D-Day Sword Beach: Company Commanders

I have been trying to compile a list of all of the Company Commanders and above that landed on D-Day. I have yet to find a comprehensive list available from a single source and internet sources seem far from complete. This has disappointed me somewhat as information on the Axis side seems to be more readily available. I have contacted several Regimental Museums to attempt to fill in gaps that I have. Finding the names of even some of the Regimental commanders has also been surprisingly problematic considering that these were the men that fought against fascism.
I hope eventually to list the Company Commanders of all the beaches on June 6th but have decided to begin with Sword Beach. I will list the information I have for each Infantry Brigade, then the Armoured Brigade and finally the supporting units. If anyone could add any names or corrections on the information that I have collected it would be most appreciated.
So to begin with:
8th Infantry Brigade
Brig. E.E. Cass

Suffolk Regiment/1st Battalion
Lt-Col. Dick Goodwin

Company A: Capt. Ryley
Company B: Maj. Mac Caffrey
Company C: Maj. Charles Boycott
Company D: Maj. Philip Papillon
Support Company: unknown

East Yorkshire Regiment/2nd Battalion
Lt-Col. G.F. Hutchinson

Company A: Maj. C.K. King
Company B: Maj. Sheath
Company C: unknown
Company D: Maj. Barber
Support Company: unknown

South Lancashire Regiment/1st Battalion
Lt-Col. Richard Burbury

Company A: Maj. ‘Spook’ Harward
Company B: Maj. Harrison
Company C: Maj. Eric Johnson
Company D: Maj. J. Egglington
Support Company: unknown

 

Next is the brigade I have least information on
9th Infantry Brigade
Brig. J.G. Cunningham

Lincolnshire Regiment/2nd Battalion
Lt-Col. Christopher Welby-Everard

Company A: unknown
Company B: unknown
Company C: unknown
Company D: unknown
Support Company: unknown

Kings Own Scottish Borderers/1st Battalion
unknown

Company A: unknown
Company B: unknown
Company C: unknown
Company D: unknown
Support Company: unknown

Royal Ulster Rifles/2nd Battalion
Lt-Col. ’Tommy’ Harris

Company A: unknown
Company B: unknown
Company C: unknown
Company D: unknown
Support Company: unknown

 

185th Infantry Brigade
Brig. K.P. Smith

Royal Warwickshire/2nd Battalion
Lt-Col. H. Herdon

Company A: unknown
Company B: unknown
Company C: unknown
Company D: unknown
Support Company: unknown

Royal Norfolk Regiment/1st Battalion
Lt-Col. R. Bellamy

Company A: Capt. Adrian Kelly
Company B: Maj. Eric Cooper-Key
Company C: unknown
Company D: Maj. Papillon
Support Company: unknown

King’s Shropshire Light Infantry/2nd Battalion
Lt-Col. F. Maurice

Company W: Maj. A.F. Slater
Company X: Maj. G.M. Thorneycroft
Company Y: Maj. P.C. Steel
Company Z: Maj. P.H. Wheelock
Support Company: Capt. T.H. Read

 

27th Armoured Brigade
Brig. G.E. Prior-Palmer

13th/18th Royal Hussars
HQ Squadron: Lt-Col. Harrap
Squadron A: Maj. Wormald
Squadron B: Maj. Rugge-Price
Squadron C: unknown

1st East Riding Yeo.
HQ Squadron: unknown
Squadron A: unknown
Squadron B: unknown
Squadron C: unknown

Staffordshire Yeo.
HQ Squadron: Lt-Col. J.A. Eadie
Squadron A: Maj. M.A. Spencer-Nairn
Squadron B: Maj. G.J.W. Turner
Squadron C: Maj. P.B. Griffin

 

Hannover,

Welcome to the forum !

