Signalman Chapman, Special Service Brigade, Group & Signals

hello, thanks for adding here! I'm looking for information about

George Chapman
Number: 14220497
Member of SSB Group & Signals
Probably capturate at Gravelines 25 December 1943

https://www.commandoveterans.org/GeorgeChapman_BdeSigs

if anyone has copies of WO and even period documents mentioning them

Thanks for all information!

Hi Robbie,

I have attached the listing of George Chapman as a PoW in Stalag 11A and the entry in the Cdo Assoc Newsletter, issue 91, August 1990.
Hope this helps your research.

Nick

Hi Robbie, hope this will be of some use.

Hardtack 11.

24th December/25th December and 26th December/27th December 1943.

No.?s 1 & No. 8 (French) Troops, 10 (IA) Commando.

2 Special Boat Section.

Pointe de Gravelines.

A reconnaissance of beaches and sand dunes at Gravelines under the command of WO 1 Pierre Adonis Louis Wallerand, the party left Dover on MTB 25 and were able to get to the beach and make a landing, but the small dory was swamped and water got into the engine causing it to stop, the crew of the Special Boat Section, Sgt. John Park attached from 4 Commando and his signaller Cpl. Jack Jones (Vladimir Kottka) of 3 (X) Troop paddled it back to the MTB sending the codeword ?Donkey? meaning they were in a fix and the engine had stopped, at the other end of the signal this was received as ?Sunk?. Getting back to the MTB they were able to drain the engine and restart it before returning to the beach with a further signaller, Chapman.

In the meantime Wallerand, Navrault and Meunier set out to reconnoitre the minefield whilst Caron, Medec and Pourcelot took up defensive positions to give cover if required.

In the early hours a small German foot patrol passed along the beach but the Commandos remained unseen.

Once the reconnaissance was completed they returned to the beach and the Dory and tried to re-embark but a swell over turned the boat rendering it useless as the engine had been immersed in water yet again.

Park and Wallerand attempted to use grapnel anchors to pull the boat away from the beach before Wallerand attempted to swim to the MTB, both he and John Park were never seen again and both were presumed to have drowned. .

I have 3 WO 417 files for Chapman 1/ reporting him missing 25/12/43. 2/ Confirming him POW in German hands and 3/ Now longer POW dated 1945.

Alan.

Hell,

Indeed it is related to the Hardtack 11 raid, I live a few kilometers from the site of this raid. A book has appeared in French about this raid, there is a lot of information, but some information is still missing.

In particular, a lot of information is missing about John Park, his route before the raid in particular, ditto for Vladimir Kottka (Jack Jones)

If you have these WO files about member of Hardtack 11, I'm very interested!

I also want to know how were they dressed, equipped, what weapons etc ...

Thanks

Cordially

Some may have seen it already but for the benefit of those who have not there is more on this link which included a link to a previous forum message of interest:

https://www.commandoveterans.org/JohnPark4Commando

Thank you Pete, I saw this link unfortunately it does not contain enough information for me, I do not know his background before the opera except that he participated in the Dieppe raid.

when I am interested in a man I try to retrace his entire journey throughout his life (early life, military life and after if he is not died during war)

Nicolas

Hi Nicholas
I was sure you had seen it but placed it there just in case. All the Casualty reports for Sgt Park show he was attached to 2 SBS though the CWGC show No.4 Commando. I will email you the docs that I entered as sources for both men but I suspect they will add no more than you already know. I will also check The 1939 Register.

Pete

For interest on Gravelines.

Extracts from Commando Association newsletter 75 issued Sept 1982 and 98 - March 1994.

The 1939 Register for Edmonton London where the full name and date of birth are the same as on the WO416 transcript of the German Record Cards of British PoW's. and the place of birth is shown on the 1939 Register as 51 Park Road Edmonton which is North London (London is on the WO416 file).