Frank Williams WW2 Wrexham TA, RWF mix of units, Killyleagh, Possible Commando time

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ap1

and conducted raids on the French Coast during Dunkirk.

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During May/June 1940? Any idea on the unit he was with at the time?

He just calls it an "Independent Company"…He couldn't remember if it had a number. He did show me a book, a month or so ago, that had an account of one of the raids. Which went badly wrong, out of ten boats, only one made it to the coastline, I think the others had mechanical failure etc. On landing the germans shot them up, the boat that dropped them off, beat a hasty retreat. The guys had a ding dong with the enemy, then managed to move along the beach and hide in some bull rushes…Later their boat picked them up and took them back to Folkstone, there was rum in the boats, the guys were stripped down to their underpants, so they drank the rum….By the time the boat landed they were hammered. They staggered through Folkstone like that, wolf whistling the women, eventually about 20 MP's arrived to escort them to the barracks….I've actually seen that account in a book. I'm wondering if its a special service company or similar.

In fact Drew, just managed to locate a newspaper article from ten yrs ago. I'm trying to work out which RWF Bn he came from:

Attachment 3448

Right, it appears that 4th, 6th and 7th Bn's between them raised a platoon for No 2 Independent Company. They deployed to Norway.

Meanwhile, the 8th, 9th and 10th Bn's provided a platoon between them for No 9 Independent Company. These 3 x second line TA battalions were invoked in Coastal Duties in Sussex etc, which partially fits with Ted's story of being based on the south coast.

I think Ted took part in this raid : Operation Collar. The first ever commando raid!!!!…Bloody Hell, that is living history. Although it was conducted by 11 Independent Company, there is one crucial clue:

Attachment 3451



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operati...commando_raid)
http://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gif




I suspect Ted was with the group that landed at Stella Plage.

I have a shed load of (I think I have all of them) Independent Coy war diaries. Do you have a date?

I've just checked and there isn't a 9 Independent Coy war diary at Kew but there is a 9 Commando covering July to November 1940

I have 11 Company war diary - Will have a look later for you :)

This file looks interesting

WO 106/1740 Report on operation "COLLAR"; report on a small raid near Boulogne June 1940


Ps Do you have a copy of his MM citation?

http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...s?uri=D7365967

Hi Drew,

I've spoken to Ted today, he didn't really understand the significance of the raid of June 24 1940. His account pretty much matches the scenario of the guys who landed at Stella Plage. I've also located a guy on the Commando Forum, whose father was also RWF/9 Ind Coy and like Ted was sent to 11 Ind Coy for this raid.

Just out of curiosity, I'm assuming you know this chap and he is still alive and well. Have you approached him regarding applying for his service records? He can apply for a full copy for free and they will tell him who he was with and when he was with them.

I do have his Citation thanks Drew. The citation is actually different from what happened. In the citation it states the Japs opened fire on Ted. The reality was that Ted spotted the Jap barrels, poking out from the undergrowth, which his 2 x scouts had missed. He had the presence of mind to keep walking past the barrels, then stepped smartly into the undergrowth, so he was behind them and gave them a burst from his Thompson, with a 50rd drum mag, followed by a few grenades, he was injured in the leg. He then bugged out with his section….When he reported what happened, his Coy Comd ordered him to go back and occupy the position….as he returned, he caught the Japanese removing the bodies of their dead, so he repeated the exercise!!!