COMBINEDOPS - THEY ALSO SERVED

Remembering those who served the Allied cause under the Combined Operations Command in WW2. They also did their duty.

Family and friends of veterans (living or not) who served in the Combined Operations Command are welcome to add veteran's details to this page in the way of a personal tribute. We owe a debt of gratitude to all who served the Allied cause in Combined Operations including those who returned home after the conflict. [A blue underlined entry is a link to additional information of possible interest. Assume UK Nationality unless otherwise stated.]

O LORD GOD, our Father, our Saviour, our Might, we pray Thee take into Thy keeping us who are joined together in a trinity of arms on sea, on land, and in the air in this our special service for King and Country. We pledge ourselves to do, to dare, to die that others might live, believing in Him who said; "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Grant us faith, courage, and determination that we fail not in whatever duty may lie before us, and may we be enabled by Thy Divine Grace to bear our part in establishing peace on earth and goodwill amongst men. This we ask for Jesus Christ, His sake. Amen.

Surname

Init

Rank

Service No

Service/Regiment

Other incl. Nationality

Ablewhite

Pte

Lincolnshire Regiment & 11 Scottish Commando

Badly wounded during the Litani River Raid.

Alexander

K W

A/Cpl LAC

648576

RAF Combined Operations 1941 - 45

North Africa, Suez Canal, Saudi Arabia, Syracuse Sicily, Naples, Italy, Anzio, Malta, Juhu India, Gibraltar, France. RIP 23/6/07 Photo

Amess

F J

PJX 327866

RN LCT 611

D-day and Walcheren [New Zealand]

Anderton

T A

Stoker 1st

KX 147311

RN Att HMS Copra

COPRA

Andrew

Royal Naval T Commando

Assistant Beach Master, King Green/Gold beach. RIP 20/10/12

Baker

L F

Sgt

901911

RAFSC 3203

Barker

J W

Cpl

POX 107600

Royal Marine

LCF 20 on D Day

Barry

K M

AB (MiD)

P/JX 388551

RN Commando 'R'

Bashford

R L

Cpl

6872561

6 Commando

Bass

A G

PX119454

Royal Marine Commando

Bennett

J I

Pte

3911811

3 Commando HQ Trp

The Welch Regiment / S.W. Borderers 1940-46

Berrisford

P J

Sgt. (MM)

N/K

6 Commando 4 Trp

Op Torch

Bingham

Marine

CHX 112104

HMS Glenearn 23/11/42 to 22/7/46

Blackmore

Sub Lt (RNVR)

RNVR. RN Commando 'R'

Sword Beach

Bland

J T

PO (DSM)

P/JX186974

RN Commando

Bruneval, Dunkirk, Lofoten
Islands, Dieppe (Lovatt), Torch, Daffodil (Nth Africa), Sicily and Italy.

Boreham

Sgt

N/K

6 Commando

Boulton

Bombardier

11 Scottish Commando

Litani River Raid. Later Lt in 9th Btn DLI

Boultwood

G J

Major

11th Battalion the Devonshire Regiment

Landing Craft Expert attached to Combined Operations

Briggs

A W

Pte

PO 7X108025

41 RM Commando

Sicily and Salerno. RIP 2006

Burgess

J C

Gunner

2066140

4 Commando

Royal Artillery. RIP 1985 Commando Certificate

Campbell

T H H

Sapper

1877061

9 Commando

RIP 1984

Chadwick

Corporal

PLY 106824

Royal Marines

HMS Empire Mace D Day & with "X" Force

Christie

Pte

3861947

5 Commando 6 Troop (Loyals)

6/42 to 12/45. [ John Christie writes; I wonder if any photo of the troop exists which may include my father. He served in 5 commando from 1942 to 1945. Please contact us in first instance. ]

Cooling

Pilot

RAF

516 Squadron

Coulthread

D E

L/Cpl

3061447

11 Scottish Commando Royal Scots Greys

Op Flipper Black Hackle
Keyes' Batman

Cowan

JX328854

RN Att HMS Copra

COPRA

Crosby

A J

B Troop, 7 Commando

Served in North Africa and injured on Crete. RIP June 1978

Crowell

M M

CPO

K0465625

RCNVR

1941 - 45

Cruikshanks

D/JX340221

RN Commando, Beach Signal Section 9

Scottish soldier at El Al Amein, Algiers, Sicily, Italy, D-Day Gold Beach. RIP 26/12//06

Daisley

E A

Royal Navy

LCT39 Coxswain on D-Day. Trained at HMS Dinosaur 1944.

