Messages posted by: Pete

Andrew thanks for clarifying by pm ...the photo is now updated as can be seen here

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/N__4+cdo+B+troop.JPG.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

Regards

Hi there Andrew

Thanks for the information about your father and uncle. Can you just clarify that Owen is sitting extreme left as you view the photo and John is sitting next to him. Once you have done that I will update the gallery photo. Also if you have any other photos of them please do not hesitate to post them. If you have any problems doing this send me a private message and I will assist you

Regards

Hi Fiona

I have emailed a veteran of No.2 with pictures you sent to see if he knows your father or Bill. You should have my email regarding your pictures which are now in the gallery and I thank you for them. Lindsay, son of Victor (Dusty) Miller, has spotted his father in one of them alongside your Dad as you know and I have marked up the gallery picture accordingly. Your dad Bob holding the rifle, and Lindsays's dad hands on hips. I will let you know if I get any more information.

Regards

Hi there and thanks for your posting. Welcome to the CVA. I have no knowledge of your father but would invite you to post some information about him perhaps with a photo of him in uniform if you have one. If you need assistance in this I would be glad to help you. If you look in the CVA Links section you will see some RM Cdo Retired Associations. Whilst I do not see one for 45 RM Cdo It might be worth contacting some of the other RM Cdo links to ask them if they have any contact details for you. As he was in the Royal Marines if you intend to apply for his service record you will have to go through the Royal Navy. There is information on how to do this on the CVA site here:

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html

I hope you manage to find out some more information about him.

Regards

Here is a picture of a newspaper cutting sent to me by Richard Wells of the wedding of Dick Bradley. I just wonder what would have happenned if the Commandos who were there had got hold of the guy who fired the air pellet !!! The picture can be more clearly seen and read in the gallery on this link:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/1+troop/Sgt_+Dick+bradley+wedding+picture.jpg.html

Out of interest here are links to the BBC Wartime Memories articles which I previously posted about the fascinating story of Dick Bradley...well worth a read.

Attached are the links concerning , his role at St Nazaire, being wounded, taken prisoner, 1st escape, capture, then 2nd escape but this time successfully to freedom. Quite a guy.
The raid:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/79/a7185279.shtml
Prisoner of war:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/22/a7211422.shtml
First bid for freedom:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/64/a7211864.shtml
Capture:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/34/a7212034.shtml
Escape to freedom:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/68/a7212368.shtml

Hi all
Richard Wells , grandson of John "Jack" Wells of No.4 Cdo has sent me some more of his grandfather's pictures that he has found one of which has names and signatures on the reverse. i have placed them in the respective galleries but thought a couple might be of particular interest here also. The link to Jack Wells updated album is here :

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/John++Wells/

The link to the troop photo and names and signatures can be found here at the end of page 1:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/?g2_page=1

Hi there Luke...may if firstly say welcome to the CVA and secondly a very warm welcome to your grandfather. Has your grandfather access to a computer. The reason i ask is that I would like to know if he has seen the galleries and read the forum of the CVA. Many people were not aware that a new association had begun after the Commando Association stood down in 2005. Out of respect to your grandfather it would be best to clarify this first with him. Also, as you say he is a very private person, it would only be proper to ask him whether he wishes some personal details about him placed in the galleries or on the forum. I have some information about him as can be seen from my previous messages here. I can only say that we in the CVA ( well certainly me in particular) would hope that he might allow us perhaps to post a picture of him and maybe a little information similar to what has been placed about others in the No.2 Commando Gallery. You might also want to mention to him the comments of a No.2 Commando Veteran, Eric Buckmaster, that I posted again in this forum message thread. Finally Luke if you or your grandfather want anymore information you can contact me either direct here , privately on a pm, or on my email

If I can be of any assistance please do contact me

Regards

Hi Fiona

I have received your pm and your email that Janet Bishop kindly forwarded to me. I have sent you an email direct in reply and look forward to your response.

Regards

Hi Christine
Here is a report by the Central Intelligence Agency on the Italian Partisans of WW2 that you might find of some interest :

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/spring98/OSS.html

Hi All

I have just found this article regarding Eric Anthony Sykes, one half of the Fairbairn Sykes instructors of WW2. It makes interesting reading. If anyone can find part 2 please post it here:

http://www.manfamily.org/PDFs/EA%20Schwabe%20Essay.pdf

Hi Phil

Welcome to the CVA...do you know which section of the SAS he went into? Also have you read the book "The Middle East Commandos" by Charles Messenger. There used to be a group of former veterans called the Middle East Commando Historical Research Group but whether it is still in existence today I do not know. Finally do you have any pictures of your grandfather you would like to post in our Middle East Commandos albums. If you are unsure as to how to do this send me a private message and I can assist you in this

Regards

updated: I now see from another message that you have read the above book.

Here is a link that covers a few topics, or commando units mentioned recently on the forum, including:
early training pre Achnacarry; 7, 8 and 11 (Scottish) Commando; Middle east commandos, and a few other useful pieces of information

http://www.internet-promotions.co.uk/archives/caithness/commando.html

Stephen on my father's service record it shows him posted to No 4. Independent Company from the 1st Btn. Liverpool Scottish on 18/7/40. Then on 21/7/40 it states " Attached to RTC Inverlochy " . I do not know where in Inverlochy this would have been. Maybe at the Castle there??The two areas are about 30 minutes apart by car. However as the Commandos had not been formed yet and as Achnacarry did not open until 1942 I believe, it presumably depends on when your father joined.
On the Combined Ops site a paragraph has been added stating "Prior to Achnacarry, Commando training was carried out in the Clyde Area at two main locations; the first in the grounds of Kellburn Estate, just south of Largs, and the second in the area around Inveraray on Loch Fyne - the home of the Duke of Argyll."

Another short video on YouTube posted by Mark Walker formerly 29 Commando Regt.:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewAn0BqG3xk&feature=channel_page

I found a short video on YouTube by Mark Walker, ex 29 Commando , and also a member of the CVA, with the words of this poem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BCKOJWUbck