Major Harry Harold Blissett - No.2 Commando and 1st Special Service Brigade

This message was edited 10 times. Last update was at 05/04/2013 17:40:15

Hi all
I have managed to trace to Canada the son of Major Harry Harold Blissett who is in the photo I recently posted of the 1940 1st Special Service Battalion Officers and who served with No.2 Commando. With Janet Bishop's help I have now made email contact with Mike Blissett. Harry Blissett was with the 1st Special Service Battalion and later sailed to Gibralter with No.2 Cdo. as 2nd i/c to Jack Churchill. Mike informs me his father served in No.2 with Captain the Duke of Wellington and was present when the Duke was sadly killed in action at Salerno. He later went on to become Brigade Major of the 1st Special Service Brigade during the Normandy landings and is mentioned in the book Clash by Night by Lt. Col. Derek Mills Roberts. Whilst No.2 were stationed in Ayr , the Duke was best man to Mike's father Harry at his wedding. Sadly Harry Blissett passed away on the 18th December 1977. It was 3am in Canada when Mike returned my email but I am hoping he will stay in touch and takes up my invitation to join us in the CVA. I have, as I always do, politely asked if he has any other photos or information of Harry for inclusion in our galleries. Mike has made a suggestion about contacting Winston Churchill MP as he has, as we know, family links with the Commandos. His Grandfather instigated the formation of them. I am not sure whether this has been done but here is what Mike said to me regarding this " I corresponded with the sitting Conservative MP. Winston Churchill, the granson of the PM. and son of Randolph Churchill , who served in #2, Is he a member of the CVA ? He would no doubt be interested if he is not ? He probably has a wealth of documentation & photos ' etc. I contacted him via the House of commons."
Anyhow I hope Mike stays with us and if I do get anymore photos I will post them accordingly. Here are the 2 group photos we already have where Harry is included and named:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/boxing+team+1942.JPG.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/No_1+Special+Service+Battalion+Officers+1940.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 19/02/2012 19:09:28

Here are a few of the photos sent to me by Michael Blissett son of Major Harry Harold Blissett and I thank him for that. In due course I shall put them all in the gallery. The No.2 Commando Officers photo : middle row 3rd from left is the Duke of Wellington, 5th Jack Churchill, 6th Harry Blissett, 8th Dickie Hooper. Back row extreme left is Lt. Bavister, 6th from the left is Larry Taylor, 7th is Joe Nicholl. Front row 1st left is Michael Stilwell, 3rd is possibly Lt. Keep. Thanks to Eric Buckmaster for providing help with some of these names. I had originally thought that Dickie Broome was next to Michael Stilwell but Eric says not but is double checking. If you know any of the others please let me know

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 17/09/2009 13:43:22

and another sent by Mike Blissett with Lord Gort, Charles Newman and Bill Copland. If you know the others again let me know. There are one or two others which I shall include in the galleries. I have invited Mike and his family to apply for membership of the CVA and from his initial response I think and hope they will.