&#039;Glomjford - Operation Musketoon’

Norwegian

Sachsenhausen British and Commonwealth Memorial

BLACK, Graeme Delamere

Rank:

Captain

Unit / Base:

2 Commando

4 Independent Company

Regiment/Corps:

South Lancashire

Service:

Army

Number:

106240

P.O.W. camps:

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Honours & Awards:

Military Cross (MC)

Born:

Tuesday, May 9, 1911

Died :

Friday, October 23, 1942

Executed

Age:

Cemetery/Memorial:

Operations:

'Vaagso - Operation Archery'

Captain Graeme Black DSO, MC, was executed whilst a Prisoner of War. He was one of the seven Commandos of No. 2 Commando who were captured after Operation Musketoon, and later executed under Hitler's Commando Execution Order, at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Berlin, 1942.

Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in successful combined operations, against the enemy at Vaagso and Maaloy during which he was wounded.
Distinguished Service Order in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the field.

Sources
CWGC.
Killing of British POWs Germany after capture in Norway operation Musketoon / National Archives file WO311/382.

Vaagso - Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/2.
MC : London Gazette 35510, page 1506.
DSO : London Gazette 37349, page 5574.

Report on the Nuremberg trials in the Birmingham Gazette 10 January 1946.

Primary Roll of Honour:

Photo of Commando in Gallery:

Yes

Archive pages :

No 4 Independent Company

HOUGHTON, Joseph Blundell Johnson

Birth name:

JOHNSON HOUGHTON, Joseph Blundell

Rank:

Captain

Unit / Base:

2 Commando

4 Independent Company

Regiment/Corps:

Queens Own Cameron Highlanders

Service:

Army

Number:

130206

P.O.W. camps:

Honours & Awards:

Military Cross (MC)

Born:

Tuesday, June 13, 1911

Birthplace:

Bromborough

Died :

Friday, October 23, 1942

Executed

Age:

Cemetery/Memorial:

'St. Nazaire - Operation Chariot'

Operations:

Captain Joseph Houghton MC was executed whilst a Prisoner of War. He was one of the seven men of No. 2 Commando who were captured after Operation Musketoon, and executed under Hitler's Commando Execution Order, at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Berlin, 1942. Son of Arthur Blundell Johnson Houghton, and of Leila Mary Battersby Houghton, of Knightsbridge, London. The family used the shortened surname of 'Houghton' rather than 'Johnson-Houghton'.

In March 1942 he had taken part in Operation Chariot, the raid on St Nazaire, being i/c of the protection squad for the demolition team on ML443. This was one of only 3 ML's that would make it back to the UK. Later awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field.

Sources
CWGC.
Killing of British POWs Germany after capture in Norway operation Musketoon / National Archives file WO311/382.

Family surname: His sister Mrs Desiree Roderick MBE.

MC : London Gazette 37349, page 5574.

Primary Roll of Honour:

HOUGHTON, (No.2 Cdo executed), biography

Photo of Commando in Gallery:

Yes

Additional content:

Archive pages :

No 4 Independent Company

St Nazaire Commandos

HOUGHTON, Joseph Blundell Johnson

HOUGHTON, (No.2 Cdo executed), biography

Type: Booklet

Author: Carol Kerr, Mrs Desiree Roderick MBE

Year of Publishing: 2011

Keywords: 2 commando, joe houghton, musketoon,

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So Fine and Honourable an Englishman

An account about Captain Joseph Blundell Johnson-Houghton MC, known as Joe Houghton, who served in No.2 Commando. It was written for The Colditz Society by Carol Kerr, with information provided by Capt. Houghton's sister, Mrs Desiree Roderick MBE, reproduced here with the permission of the author Carol Kerr, Mrs Desiree Roderick MBE, and The Colditz Society. Use the download facility above.

