Arthur Baseley

Arthur Baseley, No 12 and 5 Commando. Attached to the Commandos from the Middlesex Regiment, s/n 6215921. Photos courtesy of his daughter Anne George.

Anne adds "My dad was in India, Ceylon China and Burma. He fought in the battle for Hill 170 Burma 1945 against the Japanese when he was in No 5 Commando. It was Jack Cox (12 and 3 Cdo) who told me that Dad fought at Hill 170. Jack trained with dad and was billeted with him. They were very good mates.
My father got injured on a parachute training exercises in 1942 and was told he would not be able to rejoin his commando comrades as would never regain A1 fitness. However Dad had a more determined mindset and after several months in hospital he went about training hard until the medics passed him A1 again after one year and agreed he could rejoin the commandos. His Service Record shows he was in India in April 1944 with 3 S.S Brigade. He was then attached to No 1 Commando for the period 15.5.44 to 19.6.44 and by July 1944 was posted to No. 5 Commando for the duration."

Arthur passed away on the 30th December 2016 and Anne goes on to say "His funeral took place on the 27th January 2017. His coffin was draped in the union with his green beret on top and the vicar read the Commando prayer. It was very moving."