m special unit

M SPECIAL UNIT
Fighting Scared: Para, Mercenary, SAS, Sniper, Bodyguard
Fighting Scared: Para, Mercenary, SAS, Sniper, Bodyguard
By Robin Horsfall
Hill 488
Hill 488
By Ray Hildreth
M SPECIAL UNIT
In 1943, M Special Unit was formed as a successor to the Coastwatchers, with the role of the unit was focused upon gathering intelligence on Japanese shipping and troop movements. To achieve this mission, small teams were landed behind enemy lines by sea, air or land insertion. This was in contrast to its counterpart, Z Special Unit, which became well known for its direct-action commando-style raids.

A notable member of M Special Unit was Sergeant Leonard Siffleet, who was executed after being taken prisoner during Operation Whiting in 1943. A photograph of Siffleet in his last moments achieved iconic status following the war.

M Special Unit was disbanded at the end of the war on 10 November 1945.
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  1. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Otton, Edward Douglas (Slim)

    SURNAME Otton FORENAME Edward Douglas (Slim) UNIT M Special Unit RANK Private NUMBER NX 66265 AWARD Silver Star (US) PLACE Bougainville (coastwatch) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 7.3.1917 Bega,New South Wales next of kin Thomas Otton enlisted 5.12.1940 Paddington,New South Wales 1...

  2. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Dolby, Robert William (Bill)

    SURNAME Dolby FORENAME Robert William (Bill) UNIT M Special Unit RANK Sergeant NUMBER NX 65557 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE New Guinea 1943 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 26.9.1905 Casino, New South Wales next of kin William Dolby (1873-1953) occupation Blacksmith single...

  3. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Murray, Harold John Joseph

    SURNAME Murray FORENAME Harold John Joseph UNIT M Special Unit RANK Lieutenant + Captain NUMBER VX 81160 AWARD Military Cross,Silver Star (US) PLACE New Guinea 1943 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 13.11.1898 Bowral,New South Wales (1896 falsified when enlisted) son of James Francis...
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  4. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Evans, Cecil Frank

    SURNAME Evans FORENAME Cecil Frank (Snow) UNIT M Special Unit RANK Corporal NUMBER NX 31359 AWARD Mention in Despatches PLACE New Guinea 1943 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 24.3.1919 Leichhardt,New South Wales enlisted 11.6.1940 Paddington,New South Wales next of kin Frank Evans...

  5. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Plumridge, James Rupert

    SURNAME Plumridge FORENAME James Rupert UNIT M. Special Unit RANK Sergeant NUMBER VX 86704 DATE OF DEATH 25th July 1943 AGE 20 GRAVESITE Ambon Memorial,Indonesia Column 1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 24.5.1923 Croydon,Victoria son of Rupert Stephen and Eileen Margaret...

  6. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS McCandlish, Jack

    SURNAME McCandlish FORENAME Jack UNIT M. Special Unit RANK Sergeant NUMBER VX 80269 DATE OF DEATH 31st August 1943 AGE 27 GRAVESITE Ambon War Cemetery,Indonesia 7.A.15 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 2.10.1915 Leeds,Yorkshire,England son of John William and Marion McCandlish,Sea...

  7. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Sheldon, Charles Richard

    SURNAME Sheldon FORENAME Charles Richard UNIT M. Special Unit RANK Captain NUMBER NX 130227 DATE OF DEATH 15th June 1943 AGE 51 GRAVESITE Ambon War Cemetery,Indonesia 7.A.14 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 29.11.1891 Potts Point,New South Wales son of LtColonel Richard Edward and...
  8. John Marsh

    John Marsh

    John William Marsh Sergeant NX102441 (N14787) M Special Unit born 13.7.1917 Dungog,New South Wales,Australia next of kin Minnie Marsh enlisted 6.8.1940 West Maitland,New South Wales discharged 29.11.1945 (Sgt MSU) photo source John Kennett John William Marsh was born at Dungog, NSW, on 13...
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  9. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Veale, Lionel Percy Vivian

    SURNAME Veale FORENAME Lionel Percy Vivian UNIT "M" Special Unit RANK Sergeant NUMBER NX 41042 AWARD Mention in Despatches PLACE New Guinea 1943-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 30.8.1918 Armidale,New South Wales son of Clifford Veale enlisted 11.7.1940 Tamworth,New South...

  10. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Bedkober, Douglas Norman

    SURNAME Bedkober FORENAME Douglas Norman UNIT M Special Unit (Infantry) RANK Lieutenant NUMBER NX26676 DATE OF DEATH 4th January 1944 AGE 25 GRAVESITE Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea E.D.15 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 20.04.1918, Sydney, New South...

  11. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Barrett, Francis Alfred

    SURNAME Barrett FORENAME Francis Alfred UNIT M Special Unit (Infantry) RANK Lieutenant NUMBER NX18434 DATE OF DEATH 24th October 1943 AGE 32 GRAVESITE Rabaul Memorial, Papua New Guinea Panel 11 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 03.09.1911, Sydney, New South Wales son of Alfred...

  12. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Shortis, Gregory

    SURNAME Shortis FORENAME Gregory UNIT M Special Unit (Infantry) RANK Trooper NUMBER NX69784 AWARD Mention in Despatches PLACE New Guinea 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION killed - see Roll of Honour

  13. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Shortis, Gregory

    SURNAME Shortis FORENAME Gregory UNIT M Special Unit (Infantry) RANK Trooper NUMBER NX69784 DATE OF DEATH 25th March 1944 AGE 27 GRAVESITE Lae War Cemetery,Papua New Guinea H.A.16 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born Marrickville,New South Wales son of John and Elsie Mary...

  14. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Siffleet, Leonard George

    SURNAME Siffleet FORENAME Leonard George UNIT M Special Unit (Infantry) RANK Sergeant NUMBER NX 143314 DATE OF DEATH 24th October 1943 AGE 27 GRAVESITE Lae Memorial,Papua New Guinea Panel 2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of Leo Vincent and Alma Elizabeth Siffleet,Gunneda,New...
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