Linked Content:

Archive pages:

SMITH, Miller

Rank:

Sergeant (Temporary Company Sergeant Major)

Unit / Base:

2 Commando

Prior Police Service:

Southport Borough Police

Regiment/Corps:

Coldstream Guards

Service:

Army

Number:

2657063

P.O.W. camps:

Born:

Tuesday, November 2, 1915

Birthplace:

Middlesborough

Died :

Friday, October 23, 1942

Executed

Age:

Cemetery/Memorial:

Operations:

Company Sergeant Major Miller Smith, a former Police Officer, was one of seven men from No.2 Commando captured after Operation Musketoon and later executed at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp under Hitler's Commando Execution Order. Son of James Miller Smith and Jane Smith, of Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.

Sources
CWGC.

Commando Association newsletter 96.
Killing of British POWs Germany after capture in Norway operation Musketoon / National Archives file WO311/382.
Nazi persecution claim: [name withheld - in closed extracts] for Mr Miller Smith / Foreign Office file FO950/4138.

Report on the Nuremberg trials in the Birmingham Gazette 10 January 1946.

Notes

Sgt Miller Smith held the temporary rank of CSM, his war substantive rank being Sergeant. A photo taken at Colditz shows CSM insignia.
There is a plaque in his name at Merseyside Police Station, Albert Road, Southport, Sefton.
There is a photo of CSM Smith in the main gallery, and one in the CVA Memorials and Plaques Album of the Memorial Plaque at Sachsenhausen to these and other men who were executed there.

Primary Roll of Honour:

A Special Memorial Service for Sgt. Miller Smith

Photo of Commando in Gallery:

Yes

Additional content:

Archive pages :

A Special Memorial Service for Sgt. Miller Smith

Units:

2 Commando

Extract from Commando Association newsletter 96 issued March 1993

Special Commando Memorial Service
On 25th October last, a special Memorial Service and Parade was held in honour of Commando Sergeant Miller Smith (2 Cdo), a Southport ex-policeman, who, participating on "Operation Musketoon" the raid on Glomfjord Power Station, Norway, on 20th September, 1942, was captured with eight others trying to escape via Sweden. Subsequently taken to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and executed by the SS under Hitler's infamous Reprisal Order.

ln spite of atrocious weather, there was a magnificent turnout of veterans to honour him. The service was held in the South Chapel Memorial, the Mayor and Mayoress being in attendance. The Last Post was rendered beautifully by a Guardsman Bugler, and a wreath on behalf of the Commandos was laid ty Colonel Donald Long, MC., TD., DL. (9 Cdo). The march past was led by the Coldstream Guards (Sgt. Smith's parent regiment), under the command of a Guards Officer and NCO, followed by the Guards Association with Standard.

Following on was our large contingent of Commandos of some 50 in number from Bolton and Warrington with the Warrington Commando Standard, under the able guidance of Geoff Wilkes and George Rees, plus local Commandos, including Geoff Riley (5 Cdo) and Ernie Heaton (45 RM Cdo.)

Several other Associations with Standards also paraded. After the march past, a reception was held for all visitors who attended.

Read more about the raid [Operation Musketoon].

Linked Content:

SMITH, Miller

Archive pages:

ABRAM, Cyril Henry

Rank:

Rifleman

Unit / Base:

2 Commando

Regiment/Corps:

Rifle Brigade

Service:

Army

Number:

6922005

P.O.W. number:

1651

P.O.W. camps:

Born:

Sunday, August 20, 1922

Birthplace:

London

Died :

Friday, October 23, 1942

Executed

Age:

Cemetery/Memorial:

Operations:

Rifleman Cyril Abram was one of the seven men of No. 2 Commando who were captured after Operation Musketoon and later executed at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp under Hitler's Commando Execution Order. Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Abram, of Manor Park, Essex.

The raid was on an electricity generating station at Glomfjord in German occupied Norway. The men were taken by submarine to a remote Fjord, completed a difficult overland route, approaching their target from the rear and successfully destroyed it. Seven were captured and later executed at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp under Hitler's infamous Commando Order.

Sources

CWGC.

Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO416/1/240.

Killing of British POWs Germany after capture in Norway operation Musketoon / National Archives file WO311/382.

Nazi persecution claim: Mrs Lily Abram for Mr Cyril Henry Abram / Foreign Office file FO950/3034.

