Author: Matthew K Barrett

Lt-Col. A.N.W. Kidston

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Lieutenant-Colonel A.N.W. Kidston
1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (MG)

He was a regular Officer, very forceful in character and appearance with a large black moustache, an expert in the .303 Vickers Medium Machine Gun, our weapon. He was an excellent commander, a good disciplinarian but always fair … No one was stronger or more vigorous than Major K.

(Major H.G. Wells, BBC WW2 People’s War, 28 Jul 2003)

Born on 17 July 1913 in Toxteth, Lancashire, Anthony Noel Wallace Kidston was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1933. At RMC, Sandhurst, he had graduated with the King’s Medal and Sword, awarded to the officer cadet with the highest military, academic and practical studies, as well as the prize for modern history.

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Lt-Col. C. Brooke-Smith

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Lieutenant-Colonel C. Brooke-Smith
7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

At Bn “O” Gp O.C. Y Coy Major Brooke-Smith put forward a useful suggestion which some of his men had adopted. Two Sten mags were firmly bound together with adhesive tape, one was inserted in the gun, and when empty, the man merely turned the double mag round and inserted the other half. This got rid of the dangerous delay of fumbling in pouches. Both mags would bot fit in a basic pouch.

(2nd KSLI War Diary, 10 Oct 1944)

Born on 10 August 1915 in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, Cuthbert Brooke-Smith was commissioned into the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry after graduating from RMC, Sandhurst in 1936. With the 2nd Battalion, KSLI on garrison duty in Jamacia, he was stationed with a company in Bermuda at the start of the Second World War. He returned to England with his new wife in early 1942. He was assigned to the Reconnaissance Corps but would rejoin the 2nd KSLI in April 1944.

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Lt-Col. J.F. Walker

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Lieutenant-Colonel J.F. Walker
1/4th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

As a CO his bn was the best all round Bn in the Div, largely due to his hard work and personal supervision … and since has commanded his Bde with great success in the series of battles … The number of awards give to Bns of his Bde (17 offrs, 22 other ranks) are a testimony of the fighting qualities of his Brigade and what their achievements have been.

(D.S.O. citation, 21 June 1945)

Born on 24 February 1901 in Felixkirk, Yorkshire, John Francis Walker was commissioned with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in 1920. He was promoted to captain in 1930 and served on the North West Frontier in India. He attended staff college in 1940 and was posted to the general staff of Western Command until promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the 1/4th Battalion, KOYLI in June 1941.

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Lt-Col. H.J. Mogg

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Lieutenant-Colonel John Mogg
9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry

My attitude was quite different, in the actual battle, I thought I wasn’t going to be killed. And I thought anyhow if I was going to be there was nothing I could do about it. And if my name was written on whatever bullet or shell … that’s it. Bad luck.

(Maj-Gen. H.J. Mogg, IWM interview, 28 Mar 1989)

Born on 13 February 1913 in Comox, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Herbert John Mogg began his army career as a private in the Coldstream Guards in 1933 and rose to Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe in 1973. After early education in Victoria, he went to public school in England, where he decided on an army career. In 1935, he was admitted to RMC, Sandhurst and afterwards took a commission in the 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

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Maj. EJ. Bruford & Lt-Col. J.W. Nicol

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Major E.J. Bruford
&
Lieutenant-Colonel J.W. Nicol
7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

On arrival of his battalion on the start line, he found that about 50 of the enemy with three machine guns were still in the area. He quickly took charge of the situation and having eliminated this opposition, proceeded with his task … Throughout the operation he showed outstanding personal courage and capacity to command in the face of heavy resistance.

(Nicol, D.S.O. citation, 21 Dec 1944)

Within weeks of landing in France in late June 1944, the 7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry of the 43rd Division suffered heavy casualties would lose a series of commanding officers. Lieutenant-Colonel R.G.P. Besley was wounded and evacuated on 3 July, Lieutenant-Colonel G.C.P. Lance was killed on 10 July. The third CO, Edward Jeffries Bruford was born on 4 July 1900 in Cheddar, Somerset. He was a football player and civil servant with the Ministry of Agriculture. A Territorial Army officer, he was commissioned into the 5th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry in 1925. Just three days after replacing Lance, Bruford was killed alongside the CO of the 7th Hampshires, Major J.R.C. Mallock.

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Lt-Col. J.P. Hall

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Lieutenant-Colonel Pickard Hall
1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (MG)

Pickard was one of the most delightful characters it has ever been my privilege to meet. As handsome in feature as in manners, he was tremendously popular with both officers and men … Another side to his character, which added to his charm, was his love of the “bizarre” and of doing those things which are out of the ordinary. This was no pose. The unusual was to him the spice of existence.

(The Die-Hards, June 1945, 61)

Born in 1910 and educated at Marlborough and the RMC, Sandhurst, John Pickard Hall was commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment in 1930. Overseas postings included Palestine, Egypt, and Singapore. According to one Middlesex officer, “he lived for a long period on detachment with his platoon as the uncrowned king of Nablus, a hotbed of Arab sedition and rebellion.” He returned home to be adjutant at the regimental depot in 1938.

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Lt-Col. G.C.P. Lance

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Lieutenant-Colonel G.C.P. Lance
6th Battalion, Green Howards
7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

He was always to be found where the battle was hottest, encouraging his men and often leading the final assault on enemy MG posts. I have heard from several sources of the magnificent example and leadership displayed by Lt Col Lance.

(Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier, 15 Jul 1944, 4)

Born on 9 May 1913 in Strood, Kent, Geoffrey Charles Philip Lance was commissioned into the Somerset Light Infantry in 1933. During the El Alamein campaign, on 13 October 1942, Lance succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel E.W. Eden in command of the 6th Battalion, Green Howards. For “superb leadership and “conspicuous devotion to duty,” he earned the Distinguished Service Order.

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Lt-Col. K.C.C. Smith

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Lieutenant-Colonel K.C.C. Smith
15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment

From the earliest days the Regiment was always known as 15th (S) Recce Regt, until the arrival of Lieut Colonel K.C.C. Smith. From then on we were to be known as 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment—no short cuts, no brackets. And so it was! …when an American unit in a jeep raced up to RHQ and a voice roared out—‘Say is this the 15th Recon Outfit?’ I will never forget the look on the Colonel’s face.

(Ernie Clarke quoted in Scottish Lion on Patrol: 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment)

Born on 17 May 1907 in Monkton, Ayrshire, Kenneth Campbell Cory Smith was commissioned into the 12th (Prince of Wales’s) Royal Lancers out of RMC, Sandhurst in 1926. He was instructor at the Royal Military College of Science in Shrivenham from 1936 to 1939, when he became staff captain and later promoted to major in 1940. He was GSO1 for VIII Corps from April 1943 until February 1944, when he became second-in-command of the 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment.

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Lt-Col. R.G.P. Besley

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Lieutenant-Colonel R.G.P. Besley
7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

In a letter home he stated he had had a piece of metal through the thigh but that an operation had been performed and the surgeon had told him he thought in course of time the use of the leg would be fully restored.

(Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier, 15 Jul 1944, 4)

Born on 2 March 1906 in Worcester, Worcestershire, Reginald George Payne Besley was a rugby footballer and director of a textile firm in Taunton, Somerset. A Territorial Army major in the 5th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, Besley enlisted for active service in September 1939. He became second-in-command for the 7th Battalion, which he assumed command of in January 1943.

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Lt-Col. H.H. Merriman

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Lieutenant-Colonel H.H. Merriman
3rd Reconnaissance Regiment

By his cool determination, initiative, and courage, his detailed planning and encouragement, he succeeded in carrying out his commander’s intentions with complete success … this is due in no small measure to the very gallant handling by Lt Col Merriman of his regiment in their speedy and determined thrust in the heavily defended and close country of this area of operations.

(D.S.O. citation, 21 Jun 1945)

Born on 23 May 1910 in Merrow, Surrey, Hugh Humphrey Merriman was a stockbroker and Terriorial Army officer in the 5th Battalion, Queen’s Regiment. He earned the Military Cross during the Battle of France in May 1940. In October 1942, he succeeded future airborne general Eric Bols in command of the 3rd Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps, redesignated the 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment in January 1944.

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