41 Commando Memorial Bickleigh

THE MEMORIAL TO MEN OF 41 COMMANDO AT BICKLEIGH, NR. PLYMOUTH

Go to

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/41_Commando

for an excellent article on the background events which led to this memorial as an introduction to the list of names below. All of these men named below were volunteers and must have known they had virtually no chance of returning from their missions - they really were on their own in the battleground and must be considered as the bravest of the brave. You might also look at

http://www.scribd.com/doc/48172422/Train-Wreckers-and-Ghost-Killers-Allied-Marines-in-the-Korean-War

(if this address is too long to open from here, copy it into your browser and open from there)

The names on the board are no longer very easy to read but we have followed the same order below. Because of the nature of their work, comparatively little information is known about each man. We shall add more information as and when we acquire it.

The 41 Commando Memorial in St Mary's church, Bickleigh

41 Independent (Royal Marine) Commando Memorial plaque

The officers and men of 41 Independent Commando Royal Marines who fell, serving in Korea, from September 1950 to June 1953 and in gratitude for those who returned this tablet is erected by members of the Corps, friends and relatives.
LEFT HAND COLUMN OF NAMES
R. PARKINSON-CUMINE MC	Captain Ralph Parkinson -Cumine RM. Missing, presumed killed. 29 November 1950. This was the day of the Battle of Hagaru-Ri and Chosin Reservoir.
J. G. HARWOOD RM	Lieutenant John G. Harwood of the Royal Marines. Ambushed and killed alongside Sergeant Charles Barnes (see below) 30 August 1951.
D. A. KNOCK	Surgeon - Lieutenant Douglas Alexander Knock, RN. DOW 29 November 1950 aged 27. Buried in the UN Memorial Cemetery.
C. E. BARNES	RM 4003 Sergeant Charles E. Barnes. Killed in action 30 August 1951.
J. A. TATE RN	C/JX 166456 Acting Petty Officer John A Tate. Killed 29 November 1950 - age not known.
.R. G. DAVIES	RM 5115 Acting Sergeant Ronald G Davies. Accidentally killed by ROK soldiers at Haguro-Ri on 29 November 1950.
.P.B. BABB	PO/X 5096 Corporal Ronald B. Babb. Husband of Marie who lived at Caradon View, Minions, Nr. Liskeard. KIlled in action 7 October 1950.
J.E.BELSEY	Information kindly supplied by a family member: CH/X 4167 Corporal Jarvis E. Belsey. Killed in action 29 November 1950. He was a native of Yelverton. Husband of Joyce G West who he had married in Tavistock as recently as September 1950. Buried in United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Pusan, South Korea Row 9 Grave 7839
C E TROTT	PLY/x 5281 Corporal Charles Edwin Trott. Died 29 November 1950 aged 21. Buried in the UN Memorial Cemetery.
GERALD AHERN	RM 9440 Marine Gerald Ahern.Missing in action - became a POW. Died aged 19 in captivity 30 April 1951.
A J ALDRICH	RM 9440 Marine Arthur James Aldrich. Captured near Wonsan in August 1951.Died 10 October 1951 aged 21, in Pak's Palace POW Camp.
IVAN GARNER	RM 9211 Marine Ivan Garner. Died 29 November 1950 aged 19. Buried in a mass grave at Koto-Ri.
J L GRAHAM	RM 9087 Marine John L, Graham. Took part in the battle at Chosin reservoir. Died of wounds 29 November 1950 aged 18.
L.A. HEARD	RM 9162 Marine Lewis Anthony Heard. Died of dysentery while a POW at Camp 10 Kaggye. Died 6 January 1951 aged 21.
R. SOUTHWORTH	RM 10038 Corporal Ronald Southworth. Missing in action at Chosin. Died 29 November 1950 aged 22. Presumed killed in action. No known grave.
RIGHT HAND COLUMN OF NAMES
S. E. H. HILLS	RM 9162 marine Stanley Edward Herbert Hills, born 20 March 1915 in London. Died 6 January 1951 aged 35. No known grave.
K. D. HITCHMAN	RM7796 Marine Keith David Hitchman. Killed 16 October 1950 aged 19.in a road accident in Japan. Born in Cheltenham 10 July 1931.
W. L. J. JAUNCEY	CH/X 4020 Marine William Leonard James Jauncey. Killed 29 November 1950 aged 26. Buried in a mass grave in Koto-Ri, Came from Bellbroughton, nr. Stourbridge.
P. R. JONES	RM 8682 Peter Raymond Jones, son of Mrs Jones of Penarth, S. Wales. Killed in action during a coastal raid off North Korea 2 october 1950 aged 18. Buried at sea from USS Perch.
H. MELLING	CH/X 3594 Marine Harry Mellings, born 31 October 1931 Liverpool. Died as a POW 7 April 1951 aged 28. No known grave.
J. McCOURT	RM 9046 Joseph McCourt, born 13 August 1930 in Hamilton, Lanrkshire. Missing, presumed killed 29 November 1950 aged 20.
R. J. NEEDS	RM 9257 Marine Robert James needs, born in Bristol 16 February 1932. Died as a POW 30 January 1951 aged 19.
S. SKELTON	RM 8648 Marine Stanley Skelton, born in Scarborough 20 November 1931. Died 11 April 1951 aged 19 as a POW. No known grave.. He was the youngest man in this contingent. He joined the RM in January 1949 but was still only 18 when they left for Japan.
E. STRAIN	PO/X 5315 Marine Eric Strain, born in Southsea 19 August 1924. Killed 29 November 1950 aged 26.
D. W. STRAY	RM 9245 Marine Dennis Wilfred Stray, born 10 August 1927 in Portsmouth. Died of wounds received in action at Chosin reservoir 29 November 1950 aged 23.
W. A. WALKER	RM. 8800 Marine William Arthur Walker, born 18 July 1928. Killed at Chosin 29 November 1950 aged 19.
R. WOOLDRIDGE	RM 9401 Royston Wooldridge, born 8 December 1931, Stourbridge, Worcs. Killed 29 November 1950 aged 19.
K. WYETH	RM 8784 Marine Kenneth Wyeth, born 24 December 1931, Plumstead, London. Died 30 May 1951 as a POW. No known grave.
R. NICHOLLS	PO/X 6067 Marine Reuben Nicholls, born Colville, Leics 5 June 1925. He was the only Royal Marine among a group of US POWs who were told in April 1951, they would be handed over to the UN Command and the only one who was never heard of again. He is presumed to have died 31 May 1951 but this cannot be confirmed.
D. RAINE RN.	One of the few naval personnel on this mssion - he volunteered to accompany Surgeon Lieutenant Knock. He was D/SMX 853707 Leading Sickbay attendant Dennis Raine at HMS Drake in Plymouth, born in Lancashire 14 January 1923. Taken prisoner at Chosin but killed attempting to escape 2 December 1950 aged 20.
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS

ALSO ON THE MISSION BUT NOT NAMED ON THE BOARD
C. R. CREECH RN	Able Seaman Charles R. Creech RN (no number given on any document), born in West Ham in 1929. Thought to have been killed on 29 November 1950 but may have been taken prisoner. His name does not appear on any UN lists.
J. P. LLOYD RN	No name or number available for Sick Berth Petty Officer J. P. Lloyd nor does his name appear on any document. Killed 29 November 1950. His name brings the number of Royal Navy participants in this mission to 4.