Primary Roll of Honour:

Photo of Commando in Gallery:

Yes

Archive pages :

CHUDLEY, William Henry Albert

Rank:

Lance Bombardier

Unit / Base:

2 Commando

Regiment/Corps:

Royal Artillery

Service:

Army

Number:

882221

P.O.W. camps:

Born:

Wednesday, May 10, 1922

Birthplace:

Exeter

Died :

Friday, October 23, 1942

Executed

Age:

Cemetery/Memorial:

Operations:

Lance Bombardier William Chudley was one of the seven men of No. 2 Commando who were captured after Operation Musketoon, and later executed under Hitler's Commando Execution Order, at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Berlin, 1942. Son of Richard Henry and Ellen Eliza Chudley, of Exeter.

Sources
CWGC.

Nazi persecution claim: Mrs Ellen Eliza Chudley for Mr William Henry Albert Chudley / Foreign Office file FO950/3057.
Killing of British POWs Germany after capture in Norway operation Musketoon / National Archives file WO311/382.

Report on the Nuremberg trials in the Birmingham Gazette 10 January 1946.

Primary Roll of Honour:

Photo of Commando in Gallery:

Yes

Archive pages :

CURTIS, Eric Gordon

Rank:

Private

Unit / Base:

2 Commando

Regiment/Corps:

Queens Own Royal West Kent

Service:

Army

Number:

6349613

P.O.W. camps:

Born:

Monday, October 24, 1921

Birthplace:

London

Died :

Friday, October 23, 1942

Executed

Age:

Cemetery/Memorial:

Operations:

Private Eric Gordon Curtis was one of the seven men of No. 2 Commando who were captured after Operation Musketoon. He was executed on 23 October 1942, the day before his 21st birthday, at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp under Hitler's Commando Execution Order. Son of Frederick William and May Curtis, of Catford, London.

Sources
CWGC.
Nazi persecution claim: Mrs Ellen Eliza Chudley for Mr William Henry Albert Chudley / Foreign Office file FO950/3073.
Killing of British POWs Germany after capture in Norway operation Musketoon / National Archives file WO311/382.

Report on the Nuremberg trials in the in the Birmingham Gazette 10 January 1946.

Primary Roll of Honour:

Photo of Commando in Gallery:

Yes

Archive pages :

MAKEHAM, Reginald Henry

Rank:

Private

Unit / Base:

2 Commando

Regiment/Corps:

Gordon Highlanders

Service:

Army

Number:

841059

P.O.W. camps:

Born:

Wednesday, January 28, 1914

Birthplace:

Ipswich

Died :

Friday, October 23, 1942

Executed

Age:

Cemetery/Memorial:

Operations:

Private Reginald Makeham, 6 troop, was one of the seven men of No. 2 Commando who were captured after Operation Musketoon, and later executed under Hitler's Commando Execution Order, at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Berlin, 1942. Son of Reginald Linnel Makeham and Mary Susan Janet Hope Makeham; husband of R. Makeham, of Keswick, Cumberland.

Sources
CWGC.
Killing of British POWs Germany after capture in Norway Operation Musketoon / National Archives file WO311/382.

Primary Roll of Honour:

Photo of Commando in Gallery:

Yes

Archive pages :

TRIGG, Frederick Harry

Rank:

Private

Unit / Base:

2 Commando

Regiment/Corps:

Royal Sussex Regiment

Service:

Army

Number:

6399046

Honours & Awards:

Military Medal (MM)

Died :

Wednesday, February 16, 1944

Killed in action or died of wounds

Age:

Cemetery/Memorial:

Cassino Memorial, Italy

Operations:

Salerno - Operation Avalanche

Private Frederick Trigg MM from Haywards Heath, Sussex, was killed in action in Italy serving with his Regiment. He has no known grave. Only son of Mr and Mrs Harry Trigg from Haywards Heath; husband of Jean Trigg.

