COMBINED OPERATIONS
*    UNITED WE CONQUER    *

George Black "Dod" Orsborne. I´m a Finnish journalist undertaking research into the war service of George Black 'Dod' Orsborne and I'd be very interested to receive  any information about him or sources of information about him other than his own books. Orsborne claims to have served in Combined Operations under Lord Mountbatten on the Isle of Wight during WW2. He wrote several books in the 1940/50s of his life at sea and in the war, the best-known of which is 'Master of the Girl Pat' published in 1948.

With many thanks in advance.

Rob Crane (2010)

Frank Blackburn 47 RM Commando, PO/X105362. My father died when I was 14. His sister recently gave me a letter he wrote while aboard the Empire Arquebus on the 29/12/1944. This kindled an interest in his part in WW2 and as a starting point I sent for his service record. Whilst it doesn't give me much information it did mention 47 Cdo. Any information about Frank Blackburn or what the Empire Arqubus was doing around that time would be very welcome. Many thanks in anticipation  Brenda Cogswell nee Blackburn.

[47 RM Cdo landed on the extreme western flank of the British sector in Normandy on D-Day taking Port en Bessin on D + 1 in an independent action. After further actions in France and a spell of rest they took part in Operation Infatuate (Walcheren) in November 1944 followed by further service in Holland from January to April 1945.]

Dear Geoff,

Victor Frederick Golder ex RN, Service Number was C/JX 548491. Rank of AB LC/SIG. I’ve just made a donation to the Combined Ops Memorial Fund, having been prompted by a chance conversation with my Father about his National Service training.

 Dad is Victor Frederick Golder ex RN now aged 83yrs. His Service Number was C/JX 548491 and held the rank of AB LC/SIG.  He has some memories of his time at HMS BRONTOSAURUS and remembered that it was a Combined Ops training establishment, but didn’t recall that it was at Castle Toward.  He was there for signals training. He spent his War Service drafted to minesweepers and LCTs and was one of many that embarked troops who landed on D-Day beaches.

 I have found your web-site exceptionally useful and informative, not least of all because I am preparing for Dad a summary account of his Service life, brief though it was (he volunteered at age 17 in 1943 and was demobbed in late ’46).  When I have tidied up a few of the photos that I have of Dad and his mates on board LCTs, I will pass them across in case they stimulate memories in others.  In the family he was known as Joff, maybe that was carried into the Service.  Do you have an appropriate tag within the website to post these (all too brief) details of my Dad at Castle Toward.  I would love to find out if there is anyone that remembers him.

 Thanks in anticipation. Stay safe, Regards, Steve

Derek R Quick. My father, Derek R Quick, served in no1 commando in Burma during WW2. I have some photographs, his pay book, his release documents, a service certificate and a letter to him from Chief of Combined Ops at the end of the war. I’d love to be able to find out more about what he did during the war but unfortunately he died in 1981 aged 58.  At the time I was 21 and didn’t really ask him much about the war. Any help would be gratefully received. His details are: Army Number - 14003051; Rank - CSM; Regiment - London Scottish; Unit - No 1 Commando; Served in - India, Burma, Ceylon and Hong Kong.  Nigel Quick (11/08)

Sergeant Charles Pendleton Liverpool Scottish, with Layforce on Crete and the operation on Bardia. He is 3rd from the right in this photo of his commando unit taken I believe in front of St Paul's in London. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who knew him or recognises anyone in the photo.

Many thanks. Neil Pendleton.

Marine Ronald John Jacobs. I would be very interested in information about my father or the units he served in and particularly the Commando unit he served in or was attached to. What I know is that on joining the Royal Marines in April 1943 he was at Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth followed by the HBL RM School of Signalling in Nov 1943. In the same month he was attached to Combined Operations until April 1946 - see HMS Copra.

He was in Signals (communications) and was at Westcliffe (which I believe was HMS Westcliffe II, a Combined Operations holding base for RM landing craft personnel) prior to D-Day and on June 5 he was at Hayling Island. On D-Day his craft headed for Sword Beach (although 651 flotilla – which my father was part of – headed for Juno beach), so I am unsure about this.

A fortnight after D-Day he embarked on a troop carrier for Bombay, India. From there he sailed to Columbo in Ceylon (where he loaded gear) and then onto Port Dickson and Rangoon in Malaya. Other ports of call en-route were Mandapam at the tip of India, and Trincomalee (3-4 days) in Ceylon. Some of the landing craft carriers, among others, he was on included Glenroy, Glen Avon, Silvio (Sylvio).