13/18 H
CO Lt Col Richard Thresher Giles 'Dick' HARRAP (38712)
A Sqn Maj Derrick Bruce WORMALD (67087)
B Sqn Maj Anthony Arthur Keith 'Dag' RUGGE-PRICE (63560)
C Sqn Maj Sir Delaval James Alfred 'Bart' COTTER (52615)
HQ Sqn Maj John Roger CORDY-SIMPSON (49810)

Michel

 

F Troop, 318 Battery, 92nd LAA (Queen Red)

Captain Robert Tennant Reid, CO of 318 Battery

 

Hi,
List of officers in 2 Bn Royal Warwickshire Regt 4th June 1944.

Regards

Danny

 

2 RUR
CO Lt Col Ian Cecil HARRIS (47584)
2iC Maj Basil James FitzGerald DONLEA, MC (56784)
HQ Coy Capt Michael Dennis George Conybeare RYAN (64645)
A Coy Maj William Davidson TIGHE-WOOD (100901)
B Coy Maj John Waymari HYDE (105343)
C Coy Maj John Charles Stewart Grant DE LONGUEUIL (85696)
D Coy Maj John Richard St. Leger ALDWORTH (117163)
S Coy Maj Charles Raymond Patrick SWEENY, MC (74698)

 

Hi,
1 KOSB

CO - Lt Col G.D. Renny

Company Officers 9th June

A Coy - Major R.G. Wardie, MC
B Coy - Major R.E. Laurie
C Coy - Major H.S. Gillies
D Coy - Major A.J. Rennie
S Coy - Captain T.D. Sanderson
HQ Coy - Captain G.E. Barker

 

From the Regimental History of 2 LINCOLNS, their OOB at embarkation for OVERLORD:

 

First of all can I thank everyone for their responses so far, they are much appreciated.
Now for the first part of the supporting units. I know that not all companies from some formations were involved or some units failed to land and did not arrive until after 6th June so I have tried to mention this where appropriate but have included them as part of a full unit for completeness. For Royal Artillery Regiments I have tried to include the battery numbers when known.

2/Middlesex Regiment - MG & Mortar Bn.
CO: unknown
Company A (MG):unknown, landed at H+45
Company B (MG):unknown
Company C (MG):unknown
Company D (M):unknown

I am unsure which of these companies landed on 6th June.

Royal Artillery - 7th Field Regiment (SP)
CO: Lt-Col. N.P.H. Tapp
9/17 Battery
16/43 Battery
Trew in Battlezone Normandy records the Batteries as 9, 16 and 17/43

Royal Artillery - 33rd Field Regiment
CO: unknown
101 Battery
109 Battery
113/114 Battery

Royal Artillery - 76th (Highland) Field Regiment (SP)
CO: Lt-Col. Mervyn Foster
302 Battery (Fife)
303 Battery (City of Dundee)
354 Battery

Royal Artillery - 20th A-T Regiment
CO: unknown
41 Battery
45 Battery
67 Battery
101 Battery

Royal Artillery - 73rd Light AA Regiment
CO: Lt-Col Armstrong
218 Battery landed at H+45
220 Battery
296 Battery

Royal Artillery - 92nd (Loyals) LAA Regiment
CO: Lt-Col C M Adderley
317 Battery
318 Battery
319 Battery

 

7 Fd Regt (SP) RA
CO Lt Col Nigel Prior Hanson TAPP, RA (30558)
2iC Maj Alastair CAMERON, RA (47530)
Battery Commanders:
9 (Irish) Fd Bty (SP) RA Maj John Faulder LISTER, RA (86756)
16 Fd Bty (SP) RA Maj Robin Horace Walford DUNN, RA (74516)
17/43 Fd Bty (SP) RA Maj Ian Hamilton Keith RAE, RA (79808)

 

A couple more.

Suffolk Regiment/1st Battalion

Support Company: unknown - Major W.D. Gordon


South Lancashire Regiment/1st Battalion

Support Company: unknown - Captain I.G. Harrison ?

