Old Commando Officers Mess Shield No 5 /No 12/No 4/No3

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 21/06/2012 18:47:06

Here is a reputed Officers mess shield which I aquired in 2000.

I believe this was hung in a training area mess perhaps in preparation for a raid.

I donated this shield to the Citadel in Plymouth where it hangs proudly in their bar on the wall.

Dimensions 16 inches high approx 14 inches wide.

But which raid was it???..............I have never worked it out.

Regards

John M

Lovely Item!!

Early judging by the badges, but I can't think of a single operation where all those units were used together?

cheers
Paul

St Nazaire maybe?

Julie

Could be, but missed 1, 2 and 9?
:)

Hi Paul & Julie

St Nazaire certainly seems to be a strong candidate as elements of all these units were used on that raid.

But as of yet I have failed to uncover if there was a common training area or briefing location which involved these four units where they would have come together for a short time.

It would be great if we could pin it down.

Best regards

John M

Could it be a location rather than a raid? - We would need to consult the early War Diaries to see if paths crossed at all re billeting etc or shared HQ etc ... Not necessarily all Commandos portrayed being there at the same time.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 06/08/2012 14:19:43

I very much doubt this has anything to do with St Nazaire. The units shown in total only formed approximately 49 or so men of the entire force that took part. The demolition teams did train together at Burntisland and Cardiff docks but with demolition teams from other Commando Units not shown such as No.2 and No.9. So it makes very little sense in my opinion and certainly not in preparation for a raid in which the utmost of secrecy was involved. I think Mike may be along the right tracks when he mentions a specific location, perhaps even a training base which was used by these units. I spoke with Major Jimmy Dunning about this and he thinks it may be a specific location where Commandos from these units at some stage, either during the war or post war, were based or used. He said perhaps a pub or a club where such items were often made and presented to the licensee by members who met there.

There is one interesting factor here that might suggest something else. That is the way the numbers are listed as they are not in numerical order,ie 3, 4, 5 and 12, but are shown as 12, 3. 5 and 4. As 12 was disbanded early with many going to other Commando units, and 4 was the last to be disbanded in Europe with many being moved into No.4 from other Commando Units, might this be one individuals shield of Commando Service. Just a thought.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 06/08/2012 17:10:16

Hi Pete

It's an interesting thought...........certainly could be.

The shield came from a curator of a museum who were having a clear out about 12 years ago..........there is no other ID with it.

The sign writing is of good quality but the work is not signed.

When purchased it was said to be officers mess...........could certainly be an idividual officers trophy though.

regards

john M