40 Commando
40 Commando RM is a battalion-sized formation of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within UK Commando Force, the principal Commando formation, under the operational command of the Fleet Commander. Their barracks are at Norton Manor Camp, Norton Fitzwarren near Taunton in Somerset.
Tasked as a Commando light infantry unit, 40 Commando is capable of a wide range of operational tasks. Personnel regularly deploy outside the United Kingdom on operations or training. Whilst 3 Commando Brigade RM are the principal cold weather warfare formation, personnel are capable of operating in a variety of theatres including tropical jungle, desert or mountainous terrain. The Commando is a regular participant in the annual Brigade cold weather warfare exercise in Norway. The unit's first "winter" was 1991, until which the unit was nicknamed the "Sunshine Commando".
All personnel will have completed the Commando course at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone in Devon, entitling them to wear the green beret, with attached personnel having completed the All Arms Commando Course.
History
Formation
Early Commando units were volunteer mainly from the British Army but in In late 1941 it was decided that the Royal Marines should raise their own units, a signal was sent to all Royal Marines units and throughout the Fleet, "For the attention of all Royal Marine trained personnel – volunteers required for special duties of a hazardous nature". Over 6,000 men volunteered. All volunteers faced a tough selection process to ensure the best candidates started the Commando course. After a robust selection process the initial volunteers assembled at North Infantry Barracks at the Royal Marine Depot, Deal in Kent from across the Corps on 14 February 1942. Forming the first all-volunteer Royal Marines Commando unit. Designated 'The Royal Marine Commando.’ to differentiate it from Army Commandos. Col J Picton Phillips was the Commanding Officer.Dieppe Raid
The RM Commando's first assignment was Operation Jubilee at Dieppe on 19 August 1942. In support of the main Canadian assault force, Nos. 3 and 4 Commandos were to destroy the enemy coastal batteries covering the main landing beaches, whilst the RM Commando's role was to take the Port Area to capture German naval craft and intelligence while destroying port installations. There were also to act as a reverse as required. In the pre-dawn run-in the landing craft of No. 3 were fired upon and scattered with the result that only two small parties managed to land, one was overwhelmed, but the other successfully engaged the Berneval battery for some hours before withdrawing. On the other flank at Varengeville No. 4, under the command of Lord Lovat, carried out what was officially hailed as a 'classic operation of war' and completely destroyed the Hess Battery, successfully withdrawing and re-embarking with prisoners.Unfortunately, following confused reports from the main beaches the Force Commander, Major General John Hamilton Roberts ordered the reserve units in. The Fusiliers Mont-Royal and the RM Commando reinforced the Canadian assault force, who were pinned down on the main beach. With the RM Commando now committed to support the main landings, the Commanding Officer realised his men were about to join the failing assault. He stood on the rear deck of his landing craft and signalled the withdrawal. He was killed during his actions. The few men and craft that had already arrived at the beach were stranded when their assault craft were damaged. They continued to fight for three hours until they were killed, wounded or captured. This included the unit second-in-command Robert Houghton.
After the raid approval was given to raise a second commando unit from the Royal Marines. On 10 October 1942, the 2nd Royal Marines Commando was formed. The Units were initially renamed: ‘A’ Commando and ‘B’ Commando. By the end of November 1942 the Units were soon renamed as: No.40 Commando, with B Commando becoming No.41 Commando.
Italy and the Aegean
After the raid, approval was given to raise a second commando unit from the Royal Marines. On 10 October 1942, the 2nd Royal Marines Commando was formed. The Units were initially renamed: ‘A’ Commando and ‘B’ Commando. By the end of November 1942 the Units were soon renamed as: No.40 Commando, with B Commando becoming No.41 Commando. there were a number of organisational changes reflecting lessons learned from Dieppe, included reorganisation from Companies to Troop formations and the commando's were now issued with their Green Berets which had been chosen as part of the Commando uniform.On 10 July 1943, No.40 RM Commando took part in Operation HUSKY the unit landed on the southern tip of Sicily near Pachino. Little opposition was met by the unit from the islands defenders. On the 16 July elements of the unit were embarked on HMS Queen Emma, the following day the ship suffered an air attack. A near miss sent shrapnel into a box of grenades stored in the barracks. The resulting explosion killed 15 ranks and wounding 58 others, many of whom were members of 40 RM Commando.
On 7 September 1943, they took part in Operation FERDY on the Italian mainland near the southwestern town of Pizzo. They encountered more resistance from German forces, with mortar, armour and infantry counterattacks.
