Commandos (United Kingdom)

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This article is about Second World War Commandos. For the present day, see Royal Marines and 3 Commando Brigade.
Commandos
Bronze statue of three Second World War Commandos in the Scottish Highlands
The Commando Memorial
Active1940–1946
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
 Royal Navy
 Royal Air Force
TypeCommando
RoleCoastal raiding
Special operations
Light infantry
Part ofCombined Operations
EngagementsSecond World War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Robert Laycock
John Durnford-Slater
Lord Lovat
Ronnie Tod
Insignia
Combined
Operations
Tactical
recognition
flash		Insignia of Combined Operations units it is a combination of a red Thompson submachine gun, RAF wings and an anchor on a black backing

The Commandos, also known as the British Commandos, were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from Winston Churchill, for special forces that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe. Initially drawn from within the British Army from soldiers who volunteered for the Special Service Brigade, the Commandos' ranks would eventually be filled by members of all branches of the British Armed Forces and a number of foreign volunteers from German-occupied countries. By the end of the war 25,000 men had passed through the Commando course at Achnacarry. This total includes not only the British volunteers, but volunteers from Greece, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Poland, and the United States Army Rangers and US Marine Corps Raiders, Portuguese Fuzileiros Portuguese Marine Corps were modelled on the Commandos.[1]

Reaching a wartime strength of over 30 units and four assault brigades, the Commandos served in all theatres of war from the Arctic Circle to Europe and from the Mediterranean and Middle East to South-East Asia. Their operations ranged from small groups of men landing from the sea or by parachute, to a brigade of assault troops spearheading the Allied invasions of Europe and Asia.

After the war most Commando units were disbanded, leaving only the

Special Operations Regiment; the Greek 1st Raider–Paratrooper Brigade; the United States Army Rangers and Green Berets
were influenced by the wartime Commandos.

Formation

The British Commandos were a formation of the

Boer commandos, 'hit sharp and quick – then run to fight another day'; they became 'The Commandos' from then onwards.[3] Dill, aware of Churchill's intentions, approved Clarke's proposal.[4] The first commando raid, Operation Collar, was conducted on the night of 24/25 June 1940.[3][5]

Major-General Robert Laycock, inspecting Royal Marines Commandos shortly before the Normandy landings
, 1944.

The request for volunteers for special service was initially restricted to serving Army soldiers within certain formations still in Britain, and from men of the disbanding divisional

Norwegian Campaign.[nb 1]

By the autumn of 1940 more than 2,000 men had volunteered and in November 1940 these new units were organised into a

Major-General Robert Laycock was the last Commander of Combined Operations; he took over from Mountbatten in October 1943.[11]

Organisation

Commando units

amphibious landing by disembarking from a dummy landing craft
into a shallow pit filled with water.

The Commando units formed in the United Kingdom were:

Jewish, or British troop and was officially renamed the Miscellaneous Troop in 1944. Most of the troop had German, Austrian, or Eastern European backgrounds, while others were political or religious refugees from Nazi Germany.[14]

Some Commandos were designated for different tasks from the start. No. 2 Commando was always intended to be a parachute unit. In June 1940 they began parachute training and were re-designated the 11th Special Air Service (SAS) Battalion, which eventually became the 1st Parachute Battalion.[15] After their re-designation a new No. 2 Commando was formed.[16] Other Commandos were grouped together in a larger formation known as Layforce and sent to the Middle East.[17][18] The Special Air Service and the Special Boat Squadron were formed from the survivors of Layforce.[19][20] The men of No. 14 (Arctic) Commando were specially trained for operations in the Arctic Circle and specialised in using small boats and canoes to attack shipping.[21] The joint service unit No. 30 Commando was formed for intelligence gathering. Its members were trained in the recognition of enemy documents, search techniques, safe cracking, prisoner handling, photography, and escape techniques.[22] No. 62 Commando or the Small Scale Raiding Force was a small 55–man unit under the operational control of the

Fernando Po off the coast of West Africa.[23][24]

