Association History 1943 - 2005

Type: Booklet
Author: Henry Brown OBE
Year of Publishing: 1993
Keywords: Commando Association, Henry Brown, WW2 Commandos
Commando Association Blazer patch

Formed in 1943. Formal stand down in 2005. This document, written by Henry Brown, the Association's General Secretary and Treasurer, covers the period 1943 to 1993. From the collection of Lance Sergeant Joseph Rogers MM [more ...].

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BROWN, Henry

Rank: 
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
Unit / Base: 
1 Commando
2 Independent Company
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Army Service Corps
Service: 
Army
Died : 
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Place died or last resided: 
Ruislip Middlesex
Henry Brown 1 Commando
Henry Brown Commando Association Secretary
Henry Brown was a Quartermaster RSM in No.1 Commando serving from their formation in 1940 to disbandment at the end of the war. Service included operations in North Africa and later in the Far East. Also served at Bodo, Norway May/June 1940 with No.2 Independent Company HQ.

Post War
1946-1987 General Secretary of the original Commando Association.
1987 appointed MBE (Civil Division) for service to the Commando Association.
1998 elected President of the Commando Association.
31 December 2001 appointed OBE (Civil Division) for services to the Commando Association.

Sources
Commando Association documents and newsletters.
Images in CVA Gallery.
IWM Interview with Henry Brown ref. IWM catalogue 17686.
OBE - London Gazette 56430, page 9.
 

BROWN, Henry (No.1 Cdo) - newspaper report

Type: Files
Author: Content Admin
Year of Publishing: 2023
Keywords: Henry Brown,1 Commando, Commando Association

Henry Brown was a Quartermaster RSM in No.1 Commando.
1946-1987 General Secretary of the original Commando Association.
1987 appointed MBE (Civil Division) for service to the Commando Association.
1998 elected President of the Commando Association.
31 December 2001 appointed OBE (Civil Division) for services to the Commando Association.

Linked Content: 
Units: 
1 Commando

YOUNGMAN, Ronald

Ron Youngman, Hon Sec Commando Association
Son of Private Ronald Herbert Youngman, No.4 Commando, killed in action on DDay.
Commando Association Honorary General Secretary 1987-2005.
Commando Association Honorary General Secretary and Treasurer 1991-2005.
Image credit: His wife Wendy Youngman.

Obituary
"Many World War 2 Veterans and their Families will be sad to hear of the death on March 1st 2020 of Ronald Youngman, after several years of severe illness which he faced up to with true Commando courage.
Ronald, whose Father had been killed in action on D Day 1944, gave 45 years of devoted service to the Commando Association, beginning as Assistant to Henry Brown in the London Office, followed by the post of General Secretary and Treasurer on Henry’s retirement in 1987, until the Stand Down Parade and Service in 2005.
Following this he became Assistant Secretary to the Commandos’ Benevolent Fund, which enabled him to keep up with the many World War 2 Commandos he knew. His devotion to the D Day Commemorations and the many French Commandos he knew were paramount to the end of his life. He was assisted in all these years of Service by his beloved wife Wendy, to whom all who knew them we offer our sincere thanks and sympathy."
Obituary written by Mrs. Desiree Roderick M.B.E.,
Late Hon. Secretary, Commandos’ Benevolent Fund.

RODERICK, Desiree Leila Margaret

Honorary Secretary of the Commando's Benevolent Fund.
Died: 14 May 2024 aged 103.
Obituary: It is with much sadness that we advise you of the very recent death of Mrs Desiree Leila Margaret Roderick MBE, a staunch supporter of Commandos and their welfare for most of her adult life. Affectionately known as 'Dizzy' to many, Mrs. Roderick was a member of both the Commando Association and the St. Nazaire Society, and her tireless work for the Commandos' Benevolent Fund was rewarded in 2008 with her inclusion in Her Majesty the Queen's M.B.E. honours list.
Honorary Secretary of the Fund since 1985 her connections with the Commandos go back to WW2. Her brother Captain Joe Houghton M.C., No.2 Commando, was captured and executed after a raid in Norway and her husband at the time Captain Richard Broome, No.2 Commando, was killed in action at Salerno.
Post war Desiree married Lieutenant John Roderick M.C. who had served in No.2 Commando and was wounded and a prisoner of war after the raid at St. Nazaire. In 2021 Mrs. Roderick reached a milestone celebrating her 100th birthday. Her amazing recollection of events of commando significance, her willingness to help others in need, or those like myself seeking her help with research, and her attention to detail to ensure historical accuracy, never wained in all that time. She will be greatly missed and our heartfelt sympathies go to all her family and friends at this sad time.
Obituary written by Pete Rogers,
Administrator, Commando Veterans Archive.
 

St Ives Commando Award Laid to Rest

Commando Veterans Archive
Extract from Commando Association newsletter 101 (September 1995).

A proposal that The St lves Commando Award Management Comittee be disbanded and that the Trophy be placed in the custody of the St Ives Town Museum ended 30 years of a unique association between the town of St Ives and those Commandos who settled in the town when they left the services.

The purpose of the Award was to "perpetuate the memory of all those Army and Royal Marine Commandos, who trained in St lves. and who died in the War of 1939/45. and in the many actions since". The Award was to be given to a boy or girl from the greater St lves area who had carried out an act of "Courage. initiative and fortitude" during the preceeding 12 months.

The first presentation in 1965 which was made by John Earle, then with BBC TV, to James Ryall, for fortitude (overcoming a serious disability) and the last in 1989, by a Royal Marines Colonel, to Ricky Chilton, again for fortitude. But, perhaps the most deserving recipient of the Award, in 1975, was the late Chris Walsh who fought for recovery after a brain operation.

The Committee had set a high standard for the Award and there were a number of years when no suitable nomination had been received, as in the past 5 years. In 30 years the Award had only been presented 14 times. There were times when a suitable nomination had been received but when the parents had been approached they did not want the nomination to go forward, usually for personal reasons, or they did not want their son, or daughter, exposed to the publicity.

The population of St Ives is changing and many of the newcorners are not aware of who these Commandos were, and their association with the town. Also the Commando population itself is suffering from Anno Domini (the youngest wartime commando would be 68 this year). The Secretary of the Award, 'Slim' Sutherland has recently undergone three major operations including a heart valve replacement. 
 

The Management Committee reluctantly decided that the scheme "had run its course" and the trophy will be placed in the Town Museum along with the Rose Bowl presented by the Royal Marines at the reunion in 1993.

It is intended that a Commemorative Plaque, thanking the people of St lves, should be placed in the vicinity of New Pier. After this final act 'Slim' Sutherland intends to retire as Commando Secretary at St lves, after 4l years, and his appointment as Area Representative of the Commando Association.

A list of names for an event in 1986

Type: Files
Author: Content Admin
Year of Publishing: 2023
Keywords: commando,association,names