No6 Commando - Private John Service

Hi there,

I hope this is the correct place for this post.

I have recently discovered that my Great uncle (Pte John Service) served with No6 Commando in Tunisia and was mentioned in dispatches at the Battle of Steamroller Farm. The details on the nominal roll were very interesting and useful.

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of:

- No6 Commando War Diary.
- Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 118 issued Feb. 2004.

Unfortunately I live in the very north of Scotland and an unable to visit the National archives Kew at the moment but would be happy to request a copy of documents. I have found the following https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7178202 but am unsure if this contains the unit War Diary.

Unfortunately we have lost touch with his side of the family and so I am currently unable to access his service record, so a copy of his obituary might prove useful.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

Paul

Paul,
This is the transcript of your great uncle's citation for his 'mentioned in dispatches',

"During the action between No.VI Commando and a Battalion of Herman Goering Jaeger Regiment, Fus. Service?s section position was attacked by a party of enemy approx. 80 strong ? finally they were 40 yards away when Fus. Service picked up the Bren Gun and fired it from the hip. The enemy advanced shouting ?Jaeger, Jaeger!? Fus. Service was standing hose-piping them with his Bren Gun and shouting back ?Commando, Commando!?. He killed many Germans and set an example of high courage and esprit de corps to his Section."

Good luck with your research
Guy

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 15/10/2022 21:36:58

3 spam replies deleted.

Paul, this is the link to our archive entry just for the benefit of others. I can add a photo if you have a good one of your great uncle either from his army days or in civvies. The CA newsletter mentions his name amongst many in the obituaries. The War Diary appendix entry states what Guy has transcribed and on the link below:

https://www.commandoveterans.org/JohnService_6Commando

Pete

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 15/10/2022 23:38:39

Hi Paul,

The Battle of Steamroller Farm was February 1943.
The No.6 Cdo War Diary for Jan - Dec 1943 is WO218/54.
Unfortunately this file has not been digitalised but you could request a copy from the National Archives. However, to copy the whole file is very expensive, but you could specify that you only require February 1943.

If you are on Facebook, there is a guy that will copy War Diaries and only charges 10p a page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057312735054

I have sent you a PM...

Nick