In the early hours of 3 October 1943 Operation Devon began. The units landed by sea and quickly cleared the town before the enemy were alerted. The enemy awoke to the British on their doorstep. A short and fierce close-quarter battle ensued with the German Paratroops stationed in the town. By 0800 the town was captured, and the landing force was in control of the approaches. So complete was the surprise that German vehicles and motorcycles were still driving into the commando ambush until noon that day.
The Germans retaliated with force. The German 16th Panzer Division, were ordered by Field Marshal Albert Kesselring to retake the town. For the next few days the men of the original landing force and some reinforcements from the 78th Division held off repeated assaults from infantry and armour. The 8th Army linked up with the force on 6 October. The German forces finally withdraw on 7 October, pulling back to their next prepared defensive line on the Trigno. The action had secured a valuable harbour for the allied advance and dislodges the Germans across the natural defence of the Biferno.
In early January 1944, the Commando were engaged in operations on the Garigliano front on the west coast part of the German Gustav line. During their patrol operations small parties from the unit infiltrated through enemy lines and conducted harassing raids and disrupting lines of communication. During this period two Military Cross’s and three military medals were awarded. On 17 January the unit participated in the full-scale crossing of the river and remained in the area till the end of January.
The unit found itself at Anzio by the end of February 1944, conducting patrols and small actions to help expand the beachhead. They remained on the Anzio front line for the month before the 2nd Special Service Brigade was re-tasked to the Adriatic. Over the next year the unit was engaged in raids and operations tying down vital German forces in the areas from reinforcing Italy. The unit initially based itself from the island of Vis and supported Yugoslav Partisans actions of the Dalmatian coast. One operation was the Raid on Brač to reduce pressure on the Partisan commander Josip Broz Tito.
The raid attacked the two German reinforced Battalions garrisoned on the island along with No.2 & No.43 Commando and supported by 1,700 partisans. The unit attacked through a heavy defended area to reach its objective. The German force launched a strong counterattack in which the Commando withdraw to the start line to re-join with No.43 Commando. During the raid the Commanding Officer and the Force Commander led the attacks from the front with Mad Jack playing bagpipes. Lt Col Manners was killed during the German counterattack and Mad Jack was later captured during the raid.
On 24 September 1944, both No.2 and 40 Commando landed at Sugar Beach north of Sarande in Albania, with the unit's objective being to capture Sarande and cut off German forces evacuating from Corfu. The initial intelligence numbered the German force as 200 soldiers. It was later corrected as a zero had been dropped: 2,000 Germans defended the port. The approach was covered by 20 German artillery positions. After the initial landing, units were reinforced with 25-pounder guns from the 111th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. The town fell after a bitter fight through difficult rocky terrain and worsening weather on the 9 October 1944. The force took 1,000 German prisoners including troop trying to evacuate from Corfu, one being the former garrison commander of Corfu.
After a brief pause white flags were seen on Corfu and 40 RM Commando landed on the island on 12 October to accept the surrender of the remaining Germans and liberate the island. The unit remained on the Corfu until February 1945 to restore law and order and safeguard the peace until the Greek authorities could once again take control.
In November 1944 the Brigade Name changed from No.2 Special Service brigade to 2 Commando Brigade. 40 RM Commando took part in one of the 8th Army's last major offensive actions of the Second World War on 1 April 1945 in Operation Roast. The unit conducted a feint attack to the south, crossing the river Reno and clearing its north bank.
The subsequent action in the area, Operation IMPACT-PLAIN was one of the costliest actions for the unit of the war. Tasked to secure the pumping/power station at the western side of lake Commacchio and widening the bridgehead to open the Argenta Gap south of the Lake, it cost 27 dead and 45 wounded when they were pinned down by German 88mm, 75 mm Tank destroyer and 81 mm mortar's. The unit advanced under heavy fire and was successful in taking their objectives with follow up forces being able to roll up the enemy position and push the line 4 miles north. This was last direct action for the unit in the Second World War. The unit continued to operate on the Italian front line and rotating to guard German POW camps until the surrender of the German army in Italy on 2 May 1945.
At the end of June 1945 the 40 RM Commando returned to England. Both 40 and 43 started sending ranks to other RM Commando units still serving in the far east or to a holdover company, ready for the final disbandment of the units. On the 12 September 1945 No.40 RM and No.43 RM Commando were officially amalgamated at Tichbourne house, Alresford. They were renamed, The Royal Marines Commando. In early October 1945 the unit was demobilized.