Gents,

I am looking for information on Captain Marshall John Adam Leaphard. He was with the Reconnaissance Corps, No. 6 Commando. he was killed on 30 January 1945 "on the Maas".

I can't find anything on him or the action in which he died, which I think was an combat patrol.

I did found a reference (in Hilary St. George Saunders The Green Beret) of a MAJOR C E J Leaphard. Maybe he was related??

I did find a reference to a Leaphard about an action in Normandy by esteemed forum member No.9 at another forum...

Maybe you have something on this Capt.?

TIA Stevin

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What a cheek - sarcasm as usual .


If I may be allowed a small observation, CWGC always list two units for Army Commandos as they always remained on the Service Roll of their original unit. Royal Marines and Royal Marines Commandos were and are all part of the Royal Marines embodiment.

Hence Leaphard is commemorated as Reconnaissance Corps of the Royal Armoured Corps, and No 6 Commando meaning he was originally enlisted or designated with the RAC, and then became (technically) on detachment to No.6 Commando having made application and accepted. No.6 Commando did not have an armoured Reconnaissance Unit – only a bicycle Troop .

I can not give you a specific on this officer which you’d probably need to consult the appropriate War Diary for. What No.6 were doing at that time is however, much less obscure. Two of the four Commando Brigades were employed in the Normandy invasion. 1 SS Brigade - Nos.3, 4, 6 Army and 45 RM; and 4 SS Brigade – Nos.41, 46, 47 and 48, all these being RM Commandos. After the Normandy breakout – where both Brigades and 6th Airborne had extended duties holding the left flank – 1 Brigade was returned to England in early September ’44 while 4 Brigade mostly had a month containing the besieged German garrison at Dieppe. Lord Lovat was seriously wounded on 12 June and replaced as Brigadier of 1 SS by Derek Mills-Roberts.

At the end of September, total Commando casualties (dead, missing and wounded) were in the order of 50%. No.4 Commando were sent to Oostend to exchange with No.46 (RM) who were down to around 50% strength, and their Brigade (4 SS) were preparing for the Combined Operations assault on Walcheren.

1 Brigade were ear-marked to go to the Far East in Jan ‘45, where indeed marine assault units such as 2 SBS, COPPs, Navy Commandos and Beach Assault Commandos had been sent since Normandy was established. However, it was decided they would be employed in Europe in the assault on Germany over successive rivers and canals, particularly the Rhine. On landing at Oostend, No.46 (RM) were dispatched to Antwerp as an anti para measure. Though the Ardennes offensive was turned, it was still though possible the Germans might mount a para-glider attack on this port. The rest of 1 Brigade were sent to the line on the River Maas, which for some time had been held (in part) by No.47 (RM) from 4 Brigade.

On a grand scale a pincer movement was planned. The 1st Canadian Army was to execute Operation Veritable to clear the enemy between the Maas and the Rhine, while the 9th US (still under Monty’s 21st Group) was to mount Operation Grenade to cross the River Roer and link-up with the Canadians. 1 Brigade acted in advance of the 9th US and between 22/23/24 January ’45, under command of the 7th Armour Div, crossed the frozen Juliana Canal and took Massbracht, Brachterbech, Montefortebeck and Linne – Linne requiring support from 8th Hussars armour. Commando medical orderly L/Cpl. Henry Harden received a posthumous VC for his bravery at Montefortebeck with No.45 (RM). [img]graemlins/vc.gif[/img]

The Brigade took up positions just north of Linne facing part of the Siefried Line, and No.6 with the 8th Hussars conducted a week of probing sweeps designed ’to gain detailed information on the enemy defences’

Commando Group Immediate Report – PRO DEF 2/1091
”These sweeps were made by two or three troops of tanks carrying one troop of ‘J’ [No.6] Commando on their backs. The force was usually commanded by the Commando Troop Leader, the infantry [Commandos] dismounting in close country to protect the tanks and to search houses and woods, and the tanks supporting the infantry forward. These series of patrols began on 26 Jan [1945] and continued till 1 Feb, when a general thaw began to limit armoured movement. An immense amount of detailed information was obtained, and casualties were inflicted on the enemy.”

I would say it’s reasonable to assume for the moment that Capt. Leaphard was killed during this operation.

In respect of other relatives serving, the CWGC listings show only one Leaphard killed around that time. The Major Leaphard you site as being mentioned in Normandy is later mentioned by Brig. Mills-Roberts, leading further assaults in Germany. However, Mills-Roberts has also written that later in the advance, maps showing German flak dispositions were captured, and this information he wanted to get back to main HQ across the Rhine. Sending so much data by wireless would be long and intense, and if not satisfactory would have to be sent by runner – or in this case, a runner/swimmer. In answer to a call for ‘the best swimmer in the Brigade’, Commando ‘Freddie Leaphard’ came forward. Mills-Roberts says of him; ”apart from being a first-class fighter was also a human fish.”. Curiously, he also goes on to state; ”His brother had been killed early in February (?) fighting with us in Holland - one could not have asked for two better men.”

