The Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife is a double-edged fighting knife resembling a dagger or poignard with a foil grip developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai based on concepts which the two men initiated before World War II while serving on the Shanghai Municipal Police in China.

The Fairbairn–Sykes was made famous during World War II when issued to the British Commandos, the Airborne Forces, the SAS and many other units, especially for the Normandy Landings in June 1944. With its acutely tapered, sharply-pointed blade, the F–S fighting knife is frequently described as a stiletto, a weapon optimized for thrusting, although the F-S knife is capable of being used to inflict slash cuts upon an opponent when its cutting edges are sharpened according to specification. The Wilkinson Sword Company made the knife with minor pommel and grip design variations.

It is strongly associated with the British Commandos and the US Marine Raiders (who based their issued knife on the Fairbairn-Sykes), among other special forces be it clandestine or raiding units. It features in the insignia of the British Royal Marines, the Belgian Commandos, the Dutch Commando Corps, founded in the UK during World War II, the Australian 1st Commando Regiment and 2nd Commando Regiment, and the United States Army Rangers, both founded with the help of the British Commandos. A solid gold Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife is part of the Commandos' memorial at Westminster Abbey.

The first batch of fifty Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knives were produced in January 1941 by Wilkinson Sword Ltd after Fairbairn and Sykes had travelled down to their factory from the Special Training Centre at Lochailort in November 1940 to discuss their ideas for a fighting knife.

The Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife (having little other practical application except for use in hand-to-hand combat) is now of interest mainly to collectors, though it remains in production because of continued collector interest.

The Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife was designed exclusively for surprise attack and fighting, with a slender blade that can easily penetrate a ribcage. The vase handle grants precise grip, and the blade's design is especially suited to its use as a fighting knife. Fairbairn's rationale is in his book Get Tough! (1942).

In close-quarters fighting there is no deadlier weapon than the knife. In choosing a knife there are two important factors to bear in mind: balance and keenness. The hilt should fit easily in your hand, and the blade should not be so heavy that it tends to drag the hilt from your fingers in a loose grip. It is essential that the blade have a sharp stabbing point and good cutting edges, because an artery torn through (as against a clean cut) tends to contract and stop the bleeding. If a main artery is cleanly severed, the wounded man will quickly lose consciousness and die.

The Fairbairn-Sykes was produced in several patterns. The Shanghai knife on which it was based was only about 5.5 in (14 cm) long in the blade. First pattern knives have a 6.5 in (17 cm) blade with a flat area, or ricasso, at the top of the blade which was not present on the original design and the presence of which has not been explained by the manufacturers, under the S-shaped cross guard. Second-pattern knives have a slightly longer blade (just less than 7 in (18 cm)), 2 in (5.1 cm)-wide oval cross guard, knurled pattern grip, and rounded ball, and may be stamped 'ENGLAND' (a U.S. legal requirement when importing the surplus knives into the USA after WWII, as they had to show the country of origin) on the handle side of the cross guard. Some may also be stamped with a 'Broad Arrow' /|\ British issue mark and a number (e.g., 21) on the opposite handle side of the cross guard. Third-pattern knives also have a similarly-sized seven-inch blade, but the handle was redesigned to be a ringed grip. This ringed grip is reputed to have distressed one of the original designers as it unbalanced the weapon and made harder to hold when wet, but it was used by the manufacturers as it was simple to produce and could be cast from a cheaper and more plentiful alloy instead of using up scarce quantities of brass stock which were of course required for ammunition casings and other such vital applications. Third-pattern knives may be stamped 'WILLIAM RODGERS SHEFFIELD ENGLAND', 'BROAD ARROW', or simply 'ENGLAND'. William Rodgers, as part of the Egginton Group, now also produce an all-black "sterile" version of the knife, which is devoid of any markings showing maker for NATO use.

The length of the blade was chosen to give several inches of blade to penetrate the body after passing through the 3 in (7.6 cm) of the thickest clothing that was anticipated to be worn in the war, namely that of Soviet greatcoats. Later production runs of the Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife have a blade length that is about 7.5 in (19 cm). In all cases the handle had a distinctive foil-like grip to enable several handling options. Many variations on the F–S fighting knife exist regarding size of blade and particularly of handle. The design has influenced the design of knives throughout the many decades since its introduction.

Because of the success of the Fairbairn-Sykes Knife in World War II and in the wars in Korea and Vietnam, many companies made their own versions of the F–S fighting knife, such as the 1966 Gerber Mark II. Almost two million of the British knives were made. Not all of these were of good quality; post-1945 versions were notably inferior. Early production runs were extremely limited, and demand was high, with many British troops attempting to buy their own.

1941. From late 1941 all ranks had worn a red flash behind the cap badge on khaki caps after completion of initial disciplinary training, and this was continued on the blue beret.
With the training of all Royal Marines as commandos, the blue beret with red flash was instead worn by recruits prior to completing Commando training.
(Officers of 41 RM Commando wore an officers full dress collar badge as a badge on the green beret during WWII.)
A variety of different badges have been worn by RM Bands. Navy Blue Battledress of the same pattern as khaki BD was introduced in June 1942. It was worn by officers with an open collar, white shirt, black tie & blue lanyard.
Originally "RM" shoulder titles were worn on the shoulder straps, but in November 1943 woven "ROYAL MARINES" in red on dark blue were introduced.
NCOs and Marines wore BD with closed collar & badges of rank in red on dark blue.
Navy Blue BD was worn by landing craft crews and ships detachments, and manufacture ceased in 1950 although it continued to be worn for many years for office duties, often with the blouse worn with the trousers from the "Blues" uniform. During WWII, medal ribbons were not worn on the BD blouse.

1942. Achnacarry Scotland. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Vaughn took over in 1942 and pushed commando training to a new level of excellence. Amphibious exercises were carried out at Inveraray, Scotland, at the head of Loch Fyne. Training was always logical and practical. Nothing was ever initiated in training that did not have a purpose or objective. It rested on the desire of the individual to excel. Therefore, the only disciplinary measure was R.T.U., meaning ‘Returned to Unit.’ This was used by commanders and instructors to weed out the physically and psychologically unfit, and it could be instituted without explanation. This left the initiative and discipline entirely up to the individual. The men were often left to find their own transportation to and from places, and they were given an allowance and left to find their own quarters in private homes. There was no sergeant to police the barracks. All of this was aimed at developing the individual initiative of the soldier. If a man could not discipline himself and stay out of trouble, he could stay in the regular army. If he could not use his head to look out for himself, he was of no use to the commandos. The man for the organisation was the man who could use his brain and not have to sit around, mindlessly waiting for an order. The commandos were above all else an elite of individuals. They received the most varied training in modern warfare, but it was a means to an end, not an end unto itself.
The commando concept itself was never static; it developed with the war. The commandos began in 1940 as enthusiastic amateurs, but by 1945 they were among the most sophisticated shock troops in the world. In 1942 the Royal Marines entered the commando organization to form the RM commandos. The Marines were actually closer to the soldier sailor concept of the commandos; but they had been held back for home defence in 1940, and the task had gone to the Army commandos. Despite some initial rivalry, the two groups worked well together in brigade formations. By the end of the war, they were both part of a homog geneous fighting unit that was well equipped and properly deployed. The commandos' tactical and strategical contributions have already been covered in some detail. Aside from the purely tactical success achieved by the raids, the raiding program allowed Britain to resume the initiative that she needed to wage war. The raids also helped to develop the technique of amphibious warfare. Because Allied strategy was largely amphibious, this was a considerable contribution. The commandos also developed many new ideas in the area of field tactics and fighting, which were passed on to the regular . 10 forces. Aside from all this, the commandos made an enormous contribution to the concept of the soldier in modern warfare. They stressed the development of the intelligent, independent, motivated soldier, not the mass production of mindless killing machines. What the commandos tried to cultivate was the intelligent, self-reliant individual. COHQ did not want a group of half-wits who had to wait for an order before they could act. The responsibility given to the commandos was gladly received by the young men of the British Army, who were tired of inertia, incompetence, and a defensive attitude. (The British Commandos in the Second World War. In Defeat Defiance! By Alex Williams B.A.)
(The Green Beret The Story of the Commandos 1940 – 1945 by HILARY St. George Saunders)

1942. January. The 9th RM Battalion was formed as part of 103 RM Bde. On 2nd May came under command of CO of 7th RM while training at Dalditch, and after further training re-formed in August 1943 as 46 RM Commando.(RMHS)

1942. January. 46 RM Commando formed at Dalditch Camp as 9th RM Battalion. Converted at Dorchester to 46 RM Commando in August 1943. Disbanded at Haywards Heath in December 1945.

1942. January. HMS Triumph was lost somewhere in the Aegean Sea during. No one knows her exact position. She went down with all hands onboard including 2 Commando's, Corporals Clive Severn & Alfred Child. Both are listed as serving with 1 SBS and were probably onboard to assist with Folboat landings and leading shore parties as part of SOE (Possibly). There is precious little to add any detail about either of them other than CWGC info. Both are listed on the Brookwood Memorial.
L/Cpl Clive Severn, MiD, Northamptonshire Regiment and 11 (Scottish) Commando. Service No: 5887258. Age 22. Son of Herbert & Gertrude Severn of Daybrook, Nottinghamshire.
Bombardier Alfred Robert Child, Royal Artillery & Commando. Service No: 915218, Age 25. Son of Charlie & Annie Child, husband of P M Child of Moredun.
Although it is still at an early stage some research has been conducted to determine the area where triumph lies with the hope that a seabed search can be carried out to locate her final resting place.

1942. Thursday 29th January. 210 Royal Marines were moved to Tyersall Park Camp, Singapore, to join the 250 Argyll's, all that remained of Lt Colonel Ian Stewart’s 2A&SH who had fought a gallant and effective delaying action in the north of Malaya before being decimated at Slim River on Wednesday 7th January 1942. Subsequently, the survivors of the battalion had acted as rear guard during the crossing of the Causeway to Singapore. On Tuesday 3rd February the Argyll's and Marines were amalgamated into a composite battalion known as the Plymouth Argyll's. The Argyll's old association with Plymouth, their influence on the creation of its football team and the fact that the Marines were of the Plymouth Division were good reasons for this nickname. Lt Colonel Stewart trained the Plymouth Argyll's emphasising cooperation between armoured cars and widely dispersed infantry.

1942. January. 41 Commando RM formed at Dalditch Camp, near Exmouth as 8th RM Battalion. Reorganised in October 1942 and became firstly RM "B" Commando and then redesignated 41 RM Commando. Disbanded February 1946. Reformed at Bickleigh in August 1950 as 41 Independent Commando RM. Disbanded at Bickleigh in 1952. Reformed at Plymouth as 41 Commando RM in March 1960, reduced to a Company Group in Malta in April 1977 and reformed at Deal in October 1977.

1942. Sunday 8th February. The Japanese successfully crossed the Straits of Johore and gained a foothold on Singapore’s north western shore. As exhausted and demoralised Australian defenders withdrew, the Plymouth Argyll's were ordered late on the morning of Monday 9thFebruary to advance northwards up the Bukit Timah Road then westward along the Choa Chu Kang Road towards Tengah airfield. Shortly after debussing into the rubber and advancing on foot, the Royal Marines came under air attack and suffered casualties. Some sections became lost in wide night time dispersal in unfamiliar terrain. Two more days of fighting followed as the Plymouth Argyll's engaged the Japanese between Tengah and the Dairy Farm that lay east of the Upper Bukit Timah Road. Most of the Argyll's were cut off when the Japanese brought their tanks down the road, smashing through two Plymouth Argyll roadblocks. The main body of Royal Marines escaped across the Dairy Farm and down the Pipeline to the Golf Course, stretchering away a wounded Argyll officer. No sooner had they arrived back at Tyersall Park than the camp and the neighbouring Indian Military Hospital were destroyed in an air attack. In the confusion that followed and subsequent shelling and mortaring, there was a further dispersal of men including those wounded. When the surrender came on Sunday 5th February only some 40 Royal Marines remained in the trenches in the burnt out Tyersall Park. 

Many Royal Marines, either deployed to Keppel Harbour or lost in the Bukit Timah fighting spent the final days before the surrender assisting with the evacuation of civilians from Singapore to Sumatra. 25 Marines were ordered aboard HMS Tapah (captured); others on HMS Grasshopper (sunk) and Mata Hari (captured). Some escaped on Chinese junks, prahus and yachts. Most of those who survived entered captivity in Sumatra at Palembang and Padang, but some 22 made it to Ceylon as did 52 Argyll's. 31 Royal Marines were killed-in-action, died of wounds at Singapore or were lost at sea assisting in the evacuation of civilians to Sumatra.

The Argyll's and Marines at Tyersall Park were on Tuesday 17th February ordered by the Japanese to march to Changi. Headed by Piper Charles Stuart they marched out of Tyersall Park. Hundreds of soldiers from other units stood to attention as they passed. In fact, Captains Aylwin, Lang and Slessor (2A & SH) had no intention that their men march to Changi. A few hundred yards along the way what was left of the battalion transport drew up and embussed them into captivity passed marching columns of POWs. At first the Plymouth Argyll's were quartered in the Changi Village shops area. Many were subsequently sent to smaller work camps at River Valley, Havelock Road and Kranji. 

1942. February. The Infantry Battalions of the Royal Marine Division were re-organised as Commandos, joining up with the Army Commandos. While the Division Command structure became a Special Service Brigade.

Selection for the new Commando force was necessarily demanding. Men had to be physically very fit. However, they also had to show that they did not need the traditional chain of command to operate in the field as in the heat of battle such chains of command could break down. Initiative was considered to be a vital commodity. Some 400 men passed through the first phase of recruitment that included training with live ammunition.

Lieutenant-Colonel Dudley Clark of put forward the name 'Commando' for the new force, after the term used in the Second Boer War. Churchill himself approved of the title while senior military figures did not, they preferred the title 'Special Service' and the two were used alongside one another for a long time to come.

Training was undertaken in Scotland where a special training centre was created at Lochailort. 'Combined Operations' created an all forces amphibious centre at Inveraray in the Scottish Highlands. While in 1942, a specific commando training base was also established at Achnacarry Castle, also in Scotland. Scotland was picked for the training as it was thought that the conditions were right for testing the military personnel in survival, living off the land and map reading. All of which would be of great help when landing in a foreign country and having to fend for yourself.

1942. February The combination soldier-sailor concept of the Royal Marines was absolutely necessary for amphibious warfare. The Royal Marines were not available until 1942, but men could be trained in the use of boats and landing craft whether they were Marines or not. Land training was equally important since the sea was only a means to reach the land.

Physical fitness was required both for admission and as a continuing standard to be maintained. Marches and exercises were directed toward this end. A few calisthenics before breakfast was not what commando instructors considered to be physical training. If a man were physically fit by the standards set, marching seven miles in one hour was no more difficult than an uphill march in two hours and fifteen minutes. Physical fitness trained the men for the long marches they would have to make in the field. Even more important was the realisation that a man who was alert enough to master a number of physical tasks was more alert mentally as well. Therefore, physical training included not just marches, but obstacle courses, such as cliff climbing and also swimming. Practice landings and assaults were executed with live ammunition so that the men would be able to function under fire.

Forty of the 25,000 men who trained at the Achnacarry center were killed in training. Mock graves were set up at the entrance to impress this fact on newcomers. The men were also taught night fighting, hand-to-hand combat, and woods craft to enable them to live off the land, concepts established by Keyes.

The first training center was at Lochailort Castle in Scotland. Operations started there in 1940. The instructors included men who would later make their own mark in the history of the war, David Stirling who started the SAS, Lord Shimy Lovat who commanded No. 4 Commando at Dieppe, and Michael "Mad Mike" Calvert who commanded a Chindit batallion in Burma.
Another center was established at Achnacarry, Scotland, in 1941. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Vaughn took over in 1942 and pushed commando training to a new level of excellence. Amphibious exercises were carried out at Inveraray, Scotland, at the head of Loch Fyne. Training was always logical and practical. Nothing was ever initiated in training that did not have a purpose or objective. It rested on the desire of the individual to excel. Therefore, the only disciplinary measure was R.T.U., meaning ‘Returned to Unit.’ This was used by commanders and instructors to weed out the physically and psychologically unfit, and it could be instituted without explanation. This left the initiative and discipline entirely up to the individual. The men were often left to find their own transportation to and from places, and they were given an allowance and left to find their own quarters in private homes. There was no sergeant to police the barracks. All of this was aimed at developing the individual initiative of the soldier. If a man could not discipline himself and stay out of trouble, he could stay in the regular army. If he could not use his head to look out for himself, he was of no use to the commandos. The man for the organisation was the man who could use his brain and not have to sit around, mindlessly waiting for an order. The commandos were above all else an elite of individuals. They received the most varied training in modern warfare, but it was a means to an end, not an end unto itself.

