COLBECK, John Vivian
Primary tabs
Rank:
Captain (later Major)
Unit / Base:
7 Commando
'Layforce'
Regiment/Corps:
Royal Tank Regiment
Service:
Army
Number:
101039
P.O.W. number:
2025
P.O.W. camps:
Honours & Awards:
Born:
Saturday, June 13, 1914
Died :
Thursday, October 17, 1985
Place died:
Exmouth, Devon
Age:
71
Mentioned in Despatches - Captain Colbeck was captured on 20 April 1941 at Bardia, North Africa, and subsequently imprisoned in various camps in Italy and Germany. He made numerous attempts to escape but only succeeded in leaving the camp on one occasion. This was at the time of the Italian Armistice and he was recaptured after a few weeks of freedom. Whist at PG41 and later at PG49 he was a member of the Escape Committee. Captain Colbeck has been commended by a colleague for his work in connection with escape activities. In addition on many occasions between July 1942 and December 1944 passed valuable information to the War Office by secret means [1][1a].
- 13 June 1947 awarded the Efficiency Medal (1st Clasp) [2].
- 26 January 1966 Major Colbeck, Royal Armoured Corps, retires on retired pay [3].
John Vivian Colbeck, an Industrial Gas Representative from London, served in the ranks of the Territorial Army from April 1929. He received an Emergency Commission in November 1939, and later volunteered for commando service. He served in No.7 Commando which embarked for operations in the Middle East as part of Layforce and was a member of the Commando Association after the war [4][5].
Sources
[1] London Gazette 37787, page 5605.
[1a] Recommendation - National Archives file WO373/103/383.
[2] London Gazette 37983, page 2661.
[3] London Gazette 43880, page 901.
[4] Dir. of Mil. Int.: Liberated Prisoner of War Interrogation Questionnaire 1945/6 / National Archives file WO344/68/1.
[5] Commando Association newsletter 51 (1970) and Obituaries in newsletter 82 (1986).
POW records / National Archives files WO392/1, WO392/21, and WO392/11.
German Record Cards of British PoWs / National Archives files WO416/71/307.
Additional content:
Archive pages :
Ask Questions / Add Information / Add Photos
Use the Archive Forum for research enquiries, or to add information or photos. [register now].
Read some frequently asked questions here [FAQ's].
Read some frequently asked questions here [FAQ's].
Contact the Archive via the [contact form].
All content is researched and administered by the Commando Veterans Archive.
