3316568. Corporal. Stanley Bolden. 3 Squadron, 2nd Special Air Service Regiment.

Stanley Bolden was born on the 27 June 1920 in Renfrewshire. He was the son of Thomas James and Annie Bolden, of Giffnock, Renfrewshire​ and husband of Audrey Margaret Bolden, from Havant, Hampshire.

Stanley originally enlisted into The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). [1] He volunteered for the Commandos and joined No12 Commando, and served in No 4 Troop. He was involved with Operation ‘Cartoon’ in Norway in 1943, for which he was awarded the Military Medal.

His Citation reads:
‘L/Cpl Bolden was with the detachment of the Special Service Brigade which landed at Sagvaag, Norway on the night 23rd-24th January,1943.Before the actual landing took place, L/Cpl Bolden was wounded in the side, but although in pain, he continued and carried out his duties ably and well. He personally led a party which cut the communications and was later in charge of a roadblock on the Savaag-Fitjar road. Throughout the operation he showed that good leadership and
determination upon which a small raid of this nature depends on for its success.’
This was announced in the London Gazette on the 25 March 1943.

Not long after this, on the 31 March, he married Audrey Margaret Chapman, who was serving with the A.T.S.

In October 1943 he transferred to No 6 Commando, then in March 1944 he left the Commandos and was posted to No 9 Infantry Training Centre.
He volunteered for Airborne Forces and was officially transferred to the Army Air Corps (Parachute Regiment) on the 25 May 1944. [1] He did Parachute Course 121 at RAF Ringway, 18 June to the 3 July 1944. His Parachute Instructors comments: ‘Outstanding performer, keen and confident. Very good N.C.O. Morale A.1.’

Upon completion of the Course he was posted to the No 1 Airborne Forces Holding Unit. [2] He then volunteered for the S.A.S. and was posted to the 2nd Special Air Service Regiment on the 7 August 1944.

Stanley was killed in action on the 27 March 1945, whilst taking part in Operation ‘Tombola’, which was during the attack on the German 51 Mountain Korps HQ at Albinea in Italy.

He now lies at rest in the Milan War Cemetery, Italy V. A. 6.

Recommended further reading:

‘Stirling’s Men. The inside history of the SAS in World War II’. By Gavin Mortimer. Weidenfeld and Nicolson. 2004.
‘WINGED DAGGER. Adventures on Special Service’. By Roy Farran. Collins. 1948.

Researched and written by Robert Hilton