Widnes Memories: Phil Jennett researches Second World War casualties on Victoria Park cenotaph in Widnes
AN SAS hero from Widnes who was killed in one of the most daring commando raids of the Second World War is among 337 men being researched for a new book.
Amateur historian Phil Jennett is chronicling the lives of Second World War casualties named on the cenotaph at Victoria Park.
Contained in his research is Bombardier Geoffrey Caton, who was born in Widnes in 1920 as the fourth of seven children.
He started his career with the Royal Artillery before transferring to No.11 Commando.
He later transferred to the SAS, fighting alongside Paddy Mayne, one of its most famous soldiers, and its founder, Lieutenant Colonel David Stirling.
At the age of just 22 Geoffrey was transferred to a special unit of the SAS called the Special Raiding Squadron (SRS), where he took part in Operation Husky, the allied invasion of Sicily.
On July 10, 1943, Geoffrey and the rest of the 'SRS' attacked a large Italian battery at Capo Murro di Porco, in southern Sicily, which had to be destroyed before the main Allied landings could take place.
After hitting the beach at 3.30am the SRS assault teams threw themselves against the cliff and began to claw their way to the summit.
The 700-strong Italian garrison was too shell-shocked to put up much of a struggle but heavy fighting continued throughout the night, with the SRS attacking command posts, bunkers and barracks.
However, during the assault Geoffrey was killed and six of his colleagues were injured.
For their losses, the SRS had put six heavy guns out of commission, killed about 100 enemy soldiers and captured 200-300 more.
Bombardier Caton is buried at Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily.
Another man mentioned in Phil's research is John Cosgrove.
John joined the elite Parachute Regiment at 18 and was deployed to Palestine in 1945.
He died at the age of 19 on active service whilst carrying out internal security duties and fighting Arab and Israeli terrorist groups.
He is buried at Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.
Mr Jennett said: "I have identified a total of 337 names so far and am looking for any relatives who can assist with either information or photographs to contact me."
The picture shows the commando team which may have contained Widnes war hero Geoffrey Caton, according to researcher Phil Jennett.
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Phil,
I am having trouble contacting you via the e mail as I think the address in the paper is incorrect. I am therefore trying to contact you via this blog.
Having read your recent article in the Widnes Weekly News regarding Geoffrey Caton ex SAS, I am contacting you to let you know that Geoff has a surviving brother, Ron, and two surviving sisters, Alicia, and Irene, who is the youngest of the family and not referred to in the profile offered on the web.
I am Bryan Hopkins, the younger of Alicia’s two sons and I am prepared to offer you as much help as possible although resources are limited.
Photographs still exist of Geoff although they have in the past been distributed around the family, numerous existed of his training days in North Africa some of which I should be able to recover. My mother is in possession of a large picture portrait of Geoff in uniform as well as letters he sent to family during the war.
I have in my possession his SAS beret with the “Who Dares Wins” badge still in reasonable condition.
Your article has stimulated interest with other members of the family and I would think that there will be a positive response from them given time, although I am not sure whether anybody can offer more than the above mentioned.
Hope I can be of some assistance.
Regards
Bryan Hopkins
Thank you for this interesting information. I have passed it on to Ray Miller in our Widnes office for his nostalgia section in the paper and I'm sure that he will be in touch directly.