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Notice Board (Veterans)
Notice Board (Operations & Units)
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(by e-mail)
Combined Operations Leading Radio Mechanic?
My
father served in the Royal Navy in WWII.
After
Operation Jubilee (Dieppe Raid) and Operation Torch (North Africa
Landings), where he was on HMS Queen Emma as an Able Seaman, he was
selected to be trained as a Leading Radio Mechanic.
After
completion of training as a Leading Radio Mechanic he was posted to HMS
Woolverstone from 10 February 1944 to 9 April 1944. HMS Woolverstone was
a Combined Operations base and I would be interested to know what he
might have been doing there? After that he was posted to HMS Mercury for
further training 11 April to 8 May.
Then in
May 1944 he was posted to HMS Lynx at Dover in Kent. He was there until
December 1944 and unfortunately his service record only shows HMS Lynx
with no ships in brackets and lists his rating as Leading Radio
Mechanic.
He was
obviously there as a Leading Radio Mechanic but we know he witnessed
bodies on the Normandy beaches. How that occurred is a mystery but I
assume his earlier posting to HMS Woolverstone may have been for a good
reason and wonder if there is a Combined Operations connection whilst he
was at Dover, as this is the only unknown period of his naval service?
Has
anyone got any ideas that may help explain the above and how Dad saw
bodies on the Beaches at Normandy?
Many
thanks.
Regards,
Steve
Where
is This?
My
brother and I are working through a collection of photos of our
grandfather (Samuel Griffin) who was an ordained minister and an
artificer with the RCN. He was torpedoed (and rescued) in the
Mediterranean. We’re trying to identify this writing on the back.
Perhaps too the uniform to corroborate his location. Best we can figure
is 8 characters in the name and starts with “S”.
We do
have photo’s as well of him riding a camel near the Sphinx which helps
locate him as being in Egypt.
Any
thoughts out there?
Thank
you sincerely.
Jon
[I think
the location may be HMS
Saunders. Ed.]
Combined Operations Helmet. A friend, attending a house clearance
in Leicester, found what I believe to be quite the find - a joint
operations British camo helmet ? I would love some info on it if
anyone can help.
Yours
Dean Clements
Researching My
Grandfather's War Service. We have recently obtained my
Grandfather's RN records, which showed he joined the RN pre war as an
Ordinary Seaman, later training as an ERM. His service record then
shows he served with Combined Operations as references to
HMS COPRA in his service record attest. He
attended a number of Landing Craft bases during this period most
likely for training purposes. Given he was an ERM, I assume he was
involved with landing craft maintenance. Prior to D Day, he was
stationed at a shore based establishment with the rank of 5th
Class (leading Hand) and then, during the period of D Day, his record
shows he was promoted to 4th Class (PO). Can
anyone give me
information as to how I might find out more about what he may have
been doing.
Many Thanks,
Stuart Ramsden
Dieppe
Raid Sketches by B J Mullen ( 2 of 4
known to exist)
A friend approached
me recently with 4 framed drawings (attached) by B J Mullen of the Dieppe
raid that took place 19 August 1942.
Does anybody have any information on the
whereabouts of the originals.
I think they're prints but any forthcoming
information would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards
Richard Burgess
Tel 07931 969564
HMS Bulolo
Hello...my grandfather, Joseph French, served
aboard HMS Bulolo during WW2 and I have recently inherited his photo album of
wartime photographs with, amongst others, pictures of crewmates. If anyone is
interested, please get in touch.
Paul
PLUTO
- Bernard J Ellis
Dear Geoff,
I wanted to thank
you for posting my call for material on the Combined Operations website, it
has resulted in many descendants of engineers and military personnel who
worked on both PLUTO and Mulberry getting in touch with me.
My PhD has one
year left to run and I was hoping that I might be able to send you another
post for the Combined Operations site. It is in regards to PLUTO. I have
been trying to track down the descendants of the three principle PLUTO
engineers and I have found the families of two. The one which is missing is
that of Bernard J Ellis. I was hoping that a post on the Combined Ops
website might result in a connection being made with the descendants of
Ellis.
Very best wishes
and stay safe,
Jacob
Email: jacob.tl@aol.co.uk
Contact No: 07796284894
Jacob
Thomas-Llewellyn
RN
Armband.
