Hi all, my grandfather was originally with the Royal Signals (40 Squad No1 Coy 1st O.B.T) back in 1943. He then volunteered for the commando's.. Does anyone have any info on 1st SS brigade HQ of which he was a signalman? Any info would be much appreciated Many thanks Nocky1972
1st Special Service Brigade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Nocky, Some links to look at. The 1st Special Service Brigade - 6th June Hobby Regards Tom
Hello and welcome to the forum, I think there may be a citation or two on my Royal Corps of Signals thread from some chaps serving with SSB. Whats your mans name? Cheers Andy
Just to add a bit more: I've looked through my Royal Signals books and can not find any mention of SSB which leads me to suspect that even though he was in the RCS he was on the Royal Navy's Orbat if this was a Royal Marine unit. Did you get his previous unit (40 Squad No1 Coy 1st O.B.T) from his service records as I have no record of that either. Even the OBT is not listed in the abbreviations of my books. All I can say from the information you posted is that 1 Company was for Construction in Army Signals HQ which would consist of line laying sections and line maintenance. However as the formation gets smaller ie. Corps Signals, Divisional Signals etc etc. If you haven't already, I would apply for his Service Records as this will list his units in more detail I suspect. Andy
Hi all, thanks for responding so quickly. I believe my grandad started off in the signals then joined the commandos. From the letters he sent my gran he was in June 6th platoon, Leicester commando then later on active service his address was signalman wootton cj, no1 SS brigade. I will sort some addresses out asap and post the details. His letters do mention training at Thirsk, northern Ireland And catterick. I will also post some photo's regards nocky1972
Catterick was the 'Home' of the RCS during WW2 so that fits. I'm not all that clued up on the Commando front during WW2 as some have said it was an Army formation but I've always looked on them as Royal Navy. I'd apply for his Service Records. Andy
No - it's true. Very roughly, the Commandos were an Army invention. The RM Cdos came along later when the infantry arm (there were also RM gunners on RM ships) was basically given the choice to adapt or die.
Catterick was the 'Home' of the RCS during WW2 so that fits. I'm not all that clued up on the Commando front during WW2 as some have said it was an Army formation but I've always looked on them as Royal Navy. I'd apply for his Service Records. Andy Although both Commandos, the Army Commandos were just that with the seperate organisation of the RM Commandos under Naval command but with some serving as part of 1st SS Brigade (an army formation) later 1 Commando Brigade as the SS was disliked for obvious reasons.The Army Commandos were disbanded at wars end with the RM continuing to this present day.
Cheers...Clear as mud Here's some SSB Signals related citations I mentioned: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/allied-units/19612-royal-corps-signals-3.html#post259749 http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/allied-units/19612-royal-corps-signals-2.html#post237590
Hi all, my grandfather was originally with the Royal Signals (40 Squad No1 Coy 1st O.B.T) back in 1943. He then volunteered for the commando's.. Does anyone have any info on 1st SS brigade HQ of which he was a signalman? Any info would be much appreciated Many thanks Nocky1972 Hi, I found this photo of a memorial to the 1st Special Service Brigade: at this excellent site: WW2 Combined Operations Hope this helps, Tom.
Hello again all, I have some dates and addresses from letters + some brief info etc 14/2/44 - Awaiting visit & inspection from Montgomery at Hove 11/3/44 - Leicester Commando, BTC, Achnacarry House June 44 - D-Day landings 15/6/44 - Appointed machine gunner for HQ, sniper had been troubling them since 13th June, found MG42 (1000 rpm), took out sniper with No2 gunner 25/6/44 - Back in England after being injured (St Lukes, Bradford) Aug 44 - On way back to front line, attached to RM wing 29/8/44 - No 1 SS brigade "signal Troop", BLA -On reserve - attached to several commando units. Only brigade not to be relieved since 6th June 44. 4/10/44 - SS group, Reception Camp (J) 16/1/45 - In Holland (staying in farmers barn) 4/3/45 - brother John Wootton liberated from Stalag XXA 4/4/45 - 6th Airbourne Div'n had captured "Osnabruck" - they were nowhere near in fact. Press officer with the comando's complained, BBC admitted wrong info given it was the commando's work. Set free Russian slave labour in 3 camps in the area. 29/4/45 - Last op just began 2:20am - crossing the river ELBE 8/5/45 - finished after 11 months @ place called NEUSTADT - few mile north of LUBEK. Camp in outskirts of town, found 6000 corpses & 2 ships full of dead bodies. Had to be burried by German civvies. Thats all for now, plenty of other letters to go through, will send off for his military records. Hope this info has been interesting - all taken from brief letter back to his wife Regards Nocky1972
Hello again all, I have some dates and addresses from letters + some brief info etc 14/2/44 - Awaiting visit & inspection from Montgomery at Hove 11/3/44 - Leicester Commando, BTC, Achnacarry House June 44 - D-Day landings 15/6/44 - Appointed machine gunner for HQ, sniper had been troubling them since 13th June, found MG42 (1000 rpm), took out sniper with No2 gunner 25/6/44 - Back in England after being injured (St Lukes, Bradford) Aug 44 - On way back to front line, attached to RM wing 29/8/44 - No 1 SS brigade "signal Troop", BLA -On reserve - attached to several commando units. Only brigade not to be relieved since 6th June 44. 4/10/44 - SS group, Reception Camp (J) 16/1/45 - In Holland (staying in farmers barn) 4/3/45 - brother John Wootton liberated from Stalag XXA 4/4/45 - 6th Airbourne Div'n had captured "Osnabruck" - they were nowhere near in fact. Press officer with the comando's complained, BBC admitted wrong info given it was the commando's work. Set free Russian slave labour in 3 camps in the area. 29/4/45 - Last op just began 2:20am - crossing the river ELBE 8/5/45 - finished after 11 months @ place called NEUSTADT - few mile north of LUBEK. Camp in outskirts of town, found 6000 corpses & 2 ships full of dead bodies. Had to be burried by German civvies. Thats all for now, plenty of other letters to go through, will send off for his military records. Hope this info has been interesting - all taken from brief letter back to his wife Regards Nocky1972 Lubeck (not to be confused with Lubbecke) is a port on the Baltic, although a lot of traffic moves via Travemunde at the mouth of the river. There is a mention of 1 Commando Brigade on the BAOR Location site here:- Lubeck Neustadt was reputed to have been the HQ of 1 Cdo Bde for a time. Three possible Barracks have been identified in Lubeck, but as yet there are no positive indication of any in Neustadt. The ships were probably those mistakenly attacked in the closing stages of the war, including the Cap Arcona. There were many casualties, including civilians and POW's. Paul.
Hi Paul, many thanks for this info. I think that because my Granddad was a signalman with the commando's he did move between brigades quite a lot. I will send for his military records to prove this. Is it an easy procedure to obtain them? Do I need consent from his eldest child being as he passed away some time ago? Regards Nocky
All the citations that are listed at Kew: The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Search Results=* Let me know if you want any of those listed. Andy
1st Special Service Brigade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Nocky, Some links to look at. The 1st Special Service Brigade - 6th June Hobby Regards Tom That's Funny they have the Same Patch as R.C.N.C. Canadian Navy Beach Commandos.
That's Funny they have the Same Patch as R.C.N.C. Canadian Navy Beach Commandos. If you mean this, its the Combined ops patch.See here COMBINED OPERATIONS INSIGNIA DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
My Uncle was a signaller in HQ Troop No 3 Commando. Any info or photo's? He was on LCI (s) 501/293. Queen Red Sword Beach - he fell just beyond the beach.
