Messages posted by: johnny

Hi Nic & Pete.
Thanks for your replies. Unfortunately we do not have any photos of Ernest or any of his comrades, in fact we have very few photos of Ernest, hence my interest in the photos taken on board HMS Locust.
On the 10th to 13th April 1992 Ernest attended the 50th anniversary of the 40 Royal Marines Commando 1942-46 Association Reunion at the Broadway Park Hotel, Sandown, IsIe of White. Do you know if there are any photos of this event?. This was the last reunion that Ernest attended.

Regarding Ernests papers, due to practically indecipherable handwriting, numerous duplications etc I decided to copy Ernests text on to my open office, this I have done in its entirety albeit for grammatical correction. In doing this I have been able to add a footnote detailing things that Ernest has told the family about his exploits, I have also included his ill health probably due to his incarceration, his employment after recuperation, service details, his death and finally his funeral. At this moment in time I am getting further bits of information, when I feel that I have taken it as far as possible I am confident that the family will release a copy to the association

I am the Son in Law of Ernest Coleman who died in 1995. Ernest was a member of No 3 Section, 10 Platoon, X Company, Royal Marines. During the spring of 2007 my late Mother in Law asked me to remove a shed that had partially collapsed, while clearing the shed I came across some papers, on examination it transpired that they were a manuscript of Ernests war time exploits including his incarceration in POW camp Milag Nord.
Ernest was on the Dieppe raid, he sailed there on board HMS Locust, he was feet away from his commander when the commander was cut down, he had put on a pair of white gloves to alert other marines to the danger and to turn back, I have quite a lot of information but there are some things I still need to find out.
In the manuscript Ernest mentions he was on board HMS Locust when Mountbatten (now Lord) and R.E.D Ryder VC, ( the VC had recently been awarded) took Ernest by each arm for a photo shoot by newspaper photographers. Ernest unfortunately could not remember the names of the newspapers. Ernest goes on to say that the raid was cancelled and they went on two weeks leave,three weeks later the raid was on again. On my calculation the photo shoot could have taken place in late June early July 1942 If anyone has information on this or any other information on Ernest I would be extremely grateful