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World War II: No. 3 (Jewish) Troop of the No. 10 Commando

by Martin Sugarman
(December 23, 2023)

During the First and Second World Wars, British and Allied nations’ Jewish servicemen and women played a part in those struggles in excess of the proportion to their numbers in the general population. Many will know of the Zion Mule Corps (1915-16), the Jewish Legion (38th-42nd battalions, Royal Fusiliers - 1917-19) in the First War, and the Jewish Brigade (1944-46), the 51st (mainly Jewish Palestinians) Middle East Commando, the SIG Commando in North Africa, the Jewish members of SOE, and other Jewish groups of World War Two.

One of the best-kept secrets of World War II, however, has been the nature of the existence of No. 3 (Miscellaneous or “X” Troop) of the unique No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando/Special Services Brigade. The reason? They were virtually all German-speaking Jewish refugees, mainly from Germany and Austria (but also some from Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and other European countries).

The excellent books by Ian Dear – a seminal work on No 10 Commando (“Ten Commando 1942-45“, published by Leo Cooper Ltd 1987) – and Peter Masters (see below) are the only thorough, published studies of this amazing group of men of the famous “Jewish” No. 3 Troop. Before this, virtually nothing had been published about them. It is not my aim, therefore, to repeat what Ian Dear and Peter Masters have so wonderfully and ably already researched.

Suffice it to say that there were French, Dutch, Belgian, and other “National” Troops (totaling at its largest about 1000 men altogether), and then the Jewish Troop. Even now, many of the 3 Troop cannot speak for a variety of reasons of the nature of their exploits, and others have, of course, died. But X Troop were, even by the standards of No 10 Commando, a particularly extraordinary bunch having, as well as the normal skills of all commandos, in explosives, parachuting and so on, extremely high intelligence and education, and were indeed by far the most highly trained group in the British Army, especially in fieldcraft, camouflage, compass marching, street fighting, housebreaking and lockpicking (“One Day in York” Michael Arton, Hazelwood Press, 1989). Many were attached to the SSRF (Small Scale Raiding Force, part of SOE), SBS, and SIS, and most files on this aspect of the war remain closed.

Altogether, 88 men passed through their ranks, of whom 19 became officers - many commissioned in the field for specific acts of bravery - and the rest sergeants and above. Twenty-one (24%) were Killed in Action, and at least another 22 were wounded (of the 44 men from No 3 Troop who fought in Normandy, 27 were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner!). They won one MC, one MM, one Croix de Guerre, one MBE, one BEM, one Certificate of Commendation and three Mentioned in Despatches. The numbers of awards are derisory considering their exploits and the inevitable death sentence they faced if captured - not to mention the danger to any of their surviving relatives in Nazi Europe. Many details of the men were known to the Gestapo, and reprisals would have been immediate.

But this paucity of decorations is explained by the fact that the Troop never fought as a unit; they were often detached to serve with other Special Forces in order that they could use their special skills (in silent reconnaissance, capturing and interrogating prisoners in the most hazardous of situations, often alone behind the lines and usually at night. They also were particularly knowledgeable about German military units and training, as well as weapons). For this reason, a Commanding Officer was loath to recommend for awards men who did not belong to HIS unit, especially as there was probably an unwritten “ration” of awards per raid or per unit (letter from Lt. Peter Masters aka Arany, No 3 troop, to the author 25/1/95).

However, at Ashton Wold in Northamptonshire, the Hon. Miriam Rothschild planted a grove of trees on the grounds of her beautiful house in memory of those of No 3 Troop who were killed, for her husband, George Lane, aka Lanyi, was the first officer and MC of No. 3 Jewish Troop, 10th Inter-Allied Commando.

The 3 Troop CO was a quiet Welsh, Cambridge languages graduate, Capt. Bryan Hilton Jones (later promoted to Major and 2 i/c of the whole of No 10 Commando but tragically killed in a road accident in 1970) and son of a doctor from Caernarvon. All his men came as volunteers from the Alien Companies of the Pioneer Corps from July 24, 1942, arriving for training at Irvine in Ayrshire (many had been interned in 1940 following the “anti-aliens”/invasion hysteria, but later released to serve in the forces, some in France at Dunkirk ). As Peter Masters wrote, “Getting back at the Nazis was an ever-present motivation “ in No 3 Troop “...our Jewish Commando was the very antithesis of the ‘lambs to the slaughter’ allegations”.

Volunteers reported to the Grand Central Hotel, Marylebone, for selection and thence to the No 10 Pioneer Corps training center in Bradford. From Autumn 1942, they trained at Aberdovey, Wales, or Achnacarry (Scotland), then Eastbourne and Littlehampton, men being detached as required to go on raids with other Commandos, SOE, SIS, etc.

