Messages posted by: Frank Churchill

Thank you Nick.

It is with the deepest sorrow that I must report the death of my father Patrick Churchill.
Dad died peacefully in his sleep on at 5 a.m on Thursday morning (28 June) at Witney Community Hospital. I was at his bedside in his final hours.

Dad had become increasingly frail since the death of my mother Karin in January and he was recently diagnosed with liver cancer. Nevertheless, he was determined to make one last pilgrimage to Normandy at the beginning of June.

Dad volunteered for the Royal Marines aged 17 and was called up just after his 18th birthday in March 1942. He volunteered for 'Hazardous Service' because "it sounded more exciting than peeling potatoes"! and completed Commando training at Achnacarry. On D-Day he served with 2nd Royal Marines Armoured Support Regiment, landing shortly after 8 a.m on Nan Green sector of Juno Beach. His Centaur tank was the only one of his troop to make it off the beach and by the end of D-Day he had penetrated up to 4 miles inland. On D+5 his troop was involved in the Battle of Rots & Le Hamel providing fire support for 46 RM Commando in their fierce fight against 12th SS Panzer Hitlerjugend.

After spending a month in Normandy, dad returned to Blighty to be re-assigned to 4 Army Commando as signaller to 6 (French) Tp ahead of Operation Infatuate, the liberation of Walcheren. He landed on Uncle Beach, Flushing at dawn 1 November 1944. Dad remained with 4 Commando until the end of the war and then returned home to resume the job he had left, working at Morris Motors (now BMW), Cowley, Oxford.

Dad was a life member of the Commando Association and regularly attended its London Branch meetings and reunions at home and in abroad. On its disbandment he and other veterans felt that the unique Commando esprit de corps should not die with it but be carried on for future generations. Thus the Commando Veterans Association was born and dad was invited to become its founding president. Dad was delighted to see the CVA grow from strength to strength and always kept up with news from the Dispatches newsletter even though he could not longer attend events in later years.

Dad's funeral will be held on Wednesday 18 July at 11.30 at St.Mary's Church Cogges, Church Lane, Witney OX28 3LA. ***** location and time changed...see below ****

All those who knew dad personally and the wider Commando family are most welcome to attend.

Frank Churchill

I managed to find out the name of the 4 Commando Veteran who's son also has an allotment in Witney. His is L/cpl Doug Stone. His service history is somewhat unusual. He joined the Royal Field Artillery then transferred to RAF before volunteering for the Commandos, training at Inverary. He landed on Sword Beach with 4 Commando, 1st SS Brigade. This is as much as I was able to find out, though I directed his son to the CVA site.

Does anyone have any further information on L/Cpl Stone?

Frank

Thank you all for your wonderful support. The response has been overwhelming, and people near and far have been so kind and generous. The Oxfordshire cadets have pledged continuing support we have children involved to learn about nature and cultivation - a genuine good news story of community spirit. Yesterday we received a letter from a family in Holland containing sunflower seeds to brighten up his patch. And this morning another allotment holder on the Newland allotments happened to mention that his father also served with 4 Commando. I don't think the Allotment committee will be bothering dad again!

Frank Churchill

Oh what a shame.

I only spotted it this afternoon and posted straight away. I should have bought it myself for Maureen, but didn't think it would go that quick! Hopefully it was Maureen that got it.

Is this the one?

http://www.hobbyswoodmilitaria.co.uk/post-war-commando-dagger-key-ring-item-no-2396-620-p.asp

Frank

Not sure if this is posted in the right forum, but here's a bit more info for another photo in the same gallery that Nick references..

In the photo of 10 I/A Commando at Flushing, November 1944, the soldier, 3rd Left, with the 18-set radio is Patrick Churchill (my dad).

(http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/French/Walcheren_+Nov+1944-a+column+of+French+Commandos+from+8+Troop+march+through+Flushing_.jpg.html)

Frank

Bill,

Thanks for your help.

Frank

Does anyone know whom to contact locally for schedule of commemorations/events/receptions etc surrounding the anniversary of the landings in November? (I know last year was a big deal with the 65th anniversary, so I imagine it will be more low-key this year).

My Dad (4 Cdo), mum and I plan to be there around end of October-early November and it would obviously be helpful to know the schedule of ceremonies so we can make arrangements accordingly.

Is anyone else planning to make the trip this year?

Frank Churchill

I have just asked my father this, and he tells me that commandos were indeed taught driving skills, though the training formed part of the further specialist training, rather than part of the initial general Commando Training Course. Instruction could be on anything from trucks, bikes - some (e.g. 10 I/A Cdo) were even taught to drive trains - handy for sabotage purposes!

Such specialist training ususally took place at 'Holding' Commando stage (i.e after completion of CTC and before being assigned to a unit). As a signaller, my father was given motorcycle training, as a despatch rider (on a BSA), though he had already gained his license prior to enlisting.

Hope this helps

Frank

The commandos drew their men, all of whom were volunteers, from all regiments. Many soldiers joined the commandos upon the unit's formation and thereafter, after the call went out for volunteers for 'hazardous service'. For instance, my father joined the Royal Marines in 1942, and after taking the signallers' course and volunteering for hazardous service, was sent up to Achnacarry to take the commando training course after which he was sent to 'holding' Commando before being attached to 4 Cdo, with whom he remained until the end of the war.

When he returned back to the Marines in 1946 to be demobbed, the RM C/O didn't know where he had been. His RM service record shows a blank for the corresponding period. This is not uncommon. Accordingly, when researching service records, if there is a blank it is often a good indicator that the person was seconded for 'special service' with the commandos or similar 'irregulars'.

Frank

I am pleased to report that Bill is still with us, although in declining health, and living in a retirement home in Devon. He went back to Normandy in 2004 for the 60th anniversary.

We were immensely privileged to have him stay at our home in Witney a few years ago when the youth orchestra from Maasbracht, Holland came over to play a series of concerts for the commandos, including at Blenheim Palace.

I shall always remember being woken up by an early morning blast of the pipes (!) and the look of awe on the children's faces as he piped them into the concert hall. A real treat.

Frank

Steph,

I've shown the photo to my father, and he can't find Geordie Harcourt on it. However, he does recognise one or two others..

Dad is seated bottom Row, 5th from Left.

2nd Row up, 5th from L is Bert Scrivens; in the row above him, 6th L is Jack Phelps (both originally from the Welsh Guards); 2nd Row from top, 1st R is ? Pickering.

regards,
Frank.

Stéphane,

my father - also a signaller with 6 troop, 4 Cdo - remembers "Geordie" Harcourt well. (nicknamed Geordie, because he was from Newcastle).

My Father was with him at Walcheren, where he remembers Geordie was a despatch rider (signallers could also be called upon as despatch riders) After Walcheren they went on to Kamperland, Bergen Op Zoom, and last saw him at Rechlinghousen, Germany in 1945, so to his knowledge Geordie made it through to the end of the war.

Hope this helps.
Frank

My father, Patrick, took part on the Walcheren raid on the port of Flushing on 1 November 1944, as signaller to 6 (French) troop, 4 Cdo. He may well be able to provide some useful information and I'll ask him. At the least he can give some background information which may help.

I recently did some research on 'Operation Infatuate' at the National archives, where one can find the original Enigma intercepts from german radio signals on the day and night before the landings. they were on the PMs desk within hours.

My father said the Walcheren landings were much tougher than D-Day

Frank