Messages posted by: Doug

I have attached a couple of photos of a green beret believed to have belonged to Tom Churchill.

Doug

Hi Andy,

The maps too. if Major Callf marked the maps with co-ordinates for the action on March 3, 1944 it could be an invaluable tool. The area around Anzio is much changed since 1944 and most of the ravines (wadis ) have been filled. It is possible to overlay the Littoria 1:100,000 map with a current GoogleEarth satellite map but the co-ordinates given on the War Diary reports for 9 commando and the Royal Fusiliers do not match so it is difficult to interpret the exact sequence of events. Callf's Anzio map could clear up the confusion.

Doug

Thanks for the info. Do you know which commando Jimmy served in. I believe that he had his own TV show. I recall that he was the young policeman in the movie The Blue Lamp and was shot by Dirk Bogarde's character outside of an old movie theatre in Harrow Road, Paddington. The movie was the forerunner of Dixon of Dock Green.

My dad met him at the commando re-unions and I've always wondered about the connection. The signatures that I referred to in my earlier e-mail look as if they were collected at a re-union but I can't read the notation in the bottom right hand corner. Any thoughts ?

Doug

A great collection. As you say it should be in a museum or reference library. Major Callf served with 5 troop, 9 commando and there are several photographs posted on this site of the major with memebers of 5 troop.

Co-incidentally there is an autograph of the actor Jimmy Hanley available for purchase on E-Bay and it is the same signature as shown on the reverse of the photograph on the cultmancollectables web site. The signature is between the 9 and C of "9 COM" that is blue hi-lited. Does anyone have additional details of Jimmy Hanley's service in Special Forces ?

Doug

Hi again Bob & Janet,

Just received the second attachment and would like to confirm that Eddies's birthday was April 1st which would tie in with L/Cpl Smith's celebratory crossing of Lake Comacchio. Thanks again.

Doug

Hi Bob & Janet,

Thank you for the research and map attachment. Although Eddie was discharged to the reserve as a lance corporal the retention of the rank on a regular basis was kind of iffy and the stripe was probably issued with a velcro backing. I believe that at the time of the Anzio landings he was L/Cpl.

Doug

Can anyone help me fill in the blanks ? I have my dad's army service statement and the military history sheet is a little vague.

Edward Smith, 6711580, Black Watch, posted to 9 commando 23/4/42. sent overseas 28/10/42 to 14/3/43
home 15/3/43 to 10/9/43
North Africa 11/9/43 to 25/6/45
home 26/6/45 to 15/8/45
NW Europe 16/8/45 to 24/10/45

Eddie was wounded at Anzio on 3/3/44 which would mean that he was in Italy and not North Africa. Would like to know if the other periods when he was sent abroad coincide with known commando deployments.

Thanks Doug Smith