The commando concept itself was never static, it developed with the war. The commandos began in 1940 as enthjsiastic amateurs, but by 1945 they were among the most sophisticated shock troops in the world. In 1942 the Royal Marines entered the commando organization to form the RM commandos. The Marines were actually closer to the soldier sailor concept of the commandos; but they had been held back for home defense in 1940, and the task had gone to the Army commandos. Despite some initial rivalry, the two groups worked well together in brigade formations. By the end of the war, they were both part of a homog geneous fighting unit that was well equipped and properly deployed. The commandos' tactical and strategical contributions have already been covered in some detail. Aside from the purely tactical success achieved by the raids, the raiding program allowed Britain to resume the initiative that she needed to wage war. The raids also helped to develop the technique of amphibious v/arfare. Because Allied strategy was largely amphibious, this was a considerable contribution. The commandos also developed many new ideas in the area of field tactics and fighting, which were passed on to the regular . 10 forces. Aside from all this, the commandos made an enormous contribution to the concept of the soldier in modern warfare. They stressed the development of the intelligent, independent, motivated soldier, not the mass production of mindless killing machines. What the commandos tried to cultivate was the intelligent, self-reliant individual. COHQ did not want a group of half-wits who had to wait for an order before they could act. The responsibility given to the commandos was gladly received by the young men of the British Army, who were tired of inertia, incompetence, and a defensive attitude.

1942. February. 40 Commando RM formed at Deal as the RM Commando (with A, B, and C Companies). Redesignated RM "A" Commando and then 40 RM Commando in October 1942, absorbed 43 RM Commando in September 1945 and disbanded 1946. Reformed in March when 44 RM Commando was redesignated.

1942. Early. The Royal Marines Salute' by Alan Ivan Ryman.(Po/x 104167)
After completing my intake training as an H.O. at Pompey I reckon my salute was as smart as any once. Later nearly all the recruits who had in 97 Squad were posted to join H.M.S. Manchester. At the last moment I was taken off the draft.
Some weeks before I had submitted my name in response to a call for volunteers for aircrew in the Fleet Air Arm. I was to go for an interview and medical at St. Vincent, Gosport. My mates went off to "Manchester", and a French POW camp in North Africa.
Seven Royal Marines, a sprinkling of naval ratings from other establishments, and about forty new chums, Naval Airmen, Second Class, commenced training as pilots. By the completion of Elementary Flying Training, the number of Royals was down to three to go to Canada for the next stage of flying. We were made Acting Corporals, the matelots became Leading Naval Airmen. On gaining wings and returning to the U.K. I was classed as A/P.O. Rating Pilot, but I was still a Marine in uniform, spirit and salute. Next posting was to HMS "Kestrel" (Worthy Down) where I was to fly trainee Telegraphist Air Gunners. Billeted in the petty officer's mess but still wearing Royal Marine uniform, the logical thing to do was to sew on sergeant's stripes. No one objected. By this time my R.M. salute could cause a force four breeze at thirty paces on the upswing. Disaster &truck when one day the C.O. of the squadron called we in to his office and said "Ryman, you're in the wrong uniform. You're in the Navy now. Get kitted out. square rig as an A/P.O." Forced to change uniform, luckily only for a few weeks in bell bottoms until commissioned, I saw no reason to change spirit or salute, indeed, at no time was I instructed how to give a naval salute.
It was not until the Pacific war ended and "Indefatigable" returned to Sydney that we were able to go ashore and return on board often enough for me to become aware that I was something of a novelty to those on the quarterdeck as I came aboard, in naval uniform giving my most pronounced RN salute. A bit of nudging with the elbow and probably a comment like "Watch this for a real salute, mate" from the boatneck.
Couple of months later I had been in the Captain's office at the Naval Air Station at Nowra and, on intending to leave, gave him my usual salute. "Just a moment, Subbie. Salute me again." What to do? If I gave a naval salute I would be admitting that I knew I was wrong before. So it was longest way up, palm facing forward, force five breeze that time. He was not impressed. Amongst a number of other remarks he advised me, for my own good, to go and find out how to give a naval salute. I wasn't concerned about my own good and didn't.
Another two or three weeks on and I was in Sydney. The Royal Navy had offices in Barrack House, just round the corner from Wynyard Station. I had been to see someone to wangle out of being sent back to the U.K. and had come down to the ground floor in the lift. As the door opened and I stepped out a group of senior officers were waiting to get in. I saluted as I passed them. One of them was the Captain from Nowra. Just as they entered the lift he exploded. That bloody subbie had done it again. But one of the others had pressed the "up" button. The great bellow made me look round in time to see the door of the lift close on a pointing, red faced Captain almost jumping up and down in rage. I left the building before they had time to reverse the lift.

1942. March. The RM AA Operations Rooms: 1 RM Air Defence Bde formed an AA Ops Room; in August a second Ops Room was formed by 2 RM Air Defence Bde. Personnel of this second Ops Room were later absorbed into the AA Ops Room of 5 RM AA Bde, when the Air Defence Brigade was disbanded in the spring of 1944.(RMHS)

1942. March. RM AA Operations Rooms: in March 1942, 1 RM Air Defence Bde formed an AA Ops Room; in August a second Ops Room was formed by 2 RM Air Defence Bde. Personnel of this second Ops Room were later absorbed into the AA Ops Room of 5 RM AA Bde, when the Air Defence Brigade was disbanded in the spring of 1944. (RMHS)

1942. Wednesday 15th April. to 21st December. The 2nd RM AA Regiment was formed with ‘C’, ‘D’ and 23rd RM Light Btys which were under training with RA Regiments.1 First CO Lt. Col C. M. Sergeant, 15th April to 21st December.
The Regiment’s HQ was in the following locations, with the units commanded shown in brackets:
15 April 1940:
With Coastal Defence Group, Arborfield (‘C’, ‘D’ and 23rd RM Light AA Btys).
8th August 1940:
With Air Defence Gt Britain Matlock, Derbyshire (Btys as at 15th April).
January 1941:
With Air Defence Brigade MNBDO I, Portsmouth (Btys as at 15th April 1940).
March 1941:
Egypt (Btys as at 15th April 1940).
May 1941:
Crete (‘C’ Bty. elements of 23rd RM Light AA Bty and advance party from ‘D’ Bty).
June 1941:
Moascar, Egypt (after the Crete operation this Regiment had only elements of its three Btys with cadres
from ‘D’ joining ‘C’ and some men from 22nd RM LAA Bty joining the 23rd RM Light AA Bty).
21st December 1941:
Cairo, the HQ became the 1st (Heavy) AA Rgt’s headquarters,3 ‘C’ and ‘D’ Btys to that Regiment and 23rd RM Light AA Bty to 2nd RM (Heavy) AA Regiment.4
July 1942:
Headquarters re-formed. (RMHS)

1942. Thursday 16th April. Royal Marines from the 11th Bn were landed by HMS Kelvin and Kipling on Kuphansi, Crete to destroy the W/T station (Operation LIGHTER). (Face Book RMHistoricalSociety from David Abrutat)

1942. Early in the year. The 21st RM Holding Battalion was formed to absorb men who could not be posted to operational units after training, this battalion provided camp staff for 20th RM Bn before they were merged in October 1942.(RMHS)

1942. May. The 50th Anniversary edition of the 'Globe & Laurel', editor by Lieutenant Colonel L.D. Briscoe RM. Now printed by Holbrook & Son Ltd on Queen Street Portsmouth. The magazine was untypically light on the Corps activity due to war time restrictions, concentrating more on sport, promotion and honours to fill the pages. However, a prisoner of War section kept families informed while the advertisements helped with information on how to find difficult to get rationed items.

1942. Spring. 104 RM (Training) Brigade formed before the summer as the training brigade of the RM Division, this HQ’s responsibilities included the organisation of NCOs’ and other courses at Hayling Island, its 20th (Training) Battalion being responsible for recruits’ infantry training. From April to mid-July 1942 the HQ was in Exmouth. The Brigade took over responsibility for training at Lympstone and the infantry training of recruits at Dalditch from 17th June 1942, the HQ moving into Lympstone Grange on 16th July. They also liaised with battalions over the provision of reinforcements, including officers for battalions when mobilised. The 22nd RM (Trg) Bn of young soldiers came under commands of this HQ in November 1942, before the HQ was absorbed by RM Training Group on its formation early in 1943.(RMHS)

1942. June. No2 Special Boat Section (SBS) took part in airfield raids on the isle of Crete in the Mediterranean.

1942. June. The movement of POWs from Changi to Thailand to build the Death Railway began. From Singapore to Ban Pong in crowded rice wagons then force marched to Kanchanaburi and Chungkai and then on to jungle camps further up the line to Burma. Many of those who survived this were sent in 1944 by sea to Japan as slave labour, many of the ships being sunk by Allied submarines on the journey with huge loss of life. When liberation finally came in September 1945 33 Plymouth Argyll Royal Marines had died in captivity.

1942. During the summer of 1942, No 1 Commando was formed and stationed in Ayrshire, Scotland. They had recently taken part in the raid in the Le Touquet area of France, near Boulogne. There were six Troops, billeted in private houses between Irvine and Kilwinning. One day the Commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Will Glendenning of the Welch Regiment, as was his want, was conducting a `tour d'horizon' of the Commando's future employment with his Second-in-­Command, Major Tom Trevor, also from the Welch Regiment and his Adjutant, Captain B.G.B. 'Puggie' Pugh of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. The question of a common headdress was raised.
The problem arose from the fact that no less than 79 different regiments and corps of the British Army were represented in the Commando and that each was wearing the headdress peculiar to his parent unit. Thus a motley collection of caps, tam-o-shanters, bonnets, forage caps, `fore and aft caps, berets and peaked caps appeared on the Commando parades, the forest being a veritable RSM's nightmare.
This problem, of course, ran through all other Commando units at the time, but some, Nos 2and 9 Commandos in particular, had resolved it by adopting as a common headdress the cap TOS (tam-o-shanter). For a variety of reasons, one being that No 1 Commando was predominantly Welsh in character, a headdress with a Scottish flavour was not considered appropriate or desirable. It was therefore decided that a beret was a better answer as it was difficult to wear improperly, was light and easily disposed of in a pocket if necessary.
As to colour, the two already in service, Black was worn by the Royal Tank Regiment and Red (maroon) by the Parachute Regiment so had to be avoided. Luckily a range of ideal colours was to hand in the shoulder insignia of No 1 Commando, a salamander going through fire - the salamander being Green and the flames yellow (gold) and red (crimson). The Richmond Herald at the College of Arms originally designed this insignia. It did not take a genius to decide that, of the three-colour choice, green was far and away the first and obvious choice. And so it was to be.
The type, style and colour having been settled, Puggie' Pugh was detailed to investigate how and where it could be produced. Luckily there was a factory close by at Ardrossan specialising in the ,manufacture of Scottish bonnets, etc. A visit there solicited the information that they also had a WD (War Department)contract to make black berets for the RTR. Samples of these were produced; an Officers' pattern and an Other Ranks' pattern, the only difference being the headband of the former was of silk and the latter of leather! Pugh recalls that the original sample was of a 'particularly nauseating design, the crown being the ideal green, but it was surmounted by a red bobble with red and white dicing round the band'. Two sample designs were produced for the CO's inspection, and were approved with instructions to get some actual green berets made. Within a fortnight the firm had completed the order to everyone's satisfaction.
The next phase of the `operation' was the CO's decision to seek the approval of the Commander of the Special Service Brigade, Brigadier Bob Laycock, for No 1 Commando to use the Green Beret. By return of post, preceded by a phone call presumably, Bob Laycock said that for some time he had been considering a common headdress for the whole brigade and he felt, subject to No 1 Commando's agreement, that the green beret would be ideal. Naturally agreement was forthcoming.
As a gesture, the Brigadier decreed that as stocks became available, No 1 Commando would be issued with them first. And so it was that the green beret was taken into use by No 1 Commando prior to them embarking for Operation Torch, the landing in North Africa in November 1942.
As far as the Royal marines were concerned, there are two differing accounts about who was the first to wear the green beret.
CO of 41 (RM) Commando, Lieutenant Colonel B.J.D. 'Berne' Lumsden, was visiting SS Brigade's HO and saw one of the green berets; and taking an immediate liking to it, he was allowed to take one away with him. He decided to put his full dress collar badge into it in place of a normal cap badge, a custom adopted only by the officers of 41(RM)Commando. This beret is now kept in the Royal Marines Museum, along with the fighting knife.
In his history or 40 Commando. `The Light Blue Lanyard', Major Jeff Beadle recounts:
` In the days that followed, two noteworthy events took place. The first, on 26 October 1942, concerned the initial issue of the green beret. There were men in the unit who were reluctant at first to wear the new headdress as they considered the colour to be effeminate. Their feelings soon changed, and it was not long before the practical and prestigious value of the green beret outweighed any colour prejudice. The green beret was worn with pride, in action or on parade, in preference to any other form of headdress'.
This article was first published in the Globe & Laurel of September/October 2002.

1942. Monday 6th July. The RM Boom Patrol Detachment: Formed at Southsea, Hampshire, the Detachment trained in canoes, in long distance swimming and shallow water diving. It mounted a raid on shipping in Bordeaux in December 1942. A unit went to the Mediterranean and mounted raids in 1943-44 The Detachment did development work on air launched explosive motor boats, but these were not used operationally. The personnel were later absorbed into the RM Special Boat Sections.(RMHS)

1942. Summer. The RM Light AA Regiment/1st RM Light AA Regiment was formed in the summer of 1942 when the RM Division was setting up its organic artillery units; 101 RM Brigade’s artillery HQ staff provided the personnel for this Regiment’s HQ. CO Lt. Col J. M. Fuller from 24th August 1942 to 31st July 1943. While under command of 101 RM Brigade, the Regiment’s HQ was in the following locations, with the units commanded shown in brackets: 24th August 1942:
Near Fishguard (with 1st and 2nd LAA Btys and 1st AA/Anti–tank Bty).
November 1942:
Inveraray on amphibious training (as for 24th August).
December 1942:
Sandbanks at Poole, Dorset for training shoots (as for 24th August).
about 1st January 1943:
Sandbanks Regiment redesignated 1st RM Light AA Rgt. about 31st July:
At Sandbanks Regiment disbanded, HQ personnel to Support Craft Regiment. (RMHS)

