L detachment raids Gazala and Tmimi Nov 41

sammyb

Member
Hello

I've been interested in these L detachment raids on Gazala and Tmimi for a while now.

In the books I've read it suggests that of the 50 or so men that took part in the raids, over 30 never returned. However I can only find reference to 5 men as to actually being killed on those nights. Is this the full list or were there others? Were the rest taken POW?

Also - in the books I've read I've found the accounts of the raids to differ - which to my mind is understandable - but I wondered if there any clear sources of information out there about this?

Thanks,
Sam
 
Sam
The remainder were all taken prisoner.Don't have a confirmed list.See SAS Roll of Honour for another 3.
Alexander Westwater escaped from Italy but killed later with other unit.Awarded DCM for his escape.
James Blakeney and Roy Davies both liberated and rejoined SAS only to be killed in NW Europe.
Will let you know if I find other POWS.The mountaineer Chris Bonnington's father,Lt Charles Bonnington and Lt Peter Thomas were among the POWs.Ernie Bond was another (see Gallery).
John
 
Thanks for that John. I'll take a look.

I was reading "THE ORIGINALS" by Gordon Stevens and came across a part where Dave Kershaw was describing a scene he came across during the following nights...

"After a couple of days and nights, we came to the Makele and Masous track, that cut right across out front, and we saw four or five bodies, which was going completely away from the direction that we were going. I got the glasses on them - I had binoculars with me - and it seemed they were Sergeant Yeats with Tranfield, Boland, Calhoun, and maybe a couple more. SO we whistled and I got my .45 out and fired a few rounds but they took no notice. So we carried on."

I think the Sgt Yeats must be CSM Yates? who was in in the same plane with Stirling, Tait, Cheyne and 6 ORs. (I think Dave Kershaw was in Paddy Maynes group though).

Boland must be Stanley Bolland who is in the Roll of Honour.

I don't know about Tranfield and Calhoun though.
 
Hi,
my father in Law, the late Jim Keenan was a member of Bonningtons Group (L Detachment) and captured when the Germans beamed the pilot in to their own landing field on 16/11/1941. He was captured and became a POW in Stalag VIIA. He never spoke about his time as POW.
NK
 
Hi Glayva
Do you have any photos of Jim and any further biographical info with which I could create a record.
You can E-mail me at john@specialforcesroh.com if easier.
John
Also photo of Tubby Trenfield in SAS reunion photo.Can't remember which book.
 
sas is made up of whats left of layforce. probably worth matching up their rolls to those captured. mostly 8 commando members, and A,B and C battalion of layforce
 
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