A-Troop

Wounded 2 November 1944.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

A & B Troop. Joining up in May 1941, Ronald Beck, who was known as Joe while in the Marines, subsequently joined 47 RM Commando. He served in A Troop and B Troop, taking part in both the Normandy and Walcheren landings. After the war he worked for English China Clay in the quarry at Plymstock in Plymouth where he was a plant operator.

A, X & Y Troop.

Evacuated sick 22 June 1944.

Capt. Gerry Brent (born Gunther Harry Berendt) was originally commissioned October 1944 in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, although he never served with them until the war was over.

When joining the combined services, he joined 47 RM Commando in Brugge as 2nd Lt. after their return from Walcheren. During the final inspection by Colonel Philips in the market place of Brugge, he stopped in front of him and asked what the black 'flash' on the back of the uniform jacket at neck level was meant to be. He explained the history of the 'flash' to him and pronounced him a 'Royal Welch Marine'. He took part in the patrolling of the south bank of the River Maas and took part in the battle at Kapelsche Veer. As an army officer he was somewhat displaced serving in the Royal Marines and decided to leave after the last battle at Kapelsche Veer.

In March 1945 he transferred to No. 6 Army Commando, where he served out the rest of the war. He ended up witnessing the massacre of the remnants of the last few thousand concentration camp survivors by the SS at Lübeck Bay in May 1945.

After a short sojourn in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, 7th battalion, the regiment was disbanded and in January 1946 he was transferred to Rhine Army Headquarters as staff officer with the lowest rank of Captain.

Wounded 7 June 1944. Jack Brooks served in A Troop and on D-Day his landing craft hit a mine. He managed to swim ashore, about a hundred yards, but had to ditch his kit or he would have drowned. So he was one of the many who began the invasion unarmed. He was wounded while in action in Port en Bessin and sent back to hospital in England via an American Field Hospital. Jack rejoined the unit on Walcheren after his recovery and remained with 47 RM Commando until he was demobbed.

A & B Troop. Wounded 7 June 1944.

A & Q Troop. Wounded 13/14 January 1945. Charles Cadman was wounded by shrapnel in his calf in January 1945 at Kapelsche veer and was carried to safety by a colleague. He joined the Royal Marines in 1942 until demobbed in 1946.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

A & Q Troop. Chad served from October 1944 to Febuary 1946 in 47 RM Commando, 46 RM Commando, and 41 RM Commando. He stayed on the Dutch islands of Walcheren and Noord-Beveland until his Troop moved to new billets in the town of Aalten near the German border in May 1945.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

SAUDE att. A Troop. Wounded 23 July 1944.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

Captain Terence Cousins was killed during an attack on German positions on the Eastern feature in Port-en-Bessin, on 7 June 1944.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

Arthur Delap was born in Byker, in the East End of Newcastle, in July 1920. He left school at age of fourteen and started training as a joiner in the shipyards before moving to Vickers, the armaments manufacturer. When war broke out, as he was in a 'protected profession' he was not required to serve in the forces. However, he was keen to do his bit for King and country and decided to join up, with a preference for the Navy. But at the recruiting office he was rejected for the Navy because he was colour-blind. Fortunately, a Marine Sergeant Major overheard the conversation and said that they would take him on. Arthur thought about it, and cheekily said he would sign up for the Marines, as long as he was able to work on ships. Arthur returned home to the Northeast in 1947 and went back to shipbuilding. In 1950 he married his sweetheart Molly, the boss's daughter that he had met and courted whilst working in Vickers. Arthur was good at making things and very artistic. Having missed out on joining the Navy, Arthur decided to build his own sailing boat, a little Enterprise racing dinghy.

Wounded 1 November 1944.

A & Q Troop. Lt. Roger Dobson joined the Royal Marines at Deal Barracks in Kent in June 1942, was commissioned on April 3rd. 1944 and in November of that year went to Achnacarry. He joined 47 Commando in early March 1945. Roger Dobson, also known as Dobbie, was a Lieutenant who served in both A and Q Troops. In June 1944 he worked in the docks and witnessed 47 RM Commando embarking for Normandy and had a brief word with one of the men. He immediately decided to volunteer for Commando training. In March 1945 he was assigned to 47 RM Commando and joined them in Holland. He actually recognised the man he had spoken to as Sgt Mark Packer (A Troop). He arrived after Kapelsche veer so he didn't see any action other than patrolling the banks of the River Maas, nevertheless he served from then onwards through the difficult period when 47 RM Commando helped to bring order to a disintegrated Europe.

