https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Abercrombie/ The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the successful Combined Operations on the enemy occupied coast in the Boulogne area:
The Military Cross.
Captain (temporary Major) The Lord Lovat (44718),The Lovat Scouts (Inverness-shire).
Captain Gordon Geoffrey Henry Webb (126230),Royal Regiment of Artillery (Glasgow).
Mention-in-Despatches.
2693943 Tpr. J. Mellis, The Loyat Scouts.

The following award for the same operation appears in the Admiralty Supplement to the London Gazette to-day: —
The Distinguished Service Cross.
Temporary Sub-Lieutenant Douglas Thomas Kent, R.N.V.R.

Click on this link to our forum to see more information on the raid, including Press cuttings ;
https://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/15/2980.page#10800]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Sun, 07 Jun 2026 09:21:05 +0100 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/26355-6/Abercrombie.jpg https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Abercrombie/ https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Abercrombie/hardelot1.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Abercrombie/hardelot1.jpg.html
On the right looking down is Captain David Style.

Photo courtesy of Jimmy Dunning who at the time of the raid was a TSM in No.4 Commando 'C' troop and from his book The Fighting Fourth. Posted by Pete R.
In album Operation Abercrombie, Raid on Hardelot (Boulogne) 18-22 April 1942]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:11 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Abercrombie/4+Commando.jpeg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Abercrombie/4+Commando.jpeg.html
Information from Phil Eyden - 'B' and 'C' troops of No.4 Commando lined up on the Drop Redoubt parade ground. (The Drop Redoubt is a Napoleonic fort on the Western Heights at Dover). Follow this link to our forum to read more information :
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/15/2980.page#10800

Photo courtesy of Guy Hudson. Posted by Pete R.
In album Operation Abercrombie, Raid on Hardelot (Boulogne) 18-22 April 1942]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:11 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Abercrombie/Lovat+briefing_21+Apr+42.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Abercrombie/Lovat+briefing_21+Apr+42.jpg.html
Major Lord Lovat, giving orders to his men before setting out on a commando raid on the French coast near Boulogne, 21 April 1942. Photo © IWM (H 18953). Reproduced here under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence.

Phil Eyden advises "This briefing is taking place on the old parade ground of the Napoleonic Drop Redoubt fort at Dover. Also present on the raid were 50 men of the Canadian Carleton & York Rgt who were also stationed at the fort for the few nights of preparation before the operation. Also present was Capt David Style (not in this photo)"

Further update from Phil Eyden - Left to right:

Lt. WY Smith - Carleton & York Rgt, Canada
Capt. Patrick A.T. 'Doc' Wood (Royal Army Medical Corps)
Lt. Edwin Snell - Carleton & York Rgt, Canada
Capt. Gordon Webb - No.4 Commando
Lord Lovat - No.4 Commando
Lt. Jack P. Ensor - Carleton & York Rgt, Canada (Canadian OIC)
Lt. ADC Smith - No.4 Commando

Click on this link to view forum message about Jock Ennis:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/3285.page#10825

From London Gazettes : War- Office, 7th July, 1942.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the successful Combined Operations on the enemy occupied coast in the Boulogne area:
The Military Cross.
Captain (temporary Major) The Lord Lovat (44718),The Lovat Scouts (Inverness-shire).
Captain Gordon Geoffrey Henry Webb (126230),Royal Regiment of Artillery (Glasgow).
Mention-in-Despatches.
2693943 Tpr. J. Mellis, The Loyat Scouts.
In album Operation Abercrombie, Raid on Hardelot (Boulogne) 18-22 April 1942]]> Geoff Murray photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:23:31 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Abercrombie/No4Cdo_21-+22+Apr42.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Abercrombie/No4Cdo_21-+22+Apr42.jpg.html
Operation Abercrombie, Hardelot (Boulogne). Photo © IWM (H 18957)Reproduced here under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. Posted by Pete R

nb. It is thought a Richard Branigan is the man smiling on the extreme right (see this forum message):
https://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/1947.page

Update from Pete R. David identifies his grandfather Terrence Kealy as 3rd from the left. Click on this link to view another version of this photo:
https://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Kealy_+censored+weapons_+boulagne+21_4_42.jpg.html
In album Operation Abercrombie, Raid on Hardelot (Boulogne) 18-22 April 1942]]> Geoff Murray photo Sun, 10 Oct 2021 11:02:35 +0100