The men had to take English “Nommes de Guerre” and new identities, false personal histories, regiments, next of kin, and so on (most chose to keep the same initials, though) to at least have a chance of not being found out if captured by the Nazis, as being Jews. The casualty officer at the War Office (Dawkins, a senior Civil Servant) was one of very few who knew their real and assumed identities and kept parallel lists of the names of 3 Troop.

They wore the No. 10 Commando shoulder title (or sometimes the No. of the Commando to which they were attached) and the Combined Operations arm flash. On their green berets, they could not wear the Pioneer Corps badge as this would have betrayed their origins, so they wore the badges of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kents, East Kents (Buffs), Royal Sussex, Hampshire Regiments or the General Service badge (letter to author from Ian Dear 28.10.94).

In “Top Secret” letters from Combined Operations HQ (Defense 2/780 - PRO), Major General R G Sturges, GOC Commandoes and Special Service Group, wrote in April 1944 and February 1945 that No 3 Troop had been “trained for and employed on work of a highly combatant nature and are volunteers ....their behavior and work has always been most satisfactory....this is a good sub group, well able to look after itself, and has done excellent work”.

Writing a Secret report on No 3 Troop after the war from his home at Crug, Caernarvon, in April 1946, Bryan Hilton-Jones said that No 3 Troop “were conspicuously successful and earned high praise all round, the best illustration of which is that many were Commissioned as officers into the Commandoes to which they had been attached...... They were the most interesting and worthwhile branch of No 10 Commando”. After D-Day, Capt. Griffith (aka Glaser) became the first Jewish CO of the Troop until he was killed at the River Aller crossing on November 4, 1945.

In September 1945, the whole Commando was disbanded, but many of No 3 Troop continued in sensitive and secret work in the Occupation Forces, tracking Nazi Resistance groups, war criminals, translating captured documents, etc. Perhaps the last word should go to Major Hilton-Jones when he wrote, “Despite many and serious difficulties, this band of ‘enemy alien’ volunteers earnt for itself a not unflattering reputation, the achievement of which was in no small measure due to the sincerity and wholeheartedness put into his service by every member of the troop. For them perhaps more than for any others it was a question of self-respect and self-justification.”

English Regiments refer to their ‘cover’ or false regiment. JL is Jack Lennard archivist at AJEX Museum.

Number and real name on enlistment

“Nom de Guerre” with number and final rank

Date of Birth

Notes

13802871 Lanyi, Georg (Djury). H

285687 Lane , George, MC, MM (Lt.) and 1st Troop Sgt.

18.1.1915 Hungary – Olympic Polo 1936

 

Buffs

1st officer, MC Operation Tarbrush, citation page 169 Ian Dear. Former husband of Miriam Rothschild; interrogated by Rommel as a POW. Lived London. Also in SOE.

1380228 Arnstein, Alfred Valentin

6387035/13118501 /13053667 Anderson, AV/AO (BNA 13053690)

11.1.1919 or 25.10.16

Austrian

RWK Reg - rtu’d England

13807122 Abramovicz, R./Abrahamowicz

Pte 6436363 Richard George Arlen/Arnold, Royal Sussex

4.1.1923

KIA Franceville Plage, Normandy 7.6.44 aged 21 yrs. son of Salmon and Berthe, Bayeux memorial, no known grave.

13804535 Arnstein, Hans Richard/ aka Arenstein

L/Cpl 6436352/ 13118502 Andrews, Harry – Royal Sussex

18.2 1922

KIA 19.8.44 or 11.8.44, son of Max and Gertrude of Sao Paulo, Brazil buried Ranville Normandy - letter from mother to Jewish Chaplain requesting Star of David on grave after cross was erected!  ++

13805191 Ascher, Claus Leopold Octavio

6436355/13118503 Sgt Anson, Colin Edward

13.2.1922

German

Sussex Reg

WIA Italy, RSR; lived Watford

13807400 Baumwollspinner, Gotthard

6305477/13118507 Barnes, Robert Gerald

4.12.1918

German

Buffs

BEM, WIA, died postwar

Georg Bauer

George Bower

Austrian

PLL (Peter Leighton-Langer)

13801297 Billman, Karl Walter

6305473/13118508/328655 Lt Bartlett, Kenneth W/ 320207

21.4.1912

German

Buffs

Buffs - lived Munich

13804390 Sruh, Gottfried “Friedl” Conrad

6305460/13118708 Sgt Broadman, Geoffrey Max aka Toni Ruh?

27.6.1917

Buffs – att. ski troop

WIA Normandy – lived Lydbrook, Glos. Allegedly only survivor of abortive Vermork raid in Norway by RE ! (P. Leighton-Langer book) – and talk to son - att. 4 Comm.

13805994 Carlebach, Peter

6305480 Carson, Peter Andrew -

Buffs

27.10.1919 - Berlin

Dunera boy – invalided out after accident at Seven Sisters cliffs – lived Edinburgh.

