45 CDO - WW2 - The Last Man to Die
- Si Biggs
- May 5
- 1 min read
Sergeant Wilson E Troop was the last man from 45 Commando to be killed in action in WW2.
He died during operations at the village of Wangelau on the road from Lauenberg to Lubeck.
After a short artillery barrage 'A' and 'E' Troops entered the village and took 130 prisoners.
The only casualty was Sgt Wilson who was killed assaulting a machine gun position.
A German shot him by accident in the back.
Captain John Day 45RMCdo., described Sgt Wilson as "A quiet dependable good humoured man, he was, apart from Ted Caiger, the only surviving senior NCO from those who had landed with 'E' troop on 6th June 1944. We had worked closely together in Normandy, on patrols and elsewhere, and I mourned his death particularly as this turned out to be the last attack of our campaign."
A few hours later a dog fight took place between a Messerschmitt and a Spitfire, the German was shot down and killed.
Wilson and Kohler both campaign veterans were buried in a field very close to one another.
Related Royal Marines 'dits'
See 45 Commando Dits here
See the above story in Commando Men
Live, fight and die, in the cross fire of D Day, through the bleak winter of Holland and burning hell of Germany.
How will you die today?
Help me get this story onto the big screen!
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