1942. Wednesday 19th August. George Patterson RM PO/X114719-t (9th September 1923 - 16th July 2015) later referred to as Gud. Was born on the 9th September 1923 in Salford Lancashire. Gud was one of four children born to Frederick & Sarah Patterson.
Gud’s father, Frederick served with 7/8 Battery, Lancashire Fusiliers. In 1916 he and members of his unit suffered heavy bombardments of shelling and mustard gas. Fredrick endured and returned home from the Great War suffering ongoing breathing problems caused by the gas in the trenches of the Somme. Fredrick died in 1940 aged 50. As most will know, the times were tough during the 1920s and 1930s and the people of Manchester were no exception. Like many kids of the neighbourhood, life on struggle street was not easy using a rolled up newspaper for a football and swimming in the Manchester Ship Canal was a summer highlight for Gud and his mates.
On leaving school at 14 Gud found employment in local engineering workshop, learning the trade of a fitter and turner. At the age of 18 Gud enlisted into the Royal Marines. He was instructed to report to Royal Marines Deal , and had the pleasure of becoming a fully paid up member of His Majesty’s Royal Marines on the 19th August 1942. Gud often commented that for him the Marines life could not have been better. The fact he received three square meals a day impressed him to no end.
After his recruit training and with his already acquired trade experience as a fitter, he was posted to a trade division and spent much time initial time in Scotland. On the 6 June 1944 saw the commencement of Operation Neptune and then subsequently Operation Overlord (D DAY landings). Gud found himself in the engine room of landing craft off Gold Beach, which was the centre of the five nominated landing areas. Gud kept his involvement on the D Day landings to himself. It wasn’t until sometime later he informed the family that he made several trips across the Channel, before being posted back to Scotland.
In early 1945, the Royal Marines invited Gud on a world cruise (although he was not aware of his destination at this time). However, after more training and more training he and many other Bootnecks found themselves boarding the Royal Mail ship HMS Aades, heading for a land down under. The trip from the Panama Canal to Sydney was non-stop with an average speed of 21 knots, the trip was completed in record time that still stands today. Gud relates to his arrival through the ‘Heads’ in wartime Sydney as arriving in heaven. On arrival and receiving shore leave, the Bootnecks made a beeline for the boozer only to find along the way a number of fruit and fresh produce vendors, the boozer was put on hold and the vendors were cleaned out of their stock of oranges, apples and bananas. Amazed by the abundance of fresh fresh food Gud thought he has arrived in the land of milk and honey. On dis-embarkation, Gud received his posting orders to report to the Fleet Air Arm and subsequently posted to Archerfield in Brisbane. The Marines were assigned the workshops and accommodation facilities vacated by the Yanks. Much to Gud’s surprise the Americans left their tools and gear behind. Gud “borrowed” these tools and continued to use them all his working life.
During his time in Brisbane Gud met a lady from Maryborough. Beryl Ashworth, recently moved to Brisbane and was working at Mc Whirters Department store in Fortitude Valley, they started courting when the Marines again spoiled his day, Gud received orders in April 1946 informing that he was going home. So with the clock ticking and some pulling of strings they were married within the week. Gud was off to Blighty and Beryl was left waiting along with six hundred other Aussie Brides for the arrival HMS Victorious to secure their passage back to England. Life changed quickly for Beryl with not just on the ship but when she arrived in England. She saw a scared country recovering from war and rationing all that was available, a level of austerity that was unaccustomed to as an Aussie country girl from Maryborough.
After receiving his demob suite, matching shoes and a golden hand shake of 58 pounds 16 shillings and 6 pence , Gud quickly realised that the land down under was for him. On the 12 November 1948, Gud returned with Beryl and new arrival Ian on the converted hospital ship Somertshire. Gud often told the story that the first fleet made better time for the trip, Gud arrived in Fremantle with a telegram informing of a position with Engineering Firm Evans Deakin (ED), he started at E.Ds two days after arriving to Brisbane in January 1949 and retired from E.D.s in July 1982. Gud enjoyed the canteen food.
Gud and Beryl built their family home way out of town at Wynnum North, they had three more children which translated to eight grandchildren, and then twelve great children, and Beryl now eighty nine still lives in the ‘Castle’ on Sandy camp Rd, and wild horses will unlikely remove her.
Gud informed recently before his passing that the three greatest events in his life were meeting his wife of 69 years, his family and the Royal Marines. If it had not been for the Royal Marines and the cruise ticket on the ANDES to Australia back in 1945 his life would have been very different.
In closing Gud was very proud of all his family. When he left Manchester he left all he knew he ploughed head first into the unknown for a new life in Australia. This experience is shared by Gud’s first-born granddaughter Megan who has done the same thing (but in reverse) and now has her own family in Botley, Hampshire and working as a school teacher, so the circle turns. RIP George Thomas Patterson 9/09/1923/16/07/2015 . (Author Unknown RMAQ)

George Patterson once told me that he had attended an interview after volunteering for a secret mission. He was told that in would involve a raid into France. After hearing what was involved he asked how he would get home? To be told that he would have to walk to Spain. To which he declined the raid. It turned out that it was the legentary Cockleshell Heroes raid on the French occupied Bordeaux docks, during December 1942. (from Terry Aspinall)

1942. August. The 3 and 4 RM AA Brigades were not formed during World War II, but read below.
Artillery Staff Headquarters MNBDO II. There is a record of this staff’s existence from August 1942 to July 1943, with responsibility for artillery units attached to the Organisation. (RMHS)

1942. August. Brigade Artillery Headquarters. In August 1942 part of the Artillery HQ RM Division became a separate Brigade Artillery HQ, and by 27th August were at Dalditch, Devon, where artillery units were being formed. It seems likely that this Brigade artillery HQ, commanded by Lt. Col J. M. Fuller, took over training responsibilities from the RM Division Artillery HQ, for the Brigade artillery HQ moved to Penally Camp in Pembrokeshire, in the last days of August. During practice shoots on army ranges near Penally the movement of guns and vehicles became impossible in part of the camp, owing to heavy rains and lack of hardstanding gun parks. This HQ was disbanded by August 1943 and the personnel posted to the Armoured Support Group.
Air Defence Brigade of MNBDO I, later 1 RM Anti-Aircraft Brigade and Headquarters AA Ceylon.
The nucleus of an Air Defence Group was formed by MNBDO on 29th January 1940, with a staff which included Fire Control Instructors. But a Brigade HQ was not formed until January 1941, with 1st and 2nd RM Anti-Aircraft Regiments and 11th Searchlight Regiment under command. An Advance HQ went to Crete in May 1941. The main HQ remained in Egypt, but as the MNBDO AA units moved to Ceylon in the winter of 1941-42, a new HQ was formed by redesignating 1st RM AA Regiment’s HQ as 1 RM AA Brigade HQ. Although no War Diary entries were made for the Cairo HQ after December 1941, it possibly supervised the re–formation of ‘A’ Battery, and its staff finally dispersed in December 1942.
The 1 RM AA Bde headquarters in Ceylon had under command a Gunnery Operations Room Troop11 (March to November 1942), as well as 1st and 2nd (Heavy) AA Rgts from December 1941 until May 1944, and for the period February 1942 to 29th August 1943, this HQ was designated HQ AA Ceylon,  with army units under command, including an RA Operations Room and RA batteries. There is a record of a Brigade HQ Battery from December 1942 to September 1943, no doubt to carry out Brigade (as opposed to Command HQ) functions. The Brigade was disbanded on 7th May 1944, but its official disbandment is given in RMRO 719/44 as 16th May 1944, and after 5 RM AA Brigade had moved to Clacton, Essex, for training. Air Defence Brigade MNBDO II later 2 RM Air Defence Brigade On 5th February 1941 the RM nuclei of AA and Searchlight Rgts joined army training establishments. In March the AD Brigade HQ was established, and by August 1942 had a Gunnery Operations Room which in the next 20 months worked with the Organisation’s AA Regiments. This staff, both of the Brigade HQ and its Operations Room, became the HQ of 5 RM AA Brigade in the spring of 1944. (RMHS)

1942. Wednesday 19th August. One of the first raids the Royal Marines were involved in was during the raid on Dieppe in France. That involved No3 and No4 Commando's and the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, and known as 'Operation Jubilee'. The raid did not go as planned. The casualties included 3,367 Canadians and 275 British Commandos. The Royal Navy lost one destroyer and 33 landing craft, suffering 550 dead and wounded. The RAF lost 106 aircraft to the Luftwaffe's 48, while the German army also suffered 591 casualties.

1942. Wednesday 19th August. A disastrous seaborne raid was launched by Allied forces on the German-occupied French port of Dieppe. Why was such a raid ever undertaken? Because, with Germany operating deep in the Soviet Union, the Russians were urging the Allies to relieve the pressure on them by opening a second front in north-west Europe.
At the same time the British Chief of Combined Operations, Rear Admiral Louis Mountbatten, was agitating for a practical trial beach landing, against real opposition, for his troops. In the face of this pressure, Churchill decided that Operation Rutter, a 'hit and run' raid on Dieppe, should go ahead.
Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery's South-Eastern Command provided the troops for the operation, and planned an unimaginative frontal assault, without heavy preliminary air bombardment. Montgomery was also being pressed by the Canadian government to ensure that Canadian troops saw some action, so the Canadian 2nd Division, under Major General Roberts, was selected for the main force.
These troops were to assault the town and port of Dieppe, while, as a distraction, British parachute units would attack German batteries on the headlands on either side of the Canadians.
The first rehearsal was a disaster, but a second try, ten days later, went better, and Montgomery was satisfied. On 1st July it was agreed that the raid would take place either on 4th July, or on the first day afterwards that promised favourable weather conditions.
The first rehearsal was a disaster.
The attack was to be mounted from five ports between Southampton and Newhaven, with forces made up of around 5,000 Canadians, 1,000 British troops, and 50 US Rangers. There were 237 ships and landing craft, and 74 squadrons of aircraft, of which 66 were fighter squadrons.
The plan: was for a full frontal attack without aerial bombardment. The weather was consistently bad, however, and on 7 July the operation was postponed. Montgomery wanted it cancelled altogether, as the troops had been briefed and he was afraid that word of the operation might leak out. Unusually for him, however, he did not persist with his demand, and preparations continued. He was not involved in the matter for long, in any case, as he was summoned to Egypt to command the Eighth Army.
Meanwhile, a number of changes to the plan were made. The codename was changed to Jubilee. The planned air bombardment on Dieppe was reduced, for fear of French casualties, and because of the continuing priority of the strategic bombing offensive on Germany. Eight destroyers were allocated to bombard the shore from seaward, as it was judged that battleships could not be used, being too vulnerable when they were close to the coast.
The parachute operation on the flanks, even more dependent on the weather than the seaborne assault, was cancelled. This task was instead given to Numbers 3 and 4 Army Commandos, to the relief of the Commanding Officer of 1st Parachute Battalion, who later commented that from the outset of the raid 'security was abysmal'.
Intelligence on the enemy was patchy.
It was decided that the Royal Marine Commando, which had been in the force from the outset, was to land in fast gunboats and motor boats after the main force had gone in. They were then to destroy the Dieppe dock installations, and capture documents in a safe in the port office. The break-in was to be the special responsibility of a marine who had been a burglar in civilian life.
Intelligence on the enemy was patchy. There were German gun positions dug into the sides of the headland cliffs, but these were not spotted by Allied air reconnaissance photographers. Planners assessed the beach gradient and its suitability for tanks only by scanning holiday snapshots. As a consequence, enemy strength and terrain were grossly underestimated.
In addition, the Germans were on high alert having been warned by French double gents that the British were showing interest in Dieppe. They had also detected increased radio traffic and the concentration of landing craft in Britain's south coast ports. Without sufficient air cover, the tanks would be exposed to enemy fire.
The raid began at 04.50am on 19th August, with attacks on the flanking coastal batteries, from west to east. These included Varengeville (Number 4 Commando), Pourville (the South Saskatchewan Regiment and the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada), Puys (the Royal Regiment of Canada), and Berneval (Number 3 Commando).
By this time, however, the element of surprise that the planners had counted on was lost. Some of the landing craft escorts had already exchanged shots with a small German convoy off Puys and Berneval at 03.48.
The element of surprise that the planners had counted on was lost.
Despite this, Number 4 Commando successfully stormed the Varengeville battery. This was the one unit that captured all of its objectives that day. Only 18 men from Number 3 Commando got ashore in the right place. Nevertheless, for a time they managed to distract the Berneval battery to such good effect that the gunners fired wildly all over the place, but the commandos were eventually forced to withdraw in the face of superior enemy forces.
At Puys, the Royal Regiment of Canada was annihilated. Just 60 men out of 543 were extracted from the beach. And only a handful of the men of the South Saskatchewan Regiment reached their objectives, with others from this regiment landing in the wrong place. The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, despite being landed late, did manage to penetrate further inland than any other troops that day, but they were soon forced back as German reinforcements rushed to the scene.
Half an hour later the main frontal assault by the Essex Scottish Regiment and Royal Hamilton Light Infantry started, supported by 27 Churchill tanks of the 14th Canadian Army Tank Regiment.
The tracks of most of the tanks were stripped as they were driven on to the shingle beach, and the bogged down vehicles became sitting ducks for German anti-tank guns. Those tanks that did cross the sea wall were stopped by concrete roadblocks. The infantry were slaughtered on the beach by vicious cross-fire from machine-guns hidden in the cliffs. Supporting fire by naval destroyers was far too light to have much effect.
To make things worse, Canadian Major General Roberts could not see the objective, because of a smoke screen laid by ships in support of the landings. As a result, acting on incorrect information and unaware of the mayhem on the beaches, he now made the mistake of reinforcing failure and sent in his two reserve units.

Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, launched straight at the centre of the town, were pinned down under the cliffs, and Roberts ordered the Royal Marine Commando to land in order to support them. This was a completely new task, involving passing through the town and attacking batteries on the east headland. The last minute change of plan caused utter chaos. The commanding officer had to transfer all his men from gunboats and motor boats into landing craft used in the earlier waves, and brief them on the new mission in very short order.
Many of the RMC craft were hit and disabled on the run-in. Those men that did reach the shore were either killed or captured. The commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel 'Tigger' Phillipps, seeing that the mission was suicidal, stood up on the stern of his craft and signalled to those following him that they should turn back. He was killed a few moments later.
At 11.00, under heavy fire, the withdrawal from the beaches began. It was completed by 14.00. Casualties from the raid included 3,367 Canadians killed, wounded or taken prisoner, and 275 British commandos. The Royal Navy lost one destroyer and 33 landing craft, suffering 550 dead and wounded. The RAF lost 106 aircraft to the Luftwaffe's 48. The German army casualties were 591.
Churchill and the Chiefs of Staff - the heads of the Navy, Army and Air Force, who met daily to discuss strategy and advise Churchill - were responsible for this disastrous misjudgement. But, because no written record exists of the Chiefs of Staff approving the raid in its final form, it has sometimes been suggested that it was really Mountbatten who remounted it without authorisation. This is almost certainly nonsense.
The Chiefs of Staff disliked Mountbatten, regarding him as an upstart foisted on them by Churchill, so any unauthorised action on his part would have given them the ammunition to recommend his removal. Since Mountbatten was not removed, and the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, General Sir Alan Brooke, in his frank and detailed diary, makes no mention of his having exceeded his authority, it seems unlikely that Mountbatten can be accused of mounting the raid without authority.
General Brooke was in the Middle East from 1 August 1942, returning on the 24th, after the event. This was unfortunate, for, as the most forceful and intelligent of the Chiefs of Staff, had he been in Britain in the days preceding the raid, he might have persuaded Churchill to call it off. disaster did point up the need for much heavier firepower in future raids.
Much has been said since about the fact that the Dieppe raid was a necessary precursor to the great amphibious operations that were to follow, in terms of the lessons learned and experience gained. Mountbatten pursued that line all his life. But as Chief of Combined Operations, he did bear some of the responsibility for mounting the operation, so one can only comment, 'he would say that, wouldn't he?'
The disaster did point up the need for much heavier firepower in future raids. It was recognised that this should include aerial bombardment, special arrangements to be made for land armour, and intimate fire support right up to the moment when troops crossed the waterline (the most dangerous place on the beach) and closed with their objectives.
However, it did not need a debacle like Dieppe to learn these lessons. As judged by General Sir Leslie Hollis - secretary to the Chiefs of Staff Committee and deputy head of the Military Wing of the War Cabinet with direct access to Churchill - the operation was a complete failure, and the many lives that were sacrificed in attempting it were lost with no tangible result.

Originally the raid on Dieppe, which was designed to test the German defences, was planned under the direction of Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery. It was approved more quickly than it might have been be- cause the British Government was under pressure from the Russians to demonstrate that it was preparing to open a Second Front, and it involved predominantly Canadian troops, commanded by Major-General J.H. Roberts, because the Canadian Government was pressing Churchill to let its troops see action.
After bad weather had called its cancellation on 7th July 1942, 'Monty' set out to take command of the 8th Army in the deserts of North Africa, leaving the re- commendation that the raid should be "Cancelled for
all time". However, the plan was revived under the Chief of Combined Operations, Vice-Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, and on August 19th it was launched with 4,936 Canadians, 1075 British troops, 50 United States Rangers and 237 warships and landing craft.
The ships included eight destroyers, some of which were able to give supporting fire, but there was nothing larger because the Channel was deemed un- suitable for battleships. The air cover consisted of 74 fighter squadrons from nine different nations, but there were no heavy bombers to soften the objectives before landing. And the commanders had been provided with extensive aerial photographs of the defences which revealed everything except the gun positions hidden in the cliffs.
After the raid set out, the Admiralty warned the fleet that there was a German convoy in the area, but the message did not get through and the exchange of fire through the darkness alerted the defenders, and lost the raiders the vital element of surprise. The first flank attacks faltered, and the main attack was ter­ribly mauled by the hidden guns. When 27 supporting tanks landed late, 15 were destroyed on the beach and the remainder brought to a standstill by roadblocks,
Wrongly informed that the raid was going well, Roberts sent in his second wave, and the only part of it to be saved from the guns in the cliffs was 'A' Royal Marine Commando, which was turned back by its commanding officer, shortly before he was killed.
The Dieppe Raid was a grim fiasco which cost the lives of hundreds of Canadians
At 11 a.m. the order was given to withdraw and for the next three hours the beaches were evacuated under constant heavy fire. In all, 3,367 Canadians and 275 British soldiers were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. The Royal Navy suffered 550 casualties and lost a destroyer and 33 landing craft. And in the sky 106 Allied fighters were shot down with a loss of only 48 to the Luftwaffe. It was said afterwards that valuable lessons were learned at. Dieppe but the necessity to support a landing with adequate reconnaissance and a heavy bombardment is hardly a lesson that needs to be learned by experience.