Dandy

A J

Cpl

1533625

3210 RAF Servicing Commando

Armourer. RIP 8/8/95. Photo

Dolling

A J

Act. Leading Stoker

KX132341

RN Att HMS COPRA & SOE

HMS Royal Arthur, Canada (training), North Atlantic, Italy, Landing Craft (Normandy) & Far East. Born 25/07/1911, died 26/12/1999.

Donnison

R E

Pte

4807481

5 Commando

1941-46

Dunn

A C

1450390

3202 RAF Servicing Commando

Africa & Italy

Eden

CJX 355755

Landing craft (Omaha)

Edeson

P J

Pte

CLX /109402

Royal Marine

LCG (Long) 18

Elcome

H J C

LAC

1717143

RAF SCU 3204 +2TAF

1942-47. RIP 2003.

Emery

AB (DSM)

SSX 29684

Royal Naval Beach Commando Fox

Wounded Sword beach 6^th June 1944. RIP Nov 1950.

Finucane

F V

Leading Seaman

J100901 & P/JX 667462

RN att HMS Copra

HMS Princess Astrid.

Landing Craft, Dieppe, Sicily, D-Day. 1905 - 1987

Folkes

Telegraphist

PJX/415098

RN att HMS Copra

D Day, North Atlantic Convoys, South of France landings.

Ford

C D

Telegraphist

D/JX 359899

RN att HMS Copra

Bombardment Unit. Sicily, Salerno, Anzio south of France

Francis

W A

RN att HMS Copra

Landing Craft (Juno Beach) RIP 18 April 2012

Gamblin

F J

V59716

RCNVR - RN (Beach) Commandos

New Brunswick, Canada. RIP 1994

Gardner

W J

Sqd Leader

44552

RAF 105 Wing

HQ Ship Personnel Holding Unit.

Gaster

Asst Beachmaster

William Alfred Francis.

Royal Naval Commando

Trained at HMS Armadillo, Scotland.

Glen

Flt/Sgt (MiD)

976168

RAF Radar

FDT 217. RIP 2000

Gorle

H W

Pte

B66881

Royal Regiment of Canada

Wounded Dieppe 1942, POW, Repatriated 1944

Graham

T J W

Stoker 1st Class

P/KX161168

HMS Copra 1/9/43 to 24/8/44

May have been involved in Operation Taxable - the D-Day deception convoy.

Grant

Pte

2080011

3 Commando

7^th Bn. Durham Light Infantry Lofoton Islands; Vaagso & Malloy. RIP 2005 [Photo]

Green

Pte

PLY/X 111456

4th Commando Brigade

Signal Troop

Hailes

S B

L/Cpl

4620600

3 Commando 1 Troop

1940-42 POW Dieppe

Hale

W A

AC1

1321644

N/K

Sicily, Anzio, Tunisia and Arnhem

Hall

R M

JX149429

RN Commando 'K"

RIP 13 Nov 2006

Hamilton

RAF

Served on FDT 216 off the Normandy beaches.

Hamilton

Temp Lt (E)

RNVR - HM LST425

DSC for courage, endurance and determination in transporting men and supplies to Normandy.

Hannam

R H

RN Commando

D-Day. Survived the assault and overland to Hamburg.

Harper

K J

L/Cpl

PLY/X111654

Marine Signals.

Joined February 1942 & took part in the D-Day Landings Gold Beach. Demobbed July 46. Deceased September 1976 Aged 51.

Heath

P/JX 418280

RN Commando 'R3'

Normandy, Sword Beach - 6/6/44. RIP 1/1/2008
RN Commandos

Henderson

L F M

Pte

V41125

RCNVR

Canadian

Henson

F L

JX376601

HMS Quebec 1943, HMS Copra 1943/44, HMS Appledore. LCOCU (Landing Craft Obstacle Clearance Unit.)

