Are you looking for someone from No. 2 SBS ?

I've recently been lucky enough to get my hands on an amazing collection of personal photos, documents and memorabilia that belonged to a member of No 2. Special Boat Section. The bulk relate to India and Burma along with a few about a deployment in Reykjavik and some about training in Scotland.

They currently belong to one of his descendants who was kind enough to let me have a look. The photo album is incredible and really well annotated and there are numerous operational note books as well as address books listing names and addresses of his old comrades.

I do not have their permission to post any images or identify the person they belonged to but i am able to offer a check of names against the address books and names listed in his operational note book.

So, if you are curious about anybody who may have served with No.2 SBS then let me know and i'll see if they are listed.

Mac

 

It's fantastic to know that this sort of collection exists.

My grandfather was also part of the Small Operations Group based at Hammenhiel Camp, but so far as I know his unit (COPP) didn't do any joint ops with the SBS chaps out there.

Do you know whether the Scottish training stuff reaches back as far as September 1942? 2 SBS provided the embryonic COPP with canoes, equipment and men for Party Koodoo–Inhuman, ahead of Operation Torch.

 

The author of this thread would be interested: Operation Reservist SBS 2 Oran 1942

Joe has now logged in here since July 2022, so I will send him a PM.

 

Rob, first trawl throughand the Braemar stuff seems to be 1945-47.

As i said nesrly all of the photos relate to Burma but also mentioned are;
B group, SBS
HMS Beagle in Reykjavik 1941
HMS Trenchant
SRU - not sure what unit that is Kilwaughter castle,Co. Antrim.

Mac

 

Hi David,

I will contact him, and thanks for this information. I do have a lot of documentation on 2 SBS, and some photos.

 

SRU = Sea Reconnaissance Unit, also part of the Small Operations Group. I think the author David Abrutat is planning a book about them.

 

David's website is: David Abrutat Looks like the book is delayed: David Abrutat

The links go to different pgs.

 

My father was part of the 11 man 2 SBS team that took part in Reservist (landing at Oran, Algeria). This was an operation within Torch, thus part of it. I have pretty extensive documentation on this. Let me know if you need anything like this, and I would be more than happy to help. Thanks.

 

Hi Mac,
Is Lt Wesley listed? Do you have info, photos, etc?
Thanks,
Rob

 

Hello Joe, the only mention of him that I could find was on a typed list of names titled;

" The Commando association- members who served in the Special Boat Sections "

It was printed in July 1956 and is a list of names (some ranks) and addresses.

Your father is listed as;
"Captain J.C.C. Pagnam " alongside an Isle of Wight address. If you require that address let me know.

I've double checked the Burma / India photos just in case but as you predicted he's not mentioned.

Thanks for the book recommendation. I read a lot about the Burma theatre and the Chindits and Ive just read 'To be a Chindit' by Phil Sharpe and 'Wingate in peace and war' by Derek Tulloch back to back. Coincidentally, I've been drawn to Merril's Marauders as a result so will definitely have a look at that.

Mac.

 

Hello Rob, who is Lt Wesley to you ?

The only reason I ask is because I think there may be two different Wesleys in the archive.

There is an address book titled "SBS Old Comrades association" which lists a 'E. A. W. Wesley' alongside a Cheltenham address.

He is also mentioned in the other list of 'The Commando association- members of Special Boat Sections' (as I've referenced in the above post) as living in Buenos Aires in 1956 and holding the Military Cross.

There are two photos taken in the Far East that mention Lt Wesley and a Capt. Wesley and I think they are referring to different people.

Any thoughts from you ? Hopefully we can establish for certain if we have the Wesley you are interested in in the archive.

Mac.

Mac.

 

Thanks Mac. I think it is the same person but with different ranks. Teddy Wesley was my father's godfather.

 

Hello Joe, the only mention of him that I could find was on a typed list of names titled;

" The Commando association- members who served in the Special Boat Sections "

It was printed in July 1956 and is a list of names (some ranks) and addresses.

Your father is listed as;
"Captain J.C.C. Pagnam " alongside an Isle of Wight address. If you require that address let me know.

I've double checked the Burma / India photos just in case but as you predicted he's not mentioned.

Thanks for the book recommendation. I read a lot about the Burma theatre and the Chindits and Ive just read 'To be a Chindit' by Phil Sharpe and 'Wingate in peace and war' by Derek Tulloch back to back. Coincidentally, I've been drawn to Merril's Marauders as a result so will definitely have a look at that.

Mac.[/QUOTE]

Yes, that is what I had expected. He did live on the IOW where he had a small farm, and where I was born and grew up. But like most of the SBS, he just never talked about it, like it never happened. Regarding Burma, I am going to read To be a Chindit. As I am sure you would know, there were far more Chindits than Americans Brigadier Wingate was advisor to the fledgling Americans, but the reality was that many of them had seen a lot of action in the Pacific, Guadalcanal et al. Apart from the actual combat against the Japs, the British and American commanders in a way, tried to outdo each other. It always amuses me (and I am not amused about war itself) that the two commands who were allies, had some resentment. There are a few times in the Marauders book, that this is mentioned. Despite overwhelming odds, Merrill refused to back down because he "wanted to show the Brits"

 

Teddy Wesley was a close friend oy my father Lt. Joe Pagnam, 2 SBS.
Like my father Teddy was Anglo Argentine, hence the Buenos Aires reference.
In 1942, at my father's wedding in England, Teddy was his best man - SBS Commander Roger Courtney gave away the bride, my mother.
Teddy comes across as having a great sense of humor and being very sociable.

I have some information on Teddy, including a long letter written by him, from this address:
"La Providencia"
L. Marienzo, F.C.S.
Argentina
May 7th 1947

He comes across as typically SBS! of which I am sure we have different opinions, but their intelligence and bravery are without doubt.

 

That's fascinating history Joe - and a bonus connection with Wesley !

I'm assuming that your father is the Colin Pagnam mentioned in Saul David's superb book 'SBS silent warriors' ?

 

Ok, I'll speak to the owner of the archive and see if they will let me post the photos on here.

 

Absolutely. And I have exchanged e-mails with Saul about Oran.
Also, after you spoke of the Chindits, I downloaded a Kindle book "Stilwell and the Chindits: The Allies Campaign in Northern Burma, 1943–1944."
I am enjoying it greatly and it has a ton of photos. All the best in your endeavours, thanks for sharing information!

 

Mac - thank you for making the connection and the help!

Joe - this is great! I am sure my dad will be pleased to hear and know more about him and those times. Same as me!

 

There is this entry about him on the Commando Veterans Archive

WESLEY, Edward Alfred Wellesley | ͏