https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/ en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:24:03 +0100 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/24708-10/Signals+troops.jpg https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/ https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/William_G_Ward_41RM_Sig.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/William_G_Ward_41RM_Sig.jpg.html
[Photo courtesy of Robert Shakeshaft].

William George Ward from Northampton enlisted into the Royal Marines on 30 January 1941, civil occupation Boot and Shoe Operative. He served as a Signaller with the 18th Battalion RM, and the 1st RM Mobile Company, RM Division, before being posted to the Signals Troop of 4 Special Service Brigade in September 1943 which had just been formed the previous month. PO/X103295 Marine Ward was subsequently attached to 41RM Commando as a Signaller. Active service included the allied landings at Normandy and almost certainly Walcheren.
Commando postings from Service Record
30.01.1941 enlisted Royal Marines.
15.09.1943 posted to 4 Special Service (later redesignated Commando) Brigade.
22.10.1943 posted Commando Depot (Commando Basic Training Centre), Achnacarry.
23.10.1943 temporarily attached to the commando course of 46RM Commando.
09.11.1943 posted HQ 4 Special Service Brigade Signals Troop on completion of course.
10.01.1944 to 19.01.1944 attached 45RM Commando. Awarded 1st Good Conduct Badge.
16.04.1944 to 21.04.1944 posted Town Fighting Wing, Scottish Command.
05.06.1944 taken on strength 41RM Commando and embarked for overseas service.
06.06.1944 disembarked with 41RM Commando at Normandy.
20.08.1944 promoted Acting Temporary Corporal.
15.02.1945 struck off strength 41RM Commando to 16 Casualty Clearing Station (sickness) and hospitals including the 88th British General Hospital at Turnhout, Begium, and then 49 Rehabilitation Unit.
20.02.1945 appointed Temporary Corporal.
09.03.1945 taken on strength 41RM Commando.
05.07.1945 struck off strength 41RM Commando to 4 Commando Brigade Signals Troop.

William George Ward
b. 02.10.1915
d. 18.01.1977 Northampton.
In album Signal Troops of the Special Service (Commando) Brigades]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:28:25 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/John_G_Taylor_2_Bde_Sigs.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/John_G_Taylor_2_Bde_Sigs.png.html
[Photo courtesy of his son Stuart].

Rank: Signalman
Unit / Base: 2 Special Service Brigade Signals (renamed 2 Commando Brigade Signals)
Regiment/Corps: Royal Corps of Signals
Service: Army
Service Number: 2598023

Enlisted Royal Corps of Signals 21 March 1941. Later volunteered for and attached to 2 Brigade Signal Troop. Active service with the commandos included Italy and the Dalmatian Islands along the Adriatic coast of the former Yugoslavia. Released from service in 1946. 1950 resided Birmingham and employed as a Company Rep. 31 March 1951 married Ann Coles at Solihull. They had two children, Stuart and Deborah. Died suddenly whilst on holiday in Bournemouth. Cause of death coronary thrombosis.

John Graeme Taylor
b. 01.04.1923 Kinlochleven.
d. 28.07.1955 Bournemouth.
In album Signal Troops of the Special Service (Commando) Brigades]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:09:29 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Chapman_G_W_SS-Bde.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Chapman_G_W_SS-Bde.jpg.html
[Photo courtesy of his granddaughter Hayley Walton].

Regiment/Corps: Royal Corps of Signals
Service Number: 14220497
P.O.W. number: 126823
P.O.W. camps: Stalag VII-A (7A), Moosburg Germany / Stalag XI-A (11A), Altengrabow, Germany

