19th March 1944 - No. 9 Commando attack on the Wadi at Anzio Beachhead

This message was edited 16 times. Last update was at 17/03/2010 20:53:42

There is much written about the action during and after the landings. Suffice to say the losses on all sides were extremely high. No. 9 Commando and No.43 RM Commando were heavily involved. For No.9 Cdo two days were significant for losses...3rd February and the 19th March. 66 years ago on the 19th March 1944 during an attack on an enemy wadi here are just a few of those who fell from No.9 Cdo. and have no known grave. They are remembered with honour on the Cassino Memorial:

BALFOUR, Private, DAVID STEWART, 2936087, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 21

BALLS, Captain, DAVID GAVIN, 90724, Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment). and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Panel 10.

BANNON, Private, JAMES, 2758223, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944 Panel 8

BROWN, Lance Corporal, REID, 7044540, 1st Bn., Royal Irish Fusiliers. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 30

COLES,Corporal, WILLIAM JAMES, 3910782, South Wales Borderers and No. 9 Commando 19 March 1944. Age 26

COUPE, Lance Serjeant, LEONARD, 894763, Mentioned in Despatches, Royal Artillery. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 33

CRAIG, Warrant Officer Class II (C.S.M.) ALBERT JOHN, 2873976, Gordon Highlanders. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 32

DICKIE, Private, ROBERT FINN, 2988081, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 23

EDEN, Rifleman, GEORGE WILLIAM JOSEPH, 6850527, King's Royal Rifle Corps. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 22

HOLMES, Corporal, LESLIE THOMAS, 6897410, King's Royal Rifle Corps. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 33

KINGSBURY, Serjeant, HAROLD SIDNEY, 3186138, M M, Border Regiment. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 32

MOIR, Fusilier, BERTRAM WIGTON, 3127401, Royal Scots Fusiliers. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 34

NEWSON, Private, JOHN ARTHUR, 6349065, Middlesex Regt, and No. 9 Commando, 19 Mar 1944. Age 29 ( Not shown as Commando on CWGC but is shown on the Westminster Abbey Commando ROH)

PRINGLE, Lance Corporal, CHARLES TAYLOR, 4914347, Worcestershire Regiment. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 27

QUIGLEY, Private, THOMAS, 4388422, Royal Army Medical Corps. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 28

ROLFE, Private, JULIAN DUDLEY, 14416231, 6th Bn., Gordon Highlanders. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 19

SMITH, Private, GEORGE ALFRED, 14241717, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 26

SUTTON, Private, JOHN ROBERT, 2181475, The King's Regiment (Liverpool). and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 27.

Remembered with honour at the Brookwood Memorial:

CHANCELLOR, L/Bdr, WILFRED DOUGLAS, 2049911, Royal Artillery, and No9 Commando, 19 Mar 1944. Age 24.

In addition the following are buried at the Beachhead War Cemetery:

WINFIELD, Corporal, WILLIAM, 6470649, Royal Armoured Corps. and No. 9, Commando 19 March 1944. Age 22.

BANBURY, Cpl, FREDERICK, 5678008, Queen's Own West Kent Regt, and No 9 Commando, 19 Mar 1944. Age 28 ( also not shown as Commando on CWGC but is on the Westminster Abbey Commando ROH)

WHITWORTH, Private, WILLIAM, 14409959, Welch Regiment and No. 9, Commando, shown on Westminster Abbey Commando ROH as 19/3/44 but on CWGC as 3/3/44. Aged 19

TUDOR, Private , WILLIAM JOHN, 14241701, King's Own Scottish Borderers shown on Westminster Abbey Commando ROH as 19/3/44 but on CWGC as 6/3/44. Aged 27 ( also not shown as Commando on CWGC)

RICHARDSON, Serjeant, JOHN, 3603243, Border Regiment. and No. 9, Commando 20 March 1944. Age 27

BLACKHURST, Rifleman, JOHN, 6920686, King's Royal Rifle Corps. and No. 9, Commando 20 March 1944. Age 21

BURT, Lance Bombardier, WILLIAM CHARLES, 2050861, Royal Artillery. and No. 9, Commando 17 March 1944. Age 24

They are all remembered with honour. On the CVA No.9 Cdo History section there is a document with a detailed account of 9 Cdo 1943 -45 and from there I quote from after Anzio and when they arrived back at Molfetta " Of the unit that had sailed from Liverpool in Sept 1943, there were only 11 officers and 217 Ors left. The percentage of casualties suffered to date was : Officers 80%, Ors 62%."

We will remember them

(these are the No. 9 Cdo fallen during this action that i have been able to find. If you know of others please let me know and I will update this message accordingly)

Pete,
Here are a few No9 Cdo names that I found on the Westminster Abbey RoH who are listed as KIA 19 Mar 44:

BANBURY, Cpl, Frederick, 5678008, Queen's Own West Kent Regt, and No9 Commando, 19 Mar 1944, Beach Head War Cemetry Anzio, XXI E 4;

CHANCELLOR, L/Bdr, Wilfred Douglas, 2049911, Royal Artillery, and No9 Commando, 19 Mar 1944, Brookwood Memorial Panel 2 Column 3;

COLES, Cpl, William James, 3910782, South Wales Borderers, and No9 Commando, 19 Mar 1944, Cassino Memorial, Panel 6;

NEWSON, Pte, John Arthur, 6349065, Middlesex Regt, and No9 *, 19 Mar 1944, Cassino Memorial, Panel 9;

There are a couple of other names ( Tudor W.J* & Whitworth W.) that are indicated as KIA 19/03/44 on the Westminster RoH but have different date on the CWGC.

* = not indicated as a Commando on CWGC records.

Regards,
nick

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 19/03/2010 09:37:33

Thanks Nick I have updated the list accordingly.

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 19/03/2010 09:52:46

For a picture taken more recently of Haydon Wadi, Anzio, where these Commandos fell please see the forum topic on Captain David Balls, one of the men listed above, courtesy of his nephew Neil Livingstone :

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/1438.page

Here is an excellent picture of No.9 Cdo. 3 troop and their weaponry (they were used prior to the 19th as the heavy weapons troop). To enlarge click on this link:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/main.php?g2_view=dynamicalbum.UpdatesAlbum&g2_itemId=11071&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

This photo was taken in Italy 1944 and I believe it was before the battle at Ornito as David Balls is standing next to the central figure whom I assume is the Captain. Neil Livingstone, nephew of David says this about his uncle, " He was killed with another Commando at 13.50 when a German shell hit a group of five. 3 troop was normally in the heavy weapons role, but as the Commando had suffered one third casualties on Ornito seven weeks before (hence David's promotion to Captain and appointment as Troop Commander), they were used in an assault role. Heavy weapons support was provided by other (non-Commando) units. I believe David died with a Tommy Gun in his hand and a steel helmet, as Colonel Tod insisted on these being worn on operations.
He died on his 24th birthday."

Remembering the Fallen - 75 years this week from the date of this action.

When you go home. Tell them of us, and say,. For your tomorrow, We gave our today.

Is it possible that George William Joseph Eden is in thiis photograph?

If so can he be identified?

Would there be any photographs of him elsewhere?

Many thanks David William Eden

Hi David

Where we know of an identity that is confirmed we add it it to the image. To date we do not have anymore identifications for that image other than shown. Similarly if we had a photo of him we would have added it to our gallery and to our Roll of Honour entry, or sought to obtain permission to do so if we knew of one elsewhere. Our Roll of Honour entry for Rifleman Eden can be viewed here: http://www.commandoveterans.org/GeorgeEden9Commando

May I ask if the Family have any photos or other information they would like included ?