One month after Dieppe, most of the 11th Royal Marine Battalion were killed or captured in an amphibious landing at Tobruk during 'Operation Agreement' that also included the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st Battalion.

1942. Thursday 10th September. The RM Field Artillery Regiment was formed at the time the RM Division established organic artillery units, by 102 RM Brigade’s HQ at Dalditch from 10th September 1942. Under command 16th October were 32nd Howitzer Bty, 2nd Anti–Tank Bty, 2nd Light AA Bty nd 1st Field bty forming at St Margaret’s Bay, Kent, from men of the RM Siege Rgt. Plans were made to equip the field Batteries with 25pdrs; two RA Field Btys were to be regimented with these RM Btys, but the arrangement was cancelled. The Regiment’s HQ went to Tenby (South Wales) in November, but only elements of the Batteries under command went there for training with the RA. All but the Field Bty were transferred to the RM Anti - Tank Rgt before March 1943, when 1st RM Field Artillery Regiment was stationed at Christchurch, Dorset. a second field battery was formed on 1st June 1943, but on 12th August the first drafts from this Regiment were sent to the RM Siege Rgt as this built up again, and the  RM Field Artillery Regiment was disbanded at Wimbourne, Hampshire, by the end of August 1943. Some men from this Regiment joined the RM Support Craft Regiment. (RMHS)

1942. Monday 14th September. How the Marines Assauled Tobruk. Perhaps the magnificient success that attended the great Combined Operations of 1942, 1943 and 1944 may have led many to underestimate the immense difficulties of amphibious assault against a coast defended by modern weapons To do so would be unjust to the men who planned and executed the three D-Days in North Africa, Sicily and Normandy; it would be more than unjust to those who bought with their lives the experience on which those victories were built Dieppe, we all know, was part of the price paid, and 40 RM Commando was there to help pay it. Less well known was the gallant failure of the 11th Battalion, Royal Marines, in their raid on Tobruk on 14 September 1942.
11 RM started life as the Land Defence Force of the Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation that distinguished itself in Crete.
Part of the tradegy of Crete is the fact that 11 RM did not reach the island in time to take part in the battle, to meet the very situation for which it had been trained, for the presence at Maleme of even one well-trained, fully equipped and fresh battalion might have had an incalculable effect on the course of history, After Crete 11 RM went into training in the Marines classic role, as an amphibious striking force at the disposal of the Naval Commander -in-Chief.
Their first task was a small-scale but entirely successful raid on the little island of Kuphonisi, south-east of Crete, where one company destroyed an Italian radar stationLater, in great secrecyat Haifa the battalion began preparing its stroke against Tobruk, by this time Rommel's vital forward supply baae against the Eighth Army at El Alamein. The object of this raid was to get control of the harbour for 12 hours, time for demolition parties to wreck completly the port installations that saved the Germans 260 miles of road transport The sea-borne raid was to take place in conjunctionwith operations ashore by the Long Range Desert Group.

On Friday 11th September the battalion, with attached parties of Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers, embarked at Haifa in the destroyers HMS SIKH and ZULU Sailing early next morning and making 25 knots, the two ships reached Alexandria after dark that night.
Intelligence officers with the latest "gen" and certain small special parties were rapidly embarked, the two destroyers slipping away again before dawn. When the sun came up the Marines on board found them selves steaming due east, escorted by the anti-aircraft cruiser HMS COVENTRY and two Hunt class destroyers
At this time the secret of the objective was broached to all ranks, and final briefing took place Later, the convoy altered course to the north-east, then north-west till they were making towards Crete. As darkness fell SIKH and ZULU broke away from their escort and steered due west at the top of their great speed. At midnight they altered course again, due south, straight for Tobruk
At that moment 60 RAF Wellingtons began a bombardment of Tobruk that lasted three hours As the destroyers closed the harbour mouth the questing searchlights, the garish colours of climbing flak and the dull flashes of bomb-bursts could be seen on the horizon, a confusion of lights and fires glowed through the thick darkness,, At two o'clock the code word "Nigger" was. received, indicating that the Long Range Desert Group had taken a coastal battery at the mouth of the harbour, the essential pre-requisite of the raid. A quarter of an hour later. came a signal from the Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, who ever since the days of Antwerp in 1914 has had a soft spot for the Royal Marines, wishing them good luck in their latest enterprise.
Cheers went up from the crowded mess-decks of both destroyers, then the men of the first flight in both destroyers climbed into their harness. Just after three o'clock, when they were two-and-a-­half miles offshore, the powerful engines that had been driving SIKH and ZULU at over 30 knots slowed down and stopped. There was a heavy swell, but all appeared quiet in the neighbourhood of the beach, though Tobruk was still a pyrotechnic uproar.
A large fire burning in the town threw the escarpment behind the beach into sharp relief but obscured the beach itself to eyes straining through the darkness from seaward. The craft for the assault were then lowered. These, however, were not the handy LCA used at Dieppe and in North Africa, all of which were needed for the vast attack now preparing at the other end of the Mediterranean,
They consisted of six wooden power-boats each towing two dumb lighters that had been specially built for the occasion. Scrambling nets were thrown out and the Marines began to embark. The craft heaved and tossed on the swell, making embarkation difficult for men loaded up with 24-hour rations, a full water-bottle, a hundred rounds and at least one Bren magazine, together with a liberal provision of grenades, slabs of gun-cotton, primers, detonators and fuses. In addition, many of the Army men now descending by the shifting nets had not the long practice of the Marines in this tricky operation. After some delay the first flight was packed in and the destroyers steamed away, to return later to a rendezvous where they would meet the craft back from the beach for the second flight.
It was then that the troubles began. The tow ropes failed to stand the strain of heaving and tossing in the swell. Several soon parted. One broken rope twined itself round the propeller of one of the power-boats while the whole bow-piece of one of the lighters was pulled out by the violence of the sea. Of the six tows only three were able to struggle with great difficulty to the beach after wrestling for over an hour with the malevolent sea,
To make matters worse the enemy soon began to show an unwelcome interest in the proceedings. A searchlight began to sweep the sea at 30-second intervals, the craft were soon spotted, and HMS SIKH, returning to the rendezvous, was also picked up. A battery of heavy coastal guns opened fire on her while a crashing fusillade of small­er weapons opened on the three sets of barges that were closing the beach. Major J N Hedley, senior officer in these craft, with orders to land and establish a bridgehead, shouted "Full speed ahead and prepare to land," As the craft closed in the enemy opened up with all he had; 88-mm, shells, mortar bombs and bullets hailed upon them, The Marines could see the white surf crashing upon the rocks, while behind them,. in the lurid light of searchlights and shell bursts, SIKH and ZULU were fighting their last desperate, unequal battle with the-shore batteries. A shell smashed into the leading power-boat and she began to sink. The dumb lighters were cast off and the Marines took to the water, whipped all around them by bullets. The more fortunate found bottom and scrambled up over the slippery wet rocks.
Then the dumb lighters crunched on to the rocks, The Marines leaped out, many slipping into deepwater that completely covered them. Gasping for breath, dragged down by the weight of water in their equipment, they clawed their way on to the slippery shelves, still lashed by the enemy's fire. As one lighter struck she took a direct hit from a mortar bomb that blew out her bows. A few of her company struggled to the shore. A mortar bomb dropped plumb into another lighter, the burst killing six men.
The remnants of the force got across the beach as fast as they could and went to ground, bullets screaming over them and the ugly fragments of mortar bombs that whir through the air like the sound of the wings of a startled pheasant. The last of the lighters crashed on to the rocks and overturned, flinging the men into six feet of water, and many were lost before they gained the beach.
The whole landing had gone astray, The scanty few who survived were on the wrong beach, their craft smashed to matchwood on the rocks, while out at sea HMS ZULU, after an effort to tow off the mortally stricken SIKH, reluctantly abandoned her sister ship and withdrew, only to be subjected to a series of devastating air attacks that sank her before she reached Alexandria. Under the circumstances no one would have blamed Major Hedley if he had thrown up the sponge, but instead he gathered those who had survived that terrible landing - fewer than a hundred men-and resolved to do the enemy all the damage he could.
Though he was under no illusion as to their plight, he was cheer­ful, determined and inspired every man with him with a vigorous offensive spirit. Valiantly supported by Capt Wright, Lieut C N P Powell, Lieut Dyall and Sergeant J Povall, he organised his little force, leading them forward into a wadi under heavy fire.
Sergeant Povall and three Marines on the right flank encountered about 20 enemy advancing on them. They opened fire and the enemy fled. A hundred yards farther on they met another party. In the words of Corporal G T Hunt, one of the survivors: "We had occasion to kill many Italians with bayonet and bullet." After about half a mile the force came against a prepared defence position, supported by heavy machine-gun posts.
Against these Major Hedley led the attack himself, with a well-aimed grenade putting out of action a machine-gun mounted on a lorry. During this fight, Hedley, with Sergeant Povall, attacked a section post manned by six Italians. Povall shot the first but before he could reload, Major Hedley shot the other five with his revolver.
One of the Corps' notable pistol shots, he never did better shooting than this. Lieut Dyall led an attack on a group of buildings; he shot one Italian but was killed by a bullet from another standing in the shadows. This man was disposed of by Corporal Hunt.
Hedley's aggressive spirit kindled the whole party. Though all the time they were under fire, constantly having to dive to ground when Verey lights illuminated them, they never hesitated to attack the enemy wherever they found him, usually with the bayonet. To quote Corporal Hunt again: "I heard Sergeant Povall well up in front, shouting encouragement and appearing to enjoy himself, judging by the remarks he was making. He used his bayonet with great effect on any occasions."
Major Hedley was pressing on as fast as possible, hoping to reach adequate cover before full daylight. A large party of Italians tried to surrender but the Marines ignored them in favour of a Breda gun position which was silenced. Corporal Hunt, who had been wounded in the left side over the heart- but still carried on leading his section, saved his Commanding Officer's life. An Italian rushed Hedley, who for the moment was out of ammunition. Quick as a flash Hunt fired from the hip and killed the man as he charged.
The wadi ended in a steep, bare slope, swept by fire. Engaging the principal enemy position with fire from rifle and Bren, the Marines neutralised it sufficiently to get across the skyline. For the first time since they landed they were no longer under enemy fire, but it was a sadly depleted party-only seventeen strong- that Major Hedley gathered in an old building, where they settled down to cleaning their weapons. Corporal White of the RAMC, who had gallantly stuck to the party, dressed their wounds, but as he hoped to strike overland under cover of night in hope of reaching British forces, the Major forbade them to touch water or rations. Then they pushed on over a high ridge into an "S" shaped wadi, at the head of which were some caves, in which they took shelter. Here Hedley planned to lie up until nightfall, but during the afternoon a large force of Germans surrounded the caves. The seventeen were forced to surrender.
Thus ended a failure, illuminated by as fine a courage as any victory, conducted according to the highest traditions of a famous Corps. Many of those who survived the ill-fated raid had their revenge in the fullness of time, when in the ranks of the Royal Marine Commandos, they came up from the sea once more to smite the enemy. (Sic)
After the war Maj Sendall RM joined the staff of the 'Daily Express' as correspondent.
By Major Wilfred R Sendall RM. Reprinted from 'The NAVY' February 1946 (The official organ of the Navy League)

1942. September. No2 Special Boat Section (SBS) carried out Operation Anglo, a raid on two airfields on the island of Rhodes, from which only two men returned. After destroying three aircraft, a fuel dump and numerous buildings, the surviving SBS men had to hide in the countryside for four days before they could reach the waiting submarine. After the Rhodes raid, No2 SBS was absorbed into the SAS due to the casualties they had suffered.

1942. Saturday 10th October. 41 RM Commando and 41 Commando RM Origin and titles:
Formed 10th October 1942 at Pembroke Dock (South Wales) from 8th Battalion RM; was briefly B RM Commando (12th - 28th October) before being designated 41 RM Commando, 8 which was disbanded at Llwyngwrill (north Wales) on 20th February 1946. Re-formed on 16th August 1950 at Bickleigh and Plymouth as 41 (Independent) Commando RM for service in Korea, and disbanded 22nd February 1952 at Plymouth. Re-formed on 31st March 1960 at Bickleigh as 41 Commando RM. Reduced to a Cadre from time to time. Disbanded at Deal in April 1981 when personnel were merged with other Commandos.
Principal operations in World War II:
After training in Scotland (7th April to 27th June 1943), the Commando sailed for Sicily, landing on 10th July. On 9th September landed at Salerno to capture a defile and withdrawn after suffering 50 per cent casualties. On 19th September returned to UK. On 6th June 1944 landed to capture Lion–sur–Mer strongpoint; served with 4 SS Bde in Orne line and later breakout; 1st November landed north of ‘gap’ at Walcheren to capture Westkappelle. January 1945 at Bergen–op–Zoom (Holland) and during next few months served as line and reserve troops for time to time in Maas River area; 30th May to 26th November in Hesse (Germany) before returning to UK.
41 (Independent) Commando Fought in the Korean war, initial strength 219 all ranks, including five RN personnel. Landed Japan 5th September 1950 to join US Army Special Raiding Force. 12th September mounted raids near Inchon, west Korean coast in November came under command of the (US) Marine Division and took part in Chosin operations withdrawing to Hungnam by 8th December; strength raised to 300 during 1951; 7th April raided east a coast railway; occupied major islands in Wonsan Bay (east coast of Korea) and raided Korean coastal defences Returned to UK early in 1952 and disbanded in February at Bickleigh.
Major deployments 1960-81
Re-formed 31st March 1960 as 41 Cdo RM. Based in UK 1960-3; 27th January to April 1964 as first Commando RM assigned to UK Strategic Reserve and deployed in Tanganyika and Kenya (February). On return to the UK stationed at Bickleigh from 7th April 1964, and in the following years took part in several major exercises in Norway and the West Indies, between the following deployments: 18th April to 13th August 1969 in Mediterrean; 28th September to 10th November on peacekeeping duties in Northern Ireland; 3rd September to 20th October 1971 based on Malta; visited USA in Bulwark May-June 1972 for exercise ‘Rum Punch’ with USMC; returned to Malta on 6th July until temporarily disbanded. The winter of 1974-5 was spent with UN Force in Cyprus; by April 1977 reduced to Salerno Company Group, which was Malta Garrison, leaving 30th March 1979. Meanwhile 41 Commando RM was re-formed at Deal in the autumn of 1977, where it was based until disbanded in 1981; served in Northern Ireland 27th February to 28th June 1978; winter 1978 on London duties; with UN Forces in Cyprus during winter of 1979; on  peacekeeping duties in Northern  Ireland early summer of 1980. Last trooping of the Commando’s colour July 1981.
Miscellaneous:
Flag of old gold background and centre segment as for 40 Cdo RM. Memorable date: 9th September, the landing at Salerno (1943). Coys ‘E’, ‘F’, and ‘G’ in 1980.(RMHS)

1942. October. No. 1 Commando adopted a standardised Beret. As this Commando wore an arm insignia of a green salamander in red and yellow fire, the colour green was chosen for the beret. Other ranks cap badges were of yellow metal, sergeants and above gilt, Quartermaster sergeant's gilt but with the crown & lion part of the design wore separately above the Globe and Laurel part.
A bronzed badge was worn in khaki SD by OR's prior to WWII, during WWII a plastic economy cap badge was introduced, as were matching collar badges - in dark blue plastic.
Officers? cap badges with separate crown & lion were yellow metal with white metal globe, & had to be polished, prior to the introduction of anodised badges for all ranks.

1942. October. The 1 and 2 RM Beach Groups/1 and 2 RM Landing Groups were both formed in October 1942 from Companies of the Beach Battalion, these Groups did a series of amphibious exercises: at Emsworth, Hampshire; in Scotland; and at Christchurch, Dorset. In May 1943 their names were changed to 1 RM and 2 RM Landing Group respectively; but these Groups needed an army War Establishment, so that follow–up units could also be handled by these RM Groups and not just RM battalions with their special organisation. Therefore the RM Groups were disbanded at Christchurch on 31st July 1943, the personnel going to the Holding Unit of the RM Division.

1942. October. After the Dieppe raid, the Commando changed internally from a company to a troop organisation, with five troops of some 65 men. 'A' Troop was commanded by Captain Mike Ephraums MC RM (who was killed in Italy the following year). He was a keen fan of the novels by Leslie Charteris, most of which revolved around the adventures of one Simon Templar, whose pseudonym was 'The Saint'. The 'Saint’s' emblem was a matchstick figure with a halo, and this is still used today by A Company. (from Mr M G Little RM Museum Archivist & Librarian) Photo from Terry Aspinall. Was always worn out of sight.