In February 1941 the Commandos were reorganized in accordance with a new war establishment. Each Commando unit now consisted of a Headquarters and six troops (instead of the previous 10). Each troop would comprise three officers and 62

Assault Landing Craft. The new formation also meant that two complete Commando units could be carried in the 'Glen' type landing ship and one unit in the 'Dutch' type landing ship.[25] The motor transport issued to each commando consisted of one car for the commanding officer, 12 motorcycles (six with sidecars), two 15 hundredweight (cwt) trucks, and one 3-ton truck. These vehicles were only provided for administration and training and were not intended to accompany the men on operations.[26]

Commandos demonstrate a technique for crossing barbed wire during training in Scotland, 28 February 1942.

In February 1942 the Royal Marines were tasked to organise Commando units of their own.[27] In total nine Commando units were formed by the Royal Marines: No. 40, No. 41, No. 42, No. 43, No. 44, No. 45, No. 46, No. 47 and the last, No. 48, which was only formed in 1944.[12] In 1943 two other Commando units were formed. The first was the Royal Naval Commandos, who were established to carry out tasks associated with establishing, maintaining, and controlling beachheads during amphibious operations.[28] The other was the Royal Air Force Commandos, who would accompany an invasion force either to make enemy airfields serviceable, or to make new airstrips operational and contribute to their defence.[29]

1943 reorganization

Five men with two guns in a devastated landscape. The remains of a bombed town are in the background
Two Vickers machine guns of a heavy weapons troop in the outskirts of Wesel, 1945

In 1943, the formation of the Commando unit was changed. Each Commando now consisted of a small headquarters group, five fighting troops, a heavy weapons troop, and a signals platoon. The fighting troops consisted of 65 men of all ranks divided into two 30–man sections which were subdivided into three 10–man subsections. The heavy weapons troop was made up of 3-inch mortar and Vickers machine gun teams.[30] The Commandos were provided with the motor transport needed to accompany them on operations. Their transport now consisted of the commanding officer's car, 15 motorcycles (six with side cars), ten 15 cwt trucks, and three 3-ton trucks. The heavy weapons troop had seven Jeeps and trailers and one Jeep for each of the fighting troops and the headquarters. This gave them enough vehicles of their own to accommodate two fighting troops, the heavy weapons troop, and the Commando Headquarters.[31]

By now the Commandos started to move away from smaller raiding operations. They were formed into four brigades to spearhead future Allied landing operations. The previous Special Service Brigade Headquarters was replaced by Headquarters Special Services Group under command of Major-General Robert Sturges.[32] Of the remaining 20 Commando units, 17 were used in the formation of the four Special Service brigades. The three remaining Commandos (Nos. 12, 14, and 62) were left out of the brigade structure to concentrate on smaller scale raids.[33] The increased tempo of operations, together with a shortage of volunteers and the need to provide replacements for casualties, forced their disbandment by the end of 1943.[23][34] The small scale raiding role was then given to the two French troops of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando.[35]

From 1944 the Operational Holding Commando Headquarters was formed. It was responsible for two sub-units: the Army and Royal Marines Holding Commando Wings. Both units had an establishment of five troops and a heavy weapons troop of fully trained commandos. The men in these troops were to provide individual or complete troop replacements for the Commando units in the field.[36] In December 1944, the four Special Service brigades were re-designated as Commando brigades.[37]

Training

Man climbing over assault course wooden obstacle
Negotiating an assault course obstacle

When the Commando units were originally formed in 1940, training was the responsibility of the unit commanding officers.

