<![CDATA[Lt Col. 'Jack' Churchill and his brother Major General Tom Churchill 1973]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+Gatherings+pre+CVA/churchill+2s+copy.jpg.html
I have seen reference to the original plaque being destroyed and a new plaque erected later. The words on the original apparently read :
AFTER MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS, BRITISH SOLDIERS AND SAILORS WHO FOUGHT AND DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY'S HONOUR ON THE SEAS AND ISLANDS OF DALMATIA, HAVE AGAIN BEEN LAID TO REST IN THIS ISLAND CEMETERY 1944.
HERE DEAD LIE WE BECAUSE WE DID NOT CHOOSE TO LIVE AND SHAME THE LAND FROM WHICH WE SPRUNG. LIFE TO BE SURE IS NOTHING MUCH TO LOSE, BUT YOUNG MEN THINK IT IS, AND WE WERE YOUNG

From the No.2 Commando War Diary : "On the 5th February 1944 Captain Jack Stormont Bare of No.2 Commando was buried in the afternoon in the British Naval Cemetery at Vis, the first British serviceman to be interred there for over 130 years. The body was brought from the billet draped in a White Ensign (a Union Jack not being available) by 6 brother Officers. A piper from the Scottish (No.5) troop played a lament and the body was placed on the deck of a schooner. Many wreaths presented by Partisans, who sent representatives from all their Services.. All the British Services were also represented. The schooner then set off across the bay and a volley was fired by the Partisan guns. There was a simple impressiveness about the whole scene as the white topped waves broke over the brow of the boat, and the smoke of the guns, giving their salute to an Englishman fallen fighting in Yugoslavia, curled lazily in the clear blue sky. The body was disembarked and interred near the Hon. Anson, killed in action on his Frigate in 1811. A Partisan company fired a volley, the C.O. conducted the service in absence of the Padre, our own men fired the usual 3 volleys, and the interment of the first British Officer to fall in Yugoslavia in this war was completed."

From the CWGC: "Belgrade War Cemetery was created to receive the remains of British and Commonwealth casualties brought in from more than sixty small burial grounds and from isolated sites all over Yugoslavia. The largest number from any one place came from Milna Military Cemetery and the Royal Naval and Harbour Cemeteries on the island of Vis (Lissa) which was our base. The burials in the War Cemetery include escaped prisoners of war from Italy and Greece. The civilians buried here include a mining technician, a teacher of English, a newpaper correspondent, a member of the Embassy staff and the child of another member of Embassy staff. They were buried or re-buried in the cemetery by permission of the Army Graves Service. "

Additionally from the CWGC : "It appears from our archival records that the remains of Captain Bare were exhumed from the Old Cemetery, Vis Harbour, and reinterred in Belgrade War Cemetery in early – possibly January – 1948. Second World War graves from the island of Vis (Lissa) were reinterred in Belgrade War Cemetery as permanent maintenance of these graves could not be assured in their original locality."

Photo courtesy of Stephen McAllister, son of TSM Ken McAllister of 5 troop No.2 Cdo. who was also on this reunion visit to the island where No.2 Commmando were based for a period of time in WW2. Above details and photo posted by Pete R.]]>
en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:49:19 -0400 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/18903-7/churchill+2s+copy.jpg <![CDATA[Lt Col. 'Jack' Churchill and his brother Major General Tom Churchill 1973]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+Gatherings+pre+CVA/churchill+2s+copy.jpg.html