2

Forming the Commando

On 3 June 1940, in the final stages of the evacuation of British forces from Dunkirk, Prime Minister Winston Churchill wrote a memorandum to the Chiefs of Staff. He complained about the defensive attitude that had marked the campaigns in France, and demanded the formation of small raiding forces to attack the coasts of German occupied Europe. This force soon became known as the Commandos. While the Commandos were still being formed, the first of Churchill’s raids took place. Two were mounted in late 1940, against the French coast and the Channel Islands, which had recently been occupied by the Germans. Neither achieved anything, and Churchill was bitter at their failure to (as he put it) ‘kill more Germans’. To overcome the lack of overall direction shown by these early raids, Churchill brought in Admiral Sir Roger Keyes as Director of Combined Ops. Churchill instructed Keyes to plan for major raids to be carried out, once the thread of German invasion had reseated. Keyes’ staff learned swiftly from previous mistakes. Much greater target intelligence would be needed, inter-service planning and corporation must be improved. For all the new volunteers the emphasis was not only on physical fitness and endurance, but self-reliance and initiative. They not only had to be experts in unarmed combat, but able to use a wide variety of weapons, including enemy types.

On 1 August 1943, at the Depot Barracks Dorchester, 10th Battalion Royal Marines was transformed into 47 Royal Marine Commando. In command of the Battalion was Lt-Col. C. N. S. Smith RM, who remained with the Commando in a supervisory role until the new CO Lt-Col. C. F. Phillips arrived on the 5th of August. In the few days prior to the arrival of this new CO, a lot was done at the level of organising the new unit. Fighting Troops were to be formed and designation letters or numerals to be chosen. A decision was made that these should be as ship’s turrets and so A, B, X and Y-Troops were formed. The designation for the fifth Troop was doubtful, until Lt-Col. Smith suggested it should be as the ship’s mid-turret is known, and so Q-Troop was formed.

At a long meeting the men for the various Troops including Commando HQ were selected, which proved to be a difficult task. Around 50 per cent of all NCOs and men of the original Battalion appeared to be unfit for the Commando either on physical or disciplinary grounds. The Commando was reinforced by men from several other parts within the British Armed Forces, but for the first few months remained under strength.

Officers and men from the following regiments served with 47 Royal Marine Commando: Essex Regiment, Suffolk Regiment, Welch Regiment, South Lancs, The Buffs, Lancashire Fusiliers, Royal Scots Fusiliers, Royal Welch Fusiliers, Irish Guards, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, Highland Light Infantry, Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Army Service Corps, Army Catering Corps, The Royal Navy.

Upon arrival of the new CO Lt-Col. Phillips, Officers were appointed to the various Troops: