Looking for details on Albert Edward Read - Royal Marine Signals 3rd Commando Brigade

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 18/04/2020 09:53:04

Hi

I'm trying to trace the history of my grandfather who fought in Burma. His full name was Albert Edward Read DOB 2/8/11. He joined the war in 1941. I know we was sent to Burma on the Ranchi which left the UK in 1943. I have found his membership of the Burma Star Memorial Fund and his entry says:

Royal Marine Signals, 3rd Commando Brigade. I know his rank was Corporal and his beret has Royal Corp of Signals crest on it.

As he sailed on the Ranchi and so have made the assumption he must have been in 1 Commando, 42 RM Commando or 3 Commando Brigade HQ as they were the troops that sailed on her.

I'm trying to narrow it down to exactly what he did and where he went. I'm struggling to work out exactly what division/troop he was in.

If anyone knows the history or could help I would be really grateful.

"Convoy to India

So, 3 Special Service Commando Brigade was to be sent to India for action in Burma. It comprised Nos 1 and 5 Army Commando, 42 and 44 Royal Marine Commando and an HQ detachment that included 3 Troop, Royal Marine Engineer Commando. 1 Troop of No 10 (Dutch) Commando also travelled to India, only to be sent back to participate in the liberation of Holland.

On 11th November, 1943, the troops assembled at Gourock docks on the River Clyde in Scotland. It was a time of very mixed emotions for the young men waiting, in miserable weather, to go aboard His Majesty's Troopships (HMT) Ranchi and HMT Reina del Pacifico. On the 15th of November, convoy KMF 26 formed up and made its way down the Clyde estuary and into the Atlantic. Amongst Ranchi's passengers were troops of 1 Commando, 42 RM Commando and 3 Commando Brigade HQ, which included 3 Troop Royal Marine Engineer Commando. Reina del Pacifico carried the balance of 3 Special Service Brigade, 5 Commando and 44 RM Commando."

Do you have a service number for your Grandfather.....could be a series of numbers on their own, or the numbers may be preceded by the letters CH, PO, EX, or PLY, or similar.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 20/04/2020 15:16:45

Hi Pete

Sadly not all I have is what he told me which matches the combined operations article and his entry in the Burma star memorial.

I?ve been trying to find him in the navy lists from the Scottish national library but they are massive!

The reason why I asked was to try and establish if he was Army or Royal Marines. You state his cap badge was that of the Royal Corps of Signals which is Army. Both Army and Royal Marines served in 3 Special Service (Commando) Brigade. Can you post some photos where his headgear is visible.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 18/04/2020 16:25:10

Hi thanks for your help.

Here are the pictures I have.

So what I do know is he was called up in 1941. He was on the Ranchi in Nov 1943 when it was attacked and spent time in Alexandria before eventually getting to India. He also went to Ceylon and spent time on a train? He eventually fought in Burma. We have the silk maps on the straights of Sumatra etc.

His membership entry for the Burma Memorial Fund that he applied for in 1958 says: Royal Marines Signals - 3rd Commando Brigade.

He was definitely a marine but perhaps he joined the army but ended up a marine when they combined the forces?

His beret was green but has no crest on it, assume its been lost?

The combined ops article written by Bill is almost identical to the accounts he used to tell us and so be process of elimination I have assumed he must have been 42RM as he was on the Ranchi. Commando 3 was made up for 1, 5, 42 and 44? But as far as I can tell and 42RM was on the Ranchi along with Commando 1 and 3 Commando Brigade HQ but these were Army not Marines?

Thank you for your help!

I have trawling through three Scottish National Library Navy lists but they are huge!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 18/04/2020 15:55:30

Some photos

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 18/04/2020 16:29:23

Hi Sam

I have added the pictures you sent after resizing them and included them on some of your messages. That clears things up as his beret has the RM Globe and Laurel rather than the Royal Corps of Signals badge. Signallers in the Brigade would have gone where they were most needed so it is going to be difficult to pinpoint exactly with whom and where. His service record may have more and you can apply for a copy of that. How to do so is here: http://www.commandoveterans.org/ServiceRecords

In the meantime have you read the Jungle book issues on our site. One of the best which has a page on the 3 Commando Brigade Signal Troop is here

http://www.commandoveterans.org/3rdJungleBookIssue9

I will add your photos to the Gallery in due course and update here when done.

Great that?s brilliant thank you.

I don?t quite understand what a brigade is vs a troop etc. Are you able to explain for me please? Thank you in advance

This is a very basic explanation. There was only one Special Service Brigade when the Army Commandos were first formed in 1940 consisting of an HQ, 12 Commando units, a Signal Troop, etc.. In 1943 there was a restructuring with more RM Commando units being raised. They were all grouped into four separate Special Service Brigades.Each had one signal Troop. Hence you see that copy of the Jungle Book covering 3 Commando Brigade contains information on each of the Units within their Brigade. Late 1944 the Brigade names were changed from Special Service to Commando.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 18/04/2020 17:22:07

Each Commando Unit within each Brigade was made up of several Troops.

The Brigade Signal Troop would have been part of the relevant Brigade HQ, however some would have been allocated to operate with different Commando units during operations, etc.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 19/04/2020 16:51:53

Sam the photos are now in the Signals Troop albums for the various Brigades. Here is a direct link to it. Did you spot on the silk map which I have numbered 1 that it has 42RM Commando handwritten at the top. They were one of the Commando units in 3 Brigade. It may indicate that he served as a signaller with them at some point. your photos are on both page 1 and page 2. There is something written down the side of Map 2 as well.

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/

Thank you so much that?s really helpful. Apologies the map pictures were already from your gallery. I am the same framed at home but without the handwritten notes.

Thank you all the input so far.

I?ve read the 3rd Jungle book and the account of 3rd RM Signals and 42RM are pretty much bang on the stories he used to give.

However it reads as if 1, 5, 42, 44 and Signals all went to Hong Kong at the end after the planned invasion in Malaysia didn?t happen.

My grandfather def did not go to Hong Kong. There is a photo of him in Bombay in 1945 after which he made his was home and arrived in 1946. He wasn?t injured or anything.

Does anyone know which troops/brigades etc did go to HK and which didn?t etc? Trying to work out movements after Myebon etc.

Thanks

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 28/04/2020 22:19:38

Hi,

3 Commando Brigade, as a whole, was sent to Hong Kong at the end of hostilities, entering Hong Kong Harbour in September 1945

However, repatriation for demobilisation of certain 'Age and Service Groups' had started mid June 1945 - two months before Japan surrendered - but, in Dec '45 it was announced that the Army 'Age & Service Group' demob would not keep pace with the Royal Marines!

Reinforcements were still arriving from the UK and continued to do so until January 1946.

Nick

We?ve found his diaries for this period. His entires are as follows:

4.8.45 Leave for exercise Littleport camp
5.8.45 Exercise Littleport camp
9.8.45 Radio announcement of Jap acceptance of peace terms
13.8.45 All mail stopped
15.8.45 News peace terms accepted
16.8.45 Leave Karak Vasla - go to Poona
17.8.45 Board HMS Glenggle
18.8.45 Leave Bombay HMS Llanstephan Castle
21.8.45 Whales pick up escort of whales
22.8.45 Arrive Trincomalie
23.8.45 Rumoured that 26 group is leaving ship operation cancelled
24.8.45 26 group leaving ship tomorrow
25.8.45 26 group disembarks for Trinesmalie
5.9.45 Leave Trincomalie by train
6.9.45 Cross ferry to India board train for Madras
7.9.45 Arrive Madras
9.9.45 Arrive Asvali Lake Beah
10.10.45 Go to Bombay
11.10.45 Go abord Dutch ship SS Johan Van Oldenbamevelt
12.10.45 Leave Bombay
16.10.45 Pass Aden
20.10.45 Arrive Suez
21.10.45 Arrive Port Said
24.10.45 North Africa coast
25.10.45 Pass Algeria
26.10.45 Reach Gibralter
27.10.45 Pass Lisbon
28.10.45 Pass Cape Finister
29.10.45 Dock at Southampton

He was older so perhaps this is why he was sent home. Am trying to find out more no about 26 Troop