Thanks Nick for posting my notes. Can I add that I was on a flight from Vienna to London seated next to the Queen's Messenger and started to chat. It turned out that he served under Brigadier O'Flaherty. Unfortunately, he also informed me that the Brigadier had died a couple of years earlier. A pity as I would have liked to have met the Brigadier.
Adding to the information about the raid: My father said the landing craft stopped and discharged him into water that was above his head! He had to run fast underwater to get onto the beach. They were pinned down by the enemy losing men. At one point a mortar landed beside hm throwing him in the air and down the beach. He could not feel his leg and feeling down with his hand it was sopping wet. He thought he had lost his leg. And if so he knew he would have to shoot himself rather than suffer or be taken by the enemy. Forcing himself to look was the hardest thing ever but when he did he saw his leg was intact. It was his water bottle that had been ...
Thanks Nick for posting my notes. Can I add that I was on a flight from Vienna to London seated next to the Queen's Messenger and started to chat. It turned out that he served under Brigadier O'Flaherty. Unfortunately, he also informed me that the Brigadier had died a couple of years earlier. A pity as I would have liked to have met the Brigadier.
Adding to the information about the raid: My father said the landing craft stopped and discharged him into water that was above his head! He had to run fast underwater to get onto the beach. They were pinned down by the enemy losing men. At one point a mortar landed beside hm throwing him in the air and down the beach. He could not feel his leg and feeling down with his hand it was sopping wet. He thought he had lost his leg. And if so he knew he would have to shoot himself rather than suffer or be taken by the enemy. Forcing himself to look was the hardest thing ever but when he did he saw his leg was intact. It was his water bottle that had been blown apart by shrapnel.
Posted by Richard Page on Sat 25 Feb 2012 05:46:00 EST
The officer on the right with the bayonet is Derek Gordon Page. He was my father and recounted details of the raid to me. His landing craft stopped too early and when he disembarked he found himself submerged and running for his life underwater to get to the beach! They were pinned down on the beach by enemy fire. At one point during the raid while still on the beach a mortar went off beside him throwing him up in the air and down the beach. He thought he had lost his leg as he could not feel it. He agonisingly felt down his leg and it was sopping wet thinking and fearing the worst and that he would have to shoot himself if he had lost his leg rather than be taken by the enemy. He said it was the hardest thing to look down. When he did he saw his leg was intact and it was his water bottle that had shattered. He said it was a fantastic relief to find that out.
Postscript: I was on a flight back from Vienna when I was seated next to the Queen's Messenger returning from Istanbul. We started...
The officer on the right with the bayonet is Derek Gordon Page. He was my father and recounted details of the raid to me. His landing craft stopped too early and when he disembarked he found himself submerged and running for his life underwater to get to the beach! They were pinned down on the beach by enemy fire. At one point during the raid while still on the beach a mortar went off beside him throwing him up in the air and down the beach. He thought he had lost his leg as he could not feel it. He agonisingly felt down his leg and it was sopping wet thinking and fearing the worst and that he would have to shoot himself if he had lost his leg rather than be taken by the enemy. He said it was the hardest thing to look down. When he did he saw his leg was intact and it was his water bottle that had shattered. He said it was a fantastic relief to find that out.
Postscript: I was on a flight back from Vienna when I was seated next to the Queen's Messenger returning from Istanbul. We started chatting. It turned out he knew Captain O'Flaherty who had been his commanding officer. He informed me he had risen to the rank of Brigadier and wore an eyepatch as he had lost one eye in the raid (My Dad said Capt O'Flaherty was hit in both eyes). I learned that Brigadier O'Flaherty had died a couple of years back - which was a pity as it would have been great if I could have met and spoken with him.
Posted by Richard Page on Sat 25 Feb 2012 05:33:46 EST
What a wonderful photo !
Posted by Bob Bishop on Sat 11 Feb 2012 13:53:53 EST
Previos comment.
Whoops 7th from the left
Posted by Walter Sansom on Thu 09 Feb 2012 23:00:54 EST
No 2 Commando 2 Troop
Pvt George Sansom - 1st row standing (behind officers and sergeants).
Posted by Walter Sansom on Thu 09 Feb 2012 22:52:08 EST
Pvt George Sansom. Northhamptonshire Regt and No 2 Commando.
Third rank from bottom, centre. (7th from left)George Sansom was my father and would have served in both 2 Troop and 3 Troop.
Posted by Walter Sansom on Thu 09 Feb 2012 22:49:17 EST
l'écarde quarry 16th july 1944
Posted by stephane on Thu 09 Feb 2012 18:52:24 EST
possible location - Limburg
Ria Bakker advises that the house in the background is the type seen in Limburg, a provence in the South of Holland
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Wed 08 Feb 2012 09:08:35 EST
Bert Smart No Cdo
1940 - No 5 Independent Company, then No 1 Special Service Battalion.
1940 - No 2 Commando - 3 Troop (founder member)
1944 - Posted to HOC Wrexham from Yugoslavia as Sgt instructor.
1945 - Posted to Commando Group HQ.
Retired in 1947 after 1 year in hospital.
Posted by Geoff Murray on Sun 05 Feb 2012 19:21:52 EST
Tony joined the Commandos in 1943 from the Cameron Highlanders. He fought with No 4 in Walcheren and was involved in the liberation of Brussels. He broke his ankle whilst training for D-Day and could not therefore take part. He was always immensely proud to be a Commando. GM
Posted by Geoff Murray on Sat 04 Feb 2012 07:06:58 EST