317608 Sgt A J Orwin 2 SAS

I am researching my Grandfather's service with 2 SAS between 1943 and 1945. To date I have an Op Order from the SAS Regimental Association regarding his deployment on 'Op Defoe' in Normandy during the summer of 1944 and his SAS Parachute Course nominal roll but any other details are sketchy. His service record is very dry and simply notes his transfer to AAC in 1943 and service in 'Western Europe'.

317608 Sgt A J Orwin (actually JAA Orwin but was known in 2 SAS as Tony or 'Bing') saw active service with 9th Lancers in the western desert before transferring to 2 SAS I believe at Phillippeville. I have no idea whether he came across with 9th Lancer recruits to Bill Stirling or via LRDG and whether or not he saw service in Italy with 2 SAS before his name appears on the SAS parachute training nominal roll at RAF Ringway in the spring of 1944.

My grandmother had a bundle of parachute rip cords in her sewing box in Wivenhoe when I was growing up that I was told represented his jumps into enemy occuppied territory and I recall his red SAS beret hanging on the back of the bedroom door as very young visitor to their house in Wivenhoe. He joined the Parachute Regiment for service in Palestine in 1945-1949 (I wonder whether he went across with a number of 2SAS veterans who transferred at the same time with Bob Walker Brown?). It was not until I read Gavin Mortimer's book that I realised that 2 SAS had their UK HQ in Wivenhoe - a coincidence?

I have no idea what Squadron he served in within 2 SAS. Did he serve again with the 'Op Defoe' team (Capt MacGibbon Lewis and Lt Silly) when they deployed on Operation Loyton? He spoke some French and occasionally referred to operations with French members of the SAS to my grandmother, but little more was said and I note that there are a number of French SAS members on his parachute course.

My grandmother said he never joined the SAS Regimental Assocation but corresponded with Tom Burt the former 2 SAS QM for a number of years when he was secretary of the association from the Gold Coast where he was posted in the 1950's with the Royal Western Frontier Force. It appears he formed an informal SAS Association in the Gold Coast with other SAS vets and one from LRDG.

Can anyone help find out any more on my grandfather's SAS service or perhaps has come accross his name from other veterans. He died on 21st February 1976 in Wivenhoe (where he ran a riding school) when I was very young but I am told his funeral was well attended by SAS veterans.

Kind regards

Sam

 

Sam, a link that may be of intrest. BBC - WW2 People's War - Operation Loyton

 

Thank you very much. It would be useful to trace the 2 SAS Orbat for Op Loyton if anyone has access to it?

Sam

 

I am researching my Grandfather's service with 2 SAS between 1943 and 1945. To date I have an Op Order from the SAS Regimental Association regarding his deployment on 'Op Defoe' in Normandy during the summer of 1944 and his SAS Parachute Course nominal roll but any other details are sketchy. His service record is very dry and simply notes his transfer to AAC in 1943 and service in 'Western Europe'.

317608 Sgt A J Orwin (actually JAA Orwin but was known in 2 SAS as Tony or 'Bing') saw active service with 9th Lancers in the western desert before transferring to 2 SAS I believe at Phillippeville. I have no idea whether he came across with 9th Lancer recruits to Bill Stirling or via LRDG and whether or not he saw service in Italy with 2 SAS before his name appears on the SAS parachute training nominal roll at RAF Ringway in the spring of 1944.

My grandmother had a bundle of parachute rip cords in her sewing box in Wivenhoe when I was growing up that I was told represented his jumps into enemy occuppied territory and I recall his red SAS beret hanging on the back of the bedroom door as very young visitor to their house in Wivenhoe. He joined the Parachute Regiment for service in Palestine in 1945-1949 (I wonder whether he went across with a number of 2SAS veterans who transferred at the same time with Bob Walker Brown?). It was not until I read Gavin Mortimer's book that I realised that 2 SAS had their UK HQ in Wivenhoe - a coincidence?

I have no idea what Squadron he served in within 2 SAS. Did he serve again with the 'Op Defoe' team (Capt MacGibbon Lewis and Lt Silly) when they deployed on Operation Loyton? He spoke some French and occasionally referred to operations with French members of the SAS to my grandmother, but little more was said and I note that there are a number of French SAS members on his parachute course.

My grandmother said he never joined the SAS Regimental Assocation but corresponded with Tom Burt the former 2 SAS QM for a number of years when he was secretary of the association from the Gold Coast where he was posted in the 1950's with the Royal Western Frontier Force. It appears he formed an informal SAS Association in the Gold Coast with other SAS vets and one from LRDG.

Can anyone help find out any more on my grandfather's SAS service or perhaps has come accross his name from other veterans. He died on 21st February 1976 in Wivenhoe (where he ran a riding school) when I was very young but I am told his funeral was well attended by SAS veterans.

Kind regards

Sam

Sam

My contact has had a good trawl through the regtl records, though with little success. He reports:

A few things I can say for definite:

2 SAS's next of kin book records: '317608 Sgt Orwin A J, Queens Royal Lancers, Wife; 11 Tower Hill, Coye, Franborough. Hants.' I believe this book to have been started late spring 1944.

He does not appear on the 2 SAS nominal roll of August/September 1944. This states those 'in camp' and 'on ops' at the time from all Squadrons.

He does not appear on the Wallace/Hardy/Robey nominal rolls.

As is already known he appears in the Dafoe report having served under Lt Silly (later murdered on Loyton).

He does not appear on the Trueform, Loyton, Independent Op North of Loyton, Pistol, Keystone or Archway nominal rolls. I also checked the Tombola and Galia rolls but he is not on these suggesting that he was not with the squadron that went back to Italy late in the war under Farran.

Of course the nominal rolls are not 100% complete and on occasion I have found that there are omissions but 2 SAS were much better on the admin side than 1st. I strongly suggest that he gets his grandfather's service record from Glasgow as this will provide most of the answers.




Good luck

Paul

 

Paul,

Thank you for your detailed response and you seem to have drawn a blank as I have. I have his service record from Glasgow but this simply has him transferring from the Royal Lancers to AAC (2 SAS) in 1943 until his transfer to the Parachute Regiment in 1945 and then to Palestine with the Airborne Division until 1949.

Kind regards

Sam

 

Not sure if this is connected but I have an athletics medal with the following inscription:
6 (H) Bde Group
Inter Unit
Athletic Meeting
Runners-up
Medley Relay
1947
SGT ORWIN APTC

 

Similarly...

Re. Captain Fritz Rudolf (aka Ralph) Marx... 245682
(aka "Karl" Marx ) : 9th Queens Royal Lancers Roll of Honour

& Re. Sergeant J. Orwin...

Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_408.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby