21st Army Group

Lt-Col. C.G. Lipscomb

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Lieutenant-Colonel C.G. Lipscomb
4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

Lippy was outstanding in many difficult situations and none more so than when the remnants of 5 DCLI after a terrible time in Cornwall Wood on Hill 112, came back into our positions. He rallied them and sensing a crisis drew his pistol and shouted “I’ll shoot the first Somerset who goes back”

(Capt. J Majendie quoted in Martin Windrow, The Soldier’s Story, 113)

Born on 23 December 1907 in Margam, Glamorgan, Wales, Christopher Godfrey Lipscomb was commissioned with the Somerset Light Infantry after graduating from RMC, Sandhurst in 1928. He was attached to the Nigerian Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force from 1933 to September 1939. From 1941 to 1944, he was chief Instructor at an Officer Cadet Training Unit and then commandant at the divisional battle school.

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Lt-Col. W.S.C. Curtis

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Lieutenant-Colonel W.S.C. Curtis
4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

For gallant and determined leadership. He led his platoon in the attack on Borok on 10 August 1919. He organised an attack on a strong enemy position on the banks of the Teda River, and outflanked it. He was wounded whilst leading the final assault up the hill, but his platoon captured the position, enabling the remainder of the company to proceed towards the first objective.

(M.C. citation, 21 January 1920)

Born on 1 August 1899 in Paddington, Middlesex, Walter Stopford Constable Curtis was educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned with the Somerset Light Infantry in April 1918 and assigned to the 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment in France. He volunteered with the North Russia Relief Force the during the Russian Civil War in 1919. He served with the 46th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and earned the Military Cross.

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Lt-Col. E.J. Jerram

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Lieutenant-Colonel E.J. Jerram
1/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

I suppose anti-climax was getting a hold on me. Lumps kept on coming to my throat. There was next to nothing left of my company … It was depressing to see the remnants of the [rest of] the battalion … They didn’t look more than a hundred . . . out of some 500 before the battle.

(Quoted in Hugh Sebag-Montefiore, Dunkirk: Fight to the Last Man, 353)

Born on 5 January 1903 in Wimbledon, Surrey, Edward Jenner Jerram was commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1923. He was promoted to captain in 1935 and served as a company commander for the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwicks in the Battle of France for which he earned the Military Cross.

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Lt-Col. B.B. Walton

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Lieutenant-Colonel B.B. Walton
1/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Major Walton said he struggled as hard as he could, but being at such a disadvantage he could do little. He was beginning to get short of breath, but managed to get away from the accused and immediately called out “Help, help,” twice, hoping that his wife would hear. Very soon after that, Mrs. Walton appeared wearing a dressing gown and, seeing what was happening, she started to beat the accused over the head with an object that the witness later learned was his fishing tackle …

 (Royal Gazette and Colonist, 7 Oct 1941, 6)

Born on 8 October 1905 in British India, Bendyshe Brome Walton was commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1925. He was a battalion adjutant from 1936 t o 1939. In the early phase of the Second World War, he was posted to Bermuda Command as brigade major and general staff officer. While stationed on the island, he was attacked by his carriage driver on the night of 27 September 1941.

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Lt-Col. H.A. Borradaile

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Lieutenant-Colonel H.A. Borradaile
5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment
7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

Quiet, almost studious in manner, he never raised his voice, but no one had any doubt about who was in charge. As a CO he once displayed impressive stamina by accepting the hospitality of all 11 of the Battalion cookhouses in success on a festive occasion.

 (Daily Telegraph, 30 Dec 1993, 21)

Born on 22 June 1907 in Exeter, Devon, Hugh Alastair Borradaile was commissioned into the Devonshire Regiment after graduating from RMC, Sandhurst in 1926. Eager to service overseas, he was seconded to the 4th Battalion, King’s African Rifles from 1931 to 1937. He afterwards completed staff college and became an instructor at Camberley in 1940. Following a posting as a military attaché to Dublin, he served as a general staff officer with the West Africa headquarters until 1943.

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Lt-Col. J.M.K. Spurling

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Lieutenant-Colonel J.M.K. Spurling
2/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
4th Battalion, Welch Regiment

You’ve well reached the end of a long journey. Think of it—the Canadian Army in Berlin. Your experiences here are something to take home and remember … our finest and greatest brothers in the army—the Canadian Army.

