19
Lt-Col. C. F. Phillips:
The Commando, by now just over a hundred strong, proceeded to Minden where HQ ANCXF was located. 48 Commando had already been at Minden for some weeks where they had been guarding the Admiral, and 47 was needed to make up the numbers. Guards then formed the only duties until 31 August 1945 when the unit changed station. There is very little to record of Minden except that the barracks were very comfortable, the amenities well above average. On the 8 August Maj. M. G. Y. Dobson left the unit for 46 Commando. On the 20 August the first of several large drafts joined the unit and 47 Royal Marine Commando became the first Royal Marine Commando to have an Army Troop. No other Commando had such a mixture of Army and RM personnel. At one time Army ranks, (including Officers), in the Commando totaled approx. 130. It must be mentioned that the idea (originated with Brig. J. L. Moulton DSO) was a complete success.
Cpl Ernie ‘Taffy’ Staphnill, A-Troop:
We were very much under strength now and so we joined up with 48 Commando at the German army barracks in Minden. We renamed it Oxford barracks and it was in very good condition.
While there we had one of our vehicles stolen by a deserter and he had managed to drive it into Denmark before being arrested by Military Police. I was detailed to bring the vehicle back so I had to take Eric Stow with me. It was quite a trip up the motorway, right up around Hamburg and up over the border into Denmark. We motored on to a small place called Padbon where the military police were holding him. We stayed overnight and then brought the other vehicle back to the barracks at Minden. While we were stationed there we did a fortnight under canvas at Hamelin where the Pied Piper supposedly piped the rats down to the river.
Afterwards we moved down to Recklinghause where we stayed in a displaced persons camp for a while, and played football there a couple of times against a German miners side and tried out the miners showers. The war was virtually over by then and their forces were surrendering everywhere. The local population was very subdued but seemed quite friendly.
Men of 47 RM Commando with their Guy truck at Hameln, Germany 1945.
Lt-Col. C. F. Phillips:
The Army certainly enjoyed it and it was a great pleasure and privilege to have them in the unit. The friendly rivalry that existed certainly promoted that high standard of bearing and turnout so necessary for occupations troops. Maj. J. P. W. Wood who had been at HQ 4 Commando Brigade since June rejoined the Commando on 20 August as CO and Maj. E. L. Smith MC SWB came as Second in Command. On the 31 August the Commando moved to Erkenschwick in the Rhur.
At Erkenschwick the unit was reinforced until eventually it was well over strength. The main tasks were to administer ‘DISPLACED PERSONS’ during the day and to check their marauding activities at night. For the rest there was a fair amount of Educational and Vocational Training carried out and much organized sport. Brushes with the marauding Poles were few, but there is little doubt that the measures taken were fairly effective.
First Walcheren commemorations held in Germany 1 November 1945. (Photo courtesy of ‘Dobbie’ Dobson)
First Walcheren commemorations held in Germany 1 November 1945. (Photo courtesy of ‘Dobbie’ Dobson)
Lt-Col. C. F. Phillips:
For purposes of record, it is worth while noting that the last shot fired in anger by a member of 47 Royal Marine Commando was so fired by Sgt Ash RM on the night of 27 October, 1945, the occasion being a raid by DPs on an isolated farmhouse to the North of Erkenschwick.
On 2 November 1945, the unit moved by road to Warburg in the SE corner of the British zone. The warning order for the return to UK had already been received, and it was known that the stay in Warburg would be of short duration. The area itself was very quiet and all DPs moved out of the district about the 15th of November. Life proceeded normally until the order to move on 26 November was received on the 24th of November. Much bustle to be ready to move in time, but all was in order for the nightmarish journey (30 very cold dark hours in a train which should have been condemned) which followed. In the early hours of the 28 November 47 Royal Marine Commando arrived in Haywards Heath where it remained until its disbandment on 31 January 1946.
First Walcheren commemorations held in Germany 1 November 1945. (Photo courtesy of ‘Dobbie’ Dobson)
Mne Fred Wildman, Heavy Weapons:
Time moved on towards the finish of the war and we found ourselves back in the U.K. and started training for an invasion of Japan. Thankfully, the Big Bombs were dropped and our war had effectively finished.
Soon after this I was demobbed and kitted out with civilian clothing.
Cpl Ernie ‘Taffy’ Staphnill, A-Troop:
From there we moved on to the town of Warburg where we held a victory celebration; all the NCO’s and Officers having to wait on the men. I should know, I was a corporal myself by then. Afterwards we moved back to Minden again and after a month or so the Commando had to return to the U.K. to be disbanded. I was then transferred to 4 Army Commando No. 19 Troop. Here also I had nothing really to do for 4 weeks, and then we were told that they were to be disbanded as well. I was the then transferred to 52 Lowland Division Royal Engineers, which was where I had first started my army career. I was asked whether I would like to go into H.Q. and I agreed. I was then sent to Munster and here I stayed until my demob in August 1947, quite a cushy number too.
Capt. Turner, the commanding officer, put me in charge of all transport and everyone including any officer or NCO would have to come to me for a chit to go anywhere. I also had his permission to try and find fresh food of which we had virtually none. I had to fetch supplies from Bielefeld, so I would add on some extra supplies for visiting people. In this way I had extra cigarettes and chocolate for bartering purposes. I would go around farms bartering for eggs, bacon, meat, potatoes and greens. I did quite well with the people and one farm in particular, they offered me a drink of schnapps. When I said yes they went to a stove in the middle of the room and inside it was filled with bottles of schnapps, so I was able to take refreshments as well for the lads at a very cheap price.
I would also take all the lads in a 3 ton truck to the NAAFI up in the town for a drink, and perhaps something to eat. I would make the vehicle immobile by taking the rotor arm out of the distributor. On one of these occasions the military police towed my vehicle away to their H.Q. so I reported this to the Military Police and they informed Capt. Turner who had to put me on a charge. I was marched in front of my CO beret off, with one corporal in front of me and one behind. When I had explained what I had done he dismissed me and then informed the military police not to do this again as they where overdoing their duty.
Cpl Chuck Harris, HQ-Troop (later CQMS):
I went back to join 47 Commando on the German/Austrian Borders in the Salzburg.
By March I was sent back to Wrexham to get more men.
Arrived at Wrexham, gathered 90 Men. No rest, on Trains, down to Dover, across to Calais. Transported men to Minden in the Rhine valley (approx 60 miles east of Dusseldorf). Ended up guarding the local people. So many disturbed people, used as forced labour, concentration camps etc. So much unrest. I ended up in Forest of Marburg guarding eight or nine German Mechanics doing work on vehicles. Spent some time shooting deer!!
Posted to 26th Battalion to train men. Went down to Penge, Lower Sydenham where they sent soldiers to rehabilitate after their experiences in the war. They could learn building trades, mechanics etc. Hence my job to train men in driving and maintenance. At that time after the course of the war moving up and down the ranks according to the situation I found myself in, I was CQMS.