Wounded 13/14 January 1945.

Wounded 7 June 1944. Killed in action 14 January 1945.

Alan David George Eglington served as Home Based Ledger in Royal Marines Division until he joined 47 RM Commando on the 1st of August 1943 and stayed with the Commando until the 4th of August 1943. The following day he went to Royal Marines Training Group until he was transferred to HMS "Copra" on the 26th of September 1943 where he served until the 8th of February 1945 and went back to Royal Marines Training Group until transferred to HMS "Odyssey" on the 29th of March 1945 where he served until the 18th of July and went back to RMTG the following day. On the 31st of January 1946 he went to the Chatham Division from where he was released Class 'A' on the 5th of April 1946. Cpl. Eglington was attached to A & Q Troop.

A & Q Troop. Killed in action 2 November 1944.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

(*Military Cross) Wounded 7 June 1944.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

Posted away 1 July 1944 - RN Party 1500.

Wounded 3 November 1944.

(*Military Medal) RAMC att. A Troop

Wounded 28 June 1944.

Wounded 23 July 1944.

A & X Troop. Died of wounds 21 August 1944.

Wounded 23 July 1944.

A & Q Troop. Wounded 3 November 1944.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

Killed in action 2 November 1944.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

HQ Troop (Signals) att. A Troop.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

Brian Oates was killed of a direct hit from one of the flak-ships in the Port-en-Bessin harbour, while trying to take the western feature.

Wounded 23 July 1944.

(*Military Medal) Wounded 7 June 1944.

Wounded 29 June 1944.

On the day the Commando was sent back on the line in the Sallenelles area after a few days rest, Mne. Parr was wounded by shrapnel from an exploding grenade which went through his chest. As a result he spent two years in hospital and lost one lung.

Sgt. Patey was demoted to marine before being transferred to A-Troop

A & HQ Troop

Killed in action 2 November 1944. Harold Plank joined RM Depot Deal on the 9th of October 1939 and went to Plymouth Division on the 17th of April 1940. He joined 47 RM Commando on the 1st of August 1943 until the day he was killed on the Dutch island Walcheren.

Cpl. Tom Robbins was in the original 10th battalion RM, he went on six Norway landings known as Timberforce, and was one of the few who survived taking the western feature in Port-en-Bessin, France. Tom witnessed his mate Brian Oates getting killed of a direct hit from one of the flak-ships in the harbour of Port-en-Bessin, while trying to take the western feature. Tom saw action in Norway, France, Holland and Germany.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

A & HQ Troop

Distinguished Service Order

RE att. A & HQ Troops.

Ernest Staphnill was a Royal Engineer attached to A & HQ Troops from the Royal Engineers Corps. He was a driver on a Weasel during the Walcheren landings. Brought up in the West Midlands, Ernie Staphnill was in a reserved occupation in Smethwick then Birmingham, at one point working on Rolls Royce Merlin engines. He joined the Home Guard and manned ack-ack guns during air raids before being called up early in 1944 to the 52 Lowland Division Royal Engineers where he learnt to drive all kinds of military transport in all manner of conditions. He and other drivers joined 47 RM Commando just outside Caen, helping to replace the considerable casualties which had been taken, then moved on to Fécamp and eventually Antwerp. Subsequently, he took part in the landing on Walcheren driving a Weasel and stayed with the Commando until its disbandment.

Suffolk Regiment att. A Troop.

Killed in action 2 November 1944.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

Killed in action 6 June 1944.

A, HQ, Q & Y-Troop (Signals)

On 6 June 1944, Arthur was in one of the landing craft which sunk after it received a direct hit from German mortar fire. Arthur was brought back to Portsmouth to recover and get refitted, and rejoined 47 Commando after the liberation of Port-en-Bessin in the Sallenelles area.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

Wounded 2 November, died of wounds 4 November 1944.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

Killed in action 30 June 1944.

(*Bronze Lion / Bronze Cross)

Wounded 7 June 1944.

Wounded 7 June 1944.

Killed in action 7 June 1944.

Evacuated sick 18 July 1944. Wounded 19 August 1944.

HQ & A Troop. Wounded 6 June & 16 August 1944.

Capt. 'Timber' Wood, was promoted to Major and acting Lt.Col. towards the end of the war, later became Adjutant.