HQ 1 SS Brigade RM - help with unit history & service records please

Hi I am trying to map out my fathers military records, but I'm very confused. He joined the R.M. on 16th September 1940 in Reading. I think he served in Sicily, N.W Europe and India. His R.M. number was PO/X101478 and his name was Ronald Brent. I have attached his records, if anyone can decipher them for me i would be grateful. I am hoping to go to France and trace some of his steps.
Thanks Neville

 

HQ 1SS Brigade = HQ 1st Special Service Brigade, a mixed Army and Royal Marine Commando Unit. Your Dad will have landed at Normandy on Sword beach (probably Queen Red) on D-Day under command of Brigadier Lord Lovat. He remained with them until 7 Sept 44 when they returned to the UK. He may have stayed with them but the documents posted are incomplete.
Where else he served I'm not sure. He was a diver with MNBDO 2 (Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation) and also on temporary attachment to the Royal Engineers 996 Docks Operating Company. You will need to establish where these Units were for the dates that your Dad was with them.
You should have more documents than the ones you have posted.

1st Special Service Brigade - Wikipedia

Tim

 

Hi Tim, thanks for your reply. I have attached some other information sent to me from Navy Command. See if that helps please, especially scan 0013.

Thanks Neville

 

Firstly I'm more RN than RM so I may not be entirely correct in all that follows. It is difficult to place your father without reference to the various units' War Diaries which may or may not exist. I have my doubts about Sicily as this would have entitled him to the Italy Star which he doesn't have. He could have been in India, which was covered by the Defence Medal. There is also mention of him being in L&M Group and this was moved from Ceylon to India in April 43.
Some of Scan 13:
Embarked NWE (North West Europe) Disembarked UK. Unit: RM Eng Cdo (RM Engineers Commando), HQ 1SS Brigade. RM Engineer Commandos were trained in assault engineering and demolition.
27/10/44 To RMITC (D) = Royal Marine Infantry Training Centre, Dalditch. This was near Budleigh Salterton, Devon.
W.S.I. War Service Increment (to pay) 1/- after three years, 1/6 after four years.
Three offences shown: 23/10/44 - absent without leave. 3/12/44 (1) Breaking out of camp (2) absent without leave. All considered minor as they have not affected his Character and Efficiency ratings (Scan 10) which remain VG (Very Good) and Sat (Satisfactory) throughout is Service. Abbreviation HBL on this Scan equals Home Based Ledger and is merely showing where his records were being held.
Scan 5:
12/11/41 Commenced extra pay as Diver at 3d per day. Ends 10/9/43. Shown on Scan 9 incorrectly as 'Driver'.
Temporary duty with Royal Engineer's Dock Operating Company. I cannot find a War Diary for this Company for the time your father was attached to them.
Other: It looks as though from 24/11/44 he was employed as a Cook. His Service Record after 24/11/44 is not shown on your attached scans but he must have gone overseas again as Scan 12 has an entry 'Embarked for UK - Ile de France.

Tim

 

Hi Tim, thanks for the information. When my father returned from France I think he was sent to a training camp for being a naughty boy, if you get my drift. He then went to India and served as a cook for a while. The only thing I was a little surprised about was the Sicily part, as I am sure he told me he went around mount Etna, mind you I was a little boy then so could have got my wires completely crossed.
Regards Neville

 

It's very possible that he was in Sicily later. Qualification for service in Sicily towards the Italy Star was 11/6-17/8/43. I meant to imply that he would not have taken part in the Sicily landings.

Tim

 

Thanks for your help Tim, much appreciated.
Neville

 

Hi, my father embarked for NW Europe on the 5th June 1944, he was with RM Engineer Commandos, 1 HQ SS Brigade. Has anyone got any information about these units please.
Thanks Neville

 

All I've got at the moment.
From: http://www.commandoveterans.org/RMEngineerCommando
The Section with 1st Special Service Bde of 39 all ranks commanded by a lieutenant, landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944 at H+75 minutes to demolish bridges; but these were still in enemy hands and this Section prepared the defences of Brigade HQ; later they were employed in mine clearing and building strongpoints. They also improvised bridges and fords before returning to the UK on 9 September 1944.

Tim

 

I think this is probably the War Diary you need to look at:

No 1 Special Service Brigade | The National Archives

Tim

 

Thanks Tim