Messages posted by: Pete

Update on 19 sept 2009. all above names confirmed by Walter Ainslie, 5 Troop No.2 Cdo.

Sounds like a good idea John. Happy to try out the editing bit. Now we just have to spread the word to veterans, families, members, friends, who are attending Spean Bridge this year to bring a photo of a Commando, be they Army, Royal Marine, WW2, or post war, etc. I have phoned Jo Vose who is with the Warrington branch to pass it on. I'll also let Eric Buckmaster know as he has a good list of contacts. Many of them as Ron, who suggested the idea, said " probably have no access to our website" so its going to involve word of mouth and hopefully a mention in Despatches if there is one due out before November. I think for practicality and cost reasons people will have to be asked to donate the their photo or information and this should be made clear. If they want to retain it then perhaps a friend or family member can get it copied for them before November. The photos donated could then be scanned and entered in the gallery at a later date, the photos themselves being finally stored as John M suggests. Nick has offered to create a template for a form that can be filled in by people donating the photos, and this could include the permission for use as John M. suggests, as well as details of the person/s in the photo and any other details. A short and to the point form. We could have representatives at each of the hotels designated to collect the photos. Just some ideas here which I hope others might contribute to.

One of my brothers had this photo of 4 men from No.2 Commando. One I recognised from another photo of mine I had already posted. They were both taken I believe at the old Ayr Racecourse. John Stewart is on the right as you view the picture. Sadly John was killed in action at Salerno. With help from Eric Buckmaster the others are Jimmy Smith (next to John) , he believes the man alongside Jimmy is John Caveney from Paisley, and finally he thinks the 4th man is Walter Ainslie. To my surprise Eric then said "I'll send him the photo to confirm that". Walter lives in Edinburgh so I am hoping he might agree to meet me as he is so close. Walter and Jimmy are both named in my fathers note book of 5 Troop in 1943. There is a John Caveney from Paisley also in there and I believe he is identical with the Cavanagh that Eric remembers. I'll keep you posted if I get to meet Walter.

For some reason the picture is not displaying here and I cannot add or delete the photo in the forum edit option, so the following link will take you to the No.2 Cdo 5 Troop album gallery photo :
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/5+troop/No_2+at+Ayr+john+stewart.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

When visiting the Commando Memorial , you may also wish to visit Kilmonivaig Church in Spean Bridge where there is a plaque in memory of Charles Vaughan. Looks a very peaceful little church as can be seen by the photo attached here. The photo of the plaque (courtesy of the Scottish War Memorials Project) is now in the gallery on this link :
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+War+Graves+Memorials+and+Plaques/memorial+to+Lt_+Col_Charles+Edward+Vaughan+OBE.jpg.html

Thought I would just add a quote from Donald Gilchrist in his book Castle Commando where he writes a forward note to the 'Colonel' . He ends by saying:
" But it is to you, Charles, that we who counted it an honour to serve you, wish to show our appreciation. You made us fit to fight. You taught us the art of living in a world at war, and to laugh in the most perilous circumstances. What we were - if we were anything - we owe in great measure to you."

Nigel

You wanted any info on some of the pictures you posted in the No.1 album. I have posted a picture of some of 1 Commando which has several Commandos that are also in one of the photos you posted. This includes Henry Brown MBE, who was general Secretary and Treasurer of the Commando Association from 1946 -1986. There are a few more details on this photo. There is a forum message with information and this picture on this link:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/1039.page

The picture of your father and others in your album I refer to is on this link;
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Quick/2.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

Anyone with knowledge of No.1 Commando should look at the numerous pictures in the Derek Quick Album to see if they can identify anyone else.

One of my brothers gave me a few photos he had found tucked away including these two. One is of a No.2 Cdo reunion in a restaurant in Dale Street, liverpool in 1950 ( several 5 Troop) in there. Quite a tough looking group I have to say. Donald Roy is in the background standing. I had already placed a copy of this picture in the gallery but this one is of much better quality: the second is of my uncle TSM Ken McAllister, my father L/Sgt Joe Rogers MM, and a Sgt Tommy Everitt. If anyone knows anything about Tommy Everitt I would be most interested in hearing from them. The links to the gallery photos which are much clearer than here on the forum are - for the reunion :
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+Gatherings+pre+CVA/reunions/ca2.jpg.html

and here for Tommy Everitt - he is on the right as you view the picture:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Ken+Mac_+Joe+Rogers_+Tommy+Everitt.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

Here is a picture courtesy of John Robertson from the Special Forces Roll of Honour site. The picture on John's site is titled " 1 Commando Group" and goes onto say " orderly room staff,India 1944 seated in centre is O.R.S.M.Warrant Officer II Henry Brown former Secretary of the Commando Association"

Are they all from No.1 or 1st Commando Brigade ??

update 16/8/09...thanks to to Stephen for his reply below. This photo will be now placed in the No.1 Cdo album

Just a further couple of updates for you Chris:

For anyone visiting the cemetery at La Baule, Jim Dorrian has emailed me to mention that there is a full list of the fallen from St Nazaire on his website, and also a plan of the cemetery and where the individuals are buried. Here is that link to La Baule:
http://www.jamesgdorrian.com/the%20fallen_la%20Baule.html

here is the link to his roll of honour for Operation Chariot :
http://www.jamesgdorrian.com/Roll%20of%20honour.html

and finally Chris, Jim mentions that Jean Cevaer, and a friend Hubert, are "staunch allies".

