Lt Col Thomas Hoult Trevor - documents

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 18/11/2011 01:13:52

Attached are some documents kindly sent to me by Lt Col Trevor's godson, David Cheverton.

Lt Col Trevor OBE had been Officer Commanding both No1 and No6 Commandos and was the British liaison officer with the US Rangers on D-Day. He had trained with the Rangers in Scotland and was an expert at climbing.

A) Cliff Assaults - Combined Ops Pamphlet No 24 [written by Lt Col T H Trevor prior to D-Day].

B) A letter from the War Office to Lt Col Trevor's father informing him that Tom had been wounded on D-Day.

C) The Assault of the Pointe de Hoe Battery report - also written and signed by Lt Col Trevor.

Thomas Trevor was known to his family as 'Joe' because his father was also called Thomas.

In the Commandos Lt Col Tom Trevor was called 'Senior' because of his rank and tall stature (6 foot 4 inches) and his cousin, Ken Trevor (who was also a big man) was known as 'Junior'. It was Thomas, having volunteered for the Commandos in the first instance that then encouraged his cousin to volunteer as well.

He was known to the US Rangers as 'Travis' - the reason for this is not known.

There are more documents to follow.

Thanks again to David Cheverton and also David Carew-Jones for putting me in touch with the right man.

Nick

here's a link to a previous thread concerning Lt Col Thomas Trevor

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/1338.page

Nick

Great stuff Nick!

I've got a final issued copy of the Cliff Assaults manual, I'll scan it in and post when I've got some time

cheers
Paul

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 06/11/2011 17:13:43

Paul,

Wow, that's great I can't wait to compare the First Draft with the final issue.

In the meantime here is a handwritten letter from Tom Trevor to US Ranger James Eikner.

As some may find the hand writing a little difficult to read, I've taken the liberty of transcribing the text.

The document "The Destruction of the Pointe de Hoe Batteries" (mostly photos) will be posted in due course.

Nick

Belly wrote:Great stuff Nick!
What a super item Paul well done, JB
I've got a final issued copy of the Cliff Assaults manual, I'll scan it in and post when I've got some time

cheers
Paul

Folks, scanned copy for your viewing pleasure!! )

Cheers
Paul

Can anyone fill in the gaps in the suite of Combined Operations Pamphlets? This is all I've been able to found out:

No. 1 General
No. 2 Beach Organisation and Maintenance
No. 3 Air Aspects of Combined Operations
No. 4
No. 5 Smoke
No. 6
No. 6(a) Military Communications in Comb. Ops.
No. 6B The Beach Signal Unit
No. 6(c) Naval Communications in Comb. Ops.
No. 6(c) Naval Communications in Comb. Ops.
No. 7
No. 8 Assault Brigade Planning
No. 9 Responsibilities for Loading and Discharge of Ships and Craft
No. 10
No. 11 Landing Ships Infantry
No. 12
No. 13
No. 14(b) Landing Craft Signal - Pamphlet (not LCT)
No. 14(d) Major Landing Craft - Signal Pamphlet
No. 14E R/T Procedure
No. 15
No. 16
No. 17 RN Beach Commandos
No. 18 Landing Ships Tank
No. 19
No. 20
No. 21
No. 22
No. 23
No. 24 Cliff Assaults
No. 25
No. 26
No. 27 Hardening of Commando Troops for Warfare
No. 28
No. 29
No. 30
No. 31 Driving Instructions for Combined Ops.
No. 32
No. 33 Armoured Fighting Vehicles
No. 34 Royal Artillery
No. 35A Royal Engineers (other than transportation units)
No. 35C RE Transportation Units
No. 36
No. 37 Infantry
No. 38 RASC
No. 39
No. 40 RAOC
No. 41 REME
No. 41(C) REME - Waterproofing of Vehicles and Equipment
No. 42 Training at Home Stations

Paul,
Thank you very much for posting the issued edition of Pamphlet No 24.
I shall have great pleasure of sending the link to Lt Col Tom Trevor's godson, David Cheverton, so that he can admire the 'finiished' article - I know he'll be very moved.
Having a quick glance through I see that there are indeed a few changes between the first draft and the issued edition. Very interesting.

Do you have any more of the Pamphlets that you listed? It would be fantastic if they could be shared with us in a similar way as you kindly shared No 24.

Thanks again,

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/11/2011 18:05:38

Hi Nick

Sadly no, they are the proverbial ?hen?s teeth?. There are some transcribed copies on a website here:

No. 9 - Responsibilities for Loading and Discharge of Ships and Craft
http://www.movcon.org.uk/History/Documents/DID/D-MCHS%200019/D-MCHS%200019.htm

No. 35C - RE Transportation Units
http://www.movcon.org.uk/History/Documents/DID/D-MCHS%200021/D-MCHS%200021.htm

No. 42 - Training at Home Stations
http://www.movcon.org.uk/History/Documents/DID/D-MCHS%200020/D-MCHS%200020.htm

If I remember rightly there?s a couple on display at the Spean Bridge Hotel too.

Cheers
Paul

Belly wrote:Can anyone fill in the gaps in the suite of Combined Operations Pamphlets?

A few gaps filled (& a few more created!)

No. 4 Planning of combined operations (b) Army
No. 4(b) Royal Artillery, The Light Regiment (3.7 inch Howitzer)
No. 6 Royal Signals
No. 7(a) Support of the Assault
No. 7(b) Self-propelled artillery; use of SP artillery in support of a beach assault and formation of a covering position
No. 7(c) Control of seaborne support in amphibious assault
No. 7(d) Diagrammatic Fire Plan for a Combined Operation
No. 7(e) Fire Support instructions, Landing Craft, Gun Medium (Marks I & II (LCG(M)(I) and (2)
No. 21 Conduct of a Long Range Assault in the Far East
No. 36 Underwater Obstacles

I have now managed to buy original copies of the following:

No. 11 Landing Ships Infantry
No. 14(b) Landing Craft Signal - Pamphlet (not LCT)
No. 14(d) Major Landing Craft - Signal Pamphlet
No. 14(e) R/T Procedure
No. 37 Infantry

I will try and scan and upload over the Christmas break, although to be honest they?re a bit of a dry read! :wink:

Cheers
Paul

Hi Paul,

Scans would be appreciated very much - thank you.
I'm sure they would be rather a 'dry read', as you put it - I doubt the respective authors had the flair and style of Tom Hoult Trevor - but it is all very relevant information and helps to build the story of The Commandos.

Thanks again for your generosity,

Nick

As promised folks, here's part 1 of the scanned copies of the Combined Operations Pamphlets I have, enjoy!!

Cheers
Paul

And Part 2...

many thanks Paul.

Nick