LCOCU - trained to remove underwater mines and beach obstacles prior to D-Day. Very hazardous work. Landed with Canadians at NanGreen Sector, Juno Beach. RIP 27/12/84

Higgins

H C

Commando

Injured in the Raid on Vaagso, Norway in Dec 1941. The photo shows him receiving medical treatment in the field of battle.

Hill

Marine

PLY. X107588

HMS COPRA HMS Dinosaur, HMS Quebec & HMS Westcliff. HMS Sultan 2.

Served in Landing Craft Gun (Large) 13. Gold Beach, Sicily & Burma. Burma Star, Italy Star, France V.G. Star. Died 8th September 1991

Howard

C/X 112798

Royal Marines, 539 Assault Flotilla

Normandy & Pacific. RIP 16/6/07

Irving

M A

Cpl

4205846

4 Commando

Normandy (Sword Beach) & Walcheren. Aug 1941- Dec 1945

Jackson

W J R

66722(v)

SANF(V) sec'd. RN.

South African. L.C.S.(M) Boat Officer, 940th Flotilla. Operations Ironclad 1942 and Stream. Burma 1943, Mayu River Party.

Jenkins

R E

Royal Marines

Combined Operations 814 Flotilla

Johnson

S P

JX373958

RN HMS Copra

LCT995, LCI(L)209. RIP 23/11/2000

Jones

J B

Pte

5347501

9 Commando

1941-1945. RIP 2004

Jones

T A J

Stoker 1st Class

KX 525510

HMS Cricket (Landing Craft Base) and HMS Hornet RN Bases. Served on MTBs as part of Coastal Defences.

Known affectionately as Arnie (Arnold) or TAJ Jones

Keen

J T

Sub Lt RIN

Royal Indian Navy. Combined Operations from late 1943.

Served on landing craft in Burma in 1945 after training near Bombay in 1944. [1922 - 1996].

Keyworth

Landing Craft Crew

RN (Landing Craft Assault)

Dieppe Raid and D-Day (Omaha) RIP July 2010.

King

L A

Leading Seaman.

C/JX 379424

Piloting a LCA

DSM for gallantry at action on the Dutch Coast in 1944 (believed to be Operation Infatuate - Walcheren)

Knutsen

O K

Korporal

No. 5 (Norwegian) Troop of No. 10 Inter-Allied Commando.

D-Day & Walcheren. Norwegian.

Laming

F A

Pte

897518

Gordons & 9 Commando

Africa and Italy

Law

P E

Telegrapher

JK358525

RN Landing Craft

Served on LCG 14

Learmouth

JX33276?

RN Landing Craft

Sunk on D-Day off Omaha

Leo

LAC

1727259

3207 RAF Servicing Commando

Burma & India 1944/45. RIP 2006

Maguire

A/CMM (CPO)

V27093

RCNVR 80th Flotilla

1941-45. Canadian

Maines

Corp

4197433

No 1 Commando

North France, Operation Torch, Burma,
RIP 12/11/78

McAllister

WHC

Pte

842944

No 9 Commando 5Troop

RIP 08/01/99

McGinnis

W D

Attached No 1 Commando

US 34 Inf Div. Op Torch (North Africa). USA.

McKenzie

Sgt

2748467

2nd Para Battalion

DCM (11/42 Tunisia) & MM (02/42 Bruneval)

Merry

W E

JX 382962

RN 131 Flotilla

1942-1945

Miles

G J

Leading Seaman

P/SSX 30846

RN (Naval Commando)

Coxswain on Tank Landing Craft. RIP 1981

Miles

W J

RN Portsmouth Division

Gold beach (Launched from Princess Margaret), Walcheran, Antwerp, Rhine crossing (wounded), Java ,Sumatra, Malaya, India. RIP 25/06/07.

Mitchinson

N R

CPO

V8986

RCNVR

Dieppe, North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Normandy and South France. Cox’n on LCI (L) 271, Flotilla 264, on D-Day. (1919 – 2008).

Mooney

Royal Navy
(Motor Mechanic)

KIA Operation Chariot, St Nazaire 28th March 1942.

Moreton

W G

JX 328617

Royal Navy

HMS Indomitable, LCG 5 & LCG 18.

Morris

Pte

2756712

Blackwatch (Parachutist)

Attached C Batallion Layforce L Detachment. POW Nov 1941. MM for escape/evasions and Special Operations, (Actions with Partisans in Italy).