Frederick Harry Trigg had previously volunteered for the Commandos and was attached to No.2 Commando. He was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service in 1942 during Operation Musketoon, Norway, and his subsequent evasion from capture. Seven of the raiders were captured and executed. He re-joined No.2 Commando taking part in Operation Avalanche at Salerno, Italy, from 9 September 1943. It was reported in newspapers that he had been wounded during the Salerno operations and had subsequently re-joined his Regiment.

Extract from the recommendation

Private Trigg was attached to No.2 Commando for Operation Musketoon. This highly successful operation resulted in the destruction of the important electric power plant at Glomfjord in Norway. Private Trigg throughout showed skill and resolution. He spent, in all, twelve days in enemy occupied country and eventually made his escape in spite of great exhaustion and hardship. [Recommended by Brigadier R.E. Laycock].

Sources

CWGC.

London Gazette 35853, page 210.

Recommendation for Awards / National Archives file WO373/93/75.

Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/72.

Report in the Mid Sussex Times newspaper 22 March 1944 [see linked content below].

Report on the death of his father in the West Sussex Gazette, p3, published 10 October 1946.

[Image] Collection of Mrs Desiree Roderick MBE.

Primary Roll of Honour:

TRIGG, Fred (2 Cdo) newspaper report about his death

Photo of Commando in Gallery:

Yes

Additional content:

Archive pages :

Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)

O'BRIEN, Richard

Rank:

Lance Sergeant

Unit / Base:

2 Commando

Regiment/Corps:

Royal Berkshire Regiment

Service:

Army

Number:

5340890

Honours & Awards:

Military Medal (MM)

Operations:

'St. Nazaire - Operation Chariot'

Salerno - Operation Avalanche

Lance Sergeant Richard O'Brien, 2 troop, was one of the Commandos who returned from Operation Chariot, the raid on St Nazaire. He sailed on board ML 447.

6 months later he was one of the ten Commandos who took part in Operation Musketoon. Seven were taken prisoner and later executed. LSgt O'Brien evaded capture after the successful raid and made it back to the UK. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions during this raid.

(Source: LG Publication date: 5 March 1943, Supplement: 35929, Page: 1118).

The following year, now with the rank of Acting Sergeant, he was awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry between the 10th and 18th Sept. 1943 during the battles of Salerno, Dragone Hill, and Piegolelle (also seen spelt as Piegolette).

(Source: LG Publication date: 13 January 1944, Supplement: 36327, Page: 258)

Photo of Commando in Gallery:

Yes

Archive pages :

St Nazaire Commandos

FAIRCLOUGH, John

Rank:

Guardsman (later Sergeant)

Unit / Base:

2 Commando

Regiment/Corps:

Grenadier Guards

Service:

Army

Number:

2619513

Honours & Awards:

Military Medal (MM)

Operations:

Guardsman John Fairclough was one of the ten Commandos and 2 Norwegians who took part in Operation Musketoon. Seven were taken prisoner and later executed. He was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service during this raid.

Extract from the recommendation
Guardsman Fairclough was attached to No.2 Commando for Operation Musketoon. This highly successful operation resulted in the destruction of the important electric power plant at Glomfjord in Norway. Fairclough throughout showed skill and resolution. He spent, in all, twelve days in enemy occupied country and eventually made his escape in spite of great exhaustion and hardship. [Recommended by Brigadier R.E. Laycock].

The death of Sgt. John Fairclough MM of Wrexham, Clwyd, was announced in Commando Association newsletter 110 issued March 2000.

Sources

London Gazette 35853, page 210.

Recommendations for Awards / National Archives file WO373/93/76.

[Image 2] Mrs Desiree Roderick MBE, sister of Captain Joseph Houghton MC.

Photo of Commando in Gallery:

Yes

Archive pages :

CHURCHILL, John Malcolm Thorpe Fleming (Lt Col)

A Return to Sachsenhausen

Lieutenant Colonel Jack Churchill DSO, MC

Units:

2 Commando

Extract from Commando Association newsletter 61 issued September 1975.

We are grateful to Colonel J. M. T. F. Churchill, DSO., MC., for this moving report of his recent return visit to East Germany to the location of the once dreaded wartime concentration camp at Sachsenhausen.

