Alec George Aldis

A Lieutenant with No. 41 R.M. Commando, Alec died on 6th of June 1944, at the age of 28. 

Alec was a son of Alfred and Edith Aldis. Alfred was born at Southwold and moved to Lowestoft, with his wife Edith, before World War One.

During the First World War Alfred served in the Royal Naval Reserve, on trawlers Paramount and John Lincoln, and so he, and Edith, moved to Ramsgate, which is where their son Alec was born in 1916. By 1921 they had moved back to Lowestoft and in 1939 they lived at 14 Surrey Street. 

Alec joined the Royal Marines, and became a specialist in signals. He was at Crete in 1941 and for his bravery was awarded the Military Medal with the following citation:

This N.C.O. has set the finest example to all ranks during the operations in Crete 20-31 May.  With no regard for his personal safety he worked unceasingly to maintain the Suda Sector communications. He was always ready to volunteer for any special despatch riding however hazardous. His work at all times was of the highest order.

In early 1944 Alec became a Lieutenant in the Royal Marines and by June 1944 he was the signals officer with No 1 Commando.

The book Air War D-Day: Gold, Juno, Sword (Volume 5) by Martin W. Bowman includes the reminiscences of Third Officer Marion Salter who had been ‘secretly’ engaged to Alec. Marion recalled that Alec was ‘a career soldier, very ambitious’, and she remembered that on D-Day he had been seen disembarking from his landing craft and died soon afterwards. Alec has no known grave.

Just a few weeks after Alec’s death his father, who by then was living with Edith at 3 Nicholson’s Square, Yeovil Road, Lowestoft, also died.