Messages posted by: Grant.Farquhar

Thank you for the replies

The photo above of Denis O'Flaherty does look very similar, but he has a hat and I can't see any bandage up to the knee on the right leg.
The description on Denis O'Flaherty page describes his injuries but none are of his leg.

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/3/dennis+oflaherty/

His daughter Marye Humphery adds this " I thought you might also like to know what little I know about Vaagso. My understanding is that a machine gun was placed in an upper floor of the warehouse you mentioned, pinning down his men. He stormed up the stairs and managed to take out the post, but received 5 bullets in his face and head. One took out his eye and one side of his jaw, another shattered the atlas bone in his neck (the bone that holds your head up). As you say, he was in hospital/recovering for two years. They took out one of his ribs and put it in his neck. This later broke and had to be replaced with metal (I believe this happened when he was injured crossing the Rhine). He wore a black patch for the rest of his serving career and was probably the only one eyed gunner in Korea."

Do you know who is the injured soldier being loaded onto a LAC?
I am wondering if it could be my Grandfather PTE Graham 5946665?

He was at Operation Archery - Vaagso. 27th December 1941 as stated in his war pension appeal
(See attached screenshot)

His medical records show he was right calf was burnt from a phosphorus bomb on the 27th December 1941 (See images attached)
I believe there was 57 commando?s wounded during the operation.

How many of them could have had an injury to their Right calf?
Is there any more information regarding this photo?
Is the uniform in line with a Private class soldier?

We would be grateful for any information.
Regards
Grant Farquhar (Grandson of PTE Graham 5946665)

Hi Pete
Thanks for creating the entry for my Grandfather.
My Mum will be very proud as she wore his commando pin on every ANZAC day here in NZ.
We have visited the Spean Bridge commando memorial a few times now and even took my son there in 2014.

I will look for the books as i am finding there is so much to learn.

There is still a lot of my mums/Granddads documents and photos to go thru so i am sure i will find some interesting things

Thanks again for the great support.

Regards
Grant & Family

Hi Pete and Nick
Thanks for all the great advice
I will send away for his records

He is shown in the No3 commando troop 4 photo
diagonally next to the blurry head .... I even have that original photo!

I only meet my Grandfather a few times when he came to New Zealand many years ago
And he only spoke to my brother and i briefly about his time in the commandos.

Attached is a photo of his wedding day and of the cross country team
PTE Graham is the front right.
We also have some of his running medals

Thanks for all your help
Very interesting information on this website!

Regards
Grant

Hi everyone
I am looking for some information on my grandfather who served in the No3 commandos.
PTE Thomas Graham
Number 5946665

I have his medical records which explains his leg was burnt by a smoke bomb while in the landing craft in Vaagso
He also wounded in Sicily.

My mum recently passed away, but she was unable to tell me to much as her dad never really spoke about the war.
My mum was born in Largs Scotland.

We would be very greatful for any information.

Regards
Grant Farquhar (Grandson)
Auckland New Zealand

Please see attachments