Special Service Brigade / Group

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BENNETT, Basil H.

Captain
Special Service Brigade
The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)
Captain Bennett, a veteran of the First World War, was Adminsitrative Officer of the Special Service Brigade HQ.
 
His death was announced in Commando Association Newsletter 43 of Sept. 1966 where Major General Sir Robert Laycock, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O., wrote this appreciation about him:

BROOK, H.B.

Lieutenant
Special Service Brigade
HQ Special Service Brigade. Post war member of the Commando Association last known residing Stratford-on-Avon.
 
Sources
Commando Association Lost Legion List 7.
 

CLARK, N.W.

Lance Corporal
Special Service Brigade
HQ Special Service Brigade. Post war member of the Commando Association last known residing Long Sutton, Lincolnshire.

Sources
Commando Association Lost Legions List 3.
 

COOKE, A.L.

Corporal
Special Service Brigade
HQ Special Service Brigade. Post war member of the Commando Association last known residing Taplow, Buckinghamshire.
 
Sources
Commando Association Lost Legion List 3.
Linked Content below.
 

DOCKERILL, Graham Dennis

Fusilier
6482233
Special Service Brigade
No 1 Commando
Royal Fusiliers
Metropolitan Police
Fusilier Graham Dockerill, HQ Special Service Brigade and No.1 Commando, was reported missing 4 March 1943 during operations in North Africa, later found to be a prisoner of war. 
Graham was a serving Metropolitan Police Officer (PC 615G, warrant number 127981) who volunteered for the Commandos and was part of the 1st Police Intake of 1942. 
 
Sources

DUNNE, Philip Russell Rendell

Temporary Captain
30978
No 3 Commando
No 8 Commando
2 Special Service (Commando) Brigade
Royal Horse Guards
Military Cross (MC)
Captain Philip Dunne, Special Service Bde. HQ., was awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service during the Salerno Landings.
Recommendation
Salerno Bay 9-16 September 1943

DURNFORD-SLATER, John Frederick

Brigadier
41090
No 3 Commando
Royal Artillery
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches

On the 28th June 1940 Captain J.F. Durnford-Slater was appointed Lieut. Colonel and ordered to raise and command No 3 Commando after volunteering for Special Service whilst Adjutant of the 23rd Medium and Heavy Training Regt., RA.

HARRIS, Percy Valentine

Known as: 
Val
Company Sergeant Major
Special Service Brigade
HQ Special Service Brigade, Intelligence Section.
Post war member of the Commando Association from Southampton.
 
Sources
Commando Association newsletter 65 (1977).
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 89 (1989).
 

HAYDON, Joseph Charles

Major General
13865
Special Service Brigade
Irish Guards
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Mentioned in Despatches
Second Lieutenant Joseph Charles Haydon was commissioned into the Irish Guards 21 December 1917 [1]. On the 8th June 1939 now a Major, and Military Assistant to the Secretary of State for War, he was appointed O

HENRIQUES, Robert David Quixano

Colonel
38714
Special Service Brigade
No 12 Commando
Royal Artillery
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Territorial Decoration (TD)
Silver Star (USA)
Bronze Star Medal (USA)
Major Robert Henriques was the Brigade Major of the Special Service Brigade throughout the operation at Vaagso in Norway on 27 December 1941 [1].
  • Former Troop Leader of 'E' troop No. 12 Commando [1a].
  • 2 June 1943 (Captain)(Temporary Major)(Acting Lieutenant Colonel) appointed M.B.E. (Military Division) [2].

JOHNSON, J.J.

Private
Special Service Brigade

HQ Special Service Brigade. Post war member of the Commando Association last known residing Lozells, Birmingham.
 
Sources
Commando Association Lost Legion List 7.

JONES, E.E.

Known as: 
Cyril
Lance Corporal
-
Special Service Brigade
-

Lance Corporal E. Jones, known as Cyril, served in 3 Special Service/Commando Brigade. Post war member of the Commando Association residing in Caerphilly, Gwent.

Sources
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 112 issued March 2001. 

KOCENS, G.

Corporal
Special Service Brigade
-

Special Service Brigade HQ. Post war member of the Commando Association last known residing Beverley Hills, California.

Sources
Commando Association Lost Legion List 7.
 

LAYCOCK, Robert Edward

Major General Robert Edward Laycock
Major General
37258
Special Service Brigade
Royal Horse Guards
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ)
Order of Oranje Nassau with Swords (Netherlands)
Legion of Merit (USA)

Born 1907; educated at Eton College and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; joined Royal Horse Guards, Mar 1927, 2nd Lt, 1927; Lt 1930; Capt 1934; married Angela Claire Louise (née Dudley Ward), 1935; instructor on anti-gas and air defence measures, School of Military Engineering, Chatham, Dec 1937; General Staff Officer, Grade 3 (passive air defence) in department of Chief of Imperial General S

LEAHY, Arthur John

Known as: 
John
John Leahy Brigade Signals
Major (later Colonel)
63550
Brigade Signals
Royal Signals
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Officer Commanding the Special Service Brigade Signal Troop. 
Service History
5 Commando - July 1940 to November 1940 
3 Commando (raising Special Service Brigade Signal Section) - Nov 1940 to Dec 1940 
Special Service Brigade Signals - Dec 1940 to October 1943. 

