SBS Operation Anglo

Discussion in 'Special Forces' started by willycorp, Apr 12, 2010.

  1. willycorp

    willycorp Junior Member

    Hi,
    On the Wikipedia page of the SBS, it says "In September 1942 they (the SBS) carried out Operation Anglo a raid on two airfields on the island of Rhodes, from which only two men returned. Destroying three aircraft, a fuel dump and numerous buildings, the surviving SBS men had to hide in the countryside for four days before they could reach the waiting submarine"
    Does anyone has some info regarding this raid? It seems quite similar to the plot of the 1954 film "They Who Dare" and the Commandos in there use the winged dagger insignia. First I supposed they were SAS, but now it fits with this info
    Many thanks
     
  2. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  4. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    He also wrote a book "He Who Dares: Recollections of Service in the SAS, SBS and MI".

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    CBE, MC and Bar and DCM

    The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Search Results=*

    DCM is strange-He was awarded it as a Lieutenant Colonel

    The DCM is a Greek medal.

    Andy,

    I suspect that you are right, a DCM was only issued to "Other Ranks".

    Probably put up for an award by the Greek Government in exile.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  6. willycorp

    willycorp Junior Member

    Wow so Dirk Bogarde played both times as commander in the only real life based movies about commando raids in the med: They Who Dare and I´ll Met by Moonlight
     
  7. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    He also wrote a book "He Who Dares: Recollections of Service in the SAS, SBS and MI".

    [​IMG]
    I have this book and it covers Op Anglo very well the men who did not return were Captain Allott, Sergeant Moss, Marine Barrow, Marine Harris, Corporal Mckenzie and Private Blake.Allott was in charge of' A' party Maritsa and Sutherland 'B' party Calatos.Also part od B party was Sub Lieutenant Calambokidis who acted as a guide.
     
  8. willycorp

    willycorp Junior Member

    Were they SAS or SBS by the time of the raid?
     
  9. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

  10. willycorp

    willycorp Junior Member

    great. many thanks
     
  11. aa111

    aa111 Junior Member

    The marine who came back with David George Carr Sutherland was my dad
    Marine John Duggan. He was awarded the Military Medal.
     
    Our bill likes this.
  12. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

  13. aa111

    aa111 Junior Member

  14. TomTAS

    TomTAS Very Senior Member

    Hi All,

    Can someone show me what a SBS cap badge looks like I've not seen one of them yet... Or do they just use RN and add SBS on the headstone..

    Cheers
    Tom
     
  15. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

  16. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Here is the badge mentioned above but I believe its a formation sign as opposed to a cap badge
     

    Attached Files:

  17. Ruhmen

    Ruhmen Junior Member

    I believe you will find that there was no such thing as an SBS cap badge during WWII, those in the SBS wearing the cap badge of their parent unit.
    After WWII it was the Royal Marines who carried the SBS mantle and as such apart from an SQ badge worn on the uniform there was no official 'badge' as such.

    I have seen so called SBS berets complete with a 'frog' on sale with E-bay, total fabrication.

    The modern SBS within the UKSF do have their own cap badge.
     
  18. Davy658

    Davy658 New Member

    Hi
    My Uncle, William Moss also took part in this raid. He was captured and imprisoned in Italy. After escaping he joined with the Resistance and put his skills to good use causing disruption. Now in his nineties, although quite frail, he is still alive and lives in Plymouth.
    Last year, my nephew Lance Bombardier Gary Prout CGC spent several hours tapping conversations with Bill about his experiences, including this raid. Let me know if you want more information and I will contact Gary about his tapes.
     
    Charley Fortnum and Our bill like this.
  19. Davy658

    Davy658 New Member

    [sharedmedia=gallery:images:22667]


    Is this the badge you are talking about?
     
  20. Paddyp

    Paddyp Junior Member

    Hey Dave, I was doing a little more research on Uncle Bill when this thread came up.

    I have 12 hours of tapes from Bill. i have images of him on the run in Italy and also a letter addressed to 1st SBS, HMS Medway that had been stamped POW and returned to your Grandmother. I will update this thread with some pics and info later on.

    Cheers Gary

    edit, i had posted them on here previously


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     

Share This Page