Special Forces

This page is dedicated to those men and women who served with Special Forces – Guerilla Units, SOE, FORCE 136 and SAS – during and after WW2.


Thailand 1941 - British Special Forces - GORDON R.

Captain GORDON, RODERICK. Died 16/12/1941 Aged 35. Special List attd. Special Operations Executive. Son of John Gordon and Ruth Gordon (nee Gardiner), of Tronoh, Perak, Malaya. Interred CWGC Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand

Thailand 1941 - British Special Forces - REGAN E.

Captain REGAN E. Died Between 12/12/1941 and 16/12/1941
Aged 30. Federated Malay States Volunteer Force attd. Special Operations Executive. Son of Mrs. K. Regan. Interred CWGC Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand. Update May 2020. CWGC informs me that, as a result of new evidence, this headstone/grave is that of Private DANIEL REGAN, who died between 12/12/1941 and 16/12/1941 (aged 30). He served with the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force attd. Special Operations Executive. Son of Mrs. K. Regan. The military authorities have no record of a Captain E. Regan. The plaque will be changed in due course.

Thailand 1941 - British Special Forces - WRIGHT H.C.

Captain WRIGHT, HERBERT CHARLES. Died 16/12/1941 Aged 26. Special List attd. Special Operations Executive. Son of Richard Thomas Herbert and Florence L. Wright, of Portchester, Fareham, Hampshire. Interred CWGC Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand

To read my article covering the above 3 grave-markers and, in addition, the earliest use of the term ”British Special Forces” and/or ”Special Forces”, please select link here: ww2talk.com

note: These are the only known grave markers – under the care of the CWGC – with the term ”British Special Forces” engraved on the surface panels.


Pavilion inside Bamboo Garden dedicated to WW2 Guerillas In The Philippines © asiawargraves.com

View of pavilion inside Bamboo Garden, which is dedicated to WW2 GUERILLAS IN THE PHILIPPINES, Fort Santiago (Fuerza de Santiago), Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. Inscription on bronze plaque reads: The Bamboo Garden. Dedicated to THE WORLD WAR II GUERILLAS IN THE PHILIPPINES. IN MEMORIAM. 25 February 2010

Volunteers BIRD, WILLIAM E. J.. Died between 10/12/1941 and 15/02/1942. Special Operations Executive, and POWELL, GEORGE., died between 10/12/1941 and 15/02/1942. Special Operations Executive. Husband of Mrs G. Powell of Old Brompton, Chatham, Kent. As SOE Volunteers, it’s possible that these 2 men, along with many others, attended the 101 Special Training School (101 STS – established by Major Jim Gavin), at Tanjung Balai, Jurong River, Singapore. Commemorated on the Addenda Panel, Singapore Memorial, CWGC Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Image via CWGC. note: This is the only known CWGC maintained memorial – outside of UK – commemorating former SOE members. note: Link to recent article I wrote covering SOE and Force 136 ww2talk article on SOE and Force 136

BURGESS, OLIVE FLORENCE – FORCE 136. Born 07.06.1915. died 15.10.1945 – killed in air crash Trincomalee, Ceylon. Daughter of Edwin and Emma Charlotte (nee Huson) Burgess, London W4 (formerly Ceylon). Interred CWGC Colombo (Liveramentu) Cemetery, Sri Lanka-Ceylon. note: This is the only ”known” FORCE 136 headstone under the care of the CWGC

Major NIMMO, JAMES RUSSELL. D S O, Mentioned in Despatches. Service Number ABRO/274. SOE-FORCE 136. Died 15/02/1944 Aged 31. Burma Regiment. Son of Alexander and Eliza Brown Nimmo, of Falkirk, Stirlingshire. B.A. (Cantab.). Interred CWGC Rangoon War Cemetery, Myanmar-Burma