Does
anyone
know on
what
occasions
this
armband
was worn
and what
it
signified.
I found it
in my late
father’s
effects.
He was RN
Combined
Ops and
served as
crew on LCAs.
Thanks in
anticipation.
Hugh
Warner.
Norfolk House - COHQ?
Does anyone know the status
of Norfolk House within Combined Ops? I know Combined Ops moved out of the
Admiralty to Richmond Terrace and have seen that described as COHQ. But I've
also seen Norfolk House (in St James's Square) described as COHQ -- in captions
to a set of photos held by the IWM.
I believe Norfolk House was
used by various overseas armies (eg Canadians) and was also the base of COSSAC,
planning Operation Overlord etc, before it morphed into SHAEF and relocated to
Bushy Park in Kingston.
After his Normandy beach
reconnaissance missions, COPP's Logan Scott-Howden reportedly went to Norfolk
House to brief the generals including Omar Bradley, but then if that was where
they were planning Overlord that would make sense and might not signify any
connection with Combined Ops. And possibly those IWM photo captions, if they
replicate the original captions, were to help hide Norfolk House's planning
role?
Has anyone seen any info
suggesting that Norfolk House was indeed 'COHQ', perhaps as an overflow of
Richmond Terrace? 'Contact Us' via the page banner link above.
Thank you.
Rob Crane
Newhaven Landing Craft.
Please can
anyone tell me what Landing Craft Flotillas sailed from Newhaven, with what type
of craft and what craft could operate from Newhaven Hard?
Any help appreciated.
Bill Ashby.
US
Engineers
at
Fairfields,
Govan,
Glasgow
1944
I'm a
volunteer
at
Fairfields
Heritage
Centre in
Govan,
Glasgow.
Any
information
on my
appeal
below and
any
related
material
will be
greatly
appreciated
and
included
in our
material
in the
heritage
centre.
I'm
following
up a
reference
to four
landing
craft
being
constructed
at
Fairfields
West Yard
in Govan,
Glasgow in
1944 by US
personnel,
possibly
United
States
Army Corps
of
Engineers.
I believe
this may
be related
to an
overspill
from the
Roseneath
Base due
to
additional
capacity
being
needed in
the run up
to D-Day.
(Some
construction/repair
work was
apparently
carried
out at the
Castle
Shipyard
in Port
Glasgow
due to
extra
capacity
being
needed
from
Roseneath).
Any
information
on such
landing
craft
construction
at
Fairfields
in 1944,
details of
the craft,
personnel
and
photographs
will be
hard to
find after
the
passage of
75 years
but not
impossible!
I
understand
that
landing
craft may
have been
constructed
in the UK
from
scratch or
may have
involved
joining
together
pre-assembled
units that
had been
built and
shipped
over from
shipyards
in the US.
I've been
in touch
with USACE
archives
in the US
but there
were no
obvious
links to
suitable
material
in their
archives
which are
quite
vast.
Many
thanks in
advance
for any
information
received.
Best
wishes
Alastair
Hart
Mulberry
Harbour
Construction
Yards.
I am
trying to
find some
information
about the
building/construction
companies
involved
with the
Mulberry
harbours.
I believe
that 300
companies
were
involved.
I am
particularly
interested
in E H
Burgess
Ltd who
may have
been one
of them.
It is a
long time
ago and so
much
information
has been
lost. Can
anyone
help
please?
Peter
Moore
Silver
Combined Ops Badge
This badge was purchased at a
military fair in Belfast but its provenance before that is unknown as is its
purpose. It may have been a sweetheart broach or pendant from around 1943, which
is supported by wear marks of a neck chain or cord. Is it unique or are there
other examples? A slightly amended version will repose in the Commando museum in
the Spean Bridge Hotel, not far from the famous Commando Memorial. If you have
any thoughts, please get in touch. [Link in page banner.]
Operation
OVERLORD - PLUTO Pipelines & Mulberry Harbours
I
am a PhD student currently undertaking my doctoral research with the University
of Reading at the Department of History. My project focuses on the design and
manufacture of the Mulberry Harbours and the Pipeline Under The Ocean (PLUTO).
