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- No.50 Commando during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

No.50 Commando



    No. 50 (Middle East) Commando and No 52 Commandos were formed in 1941 from personnel in Middle East by GHQ Middle East. They saw action in 1941 in Egypt and Crete. In August 1941 they were disbanded and some personnel transferred to Middle East Commando.

 


If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.



Those known to have served with

No.50 Commando

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of No.50 Commando from other sources.



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Want to know more about No.50 Commando?


There are:1318 items tagged No.50 Commando available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Cpl. Robert Imperato 1st Btn. Welsh Regiment

Robert Imperato enlisted into the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment. He served in Palestine and Egypt until 1940. He then joined 50th ME Commando. He was reported missing in action on the 1st of June 1941 on Crete. He had been injured in action and taken prisoner. He spent the rest of the war in Stalag V111B/344. He was involved in the long march.




Lt. William Sangster Stewart MID. 2nd Btn. Black Watch

Captured - Bill Stewart - extreme right of picture beside italian guards. Gruppo di prigioneri inglesi catturati a Castelrosso, 5-3-41

Italian Press Reports 1941

Bill Stewart in POW Campo 78 Sulmona, Italy 1941 - 1943

On Tuesday 25th of February 1941, 200 Commandos from the 50 Middle East Commandos landed at Nifti Point, Kastellorizo. Their mission was to capture the island for the Allies and hold it until a garrison of British Army troops arrived in 24 hours time to fortify the island. My father, William Stewart, was one of the 200 Commandos landed that morning. Despite the initial success in capturing the island and freeing the local population, the Italians counter-attacked and landed more than 300 troops from torpedo boats and destroyers.

On Thursday, 27th February, Cpl Bill Stewart was trapped leading his section near the Paleocastro Fort. After attacking the enemy, they were pinned down by heavy machine gun fire from the fort. He was subsequently captured with his remaining men and he was imprisoned as a Prisoner of War in Sulmona, Italy, until 1943.

He attempted to escape three times but was recaptured each time. In October 1943 he was finally successful and escaped to the UK. He was awarded a Mention in Dispatches for gallantry and he was later commissioned as a Lieutenant and he continued fighting until the end of the war.

He returned home in 1945, and in 1961 my twin sister, Frances and I were born. Sadly, my father died in 1983. We salute him and his brave Commando comrades and the courage of the people of Kastellorizo who fought bravely for their home during World War 2. It is a sad footnote that the Submarine, HMS Parthian, which cleared the way ahead for the Commandos to land on Kastellorizo, was sunk in August 1943 off Brindisi. My mothers first husband, ERA, Albert Nunn was killed on board. To William Sangster Stewart, to Albert Nunn, to all the British Commandos killed in action, and to all the Kastellorizans who defended their homes so bravely. Lest We Forget, We Will Remember Them.

Charles Stewart









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