In Memory Of

STEELE, JAMES COOK

Service Details
Age:
 25
Date of Birth:
 1919-10-29
Service No:
 RH/2763793
Rank:
 Warrant Officer Class II (C.S.M.)
Unit:
 2nd Bn.
Regiment:
 Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Date of Death:
 1945-04-10
Cause of Death:
 Shot by Germans, at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 Face 6.
Cemetery:
 ATHENS MEMORIAL
Country:
 Greece
Additional Information
Decorations:
 M M
Citations:
 LG 15 October 1942 - "This NCO has been in the ships since before the fall of Crete. During the Greek evacuation he served in the "Dolphin" with Lt. Cumberlege and assisted with the evacuation. Together with Cumberlege he assisted in the embarkation of about 400 British troops. During the Cretan evacuation, he assisted in the embarkation of troops, helped to blow up the ammunition store on Suda Island and brought away the AG MIAOULIS after the "Dolphin" was abandoned and blown up. During the voyage across he shot down a Messerschmidt 110 which attacked the ship during which engagement the AG MILAOULIS had two killed out of a crew of five. Since then he has taken part in every expedition to Crete, having stayed two weeks on the island with Lt. Cumberlege and organising the embarkation of British and Greek stragglers. This NCO has at all times shown the greatest courage and determination and is thoroughly worthy of a decoration."
Son of William and Irene Glover Steele. Husband of Patricia Alice (nee Dennis) Steele, of Gresham Farm, Marandellas, Southern Rhodesia. Born Melsetter, Southern Rhodesia. Prisoner of war, May 1941. On war memorial in Marandellas, Rhodesia. Now known as Marondera, Zimbabwe.