"This year is the 30th anniversary of the liberation of the German concentration camps. The main camp liberated by the Russians was Sachsenhausen near Berlin. They and the East Germans decided to make some capital out of this fact and had arranged to have a great ceremony at the camp which it was thought thousands from all over East Germany would attend. The eighteen countries that had substantial numbers of prisoners in the camp were all asked to send groups of ex-inmates to take part in the propaganda junketing's. England is not one of the eighteen countries commemorated on the Camps' Memorial, nor has it a room with exhibits attached to the Camps' Museum. However the German and French Old Comrades' Associations know of the very few of us who were there and we were accordingly asked to be present. I think originally there were nine of us who survived Sachsenhausen plus four Irish soldiers captured at Dunquerque who then agreed to work for the Germans in Berlin until they had a row with them and were put in Sachsenhausen where we met them. Of the first group five survive today and two Irishmen.

Sqn.Ldr. Jimmy James and I were able to go to the celebrations. In 1944 he and I had escaped by a tunnel from Sachsenhausen and got to Rostock on the Baltic in fifteen days where we were caught and taken back to the camp. The East German Government paid the fares of all who would get themselves as far as the boundary between East and West Germany, and also put us up free at an East Berlin Hotel for the four days we were there. The party was 150 strong from the eighteen nations plus the two of us. An extensive programme of dinners, receptions and entertainments occupied the four days.

The most interesting event from our point of view was the morning spent at the old Alma Mater in Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. The camp has been largely preserved as a memorial to the 100,000 who perished there and is visited every day by hundreds of tourists. On this official memorial day there were 50,000 visitors which is about the size the camp was in 1944 when we were there.

Before leaving England, Henry Brown brought to me at Victoria Station a poppy wreath bearing the Commando Association crest, which I wanted to leave at Zellenbau. This was the heart of the awful place and consisted of a 'T' shaped stone gaol of eighty cells 7' x 12'. The seven men of my No.2 Commando - two wounded - who were captured in the Glomfjord raid in Norway on the 21st of September 1942 spent one - their last - night in the Zellenbau on the 22nd of October and were murdered by the Gestapo at dawn on the 23rd, having been brought to Sachsenhausen from Berlin for this purpose. There names were : Captains Graeme Black MC and Joseph Houghton MC, CSM. Miller Smith, L/Sgt. William Chudley and Privates Cyril Abram, Eric Curtis and Reginald Makeham.

On the day we went to Sachsenhausen, after the bands had played and the songs had been sung, and after the endless speeches in German and Russian had finished, James and I were at last able to get away (we had been trapped on the central stage with the V.I.Ps) and make our way to the Zellenbau inside its own wall and a gaol within a gaol. Here I laid the Commando poppy wreath with a card attached with their names and brief details of the raid and their subsequent murder by the Gestapo. I put it directly below the large descriptive notice which now graces the entrance to the gaol. "ZELLENBAU" SONDERGEFANGNIS DER GESTAPO UND SS LAGERSUHRUNG". To end, I played the lament 'Lochaber no more' on the Pipes.

Then we entered the prison to visit our former cells. Mine had been No.14 were I spent the first month handcuffed and chained to the floor in the centre of the cell by a one metre long ankle chain. A dramatic, though not nostalgic moment. After a month I was unchained and allowed twenty minutes exercise on weekdays, walking round the prison yard. After five months we were released from prison and returned to the camp and almost immediately moved to Dachau, then to Richenau near the Brenner Pass where I escaped again and managed to reach the American 88th Division near Trento." Jack Churchill.

Also remembered

In addition to the above from No.2 Commando of whom Lt. Col. Churchill was Commanding Officer, there were others from No.14 Commando (Operation Checkmate) who died there or at Belsen. Lt John Godwin, Sgt John 'Jack' Cox, Petty Officer Alfred John Roe, Petty Officer Harold Hiscock, Able Seaman Keith Mayor, Able Seaman Neville Burgess, and Able Seaman Andrew Anthony West.

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