21
From the Normandy landings until the end of the war a total of 31 men at the time of their service in 47 Royal Marine Commando were awarded medals for their excellence:
Cpl C. K. Bryce—Military Medal
Maj. P. M. Donnell—Distinguished Service Order and Croix de Guerre with Vermillion Star (FR)
L/Sgt W. E. Ellis—Military Medal
Mne R. Emsley—Military Medal
CSM J. P. England—Distinguished Conduct Medal
Sgt R. W. W. Esther—Military Medal
Capt. R. T. Flower—Military Medal
Capt. J. O. Forfar—Military Cross
Mne D. R. Gadsden—Military Medal
Sgt D. H. G. Gardner—Military Medal
Lt I. Goldstein—Military Cross
Mne J. A. Griffin—Military Medal
Rev. R. Haw—Distinguished Service Cross
Sgt A. Hooper—Croix de Guerre with Vermillion Star (FR)
Sgt H. Horsfield—Military Medal
Lt T. L. Hughes—Medal of the British Empire
Lt W. T. B. James—Military Cross
L/Cpl J. A. L. Jesney—Military Medal
L/Cpl P. G. Kendrick—Military Medal
Mne F. W. Lanyon—Military Medal
Cpl H. Litherland—Military Medal
Lt R. E. Lloyd—Medal of the Bronze Cross (NL)
Mne W. MacDonald—Military Medal
Mne G. L. McKenna—Croix de Guerre with Vermillion Star (FR)
Lt A. P. O’Brien—Military Cross
Sgt M. C. Packer—Military Medal
Lt-Col. C. F. Phillips—Distinguished Service Order
Cpl A. L. Pymm—Military Medal
Capt. P. Spencer—Distinguished Servive Order
Maj. D. H. Walton—Military Cross
TSM C. H. White—Order of the Bronze Lion (NL) and Medal of the Bronze Cross (NL)
Summary
The five years of Nazi occupation of Western Europe developed into a regime of terror, with many people being deported to concentration camps never to return. Men and boys were arrested and sent to Germany for forced labour of whom many did not survive the war. Food became increasingly scarce and almost everything was rationed. With few exceptions petrol was restricted to the German army only. People who resisted or showed an open dislike towards the new power were at risk of being publically executed as an example to others.
When the second front became a reality with allied forces landing on the beaches of Normandy, the news spread fast and people who had lost all hope became optimistic again. The news of the allied advance boosted morale, until the advance was delayed due to over-stretched supply lines running from Normandy to the front.
While the harbour of Antwerp was captured fairly intact and the city liberated on 7 September 1944, it could not be used until its approach through the Scheldt Estuary was cleared. The estuary was heavily defended from two sides, from the Dutch-Flanders region of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and from the Dutch island of Walcheren which was heavily fortified. When the news of the liberation of Walcheren came through in the parts of the Netherlands which were still under occupation, it gave people something to hold on to: HOPE!
Paris was finally liberated on 25 August 1944, and Antwerp on 7 September of the same year, but the Netherlands remained under occupation until 6 May 1945. By late October 1944 winter came early. In the western part of Holland food became scarce and the population experienced severe hunger; there was no heating, no electricity.
RAF Bomber Command prepared for the liberation of Walcheren by bombing the dykes and flooding the island. By early November 1944, 47 Royal Marine Commando took part in the liberation of the island; they were saved.
In the Western part of the Netherlands over twenty thousand people died of starvation during the period of November 1944 to May 1945, which came to be known as the ‘Hunger Winter’. Without the bravery of these young men and all other Allied forces, many more innocent civilians would have found certain death.
The liberties which post-war generations enjoy today are due to the bravery of the young men who made the ultimate sacrifice. They are the greatest generation! I for one will always remember these famous words: ‘Whenever you see an elderly gentleman with medals on his chest wearing a beret, take off your hat to him and buy him a drink! For without their past, we would not have our today!’