2664194 Guardsman Evan William GRIFFITHS, Coldstream Guards & 3 Commando: 07/06/1944

I am seeking information regarding Evan William Griffiths 2664194 Coldstream Guards he was killed on the 7th June 1944 , and he is buried at Ranville War Cemetery France , he was with 3 Commando , i am assuming he would have gone to the Commando Trg School at Achnacarry , how long did the training last here , would he been posted to the Commandos from the CG or would he apply (Volunteer) , ? i am also assuming he was killed while attacking the Merville battery ? . is there anywhere where i might find out more about him .

Thank you Phill Jones


https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2848197/evan-william-griffiths/
GUARDSMAN EVAN WILLIAM GRIFFITHS
Service Number: 2664194
Regiment & Unit: Coldstream Guards
Secondary Unit: No. 3 Commando
Date of Death: 07 June 1944
Age 24 years old
Buried or commemorated at RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Grave Reference: IA. C. 5.
Location: France
Additional Info: Son of Thomas and Jane Griffiths; husband of Violet Kathleen Griffiths, of Staunton-on-Arrow, Herefordshire.

 

A start (click on the link to Commando Veterans Archive).

Search | ͏

Good luck with all.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

In 3 Commando's June War Diary list of casualties, compiled at the end of the month, Griffiths is listed as missing since 7 June. There is a detailed report on the attack on Merville on 7 June, which references a list of casualties that is, sadly, not attached. However, it's interesting that at one point Lt. A Williams is recorded as leading a patrol to silence an artillery gun, and the patrol is not heard from again. Williams is similarly listed as missing since 7 June. That's just a bit of speculation on my part though, there's some 45 personnel listed as missing on 7 June, and they can't all have been on the patrol.

 

We always recommend applying for the Service Record. It is the definitive account of his service. Yes, it can take time and regularly has good and disappointing responses. A very short note (copied from Clive): you will need his date of birth and death cert available here for £7 https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ Link for service records
Select the service - Apply for a deceased person's military record - GOV.UK

Members can check their resources and do some online research. Others may be looking now and in the future for them; we regularly have people join who have found a post or thread about a relative.

It might be worth checking if there is a local newspaper article about him. Most public libraries have access to the British Newspaper Archive when in the library, not online.

On your current information he has appeared here before in three threads, use the search option with 2664194 and they will appear.

It helps to add a ‘tag’ when you create a thread, only you can do this. It is for the formation / corps involved or a theme like intelligence. Searching tags can identify threads, otherwise it takes a bit longer.

Some help via what is a now four pg. PDF available on: WW2 Soldier Research - Tips and Links for New Researchers (update) Plus: How to Start a new Thread / Edit Post / Upload Image

 

Thank you very much for your replies and useful advice . i will certainly look into the suggestions

 

You can find first-hand accounts of training via IWM interviews
IWM Collections

A few of the results for "Achnacarry" (set filter to Sounds ie interviews)
eg
3 Cdo
Interview with Henry Albert James Winch

4 Cdo
Gilchrist, Donald Johnston (Oral history)

Instructor's account
Interview with James Edwin Dunning

 

Hi , thank you for replying to my thread , please may i ask if the War Diary for 3 Commando is available at the NA , if so please are you able to give me a ref no so i that i can obtain copies thank you

 

3 Commando | The National Archives
Reference: WO 218/3
Description: 3 Commando
Date: 1940 June - 1941 Jan.

3 Commando | The National Archives
Reference: WO 218/23
Description: 3 Commando
Date: 1941 Jan.- Mar., Sept.- Dec.

3 Commando | The National Archives
Reference: WO 218/34
Description: 3 Commando
Date: 1942 Jan.- Dec.

3 Commando | The National Archives
Reference: WO 218/51
Description: 3 Commando
Date: 1943 Jan.- Dec.

3 Commando | The National Archives
Reference: WO 218/65
Description: 3 Commando
Date: 1944 Jan.- Dec.

3 Commando | The National Archives
Reference: WO 218/83
Description: 3 Commando
Date: 1945 Jan.- Nov.



Occasionally there are witness statements / action reports / war diary extracts within Missing Personnel files. Hard to predict what this might contain: these files are a bit of a 'lucky dip'.
North West Europe: No. 3 Commando; missing personnel | The National Archives
Reference: WO 361/517
Description: North West Europe: No. 3 Commando; missing personnel