While in the Far East, he was involved in the assaults on Ramree Island, Akyab Island and the Arakan. I understand that he was put ashore for night patrols under the cover of darkness and left again
under the cover of darkness. Whether these were for reconnaissance missions or raiding parties I do not know.

At the end of the war, he looked after Japanese POWs. He returned from Singapore to the UK in January/February 1946 aboard the Queen Emma. Thank you in anticipation. Alan Jacobs

Leonard 'Rainbow' Thompson, RN Commando, No 9 Beach Group D Day. On the morning of D-Day Rainbow Thompson went ashore on Gold Beach as part of No 9 Beach Group. Prior to this he was stationed at Monkton Camp in Ayrshire, SW Scotland.

A genuine enquirer would like to make contact with Rainbow, his family or friends. If you can help please contact me in the first instance for more information. Tony Chapman, Official Archivist/Historian, LST and Landing Craft Association (Royal Navy). (8/06)

Royal Marine Albert Harmer - HMS Sunk Head Fort - June 1942 to July 1944. Contact sought with former Royal Marine or Royal Navy personnel who served on the above Maunsell Fort sited off Colchester during the period shown. Albert Harmer's daughter, Carol, would welcome contact with any and all who served on Sunk Head during the same period as her father in order to learn something of his service history. If you were there or know someone who was, please let me know. I will relay your contact details to Carol. Tony Chapman, Official Archivist/Historian, LST and Landing Craft Association (Royal Navy). (10/05)

Donald SABIN - Leading Telegraphist. Served on HMS Eagle from Aug 1939 until Oct 1941. We - and the RN - have been unable to trace his whereabouts or records since then, until his death from smallpox on Gibraltar in Feb 1944, at which time he was Leading Telegraphist on HMS Vetch, a Flower Class Corvette. His medals imply that he was involved in Torch. We are led to believe that he trained in Scotland. His obituary states that "...... he volunteered for the Commandos & took charge of his unit's wireless van & trailer on an overland trek. "Any clues or tips gratefully received, as we are very keen to fill in these missing years. Kind regards, Angela & Dianna. (10/05)

Henry John Clifford Elcome (2nd row, far right), RAF, 3204 Servicing Commandos Unit & 2TAF. My dad, known as "Cliff" didn't talk about his wartime service. Sadly he is now gone leaving me with some medals, uniform buttons and badges. I'm trying to make sense of these clues and his official service record.

His record shows '2RC' and a date which I've discovered stands for the No 2 Recruitment Centre at RAF Cardington. I wonder if anyone reading this can help with other references that remain something of a mystery.

(1). 10(O)AFU, 13/01/43, with an annotation alongside of 'Dumfries?'. 10(O)AFU may stand for No 10 Observer Advanced Flying Unit. If this is so, why would my dad, an Armourer, be on a flying training unit?... and which RAF station would he based at?
(2). 1BPD, 29/02/44. This was just after 3204 SCU was disbanded in Italy and he was on his way home. 1BPD may stand for the No 1 British Personnel Despatch (Centre) possibly located in Algeria. Can anyone confirm this and/or confirm where it was located?
(3).  HE, 07/03/44. To an Armourer 'HE' would have meant High Explosive but, in the context of his service record it clearly has some other meaning! Home Establishment has been suggested. If accurate could this mean that he was on leave or something else entirely?
(4).  3PHU, 18/03/44, Morecombe. This may stand for No 3 Personnel Holding Unit. Can anyone confirm this and hopefully give a more precise location, i.e. which RAF camp?
(5).  6025SE, 27/11/44.  I've established that this is the 6025 Servicing Echelon which may have been at the RAF's Castle Camps & Bradwell (Essex). More information would be welcome.