1942. November. The 22nd (Training) Battalion was formed, CO Lt. Col D. A. C. Shephard, when government prohibited men under 19 years of age joining operational units. From these young trained Marines - 218 joined on 26th November 1942 - the Battalion trained its own junior NCOs and by the summer of 1943 there were several companies. In the summer of 1944 the Battalion moved to Towyn (north Wales), merging in October with the 23rd RM (Training) Bn to become part of RMTG Wales.(RMHS)

1942. November. 1st and 2nd RM Light AA: were equipped on formation in November 1942 with Oerlikons on trucks and later with Bofors. (RMHS)

1942. Monday 7th December. The Cockleshell Heroes raided on the Nazi occupied French port of Bordeaux. They succeeded in sinking one ship and severely damaging four others and doing enough damage to greatly disrupt the use of the harbour for months to come. Such was the significance of the raid that Winston Churchill said that it helped to shorten to World War Two by six months.For a number of months during the war, merchant ships had used Bordeaux to supply the German military that was stationed in that part of France. German U-boats used the area as a base. Any supply ships that came through the English Channel could be dealt with but plenty of merchant ships were willing to sail to Bordeaux harbour via the Mediterranean and there was little the British Navy could do about it. A raid by bombers would have led to many civilian casualties – so this was excluded. The task of the Cockleshell Heroes was simple, destroy as many ships in the harbour as was possible so that the harbour itself would be blocked with wreckage, thus rendering it incapable of fully operating as a harbour. This was to be called Operation Frankton.

The Cockleshell Heroes were Royal Marine Commandos. These men got their nickname as the canoes they were to use were nicknamed ‘cockles’. After months of training, they were ready to set off for their target, except that none of them knew what their target was. This was only made known to them once the submarine HMS Tuna had surfaced off of the French coast.
The twelve men that formed the Cockleshell Heroes were taken by submarine and dropped off the coast of Bordeaux. The plan was for the six teams of two men to paddle five miles to the mouth of the River Gironde, paddle seventy miles up it, plant limpet mines of the ships in the harbour and then make their way to Spain.

The raid started badly once the HMS Tuna. The two Royal Marines who were meant to have used this canoe – called ‘Cachalot’ – could not take part in the raid. It is said that Marines Fisher and Ellery were left in tears at their disappointment.
The leader of the raid was Major ‘Blondie’ Hasler. His partner was Marine Bill Sparks. Their canoe was code named ‘Catfish’. As the canoes approached the mouth of the Gironde they hit a violent rip tide. The waves were five feet high and the canoe ‘Conger’ was lost.

The two crew of Conger – Corporal George Sheard and Marine David Moffat – were towed by the other canoes. Once near the shoreline, both men had to swim to the shore as they were slowing down the remaining canoes. Neither men made it to the shore nor they were assumed to have drowned.

The crew of the canoe ‘Coalfish’ – Sergeant Samuel Wallace and Marine Jock Ewart - were caught by the Germans and shot.
The crew of the ‘Cuttlefish’ – Lieutenant John Mackinnon and Marine James Conway had to abandon their canoe after it was damaged. They were also caught by the Germans, handed over to the Gestapo and shot.

With four canoes down, the raiders were only left with two canoes. Along with ‘Catfish’, ‘Crayfish’ was left crewed by Marine William Mills and Corporal Albert Laver.

By now, the Germans knew that something was up and they had done a great deal to increase patrols along the river. The two crew paddled at night and hid during the day.

The two canoes got to the harbour. Here they were spotted by a sentry who failed to raise the alarm – possibly he mistook what he saw for driftwood as both crews remained motionless in their canoes as they had been trained to do.

The crew of both remaining cockleshells placed limpet mines on the merchant ships they found in the harbour. They had an eight minute fuse on them, giving the Marines time to get away. Both ‘Crayfish’ and ‘Catfish’ escaped on the tide. The damage to Bordeaux harbour was severe. Now the crews had to leave their canoes, move on foot and link up with the French Resistance at the town of Ruffec. The Germans automatically assumed that the men would travel south to Spain. In fact, they travelled 100 miles north of Bordeaux – a journey that took them two months.

Laver and Mills, who were moving separately from Sparks and Hasler, were caught by the Germans and shot. With the help of the French Resistance, Hasler and Sparks reached Spain and then Gibraltar. Even here, Sparks met problems. Hasler used his rank to get transported back to Britain.

However, Sparks did not have such luck and was arrested. In fact the Chief of Combined Operations, Lord Louis Mountbatten, had assumed all the men were dead, so anyone claiming to be them would have been treated with suspicion. Sparks was put under guard by the military police. However, he slipped these guards at Euston Station in London and, after visiting his father, made his way to the Combined Operations Headquarters.(author can not be contacted).
Catfish - Major Hasler and Marine Sparks - Both escaped after the raid and survived the war.
Crayfish - Cpl. Laver and Marine Mills-Betrayed after raid, captured and executed.
Cuttlefish - Lt. MacKinnon and Marine Conway - Capsized, captured and executed.
Coalfish - Sgt. Wallace & Marine Ewart - Capsized, swam to shore, captured and executed.
Conger - Cpl. Sheard & Marine Moffatt - Capsized, towed to near shoreline, but lost at sea.
Cachalot - Marine Ellery & Marine Fisher - Canoe damaged on HMS Tuna, returned to base.
Reserve - Marine Colley - Returned to base from Submarine.

Lord Louis Mountbatten Chief of Combined Operations In the foreword to the book ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten of Burma wrote: "Of the many and dashing raids carried out by the men of Combined Operations Command, none was more courageous or imaginative than ‘Operation Frankton’. An immense amount of trouble was taken over the training of the small handful of picked Royal Marines who took part under the indomitable leadership of Lieutenant-Colonel ((sic) (Major) Hasler. They maintained their object in spite of the frightening losses of the first night and the subsequent ever-increasing difficulties they encountered. Although the force had been reduced to four men, the objective was finally achieved. The account of this operation brings out the spirit of adventure always present in peace and war among Royal Marines. It emphasizes the tremendous importance of morale - pride in oneself and one's unit - and what a big part physical fitness plays in creating this morale. It also stresses the need for careful detailed planning of operations. I commend it to all as an account of a fine operation, carried out by a particularly brave party of men."

1942. Monday 7th December. Operation Frankton. Corporal George Sheard and Marine David Moffat as crew of the canor ‘Conger’ were both lost at sea.

1942. Wednesday 9th - Thursday 10th December. Sergeant Samuel Wallace and Marine Jock Ewart were captured by the Germans and executed after two days. Both were the crew of canoe 'Coalfish.'

1942. December. 463 Kings Squad passed for Duty. Squad Photo.

1942. The Royal Marines originated as the Admiral's Regiment which was formed in 1664 and the name 'Marines' first appears in the records in 1672. Since then Marines have taken part in more battles on land and sea, all over the world, than has any other branch of the British Armed Forces. The first three years of the Second World War saw most of the action for the Royal Marines at sea, although some notable Marines saw active combat in the Norwegain campaign, Dunkirk, and subsequently in the Far East. By the end of the war, the Royal Marines numbers had grown to 80,000 - their largest size ever. Royal Marine played a number of roles in connection with Naval Aviation. Pre-war a handful of Royal Marines trained as pilots in the No. 1 Flying Training School at RAF Leuchars alongside their Royal Navy colleagues, and subsequently between 1939-1945 up to 18 Royal Marines commanded Fleet Air Arm squadrons. Captain NRM Skene was one of the earlier COs, who as Captain RM also held an RAF rank of Squadron Leader when taking up command of 810 sqdn in December 1938, a post which he held till June 1940. Land bound Royal Marines also played a role in Naval aviation, as the Defence Force RN Air Stations. From 1940 and in some specific stations before that date, RM units formed to provide ground defences of Naval air stations and were organised in companies and platoons.
Just some of those who were mentioned or lost during Fleet Air Arm duties:
Tribute to a renown Flying Royal Marine. Major V.B.G. ‘Cheese’ Cheeseman RM.
Major VBG "Cheese" Cheesman was one of the most highly decorated members of that rare breed - the flying Royal Marine. His five-year operational career during the Second World War spanned the world, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean.
Vernon Beauclerk George Cheesman, known throughout the Navy as "Cheese", was born on January 8th, 1917 and went to Cheltenham College. He was commissioned in the Royal Marines in January 1936 and served in the battleship Royal Sovereign before beginning flying training and getting his wings in 1939.
Cheesman's first award came early in 1941, when he was serving in 710 Naval Air Squadron, flying Walrus amphibian aircraft from the seaplane carrier Albatross, based at Freetown, Sierra Leone. On January 14, the cargo-liner Eumaeus was sunk by the Italian submarine Commandante Cappelini. Most of the passengers and crew got away in lifeboats or clinging to wreckage. Cheesman took off to search for and attack the submarine. He missed his quarry but found Eumaeus's survivors and landed nearby, to give first aid to the wounded and to tow drifting lifeboats back to the main group. In doing so, his Walrus was damaged and could not take off again. Eventually, two anti-submarine trawlers arrived to pick up the survivors and tow the Walrus, by then in a sinking condition, back to Freetown. When he finally got alongside Albatross, Cheesman had been on board the Walrus for 22 hours. He was appointed MBE.
In July 1941, Cheesman became Walrus pilot on the cruiser Cornwall, which was serving the Eastern Fleet and covering convoys in the Indian Ocean. On Easter Sunday, April 5th, 1942, when Cornwall and her sister ship Dorsetshire were on passage from Colombo to Addu Atoll in the Maldives, they were both attacked and sunk by Japanese carrier-based bombers. Some 1,100 men survived, but they were machine-gunned in the water by Japanese aircraft, which gave Cheesman a lasting antipathy towards the Japanese. Many badly burned men died of shock during the night.
"We could do nothing for the dead," Cheesman recalled, "but cast them off to the circling sharks which we kept at bay by constantly splashing the water around us as they passed by. And so, passed a miserable and inglorious night."
The survivors were picked up at dusk the next day, after more than 24 hours in the water, by the light cruiser Enterprise and destroyers.
After undergoing a conversion course at the Fighter School, HMS Heron, Yeovilton, Cheesman joined 824, a composite squadron of Swordfish and Sea Hurricanes, as Fighter Flight Commander. In October 1943 he embarked in the escort carrier Striker for Atlantic and Gibraltar convoy escort.
In February 1944, Cheesman took command of 1770 Squadron, the first to be equipped with the new Fairey Firefly fighter-reconnaissance aircraft. The squadron embarked in the carrier Indefatigable in May, and in July and August took part in the Fleet Air Arm strikes against the battleship Tirpitz in Altenfjord in northern Norway. The Squadron's role was to escort the Barracuda bombers to the target, then fly ahead and suppress flak batteries. He worked closely with the operations' Strike Leader Lt Cdr RS Baker-Falkner RN to ensure that the first operational involement of the firefly was a success. They flew at sea level before climbing to 8,000 ft to cross the mountains.
"What cruel-looking terrain that was," remembered Cheesman, "all white, cold, barren and desolate. An engine failure here meant 'out harp and halo, and hello St Peter!' "
Cheesman led four strikes in all and successfully strafed flak batteries around Tirpitz, but the bombers were hampered by cloud and smoke screens covering the target. No serious damage was done to Tirpitz and one Firefly was lost. Cheesman was awarded the DSO for the determined way he led his squadron.
Indefatigable sailed for the Far East in November 1944 to join the 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron, of Illustrious, Victorious and Indomitable, off Ceylon in December.
On January 4th, 1945, 1770 Squadron took part in Operation Lentil, a strike involving more than 90 aircraft on the oil refinery at Pangkalan Brandan in northern Sumatra. Equipped for the first time with 60 lb rockets, which Cheesman had been requesting for months, 1770 successfully rocketed and strafed the coastal town and harbour of Pangkalan Soe. Returning from the strike, Cheesman ran out of fuel and ditched astern of Indefatigable. He was again decorated for his leadership and awarded the DSC.
Remembering Cornwall, Cheesman relished attacking Japanese targets. He had more opportunities later in January when the four carriers, on passage to Australia with the British Pacific Fleet, launched huge strikes against the oil refineries at Palembang in Sumatra. The refineries, vital to the Japanese war effort, were not totally destroyed but could only operate at much reduced output for the rest of the war.
The squadron's last operation under Cheesman was Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa, which began on April 1st, 1945. The carriers' task was to neutralise the airfields on the islands of the Sakishima Gunto, a chain which ran between Formosa and Okinawa, to prevent the Japanese staging replacement aircraft through them. The Squadron strafed targets in the islands and in Formosa with rockets and cannon fire. In all, they fired 950 rockets, flew more than 400 sorties, and shot down six enemy aircraft. They lost seven of their own aircraft, and one observer.
After the war, Cheesman commanded 766 Squadron, the operational training unit at HMS Nightjar, Inskip, and was Naval Liaison Officer on the staff of the Fighter Leader School, RAF West Raynham. He left the Marines in 1950, preferring retirement to life in the Corps as it then was.
Cheesman was one of the best known and most popular pilots in the Fleet Air Arm. He was an excellent squadron CO, the mere sound of his voice over the radio telephone giving his aircrew confidence that all would be well with "Cheese" in charge.
The alarms and accidents of a carrier pilot's life left him unruffled. The only time anyone ever saw him seriously annoyed was when a young pilot in Striker crashed Cheese's Hurricane, named "Libby" after his girlfriend, into a barrier.
He was a staunch supporter of the Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association, and for many years organised the monthly meetings of members in the south Midlands. He regularly attended 1770 reunions.

MAJOR V B G "CHEESE" CHEESMAN, Cheesman led 1770 Squadron's attack on Japanese ships at Sakishima Gunto, April 1945

1942. Late. The RM Siege Regiment. Lt. Col L. Foster was appointed CO and the Regiment’s strength was reduced from some 7002 to 300 in late 1942. the gun crews in ‘civvy’ street a store manager, labourers, lorry drivers, a solicitor’s clerk, a policeman, tradesmen and clerks among them had long periods when the guns were not in action, and these men formed an infantry unit with support weapons (a 74–mm gun, six Blacker Bombards, five MMGs and six 3in mortars) for local defence in 1942.
The two heavy guns (described in chapter 3) were BL 14in Mk VIIs.4 The supercharge of SC 500 cordite,5 was not available in this strand size after 1944, as loaded in four quarter–charges. In the final shoots as the Allies entered Boulogne and Calais, virtually all the ammunition was used, and the Germans fired their reserves of ammunition for their big guns, much of it into Dover, Kent.
The Regiment came under the command of the Vice Admiral at Dover from August 1940 to 15th September 1940, and thereafter under the army command of XII Corps (which in January 1942 became HQ SE District). In September 1941 the CO sought permission to use the guns offensively, for by that time the invasion of England seemed unlikely, and there was ample ammunition:7 350 rounds of HE for the 14in, 400 rounds for the 13.5in and spare barrels (2 for the 14in and six for the 13.5in). When Scharnhorst and Gneisenau came through the Channel, however, the siege gun crews were doing infantry training and only two 14in rounds were fired on predetermined coordinates, a spot in the channel previously decided by XII Corps HQ. The ships had been picked up on coastal radar when 38 miles south of Hastings (East Sussex) at 1050 hours, but the coast batteries were not told to fire until the ships had passed through the Channel, when the army’s 9.2in guns got three hits on a rapidly receding target.
The following month the Regiment manned the experimental 13 in gun named ‘Bruce’, after Vice Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser. Test firings into the sea south of Hastings were closely monitored, and some useful data collected on the ballistics of high trajectory and high velocity guns.
By 1942 the German long range batteries were conserving ammunition against the day of an Allied invasion, and there was little activity until the Regiment fired its remaining rounds in September 1944, when the Germans were being driven from the French coats. The siege gun crews were then disbanded, many men going to Dalditch for the School of Mines, a unit set up to train men in clearing Pacific beaches. but in November 1944 they were sent to RMTG (Wales), destined for the infantry battalions or the 34th Amphian Support Regiment. The Siege Regiment HQ was disbanded in March 1945. (RMHS)

1942. The RM Division Holding Unit. This unit was opened during 1942 and disbanded 12th October 1943 after its personnel had been transferred.(RMHS)