Major SEAGRIM, HUGH PAUL. G C, D S O, M B E.. Service Number 49359. SOE-FORCE 136. Died 14/09/1944 Aged 35. 19th Hyderabad Regiment. Son of the Reverend Charles Paulet Conyngham Seagrim and Amabel Emma Halsted Seagrim, of East Dean, Eastbourne, Sussex. His brother, Derek Anthony, also fell and was awarded the Victoria Cross. Interred CWGC Rangoon War Cemetery, Myanmar-Burma


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Air_Service

Regimental Wreath Of Dark And Light Blue Flowers

K.A. HUDSON  21-03-66  Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia (see below)

Corporal Kenneth B. (Digger) BANCROFT. Born 3rd August 1919 and died, aged 34, 26th November 1953. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur,Selangor, West Malaysia – image available.

A.G. BUCHANAN  11-05-57  Malaysia (see below)

Lance Corporal Claude William BOND. Born 2nd May 1928 and died 18th January 1954 aged 25. Interred Kamunting Road Christian Cemetery, Taiping, Perak, West Malaysia – image available.

T.R. CONDON  14-03-64  Malaysia, Indonesia (see below)

Sergeant Brian (Buddha) BEXTON. Born 23rd October 1936 and died whilst on ops in Sabah, age 27, 7th June 1964. Interred Kranji Military Cemetery, Singapore – image available.

P.H. DENEHEY  6-06-65  Borneo, Singapore (see below)

Corporal J.B. DAVIES. Died 25th June 1952. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia – image available.

P.G.R. EAKIN  3-12-53  Malaysia (see below)

Sergeant O.H. ERNST or ERNEST. Died 13th June 1951. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia – image available.

R.C. MONCRIEFF  21-03-66  Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia (see below)

Trooper Albert Edward HOWELL. Born 4th October 1931 and died, age 22, 1st June 1954. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia – image available.

R.S. SIMPSON  VC.  18-10-78  Japan (see below)

Trooper Arthur FERGUS. Born 10th June 1926 and died, age 25, 11th May 1952. Interred Kranji Military Cemetery, Singapore – image available.

A.R. THOMAS  2-05-56  Malaysia – repatriated to N.Z. August 2018 (see below)

Lieutenant James Leslie Colin FOTHERINGHAM. Died 18t December 1953 age 27. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia – image available.

V.E. VISAGIE  23-04-52  Malaysia (see below)

Trooper John Arthur Stanley MORGAN. Born 15th August 1930 and died, age 22, 28th January 1953. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia – image available.

Trooper Walter Ronald John MARSELLE. Born 31st July 1931 and died, age 24, 24th June 1956. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia – image available.

Trooper Nicholas Patrick OLLIS. Born 16th November 1947 and died, age 21, 13th August 1969. Remains repatriated to UK for reburial in Stirling Lines, Hereford. Headstone photographed in 2016, Western Road Christian Cemetery, George Town, Penang, West Malaysia – image available.

Trooper James Edward O’LEARY. Born 3rd August 1929 and died, age 21, 28th February 1951. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia – image available.

Colour Sergeant John Peter PEARCE. Born 4th July 1928 and died, age 26, 17th June 1955. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia – image available.

Trooper Bernard POWELL. Born 17th January 1932 and died, age 22, 30th May 1954. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (New Cemetery), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia – image available.

Lieutenant / Quartermaster Frederick Stanley TULK. Born 12th June 1903 and died, age 49, 24th March 1953. Interred Kranji Military Cemetery, Singapore – image available.

Trooper Frederick William WILKINS. Born 25th March 1932 and died, age 20, 26th November 1953. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia – image available.


