45 commando

45 COMMANDO
Moondrop to Gascony
Moondrop to Gascony
By Anne Marie Walters
SBS – Silent Warriors
SBS – Silent Warriors
By Saul David
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 Cann, Bernard Lawrence

    SURNAME Cann FORENAME Bernard Lawrence UNIT 45 Commando RANK Marine NUMBER PLY/X 108734 DATE OF DEATH 7th April 1945 AGE 23 GRAVESITE Hanover War Cemetery, Germany 15.C.10 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 07.01.1922, St. Pancras, London, UK died Germany

  2. RM CDOS Campbell, Finlay

    SURNAME Campbell FORENAME Finlay UNIT 45 Commando RANK Marine NUMBER EX/4108 DATE OF DEATH 2nd July 1944 AGE 26 GRAVESITE Ranville War Cemetery, France IIIA.K.6 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 02.06.1918, Ardgovan, Argyllshire, UK son of David and Rebecca Campbell died...

  3. RM CDOS Brooks, Arthur Robert

    SURNAME Brooks FORENAME Arthur Robert UNIT 45 Commando RANK Corporal NUMBER EX/937 DATE OF DEATH 5th August 1944 AGE 25 GRAVESITE Ranville War Cemetery,France IA.G.10 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 11.05.1919, Wandsworth, London, UK died Normandy

  4. RM CDOS Brockbank, Maurice Chester

    SURNAME Brockbank FORENAME Maurice Chester UNIT 45 Commando (C Troop), former 40 Commando RANK Captain NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th April 1945 AGE 35 GRAVESITE Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany 8.D.13 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 30.08.1910 son of Clarence Jesse and Caroline...

  5. RM CDOS Boothroyd, Gordon

    SURNAME Boothroyd FORENAME Gordon UNIT 45 Commando RANK Marine NUMBER PO/X 120397 DATE OF DEATH 13th June 1944 AGE 19 GRAVESITE Ranville War Cemetery, France VIA.O.16 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 07.04.1925, Lingley, Yorkshire, UK son of Edgar and Mabel Boothroyd...

  6. RM CDOS Boniface, William George

    SURNAME Boniface FORENAME William George UNIT 45 Commando RANK Lance Corporal NUMBER PO/X 3924 DATE OF DEATH 12th April 1945 AGE 23 GRAVESITE Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany 8.D.10 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 30.06.1921, Eastbourne, Sussex, UK son of Albert Henry and...

  7. RM CDOS Bidmead, Arthur

    SURNAME Bidmead FORENAME Arthur UNIT 45 Commando RANK Corporal NUMBER EX/1043 DATE OF DEATH 6th August 1944 AGE 25 GRAVESITE La Delivrande War Cemetery, France IV.A.1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 03.01.1919, Anglesey, North Wales, UK father Arthur Bidmead (1895-1967)...

  8. RM CDOS Benson, John

    SURNAME Benson FORENAME John UNIT 45 Commando RANK Marine NUMBER CH/X 110708 DATE OF DEATH 12th April 1945 AGE 21 GRAVESITE Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany 8.D.11 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 19.12.1923, Leeds, Yorkshire, UK son of Herbert and Beatrice Benson, Leeds...

  9. RM CDOS Bell, Robert

    SURNAME Bell FORENAME Robert UNIT 45 Commando RANK Marine NUMBER CH/X 108406 DATE OF DEATH 6th August 1944 AGE 22 GRAVESITE Ranville War Cemetery, France IA.F.10 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 05.05.1922, Bo'ness, West Lothian, UK son of Alexander and Agness Bell, Bo'ness...

  10. RM CDOS Beach, Edward Bert

    SURNAME Beach FORENAME Edward Bert UNIT 45 Commando RANK Corporal NUMBER CH/X 3533 DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1944 AGE 21 GRAVESITE Ranville War Cemetery, France IIIA.O.6 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 14.04.1923, Leicester, Leicestershire, UK 1942 married Annie Ellen (nee...

  11. RM CDOS Baker, Leonard

    SURNAME Baker FORENAME Leonard UNIT 45 Commando RANK Lance Corporal NUMBER PO/X 101944 DATE OF DEATH 6th June 1944 AGE 26 GRAVESITE Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire Panel 87 Column 2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 23.10.1917, Atherstone, Warwickshire, UK adopted son of...

  12. RM CDOS Baker, Denis Arthur Albert

    SURNAME Baker FORENAME Denis Arthur Albert UNIT 45 Commando RANK Marine NUMBER PO/X 121504 DATE OF DEATH 6th April 1945 AGE 18 GRAVESITE Hanover War Cemetery, Germany 7.K.5 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 28.04.1926, Wormley, Hertfordshire, England died Germany

  13. RM CDOS Atkinson, Jacob

    SURNAME Atkinson FORENAME Jacob UNIT 45 Commando RANK Sergeant NUMBER EX/3471 DATE OF DEATH 25th January 1945 AGE 27 GRAVESITE Rock (SS Philip and James) Churchyard, Northumberland in centre of churchyard ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 04.11.1917, Denwick, Northumberland...

  14. RM CDOS Ahern, Patrick

    SURNAME Ahern FORENAME Patrick UNIT 45 Commando RANK Sergeant NUMBER EX/1251 DATE OF DEATH 25th January 1945 AGE 31 GRAVESITE Sittard War Cemetery,Netherlands D.8 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 13.03.1913, Athea, Limerick, Ireland son of John and Margaret (nee Fitzgerald)...

  15. ARMY CDOS Williams, Derrick Lovell (the Rev.)

    SURNAME Williams FORENAME Derrick Lovell (the Rev.) UNIT 45 RM Commando RANK Chaplain Fourth Class NUMBER 297476 DATE OF DEATH 5th June 1944 AGE 30 GRAVESITE Southampton (Hollybrook) Cemetery,Hampshire Sec.M.12 Grave 79 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION parent unit Royal Army...
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