Cohen, F T/P

Collins 5550156

Germany 2/3/23

Hants Reg

JL (Jack Lennard) Archives

 

Curtis , F H 6305489

Germany 23/9/23

JL

Buffs

Hirsch

Dudley, LA - 6387043

Germany 1/8/19

JL

RWK

 

Dunn, D - 6387046

Germany 2/7/26

JL

RWK

Max Dobriner

6387042

Geoffrey Dickinson/Dickson

16.3.26

RWK

Peter L Langer

13802951 Hansen Einar Reska *

(Danish)

6436367/13118602 Davies, Jack

10.9.1920

Sussex Reg

MiD Tarbrush

13802948 Dungler/Dandler, K.

6305482/13118510 Cpl. Douglas, Keith

9.8.1921

Austrian

Buffs

Walcheren - died postwar

Eugen Litvak

Leslie Dale

5550158

Stateless

b. 9.02.25

Hants Reg

Daikes

 

 

PLL – Walcheren

14216528 Nomburg, Harry – 5th PC, Denbigh

Sgt Drew, Harry

6305461

Buffs

17.11.1923

German

WIA Normandy – att. 12,6, 3 Commandos – lived New York, died 1997

13807299 Goldschmidt, Werner

6436360/13118517/328287 Capt. Dwelly, Vernon J/I. (“Ducky”)

29.10.21

German

Sussex Reg

Dunera boy, Walcheren, Novota (California) – att. 4 Comm. unarmed combat instructor

Ernest Karl Eduard Eberstadt

David Edward Charles Eversley

1922 Frankfurt

Later in SOE – PLL

 

Lt. Bunny Emmett

Troop Intell. Officer

RAF and R Tank Reg – 4 Comm. at Walcheren - PLL

James

Fairley (trainer – memory bench at Aberdovey

R.C. from Glasgow

Married an Aberdovey lady

13051439 F Fleischer

Fletcher, Frederick

Austrian – 1st Bat. Worc., att. 6 Commando

KIA Le Plein 11.6.44 – PLL – b. Ranville, son of Rudolf and Hedwig of Cricklewood

13803417 Engel, Hans Gunter

Sussex Reg

6436357 Envers H.G. (John)

7.1.1922/ or 7.4.22 Breslau, Germany

WIA Normandy 19.8.44 – lived Toronto – att. 4 Comm.

13801057 Freytag Ernst Herbert

6305479/13118514 Sgt Farr, E.H. (Tommy)

26.2.1919

Sussex Reg/Buffs

Born Berlin – Walcheren and Op Premium at Wassenaar

13804661 Feder, Ernst Wolfgang

6436370/13118511  TSM/WO1 Fenton, Bryan Leslie

20.4.1921 Berlin

Sussex Reg

Maas crossing – Lived Kusnacht, Switzerland

13807080 Fuerth, Hans George

6305463/13118515 /331193 Lt Firth, Anthony

7.9.1918 Halle, Germany

R. Fus

Dunera boy - lived Toronto

Otto Zivolava

Gautier, Jean

b. Austria

JL

13807365 Frank, Max Gunther

Cpl. 6387027/13118512 Franklyn, George Mack, Royal West Kent

30.4.1923

WIA Sicily, KIA D-Day 6.6.44 - aged 21 yrs. son of Ernst J. and Carla of Huddersfield - buried Hermanville. Cross on grave – error???

13805167 Frey, Hubert Clarence

5550127/13118513 Cpl. Fraser, Evelyn Harold/Hugh

23.3.1920

Austrian

Hants Reg

Invalided out after accident at Seven Sisters cliffs - lived Auckland, NZ

13801130 Kagerer-Stein, Eugen Von

Sgt 5550126 Eugene “Didi” Fuller, Hants Reg. – att. 47 Comm.

19.12.1913

Austrian aged 30, WIA D-Day, KIA Normandy, 13.6.44 buried Ranville. Att. 47 RM Commando, son of Alfred and Anna, husband of Cicely of Balcombe, Sussex. Cross on grave – error (???).

13800982 Goldstern Konstantin

6387015/13118518 Garvin Robert Kenneth

11.1.1917

Austrian

RWK

Died postwar Wales

13807042 Guttman, Hans Julius

6387014 Gilbert, Ronnie, MBE

28.9.1919

German

RWK

WIA Normandy, lived Norbeck, Blackpool

13801168 Geiser, Kurt H.

Troop Sgt Maj. Gordon, Henry E.A.

5550129

3.4.1915

German

Hants Reg

Lives Walton Thames, related to Liebknecht family of German Socialists

13805610/13016330 Goldschmidt, Konrad Levin J.

