Scots Guard Commando?

Hi, I?m new to the forum so I apologise if this is posted in the wrong place. I?ve been researching my families military history recently & my father dug out some old WW2 photos of his brother. He was in the Scots Guards. There are a few pictures of him in Salerno but there is also some of him in Germany. On the back of one of them it reads ?Germany March 45 - Section Commandos?

My father recollects that his brother had completed parachute training & wore airborne insignia. Would there have been commandos from the Scots Guards?

Greg D

Greg

What was your Uncles name?

Helps our researchers. If you see the google search above put in your Uncles name and see if anything comes up.

Bill

His name was George Dick.

Hi Greg

Nick who is away in holiday would suggest that your Dad starts of by getting his brother's service records

Army Commandos joined from most units in the Army.

For those wishing to search for Service Records please follow the link to the MoD page below.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-records-of-deceased-service-personnel

For those who are the immediate next of kin or who are applying with the immediate next of kin's consent, download and complete the Application Part 1 - Next of Kin consent form and the Application Part 2 form for the appropriate Service (Royal Navy/Royal Marines or Army).

a. Application Part 1 (next of kin form) must be completed in all cases.

2. For those who are not the immediate next of kin, and who are applying without the consent of the immediate next of kin, download and complete the Application Part 1 - General Enquirer's form and the Application Part 2 form for the appropriate Service (Royal Navy/Royal Marines or Army).

a. Application Part 1 (general enquirer's form) must be completed in all cases.

b. Application Part 2, Service specific (Royal Navy/Royal Marines or Army), must be completed to request the disclosure of information held on the personnel records of deceased members of the relevant Armed Forces

If you have any difficulties please get in touch and I'll try and point you in the right direction...

Nick

Hope this helps.

Bill

Bill is right in that you should apply for a copy of your Uncles service record as this should show any attachment away from his Regiment to, for instance, a Special Service unit.

Volunteers for the Army Commandos were from all sections of the Field Army and this obviously included the Scots Guards. I believe the 2nd Bn., Scots Guards took part in the Salerno landings. The airborne role of the Scots Guards can be found on their Association website.

https://www.guardsparachuteassociation.co.uk/overview-of-guardsmen-in-the-airborne-role/

It would be useful to see any photos of your uncle where any headgear, insignia or badges are visible, as this can often help. You can post them as an attachment in any reply should you wish to do so.

My uncle is on the right.

The back of the photograph

The photo does show your Uncle wearing a beret so it will be interesting to see if other followers of our forum have any specific information that might assist. Again the Service Record should show any attachment. If and when a Commando unit is established we can then create a full entry in our Archive. As an aside I was wondering if the annotation on the back of the photo is Section Commanders rather than Commandos ?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 02/10/2019 21:32:34

Greg,
Was George's service number 3056044?
3056044 would suggest that he originally enlisted in the Royal Scots.
Guy

Greg,
I agree with Pete when he suggests that the note on the back of the photo says 'Section Commanders'...
The guys in the photo are Sgts or Cpls - so the right rank to be in charge of a Section.

Also, looking at the word Commandos/Commanders, the two letters that follow the 'd' are identical to the 'er' of "Germany" and not at all like the 'o' in "Section" - so I think it is Commanders.

Nick

Many thanks for the replies - I hadn?t thought about a misinterpretation of what was written on the photo, but that seems to have been the case here. There is another photo taken at the same time that pretty much confirms this. I?ll attach below.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 03/10/2019 14:25:13

2nd Battalion Scots Guards war diary entry 10th April 1945

Moved off at 0700 to try and get a breakthrough in order to let the COLDSTREAM Group take the lead.
Order of march was Right Flank & 2 Squadron, G Company & 3 Squadron, and Left Flank and 1 Squadron, and F Company.
But much opposition from enemy infantry was encountered and the leading group was held up for some time at road junction 051541.
A company/squadron attack was laid on and G Company successfully captured the road junction and village beginning at 1400 hours.
An hour later Right Flank attacked NORTHWARDS and secured the bridge at 048549 which was unfortunately blown.
Later in the evening Left Flank and their squadron successfully attacked MENSLAGE (0553) burning down most of the village.
house 036536 During these small battles approximately 170 Prisoners were taken, the vast majority being from the Pioneer Battalion of 21 PARA REGIMENT.
During the night Left Flank patrolled SOUTHWARDS from MENSLAGE in order to clear the main C.L.
It was found clear and the ROYAL ENGINEERS at once got on with bridging operations.
ROLL OF HONOUR
10th April 1945
Guardsman Peter Buchanan DAVIDSON - Killed in Action
Lieutenant Victor de SOISSONS - Killed in Action

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 03/10/2019 17:49:39

Greg,
The Guards Regiments retain all the service records of ex-Guardsmen .
If you intend to apply for a copy Geroge's service record you will have to apply to;

Scots Guards R.H.Q.
Wellington Barracks
Birdcage Walk
London SW1E 6HQ
020 7414 3324

Again, many thanks for the info. I?ll apply for the records as mentioned in previous posts. As a side note, less than 3 years later, he played in the 1948 FA Cup Final v Man Utd alongside Stanley Matthews.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 05/10/2019 19:30:10

Greg D wrote:Many thanks for the replies - I hadn?t thought about a misinterpretation of what was written on the photo, but that seems to have been the case here. There is another photo taken at the same time that pretty much confirms this. I?ll attach below.

2698245 Lance Sergeant Robert Nelson MEIKLE 2nd Battalion Scots Guards was killed in action 19th April 1945
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2199513/meikle,-robert-nelson/
19 April
The attack on VISSELHOVEDE began in the late morning.
Spandau fire from the same woods on the right of the road caused some casualties, but the two leading squadron/company groups pushed on leaving F Company to clear the woods.
Meanwhile Left Flank advanced from their positions at OTTINGEN 2787 and soon reached the railway 2589 where they linked up with the COLDSTREAM Group advancing on the town from NEUNKIRCHEN 3294.
All went well to begin with the company/squadron groups taking their objectives with little opposition though the left-hand group experienced slight 88mm fire from the area of NINDORF 2289.
However when Battalion H.Q. had crossed the railway and established itself in the centre of the town a counter-attack was put in by 1st Battalion 7 M.G.R. and for once Battalion H.Q. had to fight at extremely close quarters until rescued by various troops and platoons detached from the company/squadron groups.
During this counter-attack Lieutenant The Honourable A.R.H. ERSKINE MC, was badly wounded by a spandau and died shortly afterwards.
Visselhovede 2489 The position was restored after many hectic minutes and a tight defence zone was established in the town for the night.
Many prisoners were captured during the day (approximately 400) including Colonel ORDAN, commanding 5 M.G.R. and many of his staff.