Messages posted by: Bill Harvey

JMB

It would be interesting to see the list of names. Mum was one of the No 4 widows who met the Queen Mum that day and laid a wreath.

Best wishes.

Bill

John and Dan thanks for all you do for us. This is the most important Commando Archive.

Thanks to Pete Rogers too.

Keep up the good work.

Also thanks to all who contribute to this site.

Best wishes.

Bill

Dear Friends
Roy Philip Grant No.4 Commando HQ troop sadly passed away on 30th November at the tender age of 98 1/2. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.
His daughter Rachel Henderson adds

Sorry to say we have some sad news Roy has passed away, he went into hospital on Sunday with breathing problems and developed severe pneumonia with heart problems and died early Wednesday morning, it's been a bit of a shock as he was only working in his garden on Friday last week, at 98 1/2 we thought he would make 100 but sadly not to be, we will place his beret on the coffin.

Card being sent from No 4.

Roy was the only British No.4 Commando to represent his comrades at the Commemorations in 2019 in Flushing and remembered them with honour by laying the wreath. He and his family were with us on the ferry retracing when he came over in an LCA from Breskin to Flushing on 1/11/44. Our No.4 Commando family will miss him and our thoughts and prayers are with Rachel her husband Jeremy and all family and friends at this sad time. God's richest blessing.

Rachel has informed me her Dads funeral is booked for 21st at 2pm at Odstock Church, Odstock village, near Salisbury, Wiltshire. Rachel sent in the photos below. Roy is on the left.

Rest in peace Roy.

https://www.omroepzeeland.nl/nieuws/15076328/commando-arthur-robinson-vindt-eeuwige-rust-op-uncle-beach?fbclid=IwAR3_Q6aX8nqNATXE5rILsnKaYQ3v_9fXidNudYt9TLneJ-vITc8n-tyBlig

Arthur Robinson ashes were scattered at Uncle Beach Vlissingen / Flushing 1/11/2022

We will remember him.

Bill

Our thoughts are with Jochem, Ardi and others as they lay the Commando Association wreaths in Flushing today. We give thanks to them and to the Dutch people who always remember all who fell with honour.

Bill

Dear friends can anyone help Noel Rabouhans

Does anyone have any information about the Free French commandos in Troon in the period May to July 1942? I have a billet address for my father (Raymond Rabouhans) in Ayr but no other information.. If anyone has any information I will pass it onto
Noel Rabouhans.

Bill

Dear Friends

Tim Robinson sadly reported - Sad to say that Private Arthur Robinson of No 4 Commando aged 98 passed away today in Weymouth. Last night we represented him at the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the battle at Dieppe on the Esplanade at Weymouth.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim Robinson and Carolyn Robinson and all the family and friends. We give thanks for his service and for our freedom. He will be remembered with honour

May God's richest blessing and comfort be with all the family friends and the No 4 Commando family at this sad time.

A Tribute to No4 Commando following the Dieppe raid

Oh, gallant men our nations pride
Whose valour cannot be denied
Their name is echoed far and wide
The Fighting Fourth Commando

Their deeds shall live from age to age
They?ve writ their name on History?s page
Upheld their glorious heritage
The Fighting Fourth Commando

At dawn they made that fateful raid
Advancing grim and undismayed
They fought undaunted, unafraid
The Fighting Fourth Commando

For us they trod the depths of hell
Faced certain death from fire and shell
They did their job they did it well
The Fighting Fourth Commando

Some paid the price with battle scars
Some passed beyond all earthly bars
Their names are written in the stars
The Fighting Fourth Commando

Oh? Lord above, who art with us yet
When Time the healing hand hath set
Be with us Lord ?Lest we forget?
The Gallant Fourth Commando

Bill

In Canada Square Dieppe Peter Kenny laid the Commando Association wreath alongside the Royal Marine Commando wreath on 19th August 2022.

Remembered with honour.

Bill

Thanks Pete

Bill

Hi Dave

Not a royal am 77 and a son of an No 4 Army Commando who was kia 1/11/44 in Flushing. I was born in January 1945 in Troon.

No4 COME TO TROON
From Inverary they were roused at 0400hrs to march the 16 miles to Dalmally. It was a bucketing all day and their train was late. They arrived at Ayr at 2200hrs some finding billets while others had to use the grandstand at Ayr racecourse. So on the 10 November 1940 the Commando marched behind the pipe band of the Royal Scots Fusiliers from Ayr to Troon and this became their base until late 1942. Troon was the ideal base, the harbour where small boats could be moored; beaches for landings; the surrounding countryside for field craft and tactical training with ranges near at hand including an area near Dundonald. The people of Troon made the Commando most welcome as they were billeted there. It is estimated that between 28 and 33 of the Commando married Troon girls.

I am like many others very involved in keeping the Commando name in memory and helping others.

If you want to see what would be possible at Achnacarry I would contact the curator of the Cameron Museum the contact is on their website about your visit.

Best wishes.

Bill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q60pIny5WSo

Program on Lofoton.

I am sure I have an account of the Lofoton raid somewhere in 5 boxes.

When I get a chance will look it out.

In No 4 Commando Facebook if you put in a search putting in Lofoton a few photos come up.

Bill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQhD8H0W9B8

Program on Lofoton.

Bill

John

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all the family. Saddened about you loss. We give thanks for his service to all of the Commando family in the design of the Army Commando Memorial.

God's richest blessing.

Bill

Hi Dave

The Spean Bridge Commando Memorial you know about. The CBTC is at Achnacarry.

Places to take him the Cameron Museum at Achnacarry which has a small Commando room you can also see the river they trained on at Achnacarry. The West Highland Museum in Fort William which has a Commando room.

Gather by wording of your post that that your Uncle was a Royal Marine Commando not Army Commando.

Best wishes.

Bill

Major James Dunning account:

Lovat's basic plan was to split the force into two groups and carry out a simple "fire and movement" operation on a Commando basis, but limiting the size of his entire fighting force to just four troops (A, B, C and F) plus Commando specialists, namely signallers, medics and the intelligence section and some other attached personnel from outside the Commando. Each of the four fighting troops, however, was made up to full strength, and lame ducks or non-runners, being replaced with selected men from D and E troops. As a result the force, including four US rangers, three French Commandos for No 10 (IA), two signallers from the Canadian Division (to provide a link between the Canadians landing at nearby Pourville and No 4), an officer and two signallers from Phantom Squadron (to provide links between No 4, the overall commander of Operation Jubilee and COHQ back in Britain), made a total of 255 all ranks. Group 1, under Major Mills-Roberts, consisted of C Troop, a fighting patrol from A Troop, the 3-in mortar detachment and some of the attached person mentioned above. This group would land on Orange One, climb the cliff by one or other of the gullies, make a direct approach to a wood in front of Hess battery and engage it with accurate small-arms fire, thus carrying out the 'fire' element of the plan. Meanwhile, Group 2, led by Lord Lovat, and consisting of B and F Troops plus the rest of A Troop, would land at Orange Two. Then after dealing with the beach defenses and detaching the A Troop section to act as a protective force between Groups 1 and 2, it would move with all possible speed along the eastern side of the River Saane to a position at the rear of Hess battery, whence it would assault and destroy the guns and the garrison. After destroying the battery, Group 2 would withdraw through Group 1 down to the gully and to the beach, Orange One, where all the LCAs would be ready to re-embark the whole force.