130652 Captain James Moore Ratcliffe DSO, GM. The Middlesex Regiment

Just incase you come back






Distinguished Service Order
The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details




George Medal
The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

 

Andy,

You cannot be other than impressed by this mans actions.

A real Action Man.

Thanks for a great post.

Regards
Tom

 

I was thinking the same, I hope he comes back Tom. He thinks his great uncle won a George Cross.

 

I can thank you enough for your help reading these stories about my uncles time in the army brings a huge smile to my face. I can't thank you enough for finding this information.

 

Where or how the hell did you find this information?

 

He was also with Force 136 in the Far East after being released as a POW. His SOE PF is at HS9/1232 at TNA Kew

 

Hello - Glad you made it back. It would have been a shame for you to have missed it as the citations are rather good aren't they?

The original documents are held at the National Archives in London but they have put them online for people to access.

Cheers
Andy

 

Ref your PM.

If you want to find out more about his service I would apply for his service records to identify the 'who with's and when's' then you can look at the appropriate war diaries and files held at the national archives.

Cheers
Andy

 

Hello to all - Interesting reading actual military notes about my uncle. My mother told me most of it when I was 15 years old. I have photos from his funeral showing the Winged Dagger of the SAS on the coffin. He also served in HMSS in Berlin after the war.
Also, try and find out about his North African service, went 11 days without food, and 4 days without water, traveled 200 miles, three others did not make it.
Regards
James D

 

Hi,

Ref your PM the first thing I would do if you are serious about tracking this mans service is apply for his service records first. They will list all the units he served with-armed with this information you can get copies of the units war diaries and other possibly other bits of information.

Service Records

Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website

 

Well researched,but the key page to his DSO is missing..ie page 2.Thats the one that details why he,as a captain, received his DSO,and what it meant in those days.
To clear up a couple of other errors.He started in the Middlesex Regt,then in 1940 joined the commandos.As a member of No.7 Commando he then joined 1SBS and led the failed reconnaissance mission backgrounding an attempt to kill Rommel.The submarine failed to RV and he then did walk 200 miles across the Jebel,11 days without food,4 days without water.
He was captured by Italians and sent to Gavi 5 where he became in due course camp adjutant.He escaped in September 1943 whilst in transit to Germany and walked 1,000kms through Germany ,Austria,into Italy over the Dolomites into Slovenia. He led Yugoslav partisans(Serbs) for three months and it was there he was recommended for his DSO.
He was severely wounded by multiple gunshots to the head,right leg and buttocks by German troops and was recaptured.He spent six weeks in Belgrade under intensive interrogation by the Gestapo during which time he lost four stone in weight and all his teeth.
Later he was sent to Blechammer concentration camp as a slave labourer ,then after two months to Oflag 79.
During his captivity in Oflag 79 he was recommended for a George Cross for his bomb disposal work ,subsequently awarded a George Medal.He was liberated from the camp around the 9th May 1945 by the US 9th Army spearhead.
He subsequently/immediately was seconded to the BAOR as a war crimes investigator ,leading an SAS team.His german interpreter during those years became his wife and I am his eldest son.
He died in May 1974

 

Hi,

This wonderful man is my sons Great Grand Uncle, its wonderful reading all about him and passing the information to my 10 year old son James.
To get service records dont you have to have a relatives permission? or death certificate?

 

Request for Service records of deceased Service personnel
Under the scheme, and in recognition of the duty of care owed to the family of the deceased subject, for a period of 25 years following the date of death of the subject and without the consent of the next of kin, MOD will disclose only:

• surname
• forename
• rank
• service number
• regiment/corps
• place of birth
• age
• date of birth
• date of death where this occurred in service
• the date an individual joined the service
• the date of leaving
• good conduct medals (for example, Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (LS&GCM)), any orders of chivalry and gallantry medals (decorations of valour) awarded, some of which may have been announced in the London Gazette

After this period, and if it is held, in addition MOD will disclose without the requirement for next of kin consent:

• the units in which he/she served
• the dates of this service and the locations of those units
• the ranks in which the service was carried out and details of campaign medals awarded

The administration fee of £30 will be waived for requests from those who were the spouse or civil partner of the subject at the time of death (or parent if there was no spouse or civil partner).
Where the consent of the immediate next of kin has been given for its release to a third party, the 25 year threshold will not apply allowing the release of all the information available under the publication scheme at any time, subject to the payment of an administration fee of £30 per record and the provision of a death certificate (except where death was in service).

https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

 

According to my Father the George Cross would have been the medal that my great uncle should have received but due to the fact he was a POW at the time they classified him as a civilian instead of a soldier, and in regards to the DSO, that medal should have been a Victoria cross except there were no higher ranking officers to recommended him for it.

P.S. Just so you all know my old user name was James Moore Ratcliffe I just forgot my password. I really should right these things down.

Thanks to all who have help me on this quest Im getting closer to knowing much more about this amazing man that my father talks and raves about all the time.

 

I have almost completed a book about my Uncle Arnold John Mott (Evader and Escaper) who spent time with this amazing hero. On my Uncle's instructions I have included as much as I have been able to glean about James Moore Ratcliffe. I should love to be in touch with any famiiy member.

 

His german interpreter during those years became his wife and I am his eldest son.
He died in May 1974[/QUOTE]
I believe you may have edited a document: Escape From Germany, from your father's personal notes and papers. My mum, Marjorie, is your cousin. Her mum, also Marjorie, was your father's sister. I remember meeting him as a small child. We are the pilgrims, Master....We make the Golden Journey. My mum, brother and I very recently visited Russel St, Blackburn (April '23), the site of the shop your grandma had and the places where they lived and grew up, including the house at Whitaker St, the home of your grand father (James Ratcliffe) which is still standing.
An incredible, brave and courageous man with a fascinating account of a part of his service. Thank you.

 

I would love to read Evader and Escaper, about your uncle and a little more about my great uncle.

 

Welcome to the forum that member has not been on the forum for a number of years i have sent them a message to show your interest

 

Thank you very much. I found a copy of the book mentioned in this post (The Twisted Florin) and am looking forward to reading it.

 

I believe you may have edited a document: Escape From Germany, from your father's personal notes and papers. My mum, Marjorie, is your cousin. Her mum, also Marjorie, was your father's sister. I remember meeting him as a small child. We are the pilgrims, Master....We make the Golden Journey. My mum, brother and I very recently visited Russel St, Blackburn (April '23), the site of the shop your grandma had and the places where they lived and grew up, including the house at Whitaker St, the home of your grand father (James Ratcliffe) which is still standing.
An incredible, brave and courageous man with a fascinating account of a part of his service. Thank you.[/QUOTE]

Hi my name is Alison Anderson and I'm currently doing my family tree. James Moore Ratcliffe 1908 -1974 is my 3rd Cousin 3x removed on my maternal side and I'm just in the process of finding out about him. What a heroic bloke he was! Can I ask what his wife's name was and where they lived as I'm struggling to find information