Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare and impressive Second War ‘Albanian operations’ M.M. group of six awarded to Private B. Hendry, Royal Berkshire Regiment, attached No. 2 Commando, 2nd Special Service Brigade, who was wounded at Salerno in September 1943, and was awarded the M.M. for his gallantry in an attack on Sarande on 9 October 1944, when, ‘firing his Tommy gun from the hip, he stormed and captured two enemy gun positions’, during which he was again wounded

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (5337785 Pte. B. Hendry, R. Berks. R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine and better (6) £4,000-£5,000

M.M. London Gazette 15 March 1945.
The original recommendation states: ‘On 9 October 1944, during the assault by No. 2 Commando to capture a battery of 25-pounder guns protecting the port of Sarande, Albania, Private Hendry was a member of No. 3 Troop.
During the advance towards the objective the Troop, under Captain Parsons, M.C., suddenly came under heavy Spandau machine-gun fire and rifle grenade fire from a concealed emplacement forming part of the outer defences to the 25-pounder guns. Captain Parsons, M.C., and his second in command, Lieutenant Coyle, were both killed. Not daunted by this Private Hendry immediately charged the machine-gun emplacement and a further pit in which was a 20mm cannon, firing his Tommy machine-gun from the hip. Both positions were overrun with the enemy suffering a number of casualties in killed, wounded and captured.
Private Hendry showed bravery and initiative of a very high order which was an inspiration to all who saw it.’

Bernard Hendry was born on 19 April 1921 and attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 27 April 1939. He served with them at home during the early stages of the Second World War before joining No. 2 Commando on 4 March 1941. He served with the Commandos during the invasion of Sicily from 18 July 1943, when the unit was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. T. F. “Mad Jack” Churchill, D.S.O., M.C., a sword brandishing, bow and arrow marksman and legendary Commando C.O., and during the Salerno landings, in which operations it suffered heavy casualties. Hendry was amongst those wounded, on 9 September 1943, and was evacuated to No. 33 General Hospital.

Returning to his unit in September 1944, No. 2 Commando was soon ordered to carry out an attack on Spilje, the first of a number of operations in Albania. In fact the very next mission, against Sarande in October 1944, was to result in Hendry’s award of the M.M., when yet further heavy casualties were incurred, including Hendry, as a result of the German’s strength being estimated at around 200 men - in point of fact the enemy numbered closer to 2,000 men. However, as a result of the capture of the Sarande, the German garrison on Corfu was cut off and surrendered.

Discharged from Hospital on 2 November 1944, Hendry was promoted Corporal on 31 January 1945, and was with the unit in April 1945, when No. 2 Commando played an important role in the Lake Comacchio operations, on which occasion posthumous V.Cs were won by Tom Hunter of the Commandos and Anders Lassen of the S.A.S. - No. 2 crossed Comacchio lagoon in assault boats on 1 April, and, having attacked the enemy from the rear, achieved all its objectives over the next few days.

Hendry was discharged from No. 2 Commando at the end of the War, and transferred to the Reserve, being posted to the 6th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. He was finally discharged on 11 November 1956, after 17 years and 199 days’ service.

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