https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/
View the No.12 Commando Archive

View the No.12 Commando Roll of Honour

All photos subject of copyright © 2010 CVA. Contact the CVA for further details]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Sun, 19 Jul 2026 12:22:32 +0100 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/437-19/12.jpg https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/ https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Jim_Flint_12_Cdo_900.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Jim_Flint_12_Cdo_900.jpg.html
1939 attested into the Royal Artillery later volunteering for Special Service and attached No.12 Commando. Served in 'E' Troop. Transferred to Army Air Corps 8 December 1944. Post war served in Palestine with the 8/9th Para Bn., A.A.C.

James William Flint
b. 29.10.1916 Birmingham
d. 19.01.2000.
In album No.12 Commando]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Tue, 10 Dec 2024 19:44:39 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/12Cdo_B_tp.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/12Cdo_B_tp.jpg.html
Collection of CSM James Campbell, RAMC and No.12 Commando, courtesy of his grandson Stewart.
In album No.12 Commando]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 05 Jun 2024 18:33:57 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/James_Campbell_12Cdo.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/James_Campbell_12Cdo.jpg.html
Royal Army Medical Corps attached to No.12 Commando. Also served at the Holding Operational Commando. Service no. 7516652. Awarded the British Empire Medal (Military Division) in 1945.
In album No.12 Commando]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 05 Jun 2024 18:26:28 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Warner_12Cdo_copy.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Warner_12Cdo_copy.jpg.html
Arthur Henry Warner enlisted Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment, 2nd Bn. on 13 April 1939. Trade on enlistment - Gardener. Volunteered in 1942 for the commandos. Served in No.12 and No.1 Commando. Overseas service with No.1 Commando included India, Ceylon, Arakan Burma, and Hong Kong.
Commando timeline
03.10.1942 posted Commando Depot (Commando Basic Training Centre), Achnacarry.
10.11.1942 posted No.12 Commando.
07.10.1943 posted No.1 Commando.
11.11.1943 embarked for overseas service in the Far East with No.1 Commando.
07.02.1945 promoted Lance Corporal.
18.06.1945 promoted Corporal.
05.08.1945 promoted Lance Sergeant.
27.08.1945 promoted Acting Sergeant.
20.11.1945 embarked Hong Kong for return to the UK.
17.12.1945 posted Holding Operational Commando.
---.01.1946 Commando service concluded. Class 'A' release from military service shortly after.

Arthur Henry Warner
b. 19.06.1921 Enfield.
d. 10.11.2012 Bristol.
In album No.12 Commando]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:54:05 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Bob+Wright+12+Commando_001.jpeg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Bob+Wright+12+Commando_001.jpeg.html
[Photo courtesy of Bob's great nephew Paul Stratford.]

Jim Dorrian, author of Storming St Nazaire, adds the following, "Sad news today that Bob Wright, who I was privileged to interview on two occasions, has passed away. Those who knew Bob will remember him as a real gentleman, kind, helpful and self-effacing. For those new to Bob's story, here is an all-too-brief bio: his story in the raid is covered in full in 'Storming St Nazaire'.

Sapper Corporal Robert Earnest Wright was a member of A Troop, 12 Commando, having been originally with No. 267 Field Company R.E. He was born in Binton, Warwickshire, on December 24th 1918 and was therefore a mere 23 when he sailed up the Loire on board HMS Campbeltown. A chargehand joiner prior to the war, Bob was a keen sportsman, having ridden in motorcycle trials and played cricket and soccer for the village teams. Perhaps less predictably, he had also played piano accordion with a Latin-American dance band!

Bob was serving in Northern Ireland when he volunteered for Special Service, mustering in the City Hotel Londonderry (Stroke-City to those familiar with Ulsterese). 12 Commando then moved to the UK where, during a Snow and Mountain Warfare Course in Glencoe, Bob first met Gerard Brett, who would be his Party officer at Saint-Nazaire. He took part in Operation 'ANKLET', the Christmas 1941 raid on the Lofoten Islands, before being hand-picked to train in dock demolitions prior to embarking for Saint-Nazaire.

On the run-in to ramming, Bob was in the Wardroom with the others of his demolition party, making his way up to the main deck immediately after the ship hit the dock caisson. Bob was hit almost immediately, a chunk of enemy steel embedding itself in his knee. Where lesser men might have thought enough was enough, Bob - in spite of a serious wound - nevertheless got himself down onto the caisson and, carrying a dead weight of explosives in his pack, remained with Brett's party all the way through the attempted demolition of the inner dock caisson, all the time under enemy fire.

During the withdrawal Bob found refuge in a cellar with TSM Haines, Lance-Sergeant Challinton, Lance-Corporals Howarth and Douglas, and Private Harding, all of who were determined to escape the tightening German cordon. Realising that he would only hold the others up, Bob allowed himself to be taken prisoner. He was eventually incarcerated in the notorious Lamsdorf PoW Camp, whose occupants were marched west late in the war to escape the Russian advance. He was eventually liberated by General George Patton's troops.

You were a brave man Bob, and you will be missed.
In album No.12 Commando]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Fri, 02 Dec 2022 20:29:31 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Beggs/H_R_Beggs_2+_2_.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Beggs/H_R_Beggs_2+_2_.png.html
Photo from the collection of Harold Raymond 'Ray' Beggs courtesy of his granddaughter Eiley.
In album TSM Harold Raymond Beggs]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:13:54 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Beggs/H_R_Beggs_1.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Beggs/H_R_Beggs_1.png.html
Photo from the collection of Harold Raymond 'Ray' Beggs courtesy of his granddaughter Eiley.
In album TSM Harold Raymond Beggs]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:11:23 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Beggs/Ray+Beggs+No_12+Cdo.jpeg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Beggs/Ray+Beggs+No_12+Cdo.jpeg.html
Photo from the collection of Harold Raymond 'Ray' Beggs courtesy of his granddaughter Eiley.
In album TSM Harold Raymond Beggs]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:11:12 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Beggs/Ray+Beggs+and+wife+Margaret+nee+Sands.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Beggs/Ray+Beggs+and+wife+Margaret+nee+Sands.png.html
Photo from the collection of Harold Raymond 'Ray' Beggs courtesy of his granddaughter Eiley.
In album TSM Harold Raymond Beggs]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:10:50 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Beggs/H_R_Beggs_7+_2_.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/12/Beggs/H_R_Beggs_7+_2_.png.html
Known as: Ray.
Unit / Base: No.12 Commando
Regiment/Corps: Royal Ulster Rifles, 1st Bn.
Number: 7011764
No.12 Commando was disbanded in 1943. TSM Beggs later served with the 6th Airborne during the DDay landings in Normandy, France.
Post war he ran a successful bakery business in Dunoon and was member of the Commando Association residing Strone, Argyll.

Harold Raymond 'Ray' Beggs
b. 22.03.1916.
d. 05.06.1972 aged 56.
In album TSM Harold Raymond Beggs]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Tue, 27 Sep 2022 21:26:38 +0100