When you get your travel itinerary if you wish I will email Jean to advise him of your plans. He lives in St Nazaire.

Regards

Hi Chris

I have just received this email from Jean Cevaer which you will be pleased to know gives the location of Louise Jaouen's final resting place.

"Upon a query from James Dorrian I was able to locate the grave of Louise Jaouen. In her old age she apparently left La Baule to retire in or close to Morlaix, where she was laid to rest in the Saint-Charles graveyard, carré N° 10, grave N°135.
What is to be admired is that she tended the British graves and collected money to do so during the German occupation which was especially multifarious from Saint-Nazaire to Le Croisic. I know, I was there.
Sincerely.
Jean Cévaër "

My personal thanks to Jean Cevaer and Jim Dorrian for their help in this matter

It would be nice to try and get a picture of Louise to include in the St Nazaire sub album of the CVA WW2 photos. If anyone finds one please post it or let me know

Hi Ron

My father is pictured here with one version of the Thompson sub machine gun issued to some of No.2 Commando and others;

Commandos also used the Sten Gun. I have a report from Lt. B. J. Barton DSO MC of No.2 stating how effective use of the Sten gun with silencer was for one of his covert operations on Brac in which the German Commandant of the island was killed. His words were " This operation could have been done with any automatic weapon, but is doubtful if we could have made a succesful retreat if we hadn't used a silent Sten"

also check this link on the Tommy gun models used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson_submachine_gun

My thanks to Sam Boyer for emailing some great pictures of Fred Senior, Stanley Bolland ( who was sadly killed in action details on the picture in the album, and other Commandos from No.8 who went onto join the Special Air Service.

These are the first pictures of No.8 Commando for our Gallery so they are particularly welcome. Here is the link to the album:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/8/

Sam is particularly keen to know if anyone has information regarding Fred or any of these men. If you do either contact him direct, or let me know and I will pass it on to Sam

Hi Judy great photo that you have just posted. Made it a bit clearer here for others to view and will update the gallery in due course. As regards your pm to me I have responded but having viewed the photo it could definitely be him.

Hi Ron

You have prempted something that I was going to ask Geoff about on his return but will mention it here to ask yours and others views. I have a portable scanner with a good sized memory card and intend bringing it up to Fort William in November. My idea was to ask everyone who attends whether veterans, relatives, or serving Commandos, to try to bring along at least one photograph or document for inclusion in the gallery. Hopefully the photo will have some information included with it as to dates times places and people. Returning photos by post is time consuming and involves postal costs with the obvious chance of things getting lost. Thus I would ask people to either donate the photo, or if of special significance and they want it returned, I will scan it there and then and give them the photo back. I don't mind organising this and hopefully others could help and we would obviously have to keep records as to who provides what so to speak. If members want this to happen, it would be up to everyone to spread the word to those veterans and others who do not have access to computers to tell them about this and encourage them to do so.

So lets hear your views on whether you think this is a practicable idea.

** Update on this I do not think the portable scanner I have is going to be suitable. Not for photos anyhow. Any other suggestions. Perhaps we could seek to use the hotels scanners and scan onto memory cards or sticks. ****

Here is a good picture of Fred Senior and others taken at Burnham on Crouch. Fred and others went onto serve with No.8 Commando and then the SAS. This picture has been sent to me by Sam Boyer. Fred Senior was the brother of Sam's grandfather, and he has also provided the details as follows:

This is outside the "Oyster Smack" pub in Burnham-on-Crouch - August 1940. I only have surnames...

Back row - Todd, McAllister, (Ena?), McSorely, Muirhead, Hill
Front row - Robertson, Fred Senior, Lorrimer, Carrington

Interestingly enough I found this article on a John Patterson Robertson, possibly the one in this picture, also of the Scots Guards, 8 Cdo., and SAS. It is about half way down the page sent as a response to the original. :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/00/a3045700.shtml

Sam has others which I will also post here and in the gallery in due course. If you know of any information about the picture or his grandfather please contact Sam.

Hi Chris

I am pleased to hear James replied so promptly and hope he finds some information for you. If he does keep us informed. On this link to a previous CVA forum thread on St Nazaire you will find some useful information and video links including a list of those who took part. It also includes some German archive photos and video footage. It may be of some interest to you:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/830.page

The No.2 Commando Gallery also has some photos of those who took part, in particular in the 5 Troop sub album:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/