39184 Major Gustavus H M Phillips DSO, MBE; RA

According to the British Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945, Major Gustavus Henry March Phillips DSO, MBE of the Royal Artillery, died on the 12th September 1942 at the age of 34. I have been unable to locate this man on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Roll of Honour website but see from other sources that he is buried in St Laurent Sur Mer Churchyard in France.

Major Phillips was a decorated British officer who died whilst serving with the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Although his parent unit was the Royal Artillery, he died in a Commando raid whilst serving with 62 Commando, and had previously served with 7 Commando. He was the son of Lisle and Isabel Forbes March-Phillipps and the husband of Marjorie Frances Esclairmonde (nee Stewart) March-Phillipps of Chelsea, London. As well as the DSO and MBE, Major Phillips was also Mentioned in Dispatches.

Also read about Major Phillips's role in Operation Postmaster.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Special Forces Roll - biography and photo

257470 Captain John Macalister, Intelligence Corps

257470Captain John Macalister of the Intelligence Corps was a Canadian-born officer who died on 14th September 1944; one of 309 soldiers to die on active service on this day during the Second World War. At the time of his death he was attached to the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and, as he has no known grave, is commemorated on panel 21 of the Brookwood Memorial in Surrey.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission adds the additional information that Captain Macalister was 30 years old when he died and that he was the son of Alexander and Celestine MacAlister and the husband of Jeannine MacAlister of Paris, France.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission