Hi Peter,
A great collection of photos of your father.
On Sunday 12 April 2015, I attended the CVA's Annual Parade & Service held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and I had a good chat with No.6 Commando Veteran, Jim Petrie. By some strange coincidence, Jim was telling me about his best mate - Roy 'Zoot' Suzuki...
Jim told me that he & Roy were on the PIAT Gun team together.
May I point out that this particular photo has been uploaded back to front - the cap badge is always worn over the left eye and the excess cloth is pulled down over the right ear.
Rgds,
Nick
Posted by Nick Collins on Mon 13 Apr 2015 16:34:46 EDT
This is a Photo of my Father taken in 2009 when he went to Normandy for the 65th Anniversary of D-Day.
Prt. Roy "Zook" Suzuki, formerly of the Royal West Kent Regiment and No.5 Commando, then of No.6 Troop of No.6 Commando - he is of English/Japanese parentage and one of four brothers (Henry, David, George & John). He had joined the army below the minimum age at Brasted, Kent on 27th June 1940 after his brother George (Green Howards) had safely returned from the confusion of Dunkirk. Meanwhile his brother David was serving with the Pioneer Corps and John served as a 'Bevin Boy' in the coal mines of England.
Upon the eve of No.5 Commando being shipped out to Madagascar in 1942 Roy Suzuki had been hospitalized. Eventually, realizing that his Commando Unit would be shipping out without him he had discharged himself from hospital and attempted to reach the Commandos aboard ship in Glasgow harbour by swimming in the River Clyde. He was spotted by the police, arrested and spent the...
This is a Photo of my Father taken in 2009 when he went to Normandy for the 65th Anniversary of D-Day.
Prt. Roy "Zook" Suzuki, formerly of the Royal West Kent Regiment and No.5 Commando, then of No.6 Troop of No.6 Commando - he is of English/Japanese parentage and one of four brothers (Henry, David, George & John). He had joined the army below the minimum age at Brasted, Kent on 27th June 1940 after his brother George (Green Howards) had safely returned from the confusion of Dunkirk. Meanwhile his brother David was serving with the Pioneer Corps and John served as a 'Bevin Boy' in the coal mines of England.
Upon the eve of No.5 Commando being shipped out to Madagascar in 1942 Roy Suzuki had been hospitalized. Eventually, realizing that his Commando Unit would be shipping out without him he had discharged himself from hospital and attempted to reach the Commandos aboard ship in Glasgow harbour by swimming in the River Clyde. He was spotted by the police, arrested and spent the next few days in jail before being identified as a serving Army Commando and returned to Achnacarry. There spending much of his time retraining with the American Rangers in advance of the Operation Torch, North African landings, before joining No.6 Troop of No.6 (Army) Commando.
Medals1939-45 Star. Africa Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, WarMedal 1939-45.
My father served in the British Army from 1939 until well after WW2. He was with No 6 Commado in N Africa and at the Normandy D-Day landings.He eventally reached the rank of Sergeant in the British Army’s Education Corps.
After the war, and changing his name to Roy Harding, he travelled the World, working in the Belgian Congo and South Africa before returning to the UK and studying law before being called to the Bar at Grays Inn, London , and practising in Chambers at Middle Temple . In 1971, Roy emigrated to Australia.
Peter Allen Harding
Brisbane, Australia
Posted by Peter harding on Mon 13 Apr 2015 02:17:17 EDT
Naming the photos
Hi, I have just found this site. I am Ron McLeans Middle daughter and neither of the names given here are correct! That is not my dad or Henry Brown.
I do remember Helen Rawlinson from the Commando outings and parties we had. My dad had three daughters, Janet, myself and Ann. Sadly he passed away in 2008, 6 weeks after my mum died.
Posted by Helen Buckland on Sun 12 Apr 2015 07:17:42 EDT
West End Hotel Photograph.
The gentleman sitting and pointing at the bat is Frank Walsh who was CSM and from the A & SH; probably my father's greatest pal in No. 9 and for years beyond. I met him and his wife and indeed others in their family several times.
I think I was there when the photograph was taken as I recognise the young chap back left.
It was a privilege to visit Fort William and meet these great people.
Posted by Kelvin Hughes on Tue 07 Apr 2015 04:25:05 EDT
Photo updated
cwgc details entered. email sent to originator.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Fri 03 Apr 2015 08:31:07 EDT
KIEL 1st June 1945
3 Commando provide the guard of honour for Field Marshal Montgomery's investiture.
Posted by Guy Hudson on Thu 19 Mar 2015 14:46:58 EDT
KIEL 1st June 1945
3 Commando provide the guard of honour for Field Marshal Montgomery's investiture.
Lt. Col. Lewis 6 Commando received his DSO at the same investiture.