Stutchbury, John Forbes

Date of death:: December 9th, 1999 (Sarnia/Ontario, Canada)
Service number:: 182409
Nationality:: British

Biography

John Stutchbury served with British 2 Commando, 3 Troop, 1st Special Service Brigade and was involved in the raid on Saint Nazaire (Operation Chariot) which aimed to destroy any usable dock for the Tirpitz. He was captured on attack and imprisoned in Oflag 9A/H Spangenberg, Germany.

He emigrated to Canada after the war and became a metereologist. Around 1974, he was an official and director of the Weather Office in Goose Bay Labrador. When this closed in 1975, he went to Toronto and became administrative assistant at the Research Division for Environment in Canada.

John Stutchbury died of lung cancer. According to his wife, he had started smoking after receiving Red Cross packets of cigarettes when he was a prisoner of war .

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Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Unit:: No. 3 Troop, No. 2 Commando, 1st Special Service Brigade, Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
Awarded on:: July 5th, 1945
Awarded for:: Operation Chariot

"Lieut. Stutchbury was second in command of an assault group under Lieut. Roderick detailed to destroy enemy gun positions overlooking the Dry Dock and the disembarkment from HMS Campbeltown.
Although very badly wounded in the leg Lieut. Stutchbury unremittingly assisted Lieut. Roderick in the execution of his group's task and by his display of dash and cheerfulness set a very fine example to his men.
Later, although suffering from loss of blood and consequent weakness, by his gallant action during the street fighting in the town, he not only caused considerable enemy casualties, but kept the morale high amongst the men by his excellent example."