Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

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BARTON, Francis Christopher

40 Cdo. RM
Major Francis Barton received a Mention in Despatches in 1951 in recognition of gallant and distinguished services with 40 Commando RM in Malaya [1].
  • 31 December 1960 (Colonel) appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) [2].
  • 1 January 1964 (Brigadier) appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) [3].
  • 1 January 1966 (Major General) appointed C.B. (Military Division) [4].
Sources
[1] London Gazettes Supp. 39361, page 5432.

BAXTER, Ian Stuart

3 Cdo. Bde. RM
Colonel Ian Stuart Baxter, HQ Commando Forces RM, was appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of service within the operations in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War [1][2].

BEVIS, Timothy John

Royal Marines
Lieutenant Timothy Bevis received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland in 1986 [1].
  • 13 December 2015 (Brigadier) appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) [2].
  • 31 May 2016 promoted Major General [3].
  • 28 December 2019 appointed C.B. (Military Divisionj [4].
Sources
[1] London Gazette 50710, page 14517.
[2] London Gazette 61256, page B6. Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours List.
[3] London Gazette 61603, page 12653.

BROWN, Christopher Charles

29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Captain Christopher Brown, 29 Commando Regiment RA, was a Naval Gunfire Spotter attached to Special Forces during the Falklands War. He received a Mention in despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service between 25 April to 15 June 1982 [1] [2].
  • 30 Sept 1987 promoted Major [3].
  • 30 June 1997 (Lieutenant Colonel) promoted Colonel [4].

CAMPBELL, Robin Francis

No 8 Commando
Layforce
Temporary Captain Robin Campbell was attached to the raiding party for Operation Flipper, an attack on Rommel's HQ in November 1941. Wounded and taken prisoner, he was subsequently repatriated in 1943 because of his wounds. He relinquished his commission 31 December 1944 with the honorary rank of Captain..
  • Awarded the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East.
Recommendation

CARREL, Ian Vincent

No 1 Commando
Ian Vincent Carrel, Captain in No. 1 Commando, received a MiD in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma [1].  He was appointed C.B.E. on the 7th June 1974 whilst Senior Technical Adviser, Ministry of Defence [2].
 
The death of Major Ian Vincent Carrel, CBE. (1 Cdo) of Old Oxted, Surrey, was announced in Commando Association newsletter 66 issued March 1978.
 
Sources
[1] London Gazettes Supp.  37730, page 4698.

COPINGER-SYMES, Rory Sandham

Royal Marines
Captain Rory Copinger-Symes receieved the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in rendering humanitarian assistance in Sierra Leone in 1999 [1].
  • 20 July 2009 (Lieutenant Colonel) announcement of the award of the Bronze Star Medal conferred by the President of the United States of America in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Iraq [2].
  • 14 September 2009 promoted to Colonel [3].
  • 25 July 2016 promoted to Brigadier [4].

DAVIS, Edward Grant Martin

3 Cdo. Bde. RM
Brigadier Edward Davis, O.B.E., Commander 3 Commando Brigade RM [1][1A], was appointed C.B. E. (Military Division) in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Afghanistan during the period 1st April 2011 to 30th September 2011 [2].
  • 28 November 2011 promoted Major General [3].
  • 14 June 2014 appointed C.B. (Military Division) [4].
  • 1 July 2014 promoted Lieutenant General [5].
Sources

DAWSON, Robert William Palliser

No 4 Commando
Lieutenant Robert Dawson was one of the first subalterns to join No 4 Commando in 1940, later taking part in the Dieppe raid  as Captain of 'C' troop.  
  • 1943 promoted Major and 2nd in command of No 4 Commando replacing Major Derek Mills-Roberts who left to command No 6 Commando.
  • April 1943 Lord Lovat left No 4 Commando and Major Dawson became Commanding Officer.  

DUTTON, James Benjamin

Royal Marines
Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton K.C.B., C.B.E., was awarded the Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer) conferred by the President of the United States of America in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Iraq [1]
  • 15 October 1996 (Lieutenant Colonel) appointed Commanding Officer 40 Commando, Royal Marines [2].

FRY, Robert Alan

Royal Marines
  • 1978 (Lieutenant) received Mention In Despatches for distinguished service in Northern Ireland [1].
  • 1980 (Captain) appointed M.B.E., in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland [2].

GRIFFITHS, Patrick

Patrick Griffiths MC
45 Cdo. RM
Lieutenant Patrick Griffiths was awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service in operations in Malaya during the period 1st August  to 15th November, 1950 [1].
  • 11 June 1977 (Colonel) appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) [2]. 
Sources
[1] London Gazettes Supp. 39215, page 2389.
[1] National Archives file WO 373/129/123.
[2] London Gazette Supp. 47234, page 7085.
[Image] Obituary in the Globe and Laurel Jan/Feb.1994.
 

