Something else which may help you on the 16th November 1941 on their mission to destroy aircraft in the Tmimi/Gazala area prior to the eighth army offensive of 18th Nov the party consisted of the following personnel 7 officers STIRLING,MAYNE,LEWIS,FRASER,McGONIGAL,THOMAS,BONNINGTON, 32 NCO`s ;-YATES,RILEY,CHEYNE,STONE,LAZENBY,ALMONDS,TAIT,DUVIVIER,BADGER,MONACHEM, KERSHAW,WHITE,McGINN,GRYNE,ORTON,STOREY,LEITCH,HILDRETH,WALKER,EVANS, SMITH,ROSE,ARNOLD,CATTELL,KENDALL,BENNETT,BROUGH,KAUFMAN,LILLEY,MacDONALD, COOPER AND SEEKINGS. 25 PTES;- KEITH,COCKBILL,WARBURTON,PHILLIPS,DAVIES,McKAY,WESTWATER,WHITE,HARVIE, TRENFIELD,MORRISHILL,SADLER,CARRINGTON,BAKER,BOLLAND,KEENAN,BRIDGER, CHESWORTH,LEADBETTER,RHODES,AUSTIN,HAWKINS,BLAKENEY AND ROBERTSON. ONLY 4 OFFICERS AND 18 NCOS/PTES RETURNED. .
Thanks Verrieres. Pat Riley is actually in the passenger seat. Cheers, Luke No idea whos who to be honest just going on the photographs caption used to be interested in this stuff a very long time ago now its not really a subject I return to very often.
This is ace. Just what I am looking for. I noticed that there were 2 Whites, which would make my man the private. A lot of info I got on Pat Riley was from his aubituary that contained errors that i managed to iron out. I will attach what have so far. Do you have any more early history on the regiment that is not in "Sterling's Men", or "Gentleman Jim" as these are the books I have so far. Thanks a lot for your help with this. Cheers, Luke
Few other 'SAS Originals' type threads, of varying length & depth: WW2talk - SAS: The Originals. WW2talk - RIP: Jack Byrne WW2talk - Origins Of The Sas WW2talk - 1st SAS Originals 1941 WW2talk - SAS Early Days History (Maybe time for a merge, just to concentrate stuff.) Finally reading 'The Phantom Major' at the moment, so this is all quite interesting to me. And jolly good work on that Jeep. ~A
This is ace. Just what I am looking for. I noticed that there were 2 Whites, which would make my man the private. A lot of info I got on Pat Riley was from his aubituary that contained errors that i managed to iron out. I will attach what have so far. Do you have any more early history on the regiment that is not in "Sterling's Men", or "Gentleman Jim" as these are the books I have so far. Thanks a lot for your help with this. Cheers, Luke I have personnel lists for more of the desert operations 41-43 if they are any good to you I can sort them out and post them here? Jim
I have personnel lists for more of the desert operations 41-43 if they are any good to you I can sort them out and post them here? Jim Jim, in you have anything for Geoff Caton, Id be intersted. Name: CATON, GEOFFREY Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Bombardier Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Secondary Regiment: Special Air Service Regiment, A.A.C. Secondary Unit Text: and Age: 22 Date of Death: 10/07/1943 Service No: 1455205 Additional information: Son of Thomas and Ellen A. Caton, of Widnes, Lancashire. Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 13. Cemetery: SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
Hi von Poop, The Phantom Major is a damn fine book, but as with all my research, everything has to be cross referenced as most info out there is miss leading. Thanks for the comments on the jeep. I am a complete novice to all this, and that represents 8 months of solid slog! the original jeep i bought only consisted of chassis, axles, body tub, and crank case. Still looking for twin Vickers K for rear, and single for driver. You can get them made of wood, resin or aluminium, but i need steel as they will all be converted to gas firing. Cheers, Luke
Jock Lewes Bio is well worth reading Jock Lewes: The Biography of Jock Lewes, Co-founder of the SAS: Amazon.co.uk: John Lewes: Books David Stirling alsways claimed that without Blair Mayne and Jock Lewes the Regiment would not have been what it was