Now for something completely outside the scope of this site!  Dad went on to both the Palestine and Malaya Police after leaving the RAF in 1947 (as a number of servicemen did I understand). The Palestine Police Association have confirmed dad's serial number and that he was a member of the Association at the time. However, apart from this information, a few photos and uniform badges, I've no other information on this post war period (1947-1950).  Does anyone have any idea where I might find information on this period? Thanks in anticipation. John Elcome. (6/05)

He went on to do officer training and then joined Tormentor in the `R` Boats and then the 3rd and 5th flotillas in LCPL`s. as a 2nd Lt. He had a passion for producing plays and was extremely good at this and Tormentor became famous for its plays. The missing years are after Dieppe up till D-Day. I have his daily diary for the whole of D-Day and for some 80 days after before they were withdrawn due to the fighting having moved well inland. What I'd like to know is what the flotillas were doing and where they were stationed for this period. They were obviously practicing for the various intended raids. By the time of his demob he was a Lt. in 46. If any one has got any `snippets` they would be gratefully acknowledged. Patrick Walker. (12/04)

Claude Eric Tyler - LCT 158. My father, Claude Eric Tyler served in the Royal Navy from 1942 until he was demobbed in May 46. He was part of a Combined Ops LCT 158 and ended up in Messina. He is wondering if any other personnel are still around with news or updates on what has happened to them since the war. Here is his service record taken from his diaries which may jog a memory or two!

After training at HMS Collingwood, he travelled to Liverpool and boarded the troop ship Rangitiki bound for Freetown. 18 Jan '43 arrived Durban transferred to troop ship Nieuw Amsterdam sailed for TEWFIK. Transferred by road to HMS Saunders (Com Ops) on banks of Suez Canal, Bitter Lakes near ISMALIAH. Feb '43 left HMS Saunders for HMS Canopus a shore station at Alexandria. 16.02.43 left Canopus for BENGHAZI and TOBRUK and finally ended up in TRIPOLI on 28.02.43. On 01.03.43 boarded LCT 158 at Tripoli assisting other LCT's (111,113 and 115) in harbour duties. April '43 sailed for GABES and SFAX in Tunisia and returned to Tripoli May '43. June '43 sailed to Alexandria. 15.08.43 sailed for Bitter Lakes, Suez on HMS Saunders with LCT's 139, 101, 100, 113 and 114. 15.09.43 sailed for HAIFA. 21.09.43 sailed with an escort of 2 French sub-chasers for CASTELLALOZO in Aegean. 02.10.43 sailed for KOS with members of RAF Regiment. Nov 43 - 45  HAIFA, BARI, DURAZZO (Albania), TARANTO, NAPLES, MESSINA. In Messina LCT 158 left with local Sicilians and transported to HMS Appledore. Completed service at HMS Greenock in May '46. We'd love to hear from anyone who may be able to help Dad's search for old friends/ship mates. Linda Cartwright. (7/04)

Fred Walker No 3 Commando. I took many photographs on D-Day + 60. This one of Fred Walker of No. 3 Commando right of centre, Roy ?, on the far left and to the right of Roy a veteran who fought in Yugoslavia. The location was the memorial to Lord Lovat's Commandos, especially Bill Millin the "mad piper," taken at Cafe Gondree Pegasus Bridge. I gave the guys my card but neglected to take their addresses. If they read this please get in touch. Thanks. Jim Daily. (7/04)

What did my Father do in the War? My late father underwent Commando training before the D-Day landings however his naval service records show he was assigned to HMS Oddysey. The MoD has confirmed this was a pay-station in Devon - no mention of Combined ops. My mother has no recollection of him having been to Devon but knew he was based in Scotland. We know he took part in the landings however a relative also recalls him mentioning that he joined in beach reconnaissance before the landings - would this have been with the SBS?

Despite having made enquiries through a friend with contacts in a local branch of the navy association, I am unable to find out any details of what my father may have been doing in the 15 or so months before and 3 months after D-Day immediately before his pay-off to other duties. I would be grateful for any leads that I could follow or a new direction in my search. (6/04)

Private Reginald Grant Smith  I am looking for information or photos regarding my uncle who was a Private in WW2. His name was Reginald Grant Smith he was from Nova Scotia. He spent his 16th birthday overseas. The only other information I have is that he was a prisoner of war in Holland. Anyone with information please contact me. (2/04)

Thorneley - Ernest. Ex Royal Marines. Killed at Walcheren 1/11/44. Do you recognise the photo? (Click to enlarge). It may have been taken in Chatham. My brother, who was in the Royal Marines, was killed on 1/11/44 at Walcheren. He was Ernest Thorneley - CH/X 108813  H.M.L.C.F.37. I would like to get in touch with anyone who was there and may be able to add to my understanding of what took place. I was just an infant at the time and can hardly remember him. For the record Ernest is fifth from the right in the front row. Thanks to all who replied after this message was first posted in April 02. Hilda Williamson. (nee Thorneley). (1/04)