Commando training depot at Achnacarry in the Scottish Highlands was established by Brigadier Charles Haydon under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Vaughan, the Commando depot was responsible for training complete units and individual replacements.[40] The training regime was for the time innovative and physically demanding, and far in advance of normal British Army training.[41] The depot staff were all hand picked, with the ability to outperform any of the volunteers. Training and assessment started immediately on arrival, with the volunteers having to complete an 8-mile (13 km) march with all their equipment from the Spean Bridge railway station to the commando depot. When they arrived they were met by Vaughan, who stressed the physical demands of the course and that any man who failed to live up to the requirements would be 'returned to unit' (RTU).[42]

Exercises were conducted using live ammunition and explosives to make training as realistic as possible. Physical fitness was a prerequisite, with cross country runs and

zip-line over Loch Arkaig, all while carrying arms and full equipment. Training continued by day and night with river crossings, mountain climbing, weapons training, unarmed combat
, map reading, and small boat operations on the syllabus. Living conditions were primitive in the camp, with trainees housed either under canvas in tents or in Nissen huts and they were responsible for cooking their own meals. Correct military protocols were enforced: Officers were saluted and uniforms had to be clean, with brasses and boots shining on parade. At the end of each course the final exercise was a simulated night beach landing using live ammunition.[42][43]

Two men crossing a rope bridge over water
Crossing a river on a toggle rope bridge under simulated artillery fire

Another smaller Commando depot, known as the Commando Mountain and Snow Warfare training camp, was established at

Squadron Leader Frank Smythe and chief instructor Major John Hunt. The depot provided training for operations in Arctic conditions, with instruction in climbing snow-covered mountains, cliff climbing, and small boat and canoe handling. Training was conducted in how to live, fight, and move on foot or on skis in snowy conditions.[1]

A major change in the training programme occurred in 1943. From that point on training concentrated more on the assault infantry role and less on raiding operations. Training now included how to call for fire support from artillery and naval gunfire, and how to obtain tactical air support from the Allied air forces. More emphasis was put on joint training, with two or more Commando units working together in brigades.[44] By the end of the war 25,000 men had passed through the Commando course at Achnacarry. This total includes not only the British volunteers, but volunteers from Belgium, France, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and the United States Army Rangers, which were modelled on the Commandos.[1]

Weapons and equipment

Dagger type weapon on a white background
Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife
De Lisle carbine

As a raiding force, the Commandos were not issued the heavy weapons of a normal infantry battalion. The weapons used were the standard British Army small arms of the time; most riflemen carried the

3-inch mortar and the Vickers machine gun.[45] The issue of the medium Vickers machine gun to Commando units set them apart from typical British Army infantry divisions, who tended to only employ the weapon in specialist machine gun battalions.[47]

Men wading ashore from a landing craft
Commandos wearing the green beret and carrying the Bergen rucksack during the Normandy landings

Initially the Commandos were indistinguishable from the rest of the British Army and volunteers retained their own regimental head-dress and insignia. No. 2 Commando adopted Scottish head-dress for all ranks and No. 11 (Scottish) Commando wore the

knuckleduster cap badge. This badge was modelled on their issue fighting knife (the Mark I trench knife) which had a knuckleduster for a handle.[48] In 1942 the green Commando beret and the Combined Operations tactical recognition flash were adopted.[45]

As the men were equipped for raiding operations and only lightly armed, they did not carry

battledress and the airborne forces' camouflaged Denison smock became standard issue for Commando forces later in the war.[45]

Operations

Main articles:
List of Commando raids on the Atlantic wall

The very first Commando raid – Operation Collar on 23 June 1940 – was not actually carried out by a Commando unit, but by one of their predecessors: No.11 Independent Company. The mission, led by Major Ronnie Tod, was an offensive reconnaissance carried out on the French coast south of Boulogne-sur-Mer and Le Touquet. The operation was a limited success; at least two German soldiers were killed whilst the only British injury was a flesh wound suffered by Lieutenant-Colonel Dudley Clarke, who had accompanied the raiders as an observer.[6] A second and similarly inconsequential raid, Operation Ambassador, was made on the German-occupied island of Guernsey on the night of 14 July 1940 by men from H Troop of No. 3 Commando and No. 11 Independent Company. One unit landed on the wrong island and another group disembarked from its launch into water so deep that it came over their heads. Intelligence had indicated that there was a large German barracks on the island but the Commandos found only empty buildings. When they returned to the beach heavy seas had forced their launch offshore, and they were forced to swim out to sea to be picked up.[4]

