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Prt. Sidney Patrick “Garth” Gath, formerly of the RAMC, served as a Medical Orderly with No.6 Commando from July 1940 until 30th October 1945. It is noted that he was serving with No.101 Troop during an exercise held on 6th September 1941.
It is believed that Prt. Sidney Gath was captured on Djebel-el-Azag (“Green Hill”) on 30th November 1942, following the abortive commando assault on the German-held position, when he had volunteered to stay behind to care for those critically injured colleagues on the hillside. It is understood that he was interned first in a PoW camp in Italy, from which he escaped but was recaptured and sent to a PoW camp in Germany. In the spring of 1945 it is understood that he again escaped from captivity and made his way through the German countryside, finally on the 11th April breaking through the allied lines near Essel in Germany. Remarkably, this exact area of allied operations was the focus of attention for No.6 Commando, and hence he had returned to the brotherhood of the Unit once more.
Picture courtesy of Catherine Sutherland (daughter of Sidney Gath)
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