Second row on left......Peter Coomber who was at Merville Battery on 7 June 1944 with Major John Pooley who was shot dead Peter was shot in the left arm and was later taken prisoner and had his arm amputated above the elbow. His son still lives in Folkestone.
Posted by malcolm atherton on Fri 13 Sep 2024 11:28:43 EDT
Photo Update
My grandfather is Francis McGurk, he's front row second from the right
Posted by Siwan McGurk on Mon 10 Jun 2024 08:40:49 EDT
Photo update
My grandfather is top row, second from left - Francis McGurk
Posted by Siwan McGurk on Mon 10 Jun 2024 08:38:49 EDT
Posted by Chris Hampson on Wed 05 Jun 2024 09:08:45 EDT
#5 we believe is my grandfather Francis ‘Irvine’ Steadman. He has been identified by his Son (my father) as well as matching him with other photos we have from his Army days. We’ll be staying in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings to pay our respect and would appreciate any stories or details of where 3 troop served during those times. Like many he chose not to talk much of his time in the Army so we have very limited information. Thanks
Posted by Matt Steadman on Sat 25 May 2024 00:37:32 EDT
John Bartholomew Davies
Hello all,
John Davies is my grandad and I'm trying to find out abit more about his career if anyone is willing to help me please? I am currently serving within the British Armed Forces myself.
^Admin (PR)....email contact made.
Posted by Anthony on Sat 27 Apr 2024 13:09:53 EDT
Number 1 - Ronald Stanley Freeman
I believe number 1 to be my Grandfather Ronald Stanley Freeman - 6352714. He shared many of his war stories with me, as well as leaving me his medals, which I am now tallying up against the historical data of the No 3 Commando's activities.
He was wounded on the 21st July 1943 in Sicily during the capture of the Ponte dei Malati Bridge (No 3 Commando Bridge).
He was fortunate enough to recover from his injuries and passed away in 1999.
Posted by Gary Walton on Fri 12 Apr 2024 10:53:56 EDT
No 4 is Lt.R.W.Pantall MM, 3Cdo and CBTC
See also "CBTC Officers'Mess 1945"
He is also to be seen in the 1945 IWM film "Story of the Green Beret", leading the attack from LCA's on Loch Lochy.
Posted by Jan Mas on Tue 21 Nov 2023 12:04:10 EST
Derek Page
Soldier third from the left with the moustache is Lt. Derek Gordon Page. He subsequently served in India with the Gurkhas going through Burma to Indonesia. Here at the end of the war he met a Dutch lady who he married back in the Netherlands. Captain Page died in February 1979.
Source: Richard Page - his son.
Posted by Richard Page on Wed 25 Jan 2023 00:25:13 EST
The injured Lieut. Denis William Venables O'Flaherty.
I met the Queen's Messenger for Ankara on a chance meeting on a flight from Frankfurt to London. He served under Brigadier O'Flaherty and confirmed his eye patch and how he lost his eye as well as the fact that O'Flaherty was now deceased.
In the photograph of Lt O'Flaherty the soldier with the bayonet is Derek Gordon Page - of No 3 Commando. He subsequently transferred from the commandos to serve with the Gurkhas in India fighting in Burma and eventually ending the war in Indonesia where he met a Dutch prisoner of war who he subsequently married. He left the army with the rank of Captain. He was my father (I am his son Richard Page). We found this photo in a book on the Vagsoy raid (The Vaagsoy Raid by Joseph H Devins jr. published 1968) and he remembered it. Derek Page died in February 1979.
Posted by Richard Page on Tue 24 Jan 2023 23:59:32 EST
No 38: The spit of my dad, John 'Timber' Woods, ex-Coldstream Guards.
Posted by Stephen Woods on Tue 30 Aug 2022 10:45:36 EDT
Back row no 7 bears a strong resemblance to my dad, John 'Timber' Woods, seconded from the Coldstream Guards.
Posted by Stephen Woods on Tue 30 Aug 2022 10:43:07 EDT
The man sitting front row cross legged to the right of the group (left as you look at the pic) is LCpl Chas J Coughlan. His role in HQ Trp was as a signaller. He enlisted in the 70th(Young Soldiers)Bn London Irish Rifles (LIR). He wore the LIR Officers and WOs cap badge on his Commando beret as seen in the picture (as he thought it looked better!) as well as LIR black buttons and Royal Ulster Rifles green on black chevrons (the LIR were part of the RUR). He survived D-Day and fought through France, Belgium, Netherlands and into Germany and died in 2010. Chas was a personal friend of mine and a true LIR Commando to the end.
Posted by Lt Col Ant Maher on Sun 21 Aug 2022 15:08:26 EDT
Photo updated
Better resolution version added replacing previous copy.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Fri 19 Aug 2022 08:31:39 EDT