The size of the raiding force depended on the objective. The smallest raid was conducted by two men from No. 6 Commando in

St Nazaire, has been hailed as the greatest raid of all time,[50] but others, like Operation Aquatint and Operation Musketoon, resulted in the capture or death of all involved.[49] The smaller raids ended in mid-1944 on the orders of Major-General Robert Laycock, who suggested that they were no longer as effective and only resulted in the Germans strengthening their beach defences, something that could be extremely detrimental to Allied plans.[51]

Norway

three British soldiers take cover at the corner of a house
Commandos during Operation Archery – the man on the left is armed with a Thompson submachine gun

The first Commando raid in Norway,

Lofoten Islands. They successfully destroyed the fish-oil factories, petrol dumps, and 11 ships, while capturing 216 Germans, encryption equipment, and codebooks.[52]

In December 1941 there were two raids. The first was

Lofoten Islands by No. 12 Commando on 26 December. The German garrison was in the midst of their Christmas celebrations and was easily overcome; the Commandos re-embarked after two days. Operation Archery was a larger raid at Vågsøy Island. This raid involved men from Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 6 Commandos, a Royal Navy flotilla, and limited air support. The raid caused significant damage to factories, warehouses, and the German garrison, and sank eight ships. After this the Germans increased the garrison in Norway by an extra 30,000 troops, upgraded coastal and inland defences, and sent a number of capital ships to the area.[53][failed verification
]

two men each side of a wounded man, helping him towards a boat docked between houses
A wounded Commando being helped towards a Landing Craft Assault (LCA) during Operation Archery

In September 1942 men from No. 2 Commando took part in

Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Shortly after their arrival at Sachsenhausen they were executed. They were the first victims of the secret Commando Order, which mandated the execution of all captured Commandos.[53] The three remaining Commandos managed to reach Sweden and were eventually returned to No. 2 Commando.[53][54]

In 1943, the Norwegian Troop of No. 10 (Inter-Allied), No. 12, and No. 14 (Arctic) Commandos assisted the Royal Navy in carrying out anti-shipping raids in Norwegian coastal waters. The Commandos provided extra firepower for the navy

Motor Torpedo Boats when they were at sea and acted as a guard force when they were at anchor in the Norwegian fjords.[55] In April 1943, seven men of No. 14 (Arctic) Commando took part in a raid on German shipping near Haugesund code named Operation Checkmate. They managed to sink several ships using limpet mines, but were captured and eventually taken to Sachsenhausen and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps, where they were executed.[56]

The Germans responded to the numerous raids directed at Norway by increasing the number of troops stationed there. By 1944 the garrison had risen to 370,000 men.[34] In comparison, a British infantry division in 1944 had an establishment of 18,347 men.[57]

Channel Islands

Armed soldiers march past a collapsed boat filled with equipment
Commandos marching past a collapsed Goatley boat, which was used in smaller raids to transfer from motor boats to the shore

There were seven Commando missions carried out on the Channel Islands. Operation Ambassador, which focused on Guernsey, was the first and largest of these, employing 140 men from No. 3 Commando and No. 11 Independent Company in a night raid on 14 July 1940.[49] Later raids were much smaller; only 12 men of No. 62 Commando took part in Operation Dryad in September 1942, when they captured seven prisoners and located several German codebooks.[58] Operation Branford, a reconnaissance mission that aimed to identify a suitable gun position to support future raids on Alderney,[59] followed only days later. In October of that year 12 men from No.s 12 and 62 Commandos took part in Operation Basalt, a raid on Sark that saw four Germans killed and one taken prisoner.[60]

All the other Channel Islands raids were less successful. In January 1943,

Operation Huckabuck, a raid on Herm, was a failure. After three attempts to scale the islands cliffs the Commandos finally reached the top, but there were no signs of any German occupation troops or of the island's population.[61] The next raids were Operations Hardtack 28 and Hardtack 7 in December 1943.[49] The Hardtack 28 raid on Jersey ended in failure when two men were killed and one wounded after they walked into a minefield. The exploding mines alerted the German garrison and the Commandos had to abandon the operation.[35] In Hardtack 7 the Commandos had returned to Sark, but had to abandon the operation and return to England when they were unable to scale the island's cliffs.[35]

Mediterranean

knuckleduster type Commando cap badge, modelled on the Mark I trench knife
on the sergeant's belt

During 1941, the Middle East Commandos and Layforce were tasked to carry out a campaign of harassment and dislocation against enemy forces in the Mediterranean.