(Quoted in Globe and Mail, 16 Jul 1945, 9)

Born on 9 May 1906 in Oundle, Northamptonshire, John Michael Kane Spurling joined the 4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment before completing RMC, Sandhurst and taking a commission with the Leicestershire Regiment in 1927. He was stationed overseas in India and Palestine and attended the staff college at Camberley in 1939. During the early part of the Second World War, he served as a general staff officer in the United Kingdom, the Middle East and the Far East.

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Lt-Col. D.G.B. Ridout

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Lieutenant-Colonel D.G.B. Ridout
1/6th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment

For two weeks now, Lieutenant-Colonel D.G.B. Ridout had been in considerable pain. On August 8th, with great regret, he had to go back for treatment, and Major R.J. MacDonald, second in command, took over. Colonel Ridout could not have wished for a more worthy successor. Major (now Lieutenant-Colonel) MacDonald was always with the leading troops, sharing their dangers and their comradeship.

(Quoted in Your Men in Battle: The Story of the South Staffordshire, 24)

Born on 5 February 1906, Dudley Gethin Bramley Ridout was the son of Sir Dudley Ridout (1866–1941), a Royal Engineer major-general. The elder Ridout had been born in British India and was educated at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston. He retired as general officer commanding the Troops in the Straits Settlements in Malaya in 1924. Commissioned officer with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry since 1926, the younger Ridout followed his father with service in the Far East during the 1930s. He was seconded to the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force and served as adjutant until 1936.

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Lt-Col. N.W. Finlinson

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Lieutenant-Colonel N.W. Finlinson
2/6th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment

We were waiting in the ruined streets of Cambes and all about us on the pavements and in the shelter of the derelict cottages the men of the battalion (the 2/6th) stood or lay waiting for the order that would take us into battle for the first time. Occasionally a German mortar whistled overhead and crumped behind us in the back end of the village. Otherwise there was complete silence. Those who had to move did so on tiptoe; those who had to talk spoke in whispers; those who would have liked to whistle to ease the tension knew that they must keep quiet. The faces we could see were sad and grim …

(Quoted in Your Men in Battle: The Story of the South Staffordshire, 24)

Born on 13 December 1902 in Bromley, Kent, Norman West Finlinson was commissioned with the South Staffordshire Regiment from Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1923. He was promoted to captain in 1935. Following an appointment to Sandhurst in the early Second World War, by 1944, Finlinson had assumed command of the 2/6th Battalion. It deployed to France with the 59th Division later in June 1944.

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Lt-Col. M.B. Jenkins

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Lieutenant-Colonel M.B. Jenkins
5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
1/4th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

I find it hard to say how much Jenks will be missed by all of us who soldiers with him over the years. His boundless energy, great sense of humour, terrific skill at all games, so well backed up by his great fighting ability will always be remembered.

(Obituary, Stafford Knot, 1975, 11)

Born on 24 January 1909 Thornbury, Gloucestershire, Malcolm Bromley Jenkins enlisted with the Gloucestershire Regiment in 1926 before earning admission to Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the North Staffordshire Regiment in 1931 and served many years in India. He was active in regimental sports particularly rugby, hockey, and boxing. By September 1939, he was battalion adjutant and then served as a staff officer with the 176th Infantry Brigade.

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Lt-Col. I.H. Freeland

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Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Freeland
7th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment
1/5th Battalion, Queen’s Royal Regiment

The petrol bomb is a lethal weapon … anybody who manufactures, carries, or throws a petrol bomb is liable to most terribly tough punishment. They are liable to be shot dead in the street if, after warning, they persist. So, if you could get that across to any potential … bomb throwers, I would be grateful.

(Freeland interview, 6 Apr 1970)

Born on 14 September 1912 in Milton, Hampshire, Ian Henry Freeland was commissioned into the Norfolk Regiment after completing RMC, Sandhurst in 1932. Following service in India, he became adjutant for the 1st Battalion in 1940 shortly before it returned to the United Kingdom. He was brigade major for the 7th Infantry Brigade in 1942 and posted to the War Office in 1943. In April 1944, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in command of the 7th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment.

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