Muddle

LAC

1655091

FDT 216

Posted to India after 216 was sunk off Normandy.

Norman

R T G

W/O

PO/X102244(T)

No 3 Trp RM Eng Commando

16 theatres of war. See Commando Service Certificate. RIP 1983.

Nugent

S/Sgt

13119435

101 Royal Pioneer Beach Assault Group

22 Beach Brigade

Oakley

Royal Naval Beach Commando

RIP 2007

O'Marah

A J

TSM

4185353

No1 Commando

RWF & 142 Commando Company, Burma.

Orton

L/Cpl

2819656

No 11 Commando. Later L Det SAS Brigade.

Reported missing in action 16/11/41 on the Timimi/Gazala raid (Operation Crusader). Later confirmed as a PoW. On release transferred to the RASC until 24/05/47.

Parr

Temp Lt (DSC 4/11/44)

JX264305

RNVR

HM LCT 379, HM LCT 369 and HM LCT 304. OiC of HM LCG 5 and HM LCG 18.

Parris

HMS Largs (?)

Army radio operator. (1923-1996)

Peace

Cpl

No 8 Commando

Ex Coldstream Guards. RIP 1982

Peachey

L/Sgt (MM & Bar)

3654154

2 commando 4 troop (South Lancs.Regt)

St Nazaire, Salerno Argentina, Vaagso, and Op. Butcher Germany

Peel

S E

Leading Stoker

D/KX129758

RN Assault group G.2

DSM for courage and undaunted devotion to duty. (1911-1983)

Petty

A H

ABS

V.54229

RCN Beach Commando W

Canada (RIP 3/11/11)

Phillips

W P A

LAC

1477035

HMS Largs 1941-1946

Torch, Corkscrew, Husky, Avalanche, Overlord, Dragoon, Argonaut, Dracula & Zipper
RIP 15/5/06

Poolton

J A

Pte

B67587

Royal Regiment of Canada

Dieppe, Prisoner of War, Stalag VIIIB. Survived ordeal. Passed away aged of 87 in 2005.

Port

Pte

2991563

5th Troop, 9 Commando

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. RIP 1973

Prentice

J C E

SQMS

24329427

Royal Signals. Served within Combined Ops, 4th Ships Signals Section

HMS Goatland, HMS Lothian, HMS Persimmon & all HQ ships.

Price

A G

JX129595

RN Landing Craft

Purdom

R S

Coxswain

RN Landing Craft

Normandy, Gold Beach. RIP 7/6/09.

Ralph

AB Radar

PJX 305939

North Africa, Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy, Malta, Normandy (Sword Beach HQ Ship HMS Largs).

Rees

L N

Sub Lt

RNVR

Ordinary Seaman 10^th M L Flotilla Coastal Forces HMS Black Bat. Sub Lt. HMS Lochailort, HMS Quebec, HMS Amzari Vizagapatan India LCT Skipper.

Rodaway

W F

JX192749

RN Landing Craft

HMS Prins Albert from 19/8/41 to 7/1/45. http://tonyrod.webs.com/

Rowling

Sub Lt RNVR

JX271458

RN Landing Craft

HM LCI(S) 502 on D-Day (Queen Red in area Sword).

HM LCI(L) 04 (in command) Jan 1945 to March 1946.

Sandquest

Leading Wireman

MX 616068

RN/Combined Operations

Service record

Saunders

A G

Pte

5190505

No 3 Commando

Lofoten, Vaagso, Sicily, Italy, France & Germany. RIP 1977.

Sharples

J H

D/JX 136338

RN Telegraphist

RIP 29/8/44 in 2nd General Hospital, Caserta, Italy. Interred Caserta War Cemetery.

Shears

D L

Pilot RNZAF

428 RCAF Sqd & 516 Sqn

Memories of a Pilot RIP 8/6/06.

Sims

AB Seaman

JX355140

RN Landing Craft

Smallman

W H

JX 380389

RN Beach Commando (?)

Smith

Stoker 1st Class

C/KX571807

RN Landing Craft

Normandy and Burma. RIP 1997.

Snelle

Temp Lt RNVR

PO/JX213252

RN Landing Craft Flotilla Officer 128th LCA

DSC Sicily Landings. RIP 1997.

