Brac - Operation Flounced
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Date commenced:
Wednesday, May 31, 1944
Location
Island of Brac, formerly Yugoslavia
Croatia
43° 18' 17.6076" N, 16° 39' 9.756" E
- Lieutenant Colonel J.M.T.F. Churchill, D.S.O., M.C. embarked from Vis as the Commanding Officer of a Force consisting of 43RM Commando, some commandos from 2 Special Service Brigade HQ, the Raiding Support Regiment, a company of the 2nd Highland Light Infantry, and 111 Field Regiment R.A. This was a diversionary attack on the German Garrison of Brac to draw off German Forces who were launching an offensive against the Yugo-Slav National Army of Liberation in Bosnia. The Force was divided into three columns and embarked on naval craft, disembarking along the coast including at Bol, a coastal town on the island of Brac off the coast of Split. They were supported by 1700 plus Partisans.
- 2 June 1944 four troops of 40 RM Commando proceeded to Brac as reinforcements.
- 3 June 1944 No.2 Commando Adjutant proceeded to Brac as Liaison Officer to obtain a full picture of the situation for Brigadier H.G.P. Miles, Commanding Force 266. He returned with a request from the Commanding Officer that two troops of No.2 Commando be sent over as a reserve.
- 4 June 1944 Nos.1 and 4 Troops of No.2 Commando under the command of the Adjutant proceeded to Brac and disembarked at 0800hrs to learn that the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel J.M.T.F. Churchill D.S.O., M.C. and the Commanding Officer of 40RM Commando, Lieutenant Colonel J.C. Manners, D.S.O. were both missing. It was later discovered that Lieutenant Colonel Churchill had been taken prisoner and Lieutenant Colonel Manners had been killed.
- 4 June 1944 Lieutenant Colonel R.W.B. Simmonds, Officer Commanding 43RM Commando who had assumed command of the Special Service Brigade, ordered the withdrawal of all Allied Forces from Brac due to heavy losses.
- 4 June 1944 No.2 Commando Adjutant Major R.W. Keep obtained permission to remain behind with a party of 1 Officer, Lieutenant M.H. Webb, M.C., and 12 volunteers from No.2 Commando in what was to be an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the Commanding Officer.
Source
No.2 Commando War Diary reports on the missing men and other entries for May and June 1944.
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