Tommy Maxwell, Royal Marine S.B.S. from Newtownards.

Tommy Maxwell, Royal Marine S.B.S. from Newtownards.

Tommy Maxwell was born on 16th May 1922 and having joined the Royal Marines he served in Palestine in response to what was referred to as the “Arab Revolt” then in 1940 he was at Dunkirk before being involved in assisting Free Polish personnel to escape their German Occupied homeland.




He then saw action at Crete in 1941.

February 1942 saw him on a ship leaving Greenock with a “Trade Delegation” to Murmansk for discussions with the Russians.

In June 1942 Tommy again found himself in the Mediterranean having left Belfast on 3rd to provide Anti-Aircraft defence for Convoy WS19Z and was under attack starting 14th from Italian Aircraft and Submarine.

On 15th H.M.S. Cairo was in action against Italian ships and was hit by 2 Six Inch Shells which caused serious damage as well as being subjected to air attack before finally reaching Malta on 16th.

On 12th August the ship was going through the Sicilian Narrows when it was hit aft by two Torpedoes.

Being totally disabled H.M.S. Cairo was abandoned with survivors, including Tommy, being rescued by H.M.S. Wilton.

Tommy had been wounded during this action with shrapnel wounds to his right thigh and left calf.

Within just one week of having been wounded on board H.M.S. Cairo Tommy was again involved in a major operation, this time being the Raid on Dieppe.

Having been involved in the Special Service Brigade Tommy joined 44 Commando in 1943 and received training in Wales before going to Achnacarry.

In 1944 Tommy was serving with 3rd Cammando Brigade in India.
He operated for some time in the Pacific Theatre and Burma where, in 1945, he was shot in the head.

He had been targeted by a Sniper who had secured himself in the top of a tree and Tommy’s injury was such that he had a metal plate fitted in his head where the bullet had hit him above his right eye.

His long list of Medals show that Tommy Maxwell served his country worldwide!

They include The General Service Medal with “Palestine” Clasp, The 1939 - 1945 Star, The Atlantic Star, The Africa Star, The Burma Star with “Pacific” Clasp, The Italy Star, The Arctic Star, The Defence Medal, The 1939 - 1945 War Medal and The Dunkirk Medal.
As well as these are The Malta George Cross Fiftieth Anniversary Medal and no less than five Russian Medals including the Ushakov Medal for British Veterans of the Arctic Convoys.
Tommy died on 21st December 2011 and is buried in Movilla Cemetery, Newtownards.
Tommy Maxwell - "By Strength and Guile"
(Thanks very much to Ray Maxwell, Tony and Margaret)

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