6387031 Sgt Grant, Hubert Brian aka Groves aka A.P.

5.8.1917

German

RWK/W.York. – Chair of Vets group, opposed use of ‘Jewish’ on memorial

WIA lost foot fighting in Italy with 9 Comm. – retired Judge lived in Cumbria.

13804337 Gumpertz, Kurt Wilhelm, Hants. Reg.

5550144/13118520 Graham, Kenneth Wakefield – att. 4 Comm.

27.6.1919

KIA Normandy 12/13.6.44 - buried Hermanville, aged 24. Son of Karl Wilhelm and Else, husband of Elisabeth of Highbury, London. No religious symbol on grave in error.

13805014 or 328249 - Gans, Manfred

6387019 /13118516 Capt. Gray, Freddy (BNA 13041024/1824) – 41 RM Commando

27.4.1922 or 11.10.21

German/Swiss

RWK

RWK Reg – Walcheren, lived Leonia, New Jersey – WIA 5 times!!

13802030 Glaser, Kurt Joachim

322333/6387018/13118519 Capt./Lt. Griffith, Keith James/John , RWK – att. 45 RM Comm., later CO of 3 Troop

3.9.1918

KIA Germany 11.4.45 crossing Aller River aged 26 yrs.- fought in Spanish Civil War. Buried Becklingen, Germany - son of Dr Willy and Maria Therese of Epsom, Surrey. Cross on grave in error.

13700295 Reich/Weich/Weil , Salo Robert

6436350/13118714  Cpl. Hamilton, Robert Geoffrey. Also known as Rawson (Terry book)

1.8.1916

Austrian, KIA Walcheren, 1.11.44 Westekappelle, att. 41st RM Comm. Buried Bergen Op Zoom, Holland, aged 28. Royal Sussex Reg. Son of Jacob and Sabine of Vienna, Austria.

13801533 Hajos/Hajosch, Hans Ludwig

6380736/13118601 Sgt. Harris, Ian MM

1.1.1920

Austrian

RWK

WIA Normandy 3 times!! MM 6.4.45 - citation Ian Dear p.318 and in Peter Masters book – att. 45 Commando - lived Reading.

13801503 Herschthal, Fritz

5550136/13118604 Hepworth, Freddy – att. 45 Comm.

11.12.1920

German

Hants Reg

Died USA 3.2.95

13801397 Herschthal, Walter

5550145/13118605 Hepworth, Walter/ Douglas

16.1.1918

German

Hants Reg

Died postwar Australia

13805632 Nathan, Eli/Erich Wolfgang

6305467/13118702 Lt. Howarth/Howard, Eric William, Royal East Kent. Later CO 3 Troop

16.10.1922

WIA D Day, commissioned in the field for bravery - KIA Osnabruck, Germany, 3.4.45, aged 22. Buried Reichswald Forest, son of August Victor and Margaret Clara Elisabeth nee Gayler of Streatham Hill, London. Cross on grave in error.

13802194 Hirsch, Stephan

5550149/13118606 Cpl. Hudson, Steven Keith

5.6.1918

Austrian

Hants. Reg.

13800841/338973 Knobloch, Guenther Hans

6436349/13118610 Lt Kendal, Harold George “Nobby”

9.12.1907

Intell. Corps

Died postwar Vancouver – Sicily with Belgian Comm., Poles at Cassino, founded 8th Army ski patrol, with 2 Comm. at Vis, Intell. Chief 8th Army.

13805755 Kirschner, Andre Gabriel

6436361/13118609/331193 Lt Kershaw, Andrew G.

31.10.1921

Hungarian

Sussex Reg

Died postwar USA

13804297 Loewenstein, Otto Julius

5550146/13118620/331171 Lt. Kingsley, Roger James

2.2.1922

German

R. Fus

OBE, MID Germany - att. RM Commandos – lived Manchester

Arthur F. Lowy

 

 

 

13800170 Kellman, M.

6436351 Kirby, M.J. “Ernest”.

26.12.1903

stateless

Sussex Reg

 

Keren

 

JL

Koenigswater

 

 

JL

13807180 Lewinsky, Max

Pte 6387023/13118619 Laddy/Laddie, Max, Royal West Kent

19.8.1911

KIA D-Day 6.6.44 in landing craft with Webster, b. at Hermanville, memorial at Aberdovey where he lived with Welsh wife. Aged 33. Cross on grave.

Guttman

Lewis

 

 

13805511 Katz, Weinhart Paul Oscar

13118608 Heathcote, Pte. Michael Paul

337034

Glos. Reg.

