Pte Sydney Smallman, No4 Cdo

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 22/02/2009 21:27:09

I'm looking for information about my granddad Sydney Smallman 4035253. He dead on D Day 6/6/44 and is buried in the Hermanville War Cemetery. On his grave stone and death certificate it states that he was in No 4 commando and originally King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Unfortunately granddad is not on either of the two organisations role of honour. I still live in Bridgnorth where Sydney lived and I recently bumped into an old mate of granddads who told me that Syd was actually in No 1 commando???

Could this be the reason that he is not on any role of honour?

I'm doing this for my dad who actually never met his dad and was born the xmas of 1944. It would mean a lot if any body had any information that would help.

I have taken my wife and two daughters to the grave and finding this last piece of the jigsaw would be great.

Dale Smallman
Ex Portsmouth Field Gun Crew

Hello Dale.

We have prepared a Roll of Honour for No. 4 Commando which is to be added to this website in the next few days. We would like you to know that Pte. S. Smallman is included on that list.

This Roll of Honour is different from those previously published for No. 4.

The War Graves Commission showing Pte. Smallman in No. 4 is correct.

all the best,

Hello DALE

I'm stéphane from Normandy, is it your father who came to visit us with sister and brother.

stéphane

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 15/10/2007 01:07:57

Dale,
hi and welcome to the CVA forum.
I think the evidence presented by Bob and Stephane and the link from the CWGC (below) is more than enough for you to apply to The Light Infantry [The King's Shropshire Light Infantry was amalgamated into The Light Infantry in 1968] to have your granddad put on the RoH for The King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

With regard to the 4 Cmdo RoH - Bob Bishop (No 2 Cmdo) is currently working very hard trying to compile a 'Role of Honour' and 'They also Served' listing for each Commando Unit.
This is no easy task as the Commandos were, for want of a better description, unformed units, ie they all volunteered to join Commandos but (officially) they still wore their regiment's hat badge - in most cases, when the Commandos Units were disbanded towards the end of WWII, most soldiers returned to their parent regiments.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2337530

Nick