1942. RM Anti-Tank Regiment. On the organisation of organic artillery for the RM Division, 102 Bde Artillery HQ took all but the Field Batteries from the RM Field Artillery Regiment to form the Anti–Tank Regiment at Dalditch, where the Regiment had under command 1st and 2nd Anti–Tank Btys and 31st and 32nd Light Btys. These units moved to Burry Port, South Wales for gunnery training on 6th November, and were mobilised there on 20th November. The Regiment moved to Bournemouth, Dorset, early in December, carrying out practice shoots on nearby ranges. In June 1943 the Regiment was concentrated at Wimborne, Dorset, and the Batteries redesignated Support Craft Batteries, before RM Anti–Tank Rgt HQ was disbanded on 31st July. (RMHS)

1942 - 1944. 'How The Marines Assaulted Tobruk 'By Major Wilfred R. Sendall RM.
Perhaps the magnificent success that attended the great Combined Operations of 1942, 1943 and 1944 may have led many to underestimate the immense difficulties of amphibious assault against a coast defended by modern weapons. To do so would be unjust to the men who planned and executed the three D-Days in North Africa, Sicily and Normandy; t would be more than unjust to those who bought with their lives the experience on which those victories were built Dieppe, we all know, was part of the price paid, and 40 RM Commando was there to help pay it Less well known was the gallant failure of the 11th Battalion, Royal Marines, in their raid on Tobruk on 14 September 1942 11 RM started life as the Land Defence Force of the Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation that distinguished itself in Crete.
Part of the tragedy of Crete is the fact that 11 RM did not reach the island in time to take part in the battle, to meet the very situation for which it had been trained, for the presence at Maleme of even one well-trained, fully equipped and fresh battalion might have had an incalculable effect on the course of history, After Crete 11 RM went into training in the Marines classic role, as an amphibious striking force at the disposal of the Naval Commander -in-Chief.
Their first task was a small-scale but entirely successful raid on the little island of Kuphonisi, south-east of Crete, where one company destroyed an Italian radar station. Later, in great secrecy at Haifa the battalion began preparing its stroke against Tobruk, by this time Rommel's vital forward supply be against the Eighth Army at El Alamein. The object of this raid was to get control of the harbour for 12 hours, time for demolition parties to wreck completely the port installations that saved the Germans 260 miles of road transport The sea-borne raid was to take place in conjunction with operations ashore by the Long Range Desert Group.
On 11th September the battalion, with attached parties of Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers, embarked at Haifa in the destroyers HMS SIKH and ZULU Sailing early next morning and making 25 knots, the two ships reached Alexandria after dark that night Intelligence officers with the latest "gen" and certain small special parties were rapidly embarked, the two destroyers slipping away again before dawn. When the sun came up the Marines on board found them­selves steaming due east, escorted by the anti-aircraft cruiser HMS COVENTRY and two Hunt class destroyers.
At this time the secret of the objective was broached to all ranks, and final briefing took place Later, the convoy altered course to the north-east, then north-west till they were making towards Crete. As darkness fell SIKH and ZULU broke away from their escort and steered due west at the top of their great speed. At midnight they altered course again, due south, straight for Tobruk.
At that moment 60 RAF Wellingtons began a bombardment of Tobruk that lasted three hours As the destroyers closed the harbour mouth the questing searchlights, the garish colours of climbing flak and the dull flashes of bomb-bursts could be seen on the horizon, a confusion of lights and fires glowed through the thick darkness, At two o'clock the code word "Nigger" was. received, indicating that the Long Range Desert Group had taken a coastal battery at the mouth of the harbour, the essential pre-requisite of the raid. A quarter of an hour later. came a signal from the Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, who ever since the days of Antwerp in 1914 has had a soft spot for the Royal Marines, wishing them good luck in their latest enterprise.
Cheers went up from the crowded mess-decks of both destroyers, then the men of the first flight in both destroyers climbed into their harness. Just after three o'clock, when they were two-and-a-­half miles offshore, the powerful engines that had been driving SIKH and ZULU at over 30 knots slowed down and stopped. There was a heavy swell, but all appeared quiet in the neighbourhood of the beach, though Tobruk was still a pyrotechnic uproar.
A large fire burning in the town threw the escarpment behind the beach into sharp relief but obscured the beach itself to eyes straining through the darkness from seaward. The craft for the assault were then lowered. These, however, were not the handy LCA used at Dieppe and in North Africa, all of which were needed for the vast attack now preparing at the other end of the Mediterranean,
They consisted of six wooden power-boats each towing two dumb lighters that had been specially built for the occasion. Scrambling nets were thrown out and the Marines began to embark. The craft heaved and tossed on the swell, making embarkation difficult for men loaded up with 24-hour rations, a full water-bottle, a hundred rounds and at least one Bren magazine, together with a liberal provision of grenades, slabs of gun-cotton, primers, detonators and fuses. In addition, many of the Army men now descending by the shifting nets had not the long practice of the Marines in this tricky operation. After some delay the first flight was packed in and the destroyers steamed away, to return later to a rendezvous where they would meet the craft back from the beach for the second flight.
It was then that the troubles began. The tow ropes failed to stand the strain of heaving and tossing in the swell. Several soon parted. One broken rope twined itself round the propeller of one of the power-boats while the whole bow-piece of one of the lighters was pulled out by the violence of the sea. Of the six tows only three were able to struggle with great difficulty to the beach after wrestling for over an hour with the malevolent sea.
To make matters worse the enemy soon began to show an unwelcome interest in the proceedings. A searchlight began to sweep the sea at 30-second intervals, the craft were soon spotted, and HMS SIKH, returning to the rendezvous, was also picked up. A battery of heavy coastal guns opened fire on her while a crashing fusillade of small­er weapons opened on the three sets of barges that were closing the beach. Major J N Hedley, senior officer in these craft, with orders to land and establish a bridgehead, shouted "Full speed ahead and prepare to land," As the craft closed in the enemy opened up with all he had; 88-mm, shells, mortar bombs and bullets hailed upon them, The Marines could see the white surf crashing upon the rocks, while behind them, in the lurid light of searchlights and shell bursts, SIKH and ZULU were fighting their last desperate, unequal battle with the-shore batteries. A shell smashed into the leading power-boat and she began to sink. The dumb lighters were cast off and the Marines took to the water, whipped all around them by bullets. The more fortunate found bottom and scrambled up over the slippery wet rocks.
Then the dumb lighters crunched on to the rocks, The Marines leaped out, many slipping into Deepwater that completely covered them. Gasping for breath, dragged down by the weight of water in their equipment, they clawed their way on to the slippery shelves, still lashed by the enemy's fire. As one lighter struck she took a direct hit from a mortar bomb that blew out her bows. A few of her company struggled to the shore. A mortar bomb dropped plumb into another lighter, the burst killing six men.
The remnants of the force got across the beach as fast as they could and went to ground, bullets screaming over them and the ugly fragments of mortar bombs that whir through the air like the sound of the wings of a startled pheasant. The last of the lighters crashed on to the rocks and overturned, flinging the men into six feet of water, and many were lost before they gained the beach.
The whole landing had gone astray, The scanty few who survived were on the wrong beach, their craft smashed to matchwood on the rocks, while out at sea HMS ZULU, after an effort to tow off the mortally stricken SIKH, reluctantly abandoned her sister ship and withdrew, only to be subjected to a series of devastating air attacks that sank her before she reached Alexandria. Under the circumstances no one would have blamed Major Hedley if he had thrown up the sponge, but instead he gathered those who had survived that terrible landing - fewer than a hundred men-and resolved to do the enemy all the damage he could.
Though he was under no illusion as to their plight, he was cheer­ful, determined and inspired every man with him with a vigorous offensive spirit. Valiantly supported by Capt Wright, Lieut C N P Powell, Lieut Dyall and Sergeant J Povall, he organised his little force, leading them forward into a wadi under heavy fire.
Sergeant Povall and three Marines on the right flank encountered about 20 enemy advancing on them. They opened fire and the enemy fled. A hundred yards farther on they met another party. In the words of Corporal G T Hunt, one of the survivors: "We had occasion to kill many Italians with bayonet and bullet." After about half a mile the force came against a prepared defence position, supported by heavy machine-gun posts.
Against these Major Hedley led the attack himself, with a well-aimed grenade putting out of action a machine-gun mounted on a lorry. During this fight, Hedley, with Sergeant Povall, attacked a section post manned by six Italians. Povall shot the first but before he could reload, Major Hedley shot the other five with his revolver.
One of the Corps' notable pistol shots, he never did better shooting than this. Lieut Dyall led an attack on a group of buildings; he shot one Italian but was killed by a bullet from another standing in the shadows. This man was disposed of by Corporal Hunt.
Hedley's aggressive spirit kindled the whole party. Though all the time they were under fire, constantly having to dive to ground when Verey lights illuminated them, they never hesitated to attack the enemy wherever they found him, usually with the bayonet. To quote Corporal Hunt again: "I heard Sergeant Povall well up in front, shouting encouragement and appearing to enjoy himself, judging by the remarks he was making. He used his bayonet with great effect on any occasions."
Major Hedley was pressing on as fast as possible, hoping to reach adequate cover before full daylight. A large party of Italians tried to surrender but the Marines ignored them in favour of a Breda gun position which was silenced. Corporal Hunt, who had been wounded in the left side over the heart- but still carried on leading his section, saved his Commanding Officer's life. An Italian rushed Hedley, who for the moment was out of ammunition. Quick as a flash Hunt fired from the hip and killed the man as he charged.
The wadi ended in a steep, bare slope, swept by fire. Engaging the principal enemy position with fire from rifle and Bren, the Marines neutralised it sufficiently to get across the skyline. For the first time since they landed they were no longer under enemy fire, but it was a sadly depleted party-only seventeen strong- that Major Hedley gathered in an old building, where they settled down to cleaning their weapons. Corporal White of the RAMC, who had gallantly stuck to the party, dressed their wounds, but as he hoped to strike overland under cover of night in hope of reaching British forces, the Major forbade them to touch water or rations. Then they pushed on over a high ridge into an "S" shaped wadi, at the head of which were some caves, in which they took shelter. Here Hedley planned to lie up until nightfall, but during the afternoon a large force of Germans surrounded the caves. The seventeen were forced to surrender.
Thus ended a failure, illuminated by as fine a courage as any victory, conducted according to the highest traditions of a famous Corps. Many of those who survived the ill-fated raid had their revenge in the fullness of time, when in the ranks of the Royal Marine Commandos, they came up from the sea once more to smite the enemy. After the war Major Sendall RM joined the staff of the 'Daily Express' as correspondent.
Reprinted from "The NAVY" February 1946 (The official organ of the Navy League)

1943. February. Another Force X RM was formed at Deal with 480 RM Engineers, kitted for shore service but with sea kit bags. Each man had a rifle, 50 rounds of ammunition and the Force had three days rations. Its postal address was RM Detachment 300. Having had embarkation leave, the Detachment was ready for overseas service by March 1943 (dated 3rd February 1943). Elements of  Force X or possibly  men  from Detachment 300 were still in Iceland in 1944. (RMHS)

1943. Saturday 13th March. 410 Kings Squad passed for duty at Chatham. G.E.C. Corden-Gilbert was awarded the Kings Badge. Squad Photo.

1943. Mid-March. 1st RM Anti–Tank, 1st RM AA/Anti–Tank and 2nd RM Anti–Tank: these Batteries initially had 2pdr Portees in four Troops or 2pdr Pom–Poms; by mid–March 1943 they had some 6pdrs.(RMHS)

1943. Saturday 20th March. Ten military class Naval Trawlers were constructed by Cook Welton & Gemmel Ltd of Beverly who launched 75 Trawlers to Royal Navy designs, based on commercial ships.
The 'HMS Royal Marine' (ASW Trawler Type) was ordered on Saturday 20th March as part of the 1943 Trawler program. Heavy demands were made on the Trawlers during the war years for A/S and M/S work in the opening stages of the war and they proceeded far afield, even to providing the A/S screen for some of the ocean convoys. Their weatherly qualities always of the highest order, often resulted in their being the only form of escort operative in bad weather and they could keep to the seas when even destroyers were compelled to seek shelter.
These ships had a displacement of 750 tons and were powered by a steam reciprocating engine producing 1,100 S.H.P giving a top speed of 11 knots. She was armed with a single 4in gun plus Four 20mm A.A guns. 'Royal Marine' survived the war and was later sold out of navy service to become the 'Sisapon' in 1946. She was later converted to a deep water trawler with diesel engines for Icelandic fishing.
She was ordered on the Saturday 20th March 1943.
Laid down on the Tuesday 30th March 1943.
Launched on the Saturday 22nd July 1944.
Commissioned on the Monday 30th October 1944.
Was de-commissioned and sold Thursday 11th April 1946.
Commands listed for HMS Royal Marine (T 395)
T/S. Lt. Leonard Norman Holmes, RNVR. September 1944 to Tuesday 29th May 1945.
Lt. Wallace Melville Baird, RNR. Tuesday 29th May 1945 to Thursday 13th December 1945.

HMS Royal Marine

1943. April. The 23rd RM Battalion was formed at Dalditch as part of 104 RM Trg Bde, the battalion moved to Towyn in the summer of 1944, and it was merged in October with 22nd RM Bn.(RMHS)

1943. April. The 1st Special Air Service (SAS) was divided into two with 250 men from the SAS and the Small-Scale Raiding Force, forming the Special Boat Squadron under command Major the Earl Jellicoe. They moved to Haifa and trained with the Greek Sacred Regiment for operations in the Aegean.

1943. April. The MB Group’ with XXXIII Indian Corps The 1 RM AA Brigade HQ, 1st RM (Heavy) AA Rgt and a Landing and Maintenance Unit, were sent to India from Ceylon in April 1943, commander Brig V. D. Thomas, to train for amphibious operations in the Arakan. The ‘Group’ was under the command of XXXIII Indian Corps. The proposed operations were deferred and the ‘Group’ is disbanded about January 1944. (RMHS)

1943. April. Major William Martin's claim to fame? During World War II, British intelligence officers managed to pull off one of the most successful wartime deceptions ever achieved: Operation Mincemeat. In April 1943, a decomposing corpse was discovered floating off the coast of Huelva, in southern Spain. Personal documents identified him as Major William Martin of Britain’s Royal Marines, and he had a black attaché case chained to his wrist. When Nazi intelligence learned of the downed officer’s briefcase (as well as concerted efforts made by the British to retrieve the case), they did all they could to gain access. Though Spain was officially neutral in the conflict, much of its military was pro-German, and the Nazis were able to find an officer in Madrid to help them. In addition to other personal effects and official-looking documents, they found a letter from military authorities in London to a senior British officer in Tunisia, indicating that Allied armies were preparing to cross the Mediterranean from their positions in North Africa and attack German-held Greece and Sardinia.
This intelligence coup for the Nazi spy network allowed Adolf Hitler to transfer German troops from France to Greece ahead of what was believed to be a massive enemy invasion. The only problem? It was all a hoax. The “drowned” man was actually a Welsh tramp whose body was obtained in a London morgue by British intelligence officers Charles Cholmondeley and Ewen Montagu, the brains behind Operation Mincemeat. After creating an elaborate fake identity and backstory for “William Martin,” Cholmondeley and Montagu got Charles Fraser-Smith (thought to be the model for Q in the James Bond novels, written by former British naval intelligence officer Ian Fleming) to design a special container to preserve the body during its time in the water. One of England’s leading racecar drivers transported the container to a Royal Navy submarine, which dropped it off the Spanish coast. Once the Spanish recovered the body, British authorities began their frantic attempts to recover the case, counting on the fact that their efforts would convince the Nazis of the documents’ validity. As a result of the false intelligence carried by “William Martin,” the Nazis were caught unawares when 160,000 Allied troops invaded Sicily on July 10, 1943. In addition to saving thousands of Allied soldiers’ lives, Operation Mincemeat helped further Italian leader Benito Mussolini’s downfall and turn the tide of the war towards an Allied victory in Europe. (www.history.com/news/what-was-operation-mincemeat)

1943. April. The 21st to 26th RM Light later RM Light AA: initially equipped with 8 to 12 Pom–Poms; some subsequently had Oerlikons on lorries, but after Bofors guns became available, these Batteries were re–equipped. For example, the ‘22nd’ when a Light AA Bty had 16 Bofors when serving with 1st (Heavy) AA Rgt in Ceylon during April 1943, at a time when army Bofors batteries were of 12 guns. The ‘22nd’ were deployed to protect the heavy gun batteries from low–flying air attacks. Later the ‘22nd’ had 18 Bofors and 12 Oerlikons on Hazard lorry–type mountings when in India in the autumn of 1943.
RM Light Battery: this battery went to Norway in 1940 with 3.7–in pack howitzers of an old design. The strength was eight officers and 123 other ranks. A memo from AGRM No. 2147/40S of 13th May 1940 directed that the men of this battery be deployed in re–forming ‘Devon’ Battery of coast guns with eight 3.7–in howitzers, and that they were to begin training with MNBDO Group but not to form part of the Group’s War Establishment. But see unit history summary of ‘Devon’ Battery. (RMHS)

1943. Saturday 1st May. ‘The Man Who Never Was’, posing as Royal Marine Officer. Major William Martin.
On 1st May 1943 a body was discovered on a beach in Spain, (some sources say that it was found a little out to sea) by a local fisherman. The body was predictably brought to the Spanish authorities, who, in turn, allowed German intelligence to investigate the body and its possessions. The dead man, who would later become known as “The man who never was,” was roughly 34 years of age, was wearing a life preserver and the uniform of a British soldier. He also had a briefcase chained to his body. He had apparently drowned, and it was assumed that he did so after becoming the victim of a plane crash, out at sea. That was not the case.
“The man who never was” was identified by the Germans as Major William Martin of the Royal Marines. They were able to ascertain his identity by the contents of the briefcase, which held the man’s identification and various other personal items. That was not all the Germans found in the briefcase. There was also a letter written by Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Nye, who was the British commanding officer in North Africa. The letter contained detailed information regarding “Operation Husky,” a plan by Allies to invade Axis-controlled Europe through Corsica, Sardinia and Greece. It also mentioned that they planned to launch a fake attack on Sicily to divert German attention away from the above-mentioned area.
It was a turning point in the Second World War. As the Allies prepared to invade Sicily in 1943, they wanted to dupe the Germans into thinking that their attack would be aimed elsewhere.
To carry out the deception, a plan was concocted in which a body was dumped in the sea, to be discovered by Axis forces, carrying fake 'secret documents' suggesting the invasion would be staged in Greece, 500 miles away.
Incredibly, the trick worked and the diversion of German troops to Greece has been credited by historians with playing a major part in the success of the Sicily invasion. The episode was later immortalised in the 1956 film The Man Who Never Was.
Yet to this day, just whose body was used in "Operation Mincemeat" has remained a source of secrecy, confusion and conspiracy theory.
In a forthcoming book, a historian claims to have finally established beyond any reasonable doubt the identity of the person who 'played' the part of the dead man: a homeless Welshman called Glyndwr Michael.