This is an appeal for any material including letters, company papers,
blueprints, photos, diaries etc. relating to these projects. Of particular
interest are any records relating to the work of the military planning
department Transportation 5 (TN5) and the principle planning staff responsible
for PLUTO. Additionally, any material pertaining to the relationship between the
military and the political establishment during the preparation for Operation
OVERLORD would be gratefully received. I can be contacted at the following:
Email: jacob.tl@aol.co.uk
Contact No: 07796284894
Jacob
Thomas-Llewellyn
HMS Tuna.
This is
the
footplate
from HMS
Tuna. It
is 12 x
24inch and
made of
solid
brass
1/2ins
thick.
I've been
unable to
find out
where it
was placed
on the
submarine
but
suspect it
may have
been on
the
outside
the
conning
tower or
at the
bottom.
I'm
writing in
the hope
that a
visitor to
your site
may be
able to
help.
Cheers
Brian.
Glenborrodale Castle - HMS Dorlin.
I am researching the history of Glenborrodale Castle, which was used as a base
for Combined Ops training and was part of HMS Dorlin. I would be interested to
hear from anyone who remembers (or who had a relative who remembered) training
there or any other information about how the Castle was used and the camp around
it. I have names for a few personnel who remained at HMS Dorlin after active
training ceased and a Care and Maintenance Party remained – Lt. Commander W
Pepperell (Retired), Temporary Acting Lt. (Sp) W Coutts RNVR, E. Jenkins, Seaman
RNPS LT/JX.241631, Temporary Paymaster Lt. D T Smith RNVR, Temporary Acting
Paymaster Sub Lt. T C Hackett RNVR, and Mr E G Pratt, Temporary Boatswain, RN.
I’d be interested to hear
from anyone who has any info at all (or photos) on the HMS Dorlin bases – Dorlin
House, Shielbridge House, Glencripesdale House (all three blown up at varying
points up to 20 years after the end of WW2), Glenborrodale Castle (which has
survived and is currently for sale) and Salen. I’ve lived in the Glenborrodale
area for 30 years now and am regretting that I didn’t start this project
earlier!
Yours
Gill Calver
Glenborrodale, Ardnamurchan
US
Combined
Special
Operations
Patch.
I'm the
Director
of the
Fort
Tuthill
Military
Museum
Regimental
Museum of
the 158th
Infantry
Regiment/158th
Regimental
Combat
Team
Arizona
National
Guard.
Several
years ago
a woman
accompanied
her aging
American
Indian
Grandfather
on a tour
of our
museum.
She gave
us a
picture of
her
Grandfather
and two
other
American
Indian
soldiers
taken in
the
Solomon
Islands
during WW
II. She
advised
all three
were
members of
the 158th
Infantry
Regiment.
She also
showed us
a picture
of a the
Combined
Special
Operations
Patch they
wore.
Although
the
regiment
saw
extensive
combat in
New Guinea
and the
Philippines
they were
not
involved
in the
Solomon
Islands.
We are
attempting
to
determine
how three
members of
the 158th
Infantry
wound up
in the
Solomon
Islands as
a part of
a Combined
Special
Operations
Unit. In
the event
you have
any
information
that may
assist us
or might
be able to
suggest a
contact it
would be
sincerely
appreciated
.
Thank you
very much.
James
Warbassee
Director
Fort
Tuthill
Military
Museum
Memorial to Operation
Archery on Maaloy.
I am trying to find information and possibly a picture of a monument that
was dedicated on Aug 30th 1970 on the island of Maaloy in Norway. It
commemorates those members of HM Armed Forces who died in the combined
operation which took place on December 27th 1941. My uncle, RCAF Pilot
Officer Roderick McLachlan's name is inscribed on the monument which is
described as being made of granite, six metres high surmounted by a golden
ball held by two hands.
Thank you for any help you can provide in my search. I am 78 years old and
trying to gather up some family history to leave to my five children and
nine grandchildren.
Ronald
McLachlan
Fairlie
House in WW2.
Greetings from Dundonald in Ayrshire. I’m trying to
find out what unit (don’t even know the service) was stationed in Fairlie
House during WW2, a stately home not far from RAF Dundonald. I know
nearby Dankeith House was the HQ for 516 and 1441 Squadrons, but it seems
likely that Fairlie House was also commandeered for wartime use. I know
men stationed there played football with the local lads. Any information
would be most welcome.
