Lt. Douglas Alexander Russell. MC, 101 Troop, No6 Cdo

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 13/02/2009 23:52:45

My late father served with North Staffs with BEF and on return from Dunkerque joined VI Commando in 7/40 to 11/40. Served with 5. SS Battalion on re-organisation of Commando's from 11/40 to 3/41 and back to VI Commando on re-organisation of SS Bn. 3/41 to 11/41.

Emabarked at Glasgow with VI Commando for overseas (place not specified) 11/41 to 8/42. He was 21 at the time.

Reported missing, Dieppe 8/42. Prisoner of War 9/42 to 5/45.

I have no Commando Certificate or if he trained at Commando Castle.
Did anyone serve with my father during those times and are their any photos that he may be in? No mention in his Army Service Record where he trained, but I know he mentions 'heather, hills and snow of the gloomy Glen o' Weeping' (Glencoe) in verse in his POW log and how cold it was there.

I do have a head and shoulders photo of my father in uniform with a 'Swordfish' insignia badge on his left arm with the 'Commando' word above, if that helps.

Any info please.

Thanks

Dear Colin:

Since your latest posting, my wife Janet - the Archivist of all things Commando - has come up with some details concerning your Dad. You had indicated a photo you had included a swordfish emblem on your father's sleeve. Attached is a reproduction of that swordfish insignia with the numerals '101' superimposed on it. Of course, this means that your Dad was at that time serving in 101 Troop of No. 6 Commando which were a bunch of specialist canoeist and folboat operatives. This Troop was disbanded at the end of April 1942.

101 Troop was commanded by Capt. (later Brig. Gen.) Gerald S. Montanaro who would have been your Dad's brother-officer at that time. Brig. Montanaro's history of 101 Troop can be viewed at website www.kd.ac.uk/lhcma which is the Liddel Hart Centre for Military Archives at King's College, London.

Janet also came up with a thumbnail history of your Dad together with his photograph from a No. 6 Commando source. This can be found under personnel - officers - at www.6commando.com. There is a lot of information at that site as well. I can well imagine your amazement at the paupacity of details in his service records. This is a general complaint that you hear all the time and it is a great pity that the army records people could not have made a better effort and displayed some sensitivity towards the feelings of the relatives who eventually read the records.

Insofar as Dieppe is concerned, as you know No. 6 did not participate in this operation as a unit, so it is thought that Lt. Russell was probably loaned to either No. 3 or No. 4 Commandos as a specialist to help out. We will do some more digging on that subject.

It is certainly a good thing to hear from someone concerning No. 6 Commando. We think you are the first contact from such a great group of men. We in No. 2 had the highest regard for the performance of No. 6 in Algeria and Tunisia in '43 and later for their exploits in N.W. Europe. I would have been delighted to have known your Dad and we offer our sympathy to you . We hope that he had a good life after he came home in '45.

Kindest regards,

Bob & Janet

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 12/07/2007 20:31:43

Hello Bob & Janet,

Many thanks for the archive info and confirmation of my Dads involvement with 101 Troop 6 Commando. Army Commando.

You mention he was "loaned out" for Dieppe, I do know (from what my late mother told me) that Dad was with the Canadians as a liaison officer as he could speak french and german and that he had 'Intelligence Corps' shoulder titles during the raid. As it turned out, not a good idea when captured by the Germans. Nearly 3 years POW followed.
Thankfully, he survived the ordeal on the beach.

I have recently returned from paying my respects at the Canadian Cemetery at Dieppe, to those who fell on that day, including members of 3 & 4 Commando, RAF and Royal Navy and other nationalities. Very poignant and moving.

My father remained in service after the war and served in BAOR, FARELF Malaya (mostly jungle warfare against the commies) and rose to the rank of Major.

Kind regards,

Colin

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 12/07/2007 20:30:29

Hello,

My Dad (Douglas Russell) was captured at Dieppe with a Canadian by the name of Len 'Lofty', dont know the surname and they spent time incarcerated together and were known as "Stab and Strangle" in Oflag VIIB.

I have a photo that was taken in Oflag VIIB where my Father was a POW, my Dad is back row fourth from the left, and I am informed that the POW to his left is Michael Goodliffe.

Hope this is of some use to other members who may recognise the other POW's in this photo.

Colin