MANLEY, Frederick Reuben Walter

Primary tabs

Known as: 
Fred
Rank: 
Guardsman
Unit / Base: 
4 Commando
Prior Police Service: 
Luton Borough Police
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Berkshire Regiment
Grenadier Guards
Service: 
Army
Service Number: 
5334355 and 14241835
Service Record: 
WO422 / Apv000283363
Born: 
Monday, June 25, 1917
Birthplace: 
Kingsholm, Gloucester
Died: 
1996
Frederick Manley enlisted as a Boy Soldier in the 1st Royal Berkshire Regiment and served from 18 July 1932 until 14 January 1939. Overseas service during this period included India and Sudan. Appointed Bandsman 9 May 1937. After discharge at his own request he joined Luton Borough Police. Constable Manley volunteered for the Commandos in 1942 and was posted to the 2nd Police Intake at the Commando Depot (Commando Basic Training Centre), Achnacarry, after which he was attached to No.4 Commando [1][1a].
Timeline from 1939
19.05.1939 joined Luton Borough Police, collar no.106, resided 46 Vernon Road, Luton [1a][4].
03.06.1942 Folkestone, married Ida Mabel Wright [1].
23.07.1942 enlisted General Service Corps and taken on strength Commando Depot [1].
14.09.1942 administratively transferred to Grenadier Guards [1].
24.09.1942 attached to No.4 Commando [1].
06.06.1944 wounded (remaining on duty) on 6 June 1944 at Normandy, France [2].
07.06.1944 appointed Acting Lance Corporal.
---.08.1944 part of the Commando Guard for Field Marshall Montgomery's Caravan HQ [3].
07.09.1944 embarked France for UK [1].
01.11.1944 - 04.11.1944 admitted to No.9 Royal Canadian Hospital, Horsham [1].
15.01.1945 reverts to rank of Guardsman [1].
18.07.1945 transfers to Corps of Military Police [1].
30.08.1945 impending release Class 'B' [1].
20.09.1945 relegated Class W (T) Reserve for re-employment as Policeman [1].
24.09.1945 re-joined Luton Borough Police [4].
01.04.1947 Luton Borough Police absorbed into Bedfordshire Constabulary) [4].
14.07.1947 transferred from Bedfordshire to Kent Constabulary [4].
18.05.1964 retired after 25 years service [4].
 
Sources
[1] Army Service Record / Ancestry.
[1a] The 1939 Register covering Luton.
[2] Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/78.
[3] Commando Association newsletter 44 and obituaries in newsletter 103.
[4] Curator of the Kent Police Museum and Tony Moore, FRHistS, Police Historian.
Registers of deaths in Kent (Shepway District).
 
Additional content: 
Police Volunteers
Normandy - Operation Overlord
Archive pages : 
No 4 Commando

Ask Questions / Add Information / Add Photos

Use the Archive Forum for research enquiries [register now]. 
Read some frequently asked questions here [FAQ's].
Contact the Archive to add information or photos via the [contact form].
 
All content is researched and administered by the Commando Veterans Archive.