 

Peter Liebel

Peter Leigh-Bell – AJEX card says 1st bat tanks RAC

 

 

13805333 Leven, Peter Guenther

13118616 Long, Peter

 

 

Luchtenstein

Ludlow

 

 

13800037 Landau , Ernst

6436353/13118614/322737 Lt Ernest Robert F. Langley

18.19.1903

Austrian

Died in UK 1957

13801850 Levy/Loewy, also aka Lovrak, Moritz/Max

6436346/13118701 Cpl. Latimer, Maurice

13.9.1921

Czech,

Sussex Reg., also SOE

Fought in Spanish Civil War, WIA Dieppe Raid,Normandy and Walcheren - died postwar UK

13801313 Lenel, Ernst Richard

6387016/13118615 Sgt Lawrence, Ernest Richard, Royal West Kent

26.10.1918

MIA presumed KIA 22/23.6.44 – Bayeux Memorial, Normandy, aged 26 yrs., no known grave. Son of Richard S. and Emilie nee Maas.

Lenel, Victor

 

 

Brother of Ernest, above

Lauffer, Guenther 13801331

B R Lawton – 13118806/6436365

 

DOAS - PLL

13803539 Wolff, Walter L.

6387033 Marshall, Allan Walter

3.4.1922

German

Died postwar UK

RWK

Possibly Hans Molnar – enlisted Liverpool T/13121221

Moller, H.H.

RLC Museum Registers has 13805535 born 21/3/21

Pte 13205587 – is this Alex Molnar SOE/MI5 – Hungarian aka Jakober b. 4/2/1913??

Pioneer Corps

Clapton Sq., London 1946

Mayer

Melvin P H 5550137

Germany 12/3/22

JL

Hants Reg

Hants Reg

Moss, J /G - 5550131

Germany 23/5/21

JL

Hants Reg

13803503 Weinberg, K.

6387028 Sgt Mason, Gary

2.1.1920

German

RWK

River Mass, Belle Isle raid.

13804450 /5554539 Arany, P.F.

6387025 Lt. Masters, Peter F.

5.2.1922

Austrian

Ox & Bucks, WAF Force, lived Maryland - author of “Striking Back” – died 3/05

13804473 Kury, Manfred *

6387030/13118613 McGregor, Jock/Jack Fred

24.5.1921 or 18.9.03?

German

RWK

Died postwar UK

13801895 Blumenfeld, M.J. Ludwig George

6387026/13118509/343306 Lt Merton, Michael James

21.6.1920 Berlin

R. Fus

Att. 2 Comm. and with Poles at Cassino – lived Appledore, Kent

Probably not Jewish

Monahan, James

2nd I/C under Hylton-Jones

 

13801467 /356365 Levin, Hubertus

5550135/13118617 Lt Miles, Patrick Hugh.

22.1.1920

German

Buffs

SSRF/SOE Operation Huckaback on Herne, CI. Lived. Pebworth, Warwicks.

13801092 Meyer, Kurt

5550147 L/Cpl Moody, Peter

28.9.1918

Hants Reg. KIA Normandy 13.6.44, aged 25 years - son of Fritz Max and Margeretta of Birmingham – buried Ranville, Normandy.

13805553 Zweig, Werner

6436347/13118718 Sgt Nelson, Vernon

5.11.1922

German

Sussex Reg

WIA Italy - Cert. of Commendation – 40 RM Comm./46 RN Comm.

13807201 Nell, G.Heinz Herman

 

Buffs

6305464/13118704/329750 Capt. Nichols, Gerald Peter

8.10.1920

German,

Buffs

WIA Normandy - rescued Lord Lovat with Masters - Dear p. 249 - Dunera boy - lived London

13803316 Nathan, Eli/Ernst

6387022/13118703 Norton, Ernest

19.8.1922

RWK Reg. – att. 4 Comm. Operation Tarbrush - KIA Normandy, 13.6.44, aged 21 yrs., son of Moritz and Sibilla - buried Ranville – Cross changed to Magen David

 

Naughton

 

Died OAS

Peyer

Palmer

 

 

5550155 and 13803195 aka Pierce

Pirquet, Sgt P. T.

- Ski Instructor

19.11.12

Austrian

JL

Hants Reg

13800022 Henschel, Oskar/Oswald (aka Ludwig Hayder?)

6305481/13118603 TSM /Troop Sgt Major - O’Neill/Grey, Oscar Roy

1.3.1913 – was Jewish and all his first family murdered in Auschwitz

RTU’d at Normandy after WIA – with 41 RM Comm.

13805787 Rosskamm, Stephan

6305459/13118705 L/Cpl Ross, Stephen

28.2.1922

German

Buffs

The Buffs - lived Cleveland, Ohio – WIA Italy 3 times – att 9 Comm.

Rotschild, Freddy

 

 

Toronto post-war - PLL

13807278 Szauer/Sauer, Gyula Jence

6436364/13118711 L/Cpl Sayers, Gordon Julian,

Sussex Reg

9.5.1915 -

Served French Foreign Legion and army

Born Hungary, Croix de Guerre - lived Australia – WIA – att. 4 Commando and French Troop 10 IA Comm.