HARDY, Campbell Richard

Lt Colonel Campbell Richard Hardy
46RM Commando
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell Richard Hardy, commanded the 9th RM Bn., until it was redesignated as 46 RM Commando on 1 August 1943. He remained as Commanding Officer 46RM Commando until the end November 1944 when he left to take up the post of  Brigade Commander 3rd Special Service Brigade which was operating in the Far East.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order, during the Normandy campaign, and later a Second Bar to the Distinguished Service Order during operations in Burma [1] [2] [3] [4].  

HOLMES, Matthew John

42 Cdo. RM
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Holmes, Commanding Officer 42 Commando RM, was appointed D.S.O. in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2006 to 31st March 2007 [1].
  • 19 March 2013 (Colonel) promoted Brigadier [2].
  • 9 May 2018 promoted Major General [3].
  • 8 June 2019 appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) [4].
Sources
[1] London Gazette 58396, page 10411.

HOOK, David Arnold

Major General David Hook RM
3 Cdo. Bde. RM
Lieutenant Colonel David Hook was appointed Commanding Officer 42 Commando RM on 27 April 2001 [1].
  • 2009 (Brigadier) appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan [2].
  • 3 October 2011 promoted Major General [3].

KEELING, Andrew Myles

Royal Marines
Major General Andrew Myles Keeling C.B.E. was appointed C.B. on 11th June 1994 [1].
  • 13 October 1987(Lieutenant Colonel)(Local Colonel) appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland [2].
  • 14 February 1992 (Brigadier) appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of service within the operations in Northern Iraq and Southern Turkey [3].
Sources
[1] London Gazette Supp. 53696, page 2.

MAGOWAN, Robert Andrew

Brigadier Robert Magowan RM
3 Cdo. Bde. RM
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Magowan was Commanding Officer UK Landing Force Command Support Group in 2007 [1].
  • 2012/2013 (Acting Brigadier) appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 October 2012 to 31 March 2013 [2].
  • 9 June 2018 (Major General) appointed C.B. (Military Divsion) [3].
  • 31 December 2004 (Lieutenant Colonel) appointed M.B.E. (Military Division) [4].
Sources

MILLS-ROBERTS, Derek

No 6 Commando

Born in 1908; educated at Liverpool College and Oxford University; worked for his father's firm of solicitors, 1935; joined Supplementary Reserve of Officers, Irish Guards, 1936; joined 1 Bn, Irish Guards, 1939-1942, and served in Norway; transferred to special services No 4 Commando, 1942; took part in Dieppe Raid, Aug 1942; Lt Col, 1943; Commanding Officer, No 6 Commando, North Africa, 1943; Brig, 1944; commanded 1 Special Service Bde (later 1 Commando Bde), North West Europe, 1944-1945; accepted the surrender of FM Erhard Milch at Neustadt, May 1945; retired from Army, 1945; commanded 12

NAPIER, Bevil Charles Alan

No 11 Commando
Major Bevil Charles Alan Napier was attached to the Commandos from the Gordon Highlanders. He was promoted Lieutenant on 1 January 1941.
  • August 1943  (Temporary Major) awarded the Military Cross for "gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East."  (London Gazette 35077 and 36146.)
  • January 1946 appointed MBE (Military Division) for "gallant and distinguished service in NW Europe." (London Gazette 37442, page 623.)
  • 26 January 1952 promoted Major.  (London Gazette 39478, page 1170.)

NONWEILER, Wilfrid Ivan

3 Special Service (Commando) Brigade
Brigadier Wilfrid Nonweiler RM was the first Commanding Officer of 3rd Special Service Brigade when it was formed in1943 [1].
  • November 1944 returns to the UK [2].
  • 9 June 1949 appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) [3].
  • Maj. General W. I. Nonweiler, C.B.E., R.M., ( 3 Bde.) died in hospital in Deal on the 12th January, 1953 [4].
Sources
[1] Navy Lists (see linked content below).
[2] Third Jungle Book issue 9.

O'FLAHERTY, Denis William Venables Patrick

Denis William Venables Patrick O'Flaherty
Brigadier O'Flaherty
No 3 Commando
Lieutenant Denis O'Flaherty, No. 3 Commando 6 troop, was appointed DSO in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in successful combined operations against the enemy at Vaagso and Maaloy on December 27th 1941 [1]. He additionally received a Mention in Despatches during this operation [1].
 
Lt. O'Flaherty was severely wounded during the operation, being shot in his eye, jaw, and neck, after which he was hospitalised for two years [2]. 
 

PICKUP, Richard Alan

Col Richard Pickup SBS
3 Cdo. Bde. RM

Colonel Richard Pickup died suddenly whilst posted as a defence advisor in Pretoria South Africa.

Richard Allan Pickup joined the Royal Marines in 1983 after university and was awarded the Sword of Honour at the CTCRM. After operational deployments to Northern Ireland and training in the Arctic, he was selected for Special Forces training and joined the SBS, later commanding the unit from 2000 until 2004 when he was appointed commander of the UK Forces in Kosovo. 

