On February 10th, Brigadier Ken Trevor DSO passed away at the age of 88.

He joined No 1 Commando in Scotland in 1941 and took part in the raid on Le Touquet on June 3/4 1942, and later that year in raids on Algiers and Bizerta.

In 1943, he took over command of No 1 Commando which sailed for India via Egypt. He won an immediate DSO in the fighting for for Kangaw in Arakan in January 1945. He led the storming and capture of Hill 170, a position which was then held against desperate Japanese efforts at recapture. Lt George Knowland won a postumous VC ( at Trevor's recommendation ) during the fighting on Hill 170. 1 Commando lost 22 men killed and 44 wounded at on Hill 170 ; 2,500 enemy dead were counted on the slopes after the battle.

Ken Trevor went on to serve in Korea where he was Mentioned in Dispatches and appointed OBE, being MID again in Malaya.He retired from the Army in 1966 and enjoyed his hobby - of growing Dahlias.

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

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This is sad news indeed.

Jet

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And when he gets to heaven
To Saint Peter he will tell
One more soldier reporting sir
I have served my time in hell

Since you brought up 170, the circumstances around that hill.

While the campaign for Mandalay was in its early stages, one of the earliest and bloodiest actions of the campaign took place at Kangaw. Holding the An and Taungup passes, Lieutenant-General Miyazaki and his 54th Division sent a covering force to delay the advancing 81st and 82nd West African Divisions for as long as possible, and set about establishing full-scale defensive positions in two crucial areas. The principal defence was in the region of Kangaw, 40 miles East of Akyab and 10 miles East of the Myebon peninsula. The secondary force was in the town of Taungup. Since January 1945, the Allied navies had been in total control again of the Bay of Bengal and Akyab itself had been recaptured.

It was decided that 3 Commando Brigade would take Myebon with an amphibious landing and open the way for the 74th Brigade to advance inland and cut the Japanese division's communications at Kangaw. On January 12th, No.42 Commando (RM), went ashore on the beaches of Myebon closely followed by No.5 Commando, who were supposed to be there, and by No.1 and No.44 (RM) Commandos who were supposed to be elsewhere but landed anyway. The next day, Myebon itself was taken, and by the 17th the whole peninsula was in Allied hands. The 74th Brigade set out for Kangaw, and the Commandos were withdrawn to prepare for another assault. The plan at Kangaw was for the Commando Brigade to seize a bridge-head on the East bank of the River Diangbon Chaung two miles South-West of the town of Kangaw, and for the 51st Brigade to go through the bridgehead and join up with the 74th after their march overland from Myebon. This would hem the Japanese force in on three sides. But surprise was vital.

On January 21st, a Royal Navy force of 50 assorted ships and craft anchored off the mouth of the Diangbon Chaung and bombarded the beaches, while aircraft of the RAF bombed Japanese positions. The Japanese did not see the attack coming, and were thrown completely off balance. Over two days, first No.5 Commando, then Nos.42 and 44 Commandos (RM) went ashore and established positions under heavy fire. The Japanese fought back fiercely, bombarding the invaders with artillery and repelling attempts to take Kangaw. On the 26th January, the 51st and 53rd Brigades landed, bringing tanks to reinforce the Commandos.

General Miyazaki responded by bringing up his own reinforcements in the shape of three infantry battalions and an artillery battalion under Major-General Koga. On January 31st, they attacked the Commando positions with everything they could muster, and for almost two days a fierce battle continued without respite and without the Japanese taking the British positions. By the time the 74th Brigade arrived, the Commandos had killed more than 300 Japanese, had lost 66 killed and 259 wounded, and had won a posthumous Victoria Cross - that of Lieutenant George Knowland of No. 1 Commando. By mid February, the Japanese had withdrawn to the An pass, and Kangaw was won - a vital step in the campaign that began one month later to capture Rangoon.