Greece greatly changed the strategic outlook. By the time Layforce arrived in Egypt in March the situation had become dire.[18] The deployment of forces to Greece meant that the Commandos became the only troops in general reserve. As the strategic situation worsened, it became increasingly difficult to employ them in the manner intended, as they were called upon as reinforcements to the rest of the army.[63]

In May 1941 the majority of Layforce were sent as reinforcements to the

Bardia raid, but by late July 1941 Layforce had been severely reduced in strength.[66] Reinforcements were unlikely given the circumstances.[67] The operational difficulties that had been exposed during the Bardia raid, combined with the inability of the high command to fully embrace the Commando concept, had largely served to make the force ineffective. The decision was made to disband Layforce.[67][68]

group of commandos with blackened faces drinking from cups. They have blankets around their shoulders and in the background are mountains
Men from No. 9 Commando the morning after Operation Partridge near the Garigliano river, 30 December 1943

In November 1942, No. 1 and No. 6 Commandos formed part of the spearhead for Allied landings in

first battle of Sedjenane between February and March 1943.[71] Both Commando units remained in theatre until April, when the decision was made to withdraw them from the fighting in North Africa. Lacking the administrative support and reinforcements of regular infantry units, the strength of the two units had fallen and they were no longer considered effective.[69]

In May 1943 a Special Service Brigade comprising No. 2, No. 3, No. 40 (RM), and No. 41 (RM) Commandos was sent to the Mediterranean to take part in the

Thomas Peck Hunter No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando were each awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for their actions during Operation Roast.[77][78]

France

Dieppe raid

There were 36 Commando raids targeted against France between 1940–1944, mostly small affairs involving between 10 and 25 men. Some of the larger raids involved one or more commando units.

Thomas Durrant of the Commandos, plus three members of the Royal Navy, were awarded the Victoria Cross. Eighty others received decorations for gallantry.[79][80][81]

On 19 August 1942 a major landing took place at the French coastal town of

Patrick Porteous of No. 4 Commando was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the raid.[82][83]

6th Airborne Division at Pegasus Bridge
, 6 June 1944

During the

Port-en-Bessin, which they captured the following day.[86]

Netherlands

Westkapelle
towards the lighthouse

The

Westkapelle. No. 47 Commando was held in reserve and landed after No.s 41 and 48. They were to advance past No. 48 Commando and attempt to link up with No. 4 Commando in the south.[87] On the first day No. 41 captured an artillery observation tower at Westkapelle and cleared the rest of the town. They then moved along the coast and dealt with the coastal defence installations.[88]

No. 48 Commando quickly captured a radar station and then advanced on a gun battery south of Westkapelle, which was captured before nightfall.[88] On 2 November No. 47 Commando advanced through No. 48 Commando to attack a gun battery at Zoutelande. The attack failed, with the unit suffering heavy casualties, including all the rifle troop commanders.[88] The next day No. 47, supported by No. 48 Commando, again attacked the Zoutelande gun battery. This time they managed to continue the advance and link up with No. 4 Commando. The capture of these batteries allowed the navy to start sweeping the channel into Antwerp for mines.[88] On 5 November, No. 41 Commando captured the gun battery north east of Domburg; this left only one battery still under German control. The brigade regrouped and concentrated its assault on the last position. Just before the attack began on 9 November, the 4,000 men in the battery surrendered. This was quickly followed by the surrender of the rest of the island's garrison.[88]

Germany

two men in a rubble strewn street
Men of the 1st Commando Brigade in Osnabrück, 4 April 1945

