I believe this is my father John Thomas 1911-1991,born and raised in Wales and originally a member of the Welch Regiment. Is there anyone who could verify this for me? I know he was in 1 Troop No.1 Commando and many of the names in the photograph are familiar to me from my conversations with him. Any comments please?
Posted by Gerald James Thomas on Fri 30 Mar 2012 22:24:13 BST
Arthur died whilst in the UK, possibly from wounds sustained earlier or maybe in a training accident. David Henry Hill, also 12 Cdo, is listed as being killed in training on 4 Dec 1942. Could there be a link?
Posted by Geoff Murray on Sun 18 Mar 2012 20:05:25 GMT
Possible id of the Commando on the left
Will Durrant believes that the Commando on the left may possibly be Jock Dale. A picture of Jock can be found here:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Jock+dale+4+cdo+from+will+durrant.jpg.html
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Thu 15 Mar 2012 22:14:57 GMT
Photo replaced
This IWM photo replaces the uncredited one we previously had
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Mar 2012 23:33:52 GMT
Photo replaced
This IWM photo replaces the uncredited one we previously had
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Mar 2012 23:09:00 GMT
Photo replaced
This IWM photo replaces the uncredited one we previously had
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Mar 2012 23:04:12 GMT
identification
Several names added from additional and named photos of the HWT
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Mar 2012 20:11:33 GMT
Names of the two boys added
The names of the two boys added thanks to Jack Bakker and Gerard de Fauw
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sat 10 Mar 2012 15:33:53 GMT
Names added
Some names of the RM Commandos added thanks to Marc de Bolster
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sat 10 Mar 2012 15:30:16 GMT
update by Dave Tuson
The man identified as Affleck looks like my father Raymond Tuson
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Wed 07 Mar 2012 20:35:24 GMT
Ben Fryer
Ben was identified by Walter Ainslie and Eric Buckmaster who both served in 5 troop
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sat 03 Mar 2012 19:16:04 GMT
Eric Groves MM
April Richer adds " I think Dad is 5th from the right, second row back. He is wearing a pistol."
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Thu 01 Mar 2012 14:19:04 GMT
Thanks Nick for posting my notes. Can I add that I was on a flight from Vienna to London seated next to the Queen's Messenger and started to chat. It turned out that he served under Brigadier O'Flaherty. Unfortunately, he also informed me that the Brigadier had died a couple of years earlier. A pity as I would have liked to have met the Brigadier.
Adding to the information about the raid: My father said the landing craft stopped and discharged him into water that was above his head! He had to run fast underwater to get onto the beach. They were pinned down by the enemy losing men. At one point a mortar landed beside hm throwing him in the air and down the beach. He could not feel his leg and feeling down with his hand it was sopping wet. He thought he had lost his leg. And if so he knew he would have to shoot himself rather than suffer or be taken by the enemy. Forcing himself to look was the hardest thing ever but when he did he saw his leg was intact. It was his water bottle that had been ...
Thanks Nick for posting my notes. Can I add that I was on a flight from Vienna to London seated next to the Queen's Messenger and started to chat. It turned out that he served under Brigadier O'Flaherty. Unfortunately, he also informed me that the Brigadier had died a couple of years earlier. A pity as I would have liked to have met the Brigadier.
Adding to the information about the raid: My father said the landing craft stopped and discharged him into water that was above his head! He had to run fast underwater to get onto the beach. They were pinned down by the enemy losing men. At one point a mortar landed beside hm throwing him in the air and down the beach. He could not feel his leg and feeling down with his hand it was sopping wet. He thought he had lost his leg. And if so he knew he would have to shoot himself rather than suffer or be taken by the enemy. Forcing himself to look was the hardest thing ever but when he did he saw his leg was intact. It was his water bottle that had been blown apart by shrapnel.
Posted by Richard Page on Sat 25 Feb 2012 10:46:00 GMT
The officer on the right with the bayonet is Derek Gordon Page. He was my father and recounted details of the raid to me. His landing craft stopped too early and when he disembarked he found himself submerged and running for his life underwater to get to the beach! They were pinned down on the beach by enemy fire. At one point during the raid while still on the beach a mortar went off beside him throwing him up in the air and down the beach. He thought he had lost his leg as he could not feel it. He agonisingly felt down his leg and it was sopping wet thinking and fearing the worst and that he would have to shoot himself if he had lost his leg rather than be taken by the enemy. He said it was the hardest thing to look down. When he did he saw his leg was intact and it was his water bottle that had shattered. He said it was a fantastic relief to find that out.
Postscript: I was on a flight back from Vienna when I was seated next to the Queen's Messenger returning from Istanbul. We started...
The officer on the right with the bayonet is Derek Gordon Page. He was my father and recounted details of the raid to me. His landing craft stopped too early and when he disembarked he found himself submerged and running for his life underwater to get to the beach! They were pinned down on the beach by enemy fire. At one point during the raid while still on the beach a mortar went off beside him throwing him up in the air and down the beach. He thought he had lost his leg as he could not feel it. He agonisingly felt down his leg and it was sopping wet thinking and fearing the worst and that he would have to shoot himself if he had lost his leg rather than be taken by the enemy. He said it was the hardest thing to look down. When he did he saw his leg was intact and it was his water bottle that had shattered. He said it was a fantastic relief to find that out.
Postscript: I was on a flight back from Vienna when I was seated next to the Queen's Messenger returning from Istanbul. We started chatting. It turned out he knew Captain O'Flaherty who had been his commanding officer. He informed me he had risen to the rank of Brigadier and wore an eyepatch as he had lost one eye in the raid (My Dad said Capt O'Flaherty was hit in both eyes). I learned that Brigadier O'Flaherty had died a couple of years back - which was a pity as it would have been great if I could have met and spoken with him.
Posted by Richard Page on Sat 25 Feb 2012 10:33:46 GMT
What a wonderful photo !
Posted by Bob Bishop on Sat 11 Feb 2012 18:53:53 GMT
Previos comment.
Whoops 7th from the left
Posted by Walter Sansom on Fri 10 Feb 2012 04:00:54 GMT
No 2 Commando 2 Troop
Pvt George Sansom - 1st row standing (behind officers and sergeants).
Posted by Walter Sansom on Fri 10 Feb 2012 03:52:08 GMT
Pvt George Sansom. Northhamptonshire Regt and No 2 Commando.
Third rank from bottom, centre. (7th from left)George Sansom was my father and would have served in both 2 Troop and 3 Troop.
Posted by Walter Sansom on Fri 10 Feb 2012 03:49:17 GMT
l'écarde quarry 16th july 1944
Posted by stephane on Thu 09 Feb 2012 23:52:24 GMT
possible location - Limburg
Ria Bakker advises that the house in the background is the type seen in Limburg, a provence in the South of Holland
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Wed 08 Feb 2012 14:08:35 GMT
Bert Smart No Cdo
1940 - No 5 Independent Company, then No 1 Special Service Battalion.
1940 - No 2 Commando - 3 Troop (founder member)
1944 - Posted to HOC Wrexham from Yugoslavia as Sgt instructor.
1945 - Posted to Commando Group HQ.
Retired in 1947 after 1 year in hospital.
Posted by Geoff Murray on Mon 06 Feb 2012 00:21:52 GMT
Tony joined the Commandos in 1943 from the Cameron Highlanders. He fought with No 4 in Walcheren and was involved in the liberation of Brussels. He broke his ankle whilst training for D-Day and could not therefore take part. He was always immensely proud to be a Commando. GM
Posted by Geoff Murray on Sat 04 Feb 2012 12:06:58 GMT
Sandy Seaton
I think this is RQMS Sandy Seaton
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Mon 30 Jan 2012 01:29:35 GMT
Officer at the ready
Hi Guys.
Anyone know who this officer is at the front?
I believe it is H.W. Wright!! (( Known as Bill )) If so then this would be 3 Commando or it could be 8 Commando.
Posted by Ron Wright on Fri 27 Jan 2012 14:52:51 GMT
It looks like AMFREVILLE Le Plein. Is it Gliders, background ?
I'm going to AMFREVILLE tomorrow, I will see if I can find the same spot !
Posted by stephane on Fri 13 Jan 2012 01:02:41 GMT
