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:

DOCKERILL, Graham Dennis

Fusilier
Special Service Brigade
No 1 Commando
Royal Fusiliers
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. 
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/58, WO417/63.
Prisoners of War / National Archives files WO392/1 (Stalag 4D), WO392/11 (Stalag 4B) and WO417/21 (PG98)

DUNNE, Philip Russell Rendell

Temporary Captain
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
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.

GOUGH, Frederick Colin

Private
Special Service Brigade
-

Corporal Frederick Gough served in 1 Special Service (Commando) Brigade. Post war member of the Commando Association residing Douglas, Isle of Man

Sources
Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 112 issued March 2001. 

HAYDON, Joseph Charles

Major General
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
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 (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].

JONES, E.E.

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
-

Corporal Kocens served in H.Q. Special Service Brigade. 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
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

LEVINE, Harry

Trooper
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
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.

MONTGOMERY, Robert Kerr

Captain
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

Captain William Pritchard RE
Lieutenant (Temporary Captain)
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. died during Operation Chariot, the raid at St Nazaire. He was one of the commando contingent on motor launch ML 457 [1][2].

SMITH, Ernest Leigh

Captain
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 from August 1943.
  • 5 July 1940 (Colonel) (Royal Marines) Mentioned in Despatches in recognition of his service as Commander of 'Force Sturges' to establish a base on Iceland [1].

TAYLOR, P.V.C.

Lance Corporal
No 7 Commando
Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1/7th Bn.

Lance Corporal Taylor, 3 Special Service Bn., was reported missing on 2 June 1941 during operations at Crete. He was later found to have been taken prisoner and transported to Stalag 4A in Germany.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/28 and WO417/36.
Prisoners of War Lists / National Archives file WO392/11.

WILLIAMS, D.H.

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 newsletter 4.
Commando Association Lost Legion 11
 

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