Signalman George Chapman, Brigade Signals, was reported missing 25 December 1943, later reported to be a prisoner of war. He was involved in a reconnaissance raid along the coast of Gravelines, France, between Calais and Dunkirk, codenamed Hardtack 11.
Imprisoned initially at Stalag VIIA before being moved to Stalag XIA in April 1944. From there he was placed in Work Camps at Dessau until March 1945 and then Klitschmar. He escaped on several occasions including from Dessau on 16 June 1944 on a German troop train but was recaptured near Aachen after the train was searched. Escaped again from line of forced march away from Klitschmar work camp reaching Halle 12 April 1945 where he was hidden by two two local German girls until about the 18th. Returned to Klitschmar Camp and found about 60 others who had also escaped from the line of march. Helped to organise their exit from the camp reaching allied lines a few days later.
George William Chapman enlisted into the Armed Forces 2 July 1942 later volunteering for the commandos. Civilian trade on enlistment Departmental Manager (Production Factory Fur Trade), and member of the Edmonton Auxiliary Fire Service. Home address in 1939 was 51 Victoria Road, London N18. Member of the Commando Association last residing Arundel, Sussex.

George William Chapman
b. 22.07.1910 London
d. 1990 Sussex.
In album Signal Troops of the Special Service (Commando) Brigades]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:45:11 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Denis_Pointer_Sigs_840.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Denis_Pointer_Sigs_840.png.html
[Photo credit Nick Kingsley].

Served with No.4 Commando and later No.6 Commando. Member of the Commando Association last known residing Twickenahm.
In album Signal Troops of the Special Service (Commando) Brigades]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:49:45 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Francis_Lewis_2_Bde_Sigs.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Francis_Lewis_2_Bde_Sigs.png.html
[Photo courtesy of his niece Kim Lewis].

In Memory of 2574102 Signalman Francis Lewis
Royal Corps of Signals and 2 Special Service (Commando) Brigade Signals
who died in Italy on 30 December 1943 aged 25.
Remembered with honour on the Cassino Memorial.
In album Signal Troops of the Special Service (Commando) Brigades]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:45:11 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Nk_+Bryan+Woolnough+_centre__+John+Morgan+_right__+2+Cdo+Bde+Sigs_+copy.jpeg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Nk_+Bryan+Woolnough+_centre__+John+Morgan+_right__+2+Cdo+Bde+Sigs_+copy.jpeg.html
[Photo from the collection of Signaller John Morgan courtesy of his son and namesake John Morgan].
In album Signal Troops of the Special Service (Commando) Brigades]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:00:35 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/WJ+Bill+Carruthers+1+Bde+Sig+Tp.jpeg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/WJ+Bill+Carruthers+1+Bde+Sig+Tp.jpeg.html
2383616 Signalman Wiiliam J. Carruthers, Royal Corps of Signals, was attached to No.6 Commando for Operation Torch, and was in 1 Special Service Brigade Signal Troop for Operation Overlord. He landed on Queen Red Beach (Sword) Normandy at 0750hrs on 6th June 1944. He was wounded in France.

Sources
Newspaper Cutting in gallery.
No.1 Special Service Brigade Signals Troop War Diary in gallery.
Army Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/76.
Commando Association newsletters 16 and 91.
In album Signal Troops of the Special Service (Commando) Brigades]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:45:11 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Cpl_+Albert+Edward+Read+RM.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Cpl_+Albert+Edward+Read+RM.jpg.html
[Photo courtesy of his grandson Sam Wilkes Read].
In album Signal Troops of the Special Service (Commando) Brigades]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:49:45 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Cpl+Albert+Read+on+right+RM+3+Cdo+Bde+Sigs+and+others.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Cpl+Albert+Read+on+right+RM+3+Cdo+Bde+Sigs+and+others.jpg.html
Photo from the collection of Cpl. Albert Edward Read RM who served in the Signal Troop of 3 Special Service (Commando) Brigade, courtesy of his grandson Sam Wilkes Read].
In album Signal Troops of the Special Service (Commando) Brigades]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:03:34 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Cpl_A_E_Reid_RM.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/Signals+troops/Cpl_A_E_Reid_RM.jpg.html
Photo from the collection of Cpl. Albert Edward Read RM who served in the Signal Troop of 3 Special Service (Commando) Brigade, courtesy of his grandson Sam Wilkes Read].
In album Signal Troops of the Special Service (Commando) Brigades]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:03:34 +0000