No.3 Commando 6 Troop, Aci Castello, Sicily, 8th November 1943.

This location is the piazza in front of the Norman Castle on the seafront of Aci Castello, near Catania, Sicily.

Photo courtesy of Ian Grant.

3 ranks.

Rear rank (l-r): 1-3. n/k; 4. Pte. A. C. 'Archie' Grant*; 5-7. n/k; 8. Maurice 'Bill' Bennett; 9-11. n/k; 12. Jim Ferrie; 13-15. n/k

Middle rank (1-r): 1-3. n/k; 4. Victor Robert Bailey; 5-12. n/k; 13. Peter Gibson; 14-16. n/k; 17. Gordon Mason

Front rank (l-r) : 1-4. n/k; 5. Thomas Gerald Dennis; 6. n/k; 7. John Durnford Slater (OC No. 3 Cdo to become Deputy Commander Special Service Group); 8. Peter Young (took over as OC No.3 Cdo on 1st Aug. 1943); 9-11. nk; 12. Captain john Alderson (kia); 13. Lt. John Channon Erskine; 14-16. n/k; 17. Arthur Mapplebeck; 18-19. n/k

Notes:

*Ian Grant advises of the following: "My father Archibald Grant was one of the police intake recruits and trained at Achnacarry from October to December 1942. This group I think was largely posted to 3 Commando. He himself was attached to 3 commando after training and travelled with them to N Africa early 1943 where he was posted to 62 commando, subsequently 2SAS. He rejoined 3 commando in September 1943. His regiment was the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders,I think simply because he was born in Argyll. He rejoined the police after the war and served 30 years in Ayrshire Constabulary."