No.9

Thanks for the info, No. 9 ( I actually had you in mind when I posted this thread... )

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Lieutenant George Arthur Knowland V.C.
The Royal Norfolk Regiment and No.1 Commando, British Army

In Burma on 31st January 1945, near Kangaw, Lieutenant Knowland was commanding the forward platoon of a Troop positioned on the extreme North of a hill which was subjected to very heavy and repeated enemy attacks throughout the whole day. Before the first attack started, Lieutenant Knowland's platoon was heavily mortared and machine gunned, yet he moved about among his men keeping them alert and encouraging them, though under fire himself at the time.

When the enemy, some 300 strong in all, made their first assault they concentrated all their efforts on his platoon of 24 men but in spite of the ferocity of the attack, he moved about from trench to trench distributing ammunition, and firing his rifle and throwing grenades at the enemy, often from completely exposed positions. Later, when the crew of one of his forward Bren guns had all been wounded, he sent back to Troop Headquarters for another crew and ran forward to man the gun himself until they arrived. The enemy was then less than 10 yards from him in dead ground down the hill so in order to get a better field of fire, he stood on top of the trench, firing the light machine gun from his hip and successfully keeping them at a distance until a Medical Orderly had dressed and evacuated the wounded men behind him. The new Bren gun team also became casualties on the way up and Lieutenant Knowland continued to fire the gun until another team took over.

Later, when a fresh attack came in he took over a 2 inch Mortar and in spite of heavy fire and the closeness of the enemy, he stood up in the open to face them, firing the mortar from his hip and killing six of them with his first bomb. When all the bombs were expended he went back through heavy grenade, mortar and machine gun fire to get more, which he fired in the same way from the open in front of his platoon positions. When those bombs were finished he went back to his own trench and still standing up fired his rifle at them. Being hard pressed and with the enemy closing in on him from only 10 yards away, he had no time to re-charge his magazine. Snatching up the Tommy gun of a casualty, he sprayed the enemy and was mortally wounded stemming this assault, though not before he had killed and wounded many of the enemy.

If this Northern end of the hill had fallen the rest of the hill would have been endangered, the beach-head dominated by the enemy and other units farther inland cut off from their source of supplies. As it was, the final successful counter-attack was later launched from the vital ground which Lieutenant Knowland had taken such a gallant part in holding.

Lieutenant Knowland, born in Catford, grew up in Croydon and was 22 when he was killed. He's buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery at Taukkyan, Burma.

No.9

In a way I’m surprised, though pleased, he made a national obit, Martin. On the 13th at Elmwood School in Croydon, the Commandos presented the first ‘George Knowland Certificates of Merit’ to two pupils. Elmwood was Knowland’s old school and last year, on 31 January, a memorial plaque was unveiled with due Commando ceremony and Countess Mountbatten presiding.

Her dad, Lord Louis, was the President of the Commando Association till the Irish murdered him, then she took over. At the dedication the Commandos came up with the idea of the annual certificates for two pupils who, in the opinion of the school, had best displayed selflessness during the year.

There was talk about Trevor’s funeral at the awards but they were waiting to hear details and if it was to be private or not. I believe he lived Cheshire/Derbyshire and hope at least one representative got to attend.

Coming back to Knowland, his wife received his VC at the Palace then gave it to his father who displayed it in his pub in Finsbury. In 1958 it went missing and not seen since. As it was not bought or received formally with its Citation, it only has Black Market value. The medal is numbered and named.

There is a reward for its recovery, no questions asked, or for information leading to its recovery. In the case of the latter, the Commandos (that’s 29 Commando Royal Artillery who are in the Gulf at the moment, not the 80 year old veterans), said let them know who’s hanging on to it and they’ll get it back?

No.9

Well. I am very sorry to know that he passed a way. He really was a brave man.

And about Knowland i just can say As all the VC recipients, they really amaze me! Really interesting to read about Trevor and Knowland and about the battle. Thanks Martin and 9!

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Further to Ken Trevor's funeral, I believe it was a fairly private affair but the Commando Association Secretary was there to lay a wreath on their behalf.

No.9

Sorry about my belated posting--I had not seen this thread before.

May the Brigadier DSO--Rest-in-Peace.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.