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22/09/2012 04:09:12
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James Wake
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Joined: 22/09/2012 03:50:24
Messages: 6
Location: Townsville Australia
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I am just beginning to research my fathers service history. I only have my conversations with him as a base.
He was originally in the Royal Navy but volunteered for and joined the Royal Naval Commandos. He was involved in the following, some in the RNC but some perhaps after joining the SBS.
Dieppe raid.
North Africa landings, I know he was in Tunisia.
Landing In Sicily and Italy.
Based in Alexandria.
Raid with SBS on airfields in Crete.
Finished the war in Haifa, working in the docks area.
My dad was a member of forward observation parties who landed prior to the main landings. He was a morse operator, part of a 5 man team that directed bombardments by the fleet. As part of this duty I am aware that he would often be behind enemy lines, coordinating strikes against enemy positions for days after landings.
Firstly does anyone know of him, Thomas Wake.
Secondly, are the duties listed those of a RNC or SBS.
Thirdly, where to from here? I have no records and would appreciate help in pointing me in the right direction.
Dad died nearly 6 years ago, so the information I remember him relating is all I have to go on.
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22/09/2012 10:47:19
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Pete
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Joined: 23/09/2008 00:08:02
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Hi James
Did your father ever mention the unit named COBU ?
Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU) http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/
Attached below is a bit about the history of naval gunfire support, with particular reference to the Combined Operations Bombardment Units of the Second World War. This is a Royal Artillery Historical Document. When you check their list of operations you will see similarities to those of your father. Have you applied for his Service Record yet?
This of course is just one immediate thought that comes to mind. As you will see with other posts, we always ask people if they have any photos or documents that might provide clues
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 22/09/2012 10:47:38
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Pete Rogers, son of LSgt Joe Rogers MM & nephew of TSM Ken McAllister. Both No2 Commando.
God and the Soldier, all men adore, In time of danger and not before.
When the danger is passed and all things righted, God is forgotten, and the Soldier slighted.
**** nb. I no longer monitor the pm facility **** |
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22/09/2012 20:50:02
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markh
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Joined: 01/08/2012 18:17:44
Messages: 349
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Hi, I reccomend applying for your father's Royal Marine service records, that will give you some concrete information to work on.
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/ServiceRecords/
Here are a couple of sample records
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/3587.page
This one being my late grandfather.
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/3577.page
As Pete mentioned, if you can upload any photos, documents or pictures of other items it may give somebody a clue.
Good luck.
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The more I learn about the Commandos, the less I realise I know.
Grandson of George Norton Barnes
PLY/X 107640 Royal Marines
14987370 Fus. Barnes G.N Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Royal Marines 8 BN, Royal Marines No. 40 and No. 41 Commando, LST 320, The 9th Buffs, Army No. 5 Commando and X Lists.
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22/09/2012 20:50:29
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markh
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Joined: 01/08/2012 18:17:44
Messages: 349
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Also
National archives
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/royalmarines.htm
Royal Marines museum
http://www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk
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The more I learn about the Commandos, the less I realise I know.
Grandson of George Norton Barnes
PLY/X 107640 Royal Marines
14987370 Fus. Barnes G.N Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Royal Marines 8 BN, Royal Marines No. 40 and No. 41 Commando, LST 320, The 9th Buffs, Army No. 5 Commando and X Lists.
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22/09/2012 21:00:30
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markh
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Joined: 01/08/2012 18:17:44
Messages: 349
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James, do you know what unit your father was with at Dieppe ? My grandfather George always said he was at Dieppe, his brief comments sounded like A Commando. His record shows him being with 8th Battalion Royal Marines at the time, but later he is recorded being with A/40 Commando who were at Dieppe. You can see this here http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/3577.page
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 22/09/2012 21:01:24
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The more I learn about the Commandos, the less I realise I know.
Grandson of George Norton Barnes
PLY/X 107640 Royal Marines
14987370 Fus. Barnes G.N Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Royal Marines 8 BN, Royal Marines No. 40 and No. 41 Commando, LST 320, The 9th Buffs, Army No. 5 Commando and X Lists.
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22/09/2012 21:51:51
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Pete
CVA Website Archivist
Joined: 23/09/2008 00:08:02
Messages: 4658
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James
Just in case you haven't seen them here are our galleries for the 2 units that you mentioned you thought your father may have been in:
Royal Naval Commandos - http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/rn+cdos/?&g2_fromNavId=xf8787e8c&g2_navId=x1b61c863&g2_GALLERYSID=5103753e72d85de8e8114dd05efdf5e1
SBS - http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/
As can be seen towards the bottom of Page 2 of a document about the SBS which can be accessed from the above link, men from COBU did train for operations with the SBS
Pete
This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 12/01/2017 00:47:35
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Pete Rogers, son of LSgt Joe Rogers MM & nephew of TSM Ken McAllister. Both No2 Commando.
God and the Soldier, all men adore, In time of danger and not before.
When the danger is passed and all things righted, God is forgotten, and the Soldier slighted.
**** nb. I no longer monitor the pm facility **** |
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22/09/2012 23:38:45
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Pete
CVA Website Archivist
Joined: 23/09/2008 00:08:02
Messages: 4658
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The Imperial War Museum online archive shows a few photos of radio operators and others from Bombardment Units. It might be worth browsing through them. You never know !
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search?query=FOB&items_per_page=10&submit=&filter[contentDate][0]=%22Second%20World%20War%22
The direct links are a bit awkward to post it would seem, but if you go to their online site you can search and also filter results
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 22/09/2012 23:42:39
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Pete Rogers, son of LSgt Joe Rogers MM & nephew of TSM Ken McAllister. Both No2 Commando.
