John Frederick Giles

Memorial: Almondsbury - Sunday's Hill

Regiment: Royal Tank Regiment

Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945

Rank and number: Captain 68678

Parents: Frederick William and Margaret Mary Maud Palin Giles

Home address: Gordano, Almondsbury

Pre-war occupation: Career soldier

Date of birth: 1917

Date of death: 27/12/1941

Buried/Commemorated at: He was buried at sea and is commemorated at Brookwood Memorial Surrey and on Alveston War Memorial

Age: 24

Further information:

Gloucestershire Regiment, Royal Tank Regt Royal Armoured Corps and No 3 Commando.

John was the eldest of 3 brothers and was educated at Bristol Preparatory School and Kelly College, Tavistock. In July 1936 he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant of 6th Battalion the Gloucestershire Regiment. He was transferred to the Royal Tank Regiment - Royal Armoured Corps and was mobilized in 1939. John was promoted to Lieutenant shortly afterwards then Joined the commando in 1940 and was further promoted to Captain. While with his battalion he won the heavy-weight boxing championship of the Army Southern Command and played rugby for Clifton Rugby Football Club.

John was killed in action in Vaagso Norway during Operation Archery a successful amphibious raid by British Commandos on the defended Norwegian coast which took place under 7 hours of RAF cover, its purpose being to destroy fish oil factories and sink enemy shipping. One of John's brothers Lieutenant Bruce Giles, also took part but returned safely. At the time the third brother was in Canada training for the RAF.

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
http://www.cliftonrfchistory.co.uk/memorial/WW2/giles.htm
http://www.commandoveterans.org/JohnGiles3Commando