Sgt Quillin/Quillan of 5 Commando, Pte Maloney of 1 Commando & Pte Pawson of 1 Commando

Calling Blighty was a series of short films made in 1944-45 of individual servicemen and women in the Far East sending personal messages home to their family and friends. 'A Message Home' is a project to try to find as many families and veterans as possible, to bring them together to show the films again, and to tell their stories.

Of nearly 400 issues made, only 48 are known to survive, and 3 of the personal messages show men from the 3rd Commando Brigade:
Sgt Quillin/Quillan of 5 Commando http://www.nwfa.mmu.ac.uk/blighty/record.php?token=0766cbl2373HTy60111ZYm97B19057b4Lig7H
Pte Maloney of 1 Commando http://www.nwfa.mmu.ac.uk/blighty/record.php?token=9931cbl68yKL511nxZYm97B10839b4Lig7HTy and
Pte Pawson of 1 Commando http://www.nwfa.mmu.ac.uk/blighty/record.php?token=4519cbl73g7H611m97B16695b4Lig

Pte Maloney & Pte Pawson's films show lots of other men - presumably also of 1 Commando - in the background

North West Film Archive would love to find out as much as they can about these films and would like to know if you
- belong to one of the families
- know of someone who does
- know something about the films or the original screenings

Full details here: http://www.nwfa.mmu.ac.uk/blighty/index.php

Julie

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 21/08/2015 21:23:55

3658119 QUILLIN Douglas Gordon Sgt. South Lancashire Regiment served with 7, 12 and 5 Commando
Born : 22nd March 1916 Stockport, Cheshire
Died : 3Q 1989 Birmingham

3973636 PAWSON Anthony "Tony" Pte. Welch Regiment, 4 Troop, 1 Commando
Born : 1922
Died : 5th January 2008, Oldham Lancashire aged 86

3393053 MALONEY Daniel Pte. East Lancashire Regiment, 6 Troop, 1 Commando
Born : 1912 Chorlton, Manchester
Died : 1990 Manchester

Both Pawson and Maloney are listed as wounded in action at Hill 170 on the 31st January 1945.

It would be interesting to know when the "Blighty" messages were recorded, was it prior to their wounding?

It must have been wonderful for the families to see these messages. Daniel Maloney was the father of four children in 1944.

Guy

Tony Pawson was a comrade of my dad Bob Mewett 4 Troop No 1 Cdo and Vic Ralph 4 Troop No 1 Cdo..so it was very nice to see him in person as it were....

Thanks Julie for posting this link.

Regards

John M

I have just seen this message so have passed the details from Guy onto the North West Film Archive who kindly gave permission for us to reproduce the images. Their feeling is that the films were taken during the period after VE Day and before VJ Day. In the box where this film was a list with all the names and details as shown. They have made contact with 2 of the families.