Regards and thanks
Bob McMillan
HMS
Hilary.
My Father, William Louthe, was a fireman on
the HMS Hilary at Juno beach. I am attaching information on him and
a wartime photo.
He is center back row. I am looking for photos of the crew, my father and
any information about him.
Thank you in anticipation.
Alan Louthe
HMS Glenearn.
I read with interest your article
on HMS Glenearn. My 97 year old Dad, Robbie Clark, remembers the ship as
the one that evacuated him from Souda Bay Crete just before the German
invasion. He says it was the last ship to leave. I wonder if anyone knows
when this evacuation happened. My Dad was taken prisoner at Tobruk on 21st
June 1942 and together we're trying to work out the timeline of these
momentous events in his life.
Kind regards
Mike Clark
Preserved WW2 Landing Craft.
Does anyone know where I could take
my Dad to see a Landing Craft for his 90th birthday in June. He served in
the Navy but missed the D Day landings due to a broken back.
Thanks to anyone who can help.
Ged Burrows
PLUTO's Agricultural
Tractors.
I was recently looking through old copies of the Alton
Gazette (Hampshire) and came across the following for 6 January 1971 in
the ‘25 Years Ago’ section, '1946 4 Jan., two agricultural ploughing
machines returned to Wrights by the Petroleum Warfare Department after
working on Operation Pluto.’
Edward Walton Wright, traction engine
proprietor, moved to The Butts, Alton, about 1900. He died in 1933 when
business continued as Wright’s (Alton) Ltd. I am wondering if anyone
knows anything more about the ploughing machines that went from Alton to
be part of the Operation.
Yours
Jane (Hurst)
Dutch/English Translation.
I’m looking for help in translating a
short story of the part my Dutch uncle played in WW2 and how he came to
fight with the Canadians against Hitler and his invasion. After the war
was over, he emigrated to Canada returning to his native Netherlands after
some years.
Thank you in
anticipation,
Gordon Forbes
Mystery
WW2 Vessel.
I wonder if anyone can identify the vessel in the
attached photo. I think it may be the landing craft my late father in law
served on during the D Day invasion of Normandy. He said his craft carried
American soldiers and, I think, tanks. I also recall him saying that it
struck a mine after many trips back and forth across the channel. His name
was Kenneth Watkins and he was a south Walian from Cefn Fforest, though he
did spend a number of years working and living in Wolverhampton (pre war)
before returning to Cefn Fforest. (Click photo to enlarge.)
For any info' you can give me, I would be very grateful.
Many thanks
Richard Green.
HMS Misoa's
Badge.
Greetings Geoff. As an avid collector of ships' badges, I
have located a picture of HMS MISOA, F117 LCT. I wonder if anyone has a
picture of this ship's badge or knows where I may find one. The badge is
a diamond frame and the ship has six battle honours and a motto we came, we saw, we conquered.
With all this information to hand I'm keen to add an image of this
ship's badge to my collection. I would also appreciate any
pictures of wartime badges (crests ) of any ships / boats used by the
Combined Operations Command.
Warm regards
Tom
Grant.
UK Merchant Marine, Captain
Adam Leask.
He was in a north Atlantic convoy in the fall of 1942, when his
ship was sunk by enemy action. He and his crew were picked up and taken to
Halifax. Unable to acquire a command to return to the UK, he joined the US
Military and was given command of the Lt Colonel Matthews under the
Command of the Corp of Engineers. His ship proceeded to the Koksoak River in
Northern Quebec where the US were building one of three airports to ferry planes
to the UK. This was a secret war time venture, code named Crystal 1 to 3. His
ship was towing a barge up this river, when it apparently struck a hidden sand
bar. The ship and all its crew were lost. I've tried for years to find out what
happened to my grandfather and his crew. Were their bodies recovered? Where, if
any, are they buried? Was there any recognition given to any of them? Any
information or details of any place or person to contact will be greatly
appreciated. Thanking you in anticipation,
Peter Leask
Thames
River Cruiser FARMAR, London.
