Messages posted by: Julie W

What a great piece of research. Thank you Mark!

Such sad news. Rest in peace Geoff

NIC wrote:
There was a Capt David King in No5 Cdo - unfortunately I don't know what dates he served with No5...

Lt D.E. King joined the unit on 9 January 1945 and was made an Acting Captain wef 3 November 1945

Pete wrote:Does anyone know any information about the note, Sister Stanislas, or a connection with 3 Commando and the Convent?

Although still not a specific link to the Commandos, the Sister Stanlislas mentioned in the article below could be the author of the letter.

Using Google Translate, it seems she was educated in England so perhaps that led to a special bond between her and No. 3?

http://www.hbvl.be/Archief/guid/zuster-stanislas-van-hummeltjes-overleden.aspx?artikel=b37f107a-daa1-449d-a7b7-56af9c180aa1

The SS Empress of Australia rang a bell so I've just had a look at my cousin's service records again & found that he travelled back to the UK on that ship too (copy uploaded). Perhaps they boarded the ship on the 12th but didn't set sail until the 15th. I imagine the voyage probably would have felt more like 3 months when you were eager to be back home!

I've also uploaded a scan of the relevant page from my cousin's paybook, one of the few pages that actually has anything written on it!

Thanks for sharing your grandfather's recollections.

Julie

Hi Mark,

What a wonderful surprise to receive your grandfather's service records so quickly.

I can help with answers to a couple of your questions:

I'm pretty sure that the signature of the Lt Col on the Notification of Impending Release is that of Robin Stuart.

It does seem to have taken a month to travel from Hong Kong back to the UK. My cousin was in the same release group as your grandfather and he has written in his pay book that he embarked in Hong Kong on 12 November 1946 & disembarked in Liverpool on 13 December 1946.

By this time, I believe (although I'm not certain) that the Commando Holding Centre had been disbanded & men returning from overseas were sent to the HQ of their parent regiment...? Perhaps someone can confirm this. Would it make sense for your grandfather in relation to Ashford?

Regards,

Julie

There is a road named after him along the coast at Berneval-le-Grand though: Avenue du Captain Portheous.

Julie

I've posted the link on the Facebook page.

Julie

I had to wait almost a year but it was worth the wait! They send you an estimate of how long they think it will take when you apply for the records.

Julie

I'm really pleased that my research helped you to find Geoff, Nick. As John said, you've helped numerous people in their search for information - including me - so it's fantastic that you are now reaping some reward for all your hard work.

Julie

There's a passage in the memoirs of Cpl Robert Hay Shields (RAMC & 5 Commando) that would suggest not:

"When it was fully light Chips Heron our troop commander asked me to go into the deserted Jap position to see if any of our chaps were lying out there wounded. The troop would give me cover if needed. I might need a weapon other than my Colt automatic so I was given the Sergeant Major's rifle."

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/documents/Letters/Cpl_robert-hay-shields.pdf.html

Hi Peter,

This incident is described on the Burma Star Association website:

"Meanwhile Lt Douglas Fayle (OC, No. 2 Platoon) had rolled under the compound huts, which stood 3ft above the ground; with him was Cpl Harry Winters with a rifle and Mne R.J. Shaw with his Bren. They lay quiet while the men in the gulley were firing, then the Lieutenant opened fire with his Tommy gun, supporting the Bren and rifle, which at this close range killed many Japanese. They fought off a Japanese attempt to rush their position, held their fire when cattle were stampeded through the compound, fired on an officer who shone a torch, and stopped another rush by tossing grenades, all the time shifting their position to keep in the shadow as the moonlight spread under the huts. They found some ammunition but by 0430 hours - they had been under the huts for 4 hours - with ammunition again getting low, they slipped away unnoticed to the river."
http://www.burmastar.org.uk/viper.htm

Julie

Well done CWGC.

Nick

...and well done Nick!

There was an article about Operation Bristle in a magazine called 'Toute la Vie' (a Nazi publication) which mentions the landing taking place on Thursday 4 June, before dawn

Here are links to the article and info:
http://www.cyanopale.org/ch/c19_raids_commandos/TLV_6.gif
http://www.cyanopale.org/ch/chronique19.htm

And a translation:
Thursday 4 June, before dawn. The sandy coast of Le Touquet, on the Channel, in the Canche estuary. The elegant swimmers of high society once animated the twin cities of Paris-Plage and Le Touquet during the 'season'.

Now, it is the German coastal forces facing England who watch... On these dunes which the wind constantly changes, and which crumble under footsteps, positions are established where vigilant lookouts scan the horizon, and strain their ears beyond the breaking waves.

Here is the sound of motors on the water and in the sky. Sound the alert! They are British speedboats and British planes flying in formation, attempting a landing.

Immediately, the German artillery positions spring into action. Coming under fire, the British units turn around.

But now the guns a little further back, south of the base are attacked. The British vessels have launched dinghies and they are landing on the shore. Some British soldiers are leaping out of them. They are wearing shorts and sports jackets made of thick cloth. On their heads, a woollen cap. Belted with several rounds of cable, they are loaded with weapons and special equipment.

They rush onto the sand of the beach trying to climb the dunes where the German blockhouses are established.

The coastal defences soon destroy their hope with heavy fire. Abandoning their climbing gear and their tools, the specialised landing troops retreat, turn around, flee towards their canoes and rejoin the boats but not without leaving some prisoners in the hands of the coastal defences.

No other result. A simple task for the press release. Once again the 'second front' will not be established in France!

Nothing will remain of this escapade except some photographs of the picturesque aspects of modern warfare, of which readers of 'Toute la Vie' have the exclusive...

Hi Graham,

A comparison of the pay and allowances for RM and Army ranks of the 3rd Commando Brigade in India was carried out in early 1944 and the basic pay was as follows:

Lt Col 52/4d
Maj 34/2d
Capt 25/2d
Lt (4 yrs) 16/6d
Lt (less 4 yrs) 13/-
2 Lt 9/-
RSM 12/-
RQMS 10/-
CSM 10/-
Clr Sgt 8/6d
Sgt 7/-
Cpl 5/7d
Pte or Mne 4/4d

There were apparently discrepancies in some of the allowances they received which included colonial allowance, provision allowance, field allowance, compensatory victualling allowance, living under canvas allowance and travelling expenses for journeys on public service.

Regards,

Julie