'A' Troop 45(RM) Commando 1944 photo front page

This message was edited 8 times. Last update was at 31/12/2016 15:54:41

The fantastic photo on our welcome page to greet the New Year is of men of 'A' Troop 45(RM) Commando.
The photo is one of the most iconic of the pre-invasion count down to D Day images and was widely circulated at the time.
Seated far right is Eric (Doc) Harden (RAMC) who was later to be awarded a posthumous VC for his heroic action at Brackterbeek.

Taken on 3rd June 1944 by Capt. Leslie Evans official army photographer.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/

The book by: Stephen Snelling
Commando Medic
Spellmont 2012

is well worth obtaining and is a fine account of this action.

John M

The book is fabulous!

I'd heard his daughter, Julia, talking about it to someone a couple of years ago so had to buy it and read it for myself. I was later able to discuss it with Julia. It's not just about his time with the Commandos (alongside No.4 etc during the summer of '44) but about his family ... it's a great book about a great man.

Having a quick look through the book, my eyes rested on a page, regarding Normandy, where he's said in a letter home ...'We don't like Jerry's mortar fire'. My dad didn't tell me much about that time - attacking the bunker in Ouistreham aside - but mam did say that he didn't like the mortars when I asked if he was ever frightened. He and Eric agreed on that one.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 31/12/2016 10:52:54

The IWM image is in our gallery and has some additional names and details on location. It is © IWM (H 39038) and is reproduced here under the terms of the IWM non commercial licence.:

45RM Commando 'A' troop.

Our entry for LCpl Harden VC is here: http://www.commandoveterans.org/HardenVC