Sgt John Skipper, No5 Cdo

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 31/10/2010 01:04:50

I have recently obtained my Grandfather's service record which I am struggling to decipher! His army number was 5334398. From what I can make out he was involved in Madagascar 5/5/1942 - 20/8/1942 and in Tamatave 8/9/1942 - 18/10/1942. He was wounded in Burma on the 28/1/1945. If there is anyone who knew my Grandfather or could help decipher any more of his service record I would be very pleased! I met Don Crisp and his wife who knew my Grandfather at a Re-union at Portsmouth Guildhall a couple of years ago which was an honour and he sent me the photos which i attatch.

Thank you for any help

Mark Skipper

omg mate, what great photos > My dad Bob Donnison was in Madagascar with No5 Commando.and also in Burma too .The photo with the jap flag made my jaw drop! Theres a soldier there that looks like my dad ,,not sure. Have you anymore ?
Great to have you on our forum Join the CVA! Theres a few of us sons of No5 commandos about

is that the same jap battle flag we saw at the Commando Memorial unveiling in Staffordshire last year . framed and signed by No5 commandos?

Hi mate, not sure about the jap flag, I'll try to look into that one....these are the only two pics I have unfortunately but there is also a couple here..

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/586.page#2459

I have been in contact with the records people at kew and am hoping to go up there and gather some more stuff, photos etc so if I get any joy I will gladly let you know..

Nice to hear from you and if you see any more pics or find out any information then please let me know

Thanks for your reply

M. Skipper

Mark,

Not much I'm afraid but I was generously given a transcript of a No5 Cdo diary [from Bognor Regis to Hong Kong and there is a reference to your G/F

diary wrote:
21st April 1945. Poona - Pashan Camp. Sgt Skipper, who lost a leg at Kangaw, paid a visit to the camp

Nick

Hi nick and thank you for the info....i was sent a copy of the same diaries which make for very interesting reading....as you say, it has a date of 21st april 1945 when my grandfather visited the camp.....according to his service records he was injured at the end of January 45...does this mean that he would have stayed in burma for 3 months after being injured? I know from books i have read that transport was an issue over there but i always assumed that he would have come home after he was injured? Or was that not always the case?? This has opened up another interesting set of questions, which i hope you or someone else could start to answer!! Thanks again for your post, its always great to hear from anyone with any information.

M. Skipper

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 06/03/2009 13:51:00

Mark,
Presumably your grandfather (like my father) in Burma and India until such time that he was sufficiently recovered to be sent back to 'Blighty'.

If you want help deciphering your GF's Service Record just let me know and I'll give it a go...

also, can you tell me if Don Crisp was in No5? If so, I can add his name to the list I've posted in Wartime Commando Nominal Rolls.

Nick

Mark,
Here is a portion of my father's Service Record.
23 Mar 44, Wounded in Action
24 Mar 44, SOS (Struck off Strength) of No5 Cdo and posted to X List(ii)(a).
25 Mar 44, Evacuated from the Theatre of Operation (Burma) to India
05 Apr 44, Transferred to 47 BGH (British General Hospital),
04 May 44,Transferred to 126 IBGH (Indian British General Hospital) Poona.
22 Jun 44, Transferred to 1 BCD & X list (iv)(b).
25 July 44, Discharged 1 BCD & proceeded to HQ Embarkation, Bombay, & Transferred to X list(v).
26 Sep 44, Embarked for Uk & SOS X list(v)
so, from being wounded it was 7 months before he was shipped back to UK!

Hi Nick, here is my a part of my grandfathers record which I hope you can help with! Sorry if the picture is not that clear but hopefully it will do. I can decipher some of it, and the bits I dont understand I have marked with a blue dot! Any information you can tell me about any of the record shown will be gratefully received as always, and I hope may be of use to other people using this site.

Thanks again Nick

This message was edited 5 times. Last update was at 22/04/2009 22:38:27

Mark,
Here is the portion of your G/F's Record you needed deciphering. Sorry about the delay.

Nick

Mark,

I forgot to say that 11 AG - 11 Army Group, SEAC

Nick

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 04/09/2012 00:17:05

The Japanese battle flag at Alrewas opening was signed by 2 Troop No 5 Cdo.

I donated the flag from my collection to the Citadel in plymouth where it can be viewed in their 'Kangaw'bar.

Regards

John M