Lieut. John Roderick MC, No.2 Commando 3 Troop

[Photo courtesy of his wife Mrs Desiree Roderick].

1st July 1939 commissioned Second Lieutenant, later volunteering for the commandos. Commanded an assault party of commandos embarked on board HMS Campbeltown for St. Nazaire, France. During the raid Lieutenant Roderick was shot through his thigh but continued with the operation, until being wounded again in the head by the explosion of a grenade. With ammunition running low he and the others in his party, several of whom were also injured, decided to hide but were discovered in the morning just before the hidden explosives on the Campbeltown exploded. They were then taken in captivity to a hospital in Le Baule.

Awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during the raid on St. Nazaire." Awarded the Chevalier de Legion d'Honneur by the French Government.

Lieutenant Roderick took a keen interest in medicine during recovery from injuries in captivity. He worked as an orderly at a Prisoner of War Hospital gaining valuable medical experience.
On repatriation to the United Kingdom in 1945 he applied and was accepted for a medical course at St Mary's. He graduated Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians (LRCP), with later Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS), and became a well respected General Practitioner.