Corps History WW2 Commandos from REME Ranks

WW2 Commandos from REME Ranks

Cfn Edward Holland No. 3 Commando

Following the interest from the November 2020 edition of the Craftsman Magazine, I decided to continue my research on REME soldiers who became Army Commandos in WW2. It was at this point I was presented with a transcript from a recording of Ted ‘Dutch’ Holland REME; kindly donated by his Daughter Liz.

At the age of 17, just before the war Edward John Holland, ‘Ted’ had a job making wooden propellers, all carved by hand, for all types of aircraft including Tiger Moths, Spitfires and Hurricanes. He did this right up until war eventually broke out and Ted and his best friend, Bob Barnes, decided they wanted to join the RAF. However, Ted was not so fortunate, being only 17 he was refused. A year later Ted joined the Army and was selected for the REME, which was newly formed in 1942.

He attended training courses on vehicles, and he worked on weapons, including 25 pounder and 6 pounder guns. His first posting was to Weymouth, to No.1 Experimental Workshops. This was where the waterproofing of vehicles took place in preparation for D Day. Ted was training men from the MT sections of other regiments, including Commandos and Royal Marines, showing them how to waterproof the vehicles, passing the knowledge on. When he spoke to a lot of them after D Day, he was pleased to hear that only small amounts of water had got in; causing no serious effects. This is a role carried out by REME soldiers within 3 Commando Brigade to this day.

Before D Day, Ted was looking at the REME noticeboard and like many of us today, saw a notice inviting volunteers for the Commandos and the Airborne. Straightaway he volunteered for the Commandos and was posted first to Wrexham, North Wales, which was the primary training area for the Commandos, then finishing up in Scotland for the main training in Achnacarry, where he was successful in gaining the Green beret.

Achnacarry is renowned for its Commando history. Potential Commandos would disembark the train at Spean Bridge railway

Cfn Edward ‘Dutch’ Holland

Cfn Holland’s transcript

station and have 60 mins to run the 6.7miles to Achnacarry House. If the soldiers weren’t under the hour, the gates would be shut, and they would be turned around. This test is recreated every year known as the Spean Bridge Commando Speed March. Ted was one that made it amongst others, passing the test and arduous training, and was then assigned to No.3 Commando.

During his time with No. 3 Commando, his driving skills also came in use. He often drove jeeps, sometimes as an officer’s driver, his skills being in demand in dangerous places, particularly Germany as you can imagine! He drove many vehicles, including massive tank recovery vehicles, alongside his regular duties as a Commando, going on evening patrols and raids. No. 3 Commando was responsible for small, harassing raids. Destroying gun positions under the cover of night and causing havoc in order to

disrupt the Germans behind their own lines. The sabotage was so successful Hitler release the famous Commando Order on 18 October 1942; declaring the immediate assignation of any known British Commando, without trail.

The Commandos were ‘bold as brass’ and had to be. They were equally resourceful and had to find their own food and shelter, which could be anything from an old barn to a ditch. In one case for Ted, he spent the night in a slip trench covered in snow, in the morning he realised it was actually a German trench; luckily for Ted it was abandoned.

In Teds own words;

“I remember when we were going through Germany, and we had to find somewhere to stay, we found this old bombed out house and thought we’ll kip here. I found some lovely daggers, which I’ve still got. I found out afterwards it’s an actual Luftwaffe dagger, vintage 1935. I also found, a bayonet and a Nazi armband which I’ve still got. It was a deserted house, everyone gone.”

When the Commandos came back from Germany, it was expected that they would go to the Far East, where the war was still being fought. The Japanese then surrendered and the decision was made to disband the Army Commandos and they were sent back to their units, in Ted’s case back in REME. He still had the Green beret, and asked if there were any postings abroad. Within a week he was offered a posting to Kenya in East Africa, to work with the Kings African Rifles. He learnt much of the language (Swahili) in the six months he was there.

Ted was honoured for his contributions during WW2. He sadly passed away this year on 23 September 2021. Scribe – WO2 Gaz Hooson from transcript kindly donated by Teds daughter, Liz Milne.

Cfn William Meek No. 5 Commando

No. 5 Commando were famous for many raids such as the one at St Nazaire in 1942. A lot to live up to for a young Cfn who had recently passed WW2 Commando selection! By this time the Commandos were almost fully established but it wasn’t until 1943 that Lord Louis Mountbatten set up command in South East Asia (SEAC), prior to this the Japanese had relentlessly taken Burma in some of the most brutal fighting seen during the war. March 1944, the Indian Army had launched a significant attack on the Japanese Empire fighting through from its own borders and taking back a city called Maungdaw, North of Burma. This was one of Cfn Meeks first deployments as a young Commando.

The Japanese planned a counter-attack with similar force called the ‘Ha Go’ offensive, 5 Commando and 44 Commando Royal Marines were mobilised in order to carry out a surprise attack from the coast and link up with the Indian Army; clearing through Japanese positions on the way. This would be called ‘Operation SCREWDRIVER’ quite fitting for Cfn Meek who joined the Commandos from the REME.

Operation SCREWDRIVER commenced and saw No. 5 and 44 Commandos carrying out beach landings on the 11 March, attacking and harassing their enemy from the South. Reading through war

Cfn William Meek

diaries and testimonials I found a lot of common events about the weather of all things, which means it must have been bad. Torrential seasonal monsoons were common in Burma and the Commandos had landed just in time for rainy season. Bergans and stores were washed away in flash floods, knee deep wet-lands were at the bottom of hills, Japanese gun positions at the top. It must have been nothing less than horrendous, a success, nonetheless.

Not a great deal is known about Cfn Meek, although we can accurately estimate quite a lot. The duties carried out by the Commandos in March 1944 saw some intense fighting, if Cfn Meek wasn’t killed upon landing, he was most probably killed attacking a well defended Japanese position.

If anyone has any further information his family would love to know more. His Great Nephew, is also currently an Army Commando; clearly it was in his blood. Cfn Meek now rests at piece and is remembered with honour at the Taukkyan War Cemetery in Myanmar, which was formally known as Burma.

He was killed in action on 15 March 1944 whilst serving with No. 5 Commando at the age of 20.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Are you ex-serving REME? Did you have a partner or family who were in REME? Where Are They Now? is a new feature, giving you the chance to share your stories with the wider REME Family. If you have a story to share, email it to craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk

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