The COPPS really were the elite of the elite: COPPS The obit failed to mention that he received the Distinguished Service Cross in 1945 for "inspiring leadership, skill and resource during a successful reconnaissance of Lake Comacchio" I bet he enjoyed the peace of cabinet making after all that "excitment"
Distinguished looking gent. I had a little chuckle at the name of this Operation and its objective. ...in March and April 1945, he took part in Operation Roast, the assault by 2 Commando Brigade on the Spit...
Yes I wondered whether someone in charge had decided to have a laugh with that. But I think it was probably the Telegraph writer playing with the readers.
Interesting anecdote from Wiki about the later stages of the operation: That evening No.9 and No.43 moved up to the bridges on the Bellocchio Canal held by No.2. The following day, 3rd April, the Royal Engineers made serviceable the blown bridge and the Commandos moved over the canal, supported by tanks of the North Irish Horse. No.2 advance north on the lagoon side (west) and No.43 along the Adriatic side (east), No.9 being placed in reserve with a plan to execute an attack on Port Garibaldi after the next canal (the Valetta Canal) was taken. The north bank of the Valetta was found to be very heavily defended, requiring a full dress attack which was later conducted by the 24th Brigade of Guards. The respective Commandos cleared all positions up to the Valletta Canal where, on the eastern flank, Cpl Tom Hunter of No.43 Commando (RM) earned a posthumous Victoria Cross for conspicuous Gallantry in single handedly clearing a farmstead housing three Spandaus after charging across 200 metres of open ground firing his Bren gun from the hip, then moving to an exposed position to draw fire away from his comrades by engaging further Spandaus entrench on the far side of the canal.
