226723 Pte. Alexander McLeod Royal Air Force B Squadron 1st SAS Regiment from:Rochdale (d.7th July 1944) Alexander McLeod was one of thirty members of the B Squadron, 1st SAS Regiment, all 20 year olds and all killed on a special mission, though details not known. They were buried together in the village cemetery at Rom in Deux-Severs 5km west of Couhe-Verac on the D14 road.
Would love to know more of the details surrounding their deaths.
Update
From June to August 1944, B Squadron, 1st SAS was working behind the lines in German-occupied France. They were tasked (Operation Bulbasket) with blocking the Paris-Bourdeaux rail line near Poitiers. This was to hold up any German reinforcements which were needed near the D-day beach heads. The 2nd SS Panzer Group (Das Reich) was a unit which, it was believed, was heading to Normandy and a train carrying fuel intended for them was spotted by the SAS men. This was reported by the SAS and an RAF bombing mission later destroyed the train. B Squadron's base was near Verrieres. It was here that they were betrayed and the camp attacked. Some 33 men were taken prisoner and murdered. Another three wounded SAS men were later murdered in hospital. These murders were carried out in accordance with Hitler's order of 18 October 1942, usually referred to as the `Commando Order', whereby Allied commandos or saboteurs were to be killed without trial. After the war, this was designated a war crime and some Germans were brought to justice.
|