The owner of this boat believes it has an interesting WW2 history and would
like to find out more. It seems FARMAR was one of several similar craft built in
1937 by the James Taylor Boatyard for the gentry of the day in and around
Chertsey, Surrey. (N0165447 Reg 8/100). If you can
help, please phone David Bradford 07835301423 or e-mail this website and
your message will be forwarded.
Dutch 'Observer
Corp' Equipment.
I am a 'Friend' of Fort Pannerden which is near the German
border in Holland where the Rhine enters Holland and splits forming the river Waal and the Pannerdens Kanaal. Fort Pannerden was constructed around 1870 and
has been recently renovated. During the early years of the "cold war" an
observation post was positioned on top of the fort. (Photo opposite). It was
manned by the Korps Luchtwacht Dienst from 1950 to 1964 when their primary task
was to observe the movement of Russian aircraft over the area.
Ideally we would like to reinstate an identical apparatus
which bears the trade name NEHOME and to find out more about it. Failing this we
would look at the possibility of making a working copy.
I will be very grateful to hear from anyone with information that might help us
achieve our goal. Just click on the e-mail icon opposite.
With
kind regards,
Johan Kip
RM Commando Vehicles.
I'm
currently marking up a 1943 Jeep in 48 RM Commando unit markings along
with Captain Martyn Heenan who is restoring a James ML motorbike. I
wonder if anyone knows what markings were used on RM Commando vehicles
involved in the D-Day landings - Combined Operations insignia or the
Commando dagger? ... and did the markings change later in the war? We
know the dagger was used post war, but we have also read that only HQ
vehicles used the Combined Ops badge. Any opinions or sources of
information we could consult would be very much appreciated.
Cheers,
Sean. (Also on 45 RM Commando
page).
Photos of British Army and Royal Marine Cloth Badges in use on Uniforms.
I am completing a book which tells the story of the many cloth badges worn
on battledress, khaki drill and jungle green uniforms by the British Army
and Royal Marines between 1939 and 1967. I'm looking for original clear
photos of such badges being worn - especially from the period 1946 to
1947. If possible I would like to borrow original photos which will
be scanned and returned by Royal Mail Special Delivery within
a
few days. I am happy to pay any postage incurred. Scans at 600 dpi are
fine for my purpose if you would prefer not to send originals. If you can
help please contact me on the e-mail link opposite.
Many thanks in
anticipation.
Jon Mills.
Royal
Naval Commando Uniforms.
I've just joined Combinedops by paypal and
already I have some questions which you might be able to help me with. All
are about Royal Naval Commando uniforms. Firstly were green berets worn by
ranks and ratings and if so what sort of cap badge was worn by other
ranks? Secondly, did Royal Naval Commandos wear the yellow thread
tombstone Combined Operations insignia on their battledress or was it for
dress uniform? For those
Commandos trained as parachutists, were the wings worn above or below the
combined operations insignia on the right arm?... and finally what colours of lanyards did each Naval Commando wear as I believe each
"letter" wore a different colour.
Many
thanks for any help you can give.
Simon Moore.
Greatstone , Kent - PLUTO Bungalows.
I have started a website for Greatstone in Kent (where I live) at
www.greatstone.net. I am working
on building up the history and wish to add some information on PLUTO
which passed through the area. I have read your page on PLUTO and other
information but can find no specific references to the role that
Greatstone had in the operation. There's plenty about Dungeness but
nothing about Greatstone.
I am told, by a local resident that some of the bungalows in Leonard Road,
Greatstone were somehow involved given that they are known locally as
'PLUTO bungalows.' Were they used to house pumping stations? If so pumping
from where to where? How many were there etc etc. Did the pipelines go
under the sea from Greatstone or from Dungeness? (given that some people
do not differentiate between the two).
I am hoping either you can help me or you know someone who can.
Thanks in
anticipation.
Peter Faulkner.
PLUTO - Pipeline Under the
Ocean.
The Vicar of Pear Tree
Church in Southampton was recently advised by a visitor that 'Old School
House' in Pear Tree Road (opposite the church and built by the church
before 'state' schools were common) was the wartime operation headquarters
for PLUTO. However, he cannot verify that this was the case. No doubt the
information is held in the National Archive in Kew but both the vicar and
I would be interested to hear from anyone with information about this.
If we can verify this account I'll
add information and photos (courtesy of the vicar) to the website's
PLUTO page.
Geoff
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