October 1942 and was posted as Intelligence Officer, HQ Intelligence Section, for operations in July 1943 at Sicily.

DAWNAY, Guy Nicholas

Lieutenant (later Major)
73131
No 3 Commando
South Wales Borderers
Lieutenant Guy Dawnay was reported missing 19 August 1942 during operations at Dieppe, France, later found to be a prisoner of war.

Released from captivity in 1945 he remained in military service with the South Wales Borderers until 1967, final rank attained Major.

DRUCE, Leonard William

Lieutenant
179771
No 3 Commando
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
Leonard William Druce, a Bank Clerk from Borehamwod, Hertfordshire, enlisted 15 September 1939. Commissioned Second Lieutenant 22 March 1941. Volunteered for the commandos. Lieutenant Druce, No.3 Commando, was captured 19 August 1942 during operations at Dieppe, France. He made two attempts at escape but was re-captured on each occasion.

FITTON, John

Second Lieutenant
89992
No 2 Independent Company
Royal Welch Fusiliers, 6th Bn.

Second Lieutenant John Fitton was reported prisoner of war during operations at Pothus, Norway (Scissors Force). He was captured on 26 May 1940. Previously wrongly reported missing believed killed.

FLOOD, John Alexander Mackintosh

Temporary Captain (later Major)
99069
No 7 Commando
'Layforce'
King's Own Scottish Borderers, 7th Bn.
Captain John Alexander Mackintosh Flood was captured 1 June 1941 during operations in Crete. Postgraduate student enlisted 30 September 1939. Resided Streatham, London. Remained in service post war. Transferred to the Royal Army Educational Corps, promoted Major. Retired 30 September 1962. Member of the Commando Association.

HOWIE, Robert Cullen

Lieutenant
154064
'Layforce'
General List
28 March 1941 Acting Quartermaster 'D' Bn Layforce HQ.
2 June 1941 (Lieutenant) prisoner of war Crete.
 
Sources
52 Middle East Commando War Diary 28 March 1941 ('D' Bn Layforce Officers).

JONES, Richard Babington

Lieutenant (later Major)
124667
52ME Commando
'Layforce'
Staffordshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Artillery
Territorial Efficiency Medal
09.03.1940 commissioned Second Lieutenant, Staffordshire Yeomanry [1].
01.11.1940 (Second Lieutenant) posted to 52 Middle East Commando at Geneifa [2].
28.03.1941 serving in 'D' Company, 52 Middle East Commando [2].

KINROSS, James Macalister

James Macalister Kinross No.7 Commando
Captain
130041
No 7 Commando
'Layforce'
Cameronians
Captain James Macalister Kinross No.7 Commando ('A' Bn., Layforce) was captured during operations in Crete and remained in captivity until the end of the war. After evacuation to the UK in 1945 he spent the next two years in military TB hospitals. 
Timeline
14.05.1940 Second Lieutenant, Cameronians.

LEONARD, John Joseph

Corporal
5628559
No 1 Commando
Devonshire Regiment
John Joseph Leonard, a Machine Mechanic, enlisted into the Armed Forces 27 June 1940 later volunteering for the commandos. Corporal Leonard, No.1 Commando, was wounded and a prisoner of war 2 December 1942 during operations at Bizerte, Tunisia [1][2][3].

LYMBERY, John Graham

Lieutenant
170242
'Layforce'
Sherwood Foresters 1st Bn.
Lieutenant John Lymbery from Dulwich, London, was captured 1 June 1941 during operations in Crete whilst attached to 'D' Bn., Layforce. He remained in captivity for the rest of the war. Enlisted 20 April 1938 whilst a Medical Student at the University of London. Embarked for the Middle East.

MAYNE, John Ronald Durnford

Captain (later Major)
71115
No 6 Commando
Somerset Light Infantry
Mentioned in Despatches
Captain John Mayne was reported missing 26 March 1943 during the Battle at Steamroller Farm, El Arousa, Tunisia, later confirmed as a prisoner of war. Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished service in North Africa.
14 October 1952 (Major) retires from military service.

MCGIBBON, Robert Lorne

Robert Lorne McGibbon 50ME Commando
Lieutenant (later Captain)
85719
50ME Commando
'Layforce'
Leicestershire Regiment 2nd Bn.
1939-1940 served in Palestine before joining No.50 Middle East Commando [1][1a].
28.03.1941 Lieutenant, 'B' Company, 'D' Bn., Layforce at Geneifa [2].
__.06.1941 Lieutenant*, reported wounded and prisoner of war in Crete [3][3a][3b].

OSMOND, Charles Geoffrey

Charles Geoffrey Osmond 3 Commando
Captain
138465
No 3 Commando
Devonshire Regiment
Military Cross (MC)
Territorial Efficiency Medal
Captain Charles Geoffrey Osmond was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during operations on 19 August 1942 at Dieppe, France, during which he was severely wounded and taken prisoner of war.

RUSSELL, Douglas Alexander

Douglas Russell MC 6 Commando
Lieutenant
112957
No 6 Commando
North Staffordshire Regiment
Military Cross (MC)
Second Lieutenant Douglas Russell was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant conduct in action with the enemy. He was serving with with the North Staffordshire Regiment as part of the British Expeditionary Force in Belgium in 1940 [1][1a]. He later volunteered for the commandos and joined No.6 Commando 101 Troop.

SANCHEZ, Manuel

Private
6100534
50ME Commando
'Layforce'
Queen's Royal Regiment

Private Manuel Sanchez, a Spanish volunteer attached to 'D' Bn. Layforce, was reported missing 2 June 1941 during operations in Crete, later found to be a prisoner of war.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists  / National Archives files WO417/28 and WO417/35.
Prisoners of War / National Archives files WO392/10 and WO392/20.

SMITH, James Keith

Lieutenant (Acting Captain)
49582
No 6 Commando
Royal Artillery
Acting Captain James Keith Smith was reported missing 13 November 1941 near Gravelines, France, later confirmed as a prisoner of war 14 November 1941. Whilst in captivity he passed the Intermediate and Final Examination of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants. Member of the Commando Association from Hale, Cheshire.

SPIERS, James

Fusilier
3130056
No 3 Commando
Royal Scots Fusiliers
James Spiers, a Steel Erector from Dalry, Ayrshire, enlisted into the Royal Scots Fusiliers on 1 September 1939 and subsequently volunteered for the commandos. He was reported missing 19 August 1942 during operations with No.3 Commando at Dieppe, France, later confirmed a prisoner of war.
 
Sources

WILLS, Richard Lloyd Joseph

Captain
129346
No 3 Commando
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Military Cross (MC)
Captain Richard Wills was awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service during operations at Dieppe 19 August 1942 during which he was shot in the neck and became a prisoner of war [1][1a][2]. There is an additional reference to this in our entry for Gunner Hubert Wadsworth

WRIGHT, Henry Walter

Henry Walter Wright 3 Commando
Lieutenant (later Major)
822200
232387
No 3 Commando
Royal Artillery
Lancashire Fusiliers
17.08.1932 attested into the Royal Artillery.
16.08.1938 released to Army Reserve.
04.10.1939 mobilized for service Royal Artillery.
07-11-1940 Sergeant (Royal Artillery) attached to No.3 Commando.
No.3 Commando absorbed into 4th Special Service Bn. 
01.02.1941 posted No.8 Commando.

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