Lance Corporal Roderick Joseph Ovenden, No.4 Commando kia 6/6/1944 Normandy

[Photos courtesy of his great nephew Harry Hughes].

Lance Corporal Roderick Ovenden, 'F' troop, died during operations at Normandy, France. Son of Eric and Florence Ovenden; husband of Gladys Catherine Ovenden, of Paddington, London.

Roderick Ovenden was a Metropolitan Police Officer who volunteered for the Commandos in 1942 joining the 2nd Police Intake at the Commando Depot (Commando Basic Training Centre) at Achnacarry. After successfully completing his training he was attached to No.4 Commando and participated in a Boxing Contest later that year.
1939: Single. Police number Pc 778X . Address Harrow Road Police Station 325 Harrow Road, London. 1943: Married Galdys Catherine Jones at St John the Evangelist Church Kilburn Lane London. The wedding details and a picture were published in the Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate and Cheriton Herald 20 March 1943. He is described as "formerly a Police Constable in the Metropolitan Police and is well known as a boxer."

In Memory of 14241749 Lance Corporal Roderick Joseph Ovenden
King's Royal Rifle Corps and No.4 Commando.
who died aged 26 on 6 June 1944 at Normandy, France.
Remembered with honour at Hermanville War Cemetery.