Researching Sgt Felix Henry Taylor, 11 Commando

Hi all, I'm looking for any info on my Great Grandfather Sgt Felix Henry Taylor, who I believe served in 11 Commando during the North African/ Syrian campaign. Any help much appreciated, thanks!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 02/05/2018 10:03:16

826185 TAYLOR Felix Henry Sergeant Royal Artillery & No.11 Commando
Enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1933
Transferred to the Army Reserve 8th January 1936
Wounded in action Operation Exporter, Litani River, Syria 9th June 1941
Transferred to the Royal Engineers 8th October 1942

Thanks Guy, that's confirmed what I thought was the case. The next step for me is to try to find out which troop he was etc. I would also like to know if he was amongst the guys who were briefly captured at Litani River, as is the rumour in my family. Thank you very much for your help

Hi Luke,

Welcome to the CVA Website & Forum so pleased you found us.
We have had a brief discussion on Facebook and I'm pleased that you've decided to apply to the MoD for your Great grandfather's service records.
I will add him to the No.11 Commando Nominal Roll.

If you have any, we'd like to upload any photos you may have of him into the No.11 Cdo Album in our Gallery.

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/11/

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 02/05/2018 23:40:04

Thanks Nick, my Nan will be over the moon to find out he's being added to the nominal roll!
I will add any photo's I have, although I may need to check they are of 11 Commando.

hi Luke,

To be honest, I wouldn't get too tied up in trying to find out which troop he was in! It was fairly common for commandos to move from one troop to another for a number of reasons - not least on promotion and, as he was a sgt then he potentially may have served in three troops within the Commando.

Don't worry too much about whether the photos show him as a commando - Pete Rogers or I will vet them before uploading them to the Gallery but having established that he was a commando we then choose the best photo(s) of him to remember him by.

Here's part of the No.11 Cdo nominal roll...

http://www.commandoveterans.org/11CommandoNomRollP-Z

Nick

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 03/05/2018 22:55:33

Luke

They changed troops all the time as Nick says it is very difficult to track them down to a troop. Dad was in A troop and was 3 Troop when kia Flushing.

It may be worth contacing the Arran Heritage Museum as they have some details on No 11 Commando who trained on the Isle of Arran. http://www.arranmuseum.co.uk/

Bill

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 04/05/2018 00:05:54

Not having seen a photo of your Great Grandfather yet, I have found a photo of a man in our gallery who happens to have the surname Taylor, and is in No 11 Commando, and is a Sergeant. In the photo he is only described by his surname but his stripes can be clearly seen. It is a photo of 8 Troop in Cyprus that I discovered on a visit to the Isle of Arran where they trained. Many of the Commandos from No 11 formed a lasting friendship with the local people with whom they lodged. Here is the link to it and the Sergeant in question is identified as front and centre 5th from the left as you view it :

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/11/8trp+copy.jpg.html

I think No 11 Commando are slightly different in respect of Troops and men moving around, in respect that they were a short lived Unit. So I suspect that up until Operation Exporter at Litani River that the men would have stayed more or less in their original Troops. It would not be long after Exporter that No 11 Commando was disbanded. However the history of No 11 Commando is pretty well documented so you should be able to get a good idea of his time with them irrespective of the Troop. See a good link below to one such article with quotes from many who served. Here is the history:

http://combinedops.com/Black%20Hackle.htm

Also a very good book about the Litani River raid by Ian McHarg is here: http://www.litaniriver.com/

I look forward to your photos and reply regarding the above photo.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 09/05/2018 22:10:42

Hi Pete, I've had a look at that photo thanks, doesn't look like my relative though I don't think? I'll show my Nan at the weekend and post those other photo's she has, thanks, Luke

P.s. OK cheers Bill, I'll see what they know