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Nasmyth, James Ashley (Jan)

Date of birth:
June 3rd, 1918 (London, United Kingdom)
Date of death:
September 11th, 2008
Service number:
185339
Nationality:
British

Biography

Jan Nasmyth, born in a London basement during a 1918 Zeppelin raid, was educated at Bradfield and Balliol College, Oxford.

In 1940, Sergeant Nasmyth served with the British Expeditionary Force in France and was wounded during the Dunkirk evacuation. He was subsequently recruited into No. 7 Commando and contributed to the planning of Operation Postmaster, though he missed the operation itself while on compassionate leave with his dying father.

Earlier, Nasmyth had volunteered at the outbreak of war but was initially rejected for officer training due to the loss of an eye in a childhood accident. He later joined the Special Forces, earned a commission, and requested transfer to the 7th Queen’s Own Hussars. Despite his impairment, he was accepted—“you can’t see anything from a tank anyway”—and appointed Regimental Signals Officer.

He distinguished himself in the Italian campaign and was Mentioned in Dispatches. After the war, he built a reputation in the City with a sharp, sometimes controversial, oil market newsletter.

15 July 1940: 2nd Lieutenant
1 January 1949: Lieutenant (Hon. Captain)

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Sources