In January 1945 the 1st Commando Brigade were involved in Operation Blackcock, where Lance Corporal Henry Harden of the Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to No. 45 (Royal Marine) Commando was awarded the Victoria Cross.[89]

The 1st Commando Brigade next took part in

Rhine River in March 1945. After a heavy artillery bombardment on the evening of 23 March 1945, the brigade carried out the initial assault under cover of darkness with the 15th (Scottish) Division and the 51st (Highland) Division. The Germans had moved most of their reserve troops to the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, which had just been captured by the U.S. 9th Armored Division.[90] The Commandos crossed the Rhine at a point 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Wesel. Their crossing was unopposed and the brigade headed to the outskirts of Wesel. Here they waited until a raid of 200 bombers of the Royal Air Force finished their attack, during which over 1,000 tons of bombs were dropped. Moving into the city just after midnight, the Commandos met resistance from defenders organised around an anti-aircraft division. It was not until 25 March that all resistance ended and the brigade declared the city taken.[91]

Burma

Burma Campaign

During the

3rd Commando Brigade participated in several coastal landings of the Southern Front offensive. These landings culminated in the battle of Hill 170 at Kangaw. Here Lieutenant George Knowland of No. 1 Commando was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.[92] The Commandos' victory in the 36-hour battle for Hill 170 cut off the escape of the 54th Japanese Division. Further amphibious landings by the 25th Indian Infantry Division and the overland advance of the 82nd (West Africa) Division made the Japanese position in the Arakan untenable. A general withdrawal was ordered to avoid the complete destruction of the Twenty-Eighth Japanese Army.[93] The Commando brigade was then withdrawn to India in preparation for Operation Zipper, the planned invasion of Malaya. The Zipper landings were not needed due to the Japanese surrender so the brigade was sent to Hong Kong for policing duties instead.[94]

Legacy

British soldiers wading ashore from landing craft. In the background is a tree lined beach
A Royal Marines Commando and an Army Commando (right) in 2019.

At the end of the Second World War, all the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and some Royal Marines Commandos were disbanded. This left only three Royal Marines Commandos and one brigade (with supporting Army elements). As of 2010, the British Commando force is 3 Commando Brigade, which consists of both Royal Marines and British Army components,[95] as well as commando-trained personnel from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Other units of the British armed forces, which can trace their origins to the British Commandos of the Second World War, are the Parachute Regiment, the Special Air Service, and the Special Boat Service.[96][97][98]

Of the Western nations represented in No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando, only Norway did not develop a post-war commando force.

Immediate Reaction Cell.[101][102] The 1st Battalion of the United States Army Rangers were also influenced by the British Commandos. Their first volunteers were from troops stationed in Northern Ireland, who were sent to train at the Commando depot at Achnacarry.[103] However, subsequent Ranger battalions were formed and trained independent of British influence.[104]

The men serving with the Commandos were awarded 479

Achnacarry Castle.[106][107]

Battle honours

In the British Army

battle honours are awarded to regiments that have seen active service in a significant engagement or campaign, generally (although not always) one with a victorious outcome.[108] The following battle honours were awarded to the British Commandos during the Second World War.[109]

Footnotes

  1. guerrilla style operations in Norway following Operation Weserübung, the German invasion of Denmark and Norway. Each of the 10 companies initially consisted of 21 officers and 268 soldiers.[6]

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  101. ^ "The history of the Commando Foundation". Korps Commandotroepen. Archived from the original on 31 October 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  102. ^ "Centre d'Entraînement de Commandos". Ministère de la Défense, la Composante Terre. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  103. ^ Rottman, p. 5.
  104. ^ Black, Robert (2013). The Battalion: The Dramatic Story of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in WWII. Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books.
  105. ^ Laffin, p. 19.
  106. ^ "Commando Monument". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  107. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Spean Bridge, Commando Memorial (Category A Listed Building) (LB6842)". Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  108. ^ Griffin, p. 187.
  109. ^ Moreman, p. 94.

Bibliography

Further reading

External links

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