Cpl Bob Potthast, No 3 Cdo

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 05/04/2013 17:46:37

Hi there
My Father, Bob Potthast was in no3 Commando. I found your website through relatives of Harold Hughes who got in touch after getting my Dads name from an MT list dated 5th May 44.
Sadly Dad passed away on 4th January 2007 aged 84. Its is only now that I am beginning to appreciate the enormity of what these brave men did. I am now really interested in learning as much as possible about no 3 Commando and my Dad' experiences. I have already found lots of info from this website.
My son Paul delivered a very moving eulogy at Dads funeral. It transpired that Dad had spent many an evening recounting some of his more amusing experiences to Paul! Some of which should not be repeated!
I have scoured the photos on here looking for Dad as a young man. This photo is one of a few now in my brother's possession. I would love to upload them to the site but am unsure where they should go. Any advice and help will be gratefully received!
regards to all
Anne Nelson

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 26/10/2009 21:41:53

Hi Anne

And a very warm welcome to the CVA, this and any other photos that you have can be uploaded on to the gallery where there is a section for WWII Commandos. Within this is a subsection for each Army and Royal Marine Commando unit, if you are unsure how to do this, I or others on this site would be only too happy to do this on your behalf. You would of course be credited as the owner of each image that is uploaded.
Are you also aware that you can apply for a copy of your father's Army Records, this is a fairly straight forward procedure and only costs £30. The results can vary quite considerably, some people have received very little, others (like myself) however have received some very informative copies of original documents.
The contact details for the Army Personnel Centre (Historical Dislosures Section) can be found in the "Tips On Research" section of the Forum. Or if you wish I could email you copies of the relevant application forms (there are only two) plus contact address, however to apply for your father's records you would need to contact the the Army Personnel centre yourself, who will then send you your own forms containing your father's name and case Ref No. My copies would at least give you an idea of the type of details / info that you would need to obtain to fill in the two forms.
If you would like me to send you the afore mentioned forms, then send me a PM containing your email address and I will take care of the rest.

Good Luck Andy

Hi Anne

I got an email from your sister Trudie recently with a couple of pictures - The resolution/quality is not great when you zoom in but one is of 3Cdo 6 troop (with a couple of names on the reverse) which is nice as there don?t seem to be many of those about - the other is from Italy/Sicily (??). I forwarded one to Judi Kemp and she thinks that her dad Mike Scovell is on the back row 4 in (the taller guy) of the Italy pic. I can put these on the forum if you are happy for me to do that?

I shall be putting the MT list you refer to on the forum later today.

As you know I?m researching MT at the moment and have made various enquiries and will let you know if I find out anything specifically about your Dad.

All the best

Nick

Hi Nick
yes I was talking to Trudie, she lives in Australia now, and she said she had sent them but the quality is poor. She is going to try to have them scanned at higher resolution. Hopefully that will make them clearer. I have sent that one and a copyof the writing on the back and they should be in the gallery soon. My brother has also got some originals and I will get them on his return from France in a couple of weeks.
Hopefully more activity on here will bring more information.
Dad trained in Largs, where he met and married my Mum. He was originally with the Middlesex regiment I believe, before transferring to no3 commando.There must be lots of families which started that way! :D
Regards
Anne

Hello ANNE

I met your father in FORT WILLIAM in November 2006. He was there with BOB CUBBITT 3 cdo 2 Troop. Both come from Middlesex regt, and were involved in Dieppe raid, Italy, D.Day etc...
I've sent to your father christmas card for 2007, but unfortunately, I received the sad news than he died in january.
sincerely

stéphane

Hello Stephane
Thanks for your story, Dad used to love to go each year to the Remembrance service. He used to meet up with Bob there.
Regards
Anne

Hello again
I have just found the name of my Dad's best man on another heading. Taffy Hawcutt.

Hello ANNE

Find enclose photos taken in ALEXANDRA Hotel, in November 2006.
With your father and BOB.
Sincerely

stéphane

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 19/02/2012 19:25:33

Anne's photos, and these photos posted above by Stephane (which did not display for some reason), have now been placed in the 3 Cdo gallery. Once again great photos from Stephane

I have created a sub album for Bob Potthast. It is on this link to page 2 of the 3 Cdo Gallery:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/3/Bob+Potthast/

I have put the two remaining photos of the two Bob's in the veterans sub album in the 3 Cdo gallery on this link :
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/3/3+Commando+post+war/?g2_page=2

Regards