description
Content description
A large collection of original ts reports, orders, and other papers relating to his service in 9 Commando (2nd Special Service Brigade) in Italy, comprising: A ts account entitled 'History of 9 Commando Overseas, 11 September 1943 – 8 May 1945' (13pp), including details of movements, operations and battles, time in Italy and Greece, unit strengths, casualties by operation, decorations and awards for men of 9 Commando, inspections and visits by top brass, and a roll of honour naming those killed; A report on Landing of No 9 Commando North of River Garigliano, Operation Partridge (3pp, December 1943); 9 Commando Intelligence Summary on Operation 'Partridge' (2pp, 29 December 1943); Photocopy of report '9 Commando and 43 (RM) Commando in the Initial Landings at Anzio, Operation 'Shingle' – 20th to 26th January 1944' (3pp); A photocopy, with ts transcription, of a Report by Callf entitled 'An Account of No 10 Sections Action on the Second Garigliano Show, Ornito – 30 January 1944 – 6 February 1944' (3pp and 5pp), plus photocopies of No 9 Commando Joint Intelligence Summary and Signal Diary, Operation 'Ornito', 31 January – 6 February 1944 (3pp); A report, '9 Commando and 43 RM Commando at Monte Ornito Operations Following the Crossing of the Garigliano River, 1 – 4 February 1944' including ms annotations (7pp); A ts transcription of an account 'Anzio, 3 March 1944, 5 Troop, 9 Commando, attack Sturm Para-Troopers' including a nominal roll (4pp); Report '9 Commando and 40 (RM) Commando in the Anzio Beachhead, 2 – 25 March 1944' (4pp); '9 Commando Report on Operation 'Roast'', the crossing of Commachio Lagoon (14pp, April 1944); Ts transcription of a report 'Operation 'Impact Royal'' (1p, 13 April 1945); Commando Orders by Lt Col J M Dunning-White, CO 9 Commando (1p, 27 April 1945); Commando Orders by Lt Col J M Dunning-White, CO 9 Commando (2pp, 1 May 1945); Commando Orders by Lt Col J M Dunning-White, CO 9 Commando (2pp, 21 May 1945); After Commando Order by Major M R H Allen MC, CO 9 Commando (1p, 21 July 1945) about the disbandment of the Commando; Ts lyrics to the song 'The D-Day Dodgers' (1p, n.d.); A ts account of the Commandos, their personnel and selection, training, fighting strength and specialisation (2pp, n.d.); A ms copy of Callf's citation for the award of a DCM for Lance Leslie William Hopkins (4pp, n.d.); A ms copy of Callf's citation for the award of a DCM for Lance Sergeant Clifford Searle (2pp, January 1946), with Carbon copy on Army note book paper of Callf's citation for Searle (2pp); Carbon copy on Army note book paper of Callf's citation for an award of a Military Medal for Lance Corporal Robert King (2pp); Carbon copy on Army note book paper of Callf's citation for an award of a Military Cross for Lieutenant Donald Long (April 1945, 2pp); Carbon copy on Army note book paper of Callf's citation for an award for Lance Sergeant Stephens (2pp); Carbon copy on Army note book paper of Callf's recommendations for Mentions in Despatches for five men (1p); A 'Safe-Conduct' leaflet for German soldiers wishing to surrender, issued by HQ Fifth Army (2pp, in English and German, 1944); Copy of a portrait photograph of Callf in uniform. Together with correspondence with friends and ex-colleagues he collated while attempting to write a book about the Commando with Dr Henry Lucas (1987 - 1988): Two ms letters to Callf from CSM Frank Walsh (4pp, March and 4pp, July 1945?), thanking Callf, praising his leadership of 5 Troop, 9 Cdo, giving news of fellow officers and men, and his own time at Hermitage Camp, Wrexham; Ts accounts by Duncan Elliott, with covering letters written to Callf, with his memories of 'Commachio' in April 1945 (11pp, August 1987), 'From Taranto to Kythera' August – October 1944 (8pp, 26 August 1987), and 'Salonika', 7 November to 9 February 1945 (10pp, 12 October 1987); Ts account (13pp) entitled 'Reflections, Forty Years On – My Personal Experiences With No 9 Commando' by Sergeant Clifford F Searle DCM, with covering letter to Callf (3pp, October 1987), covering his joining 9 Cdo (September 1942), Operation 'Torch', and operations in Algeria, Italy, Greece, and Italy again, until his wounding at Commachio (April 1945); A ts account by Lieutenant Peter H Bolton of his memories of 9 Commando, March 1944 – to disbandment and his return home (31pp, written November 1987), and includes annex with short biographical details of the officers of 9 Commando, and photocopies of photographs of Bolton and others, the account was forwarded by the author and historian Robin Neillands; Accounts by Dr (Major) Harry H Lucas, formerly OC 3 (Heavy Weapons) Troop, 9 Commando, with copies of covering letters written to Callf and Robin Neillands (January – February 1988), of Operations 'Sunstar' the raid on Houlgate in Normandy, France, over the night of 22 - 23 November 1941 (8pp), 'Partridge' (6pp), 'Ornito/Faito' (5pp), and 'Shingle' (3pp), and other memories (5pp); A letter to Callf from A Paul Powell (2pp, March 1987) forwarding him copies of the four recommendations that led to the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and the 16 recommendations that led to the award of the Military Medal (MM) for members of 9 Commando (27pp); A copy of 'Guernsey Weekly Press' issue for 15 May 1945, about the liberation of Guernsey; A photocopy of a ts message from Major-General Robert Laycock, Commander of Combined Operations, to soldiers on their leaving the Army Commandos; Blank Airgraph forms and Army Forms A2; and a photocopy of a letter from Lt Col J M Dunning-White to Lieutenant D Long congratulating him on Operation 'Roast' and saying he had been put up for a MC (2pp, 7 May 1945).
History note
Cataloguer SJO