God and the Soldier, all men adore, In time of danger and not before.
When the danger is passed and all things righted, God is forgotten, and the Soldier slighted.
**** nb. I no longer monitor the pm facility **** |
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23/09/2012 00:23:33
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Pete
CVA Website Archivist
Joined: 23/09/2008 00:08:02
Messages: 4658
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I have reproduced some of the IWM photos under their terms of licence and placed them in our gallery:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/
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Pete Rogers, son of LSgt Joe Rogers MM & nephew of TSM Ken McAllister. Both No2 Commando.
God and the Soldier, all men adore, In time of danger and not before.
When the danger is passed and all things righted, God is forgotten, and the Soldier slighted.
**** nb. I no longer monitor the pm facility **** |
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23/09/2012 03:05:56
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James Wake
Forum Member
Joined: 22/09/2012 03:50:24
Messages: 6
Location: Townsville Australia
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Thanks for the really useful information, I will follow all the links and apply for the records that you request.
I will have to await confirmation but I believe he was in 40 Commamdo at Dieppe, he told me he never made the beach, spent quite sometime behind a burning tank in the water before swimming out to be picked up.
Although I don't recall him mentioning the COBU, the picture makes sense. he did mention during one of his recollections that the forward ops party was made up of 5 men, which included an Army Captain and Sargeant.
I would be happy to receive any further advise or comments and will now busy myself following the information already provided, thanks again.
James.
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23/09/2012 03:30:35
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James Wake
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Joined: 22/09/2012 03:50:24
Messages: 6
Location: Townsville Australia
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Having read the details supplied by Markh, it triggered a memory that he told me he was injured, in Italy I think and was sent to hospital at "Kilmacombe"(no sue about spelling) after having a hole blown in his ear drum. Is there anyway of tracking him via his hospital admission?
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23/09/2012 11:08:26
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markh
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Joined: 01/08/2012 18:17:44
Messages: 349
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Hi James,
Good luck James. Report back your findings, it may trigger off more information for yourself or others.
I think and was sent to hospital at "Kilmacombe
My granddad's service records list a number of hospitals, so hopefully when you get your dad's records they might show where he was in hospital, however no other details were given. so we could only guess from a few anecdotes the family has.
Speaking of hospital records, I actually have a first world war document from a field hospital, listing the many wounds my great grandfather received at Arras France, where he lost a leg.
Perhaps some WW2 hospital records still exist somewhere ?
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The more I learn about the Commandos, the less I realise I know.
Grandson of George Norton Barnes
PLY/X 107640 Royal Marines
14987370 Fus. Barnes G.N Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Royal Marines 8 BN, Royal Marines No. 40 and No. 41 Commando, LST 320, The 9th Buffs, Army No. 5 Commando and X Lists.
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23/09/2012 14:25:16
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John M
CVA Website Manager
Joined: 18/04/2007 16:22:37
Messages: 1110
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Hi Everyone
My father was in hospital in Kowloon Hong Kong. He was with No 1 Cdo at the time. He is mentioned in No 1's War Diary but there is not a mention as for to why he was there.
After 12 yrs I have no further imformation about it, after extensive research, other than it was an RAF hospital in a former school.
I think military hospital records are scarce............perhaps someone researching RAMC can help.
Regards
John M
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Do not speak.....unless it improves on Silence.
A good teacher opens the door.....you must enter yourself.
For Dad No 12 Commando & 4 Troop No 1 Commando
Primus Inter Pares
Commando Veterans Archive site Creator/Sponsor
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23/09/2012 19:24:54
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Pete
CVA Website Archivist
Joined: 23/09/2008 00:08:02
Messages: 4658
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Hi James
You may also be interested in this account of the RN Commandos :
http://www.commandoveterans.org/site/royal-navy-commandos
Regards
Pete
** Updated 27/9/12.... See also this forum message : http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/801.page
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 27/09/2012 09:40:20
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Pete Rogers, son of LSgt Joe Rogers MM & nephew of TSM Ken McAllister. Both No2 Commando.
God and the Soldier, all men adore, In time of danger and not before.
When the danger is passed and all things righted, God is forgotten, and the Soldier slighted.
**** nb. I no longer monitor the pm facility **** |
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27/09/2012 09:54:54
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James Wake
Forum Member
Joined: 22/09/2012 03:50:24
Messages: 6
Location: Townsville Australia
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It appears more and more likely that my dad was a member of the Combined Operations, 148 Commando. I have applied for some information from the pensions department and await confirmation of this, however I think it's fairly certain that he was the naval rating member of COBU FOO parties. These guys also worked closely with the SBS, and would explain why he was it would seem he was on Crete with the SBS as part of "Operation Albumen" in April 1942.
Thanks for all the help guys, please keep it coming if you can, I have found out so much in such a short time.
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27/09/2012 10:05:19
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Pete
CVA Website Archivist
Joined: 23/09/2008 00:08:02
Messages: 4658
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James
Just on a technical note in WW2 it was simply COBU rather than 148 Commando RA. That was formed post war from 148 Battery RA as part of the new 29 Commando RA after the success of the WW2 Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU)
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Pete Rogers, son of LSgt Joe Rogers MM & nephew of TSM Ken McAllister. Both No2 Commando.
God and the Soldier, all men adore, In time of danger and not before.
When the danger is passed and all things righted, God is forgotten, and the Soldier slighted.
**** nb. I no longer monitor the pm facility **** |
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