http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/
The original No.2 Commando was formed at Cambrai Barracks, Perham Down, near Tidworth, Hants. on the 22nd June 1940. The Unit at the time consisted of four troops - 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D'. Click on this link to view a nominal roll of 'C' and 'D' troops:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/nominal+rolls/2+cdo+nom+roll/Nominal+roll+of+the+first+2+Commando+later+11+SAS+Bn.jpg.html

No.2 Commando was formed for a Parachuting role and eventually eleven troops were raised, all volunteers. In November 1940 the unit would assume the title of 11 Special Air Service Battalion. They were the airborne part of the Commando "Special Service" units, and had no connection to the SAS later raised by David Stirling They would be renamed 1st Parachute Battalion in September 1941.

A new No. 2 Commando had been raised by Lt.Col. Augustus Charles Newman at Paignton in Feb 1941. Formed from men who had volunteered for the Independent Companies/Special Service Battalion - see their album in the Commandos and Combined Operations in WW2 gallery

The CVA History of No.2 Cdo details information about them. All sub albums contain many additional photos/information. When viewing troop albums be aware that individuals on occasions moved troops. An entry in the No.2 Commando War Diary dated 4/12/43 at Molfetta states that Troop Commanders were informed that the Commando would be changing over to new establishment and that 6 Troop would be disbanded and its men amalgamated into 4 Troop (However it is uncertain as to the full details as we have a photo that may be of 6 troop in Nov/Dec'44.)

Click on this link to view POW photos with some from No.2 Cdo after St Nazaire: http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/St+Nazaire/POW/

nb. There is on the forum a downloadable pdf file on No.2 Cdo Overseas. Click on this link to go there:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/2389.page;jsessionid=73475E69CF3A79CCE2D727D5F8E0CD14

The photos in this album relate to the newly formed No.2 Commando (only because we have no photos of the original No.2).

All photos subject of copyright © 2010 CVA. Contact the CVA for further details]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.7 Sat, 25 May 2013 21:55:13 +0000 120 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/224-6/2.jpg http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/ http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/len+justice725+copy.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/len+justice725+copy.jpg.html
Photo courtesy of David Justice, son of Len Justice , No.2 Cdo. Posted by Pete R.

Assuming 4 rows all left to right:

4th and top/rear row (6 men): 1-4. n/k; 5.possibly Ted Crowe; 6(partial view). n/k

3rd row (6 men): 1. possibly W Chapman; 2. Joe Lavin; 3-4. n/k; 5. possibly John Mavin; 6.possibly Pte. Schofield

2nd row (8 men): 1(partial view). n/k; 2 - 8. n/k

1st/bottom row ( 8 men sitting): 1-8. n/k

Update from Pete R. (see comments)Joe Lavin identified by his Grandson. Joe was at some stage in the 2 Cdo Heavy Weapons Troop and he can also be seen in the photos we have of that troop

nb. Those marked possibly are from other photo comparisons rather than by relatives or comrades]]> Peter Rogers photo Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:29:04 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Jack+Payne+and+Toc+Wright.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Jack+Payne+and+Toc+Wright.jpg.html
Roy 'Jack' Payne on the left was in 1 troop No.2 Commando. The man on the right is Anthony 'Toc' Wright who was a Signaller attached to No.2 Commando Brigade Signals.

Photo from the collection of Len Justice, No.2 Cdo and provided courtesy of Len's son David Justice. Posted by Pete R.

Update from Eric Buckmaster No.2 Cdo : "The Jack Payne picture is a delight. It must have been taken very early on and before his Pugilistic Talents hammered his Face. He looks so innocent and undamaged. I am fairly sure that the man with him is Toc Wright, who served in 2 Commando Brigade Signals. I think that his Christian name was Anthony, reduced to Tony, and subsequently Toc in signals language. At one time he was courting one of Jack Paynes Sisters, though it did not last. Sadly I attended his funeral a couple of years ago. Toc was at Anzio, and his poor Face was damaged almost beyond recognition. I have often wondered how he came through it. Nevertheless he became a Cinema Manager Post War. He was also a very humourous person"

Click on this link for a photo of Roy 'Jack' Payne in the No. 2 Commando Boxing Team of 1942: http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/boxing+team+1942.JPG.html

And additional photos of Anthony 'Toc' Wright here: http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/]]> Peter Rogers photo Sat, 24 Nov 2012 22:29:25 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/len+justice728.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/len+justice728.jpg.html
Photo from the collection of Len Justice 2 Cdo 1 troop courtesy of his son David Justice.Posted by Pete R.]]> Peter Rogers photo Thu, 22 Nov 2012 18:46:28 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Unknown+from+No.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Unknown+from+No.jpg.html
Photo courtesy of Jim Webster. Posted by Pete R.]]> Peter Rogers photo Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:37:12 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Jerry+Myers+1944+copy.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Jerry+Myers+1944+copy.jpg.html
Lt. John 'Jerry' Myers , Hampshire Regiment, CBTC staff, and No.2 Commando.