He also led the task force which spearheaded the British campaign in Afghanistan.

PORTER, Matthew Edward

Royal Marines
Captain Matthew Porter was appointed M.B.E. (Military Division)  31 December 1999 [1].
  • 29 December 2007 (Lieutenant Colonel) appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) [2].
  • 29 December 2012 (Colonel) appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) [3].
  • 21 July 2014 promoted Brigadier [4].
Sources
[1] London Gazette 55710, page N5.
[2] London Gazette 58557, page N5.
[3] London Gazette 60367, page N4.

QUILL, Raymond Humphrey

30 Commando Assault Unit
Colonel Raymond Humphrey Quill was a veteran of World War One and a former Commanding Officer of 30 Assault Unit.
  • 28 March 1935 (Major) appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order [1].
  • 11 December 1945 (Lieutenant Colonel)(Acting Colonel) appointed D.S.O. in recognition of distiguished service during the War in Europe [2].

RIES, Norman Charles

45RM Commando
Lieutenant Colonel Norman Charles Ries was the first Commanding Officer of 45 RM Commando on its formation in August 1943 [1] and remained as such until June 1944 when wounded by enemy gunfire in Normandy. Post war he returned to command the restructured unit from December 1948 until August 1950 [2].
  • 1941 (Captain) (Royal Marines HMS Terror) received a Mention in Despatches for courage, skill and devotion to duty in operations off the Libyan Coast [3].

SECCOMBE, Thomas

41 Cdo. RM
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Seccombe was appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland during the period 1st May 1978 to 31st July 1978 [1].
  • 15 June 1985 (Colonel) appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) [2].
Sources
[1] London Gazette Supp. 47739, page 343.

STILWELL, Michael William

Captain Stilwell MC 2 Commando
Lieutenant Michael Stillwell MC
No 2 Commando
Michael Stilwell was commissioned into the Cheshire Regiment on the 22nd Sept. 1940. On the 20th August 1943 he was promoted Lieutenant, serving with the Coldstream Guards before volunteering for the Commandos and being posted to No 2 Commando. He was later promoted war substantive Captain.
 
Captain Stilwell was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry during operations at Spilje, Albania.
Citation
Spilje Albania, July 28/29, 1944. Operation Healing 11.

SUTHERLAND, David (Lt Col)

No 8 Commando
SBS

(The following is from the Times obituary.)
 
LIEUTENANT David Sutherland and Royal Marine John Duggan were the only two to return from Operation “Anglo”, a raid on the Italian-occupied island of Rhodes by the Special Boat Service in September 1942. The SBS team was pursued relentlessly; it had attacked two airfields and destroyed aircraft positioned to support Rommel’s threatened advance on Cairo and to bomb supply convoys to beleaguered Malta. 

THOMAS, John Francis

Brigadier Jack Thomas
No 6 Commando
No.6 Commando. President of the Commando Veterans Association until November 2016.
Military Service
Enlisted 1st Lifeguards rank Trooper [1][1a].
21 April 1945 commissioned from O.C.T.U. Second Lieutenant, Welch Regiment [2].
Attached No.6 Commando [1][3].
Injured in a motor transport accident in the muster area just prior to embarkation for Normandy on Operation Overlord [1].

TOD, Ronald John Frederick (Brig)

No 9 Commando
No 6 Independent Company
No 11 Independent Company
Commissioned  into the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders in 1925. Served in No 6 Independent Company and was  Officer Commanding No 11 Independent Company in 1940 and later took command of No 9 Commando in 1942.  Awarded DSO, and later a Bar to the DSO, each for "gallant and distinguished services in Italy " whilst commanding No 9 Commando in 1944.  Promoted Brigadier and Officer Commanding 2 Commando Brigade,  in 1945 he was awarded a CBE for "gallant and distinguished services in Italy."
 

Commando Association Newsletter 61 of 1975.

TREVOR, Kenneth Rowland Swetenham (Lt Col )

No 1 Commando
Officer Commanding No 1 Commando 1943 - 1945.
 
Ken Trevor joined No 1 Commando in 1941.  As Captain of 1 troop in 1942 he took part in a raid at St Cecily Plage  and the later Operation Torch landings. He received a Mention in Despatches (MiD) in N. Africa. He took over command of No 1 Commando from his cousin Tom Trevor when the Commando sailed to India in 1943. During the campaign in Burma he was awarded the DSO for gallant and distinguished services.
 

VAN DER HORST, Rupert Cornelius

Royal Marines
Brigadier Rupert Cornelius Van Der Horst, O.B.E., was appointed C.B.E.,(Military Division), 31st December 1991 [1].
  • 1982 Mentioned in Despatches in recognition of service during the operations in the South Atlantic [2].
Sources
[1] London Gazette Supp. 52767, page 5
[2] London Gazette Supp. 49134, page 12842.
 

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