13805183 Saloschin/Salinger, G.Victor

6436364/54 L/Cpl George Victor Saunders

12.2.1921

German

Sussex Reg – captured and escaped several times Normandy – on Everest expedition in 1952

Was at Gordonstoun school with Prince Philip - lived Moulsford, Oxon. – att 45 Commando and recommended but not awarded MM!!

13801102/346367 Steiner, Uli

RUR Reg

Capt. Scott, Leslie

R. Fus

29.3.1917

German att. Belgian Troop

Died postwar Montreal – last CO of 3 Troop

13800645 Lewin, Siegfried

13118618 Louis, Frederick Mac

 

 

13805733 Sachs, H.P.

6305471 Seymour, Herbert A., East Kent Reg.

1.2.1918

KIA with Villiers crossing Rhine on Buffalo LC, 23.3.45, aged 27 yrs. - son of Eugen and Margaret of St John’s Wood London – Groesebeek memorial, Holland - no known grave.

13805613 Samson, Alfred

6305372/13118706/2099 - Lt Shelley, Percy A. (P02090)

30.7.1921

German

Att. RM Commandos - lived Hamburg

 

Frederick Spencer

 

Austrian – had been in Dachau and Buchenwald

Schonfeld

Shaw, P F/M – 555039/5550139

Germany 20/12/23

Hants Reg

JL

 

Lt Francis George Sutton

Austria

JL

13800866 Stein, Artur

6305470/13118709 Sgt Spencer, Tom

11.12.1916

German

Buffs

Died postwar UK – att 3 Comm.

13805606 Hornig, Paul

5550140/13118607 L/Cpl Streeten, Paul Patrick – att. 41 RM Comm.

18.7.1917

Austrian

Hants Reg – also LRDG Sicily

WIA Sicily, lived Boston, USA

Otto “Putzi” Karminski

Simon

 

 

13801207 Strauss David

6305475/13118710 Lt. Stewart, David (P02090/2098)

19.1.1914

German

RM

Att. 45 RM Commandos – raid on Merville guns D Day

13802051 Barth, Georg Alexander

6436371/13118505 Officer Cadet Streets, George Bryan, Royal Sussex – formerly Afrika Corps with Rommel, POW, to UK army (Terry book) – prob. NOT Jewish

5.10.1917

Killed motor cycle accident after serving Normandy, on OCTU course UK, 29.6.44, aged 27 yrs, buried Barmouth, Merioneth, WWRT p.268 - son of Josef and Leopoldine, husband of Lici of Paddington, London. Cross on grave – error (????).

13802309 Schwitzer/Schweizer, J Tamas Gyorgy

6436368/13118707 Swinton, Tommy G

8.3.1920

Hungarian

Sussex Reg

Lived Spain, fought in Spanish Civil War – WIA 41 RM Comm.

13804028 Theilinger, Jan

6305478/13118712 Taylor, John Robert

25.9.1916 – Aug. 2004 – Czech

Buffs

Czech - invalided out after grenade accident Littlehampton – served IB in Spain – Jewish origin – conversation with his son in Portsmouth Oct. 2004

13807650 Tischler, P J

6436366 Cpl Terry, Peter Joseph

21.6.1924

Austrian

Sussex Reg

SSRF/SOE, WIA twice Normandy, lived Bridgehampton, NY – att. 47 RM Comm.

13807275 Von Trojan/Troyon, Richard Walter

6305469/13118713 Tennant, Richard William John

14.5.1922

Austrian

Buffs

Lived London and Goeriach, Austria

13805471 Zadik, Walter Gabriel

5550141 or 2 /13118717 Sgt Thompson, Walter Gerald

23.8.1919

German

Hants Reg

POW 20.6.44 Normandy – att 4 Comm.

13805027 Baum, Hans

6387020/13118506 Trevor, Charles Leslie

14.7.1922

German

RWK

WiA at Normandy - Died London Aug 1995

 

Thornton

 

 

13801460 Pollaschek, O

6436369 Turner, A C

Sussex Reg

13.5.1919

Austrian

Dachau/Buchenwald – att. 3 Comm. - lived Eastbourne

13807326 Vogel, Egon

6436356/13118714 Villiers, Ernest Robert, Royal Sussex

7.9.1918

Dunera boy - KIA Rhine crossing with Seymour, 24.3.45, aged 25 yrs. – buried Reichswald Forest – att. 46 RN Comm.