To view a photo of Lt Myers and the staff at the CBTC in 1944, click on this link to our Training album:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/commando_basic_training.jpg.html

Eric Buckmaster (2 Cdo 5 troop) advises that Lt Myers joined 5 troop of No.2 Commando whilst they were on Vis, and served with 5 troop during the operations at Spilje and Sarande.

Prior to this he had served on the staff at the Commando Basic Training Centre.

His son Richard adds this about his father "After the war my father trained as a teacher in Winchester and at the Ecole Anglais in Paris before joining the RAEC. We were posted to Libya from 1953-55 (by when he was a Captain) initially in Benghazi and then Derna, with frequent visits to Barce and Tobruck. For at least part of that time he was attached to 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters and also had some responsibilities with a unit of Mauritian soldiers. We returned briefly to the UK in the summer of ’55 but by the winter were in Hanover (BAOR). That was for just a few months until he left the army. Shortly afterwards he was recalled to a desk job at the time of Suez. The rest of his working life was as a school teacher. He died in 1983."

[Photo courtesy of his son Richard Myers. Posted by Pete R.]]]> Peter Rogers photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:10 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/William+Fry.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/William+Fry.jpg.html
6098368 Pte William Arthur Thomas Fry, Queens Royal Regiment and No.2 Commando, served with No.2 from 1943-5. Attached to No.4 Cdo post war until disbandment.

Photo courtesy of his son Brian Smith. Posted by Pete R.]]]> Peter Rogers photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:09 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/arthur+wardle+john+emmerson+and+unknown+TSM.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/arthur+wardle+john+emmerson+and+unknown+TSM.jpg.html
Taken whilst they were in No.2 Commando. An unknown TSM is on the left. 'Ken' Emmerson, in the middle, additionally served with 12 Commando and finally with 1 Special Service Brigade HQ.

Arthur Wardle on the right was later sent to OCTU and then joined No.3 Commando as an officer. We have photos of him at Limehouse with all the No.3 Commando officers training for D Day. He also served for a period (belvd in 1945) as a Captain on the staff of the Commando Mountain Warfare Training Centre (CMWTC)at St Ives. He was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37204/supplements/3955

[Photo from the collection of L/Cpl. John 'Ken' Emmerson SS Bde HQ (formerly No.2 and 12 Cdo)courtesy of his son John. Posted by Pete R.]]]> Peter Rogers photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:09 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Titch+Shaw+and+Dickinson.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Titch+Shaw+and+Dickinson.jpg.html
Photo courtesy of Des Rochford (No.2 Cdo. 1 troop) via Paul Bell. Des adds "Shows how young we were in those days, they left us and went to the Raiding Support Regiment and he ended up in the Malay Scouts after the war, he was a regular soldier that fellow. The shoulder titles were red on blue, we did wear them on our KDs in Italy.”

Posted by Pete R. who adds " I have a record of a 4547160 Pte. L. Shaw and 5630880 L/Cpl. E. Dickenson, both attached from the Yorks and Lancs., leaving 2 Cdo at their own request Sept 1944."

Update 25/4/12 from Des Rochford 2 Cdo via Paul Bell " Titch Shaw is the young looking fellow without a hat. Apparently his father was killed in a Yorkshire mining disaster and he was the eldest son, he was only about 13 and the family was a bit short of money because he had two or three younger brothers. So he joined the army band service putting his age on and said he was 16, he was actually only about 13. He joined the West Yorkshire Regiment (Des thinks), got sent overseas and ended up in the York and Lancs. He came from there to join 2 Commando with Dickinson. He left when they were at Monopoli and he joined the Raiding Support Regiment. After the war he was in the Malay Scouts out in Malaya. Des isn’t sure what regiment Dickinson came from but they both went from 2 Commando to the Raiding Support Regiment."]]> Peter Rogers photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:07 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Des+Rochford+1tp+and+John+Carpenter+5tp.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/Des+Rochford+1tp+and+John+Carpenter+5tp.jpg.html
No. 2 Commando. Des on the left was in 1 troop and John was in 5 troop. There are additional photos of both men in their respective troop albums.

[Photo courtesy of Des Rochford via Paul Bell. Posted by Pete R.]]]> Peter Rogers photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:07 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/2_Cdo_possibly_S_African.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/2_Cdo_possibly_S_African.jpg.html
This photo is marked as "two friends, possibly South African, of Kit's" (Lt Christopher Bullen, 6 Troop).
Tim Bullen thinks that, because of the beach and fishing nets in the background, the photo was taken in Italy or maybe Yugoslavia.
Posted by N Collins]]> Nick Collins photo Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:47:13 +0000