ID Card

The body, which was given the identity of a fake Royal Marine called 'Major William Martin', was dropped into the sea off Spain in 1943.
Winston Churchill had remarked that "Anyone but a bloody fool would know it was Sicily", but after the tides carried Major Martin's body into the clutches of Nazi agents, Hitler and his High Command became convinced Greece was the target. "You can forget about Sicily. We know it's in Greece," proclaimed General Alfred Jodl, head of the German supreme command operations staff.
"Mincemeat swallowed, rod, line and sinker" was the message sent to Churchill after the Allies learned the plot had worked.
In recent years, there have been repeated claims that Mincemeat's chief planner, Lieutenant Commander Ewen Montagu, was so intent on deceiving the Germans that he stole the body of a crew member from HMS Dasher, a Royal Navy aircraft carrier which exploded off the Scottish coast in March 1943 and lied to the dead man's relatives.
In 2003, a documentary based on 14 years of research by former police officer Colin Gibbon claimed that 'Major Martin' was Dasher sailor Tom Martin.
Then in 2004, official sanction appeared to be given to another candidate, Tom Martin's crewmate John Melville. At a memorial service on board the current HMS Dasher, a Royal Navy patrol vessel, off the coast of Cyprus, Lieutenant Commander Mark Hill named Mr Melville as Major Martin, describing him as "a man who most certainly was". Mr Melville's daughter, Isobel Mackay, later told The Scotsman newspaper: "I feel very honoured if my father saved 30,000 Allied lives."
However, Professor Denis Smyth, a historian at Toronto University, whose book Operation Mincemeat: Death, Deception and the Mediterranean D-Day is due to be published later this year, believes he has now finally laid to rest such "conspiracy theories".
During his research, he came across a "most secret" memo written by Commander Montagu, the significance of which appears to have been overlooked and which Professor Smyth says proves the body of Mr Michael, who was mentally ill and died after ingesting rat poison at the time the operation was being planned, was used. Mr Michael was first proposed as The Man Who Never Was by an amateur historian in 1996, but the evidence to support this failed to convince supporters of the Dasher theory.
Tellingly, the memo unearthed by Professor Smyth was written after the body had been buried in Spain and addressed fears among senior officers that it would be exhumed for a second post-mortem which would confirm 'Major Martin' was a fake.
In it, Commander Montagu reports a conversation he had with coroner Dr William Bentley Purchase: "Mincemeat [the body] took a minimal dose of a rat poison containing phosphorus. This dose was not sufficient to kill him outright and its only effect was so to impair the functioning of the liver that he died a little time afterwards.
"Apart from the smallness of the dose, the next point is that phosphorus is not one of the poisons readily traceable after long periods, such as arsenic, which invades the roots of the hair."
Professor Smyth said: "What they talk about is whether the traces of the rat poison this person had taken could show up. So the person buried in Spain died from taking rat poison, not drowning, and therefore it is Glyndwr Michael.
"People love a conspiracy and a group has emerged who argue that this body was entirely unsuitable because it would have been riddled with rat poison.
"I think I've demolished what they think is the case for the counter-argument, that this body wouldn't have passed muster in the post mortem. The post mortem verdict was precisely as the British had expected, it was deemed to be a victim of drowning."
Asked about the 2004 ceremony on HMS Dasher, Professor Smith said: "It is very embarrassing ... I think this seals it. I've also been able to establish, I think beyond any reasonable, any rational doubt, the identity of the corpse involved."
However, John Steele, author of The Secrets of HMS Dasher, insisted Glyndwr Michael would not have passed muster as a Marine because he was an alcoholic – although Professor Smyth says there is no record of his illness – and said he remains convinced it was Melville.
"I've received a comprehensive report from a top dental expert regarding the teeth of Glyndwr Michael, what he would expect to find. There is no comparison whatsoever between the body of an alcoholic tramp and that of a Royal Marine," he said.
"I can tell you Montagu pinched a body. There's no way a brilliant barrister such as Montagu would take one slight risk that this operation would go haywire.
"Montagu was meticulous and would never have sent the body of a tramp.
"Bill Jewell, the commander of the submarine Seriph, said it was 'highly unlikely' the body of a tramp would have been used in this operation and he put it into the water with three of his officers."
He claims Montagu decided not only to fool the Germans but also his own commanders, whose "first reaction was this is macabre, this doesn't happen in England". "All the secrecy was imposed because the body used was from Dasher," Mr Steele said. "And we couldn't have the British public finding out that a body was stolen."
Mr Melville's daughter Mrs Mackay, 70, of Galashiels, in the Scottish Borders, said she agreed with Mr Steele. "The whole thing finished for me in Cyprus when the Dasher was honoured and the Navy asked me out there. That is it as far as it's concerned," she said. www.telegraph.co.uk)

1943. June. The 848 squadron was officially formed in June 1943 as a torpedo bomber, reconnaissance, Avenger squadron at Quonset Point Naval Air Station, and subsequently embarked on HMS Trumpeter in October 1943, for the UK.
Assigned to HMS Formidable between 1944 and 1945, 848 Squadron provided air support for the invasion of Okinawa (Operation Iceberg).
The squadron reformed at RNAS Gosport (HMS Siskin) on Wednesday 29th October 1952 with American-built Westland Whirlwind HAS.21s for work in Malaya. 848 sqdn 26 whirlwind MK 7 aircraft joined HMS Bulwark in early 1960 and deployed to the Far East for two and a half years - when the ship was in Singapore the sqdn detached to the shore base HMS Sinbang RNAS Sembawang (HQ of the 3rd Commando Brigade & 42 Commando RM) In December 1962 848 returned on HMS Bulwark to Plymouth and detached to its new home HMS Seahawk RNAS Culdrose.

1943. June. 299 Kings Squad passed for duty. Squad Photo.

1943. June /July. The 1st and 2nd RM Field: initially equipped with 8 x 18/25pdrs and three armoured mobile Observation Posts (the ‘2nd’ only existed for eight weeks in June/July 1943 and trained on 25pdrs with RA at Harrogate, Yorkshire). (RMHS)

1943. Saturday 24th July. The 3 Mobile Naval Base Brigade was formed at the time Japanese amphibious and other raids were expected on naval bases in
Ceylon during the summer of 1943. The Commander Brig J. H. G. Wills, OBE, had under command: 1st RM Coast Rgt, from August 1943 to December 1944;21 and from formation 24th RM Bn, 3rd RM Coast Rgt, ‘S’ Searchlight Bty, 2nd RM AA Rgt (operationally commanded by 24 (Army) AA Bde), the HQ Defence Platoon, etc. From mid-August 1943 to January 1844 the Brigade was based at Katukurunda,22 south of Colombo, in a ground defence role. Its higher formation was GHQ Ceylon, until early in 1944 it reverted to Admiralty control, when it was briefly commanded by Brig H. T. Tollemache (who also commanded the Small Operations Group in Ceylon). The MN Brigade returned to UK, arriving on 16th March 1944 and was officially disbanded on 17th May 1944 (RMRO 719/44). The HQ had closed on 14th May, when 3 officers and a 100 men went to commando training and other remustered for LC crews etc from a total strength that April had been 927 all ranks. (RMHS)

1943. Quartermaster Sergeant Norman Finch V.C. was promoted to temporary Lieutenant in charge of stores. Serving at 104 (training) RM Brigade, RM Training Group Dalditch Devon.

1943. Late July. The 24th RM Battalion HQ of this Battalion it was forming in late July 1943 in Ceylon and drew men mainly from MNBDO I, with a nucleus from ‘R’ Searchlight Bty, but the Battalion was never brought to full strength before returning to the UK and was disbanded 15th May 1944.(RMHS)

1943. Sunday 1st August. 44 RM Commando / 44 Commando RM. was formed. Origin and titles:
Formed at Ashurst, Hampshire, from the 3rd RM Bn, the unfit and unsuitable members of the Battalion being drafted to other units. The Commando’s title having been briefly 44 RM Commando (Light), was changed in 1946 to 44 Commando RM, and the following year, on 16th March 1947, it was redesignated 40 Commando RM, which had origins as the first RM Cdo, and which title the Corps wished to retain, in perpetuating the titles of Commandos which had each served in a principal theatre of World War II.
Principal operations and deployments:
In training at Achnacarry in September 1943; sailed for the Far East, arriving in India for training from December 1943 to February 1944; deployed in Burma from March 1944; 11th-17th March made landings at Alethangyaw in rear of Japanese lines; March-April patrolling from Maungdaw; 9th April moved to Silchar; 13th August at Trincomalee after transit via Bangalore, then to training with 3 Commando Brigade before landings at Myebon etc. In 1945 the Commando sailed for Hong Kong, landing on 11th–12th September; they remained with the Brigade on garrison duties after the civil administration was restored in March 1946, and were renamed.
Commando RM summary history.
Miscellaneous:
Early in 1946 they cut their crest in a 2ft deep outline 80ft by 54ft on the hill side at Fanling, facing the Chinese border with Hong Kong, but little of this earthwork remained in 1970. Memorable date: Kangaw 31st January (in 1945). No record of a  unit flag has been traced. The companies were designated as: A Troop; B Tp; C Tp; D Tp; X tp; S Tp; and HQ Troop.(RMHS)

1943. Sunday 1st August. Forton Barracks Royal Marines Light Infantry (RMLI) was closed.

1943. Sunday 1st August. 43 RM Commando and 43 Commando RM Origin and titles:
Formed on 1st August 1943 at Hursley (nr Winchester) from 2nd RM Bn and absorbed in 40 RM Cdo as of 12th September 1945. In 1961, when the Corps was reorganising its Commando Units, 43 Commando RM was re-formed (5th September) at Plymouth and disbanded at Eastney in mid-November 1968.
Principal operations in World War II:
After training in Scotland, the Commando joined 2 SS Bde, arriving in North Africa late in 1943:
23rd 24th January 1944 landed as flank force at Anzio against little opposition; 2nd February with 9 (Army) Cdo attacked hill features after night infiltration north of Allied position on Garigliano River; 28th February landed on Vis, joining 2 SS Brigade’s force on this island; 22th - 23rd March raided Hvar with partisans; in May carried out unit recces on Uljan and Pasman islands with 9 (Army) Cdo and 43 RM Cdo; 22nd May raid on Mljet with other units proved unsuccessful in steep hills; 2nd-4th June on Brac a small recce patrol returned to Brac (20th June) but found no suitable positions for artillery to shell garrison; July, recce patrol on Hvar, ambushed Germans (12th July) and visited Korcula; artillery landed after patrols on Korcula and Peljesak Peninsula; 11th September returned to Brac to block possible German threats from the mainland when partisans took control of this island; 16th-18th September landed on Solta and drove garrison into heavily a defended enclave; 27th September sailed from Vis for Italy. From 28th October to 22nd December 1944 part of ‘Floyd Force’ landed at Dubrovnik (at that time in Yugoslavia) as nucleus of force engaged in mountain warfare. After intense training in Italy the Commando took over a sector of the line south of Comacchio Spit for several periods in March 1945; 2nd April operation ‘Roast’, Lake Comacchio, where Cpl Tom Hunter was awarded a posthumous VC for actions in April; the Commando reached a point short of the Valetta canal; and relieved on 4th April. On 16th April, after moving to Argenta area, the Commando advanced on the Quaderna canal, cutting the Argenta road; 17th April successfully stormed buildings in open country north of Argenta Road and held off strong counterattacks but withdrawn at daylight on 18th April; the next night again advanced to the buildings before moving westwards, clearing the banks of the Reno; this was the commando’s last action, and in June it returned to the UK being absorbed into 40 Cdo RM on 12th September 1945. Re–formation in 1961
For the six months after reforming in September, the Commando was training while it was built up to full establishment; 12 Marines from the Commando served as orderlies and guards on Prime Minister Macmillan’s visit to Bermuda on 20th December 1961; 1st - 2nd March 1962 reorganised from Troops to three rifle companies, a Support Coy and an HQ Coy.
Major deployments 1962 - 68:
October 1962 on exercise ‘Donald Duck’ in Norway; mid 1963 exercise on Normandy Coast; 6th - 13th September on exercise ‘Bar Frost II’ in Norway; 7th January 1964 placed in Strategic Reserve at 10 days’ notice and organised for air lift, having trained to be air portable; 6th March embarked in Bulwark for North African exercise ‘Sand Fly II’ and subsequently training before being flow back to UK. In January 1965 took part in exercise ‘Cold Winter’ in Norway; 2nd July presented with colours by the Duke of Edinburgh; November, helicopter landing exercise ‘Gadfly II’; March 1966 used in exercise ‘Morning Glory’ to test command and control from HMS Fearless; 24th June embarked in Bulwark for ‘Dry Fly’ exercise at Inverary (Scotland); 28th February 1967 elements of the Commando to Nassau (Bahamas) for exercise ‘Winter Sun’; spring of 1967 reorganised into special companies for demonstrations etc in recruiting: ‘O’ Coy in London ceremonies and display; ‘P’ Coy at Royal Tournament and street lining parties for ceremonial parades; and ‘R’ Coy providing youth activity teams. On 28th November 1967 to Melville (later Comacchio) Camp in Portsmouth; April 1968 recruiting companies reorganised as ‘O’ and ‘P’ prior to rundown during autumn.
Miscellaneous:
Flag with a red background and yellow segment carrying red dagger (cp: 40 RM Cdo).16 Memorable date: 2nd April, the battle of Comacchio (in 1945)
Companies: ‘O’, ‘P’ and ‘R’ in 1968.
Landed Falkland Islands 20/21 May; advanced by helicopter to Mt Kent and patrolled from the Mt Kent
31 May to 11 June; night attack on Mt Harriet was successful 11/12 June; flown forward to NE shoulder
of Tumbledown and marched into Stanley 14 June.
1983  Exercises in Canada.
1984    tour in South Armagh, N Ireland
1985  M Coy in London ceremonies, November.
1986  exercise ‘Westward Shift’ with 42RM ‘opposing’ Dutch 1 ACG & 45 RM Grp.
Exercise with Spanish amphibious shipping
London Public Duties 17 June to 15 July
Exercises ‘Sea Soldier’ and ‘Eternal Triangle’
1987  Recce Trp in N Ireland with Army units.
1988  Deployed in Norway during Spring, WD87.
1989  In Belfast during tour of N Ireland
M Coy training at Fort Whiteroga.
1992  Tour in N Ireland
1995  In the summer L Coy carried out joint training in Romania with the Romanian 2nd Mountain Brigade in
the Brasvo/Predeal region.(Exercise ‘Eastern Climb’).
M Coy as Fleet Stand By Rifle Coy assisted civilians on Montserrat after volcano eruptions, helped in the aftermath of a hurricane on Anguilla in September.
K Coy and elements of HQ in exercise ‘French Phoenix’ off the coast of South Wales, before going to Brunei for exercise ‘Curry Trail’.
1996  In America on exercise ‘Purple Star’.
1997  Norway on WD97
Miscellaneous:
Flag of red St George cross on white cross over yellow ground, with white number ‘42’ dissected by
inverted dagger in the centre. This flag is based on a Lt–Col’s colour in the Lord High Admiral’s Rgt of
1664–89, adopted by 1st RM Bn as their unit flag in World War II.
The Commando raised a pipe band in 1943, which, with only a few breaks over the years, continues in
1997. Since 1968 one of these pipers has been appointed the Commandant General’s piper.
Memorable dates: 31st January, the battle of Kangaw  (in 1945); and 11/12 June the attack on Mount Harriet (in 1982). Coys ‘K’, ‘L’ and ‘M’.(RMHS)

