1st Special Service (Commando) Brigade

Most photos taken by L/Cpl 'Ken' Emmerson, No.1 SS Bde HQ, provided courtesy of his son John Emmerson.

Detail below from the No.1 Special Service Brigade HQ War Diary 1944:

8th Jun'44: Bde HQ moved from ECARDE to LE PLEIN; 17th Aug'44: A tactical Bde HQ moved into BAVENT, leaving the main HQ WEST of the BOIS de BAVENT; 24th Aug'44 Bde was disposed on high ground south west of BEUZEVILLE; 26th Aug'44 Bde was in positions near ST MACLOU; 6th Sept'44 The Brigade left the area of St Maclou and proceeded to Arromanches; 7th Sep'44 The Brigade embarked and sailed for U.K.

Staff as at July 1st 1944 (Inc. attached officers) :-
Brigade Commander: Brig D. Mills-Roberts DSO MC (see photos below)
Brigade Major: Major Harold H. Blissett (formerly 2 Cdo)
General Staff Officer (GSO III): Capt T.A. Donnelly
S.C.: Capt Leonard Maxwell Harper Gow (formerly 4 Cdo knighted post war)
Intelligence Officer (IO): Capt Anthony D.C. Smith (formerly 4 Cdo)
Brigade Transport Officer (BTO): Capt J.A. Lawrence (later Major first name Joseph source CA102)
Staff Officer Royal Engineers (SORE): Capt R.E.W. Holmes
Medical Officer (MO): Lt J.A. Tulloch (Attd from 10 IA Cdo)
Liaison Officer (LO): Lt J.E.D. Watkins
Field Security Officer (FSO): Capt Viscount A.de Jonghe (Att'd from 10 IA Cdo) (see photos below)
Liaison Officer: Capt Godfrey R. Franks (Formerly 2 Cdo then 10IA Cdo)
Padre: Capt (Rev) C. Pritchard
Padre: Capt (Rev) D.J.R. Thomas
==
CSM. P. V. (Val) Harris (HQ lst SS Bde) - source CA81.

Detail below from the No.1 Commando Brigade HQ War Diary 1945

16th Jan'45 - Location Asten, Holland. Came under command of 15th (Scottish) Division and went into reserve. 3 Commando detached and came under command 11th Armoured Division; 21st Jan'45 - Location Helden. Orders were received from 15 (Scottish) Division that the Brigade was to come under command of 7th Armoured Division; 20th Feb'45 - Location Venrai. Brigade came under direct command of VIII Corps.; 3rd Apr'45- Location Greven. During the 2/3 (April) orders were received for the Brigade to come under Command of 6th Airborne Division; 6th Apr'45 - Location Osnabruck. The Brigade came under the command of 11 Armoured Division; 19th Apr'45 - Location Wreidel. The Brigade came under command 15th (Scottish) Division; 30th April - Location Lauenburg. The Brigade came under the command 6th Airborne Division.