13804308 Weikersheimer, L

5550141 Sgt Wallen, Leslie

2.7.1920

German

Hants Reg

Died postwar UK

Wolfgang Wachsmann

John Hayes aka Waxman

1.5.1924

Transferred to 9th bat. Paras, 6th Airborne ; D Day, WIA, lived Australia (see Helen Fry, “The King’s Most Loyal Enemy Aliens”)

13800419 Wassermann, O

5550130 Watson, William/ or Walter J.

1.6.1914

German

Hants Reg

Dachau, wife and children murdered, WIA Walcheren, lived UK

13801574 Weinberger, E G

6306466 Webster, Ernest George, Royal East Kent Reg.

11.8.1916

SSRF/SBS; KIA Normandy with Laddy, att. 47 RM Comm.6.6.44 aged 28 years - husband of Gerda - buried Bayeux, Normandy. Cross on grave in error.

13807570 Wilmersdoerffer, Hans Johann Max

6305465/13118716 /324288 Capt. Wilmers, John Geoffrey

27.12.1920

Att. SAS, Operation Forfar, died postwar Guernsey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplement List A

 

 

These first 3 men were probably on an SOE operation to obtain military documents from the Town Hall in Dieppe.

Charles (possibly) Rice – 5550123?? – PLL – Garrett says possibly Catholic and real name Karl Kutschaka.

 POW? – survived Dieppe

Czech - action referred to in G Rees ”Bundle of Sensations,” Chatto & Windus, 1960 pp157-8

Gustav Oppelt PLL

George Bates/Bate

 

Czech; KIA Dieppe and b. Dieppe- first Trooper to be killed with attempt to occupy Town Hall at Dieppe with 40 RM Comm. (PLL)

Sleigh?? PLL

Smith, F J ?? Real name Josef Kugler (Garrett)

Poss. POW Dieppe

Czech att. 40 RM Commando

Viktor Farago

Aka Ford – Hungarian

 

RTU’d – returned to Hungary post war (?)

Hess, Otto 6387034/13802070

Giles, Peter

Wiesbaden

RWK - KIA (shot on capture) Yugoslavia (SOE) 1.10.44 aged 23 years BUT CWGC says commemorated at Groesebeek, Neth.

R Jessen/Jensen

Cpl James Rolf

 

 

Frederic Bierer

65056572

Sgt. Bentley, Frederick

 

30th March 1943, to 62 Commando and SSRF – Operation Huckaback (Herne) - lived NY

Stefan Rosenberg

Rigby, Stephen (“Nimrod”) - D Day deception Commando

 

Austrian Jewish, “Unknown warrior” of Leasor’s book; did he exist?

Goldschlaeger, Kenneth T – 13801160 - PLL

Cpl Clarke, K E – 13118804/5550135??

b. Vienna – original paupers grave Manchester

MID Osnabruck. Died 1977 UK (b. Manchester Chorlton cemetery after grave discovered in 2021)

13802873 or 5550138 Kottka, Vladimir

13118611 Cpl Jones, Jack

b. 5.7.11

Hants Reg

Russian born, Operation Hardtack, POW

Levy, Karl Ernst - 13810017

Lincoln, Ken – BEM - 6436377

German

24.9.20

Sussex Reg

Peter Jacobus

Jackson, Fred – 5550143

Hants Reg

Austrian or German 25/11/21

Interrogated Hoess at Auschwitz – died post war UK

Plateck/Platschek

Platt/Pratt (?), B (“Bubi”) 6305457

25.5.11 – also SOE -

Czech, Buffs

WIA Dieppe, lived Canada/died S America?

13802608 Auerhahn, Werner / Averhahn

5550132/13118504 L/Cpl Wells, Peter Vernon Allen, Hants Reg.

 

KIA 19.1.44 Italy, aged 26 - buried Minturno, Italy, son of Arthur and Erna of Cricklewood, London. No religious symbol on grave in error.

13805629 Hans/Heinz Krausmann/Krausen

13118612 Aitchison, Harry

 

Died postwar NY

These above 15 names are from Dear’s and Masters’ books and not the PRO/TNA list - so must have passed through the Troop by the time Hilton-Jones’ list was written. Of these two totals, 21 (24%) were KIA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplement List B

 

 

Ludwig Carl Berlin

Lt Leonard Charles Burley 14400852

 

Dorsets, 9th Commando, attached to 3 Troop in Germany

Son of F Indlander, 33 Green Croft Gdns., NW6

13117462 Pte Burnett, Walter aka Indlander

Austrian

11.4.21

R. Fus

Royal Fusiliers/156 Fld. Batty. And 173 Fld. Reg, RA (AJEX Card)

Werner Zeigler

16001269 Pte Foster, Roy

German

3.11.23

REME

 

BNA13053609 Pte Martin, W

Austrian

16.5.15

RWK

 

14727794 Pte Mines, J

 

RWK

13116238 (?)