Spring

A E

11 (Scottish) Commando.
Parachute Regiment

Litani River

Spurgeon

M R

PO - Yeoman of Signals

JX 132558

Signals Instructor HMS Dundonald 2 & HMS Pasco '43 - '45. RIP 1987.

Stanhope

E D

Flt/Sgt

540957

RAFSC Unit 3201

RAFSC.

Stockwell

B W

CJX542598

RN Landing Craft

LST 430. RIP 28/03/12.

Stone

Corp. Fit 11E

1283743

RAFSC Unit 3208

Tee

Sgt

1267277

3201 RAF Servicing Commando

K/a Bill; MiD; signals; 23rd June 1905 to 12th May 1983.

Tett

No 4 and 6 Commando

1927-1995.

Thomas

R H V

Flt/Lt

123947

462 RAAF Sqd (Middle East) & 516 Sqn

RIP Dec 2006.

Tiner

W A

Leading Seaman

A4322

RCNR LCI Helmsman

North Africa, Sicily and Normandy (Juno).
On June 6 1944 Bill walked out of camp to marry his sweetheart Samantha (Sammy). However, the duty guard had other ideas and before long Bill was off to the Normandy beaches leaving Sammy unawares at the alter! As the photo shows they wed on the 2nd attempt. Sadly Bill passed away on 18/03/10. RIP.

Townsend

REME 24th ABW part of SEAC

Seconded to Combined Ops for Operation ZIPPER August 1945 - the invasion of Malaya.

Turnbull

Stoker 1st Cl

KX161920

HMS COPRA also SEAC. RIP 1982.

Urwin

Sub-Lt

Royal Naval 'Beach' Commando

RIP 2007

Vaughan

T/Lt

AB D/JX 223760

Combined Ops RNVR

1942 Dieppe, 5th LCP (l) Flotilla; 1944 Normandy, Pointe De Hoc, 520th LCA Flotilla from LCI Ben My Chree; 1944 S. Beveland, E Schelt and Holland, Force T 509th LCA Flotilla.

Vine

E G

JX 355938

HMS COPRA.

Ward

T C

Cpl

CH/X105215(T)

46 RMC - 1st Commando Brigade

Watts

G R

JX 304965

R N Commando 'G3'

RIP 28/09/06

Whitman

E R

Act/AB

JX428848/co

RN attached HMS Copra

1925 - 1970.

Whiteley

Leading Seaman

P/JX 330284

R N Commando

South East Asia Command; Force Z.

Wickham

R H S

Sgt

652277

RAF attached Combined Ops

Codes & ciphers including HQ ship HMS Hilary off Normandy. Later Far East & Bletchley.

Williams

F G

Pilot

516 Sqn & 198 Sqd

RIP 2007.

Wilson

W L

Sgt

4860042

No 4 Commando

RIP 8/87.

Windebank

LAC

HMS Largs, Sicily, Normandy, Sth France

RIP 8/07.

Wing

CJW

P/JX 321824

RN Commando 'L' Party (HMS Copra)

Juno Beach D Day & Walcheren (Westkapelle) 1/11/ 44. RIP 1978.

Witham

F E

41 RM Commando

Salerno, D Day (Lion Sur Mer) and Walcheren.

Wood

Cpl

931853

11 Scottish Commando

Queens Own Cameron Highlanders. Litani Raid

Woodall

G C

DMX92147

RN attached HMS Copra

RIP 24/1/06 aged 94.

Yates

Stoker 1st Cl

DKX161302

RN HMS Princess Astrid

Took part in Sicily Landings.

Key in alphabetical order. AB - Able Seaman, A/CMM - Acting Chief Motor Mechanic, Att - Attached to, COPPs - Combined Operations Pilotage Parties, Cpl - Corporal, CPO - Chief Petty Officer, DSM - Distinguished Service Medal, FDT - Fighter Direction Tender, Flt/Sgt - Flight Sergeant, LCG - Landing Craft Gun, MiD - Mentioned in Despatches, MM - Military Medal, PO - Petty Officer, Pte - Private, QM - Quarter Master, RAFSC - RAF Servicing Commando, Sgt - Sergeant, Sqn - Squadron, Trp - Troop and W/O - Warrant Officer.