 

Re 92nd (Loyals) LAA. As I mentioned above, F Troop of 318 Battery, comprising six SP Bofors Guns, was the only unit of the regiment to land on D-Day itself, commanded by Captain Robert Tennant Reid. Its task was to protect the bridges at Benouville and Ranville (Pegasus and Horsa bridges). The remainder of 318 Battery and RHQ was due to land the following day, but the liberty ship on which they were travelling, the Sambut, was sunk by German gunfire in the Dover Strait around noon on June 6.

 

Details below might help with some of your research....

2 Royal Ulster Rifles (as at D-Day - based on Research of "The Rifles Are There"; War Diary; Official History)
CO : Lieutenant-Colonel I.C. Harris
2IC : Major B.J. FitzGerald Donlea M.C.
IO : Lieutenant G.P. Flack
Adjutant : Captain W.E.S. Sturgeon
QM : Captain C.H.D. Henniker
MO : Captain C.R. Wright R.A.M.C
Padre : Father O'Brien
RSM S. Fleming

HQ Company
CO : Captain M.D.G. Ryan (wounded 9th June at Cambes)
2IC: ??
1st Platoon (Signal Platoon) : Lieutenant F.W. McFaull
2nd Platoon (Transports) :
CSM ???

Support Company :
CO : Major C.R.P. Sweeny M.C.
2IC : ???
3rd Platoon (Mortars) : Captain A.G. Sellers (wounded 6th June in assembly area)
4th Platoon (Carriers) : Captain H.M. Gaffikin (wounded 7th June at Cambes)
5th Platoon (Anti-Tank) : Captain C.R. Gray
6th Platoon (Pioneers) : Lieutenant D.R.R. Greer
CSM Lutton

A Company :
CO : Major W.D. Tighe-Wood
2IC : Captain A.C. Bird
7th Platoon : Lieutenant J.H. St J. Cooper (wounded 9th June at Cambes)
8th Platoon : Lieutenant R.S. Hall (killed 9th June at Cambes)
9th Platoon : Lieutenant D H Walsh (wounded 9th June at Cambes)
CSM Walsh

B Company :
CO : Major J.W. Hyde
2IC : Captain W.H. Baudains M.M.
10th Platoon : Lieutenant S.E. Frost
11th Platoon : either Lieutenant H.D.D. O'Neil/Lieutenant W.E. Palmer
12th Platoon : either Lieutenant H.D.D. O'Neil/Lieutenant W.E. Palmer
CSM ???


C Company :
CO : Major J.S.C.G. De Longueuil
2IC : Captain N.R.V. Watson
13th Platoon : Lieutenant C.C. Rand
14th Platoon : Lieutenant R.C. Diserens (killed 9th June at Cambes)
15th Platoon : Lieutenant R.D. Purcell
CSM T. Kelly

D Company :
CO : Captain J. R. St. J. Aldworth (killed 7th June at Cambes)
2IC : Captain J. Montgomery (wounded 9th June at Cambes)
16th Platoon : either Lieutenant W.E. Palmer/Lieutenant S.M. Lennox (wounded 9th June at Cambes)
17th Platoon : either Lieutenant W.E. Palmer/Lieutenant S.M. Lennox (wounded 9th June at Cambes)
18th Platoon : Lieutenant H. Greene (wounded 7th June at Cambes)
CSM ???




9 Brigade Headquarters (4th June 1944)


2 Lincs (20th May 1944)

 

Hi,
A couple more.
Regards
Danny


2/Middlesex Regiment - MG & Mortar Bn.
CO: unknown - Lt Col G.P.P Weston, OBE
A (MG):unknown, landed at H+45 - Major P.A.V. King-Farlow - Landed between H+20 and H+120.
B (MG):unknown - Major E.L.G. Passey - Landed 7th June PM.
C (MG):unknown - Major E.J. Unwin - Landed shortly after H+240
D (M):unknown - Major C.D.L. Brereton - Two Platoons landed shortly after H+240
HQ - Captain R.O.F. Hickman

Royal Artillery - 33rd Field Regiment
CO: unknown - Lt Col T.E. Hussey
101 Battery
109 Battery
113/114 Battery

Battery Commanders
Major D.M. Brooke, MC
Major A.B. Edwards

Royal Artillery - 20th A-T Regiment
CO: unknown - Lt Col G.B. Thatcher
41 Battery
45 Battery
67 Battery - Major W.H. Purchase-Rathbone
101 Battery

Battery Commanders
Major J. Hendrson (41 ?)
Major J. Howard (45 ?)
Names are correct, not 100% sure about Battery.

