I have been looking at my wife's uncle Gordon Duncan Colclough war record. After returning from Crete with the surviving commandos on 1st June 1941, he joined the SBS. He had been made Corporal in 1939 but in Feb 1942 he reverted to Private, AT HIS OWN REQUEST! I appreciate that this is in the area of speculation but why would he have taken such action.
Agincourt1415 As you say, one can only speculate, but in my time one of the the main reasons for wishing to be demoted was that one wished to remain with a circle of former friends. Ron
Agincourt1415 As he was a Corporal with the Commandos - and on transfer to the SBS - he was perhaps NOT accepted by his new troop and reverted to the rank of private in order to show them he was one of them with the expectation of earning his two stripes again - as his former friends were perhaps still with the Commandos - or all deceased, it happens ! Cheers
Thanks for that. By Feb 1942 I think he part of David Stirling's bunch and were getting ready for the "big raids" planned for later in the year. In fact he took part in Operation Bigamy, got blown out of his truck, met up with some Bedouin Arabs who eventually handed him to the Italians. He thus became a POW at the end of Sept 1942. He escaped his POW camp in 1943, walked to Switzerland, and was repatriated in Oct 1944.
Normally when transferring to the special forces you do start from the bottom but retain the pay of your previous rank plus the extra SF pay (i think). I know someone who was a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy who joined the SBS. He was basically demoted to the bottom of the pile (i think they call them Marines or Troopers) but he didn't lose out financially...he has since left and gone back to the Navy after several years in the SBS and is now a fully commissioned Lieutenant!
My grandfather was reduced in rank at his own request - from CQMS. I don't think that it was to be with his mates; he was subsequently further reduced to Pte/Fus and changed regiment; following FGCM! Roxy
It seems to be that when he joined SBS it was a requirement for him to adopt a rank of Private with them. He would have still retained his pay rate as a Corporal with his original Regiment. Goodygixxer seems to spot on!!