Jim, in you have anything for Geoff Caton, Id be intersted. Name: CATON, GEOFFREY Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Bombardier Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Secondary Regiment: Special Air Service Regiment, A.A.C. Secondary Unit Text: and Age: 22 Date of Death: 10/07/1943 Service No: 1455205 Additional information: Son of Thomas and Ellen A. Caton, of Widnes, Lancashire. Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 13. Cemetery: SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILY Sorry Phil no more than what I posted here mate;- http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/17053-sas-ops-3.html cannot find a mention of him in earlier operations.Sorry. Bombardier Geoffrey Caton, Royal Artillery and 1st Special Air Service Regiment (Special Raiding Squadron), killed in action in Sicily 1943, Bombardier Geoffrey Caton was killed in action on 10 July 1943 He was serving with the 1st Special Air Service Regiment, temporarily renamed the Special Raiding Squadron, for the invasion of Sicily. Under the command of Blair 'Paddy' Mayne, the SRS made a raid on a large Italian battery at Capo Murro di Porco, on the southeast coast of Sicily, which had to be destroyed before the main Allied landings could take place. After hitting the beach at 0330hrs on the 10th July the SRS assault teams threw themselves against the cliff and began to claw their way to the summit. They were surprised by the apparent lack of opposition. Most had been expecting a rough ride. Yet the beach was not mined: there was no sudden cutting burst of machine-gun fire; nor the earsplitting explosion of grenades. Once on top of the cliff, the seven-man teams moved in on the battery, silhouetted against the moonlight. The Italian garrison, about 700 strong, was still underground and it was Just a matter of winkling them out. Most were too shell-shocked to put up much of a fight; others were Just too scared to stick their noses above ground. As the assault teams began rounding up prisoners, demolition squads went into action to spike the guns. Heavy fighting continued throughout the night with the SRS attacking command posts, bunkers and barracks. The assaults, often carried out at the point of bayonet, were successful and the enemy positions were destroyed. As dawn broke on 10 July, the SRS men were able to see the scale of their success. For the loss of one man killed, Bombardier Caton, and six injured, they had put six heavy guns out of commission, killed around 100 enemy soldiers and captured some 200-300 more. Indeed, the bag of prisoners became so unmanageable that Paddy Mayne ordered the Italians into a convenient field, stripped them of their belongings and told them to wait for the main invasion force.Sadly Catons medals and other personal effects were auctioned in 1997. (awarded the 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; War Medal, these were all unnamed but sold with named condolence slip together with a photograph of the soldier himself (Bdr. Geoffrey Caton), card box of issue addressed to his Father Next of Kin, and official letter notifying his death in action
Hi Luke, Heres some more operations and personnel lists;- 6thDecember 1941 by air to Gialo Oasis and then by LRDG patrol Two Groups Group 1 to Destroy aircraft on Agheila Airfield. Group consists of Lewis. Fraser.Almonds. Kershaw. Rose, Lilley. Bennett, Storey, Baker, Rhodes, and Warburton. Dropped twenty miles from target walked in. No aircraft on airfield. Destroyed trucks on road. Group 2 To destroy aircraft at Sirtee (Tamet) airfield Group consists of Stirling, Mayne, Brough, MacDonald, Burns, White, Seekings, Cattell, Cooper, Chesworth, and Hawkins. Stirling and Brough on recce to Sirte but no aircraft. Mayne with main party attacked Tamet and destroyed 24 aircraft. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 18th December 1941 method as above. To destroy aircraft at Agebadia airfield One Group consisting of Fraser, Tait, Duvivier, Phillips, and Burns. Walked onto airfield and destroyed 37 aircraft. On return were attacked by RAF aircraft and LRDG lost 2 killed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 23rd December 1941 method as above. To destroy aircraft at Sirte airfield One Group consisting of Stirling, Brough, Cooper, Cattell, and Seekings. Airfield was defended and party could not penetrate. Some trucks destroyed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 24th December 1941 method as above.Three groups No1 To destroy aircraft at Tamet airfield Number One Group consisting of Mayne, MacDonald, White, Bennett, Hawkins,and Chesworth. Drove to within 3 miles of airfield and destroyed 27 aircraft. Party dispersed by enemy fire but rejoined. Celebrated Christmas Day on return journey with LRDG. No2 To Destroy aircraft on Nofilia airfield Number Two Group consisting of Lewis, Almond, Lilley, Storey, White, and Warburton (? illegible ? ) Walked in from 16 miles. Aircraft dispersed and enemy alert. 