45 commando

45 COMMANDO
Operation Barras
Operation Barras
By William Fowler
Spearhead Of The Fifth Army: The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment In Italy, From The Winter Line To Anzio
Spearhead Of The Fifth Army: The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment In Italy, From The Winter Line To Anzio
By Frank van Lunteren
45 COMMANDO
After reforming and retitling, the unit transitioned to the Commando role as a formed unit, by-passing the individual volunteer and selection process undertaken by Army Commando candidates. Personnel undertook, and completed, the Commando Basic Training Course at Achnacarry, Scotland. As part of the 1st Special Service Brigade, the Commando participated in Operation Overlord (the D-Day Normandy landings), before going on to move through Europe into Germany, including Brachterbeek on 23 January 1945. During the Ardennes Offensive, the retitled 1st Commando Brigade was given the task of holding a stretch of the River Meuse; it was during this period of operations that Lance Corporal H. Harden, a medical orderly of the RAMC attached to 45 (RM) Commando, won the Victoria Cross.
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  1. RM CDOS Haville, James (Jimmy)

    SURNAMEHaville FORENAMEJames (Jimmy) UNIT45 Commando (A Troop) RANKMarine NUMBER AWARDMention in Despatches PLACEHolland 1945 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  2. RM CDOS Towler, Douglas

    SURNAME Towler FORENAME Douglas UNIT 45 Commando (D Troop) RANK Marine NUMBER EX/4188 AWARD Military Medal PLACE Germany 1945 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  3. RM CDOS Tate, Alan

    SURNAMETate FORENAMEAlan UNIT45 Commando RANKLieutenant NUMBER AWARDMilitary Cross PLACEN.W.Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  4. RM CDOS Sykes, John

    SURNAME Sykes FORENAME John UNIT 45 Commando (B Troop) RANK Lance Corporal NUMBER PO/X 106961 AWARD Military Medal PLACE Germany 1945 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 37136, 15th June 1945, Page 3191

  5. RM CDOS Stuart, Ronald

    SURNAMEStuart FORENAMERonald UNIT45 Commando RANKCorporal NUMBERPO/X 106959 AWARDMilitary Medal PLACENormandy 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  6. RM CDOS Rushforth, John Nicholson

    SURNAME Rushforth FORENAME John Nicholson UNIT 45 Commando RANK Major NUMBER AWARD Military Cross PLACE Normandy 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 11.3.1919 died 24.3.2004 London Gazette 36676, 25th August 1944, Page 4008

  7. RM CDOS Riley, H.G. (Peter)

    SURNAMERiley FORENAMEH.G. (Peter) UNIT45 Commando (D Troop) RANKLieutenant NUMBER AWARDMilitary Cross PLACENW Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONformer B Troop

  8. RM CDOS Patrick, N.J.

    SURNAMEPatrick FORENAMEN.J. UNIT45 Commando RANKMarine NUMBER AWARDMilitary Medal PLACEN.W.Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  9. RM CDOS Noakes, William James

    SURNAME Noakes FORENAME William James UNIT 45 Commando RANK Sergeant NUMBER EX/977 AWARD Military Medal PLACE N.W.Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION resided 15 Houston Road,Forest Hill,London

  10. RM CDOS Neaves, Alexander Wood

    SURNAME Neaves FORENAME Alexander Wood UNIT 45 Commando RANK Lieutenant (A/Captain) NUMBER AWARD Croix de Guerre with vermilion star (Fr) PLACE N.W.Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  11. RM CDOS Morgan, T.J.

    SURNAMEMorgan FORENAMET.J. UNIT45 Commando RANKRegimental Quarter Master Sergeant NUMBER AWARDBritish Empire Medal PLACEN.W.Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  12. RM CDOS Kennen, Harry (the Rev.)

    SURNAMEKennen FORENAMEHarry (the Rev.) UNIT45 and 46 Commandos RANKChaplain R.N.V.R. NUMBER AWARDDistinguished Service Cross PLACENormandy 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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  13. RM CDOS Haw, Reginald (the Rev.)

    SURNAMEHaw FORENAMEReginald (the Rev.) UNIT47 and 45 Commandos RANKChaplain R.N.V.R. NUMBER AWARDDistinguished Service Cross PLACEN.W.Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONB.A.
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  14. RM CDOS Harrison, Thomas

    SURNAME Harrison FORENAME Thomas UNIT 45 Commando (C Troop) RANK Sergeant NUMBER EX/3466 AWARD Military Medal PLACE Germany 1945 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 37136, 15th June 1945, Page 3191 (listed as Tom Harrison)

  15. RM CDOS Green, Norman

    SURNAME Green FORENAME Norman UNIT 45 Commando RANK Marine NUMBER PLY/X 106617 AWARD Military Medal PLACE Normandy 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 36676, 25th August 1944, Page 4008

  16. RM CDOS Gray, William Nichol

    SURNAME Gray FORENAME William Nichol UNIT 45 Commando (2-in-command + Commanding Officer) RANK Major + Lieutenant Colonel NUMBER AWARD Distinguished Service Order and bar PLACE Normandy 1944 Germany 1945 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 01.05.1908 brother of Lt-Colonel Thomas...
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    • 45 commando distinguished service order
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  17. RM CDOS Fenwick, James Lindsay

    SURNAMEFenwick FORENAMEJames Lindsay UNIT45 Commando RANKColour Sergeant NUMBERPO/X 105797 AWARDMilitary Medal PLACEGermany 1945 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  18. RM CDOS de Courcy-Ireland, B.W.

    SURNAMEde Courcy-Ireland FORENAMEB.W. UNIT45 Commando and 30 Assault Unit RANKMajor NUMBER AWARDDistinguished Service Cross PLACEN.W.Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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    • 30 assault unit 45 commando distinguished service cross (uk)
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  19. RM CDOS Deacon, William George

    SURNAMEDeacon FORENAMEWilliam George UNIT45 Commando RANKSergeant NUMBERCH/X 106276 AWARDMilitary Medal PLACEN.W.Europe 1945 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  20. RM CDOS Day, John E.

    SURNAMEDay FORENAMEJohn E. UNIT45 Commando (Adjutant + A Troop) RANKCaptain NUMBER AWARDCroix de Guerre (Fr) PLACEN.W.Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONWIA 12.6.1944 Normandy
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