Morning, Can anyone help me with the attached service record entry? The man concerned was Leo Gerald RICE of the SBS, later murdered by the Germans. Does anyone know what the entry for 29/01/42 might mean, i.e. what/who/where was 16 G.(R) Military Mission? Cheers Skip
Maybe the Commando Veterans Association would have information on Middle East Commando attached personnel: Middle East Commandos Middle East Commando Depot was at Geneifa.Nathanya
Private Papers of H W Hainsworth | Imperial War Museums mentions, "his first operational posting as a member of 16 G(R) Military Mission, based at Latrun and Haifa in Palestine (July 1941 - January 1942)" HTH, Steve
Cheers Steve. All the more interesting that Hainsworth recorded it as his first 'operational' posting ...
G (R) branch was originally MI (R) branch The Military Intelligence (Research) (MI(R)) branch of the War Office was responsible for irregular operations and GHQ Middle East Forces had their own MI (R) initially commanded by Colonel Adrian Simpson. There was much infighting between G(R) and G(Operations) branch over control of units in the Middle East. G(R) branch was the controlling office for the cloak and dagger operations in the area. The book Middle East Commandos by Charles Messenger deals with the organization and issues that faced special forces units in the ME
Orwell - Think you have hit the nail on the head. Just looked it up and it appears at the time No.1 Special Boat Section was in the middle of a struggle between G Ops and MI/G(R) as to who should control it. I would think this posting was administrative on paper only and that all the time Rice remained No.1 SBS. Much appreciated, Skip
Hi Skip, I have just joined this forum after finding your post re Leo Gerard (not Gerald) Rice, who was my uncle. I'm wondering if you have his full service record and what other details you might be willing to share with me. I am aware of his capture and the mission they were on when this occurred, as described in John Lodwick's account in "The Filibusters:The Story of the Special Boat Service" (1947) (re-issued as Raiders from the Sea). Grateful for anything you can offer. Thanks!
HI, I am new to this forum. I am researching my wife's uncle Gordon Duncan Colclough. He seems to have been recruited into SBS NO1 Section after returning from Crete on 1 June 1941. He joined the 16G(R) mission on 29.8.41. He was admitted to hospital in Exeter on 18.11.41. What was this mission? Was it the mission of Jack Smith-Hughes of the SOE and Ralph Stockbridge of MI6 as outlined in "Crete" (Beevor) ? Any more info relating as to where and what 16G(R) was all about would be most welcome. On a different tack completely, I note that in Feb 1942 his war record shows that he reverted to Private (from Corporal) at his own request. WHY? Thank you in anticipation
just to see if this thread is still alive. Hi, I am teh admin for the SAS Relatives group and we have a group photo we think might have Colclough and Digger Rice in but we are not sure. it would help if we could get your input. Its a facebook based group and the photo is there ( greaves family photo collection ) . Its titles 1941-12 December Haifa Boating Course and has four names on the back, two being Gordon and Digger
Phil, You have just refreshed the thread. If you hove each contributor it will show when they last logged in. One was here a few days, another a little while back, one last in 2015 and another in 2011. You have enough posts to access the Private Message option, so best send an alert asking them to return and look at your post.
