2581346 Leslie Norman STEPHENSON, DCM, MiD, Royal Signals attached SBS

Discussion in 'Special Forces' started by Stephenson, Dec 16, 2012.

  1. Stephenson

    Stephenson Junior Member

    Hello,
    I'm a XXXXXX to the site. Without much success, I'm trying to trace the history of my Uncle (now passed and my Mother's brother) Leslie Norman Stephenson. I've discovered on this site a reference to him being awarded a "DCM, Special Operations, M.E., Royal Signals. Gazetted 13.7.44. No citation listed" It also listed him being MID (Mentioned in Dispatches).

    He didn't discuss his experiences during the war but I understand he was with Capt Sterling in Middle East and was also in Crete where he was involved in some way in the capture/evacuation of a German General. I understand he also escaped from a German POW camp in Crete and worked with the Partisans. I believe he may also have been a member of the SBS during the war.

    If anyone can provide me some direction, information or advice on how to research Special Ops, SAS or SBS during the ware years it would much appreciated. From the notation on the WW2TALK site it appears he was a member of the Royal Corps.

    Many thanks
     
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  2. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    Special Forces - Roll Of Honour - Archive
    Information here on the units he served in and his service number.
    He was SBS
    Surname: Stevenson
    Forename: Leslie Norman
    Unit: Special Boat Squadron (L Detachment)
    Rank: Signalman
    Number: 2581346
    Award: Distinguished Conduct Medal
    Place: Middle East (London Gazette 13.7.1944)
    Further Info:
    parent unit Royal Corps of Signals
    "Stephenson" in most accounts
    SBS (L Det) 1944 (Sigmn - WOII)
    SBS (M Squadron) 1945 (WOII)
    Looks like he might be the victim of that common error, misspelling of last name.

    You can purchase a copy of his award recommendation here:
    | The National Archives

    Some more information on L Detachment in 1944
    Special Boat Section / Special Boat Squadron (SBS) | ParaData
    In October 1944, L Detachment was deployed for Operation Manna and the liberation of Greece, forming part of ‘Pompforce’; which included 4th Parachute Battalion and RAF Regiment armoured cars under the command of Lord Jellicoe.
    Picture here:
    Members of L Detachment, Special Boat Squadron, in Athens, October 1944. | ParaData



    Some more information on L Detachment's actions in the middle of this page
    http://www.specialoperations.com/History/WWII/Cockleshell.htm :
    In October 1944 the Germans were in the process of evacuating southern Greece and L Detachment was parachuted onto the airfield at Araxos as the leading part of a task force commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jellicoe
    Cheers
    Mark
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  4. Stephenson

    Stephenson Junior Member

    Hello Mark,
    Thank you for your advice. I've been on the National Archive site and found the citation for my Uncle. Quite an achievement. Do you know if the SAS and/or SBS provide more detailed information in regard to combatants in WW2, as I believe my Uncle may have been awarded oakleaves (two) as well as being MID, but I'm not sure if oakleaves are the representation of a MID. My brother, now deceased, was also a member of the SAS in the sixties but I'm sure they wont disclose info on him this soon. Again, thank you for your assistance.

    Kind regards
    Bernard
     
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  5. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

  6. ritsonvaljos

    ritsonvaljos Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum, Stephenson.

    It seems your uncle had an eventful and 'interesting' war!
     
    Stav likes this.
  7. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi Bernard

    As mentioned above L Det SBS (54 strong) were part of POMPFORCE which went into Greece on 24th September 1944, they secured the airfield at Araxos and prepared the ground for the first airdrop of Paras from Italy on 7 Oct 44 at Megara, before harassing the Germans withdrawal North.

    On 11 October 44 the SBS det were the first British Forces to enter Athens settling in the Grand Bretagne Hotel. Brigadier Earl Jellicoe (Commander SBS and POMPFORCE) cycling in on a stolen bike!

    When trouble broke with ELAS on Dec 4, they were taken under ARKFORCE (Acting Major General Arkwright Commanding) which consisted (mainly) of 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade, L Det SBS, Det RSR and 23rd Armoured Brigade (dismounted - acting as infantry). Vastly outnumbered, ARKFORCE successfully defended the center of Athens until reinforcements arrived in the shape of 3 infantry divisions (4 Brit, 46 Brit and 4 Indian).

    After 7 weeks of bitter fighting in and around Athens, the communist Greek militia ELAS, once the ally of the British Forces when fighting the Germans were eventually defeated and a truce was declared on 15 Jan 45.

    If you need any other info on Greece, just let me know.

    Gus
     
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  8. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Army Number: 2581346
    Rank: Signalman
    Name: Leslie Norman STEVENSON (STEPHENSON), DCM
    Unit: Royal Corps of Signals attached Special Boat Squadron 1 Special Air Service Regiment Raiding Forces


    London Gazette : 6 April 1944
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36456/supplement/1592/data.pdf
    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East:—
    2581346-Sgmn. L. N. Stephenson.

    London Gazette : 13 July 1944
    https://patrickleighfermor.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/moss-mc-and-plf-dso-announcement.pdf
    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field: —
    The Distinguished Conduct Medal.
    No. 2581346 Signalman Leslie Norman Stephenson, Royal Corps of Signals.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2020
  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  10. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  11. Stav

    Stav New Member

    Hi Bernard,

    I have come across your post recently as I am also trying to find more information on my great granddad, Edward Vyse who was based in Crete before and after war2. Rumours have it that he was involved with the security service so I have struggled massively to collect information about him. Your uncle Leslie was married to Nafsika who was my great grandma's sister. My father has actually met your uncle and has shared lots of stories about him with me. Also, my grandmother & grandfather (now deceased) have been in close touch with Nafsika and your uncle for years. Let me know if you see this message and I can get in touch after gathering more information from my dad. There was a time when we visited a village in south Rethymno and we met people who even recognised Leslie's name and could recall stories from the war. If you are around please give me a shout.

    Stavros
     
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  12. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Hello Stavros welcome to the forum
    Bernard has not been on the site since 2013
    i have sent a private message to him he might pick it up after all these years

    regards
    Clive
     
  13. Stav

    Stav New Member

    Hi Clive,

    Thank you for letting me know, I could also see that Bernard's posts have been from 2012 but decided to give it a shot as there are lots of stories that he wil be interested to hear. Fingers crossed he gets the message.

    Many thanks,

    Stavros
     
  14. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Stav if you wish you can add info to this thread all forum members would be very interested in it

    Regards
    Clive
     
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  15. Thomas Harder

    Thomas Harder New Member

    There’s a bit about Les Stephenson and the operations in which he participated (notably, Comacchio 8-9 April 1945) here (scroll down to Anders Lassen/“Special Forces Hero”):
    Authorship
     
  16. Thomas Harder

    Thomas Harder New Member

    My book “Special Forces Hero - Anders Lassen VC, MC**” was published in 2020, but it’s still a “work in progress” in the sense that I’m still trying to learn more about the events and people I wrote about. I’m particularly interested in Les Stephenson. What happened to him after the war? I understand that he stayed in Greece … Does he have living relatives in Greece (or elsewhere) who might be able to tell me about him?
     
  17. Thomas Harder

    Thomas Harder New Member

    Hello Bernard,
    I donùt know if youùll see this reply, ten years after your post. In 2020 I published “Special Forces Hero - Anders Lassen VC, MC**” where your uncle is mentioned. I’m still trying to learn more about the events and peple I wrote about. I’m particularly interested in your uncle - his life after the war.
    Regardsd
    Thomas
    www.thomasharder.dk

     

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