No.2 Commando 5 troop 1941 Dumfries (numbered for names)

1. Harold Harbert; 2. Cyril Lima ; 3-5. n/k; 6. Pete Honey* (awarded MM St. Nazaire);7. Joe Rogers* (awarded MM at Spilje, Albania); 8. n/k; 9. Leo Homer*; 10. n/k; 11. Joe Slater; 12. n/k; 13. "Dolly" Gray; 14. n/k. 15. Tom McCormack (kia at St Nazaire); 16. Dick Wilcox* ;17. Hugh Cox*; 18. Fred Wilkes*; 19. Syd Murdoch*; 20. Bill Hughes*; 21-23. n/k; 24. John Stewart (kia at Salerno); 25. Ernie Hurst*; 26. A.'Molky' Molkenthin; 27. Cyril Wilkinson; 28. Arthur 'Aggs' Ashcroft*; 29. Les Whelan*; 30. Bill 'La' Aspey; 31. Len Perkins (awarded the MM 1945); 32. Jack Cheetham*; 33. Ken McAllister; 34. Don Randall* (awarded DCM at St Nazaire); 35. Ken Bruce; 36. Capt. Donald Roy* (awarded DSO at St Nazaire); 37. Louis Walter 'Ben' Brown*; 38. William Challington* (awarded DCM at St Nazaire); 39. Colin Jones* (awarded MM at St Nazaire) ; 40. Fred Holt*; 41. Edward "Tiny" Burke; 42. Ted Douglas* (awarded the MM at St Nazaire and escaped through France back to the UK); 43. Ted Coates; 44. n/k; 45. Harold "Aggs" Roberts*; 46. John Gwynne* (kia at St Nazaire); 47. Frank Sumner*; 48. Gnr. R.Milne*; 49. Ben Fryer; 50-51. n/k; 52. H.Jacobs; 53. 'Cocky' Moffat

*Denotes took part in Operation Chariot - St Nazaire

On the night 27th/28th March 1942 many from 5 troop took part in the raid on St Nazaire and a considerable number from this picture were wounded and/or taken prisoner. Tom McCormack and John Gwynne both pictured here were killed. A few including my father made it back immediately after the raid. Ted Douglas was one of only five men from No.2 Cdo who escaped through France eventually getting back to the UK. Later at Salerno, John Stewart was killed. He is pictured here standing behind the left shoulder of Capt Roy.
Photo courtesy of and posted by Pete R.

26/12/10 Photo updated by Pete R. with Gallantry awards
(Later on arrival at Ayr, Sgt George Haines DCM replaced Ken Bruce as TSM of 5 troop.)