Black, Graeme Delamere

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Date of birth:: May 9th, 1911 (Dresden/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: October 23rd, 1942 (Sachsenhausen concentration camp)
Mentioned on:: Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial (Memorial to the Missing)
Service number:: 106240
Nationality:: British

Biography

Captain Graeme Black DSO, MC, led a section of Troop during the Vaagso Raid in Norway. He was promoted to Captain shortly thereafter, and appointed as a Troop Commander. He then led his troop during Operation CHARIOT, the famous and successful raid on the St. Nazaire shipyards.
He was one of the seven Commandos of No. 2 Commando who were captured after Operation Musketoon, and later executed under Hitler's Commando Execution Order, at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Berlin, 1942.

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Military Cross (MC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Unit:: No. 2 Commando, 1st Special Service Brigade, Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
Awarded on:: April 3rd, 1942
Awarded for:: Operation Archery

Citation:
"Lieut Black commanded a section of his Troop during the fighting in VAAGSO ? S. Norway on 27th Dec 41. He showed constandly good leadership & enterprise despite being wounded early in the fighting + again one hour later. He refused all medical attention except the use of a field dressing. He remained in action throughout the day, + re-embarked his section at the close of the operation. After serious cases had been dealth with on board ship, he was found to have 4 bullet wounds in his left arm."

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Captain
Unit:: No. 2 Commando, 1st Special Service Brigade, Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
Awarded on:: November 15th, 1945
Awarded for:: Operation Musketoon

"Captain Black was primarily responsible for the conception and planning of Operation 'MUSKETOON' and commanded the detachment of No. 2 Commando which carried it out.
Capt. Black's detachment (consisting only of 12 all ranks) after a long and rough passage in a submarine, landed on the night of 15 October 1942, on the Norwegian coast. This small party then set off into the heart of enemy occupied territory and, led by Captain Black over extremely difficult country, reached their objective on the night of October 20th. The operation which ensued resulted in the destruction of the important electric power plant at GLOMFJORD.
During the laying of the charges, Captain Black and four men formed an advanced covering party. He remained at his post after the charges were blown, engaged the enemy, and held them back, allowing other members of the detachment to escape. He was later reported prisoner. From the accounts of those who have returned to this country, it apears that the unqualified success of this operation was largely due to Captain Black's cool, determined and fearless leadership."

Signed R.E. Laycock
Brigadier.
Commanding Special Service Brigade