https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/
Add new photos or place a comment against a photo. [View Here].

View the 45RM Commando Archive

View the 45RM Commando Roll of Honour]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:07:47 +0100 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/3813-14/45+RM+Commando.jpg https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/ https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/45RM_stalwarts.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/45RM_stalwarts.png.html
[Photo from the book 'A Plain Russett-Coated Captain', author Capt John Day 45RM].
In album 45 Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sun, 21 Sep 2025 17:47:34 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/45RM_IWM_A.JPG.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/45RM_IWM_A.JPG.html
Photo credit: IWM reproduced under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. Ref. IWM (A 27933).
In album 45 Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Jun 2025 10:59:49 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Ledger_45RM_collection_7.jpeg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Ledger_45RM_collection_7.jpeg.html
[Photo from the collection of Mne. William Ledger 45RM Commando courtesy of his daughter Jane Wheten].
In album 45 Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 17 May 2025 14:14:16 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Ledger_45RM_collection_3.jpeg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Ledger_45RM_collection_3.jpeg.html
[Photo from the collection of Mne. William Ledger 45RM Commando courtesy of his daughter Jane Wheten].

Photo annotated on reverse
H.M.S. "Ben-My-Chree".
12.vi.45.
In album 45 Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 17 May 2025 14:14:45 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Ledger_45RM_collection_2.jpeg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Ledger_45RM_collection_2.jpeg.html
[Photo from the collection of Mne. William Ledger 45RM Commando courtesy of his daughter Jane Wheten].

Annotated on reverse:
Thurs 10th May 1945
"Alles Kaput"
(which being interpreted means "all is finished")
In album 45 Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 17 May 2025 13:29:16 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Ledger_45RM_collection_1.jpeg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Ledger_45RM_collection_1.jpeg.html
[Photo, annotated on reverse with the date, from the collection of Mne. William Ledger 45RM Commando (at the very top) courtesy of his daughter Jane Wheten].
In album 45 Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 17 May 2025 13:21:12 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Brockbank_45RM.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Brockbank_45RM.jpg.html
[Photo courtesy of Dr. Piers Baker].

Captain Maurice 'Ches' Brockbank, 'C' troop, died during operations at the River Aller in the vicinity of Hademstorf. Previously Mentioned in Despatches with 40RM Commando for outstanding service while operating with the Allied Armies in Italy.

In Memory of Captain Maurice Chester Brockbank
Mentioned in Despatches.
45 Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines,
who died on 12 April 1945 aged 34.
Remembered with honour at Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany.
Son of Clarence Jesse and Caroline Brockbank; husband of Marjorie Winifred Brockbank, of Ewell, Surrey.
In album 45 Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 12 May 2025 12:40:56 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Samain/Bryan_Samain_45RM_1.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Samain/Bryan_Samain_45RM_1.jpg.html
[Photo courtesy of his granddaughter Katy Riley].

Katy wrote the following obituary:
"Bryan Samain, who has died at the age of 99 was a wartime Commando intelligence officer who later became a leading industrial publicist for major British companies.
Born in Chelmsford in 1925, he was educated at the Royal Masonic School. He trained as a journalist on the Daily Sketch and Sunday Graphic and later wrote for the Sydney Daily Mirror until volunteering for military service.
In 1943, he joined the Royal Marines, serving with 45 Royal Marine Commando in Normandy and later in Holland and Germany, principally as an intelligence officer. He was temporarily posted to 46 Royal Marine Commando to support the strategic crossing of the Rhine on the 23rd March 1945 and took part in the first wave of the Brigade’s assault landing. He later rejoined 45 for the forced crossing of the Elbe shortly before the German surrender on the 8th May 1945. He also served with the unit in Hong Kong in 1946, helping to restore law and order in the territory following the Japanese occupation.
Following the war, he resumed his journalistic career in London before moving into PR, specialising in industrial publicity. He worked for Richard Thomas & Baldwins, Cementation and Costain. In 1960 he was appointed head of PR for Ford Motor Co. UK. Then, in 1970 he joined EMI to set up a worldwide corporate PR department.
His military past, however, never entirely deserted him. At the age of 22 he wrote Commando Men, a popular history of RM Commando operations in NW Europe in 1944-1945, which was re-published several times in his lifetime.
In December 2015, he was appointed a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur as a veteran of the battle of Normandy in June-August 1944.
Bryan married Helen, a wartime WRENS officer in 1948, she died in 2016. They are survived by their two sons, Paul and Peter.
Bryan Samain died on 24th June 2024."
In album Lt. Bryan Charles William Samain, 45RM Commando]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 04 Jun 2025 21:28:36 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Samain/Bryan_Samain_45RM_2.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Samain/Bryan_Samain_45RM_2.png.html
[Photo courtesy of his granddaughter Katy Riley].