LEVINE, Harry

Trooper
4862696
Special Service Brigade
No 1 Commando
Household Cavalry Regiment

Trooper Harry Levine, HQ Special Service Brigade, was reported missing 4 March 1943 during operations in North Africa, later reported a prisoner of war. Post war member of the Commando Association residing Grimsby.

LOVELL, Denis

Marine
CH/X 105266
Special Service Brigade
Royal Marines
Sources
RM Prisoners of War /  National Archives file ADM201/111.
German Record Cards of British POWs / National Archives file WO416/228/214 (file closed until 1 January 1923).
 

LYONS, John

Marine
Special Service Brigade
Royal Marines

Marine John Lyons served in Commando Brigade Headquarters, specific unit not known. Post war member of the Commando Association residing Bristol. 

Sources
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 118 issued February 2004.

MACKIE, D.

Private
Special Service Brigade

HQ Special Service Brigade. Post war member of the Commando Association last known residing Edinburgh.

Sources
Commando Association Lost Legion List 8.
 

MASON, James

Motherwell Times 2July1943 re CQMS Mason
Company Quartermaster Sergeant
3244104
Special Service Brigade
Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C. 52nd Regt.
Died on active service

Company Quartermaster Sergeant James Mason contracted a fatal illness whilst engaged in East Africa as a Physical Training Instructor for the indigenous troops there. His secondary unit is listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commissi

MCLELLAN, G.

Gunner
Special Service Brigade
Royal Artillery

HQ Special Service Brigade. Post war member of the Commando Association last known residing Lanark, Scotland.
 
Sources
Commando Association Lost Legion List 8.

MCMASTER, F.

Craftsman
Special Service Brigade
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

HQ Special Service Brigade. Post war member of the Commando Association last known residing West Derby, Liverpool.
 
Sources
Commando Association Lost Legion List 8.

MCRAE, L.

Corporal
Brigade Signals

Brigade Signal Troop. Post war member of the Commando Association last known residing Huntley, Aberdeenshire.
 
Sources
Commando Association Lost Legion List 8.

MELLOR, J.A.

Trooper
Special Service Brigade

HQ Special Service Brigade. Post war member of the Commando Association last known residing Hull, East Yorkshire.
 
Sources
Commando Association Lost Legion List 8.

MONTGOMERY, Robert Kerr

Known as: 
Bob
Captain
118439
No 2 Commando
Royal Engineers
Military Cross (MC)

Captain Robert Montgomery, along with Captain William Pritchard RE [more....], had been instrumental in the initial planning and training of the demolition teams for the St Nazaire raid. Captain Montgomery was in charge of the demolition teams on board HMS Campbeltown [1]. 

PETERS, Thomas, W.

Major
-
Special Service Brigade
-

Major Thomas Peters served in 2 Special Service (Commando) Brigade and also 4 Special Service (Commando) Brigade. Post war member of the Commando Association residing Sidmouth, Devon.

Sources
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 112 issued March 2001. 

PRITCHARD, William Henry

Known as: 
Bill
Captain William Pritchard RE
Lieutenant (Temporary Captain)
76488
Special Service Brigade
No 2 Commando
Royal Engineers
Military Cross (MC)
Mentioned in Despatches
Killed in action or died of wounds
Captain William Pritchard M.C., R.E., was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St Nazaire, later confirmed killed in action. He embarked for the raid on motor launch ML 457 [1][1a][2].

RODGERS, John, A.

Acting Temporary Captain
Brigade Signals
-
Captain John Rogers served in Special Service Group Signals. Post war member of the Commando Association from Newcastle upon Tyne.
 
Sources
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 98.
Linked Content below.
 

SMITH, Ernest Leigh

Captain
75015
Special Service Brigade
South Wales Borderers
Military Cross (MC)
Captain Ernest Smith, HQ Special Service Group, was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during a reconnaissance along the North coast of France on 15/16 May 1944 (Tarbrush) gathering vital intelligence in preparation for D Day.  
 
Sources
London Gazette 36637, page 3605.

STURGES, Robert Grice

Robert Grice Sturges
Lieutenant General
Special Service Brigade
Royal Marines
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Mentioned in Despatches
Major General Robert Grice Sturges, a veteran of WW1, commanded the Special Service Group, later re-titled Commando Group, from August 1943 until June 1945.
Early Service and World War 1 [1].
  • 15 May 1904 entered Royal Navy service as a Naval Cadet aged 12.
  • 15 May 1909 Midshipman.

TAYLOR, Percy, V.C.

Lance Corporal
5111406
No 7 Commando
Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1/7th Bn.
Lance Corporal Percy Taylor, 3 Special Service Bn., was reported missing on 2 June 1941 during operations at Crete, later found to be a prisoner of war. 
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/28 and WO417/36.
Prisoners of War Lists / National Archives file WO392/11.

TURNER, Arthur, T.

Marine
30 Commando Assault Unit
Royal Marines
Also served in Commando Group.

Post war member of the Commando Association from Windermere, Cumbria.

Sources
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 102 (1996).

WILLIAMS, D.H.

Known as: 
Willy
Sergeant
Special Service Brigade
Served in the Intelligence Section, HQ Special Service Brigade. 
1947 Assistant Secretary of the O.C.A. (Commando Association).
 
Sources
Commando Association newsletters 4, 11.
Commando Association Lost Legion List 11
 

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