Special Service Detachments
There may be content on individuals that is not listed here. If you do not find a name use the different Search options within the Site. Contact the Archive to have a name included.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25'British Military Mission 204'
Mission 204 was the designation given to the British Military Mission to China.
Photos of the Special Service Detachments, British Military Mission 204 to China.
An account from the Australian War Museum of Australian involvement in Mission 204.
'Special Service Detachment 1'
A detachment (SSD1) taken from British Military Mission 204 for use in operations in Burma. View images in Gallery.
'Special Service Detachment 2'
A detachment (SSD2) taken from British Military Mission 204 for use in operations in Burma. View images in Gallery.
8 Commando
The Commando was formed on the 23rd June 1940 reaching full strength in September at Burnham on Crouch, Essex. Mostly made up of members of the various Guards Brigades, it became unofficially known as No 8 (Guards) Commando.
BALLANTYNE, Alexander A.
Lance Corporal
2934334
No 11 Commando
Special Service Detachment 2
Queens Own Cameron Highlanders
Lance Corporal Alexander Ballantyne was wounded 9 June 1941 during operations with No.11 Commando at Litani River. After recovering he was assigned from the Commando to Middle East Detachment 2, later redesignated 2nd Special Service Detachment (SSD 2) and was killed in Burma.
CAWSEY, Francis William
Private
5499203
No 8 Commando
Somerset Light Infantry
Killed in action or died of wounds
Private Francis Cawsey was first reported missing 29 April 1942 during operations in Burma, later corrected to missing presumed kille
COULDREY, Edwin Robert
Bombardier
830703
No 8 Commando
Royal Artillery
Killed in action or died of wounds
Bombardier Edwin Couldrey, Special Service Detachment*, was reported missing 18 August 1942, later confirmed as having died, during operations in Burma. Royal Artillery Casualty Cards record his death as a battle casualty. He has no known grave.
ELSE, John
Sergeant
5624579
No 7 Commando
Devonshire Regiment
Died on war service
Sergeant John Else was accidentally killed in India. Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Else, of Bobbers Mill, Nottingham.
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/59.
FLAHERTY, Robert Henry
Trooper
409352
No 8 Commando
52ME Commando
Special Service Detachment 2
Dragoons
Post war member of the Burma Star Association and the Commando Association residing in California, USA.
Sources
Addendum to Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 89 (1989).
GALL, Victor, G.
Corporal (later Warrant Officer)
2040474
No 3 Commando
No 8 Commando
Royal Engineers
Mentioned in Despatches
Victor Gall from Edinburgh enlisted into the Royal Engineers in 1937. Evacuated from Dunkirk. Volunteered for the commandos.
GILLINGHAM, Reginald John
Company Quartermaster Sergeant
543209
'Layforce'
Royal Armoured Corps
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Reginald Gillingham was reported missing presumed died during operations in Burma on 19 June 1942, his secondary unit recorded as 'B' Bn., Layforce on each of the casualty listings. He has no known grave.
GOODE, Frederick Charles
Corporal
5108868
No 8 Commando
Middle East Commando
Special Service Detachment 2
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Corporal Goode from Birmingham was captured on 3 August 1942 during operations in Burma with Special Service Detachment 2. Previously served with the Commandos in the Middle East. Liberated from Rangoon Jail in 1945.
HANCOCK, Harry
Private
4748143
'Layforce'
Middle East Commando
British Military Mission 204
York and Lancaster Regiment
Killed in action or died of wounds
Private Harry Hancock, 'C' Bn Layforce, was reported missing 9 June 1941 during operations at Litani River, Syria, later reported no longer missing.
JOHNSTON, Robert
Corporal
2931826
No 11 Commando
Queens Own Cameron Highlanders
Died on active service
Corporal Robert Johnston died of exhaustion and malaria whilst assigned from the Commando to Middle East Detachment 2, later redesignated 2nd Special Service Detachment (SSD 2), in Burma. He has no known grave.