When reading Mills-Roberts you note he is good on names and times, but very remiss on stipulating dates. There again, if this ‘brother’ and your Captain are one and the same, as he is sited as killed on 30th Jan and the operation did not finish till 1 February, Mills-Roberts probably did not receive detailed reports for a day or so? He also states that Freddie and brother were; ”of French extraction”. Per the CWGC details your Captain’s parents are sited as Charles Edmund and Claire Isabel, names not uncommon in France? Furthermore, his stated first name ‘Marshall’, is not exactly common or typical English, unless of course, not to sound foreign (which was often a disadvantage in 1930’s Britain), he altered it from ‘Marcel’?

I tend to think Freddie Leaphards’ brother and your Captain are one and the same.

No.9

ps. the wireless transmission worked and Freddie did not have to swim the Rhine. Mills-Roberts says ”I saw a look of keen disappointment cross Freddie Leaphard’s face.”

Sarcasm??? me??? I dare say!

Thank you VERY much for this, No.9! It is very much appreciated. Am I right in concluding that there might have been threeLeaphard's in No.6 then? Commando, Capt. and Major?

Enjoyed that last bit...the PS..."the keen dissapointment cross Freddie Leaphard's face"...it just sums it up, doesn't it? The attitude of these guys...

Capt. Leaphard is buried at Nederweert War Cemetery, together with a number of others from No.6 that were killed between 20 Jan. - 1 Feb. I hope to add them to my site in a not too distant future.

Did you manage to finish "From Omaha to the Scheldt" at all??? I am going to start in it tonight.

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Also buried at Nederweert is Cpl Harden, VC winner mentioned by No.9. In Nederweert a street is named after him, very close to the cemetery itself.

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And a follow up, although not quite Cdo. But do you know what the Royal Marines (No. unkown) might have been up to in central Holland (Geldermalsen to be exact) on 23 April 1945???

I have a Unknown Marine buried there but as far as I know, no Marines were even close in April 1945...

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You’re very welcome as ever Stev, always a pleasure to support your admirable web project, whether or not it’s driven by a sarcastic clog dancer

Re how many ‘Leaphards’ in No.6, the CWGC identifies the KIA Captain, and both Lovat and Mills-Roberts mention the Major – so two definites. Re Freddie Leaphard and his brother, for the moment there seems to be only probabilities? Mills-Roberts was the CO of No.6 prior to being promoted to Brigadier of 1 SS. As CO of some 460 men, Mills would have known, or known of, all his Officers, senior NCOs and no doubt other ranks who came to his attention for various reasons. As Brigadier of four Commando Battalions it would have been senior Officers and perhaps some senior NCOs. 1 SS Brigade in Normandy, including Brigade HQ, totalled 146 Officers and 2252 other ranks, (77 Officers and 890 ORs became casualties).

Mills wrote that he called for ”the best swimmer in the Brigade”, but writes quite familiarly about Freddie Leaphard ‘volunteering’, and with reference to his brother. I think the impression is that Freddie and brother were No.6. I cannot find Major Leaphard (6 Troop of No.6) ever mentioned in any context with the others, so would guess there were three Leaphard’s in No.6, but only two were related.

Little to add at present, except that per captives taken by No.6, the area in total or in part was defended by German paras. Their presence is also commented on by an account for the Hussars.
8th Hussars

I haven’t read Omaha to Scheldt fully, only sections. Have to say I’m not the best at reading a book cover to cover sequentially. Often get side-tracked by something I read which sends me off into other books .

Re your pic of Harden VC’s stone, not knowing when this was taken, is there or was there, now or some time over the past two years, a separate plaque in front of it from the Royal Marines?

No.9

Thanks again No.9, very much obliged.

Wat is wrong with a healthy dose of Sarcasm? No Dutchman can go without it, really....And then the clog dancing....Yes, sometimes I like to put on pretty clothes, don some fine wooden shoes en indulge in some cheerful banter of the clog.....When I was younger I was the Michael Flatly of up and coming Dutch clog dancers! You should have heard the cheers when I got on stage in my Volendam outfit and did a little pre-show clogging...



Here in Holland we LOVE linedancing and riverdance as well...I dare say that because of our background in clog dancing, Holland has produced several World Champions Linedancing! And revered they all are...

About the plaque, I don't know. I was there early May 2004. The plaque was not there yet then. I might visit the cemetery in the not too distant future to check it out.