ASASA Plaque in Kuching, Sarawak, BorneoASASA Plaque in Kuching – unveiled 2015
– PAUL H. DENEHEY  6-06-65  Borneo, Singapore –
– KENNETH A. HUDSON  21-03-66  Borneo, Indonesia, Australia –
– ROBERT C. MONCRIEFF  21-03-66  Borneo, Indonesia, Australia –
note: DENEHEY is interred in Singapore and both HUDSON and MONCRIEFF are now interred in Australia


BUCHANAN A.G. sas

NZ SAS Corporal Allister G. (“Buck”) BUCHANAN. Died 11th May 1957 whilst on ops. Remains repatriated August 2018 from Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Wallacetown New Cemetery, Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand.

DENEHEY P.H. sas

OZ SASR Lance Corporal Paul Harold DENEHEY. Born in Victoria 21st January 1944 and died 6th June 1965, Sabah, Borneo. Interred Kranji Military Cemetery, Singapore

EAKIN P.G.R. sas

UK 22 SAS Corporal Percy Garfield Reynolds EAKIN. Born 16th July1928 and died 3rd December 1953. Interred Western Road Christian Cemetery, George Town, Penang Island, West Malaysia


Terendak Memorial Wall and Nanga Gatt Memorial Sarawak, Malacca, Malaysia

Memorial Wall (Terendak Military Cemetery), Malacca, West Malaysia and commemorating 184 service personnel who died in Malaysia, but whose bodies were never recovered.

CONDON T.R. sas

UK 22 SAS Trooper James Raymond (Paddy) CONDON. Died, age 25, in March 1964 (exact date unknown) whilst on ops in Kalimantan, Borneo. Commemorated on Memorial Wall, Terendak Military Cemetery, Malacca, West Malaysia

HUDSON K.A. sas

OZ SASR Lieutenant Kenneth Ambrose (Rock/Ken) HUDSON, of Brisbane. Born 7th January 1936 and died on 21st March 1966, aged 30, whilst on ops in Kalimantan, Borneo. His body was recovered and returned in 2010 for internment in Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Also: Commemorated on Memorial Wall, Terendak Military Cemetery, Malacca, West Malaysia 

note: Lieutenant Hudson (above) and Private Moncrieff (below) were lost on March 21, 1966 when swept away as they and two other soldiers attempted to cross a flood-swollen Sekayan river whilst on a covert mission inside Indonesian territory. Both remains were recovered in 2009 and repatriated to Australia in 2010 for internment in Perth and Brisbane.  

MONCRIEFF R.C. sas

OZ SASR Trooper Robert Charles (Bob) MONCRIEFF. Born 17th December 1944 and died on 21st March 1966, aged 21, whilst on ops in Kalimantan, Borneo. His body was recovered and returned to Australia in 2010 for internment in Perth. Also Commemorated on Memorial Wall, Terendak Military Cemetery, Malacca, West Malaysia


SIMPSON R.S. sas

OZ SAS AATTW Warrant Officer Second Class Rayene Stewart SIMPSON, Victoria Cross, D.C.M., Silver Star(US), Bronze Star(US). Born 16th February 1926 and died (cancer), aged 52, on 18th October 1978. Interred British Commonwealth Forces Cemetery (contained within CWGC Yokohama War Cemetery), Yokohama, Japan.

THOMAS A.R. sas

NZ SAS Trooper Adrian Raymond THOMAS. Born 1935 and died 2nd May 1956 (age21) whilst on ops. Originally interred in Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia but now believed repatriated to New Zealand in August 2018.

VISAGIE V.E. sas

RHODESIA SAS Corporal Victor E. VISAGIE. Died, aged 23, on 23rd April 1952 whilst on ops. Interred Cheras Road Christian Cemetery (Military Annex), Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, West Malaysia


191 British Army and RAF plaques191 British Army and RAF plaques on ceiling of Colonade, National Monument, KL, Malaysia


LEST WE FORGET

Crosses Of Sacrifice are, in general, found in cemeteries with over 40 war graves.The Stone of Remembrance is found in cemeteries with over 1000 war graves and is a non-denominational tribute to the fallen. © 2017-2027 asiawargraves.com - All Rights Reserved