LACEY, Leonard Frank
Private
5669104
No 8 Commando
'Layforce'
British Military Mission 204
Somerset Light Infantry
Died on active service
Private Leonard Lacey died whilst a prisoner of war. He had been posted from the Commando to Middle East Detachment 2, later redesignated 2nd Special Service Detachment (SSD 2), in Burma. He has no known grave. Son of Edward James Lacey and Louise Rose Lacey.
LOCKINGTON, Arthur
Trooper
324447
50ME Commando
British Military Mission 204
Royal Armoured Corps
Died on war service
Trooper Arthur Lockington, assigned from the Commando to Middle East Detachment 2, later redesignated 2nd Special Service Detachment (SSD 2), died in Burma. He has no known grave.
Sources
CWGC.
MATTHEWMAN, John Stewart
Sergeant
No 7 Commando
Special Service Detachment 1
Royal Army Service Corps
February 1942 Lance Corporal serving in Special Service Detachment 1. Post war member of the Commando Association and the Burma Star Association residing in Boston, Lincolnshire.
MILLER, John
Private
6139215
No 8 Commando
Special Service Detachment 2
East Surrey Regiment
Killed in action or died of wounds
Private John Miller was reported missing from approximately 12 June 1942 and later presumed killed in action, during operations in the Far East. He has no known grave.
MILMAN, John Alexander Ralph
Major (Temporary Lieutenant Colonel)
58191
52ME Commando
British Military Mission 204
Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Colonel John Milman, Commander, 1 Special Service Detachment, 204 Military Mission, was appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Burma [1][2].
Recommendation
MORGAN, Thomas
Private
4977740
Special Service Detachment 2
Sherwood Forresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Private Thomas Morgan, Special Service Detachment 2*, was reported missing in Burma, later presumed killed in action aproximately 30 June 1942. He has no known grave. Son of Peter and Catherine Morgan, of Scholes, Wigan, Lancashire.
Sources
NICHOLLS, Frank Raymond Jocelyn
Captain
71042
No 7 Commando
'Layforce'
Special Service Detachment 1
Royal Artillery
Mentioned in Despatches
Killed in action or died of wounds
Captain Frank Nicholls, No 7 Commando and Layforce, died whilst attached to No 1 Special Service Detachment. He has no known grave. Son of Mrs. A. M. Connell, of West Brompton, London.
RICHARDSON, Arthur
WO2 Company Sergeant Major
5381845
No 8 Commando
Royal Armoured Corps
Killed in action or died of wounds
Company Sergeant Major Arthur Richardson was reported missing presumed killed in action during operations in Burma.
SCANES, Lewis Ralph
Trooper
321274
No 8 Commando
1st Royal Dragoons Royal Armoured Corps
Died on war service
Trooper Lewis Scanes was reported missing presumed died during operations in Burma on or shortly after 19 June 1942, his secondary unit shown simply as "Commando" on each of the casualty lists. Son of Henry Frederick and Mary Charlotte Scanes, of Dagenham, Essex.[1][2].
SEYMOUR, William Napier
Major
56896
52ME Commando
'Layforce'
Scots Guards
Mentioned in Despatches
Adjutant of 52 Middle East Commando in Sudan and Ethiopia, and Adjutant 'D' Bn. Layforce, although did not participate at Crete due to an injury. Later joined Middle East contingents to the Far East to be part of Mission 204.
SMITH, William James
Trooper
7909151
'Layforce'
Royal Armoured Corps
Killed in action or died of wounds
Trooper William Smith was reported missing August 1942 during operations in Burma, later presumed killed in action on or shortly after 31 August 1942. He was attached to the Special Service Detachment and has no known grave.
Ask Questions / Add Information / Add Photos
Use the Archive Forum for research enquiries, or to add information or photos. [register now].
Read some frequently asked questions here [FAQ's].
Read some frequently asked questions here [FAQ's].
Contact the Archive via the [contact form].
All content is researched and administered by the Commando Veterans Archive.