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Thank you for the colourful insight Stev. It that right clogs make your feet swell


Re the unknown Marine, is the inscription ‘Royal Marines’ or ‘Royal Marines Commando’? All RM Commandos are Royal Marines but by no means are all Marines commandos. 4 Commando Brigade spent early ’45 holding/offensive patrolling on the River Maas, or garrisoning Walcheren. I think No.48 (RM) were probably involved in the last action on and around Steenen Muur during the last week of March, but received the last cease fire order several days before the 30th. However, in the area, and whom the Commandos spent some time under command of, was 116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines – a regular infantry unit.

As you have Forfar’s book, perhaps have a look at Ps.310-311, and for general info from P.320. Can you not get some info from Geldermalsen Town Hall as it’s community cemetery and there is only one foreign war grave in it.

Re the VC plaque, a couple of years ago the Marines went round laying these on Marines VC graves and I was curious to know if they bothered to include Harden?

No.9

ps. the Dutch approach to Riverdance appears to have appeal for the spectator

Ah well, yes, they do, but of course only to tourists who want to go "authentic" but just make fun of our cloggy tradition and have not a clue as how to wear these clogs. We cannot held responsible for the misuse of clogs by tourists who then complain of exceptionally swollen feet. Your picture is a good example. I lament the girl although she bears it in an admirable fashion. Travelling on airplanes does the same although far less extreme.

Clog dancing can be considered an Extreme Sport, and so it is in Holland....

On your PS; yes, the Dutch always like to take things just a tat further. What do you want from a country that gave the world the concept of Big Brother; we need something juicy to look at....

re. the more serious matters; The grave says "Royal Marine" he was NOT a Commando. Also Geldermalsen lies nowhere near Walcheren. It lies south of Utrecht, on the Linge river (more like a creek). That is connected by a canal to the Waal river but I very much doubt that his body might have drifted from the waal to there.

On the other hand. In Lienden, not far away, a soldier is buried of the 4th Bn, Dorsetshire Regt, part of the 43rd Wessex Div. Which also was never nowhere close to that place, so I guess his body must have drifted there, just like a Lt. of 8th Bn, The Rifle Brigade buried at Zoelen. Of these three (so far) I can't place their unit at those places at those times, so I am thinking the waterways must have drifted their bodies there.

In any case, the Royal marines were never near Geldermalsen AFAIK.

Reading up on the pages you mentioned; I am very much known with Lt. Adam's case. In fact, I have been in contact with several marines who knew him, one was actually with him when he was KIA and I have also (quite recently) corresponded with Lt. Brent mentioned in the book. He sent me a rather detailed account of that action. It does give a clear example about the MIA cases. This one was solved but many aren't (yet). I am trying to work on some of these cases.

I have written to the Town Hall but not yet received a reply. There are two soldiers buried there, but the other is identified and a 165 Sqn spitfire pilot.

I hope to visit Nederweert tomorrow to check on Cpl Harden's palque, but have many "engagements" planned for the day, so I am not sure if I can make it.

I will let you know.

thanks again for the information an dinsights, No.9

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Oh I see, now you’re blaming the tourists . Poor unsuspecting innocents, parting with their hard earned money to see windmills and tulips, and little Dutch boys and girls in pointy hats wearing smocks and aprons, and old men on bicycles who like to tell you they had a better bike but it’s somewhere in Germany. But what do they get? Women modelling underwear in shop windows who invite you in then give you a sponge bath , tobacconists who sell herbal mixtures named after foreign places, and cafes that want to serve you funny mushrooms followed by some ‘special National dish’ which turns out to be nothing more than skinny frits covered in a peanut sauce that no one will eat! [img]graemlins/no.gif[/img]

Where do the clogs come in? Ah-ha, I have it sussed . The ploy is to sell as much peanut sauce as possible to support the Dutch colonies. To do this the tourist has first to be anaesthetised by the funny mushrooms, after which they fall over. So, to stop them falling over, they put clogs on their feet so they sway about like those children’s toys with round bases. Then, they are fed the frits and peanut sauce .

And the clog dancing? When the effect of the funny mushrooms starts to wear off, the tourists are so desperate to escape, they stomp about trying to get the damn things off! Not funny really, half of them fall into the canals and bung-up the dredgers .


Regarding the Marine, excellent you have contacted Veterans who have been able to help. Unfortunately I can’t offer you anything on the 116th RM Infantry, where it’s a fair guess the unknown soldier came from. What I am curious to know is why he has the given grave stone date? Was that the day of death or the day his remains were found/buried? Presumably there was only enough remains to establish him as a RM?

The remains may have been found floating nearby, or – just thoughts – he got lost and wandered into that area where he stood on a mine or was hit by shelling, or, he was captured or taken in wounded and subsequently escaped when the mine/shelling scenario happened, or in detention/First Aid the position was shelled? Then again, if taken by the enemy they should have had his ID? Love to hear what the Town Hall have to say.

No.9