Messages posted by: Pete

Amazing...asks for help urgently. Then when given it simply deletes their original post without any word of appreciation.

Hi rfak94 (sorry you did not leave your name)

I have added some detail about Marine Charles Hall with a photo and you will see Linked Content to a photo of a newspaper clipping on how his life was saved included on there. Are you related?

https://www.commandoveterans.org/Charles_Hall_RMCommando

For James Anthony Kelly to describe him as he did as you say he has to have been in the same commando unit.

Pete

Read more about Operation Musketoon and those who took part including seven who were executed

https://www.commandoveterans.org/Musketoon

It is with much sadness that Peter Oxley, Secretary of the Commando Association, advises us of the recent death of Donald Cameron of Lochiel, CVO, DL, 27th Chief of the Clan Cameron, who died on 20 October, 2023. He was 77. He was always a great friend and supporter of the Commandos and will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with all his family and friends at this time.

Read more about his life https://peeragenews.blogspot.com/2023/10/donald-cameron-of-lochiel-cvo-dl-1946.html

Rest in peace Donald.

Hi ...in WW2 the base at Arbroath was not a commando base. It was then a Royal Naval Air Service base called RNAS Arbroath (or HMS Condor) and used for training naval aviators. Some Marines may have provided security there but not RM Commandos. It only became RM Condor in the early 70's. In WW2 unlike today not all Royal Marines were Commandos.

It is with much sadness that Peter Oxley, Secretary of the Commando Association, advises us of the recent death of CA member David Russell Prichard. David died on the 9th October 2023 aged 82. He served with 45 Commando RM in Aden, on the Training Team at CTCRM, Lympstone, and RMR Bristol. Our thoughts are with all his family and friends.

Rest in peace David.

Hi Justin

As my message stated I have pages from the War Diary but not for 1942. The War Diaries are held at the National Archives at Kew. Is there anything specific you are looking for within them ?
I note we only have limited information about your grandfather's service within our archive. If you wish to provide photos and additional detail they would be most welcome. Should you wish you can contact me by the email link below this message.

Pete

Justin

I have reposted your message into a separate forum thread for clarity. It can be accessed on the link below. I will respond on that link so as to avoid confusion and ask you to do the same please in any reply you might make. Many thanks

https://forum.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/8640.page

Hi Pete

My grandfather, Douglas Brown, was in 1 troop of 2 commando, stationed in Ayr. How would I go about finding copies of the No 2 commando war diaries?

Thanks

Justin

Pete wrote:Hi Brian

No. 2 Commando moved from Perth to Ayr on the 9th October 1941 in rather rushed circumstances due to their being some trouble in Perth at a Dance Hall between the Polish soldiers there and the Commandos. On arrival in Ayr No.2 Commando was not ready to be housed in billets as normal and so were initially split with 1, 4, and 6 Troops staying temporarily in Churchill Barracks Ayr, the remainder residing in Dam Park Camp and Eglinton House, Ayr. On the 17th October the Commandos were "let loose in Ayr to find their own billets." The initial H.Q. building used was Eglinton House Ayr where the Officers were residing. I believe this is very close to Wellington Square. These details are from the No. 2 Commando War Diary covering that period.

Unfortunately I do not have the War Diary for 1942 but I do know the No.2 Commando held some parades at Wellington Square. Eric Buckmaster of No.2 Commando gave an account which is in the details of a photo taken in Wellington Square I believe. That account can be read here:

https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/scan0142a.jpg.html

Additionally we have an account by Bob Bishop of No.2 Commando on this website and he specifically mentions their HQ in 1942 being at No.2 Wellington Square. From his accounts we believe the HQ was at No.2 Wellington Square by at least May 1942. So it may be that in the original few weeks/months after their move in 1941 the HQ at Eglinton House was simply where the Officers were living.

I also have the addresses of where those from 5 Troop were billeted in Ayr in 1942. I am hoping someone may see this that has the No. 2 Commando War Diary for 1942 and can provide specifics relating to your property.

All of No.2 Commando left the UK for Gibraltar and the Mediterranean theatre of war in early 1943.

Some of Lin's photos

Hi Lin

Unfortunately from the photos you posted I cannot say for certain he served in 40RM Commando. I have not found details of the named personnel on some photos except for the Lieutenant who is on a Navy List at one point as HMS Copra, so Combined Operations but not which unit. I cannot see that Officer's name on (or perhaps better to say not yet found his name) on Navy Lists for Officers in specific RM Commando units some of which can be found within our archive. Here is a link to the the vast array of information on the Navy Lists. Find the Officer's unit and it may be that of your father's however even this is not certain as your father's service might have taken a different path at some stage:

https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93506066

In some photos there seems to be men from a mix of the Services so perhaps he was in one of the many supporting units. There is a fair bit about HMS Quebec here which is worth a good read through https://www.combinedops.com/Training%20No1%20CTC.htm

Finally I realise you have not found anything in his Service Record that helps but sometimes there are clues that are not obvious and I recommend you try taking good photos of each page so that they are very readable rather than blurred. If you send them to me by email I will have a look through. Try the first two pages initially and I will let you know whether the format is readable.

Pete

Hi Lin

Thank you for the details and information you posted about your father. To address your question on the 'X' first. The 'X' in prefixes of RM service numbers was introduced in October 1925 to indicate men who had enlisted, or re-enlisted, on or after the 5th October 1925, except re-entries before the 2nd November 1925 after a break in service of less than 5 years. A new sequence of numbers beginning with 1 was then started in each Register. The prefixes CH/X, PLY/X, PO/X, RMB/X followed by numbers of six figures in the 100,000 series indicate ranks entered for short service during the Second World War. The prefix EX followed by a number of three or four figures indicated a special Reservist entered at Exton Division between October 1939 and July 1940. The source for this being 'Tracing Your Royal Marine Ancestors - a guide for family historians', authors Richard Brooks and Matthew Little (published in association with the RM Museum).

The locations you gave do as you say match those of 40RM Commando. Can you post the other photos you mention. Should you have any problems posting them (there is a file size limit for each image of 1mb) feel free to contact me via the email option below this message of mine.

During WW2 over 470 Commandos died in Sicily and Italy. Remembered in Cemeteries or at Memorials. All WW2 cemeteries where commandos are buried, listed by country and with details of each commando buried there, can be found here: https://www.commandoveterans.org/graves_memorials

Those with no known grave

Cassino Memorial: https://www.commandoveterans.org/Cassino-Memorial

Chatham Naval Memorial: https://www.commandoveterans.org/Chatham-Naval-Memorial

Plymouth Naval Memorial: https://www.commandoveterans.org/Plymouth-Naval-Memorial

Portsmouth Naval Memorial: https://www.commandoveterans.org/Portsmouth-Naval-Memorial

Brookwood Memorial: https://www.commandoveterans.org/Brookwood-Memorial

Remembering all the Fallen and those who received life changing injuries in and around Salerno, Italy.

The Commando Roll of Honour from 9 to 20 September 1943
[view.....]

More about some of the Commandos who were involved including many wounded:
[view......]

We will remember them

Scotty I have attached a slightly better copy here. The London Gazette does show where he was serving. For bravery, resource and devotion to duty under dangerous conditions during operations in the Adriatic. H.M. Indefatigable only refers to the officer immediately below. They then move on to the Adriatic.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36979/supplement/1386

Not all Royal Marines were Commandos in WW2 but of those who were Nos. 40 and 43RM Commandos were operating in the Adriatic as part of the 2nd Special Service (Commando) Brigade. Do you have any photos of your grandfather in uniform at all ?