Captain Douglas Cotton-Minchin

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P

Pete

Member
Hi James

Amongst the many photos of Commandos on our site I found one which had a picture of this man which yourself, and John Robertson from this site, will be interested in. It is cropped from a photo of Commando Instructors at Achnacarry. It is now on the Commando Veterans Association (CVA) website gallery.

To John Roberston:

Another one for you to add John...
Best wishes

Pete
 
Pete
Amazing, my first proper photo of DCM at last. Thank you so much.
Is there any way of getting a really high quality version from somewhere?

Is John Robertson a useful chap for me to contact? Will he know any more than you about DCM?
Did you mean the book 'Castle Commando' by Gilchrist?
I do have the book 'Commando Country' by Allan now, but do you know if there are their records 'available' to tell me more about DCM's time at Achnacarry, from his first course on moving from the Cameronians, to his leaving as Chief Instructor in about Feb 45?
Apparently he was attached to the RAF for a time as a temporary Pilot Officer as he was gazetted as moving back to the army on 13th June 1940.
Best wishes
James
 
The photo was already in our gallery but I have seen it in the book Castle Commando by Donald Gilchrist. I did not see any mention of him in that book other than being named in the photo. John is actually the man in charge of the Special Forces Roll of Honour website which we are on now. He and I share each others photos on occasions. You can pm him on here if you need to. If he was attached to the RAF for a period he has technically served with all 3 the Armed Services prior to his being killed in action. That in itself is unique. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), RAF, and 43 RM Commandos. I have cropped a slightly better version and replaced my original on the CVA site. Thats about the best I can do.

Regards
 
Thanks Pete
The RAF info is actually from 'Flight' magazine, issue Aug 29th 1940, page 178, under the 'London Gazette - RAF -General Duties heading. The DCM info is just level with the top of the two photos at the bottom.
"P/O D C M Cotton-Minchin (2nd Lt. Cameronians) relinquishes his temporary commission on return to Army duty (June 13)."

I will PM you the file.

James
 
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