11316230 Pte Peters, H.R

 

Black Watch

Schloss, Jakob

BNA13041025/1825 - Pte Scott, Jack

15.3.24

German – lived Golders Green

RWK – Italy, Vis Is., Yugoslavia

 

13053667 Pte J Stevens

 

 

 

14437220 Pte Smith, J

21.12.24

German

Ox & Bucks LI/Lincs

 

PAL Driver Spielman, E

 

RASC

 

BNA13053600/88, Pte Stevens, T R

Swiss 15.3.14

RWK

 

BNA13053667/13053690 Pte Stewart, J

Yugoslav 20.1.24

RWK

Woolf, Karel ‘Pepi’ (?) – 6436380 – Czech in, 1st in French Foreign Legion (?)

14430010 /8810 - Crftsmn. Ward, G or E A

Germany 12/2/25 or

12.5.21

REME/Sussex Reg

 

BNA13041047 Pte Warren, H

German

11.3.10

RWK

Enlisted Nairobi

ME14041045/13808950, Pte Warwick, R D

11.7.24 - stateless

Essex Reg.

Weiss, Adi

13106924 Pte White, Alan

Polish

26.8.20

RWK/Essex - died postwar London

 

 

 

 

Except for L Berlin, the above list of 16 men is from Michael Arton’s book “One Day in York” and comprises men recruited in Italy to 3 Troop in 1945 by Lt Bartlett, as part of CMF att. No 2 Commando

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This list was originally published in February 1995 but has been updated continually, with details from TNA/PRO WO/106/6155, with thanks for advice to Tony Williams, MBE. PLL refers to the book by Peter Leighton-Langer (“The Kings Most Loyal Enemy Aliens” Valentine Mitchell, 2006). Also work of Ian Dear (“10 Commando,” (Leo Cooper 1987); Peter Masters (“Striking Back,” Presidio Books, 1997), Leah Garrett (“X Troop,” Penguin, 2021); Manfred Gans, (“Life gave me a Chance,” 2009 Lulu/Amazon books); Peter Terry (“The Road to Normandy,” private publication 2022); Helen Fry (“German schoolboy, British Commando,” History Press, 2010).

Additional names of 3 (Jewish) Troop, 10 Commando, WW2 men from information gathered from original lists of 3 Troop, published by the War Office (?) AFTER D-Day as opposed to before D-Day; obtained by Leah Garrett, Prof. of Jewish and Hebrew Studies, Hunter College, New York City. Interestingly, most show the addresses of next of kin in the UK.

6305488 L/Cpl F. Viebeck aka Vibert, Danish national, b. 21.10.19, Buffs

6436378 Pte J. C . Clay, German national, b.24.3.21, Sussex Reg

6387045 Pte L. Preston, German national, b. 28.5.18, Hants Reg

6436359 Pte H.K. Roberts, Austrian national b.13.7.17, Sussex Reg

6305491 L/Cpl J. K. Sanderson, German national b.26.8.24, Buffs

63/6305474 Pte. B.T./A. Stevens, Austrian national, b. 12.3.23, Buffs

6436381 Pte. E.K/R. Innis, German national, b. 26.3.08, Sussex Reg.

6387012 Pte A. Kay, German national, b. 14.3.18, RWK

5550157 Pte R K Kent, Austrian national b. 30.8.19, RWK/Hants

6305490 Pte K W Knight , German national, b. 30.1.26, Buffs

5550134 Pte A F Lowry German national, b. 5.5.21, Hants Reg

6305492 Pte C S Mackay, Austrian national, b. 21.7.24, Buffs

From DEFE2 1231 TNA, the following 3 Troop men were listed as Ski Instructors. Whether they saw action is not known.

13053575 Pte P Glynn

13053619 Pte PRW Winter

13803195 Pte P Pirquet (see above)

13116465 Pte M Eversfield

13805150 Pte H Kaufmann

13116432 Pte J Bloom

13041758 Pte O.Mandel

13041794 Pte G Stonley

13803407 Pte L Michel

13804978 Pte W Sachs

13806323 Pte W F Vollbracht – not Jewish but wife was and they left Austria - e mail from grandson Ian in Italy

13801844 Cpl F Beh

13041819 Sjt. R Anderson

13117476 Pte L M Ackroyd

13073531 Pte W Kennedy

(Note - I wish to specifically and sincerely thank both Ian Dear and especially Peter Masters, formerly Sgt. (later Lt. in West Africa) in No 3 Troop and author of the definitive work on 3 Troop, “Striking Back - A Jewish Commando writes” - Presidio Press, 1997 - for their generous help in compiling this list, and Michael Arton for allowing me to use his research in his book).

The Title “Jewish Troop” is an unofficial one and coined only after the war when it was safe to offer this apt description of this unit after the real facts became known on the release of papers at the National Archive (formerly the Public Records Office). To have called these men the Jewish Troop in wartime would, of course, have been fatal for any captured.


Source: Martin Sugarman AJEX Archivist, London, UK, reprinted with express permission.