HW-Troop

Wounded 16 June 1944.

Wounded 25 June 1944.

Wounded 18 June 1944.

Wounded 13/14 January 1945.

RAMC att. Heavy Weapons Troop

Wounded 13/14 January 1945.

Hugh Corlett served as Home Based Ledger in Royal Marines Brigade with the rank of Marine until joining 47 RM Commando on the 1st of August 1943 where on the 1st of September 1943 he was promoted to Temporary Corporal and stayed with the Commando until posted to the Plymouth Division on the 16th of January 1946. He was released to Class 'A' on the 27th of March 1946. Hugh served in Heavy Weapons & X Troop.

Killed in action 1 November 1944.

Cpl. Peter Drummond landed on Walcheren 1st November 1944 manning a Vickers Machine Gun, together with his best friend Mne. Derek 'Slim' Shead who was part of a Mortar Team. After the landings they returned back to England and were then posted to Singapore followed by Hong Kong.

Wounded 18 June 1944.

Killed in action 6 June 1944.

Killed in action 6 June 1944.

Wounded 18 June 1944.

Leo Kelly was a Corporal in Heavy Weapons Troop with 47 RM Commando and took part in the Normandy landings. He also landed on Walcheren where he lost his best mate Jimmy Day as they fought their way ashore. (Marine J E Day, killed in action, 1st November 1944).

In 1966 Leo emigrated to South Australia from Liverpool with his wife Marie and their four sons.

Wounded 18 June 1944.

Wounded 13/14 January 1945.

Wounded 2 November 1944.

Wounded 2 November 1944 & 13/14 January 1945.

Wounded 18 June 1944.

Heavy Weapons & Q Troop

RAMC att. Heavy Weapons Troop. Wounded 18 June 1944.

Wounded 18 June 1944.

Died of wounds 15 January 1945.

Killed in action 2 November 1944.

Heavy Weapons & Y Troop. Wounded 16 June 1944.

Mne. Derek 'Slim' Shead was part of a Mortar Team and landed on Walcheren 1st November 1944 together with his best friend Cpl. Peter Drummond who manned a Vickers Machine Gun. After the landings they returned back to England and were then posted to Singapore followed by Hong Kong. Slim used to be a family friend to Mne. Peter Hogan of HQ Troop. After the war he became a Police Constable.

Killed in action 6 June 1944.

Wounded 18 June 1944. Norman Viner lost a leg in Normandy. Despite this, he had an active and successful life. He worked his way up from 'trolley lad' to member of the Senior Management at Cadbury's in Bourneville. He was also for many years a Welfare Officer with BLESMA (British Limbless ex-Service Men's Association) receiving the award of Birmingham's Citizen of the Year on one occasion in recognition of his outstanding work.

Wounded 13/14 January 1945.

Heavy Weapons & Q Troop. Wounded 23 July 1944.

Charles Ernest Wheeler served in 47 RM Commando with Heavy Weapons and landed on D-Day. He fought with them through France and Belgium and took part in the assault on Walcheren island on the 1st of November 1944.

Fred Wildman turned 18 in 1940, the year described as the war's Darkest Hour. He applied for the Navy but was re-directed to the Royal Marines.

During 1941 it wasn't at all clear what he was going to do in A Company of the 10th Battalion. Soon he was put to work on three-inch mortars and Vickers machine guns.

In August 1943, Fred joined the brand new 47 Royal Marine Commando - Heavy Weapons Troop. To win the coveted Green Beret, he was sent to ground breaking and back breaking training at Achnacarry. He left Scotland as fit as a lion and early in 1944 was sent on a cliff climbing course. Then in June he arrived in Southampton alongside thousands of Americans. This was D Day ... one day later than planned. Near the shore, the front was blown off Fred's craft. He was thrown into the sea and began to sink. He just managed to release that weighty mortar sight, saving his life. When he found Cpt. O'Connell soaking next to him he explained his lucky escape. His Captain replied: "Marine Wildman, the wrong object has reached the beach". More heavy fighting followed in France before 47 Royal Marine Commando launched another amphibious landing on the Dutch Island of Walcheren. For the second time in six months, Fred faced ferocious fire from Hitler's Atlantic wall. Somehow Fred had become separated from the rest of Heavy Weapons Troop and was on the wrong landing craft. This was hit by a shell and he prepared to dive into the sea. He gave a yell to Captain O'Connell who shouted something uncomplimentary but brought the Buffalo Landing Craft round to Fred. By this time his Captain had learnt all too well that this was an object that was needed on the beach. Fred had become the unit's Number One Mortar Man. After heavy losses in freezing conditions, the combined efforts of the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and all the other wartime Commando Units, 47 achieved its task.

Wounded 2 November 1944.