 

And from source below:
33 FIELD REGT ROYAL ARTILLERY 6 JUNE 1944 TO 5 MAY 1945 Copy No 60.pdf
you can add

2IC Major R.B.Asplin
Adjutant Captain J.S. Brymer

Also:
101 Field Battery = Major A.B. Edwards
109 Field Battery = Major J.E.H Wise (assumed: FOO during landings and 109 Battery first to land)
113/114 Field Battery = Major D.M.Brooke M.C. (KIA 9 June at Cambes)

 

The following Commando Units were attached to 3rd Infantry Division for the assault.
1st Special Service Brigade CO: Brigadier Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, Lord Lovat
No. 3 Commando
CO: Lt-Col. Peter J. Young
2iC: Maj. John B. V. Pooley

No. 4 Commando
CO: Lt-Col. Robert W. Dawson
2iC: unknown

No. 6 Commando
CO: Lt-Col. Derek Mill-Roberts
2iC: Maj. Charles Courtenay Coade

No. 45 (Royal Marine) Commando
CO: Lt-Col. Charles Ries
2iC: Maj. W. N. Gray

No. 10 (Inter-Allied) French Commando
CO: Capitaine de Corvette Philippe Kieffer
2iC: unknown
[No.1 and No.8 Troop only]

4th Special Service Brigade CO: Brigadier Bernard W. Leicester
No 41 Royal Marine Commando [was to land on the far west of Sword Beach]
CO: Lt-Col. Eric C. Palmer
2iC: Maj. D. L. Barclay (KIA 7th June 44)

 

41 RM Commando.

A Troop - Captain C.N.P. Powell
B Troop - Captain H.F. Morris
P Troop - Captain B.J.B. Barclay
S Troop - Captain W.D. Grant
X Troop - Captain H.B. Stratford
Y Troop - Captain P.T.H. Dufton

 

Thank you Danny M for your contribution. I did not list Troop commanders but as you have listed those for 41 RM Commando I will list the Troop commanders that I have. The idea is that I will collate all of the information here and make it available to everyone in the Resources section.
Unfortunately Y Troop commander Capt. Peter Howes-Dufton was KIA on D-Day.

No. 3 Commando
1 Troop: Capt. C.E.A. Collins
2 Troop: Capt. J. Bartholomew
3 Troop: Capt. Eric R. Westley
4 Troop: Capt. B. D. Butler
5 Troop: Capt. Woyevodsky
6 Troop: Capt. John Alderson

No. 4 Commando
A Troop: Capt. Alistair M. Thorburn
B Troop: unknown
C Troop: Capt. David C. W. Style
D Troop: Maj. Pat A. Porteous
E Troop: Capt. Hutchison Burt
F Troop: Capt. Len N. Coulson

No. 6 Commando
1 Troop: Capt. Marshall John Adam Leaphard
2 Troop: Capt. Alan Creswell Holman Pyman (KIA 6 June 1944)
3 Troop: Maj. D. Colquhoun
4 Troop: Capt. Thompson
5 Troop: Capt. Reginald J. Emery
6 Troop: Capt. Clark Edmond John Leaphard

No. 45 (Royal Marine) Commando
A Troop: Capt. E. E. Grewcock
B Troop: Capt. N. G. Michael
C Troop: Maj. J. N. Rushworth
D Troop: Capt. A. A. Scott
E Troop: Capt. I. N. Beadle
F Troop: Capt. A. W. Neaves

No. 10 (Inter-Allied) French Commando:
1 Troop: Lieutenant Guy Vourch
8 Troop: Lieutenant Alex Lofi
K Gun Troop: Lieutenant Pierre Amaury