An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 29 1 Commando Brigade was tasked to secure the two bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne and move from there to hold and se- cure the left flank. 4 Commando (who were supported by two troops of French commandos), were to branch off to Ouistreham to deal with a gun battery that was shelling the beach area. 3 and 6 Commando were to break through the Atlantic Wall, avoid any skirmish- ing and cover the six miles to the bridges as quick as possible. All of this was to support and reinforce the 6th Airborne, who were preventing the Caen and Orne bridges from falling into German hands. 6 Commando led the brigade inland encountering pillboxes, minefields, snipers, and a great deal of mortar fire. They also had to contend with the six-barrel Nebelwerfer mortar, known as 'Moaning Minnie'. After secur- ing the bridges, Pat's unit extended forward three more miles to the ridge around Le Plein and consolidated there. Originally, it was intended for Pat and his comrades to stay in France for only two to four days but the strategic situation required them and their airborne colleagues to remain at the front to hold the eastern side of the Allied bridgehead. They took up a defensive position in a farm area at the edge of a small village called Amfreville, where high ground pro- vided a natural fortress for the Commando. Access to and from the beach had now been closed off as the enemy managed to recover from their initial surprise and were now counter at- tacking. The Commando had moved up from the beach, with- out any heavy weapon support, carrying in their rucksacks all the food and ammunition to last them the few short days that were planned. However, as plans have a habit of changing, they were to spend over 42 days there, living in expertly camouflaged slit trenches, under shell and mortar fire day and night, with the enemy sniping and counter-attacking from sometimes only a few hundred meters away. The Commando themselves had two-inch mortars, which they were able to em- ploy to great effect. They also had a naval bombardment officer attached who was able to direct fire on selected enemy positions using available naval ships out at sea. On the night of 12th June, their brigadier, Lord Lovat, was seriously wounded from shellfire and replaced by Brigadier Mills-Roberts DSO MC. Later, towards the end of July, the Commando progressed further inland, reporting a spectacular success on 19th August, when they captured the high ground of Ango- ville from the Germans, after marching through the night. The brigade successfully slipped through the German positions before detection and then held firm, fighting back four counter-attacks in one day. After being in action continuously for 82 days in France, Pat's brigade were taken out of the line and shipped back to the UK during the first week of September. For the record, 1 Commando Brigade (3, 4, and 6 Army Commando and 45 Royal Marine Commando) lost 77 officers and 890 other ranks from 6th June to 30th August 1944. Later, Pat Gillen fought through Holland for the final push, with 1 Commando Bri- gade always taking an important role, including the assault crossings of the five great rivers: Maas, Rhine, Weser, Aller and Elbe. After hostilities ended, the brigade carried out normal occupational duties in Germany. Then a decision was made to stand-down the Army Commando and Pat returned to the Norfolks as an orderly room sergeant with 4 Battalion. In 1946, while stationed in Petras in Greece, the Norfolks were also disbanded and he ended up serving with GHQ in Cairo. In 1947, Pat returned to his family in Galway, and shortly afterwards took up a position with the Ford Motor Company in Cork, retiring as press officer in 1984. In 1950, while in Cork, Pat joined 8 Fd Arty Regt FCÁ, where he later attained the rank of commandant and battery com- mander of 2 Battery. (I was later to hold the same rank and position with 8 Fd Arty Regt as my father.) Pat retired from the Reserves in the early 1980s after 32 years' service. Pat went back to visit Normandy on a number of occasions, in particular to call to the farm in Amfreville and visit his many comrades' graves in the perfectly kept Ranville Military Cemetery. Alongside the farmhouse at La Grand Ferme, there now stands a monument dedicated to 6 Commando. Pat, along with his very good friends from the Retired Artillery Officers group in Cork, would traditionally lay a laurel wreath from Ireland at this monument. Only last December 2014, Pat was honoured by the French government, when he was presented with the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur in a ceremony held in the Mercy Hospital in Cork. The presentation was conducted by the French Ambas- sador, Jean Pierrre-Thebaul. Pat was surrounded by his very proud family and friends and even though he was quite ill, the ex-commando summoned the strength to reply to the award in perfect voice, saying: "In accepting this award, other brave Irishmen, thousands of young men, who lost their lives in pursuit of peace remain in my memory. This award is as much theirs as mine". Pat Gillen sadly passed away in his own home just a short time later on 27th December 2014. Sgt Patrick D Gillen with his Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur and Mary. Photo: © David Hegarty Sgt Patrick D Gillen (centre) after being awarded his Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur in Mercy University Hospital, Cork. Comdt Michael Hartnett (PDF retd), (centre left sitting), passed away suddenly on 11th January 2015. Photo: © David Hegarty

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