First Commanding Officer of 29 Cdo Regt RA - Denis O'Flaherty CBE DSO

First CO of 29 Cdo Regt RA - Denis O'Flaherty CBE DSO. He was awarded the DSO for his gallantry as a Lieutenant of 6 troop No.3 Army Commando during the raid on Vaagso in WW2.

Citation for His DSO : "In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in successful combined operations against the enemy at Vaagso and Maaloy" (L.G.3.4.42)

Lt. O'Flaherty was severely injured at Vaagso being hospitalised for 2 years. Follow this link to view More images of Dennis O'Flaherty.

However he recovered and stayed on in the Army, serving in Korea with the Royal Artillery. Whilst in Korea he was awarded the American Bronze Star on the 8th June 1951. These details from the London Gazettes show the announcement of his retirement in 1975 as a Brigadier " "Brig. D. W. V. P. O'FLAHERTY, C.B.E., D.S.O. (106695)late R.A. retires on retired pay, 10th Dec. 1975."
He died in March 1980 at the age of 59.

His daughter Marye Humphery adds this " I thought you might also like to know what little I know about Vaagso. My understanding is that a machine gun was placed in an upper floor of the warehouse you mentioned, pinning down his men. He stormed up the stairs and managed to take out the post, but received 5 bullets in his face and head. One took out his eye and one side of his jaw, another shattered the atlas bone in his neck (the bone that holds your head up). As you say, he was in hospital/recovering for two years. They took out one of his ribs and put it in his neck. This later broke and had to be replaced with metal (I believe this happened when he was injured crossing the Rhine). He wore a black patch for the rest of his serving career and was probably the only one eyed gunner in Korea."

This photo, taken circa 1973 is courtesy of his daughter Marye Humphery.