Captain Tom Gordon Hemming
Captain Tom Gordon Hemming was originally a Lieutenant in No.1 Commando. Lt Hemming was an officer on the raid, Operation Chopper at Luc St Mer, by No.1 Cdo. on 28th Sep 1941. This was carried out by 2 sections of 5 Troop, 1 section landed at St Vasst Bay under Lt Scaramanga. Lt Hemmings party came under heavy fire when it tried to land on the beach resulting in a number of wounded and two men dead, who regretably had to be left behind. The two Commandos were given a full military funeral by the occupying German forces and were buried in a local RC church. Later he was promoted Captain and attached to No.2 Commando. When he died in the early 1990's his ashes were, in accordance with his wishes, buried next to the graves of his two lost men, whom he never forgot
Quotes referring to Captain Hemming:
Eric Buckmaster No 2 Cdo in a response to an enquiry from me:
"He was generally known as Gordon Hemming. Your Dad (L/Sgt Joe Rogers MM)had a high regard for him. I picked up the impression that he was a man who spoke his mind. He was a Keen Cricketer and when we were on GIB and there was an Inter Unit Match on, he would do the Radio Commentaries. Whether he was in 3 Troop of No 2 Cdo at any time I do not know. It is always possible. Sometimes when a new troop Commander was needed a Lieutenant would be promoted from another Troop and move across. I am not sure that he was still with us to the end. I think he had gone off elsewhere."
Ron Youngman (former National Secretary to the Commando Association:
"He was a delightful chap, cricket mad, member of the MCC, and lived in a house called Wisden House. So obviously was indeed cricket mad !!"
A Square was named after him in Luc Sur Mer. Images can be viewed HERE
To view the original photo from which this image was taken click HERE
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