Katy wrote the following obituary:
"Bryan Samain, who has died at the age of 99 was a wartime Commando intelligence officer who later became a leading industrial publicist for major British companies.
Born in Chelmsford in 1925, he was educated at the Royal Masonic School. He trained as a journalist on the Daily Sketch and Sunday Graphic and later wrote for the Sydney Daily Mirror until volunteering for military service.
In 1943, he joined the Royal Marines, serving with 45 Royal Marine Commando in Normandy and later in Holland and Germany, principally as an intelligence officer. He was temporarily posted to 46 Royal Marine Commando to support the strategic crossing of the Rhine on the 23rd March 1945 and took part in the first wave of the Brigade’s assault landing. He later rejoined 45 for the forced crossing of the Elbe shortly before the German surrender on the 8th May 1945. He also served with the unit in Hong Kong in 1946, helping to restore law and order in the territory following the Japanese occupation.
Following the war, he resumed his journalistic career in London before moving into PR, specialising in industrial publicity. He worked for Richard Thomas & Baldwins, Cementation and Costain. In 1960 he was appointed head of PR for Ford Motor Co. UK. Then, in 1970 he joined EMI to set up a worldwide corporate PR department.
His military past, however, never entirely deserted him. At the age of 22 he wrote Commando Men, a popular history of RM Commando operations in NW Europe in 1944-1945, which was re-published several times in his lifetime.
In December 2015, he was appointed a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur as a veteran of the battle of Normandy in June-August 1944.
Bryan married Helen, a wartime WRENS officer in 1948, she died in 2016. They are survived by their two sons, Paul and Peter. Bryan Samain died on 24th June 2024."
In album Lt. Bryan Charles William Samain, 45RM Commando]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 04 Jun 2025 21:29:31 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Samain/Bryan_Samain_45RM_3.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/Samain/Bryan_Samain_45RM_3.png.html
[Photo courtesy of his granddaughter Katy Riley].

Katy wrote the following obituary:
"Bryan Samain, who has died at the age of 99 was a wartime Commando intelligence officer who later became a leading industrial publicist for major British companies.
Born in Chelmsford in 1925, he was educated at the Royal Masonic School. He trained as a journalist on the Daily Sketch and Sunday Graphic and later wrote for the Sydney Daily Mirror until volunteering for military service.
In 1943, he joined the Royal Marines, serving with 45 Royal Marine Commando in Normandy and later in Holland and Germany, principally as an intelligence officer. He was temporarily posted to 46 Royal Marine Commando to support the strategic crossing of the Rhine on the 23rd March 1945 and took part in the first wave of the Brigade’s assault landing. He later rejoined 45 for the forced crossing of the Elbe shortly before the German surrender on the 8th May 1945. He also served with the unit in Hong Kong in 1946, helping to restore law and order in the territory following the Japanese occupation.
Following the war, he resumed his journalistic career in London before moving into PR, specialising in industrial publicity. He worked for Richard Thomas & Baldwins, Cementation and Costain. In 1960 he was appointed head of PR for Ford Motor Co. UK. Then, in 1970 he joined EMI to set up a worldwide corporate PR department.
His military past, however, never entirely deserted him. At the age of 22 he wrote Commando Men, a popular history of RM Commando operations in NW Europe in 1944-1945, which was re-published several times in his lifetime.
In December 2015, he was appointed a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur as a veteran of the battle of Normandy in June-August 1944.
Bryan married Helen, a wartime WRENS officer in 1948, she died in 2016. They are survived by their two sons, Paul and Peter. Bryan Samain died on 24th June 2024."
In album Lt. Bryan Charles William Samain, 45RM Commando]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 04 Jun 2025 21:30:56 +0100