No.3 Commando - 4 Troop - June 1942

Photo updated 22nd September 2009 with the date, troop number and all the names which were found printed on a newspaper cutting of the identical picture provided to me by Ron Stearn, a friend of George Webb of No.3 Cdo

Front row cross legged left to right: Clark, Eric Spiers (kia Normandy), D. Stewart, Chapman, Lea and Webb;
Seated Sgt Cnoops; CSM Gordon; Lt. J. Friar; Lt. W.E.Lloyd; Capt. A.G.Komrower; Lt.E.W.Chatton; Lt. Van Hoogeravijs; Sgt. Harry Johnson; L/Sgt Foster.
1st row standing: E. James; Cpl. Bacon; Cpl. Taylor, Cpl Coaker; Cpl. Parsons; Cpl. De Warrd; Sgt Van Gelderen; L/Cpl. Emmanuel
2nd row: L/Cpl. Hubbard; Jennings; Currah; Leyland; White; L/Cpl. Lathrope; Gribben.
3rd row: C. Paige; Gordon; North; Samuel; Cresswell; Chisolm; Millers.
4th row: Taylor; T. Stewart; Dix; Tupper; Lewis; Robins; Bookless.
5th row; Venn; L/Cpl. Shanks; Creed; L/Cpl.B. A Magnoni aka Max Diamond; Francis; Abraham; Allen.
6th row: Knott, John Valentine 'Jack' Bissett (blurred face), Housley, L.Cpl. Merson, Torrens, Parsons, McClelland.
7th row: Ennis, Pte Thomas Graham, Pte Bob Cubitt, Childs, Meuwls, McDonald.
8th row: Underwood; L. Page; Freddie Walker

Absentees: Sgt. White DCM; L/Sgt. Jones; Tpr. Laverty; Tpr. A. Parsons; L/Cpl. Pallinder; L/cpl. Bushell; Tpr. James

(above details entered by Pete R)

This additional information provided by Jack Bakker 15/12/09 "In the first row standing are Cpl De Waard and Sgt Van Gelderen (10IA Cdo 2 troop - Dutch). I found out that they did an assault course at 3 Commando. I couldn’t find on what date and for how long. De Waard was a sergeant when he went to Arnhem with the First British Airborne Division, and one of the 12 Dutch Commandos who were attached to this Division. He took part in the fierce fighting around the HQ of the Division. After the withdrawal of the Division he was left with three British paratroopers, to whom he said: we stick together; and they went to the River Rhine to make their escape. They had a firefight with the enemy during which De Waard was hit in his foot. He was taken prisoner and transported to Germany. He was liberated by the British forces in April the 16th 1945. He died a couple of months ago. Van Gelderen was a sergeant when he went on operation Market Garden, and was attached to the HQ of the 1st Allied Airlanding Corps which landed near the town of Groesbeek. During operation Infatuate (the landings on the island of Walcheren) he was attached to N0 8 French Troop and landed at Flushing. He took 46 Germans prisoner, completely on his own. After the war he stayed in the Army and retired in the rank of Captain. He died a few years ago."

(above details updated by Pete R 16/12/09)