Harry Secombe meets Commando Veterans at Spean Bridge

This message was edited 6 times. Last update was at 07/10/2010 10:51:09

Mark Heard sent me this photo which he thinks was taken in 1987 of Commando Veterans including Mark's father Tom Heard of No.2 Cdo., and Sir Harry Secombe at The Commando Memorial.

I see there are plenty of smiles and that is one of many things that Harry could do - make people laugh. For those who remember the Goon Shows there was one memorable show which recounted a secret Combined Ops raid on Crete not recorded in any official record and was led by a Lieutenant Seagoon . It involved some of his Unit including Ellington, Eccles, and Bloodok. This includes some pre raid training at the Marine Commando Spaghetti Hurling Depot at Rhyll
If you remember the shows this will bring a smile when you read it:

Ill met by Goonlight
Series 7, Episode 23
First broadcast 14th March 1957. Script by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens, produced by Pat Dixon. Transcription by John Koster

http://www.thegoonshow.net/scripts_show.asp?title=s07e23_ill_met_by_goonlight

Harry was awarded the CBE for his work for the Army Benevolent Fund. In 1981 he was awarded a knighthood for his services to entertainment and charity. He passed away on April 11th, 2001 at the age of 79.

This may have been 1989. Harry came to visit us at 45 Commando in RM Condor, Arbroath for a mid-week Remembrance Service for the program Highway (I was a Lance Corporal at the time).

I don?t know if you are aware but the scriptwriter mentioned, Larry Stephens, was with no.5 Commando from 1943. Larry was my first cousin once removed and was involved in writing a large percentage of the Goon Shows with Spike Milligan and others.

This is my first forum post so please be gentle with me!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 30/03/2011 23:54:15

Hi Julie,
Welcome to the CVA - and I hope that you'll see that we're always 'gentle' with all our correspondents...

I have a couple of copies of The Third Jungle Book - the 3 Commando Brigade Magazine where your cousin Larry Stephens is mentioned as the No5 Cdo Entertainments Officer - he served in 2 Troop and in HQ Troop (Intelligence).

He is also mentioned in "From Bognor Regis to Hong Kong - No5 Cdo Diary" that on 4th March 1945, Lt (Larry) Stephens, 2 Troop helped organise a show of Indian Wrestling in which TSM Tug Wilson got injured in a heavy fall...

Larry Stephens also gained fame as one of the writers for TV's "Army Game".

If there are any photos of Lt Stephens which you'd like to display in our No5 Cdo Album to commemorate his time in the Commandos, we be very pleased to post them on your behalf.

Nick

Hey I remember the Army Game as a kid.. to think one of the writers was in No5 .Good to see Sir Harry ,,what a national treasure he was. Yes , Julie we need photos of Larry's days in No5 Commando

Hi Nick & Stephen,

Thanks for such a warm welcome.

I?m actually in the process of writing Larry?s biography at the moment so this is really useful information, thank you Nick.

I have a photo of Larry with another officer I?d like to identify so I?ll upload that to the relevant section of the forum. I also have a photo which may well be from his Entertainments Officer time but there is nothing to identify when or where it was taken. Is it OK to upload that too?

Julie

Hi Julie,

Thanks for the reply and I have read your Wikipedia biog of Larry Stephens with interest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Stephens

By all means load your photos up on the forum or email them to me or Pete Rogers and we can upload them to the relevant album in the CVA Gallery.

Please include any relevant information that can be used as a caption and, as we will accredit the photos to you, your full surname (if you don't mind).

Regards,
Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 01/04/2011 00:54:48

Hi Julie,

With regard to the Entertainment Officer role, I think that I should make it perfectly clear to everyone that this would be a 'Secondary Duty' - he would have been a Commando first and foremost.
[Even today the Armed Forces expect every junior officer to undertake a Secondary Duty and will allocate duties to those that don't volunteer.]

It was considered very important that the troops had some sort of 'distraction' from the horrors of war and to try and maintain high morale and so regular film shows, concerts and other entertainment were expected to be laid on.
It was no easy job to entertain those brave soldiers across in far flung places many miles from families and loved ones and therefore the role of Entertainment Officer was no easy task...

