L/Cpl Richard 'Dickie' Mann, MM

Born in Reading on the 26th September 1914, Richard Mann was one of eight children.

A butcher by trade, he was a volunteer to No.4 Commando from the Royal Berkshire Regiment and joined C Troop at Troon. He was present for the Norwegian Lofoten Island Raid, and was posted to Sierra Leone for the aborted invasion of the Canary Islands.

Following Operation Abercrombie, he also played a crucial role in Operation Cauldron supporting the Dieppe Raid on the 19th August 1942. Handpicked for the role by Lord Lovat, he worked as a camouflaged sniper from a tree position, and other such ground positions and at a distance of 130-150 yards, he spent the day picking off gun Battery crews at the Hess Battery at Varengeville using a telescopically sighted sniper rifle. His fire was so devastating, that the German gunners were pinned down for most or nearly all of the day, thereby preventing them firing on the main Allied assault. For his outstanding marksmanship and true professionalism for his actions at Dieppe he was recommended by Lord Lovat for an award,

Military Medal Recommendation:
L/CPL Mann was a picked Sniper who crawled forward over open ground with a telescopic sighted rifle and with his hands and face painted green.
He worked his way to the edge of the enemy wire and although fully exposed, succeeded in killing a great number of the enemy gun crews.
His sniping was so accurate that it became impossible to service the battery guns

Quote from the day:
The most deadliest sniper was Corporal Richard Mann, with face and hands painted green to blend with the foliage, Mann lay in low bush 150 yards from the battery picking off several Germans with precise fire.

Dickie Mann was then awarded the Military Medal and received it in person from King George VI. In 1943, he returned to the Commando Training Centre at Achnacarry House and then became a commando instructor. He married his land lady’s daughter Sarah Douneghey and sadly Dickie died due to illness in August 1987, his family having the Commando insignia etched on his headstone, when asked about any regrets he had with regards the war, he commented that he would always feel sorry for all the enemy forces he had killed.