Denis Wakeling; war hero & bishop
Hyfler/Rosner
The Independent
DENIS WAKELING led his men in some of the fiercest fighting
in Italy during the Second World War and was awarded the
Military Cross "for great courage and exemplary behaviour
whilst carrying out commando operations under heavy enemy
fire off the Yugoslavian coast". After the war he was
ordained, eventually becoming Bishop of Southwell.
In June 1944 Wakeling was commanding A Troop, 40 Royal
Marine Commando, which, in company with 43 Royal Marine
Commando and a substantial force of Tito's partisans, was
called upon to attack the formidable German garrison on the
island of Brac. The raiding force sailed from Vis, the only
island not in German hands, with the object of creating a
diversion intended to ease pressure on Tito's mainland
partisans who were in danger of being encircled by the
Germans. The capture of Brac, close to the mainland port of
Split, would impose a serious threat to the German supply
lanes to the islands and force them to reinforce the coastal
garrison.
The main force of 4,500 partisan and British troops landed
on Brac on 3 June 1944 and after fierce fighting captured
all the objectives with the exception of the town of Supetar
and three prominent hill features. A final effort was made
after nightfall by the two commando units to capture the key
German position on one of the hills, but difficult wireless
communications and poor visibility resulted in a disjointed
attack and 43 Commando was forced to withdraw.
Led by Wakeling, A Troop, with Y Troop on the left,
attempted to penetrate the tough German defences, well
protected by wire, mines and machine-guns. Resolutely
Wakeling led his troop up the hill, directing and pressing
home the assault. The German defence was stubborn and by the
time both troops had crested the hill they had incurred
considerable casualties but had established a defensive
position and signalled that the objective had been taken.
Almost immediately the Germans launched a strong
counterattack. Wakeling held his position until early
morning when he received orders to withdraw. His coolness
and personal bravery under fire led to a successful and
orderly return to the base of the hill without further
casualties.
Although the capture of the entire island was not achieved,
the Germans hastened to reinforce their garrison at Brac and
the defences at Split. The pressure on Tito's main force was
considerably reduced and he survived to continue the
struggle for liberation.
Later in the year Wakeling was involved in another action in
Albania where 40 RM Commando were tasked with the capture of
the port of Sarande. The attack, preceded by appalling
weather, was launched at dawn, 9 October 1944. The advancing
troops were confronted by cross-fire from Spandau
machine-gun positions, inflicting casualties and preventing
progress until each had been eliminated. During this battle
the commanders of X and Q Troops were both killed. A Troop
moved up in support and Wakeling again distinguished himself
as he took command of all the troops. The battle raged on
throughout the day with Wakeling well forward encouraging
his men. After four hours of savage fighting German
resistance in Sarande was broken and the garrison
surrendered.
The German garrison in Corfu followed and the commander's
brief was to prevent civil unrest until such time as the
Greek government could manage its affairs unaided. Wakeling
and his troop performed hearts-and-minds operations designed
to reduce the black market, restore order and gain the
confidence of the people. By the time his men had returned
to the UK, life in Corfu had returned to normal.
Wakeling spent six months towards the end of the war as
company commander at the RM Depot, Deal, and the last part
in HQ Commando Group in India, preparing for the invasion of
Japan. He retired from the Royal Marines with the rank of
major in 1946.
John Denis Wakeling was born in Leicester in 1918, the third
son of John and Mary Wakeling, missionaries with the Church
Missionary Society in India. He was educated at St Michael's
School, Limpsfield, in Surrey and then at Dean Close,
Cheltenham. As well as being captain of the hockey and
cricket teams he was a member of the drama group and played
the part of Jimmy Raleigh, the ill-fated subaltern, in a
school production of the First World War play Journey's End.
Thereafter he was known by his service comrades as Jimmy.
During the two years before the Second World War, he read
Classics at St Catherine's College, Cambridge, where he
gained a Blue at hockey and also had a trial for the England
team, but on the outbreak of war he volunteered for service
and was commissioned in the newly formed 2nd Battalion Royal
Marines. In May 1940 this unit deployed briefly to Iceland
in anticipation of a German invasion. Later that year he
sailed with the battalion to Freetown, West Africa, with the
prospect of landing at Dakar with Free French forces. The
operation, however, was abandoned after the Vichy French
responded with unexpected resistance. The unit remained in
Freetown for possible operations against the Cape Verde
Islands and returned to the UK in February 1941. In August
1943 Wakeling was posted to 40 RM Commando in Italy.
On 17 January 1944 Wakeling, commanding A Troop, took part
in a commando operation in support of the 169 Brigade
crossing of the Garigliano River. The commando, split into
two forces, carried out a daring operation behind enemy
lines, destroying enemy vehicles and guns and taking
prisoners, thereby achieving their objective of creating as
much havoc as possible. During this operation Wakeling was
wounded in a night encounter.
After the war Wakeling, now using his Christian name Denis,
returned to Cambridge and prepared for the ministry at
Ridley Hall Theological College. He was ordained deacon in
1947 and priest in 1948. He was a curate in Barwell,
Leicestershire, before being appointed Chaplain of Clare
College, Cambridge, and Chaplain of the Cambridge Pastorate.
His wartime experiences proved useful as many of his
undergraduates were facing call- up for the war in Korea.
In 1952 he became Vicar of Emmanuel Church, Plymouth, and in
1958 Vicar of Barking, Essex. Wakeling was to become the
youngest Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral, serving as a
Proctor in Convocation (the forerunner of the General
Synod). He worked with the Grubb Institute of Behavioural
Studies to bring the then new understandings of "group
dynamics" into the training of the clergy and laity within
his diocese.
In 1964 he was appointed Archdeacon of West Ham, where his
sermons were always down-to-earth and deeply appreciated for
his understanding of human nature. He became Bishop of
Southwell in 1970, restoring the confidence of the diocese
with his leadership. He participated in the House of Bishops
of the General Synod of the Church of England from its
inception, and from 1974 until his retirement in 1984 he sat
in the House of Lords.
In retirement he renewed his links with the Royal Marines,
which he maintained throughout the rest of his life; indeed
the Band of the Royal Marines had played a fanfare in
Southwell Minster during his enthronement. He also pursued
his great interests in gardening, watercolour painting and
fly-fishing.
John Denis Wakeling, marine and priest: born Leicester 12
December 1918; MC 1945; ordained deacon 1947, priest 1948;
Chaplain, Clare College, Cambridge and Chaplain to the
Cambridge Pastorate 1940-52; Vicar of Emmanuel, Plymouth
1952-59; Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral 1957-59; Vicar of
Barking, Essex 1959-65; Archdeacon of West Ham 1965-70;
Bishop of Southwell 1970-85; married 1941 Josephine
Broomhall (died 2004; two sons); died Wimborne, Dorset 10
October 2004.