Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Lost commando who found glory on D-day
Tribute to seaman’s heroism as medals go up for auction
OF all the tales of heroism from D-day, few can match that of Royal Navy commando Ron Mckinlay
Despite landing at the wrong beach and having his landing craft blown up, he saved countless lives by single-handedly destroying two huge German guns.
The petty officer’s daring deeds have come to light again after his gallantry medals were put up for auction.
London-based dealer Noonan Webb said: “Ronald was one of the great heroes of D-day.”
Ron joined the Royal Navy in 1941, aged 17, and went through specialist commando training.
During the D-day landings of June 6, 1944, his landing craft was wrecked and he had to swim for shore. There, he teamed up with a handful of other “lost” men and they set off for their original objective 2.5 miles away, only to encounter enemy guns.
Being the only commando he was nominated to sneak up and destroy two 88mm weapons with three grenades.
He also captured the only enemy survivor of the attack, a “huge” German soldier and marched him back towards his group. However, a comrade misread the situation and shot the prisoner – much to Ron’s outrage.
The Portsmouth-born seaman was once recorded telling of his wartime experiences. Recalling landing in Normandy, he said: “I was bloody mad to think that after all my training I was going to be denied my finest hour.
“We were under fire as we hit the beach and we all made for cover. The only other personnel were dead. I remember the bodies being washed in and out with the waves.”
Later on D-day, Ron braved sniper fire to rescue a wounded comrade who was being shot at.
He was one of only two men awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for bravery that day.
Ron later served as a Navy frogman under Commander Lionel Crabb, the diver who vanished while investigating a Soviet ship docked in Portsmouth harbour in 1956.
He was also a consultant on 1955 war film Above Us The Waves, starring John Mills. The medals have been put up for sale by a private collector and they are set to fetch £40,000.