Messages posted by: john mainwaring

Following up our research into the what and where of my uncle Bill during the war, my cousin Chris and I spent last wednesday in the National Archive,Kew.
We were working backwards from the date he was blown up and seriously wounded during the Termoli raid, 4th/5th October, 1943.
Our best result, from Peter Young's report, was that he was with 3 Commando leading 5 Troop to attack GREEN BEACH, 6th Sept 1943 in the raid to capture Porto San Venere (now called Vibo Valentia Marina).
Their objective, after gaining the beach was to secure the bridge 832145 (presumably railway) to the southwest of the (then) small harbour town.
unfortunately, the 1943 map in Nic Collins ref is just short of that reference.
We are now working on from that raid to Termoli.

We know that Bill was an instructor at Achdalieu and Achnacarry, if only by the evidence of the stick presented to him by Danby's Rangers, but there is nothing on his service record to confirm this..
Interestingly, his record prior to the Termoli period shows that he was
ATTACHED TO COMMANDO DEPOT (?) 20th APRIL 42 Dunoon
12th APRIL 42 WARSASH
ATTACHED 4th Bn. SCOTS GUARDS 5-12 AUG 1942 until 16/9/42 WARSASH
12 CDO TO NO 3 COMMANDO 15 /8/43 Bognor Regis
Disembarked & TOS. Posted X(1) list N. Africa 27 /8/43

more re-reading to do to try and get the sequence of events.
Best
John M

TSM Bill Lee no 3451602
My uncle Bill Lee was in the 10 Independent Co. before he was in TWELVE COMMANDO and then No.3 COMMANDO.
does anyone have an example of the 10 Independent Co shoulder badge (presuming they had one)?
A clear photo will do.
We do not have any photos of Bill 'at work'
he was variously at Inverailort, Achdalieu and Achnacarry and at Voxter Voe.
He was on one Lofoten Raid ( wounded) and other Norway recce operations.
Also,
he trained B Coy Ist US COMMANDO, presumably part of Darby's Rangers who presented him with a stick.
Photos of stick available.
could there be photos of this group and Bill?
He was one of the 270 commandos on the Sobieski who took part in Operation Menace. any photos of that?
He was seriously wounded during the invasion of Italy and was sent to hospital in Feeetown.
Does anyone have info/photos (especially when someone accidentally set the mosquito netting alight during a malarial delirium) etc? Afterwards at Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool.
He was too unfit for D Day.
How can we find his service record, please?
Regards,
John Mainwaring