1 aircraft destroyed. On return with LRDG strafed by enemy aircraft. Jock Lewis killed(Welsh Guards Lt John Steel Lewes on CWGC)White PW. 4 trucks destroyed. LRDG walked 250 miles to Gialo. No3 To Destroy aircraft on Marble Arch Airfield Number Three Group consisting of Fraser,Tate ,Duvivier,Phillips and Burns Nothing on Airfield.Waited 7 Days at RV but remaining LRDG truck from Nofilia attack could not locate them. Walked 200 miles in eight days and finally Hijacked German Staff Car ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCE BELIEVED to be JOHN STRAWSON
Luke, Hello and a belated welcome to the forum. Well done on your Jeep project, it looks great. Best of luck with your research. Regards Tom
Thanks Jim. I am presuming that these are not complete lists as the patrol numbers seem low? Have you noticed that most of the men I am looking for are not mentioned on the "Main Players" list in 'Sterling's Men' by Gavin Mortimer. How can Pat Riley not be called a main player even though he ended up as Major (or should that be major player). Cheers, Luke
Joe was serving as the QM of 22 SASA in the 1970s a very long career in SF I never knew that! Cheers for your help, Luke
Luke, Hello and a belated welcome to the forum. Well done on your Jeep project, it looks great. Best of luck with your research. Regards Tom Thanks for the praise. It makes a lot of work even more rewarding. It will be complete when I get the seat pads and more Vickers K's! Cheers, Luke
Thanks Jim. I am presuming that these are not complete lists as the patrol numbers seem low? Have you noticed that most of the men I am looking for are not mentioned on the "Main Players" list in 'Sterling's Men' by Gavin Mortimer. How can Pat Riley not be called a main player even though he ended up as Major (or should that be major player). Cheers, Luke Hi Luke, AS far as I am aware these are the complete lists for these missions a quick look at my lists shows Riley`s first mission as 16th November 1941 and the only other one is 23rd January 1942. These are 1st SAS missions or as in Jock Lewes case attd. 'L' Det., Special Air Service Bde .The later missions then quote only officers and eg 20 SAS , 17 French SAS, 2 SBS etc 2 SAS formed from 62 Commando and Commanded by William Stirling I believe were particularly active in March April 1943. Riley who had taken part in the Bouerat raid is listed as taking over the supervision of the training of units including the French squadron following the raid(1941)
Both the British Library and the Imperial War Museum have holdings of bound volumes of Mars & Minerva the SAS / Artists Rifles Regimental Journal these contain some unpublished pictures as well as some personal accounts of WWII operations Steven
Hi Luke, AS far as I am aware these are the complete lists for these missions a quick look at my lists shows Riley`s first mission as 23rd January 1942. These are 1st SAS missions or as in Jock Lewes case attd. 'L' Det., Special Air Service Bde .The later missions then quote only officers and eg 20 SAS , 17 French SAS, 2 SBS etc 2 SAS formed from 62 Commando and Commanded by William Stirling I believe were particularly active in March April 1943. Riley who had taken part in the Bouerat raid is listed as taking over the supervision of the training of units including the French squadron following the raid Hi Jim. Can you do me a favour. Can you Google "Major Pat Riley" and look at the aubituary. That, and other things I have read indicate that he was part of the first SAS raid. Are you able to dispute this? According to page 3 "Gentleman Jim" he was there. That is the info i used to cross reference the aubituary. All the best, Luke
Both the British Library and the Imperial War Museum have holdings of bound volumes of Mars & Minerva the SAS / Artists Rifles Regimental Journal these contain some unpublished pictures as well as some personal accounts of WWII operations Steven Cheers Steven. Is there any way of seeing these without actually going there? Ta, Luke