Please see the link to No5 Cdo Part 1 Orders, which shows another No5 Commando Officer - Lt (later Major) Chips Heron MC appointed as No5 Cdo Entertainments Officer.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/documents/No5_Pt_1_Orders.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

Regards,
Nick

Thanks for the link to the Part 1 Orders Nick; it makes very interesting reading.

I?m attaching the photo I referred to which shows Larry in an entertainments role but whether it was taken during his time with the Commandos or the early days of The Goons, I don?t know

By the way, I can?t claim any credit for the Wikipedia entry about Larry although I did provide the photo!

Regards,

Julie

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 04/04/2011 16:16:16

Hi Julie

Thanks for your pm response. I have now added the photo you originally provided for the wikipedia article to our No.5 Commando Gallery so there is no need to email me it. I have added just a few words but if you wish to add or amend anything please just let me know by pm. That photo can be seen here:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/5/Larry+Stephens.jpg.html

As regards the other photos where you think you recognise him

I think I have spotted Larry in a couple of pictures in the gallery (but as you know, it?s often difficult to be certain!)

In this one, 2nd row from the front, 6th from left

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/5/5Troop_+No5+Commando_SEAC.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

And in this one, 2nd from left

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/5/Group+of+No+5+Cdo_c.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

I have updated those accordingly. Nick will be interested to know one of them is a 5 troop photo as his father served with them. (I have noted Nick's earlier comments about his serving in 2 troop and HQ troop)

As with all relatives of Commandos I would ask you to consider joining us in the Commando Veterans Association as an associate member. How to do so can be found on our homepage under Join the CVA

Regards

Pete

Julie,
That's great that you've identified Larry Stevens in a couple of photos

Can you have a look at this photo and check whether he's on this one too?

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/5/Ahmednagar+1945+2.jpg.html

Cheers,
nick

Yes, I think it may be him in the centre of the front row Nick. If it is, it's one of very few photos in which he's smiling!

Julie

Julie,
thanks, I'll annotate the photo accordingly. I see what you mean about him smiling - he does seem to be very serious in the other photos (although he obviously had a great sense of humour).

Nick

Pete wrote:Mark Heard sent me this photo which he thinks was taken in 1987 of Commando Veterans including Mark's father Tom Heard of No.2 Cdo., and Sir Harry Secombe at The Commando Memorial.

I see there are plenty of smiles and that is one of many things that Harry could do - make people laugh. For those who remember the Goon Shows there was one memorable show which recounted a secret Combined Ops raid on Crete not recorded in any official record and was led by a Lieutenant Seagoon . It involved some of his Unit including Ellington, Eccles, and Bloodok. This includes some pre raid training at the Marine Commando Spaghetti Hurling Depot at Rhyll
If you remember the shows this will bring a smile when you read it:

Ill met by Goonlight
Series 7, Episode 23
First broadcast 14th March 1957. Script by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens, produced by Pat Dixon. Transcription by John Koster

http://www.thegoonshow.net/scripts_show.asp?title=s07e23_ill_met_by_goonlight

Harry was awarded the CBE for his work for the Army Benevolent Fund. In 1981 he was awarded a knighthood for his services to entertainment and charity. He passed away on April 11th, 2001 at the age of 79.

Robert Graham wrote:

Pete wrote:Mark Heard sent me this photo which he thinks was taken in 1987 of Commando Veterans including Mark's father Tom Heard of No.2 Cdo., and Sir Harry Secombe at The Commando Memorial.

I see there are plenty of smiles and that is one of many things that Harry could do - make people laugh. For those who remember the Goon Shows there was one memorable show which recounted a secret Combined Ops raid on Crete not recorded in any official record and was led by a Lieutenant Seagoon . It involved some of his Unit including Ellington, Eccles, and Bloodok. This includes some pre raid training at the Marine Commando Spaghetti Hurling Depot at Rhyll
If you remember the shows this will bring a smile when you read it:

Ill met by Goonlight
Series 7, Episode 23
First broadcast 14th March 1957. Script by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens, produced by Pat Dixon. Transcription by John Koster

http://www.thegoonshow.net/scripts_show.asp?title=s07e23_ill_met_by_goonlight

Harry was awarded the CBE for his work for the Army Benevolent Fund. In 1981 he was awarded a knighthood for his services to entertainment and charity. He passed away on April 11th, 2001 at the age of 79.