Lance Corporal Douglas Arnold

Service no.2932428, 2nd Bn.Liverpool Scottish, No 7 Commando, Layforce, L-detachment SAS, 1st SAS.

Items from a collection now owned by Jean Baptiste Brekelmans who adds "Doug was with No 7 Commando at Crete when the German paratroopers invaded. When British troops surrendered he led a spectacular escape in a boat with 13 men and arrived in Sidi Barani (3 men died) Doug is an SAS original one of the 66 first recruits selected by David Stirling who had heard of his escape.Doug took part in the first SAS operation Squatter the intended raid on Axis aerodromes at Tmimi and Gazala airport on 16 November 1941. Doug was in the Tmimi party, led by Lt.Paddy Maine, and injured his ankle and was left behind. After three cold nights he was taken prisoner by Italian troops and evacuated to an Italian POW camp.He escaped twice and after helping Italian partisans with sabotage he rejoined 1st SAS and took part in SAS operations in NW Europe."

Douglas lived in Colwyn Bay, N. Wales, and died on the 21st August 1997.

Additional sources of information
Interview with Douglas Arnold in the IWM collection. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80019733
'Special Service of a Hazardous Nature - The Story of the Liverpool Scottish', compiled by Dennis Reeves.
SAS Journal June 1999.
Commando Association Newsletter 106 (Obituaries)