46 RM Commando

Hello

This is a special request.
I'm looking for any information, documents, photos, etc... about 46 RM cdo. specially when they were involved in Normandy.
The mayor of ROTS ( near Caen ) asked to me to do an exhibition for next june in their Town Hall. The 46 RM cdo, fight there against 12th SS Hitlerjurgend.
So, any help will be welcome. I'm looking for about the 46 war diary, but don't know how to obtain.
sincerely

stéphane

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 01/05/2009 09:16:15

Hi Steph just seen yr post...heres a quick link with some info. You may already have it.

http://battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/46th_royal_marine_commandos.htm

and this small write up in article:

The main task in the Mue valley fell to No. 46 Royal Marine Commando, under the command of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade and supported by a squadron of the 10th Canadian Armoured Regiment. Le Régiment de la Chaudière and the North Shore Regiment were to move into the valley villages as clearing proceeded. The operation proved rather difficult. The Commando worked down the valley from the vicinity of Thaon, clearing in succession the villages of Cairon, Lasson and Rosel. The stiffest opposition was encountered in the last phase, when in the evening the force entered Le Hamel and Rots. Here S.S. troops supported by Panther tanks concealed in Rots fought hard, and Fort Garry tanks as well as a company of the Chaudières were brought into action to assist the Marines. Only in the early hours of 12 June did the Commando finally report the area clear of the enemy. After a discussion between Headquarters 3rd Canadian Division and the 8th Brigade as to whether it was desirable to hold it, Rots was taken over by Le Régiment de la Chaudière, who were reported to have buried 122 of the enemy. The Commando recorded its own casualties as 17 killed, 9 wounded and 35 missing.

and another link on the 12th SS:
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CELzdzkM2OkC&pg=PA224&lpg=PA224&dq=the+attack+on+rots+and+le+hamel&source=bl&ots=qVtiEWxlkc&sig=tIfQdwIkTyQWI_izCFY40kbkSeo&hl=en&ei=1av6SZi6IIehjAexuKCsAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4

Hello Pete

Thanks for your answer. But I know that.
I'm in touch with 46 RM cdo veterans since several years, I was invited to attend the reunion in Torquay, before the association has been disbanded.
I'm looking for about information after Rots, the battle for DOZULE and BEUZEVILLE.
I've got all the veterans addresses, but of course not all answer.
And maybe some wasn't in the association.
Thanks again.

stéphane

Steph,

I have just come across your request but if this is still of interest to you I do have some relevant information for you.

My Grandfather served as an officer in 46 Commando and wrote what I believe to be the official history of the commando. The book is called The Story of 46 Royal Marine Commando by P.K.W. Johnson.

I have a copy of the book which I hope (at some time) to digitize and make available via the internet as soon as I can confirm that there are no legal obstacles for this.

In the meantime, you could try the Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth or the Imperial War Muesum who may already have digitized copies of the book.

I have also found some reference to 46 Commando and Rots in the Wikipedia page on the 12 SS Panzer Division [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_SS_Panzer_Division_Hitlerjugend

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 04/11/2010 20:10:40

A bit late but if any are still interested here you have some stories about 46 RM cdo, including a story of a member of that SS Hitler jugend brigade defending his position against 46..

Regards, Ruben

more to come

more to come

Couple more :)

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