1943. Sunday 1st August. The 47 RM Commando was formed at Dorchester, West Dorset, mainly from 10th RM Battalion and disbanded at Haywards Heath, West Sussex, on Thursday 31st January 1946.
Origin and titles:
Principal operations 1943-46:
After training in Scotland a 32 strong detachment was provided for MTB operations from Lerwick (Shetland Islands), two raids were attempted: one successful in a landing in Norway; and the second aborted due to presence of enemy ships. 8th February 1944 to Herne Bay (Kent); landed Normandy 6th June and next day (D+1) prepared to assault Port en Bessin, captured the following day; 12th June moved to Orne line; 18th June raiding force sent into forward German positions; 19th August crossed Dives River to attack Dozule with 41 RM Cdo; moved to Beuzeville area and on 26th August after night infiltration took Toutanville; 31th August, after brief rest, crossed Seine and on 2nd September at Fécamp, closed the last enemy escape route from Le Havre; 18th September in line investing Dunkirk; during October at Wenduine carrying out amphibious exercises and joined by large draft of reinforcements. 1st November 1944 landed at Walcheren but only three of the Commando’s amphibious tracked Weasels survived the landing; by D+1 (2 November) afternoon all Troop commanders were casualties but on the morning of D+3 the Commando captured W11 battery and cleared the dunes towards Flushing before returning to Weduine on 10th-11th November. 25th November in training at Bergen op Zoom; 22nd December joined mobile reserve for defensive duties along the Maas, patrolling in anticipation of German counter–attack towards Antwerp, but only enemy fighting patrols crossed the river; 13th-14th January 1945 made attack on Kapelsches Veer Island, but, having forced a way into the defences, was withdrawn in face of strong opposition. The island was later captured by 10 Canadian Infantry Brigade. After returning to Bergen op Zoom, the Commando was deployed in defence of Walcheren; 12t March to North Beveland, raiding from there to German posts on Schouwen in the Schelt estuary; 7th-8th May invested Schouwen. Moved to Germany and by January 1946 were only 100 strong at Minden; brought up to strength in August and had army Troop under command with 130 army personnel serving in the Commando for a period; 31st August moved to Erkenschwick (Ruhr) to administer displaced persons; 28th November returned to UK shortly after moving to Warburg.
Miscellaneous: Memorable date: 7th June capture of Port en Bessin (in 1944).(RMHS)

1943. Sunday 7th August. 45 RM Commando / Commando RM. was formed from 5th RM Bn at Burley in Hampshire, with five Troops (‘A’ to ‘E’), support Troop (‘F’) and HQ Troop (‘H’), with 500 all ranks. (After world War II the Commando was reorganised in the UK, redesignated 45 Commando RM in Hong Kong about March 1946 and continues.)
Origin and titles:
Principal operations and deployments in World War II:
Landed 6th June 1944 in Normandy with 1 SS Bde; in Orne line; 19th August night infiltration with 1 SS Bde to Angerville; returned to Bexhill (Susses) after 83 days in France. Returned to Europe and on 23rd January 1945 in action at Montforterbeek; March to April in river crossings of the Rhine, Weser, Aller and Elbe; reached Neustadt on Baltic on 2nd May; stationed in Germany until June 1945, when the Commando returned to Sussex.
Reorganisation:
Far East.
Principal deployments 1946–50:
The Commando sailed for Hong Kong in January 1946; served on internal security duties in Hong Kong 1946-47. January 1947 Troops redesignated ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘X’ and ‘Z’ to come in line with other units in 3 Cdo bde; May 1947 to December 1948 based on Malta, deploying to: Benghazi (Libya) March 1948;
Haifa (modern Israel) in spring 1948; July last ‘HOs’ left; August training in Tripoli; January 1949 to Canal Zone catching 40 thieves, many stealing telephone cables; June/July at Aqaba, at that time Jordan’s only port. Sailed from Suez for Hong Kong in August to reinforce the Honk Kong garrison for nine months.
Malaya emergency 1950-52:
The commando arrived in Malaya from Hong Kong in June 1950 for jungle training; July at Tapah in Perak to resettle Chinese squatters and conduct antiterrorism patrols; August 1951 moved to Batu Gajah in Ipoh area, patrolling swamps; 31st March 1952 sailed for Malta.
Mediterranean 1953-59:
Carried out training while based on Malta and deployed from time to time. May 1953 in Canal Zone protecting ammunition dumps and carrying out amphibious exercises in eastern Mediterranean; returned to Malta in August 1954; training exercises in North Africa; and deployed from Malta to Cyprus in September 1955. Operations against EOKA terrorists in Cyprus, initially at Kyrenia on north coast, then in Troodos mountains; February 1956 formed ski-Troop. Returned to Malta on 16th August, for ‘Suez’ operation. Landed Port Said on 6th November, in first helicopter deployment in battle area; withdrawn to Malta in November. Deployed in 1956 to Tripoli for training; in Cyprus May to October 1957 on antiterrorist patrols; the Commando returned to Malta but ‘X’ and ‘Z’ Troops formed ‘Heliforce’ in Cyprus during June 1958; training in Benghazi before returning to Cyprus from July to December. In 1959 trained in Malta.
Aden 1960-67:
The Commando’s main body sailed from Malta and arrived in Aden on 4th April 1960; advanced elements had arrived in March and were in Dhala by 25th March, where the commando over the next six years would from time to time patrol to the Yemeni border. From 1st to 19th July in Kuwait as part of the defence force. In August first deployed on internal security in Aden Colony; in October patrolling from Dhala. In September 1962 reorganised from five Troops to ‘X’, ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ Companies. Training continued in Aden with some exercises in Kenya (East Africa), when all companies were there for two weeks in 1963 on ‘Winged Marine’. January/February 1964 in Tanganyika (central Africa) to aid local government quell a mutiny; March visited Mombasa (at that time in Kenya). First operations in the Radfan 30th April to 28th May, which was followed over the years by: second tour from 3rd July to 6th August; third - 20th January to 4th March 1965 (mounted 305 night patrols); fourth 20th April to May; fifth - 23rd June to 28th July; sixth 22nd September to 26 October; seventh 15th December to 28th January 1966; eighth 14th April to 22nd May; ninth  14th September to 10th November; tenth and last from 6th February to June 1967. Between tours in the Radfan, the Commando was frequently deployed on internal security duties in Aden Colony. The last elements of the Commando left Aden on 29th November 1967.
United Kingdom 1967-80:
Based on Stonehouse Barracks after returning from Aden, the Commando served in the Strategic Reserve. In June 1968 it was the ‘enemy’ in Norway for the exercise ‘Polar Express’. In October 1968 it was deployed in Northern Ireland. In the spring of 1969 ‘X’ coy was in the Bahamas, ‘Y’ Coy aboard Fearless in the Mediterranean and ‘Z’  Coy in Norway. 13th May 1969 HM the Queen Elizabeth II presented new colours to the Commando; in July ‘Z’ Coy deployed to the West Indies; September the Commando embarked in Bulwark for a month’s deployment as part of NATO’s southern flank forces in the Mediterranean. In 1970 commenced intensive snow warfare and mountain training, with 845 Naval Air Cdo Squadron and the four Sioux of an RM Cdo Flight. Spring 1971 850 all ranks moved to a new base in the old RNAS HMS Condor in Arbroath (Angus) as a Commando Group which in addition to 45 Cdo RM included: a battery of 29 Cdo Light Rgt RA; a Troop of 59th (Independent) Sqn RE; other support personnel; and an RM organisation for the base. The Commando was the first specialist Mountain and Arctic Warfare unit, although retaining general skills. There were tours in Northern Ireland: summer 1970; summer 1971 (when PO F. MacLaughlin was awarded the George Medal in June)1; winter 1971-72; autumn 1974; summer 1977; and August 1979.
1980 in September exercise ‘Teamwork 80’ which included 6 days ashore with the Brigade in various ‘assaults’ in the areas of Halsafjord and Vinjeford in Norway. Returned to the UK for mountain training in October in preparation for January 1981 exercises in Norway.
Some operations and deployments 1981-97:
1981 late–Summer in Belfast.
San Carlos with loads of some 50kg per man; successful night attack on Two Sisters mountain 11/12
June; advanced to Sapper Hill on 13/14 June joining the Welsh Guards who had been flown there.
1983 Support Trp on NBC exercise Porton Down.
1986 Tour in Belfast, N Ireland.
1987 Contingent in Royal Tournament.
1990 North Norway exercises including the landing of 550 men and 35 vehicles in Tovik/Grov area.
Tour of duty in South Armagh, N Ireland.
1991 In Northern Ireland on a roulement tour of six months]
1992 A team from the Commando took part in the Swiss Commando Raid Competition where they yomped about 30kms up a Swiss mountain within 3½ hours, a Dragon anti-tank  shoot, a shoot with a Panzerfaust (equivalent to a LAW), and other firing exercises with Swiss weapons, a 3 minute swim across a fast flowing river, silence shots at two sentries before a house clearance and ‘killing’ it's five occupants in under 30 seconds. This team achieved the highest score not only of any foreign team in that year’s competition but the highest by a foreign team since the inception of the competition.
1993 Deployed to Belize for six months.
1994 Deployed to Kuwait in operation ‘Driver’.
1995 Deployed as Fermanagh roulement battalion returning at the end of November.
1996 Served as Fleet Standby Rifle Coy from January.
1996 From October the Commando was Spearhead Battalion as part of JRDF into 1997.
1997 Provided Fleet Stand–By Rifle Troop with Marines in West Indies guard ship and RN ships off west Africa.
Miscellaneous:
Flag green ground with red letters ‘45’ dissected by red inverted dagger.2 Memorable dates: 23
January, the attack on Montforterbeek, near Linne, Holland (in 1945); and 11/12 June attack on Two Sisters (in 1982).
Coys ‘X’, ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ in 1997.(RMHS)

1943. Sunday 15th August. The Special Service (SS)/Commando Group. Origin and titles:
Before 15th August 1943, when Commandos were not detached to field commands, they were under command of a single SS Brigade. SS Group under command of General Sturgess (GOC SS Group) was formed to take over this single Brigade’s responsibilities with four new SS Brigades. The Group’s HQ was opened on 15th August 1943, at the RM Division’s HQ at Milford–on–Sea (nr Lymington), with the Divisional staff and some army personnel forming the SS Group’s Headquarters. In November 1944 the titles of this Group and its Brigades were changed from SS - which was associated in the public’s mind with Nazi Storm Troops - to Commando, although some weeks passed before all the units overseas used these new titles. In August 1945 the suffix ‘(Light)’ was added to these titles on the reorganisation of Army War  Establishments. The Group was commanded by General Wildman–Lushington (May 1945) and by 1946 by General Campbell Hardy.
Examples of Orders of battle:
September 1943 - 1st SS Bde, 3 Special Service and 4 SS Brigades, Holding Operational Commando at Wrexham, 2nd Echelon (RM personnel) and 43 RM Cdo (other units which would form 2SS Bde were under army commands in the Middle East), 30th Assault Unit, Commando Basic Training Centre at Achnacarry, Commando Mountain Warfare Training Centre at St Ives, the RM Engineer Commando, Small Scale Raiding Force (COPPs, SBS, RMPBD, etc.) Field Provost and Administrative Sections.3  The Field Security Section and the Postal Unit of the Division had been transferred to the Group.
April 1946 - Commando Training Unit RM, Commando Holding Unit RM, Commando basic Training Unit RM (for recruit), Commando Mountain Warfare Training Centre RM at St Ives, Commando Group 2nd Echelon, service Sections including Repair Section; and a nucleus for re–forming 41 RM or another Commando.
Locations etc:
After moving from Milford–on–Sea, the Group HQ had several bases in the London area, including
Hatch End (Middlesex) in September 1943. In the summer of 1944 it was in Petworth (Sussex); on the Group’s staff merged with HQ Training Group Wales to form a new Commando Group HQ at Towyn, North Wales.
Tactical HQ:
Commanded by the Group’s Deputy Commander (an army brigadier) and formed for planning with General Eisenhower’s staff, this HQ landed in France on 7 June 1944, and remained in NW Europe until mid–1945.
Administration in World War II:
The group’s GOC kept in touch with his COs by visits and frequently by private correspondence.
Disbandment:
When commando training moved from North Wales to Bickleigh (in RM’s Plymouth Group) in 1947, the HQ was in Plymouth and closed on 8 August 1947.
Commando Training Centres since 1947:
The training of commandos continued at Bickleigh until 1954 under the staff of the Commando School and then under a cadre of 42 RM Commando except when this Commando was re-mobilised. In 1960 all commando training was concentrated at Lympstone (at one time known as Exton) in Devon. By 1969 it was part of the Training Group RM. On 24th August 1970 Lympstone was redesignated the Commando Training Centre, its name in 1997 as CTC RM Barracks.
In 1997 the Centre ran 30 week courses for commando training. It trains some 60 officers each year in the Officers’ Training Wing; about 400 NCOs pass each year through various courses in the NCOs Training Wing. The Infantry Support Wing trained officers and men as instructors in specialist equipment. About 500 students attended courses for signallers and clerks in the Signals and Clerks Training Wing.
In the 1990s CTC was a Brigadier’s command with some 900 instructors and other staff. (For history of the CTC Barracks see RM Bases, Depots and Training Establishments.)(RMHS)

1943. August. 'The first complete RM Unit to undergo training at the Commando Basic Training Centre was 43 Cdo, formerly the 2nd RM Battalion, in August 1943 and subsequently the other six RM Commandos all passed through Achnacarry on conversion from battalions. 'By 1946 a RM Commando Training Unit had been established at Gibraltar Camp, Towyn, and the first course to carry out their entire Commando Training there formed in about March. Previously RMs started at Towyn and then went to Achnacarry. The Army Commandos were disbanded that year and the Commando Basic Training Centre, Achnacarry, as it was then titled, closed in May 1946.
In its six years of existence, about 30,000 men from every regiment of the Army and from every service, from all over the Empire and from a dozen Allied Nations passed through the unit to learn the basic skills of a Commando. Their training stood them in good stead on battle fields throughout the world and what they did made history.'
It has been said that the Arms were as reluctant to allow Royal Marines into their midst at the beginning as there were to hand over the role entirely at the end of the war. On the other hand, 1 have also heard that there were many in the Corps who did not take kind] to this new role they were reluctantly being drawn into. Like Lt-Col (Cockleshell Hero) Haslers RM Boom Patrol Detachment (forerunners of the SBS) the Commandos were somewhat frowned on as 'Cloak and Dagger Merchants completely alien to the traditional concept of the Corps. Consequently, they occasionally met resistance amongst their own kind. (I have been told of instances where Marines returning to 'Normal units from a Commando were 'purged by NCOs from the practice of wearing the beret badge over the left eye (Green style) to the over the left ear position (Blue style)!)
Despite these little personal differences. It was considered a great honour by most men to be selected for a Commando role, and many a man dropped a rank or two in order to qualify and their greatest fear was the shame of being sent back to a normal infantry unit. it was on this latter aspect that Col Vaughan based his code of discipline .men were given more, freedom and independence than normal: for instance, when they finished training they were frequently billeted in private houses (with a subsistence allowance of just a few shillings a week) and thev usually kept well out of trouble because of this dread of being dismissed from the Commando. He was anxious too to dispel the fears of many outsiders that these new men
Would emulate the wild lawless reputation of that renowned band of marauders in South Africa who gave the Commandos their name.
The importance of Achnacarrv amongst the milestones of Corps History can be seen from the very fact that this change over from the conventional to a new exclusively Commando role (although not finally fulfilled until 1946) was perhaps the most dramatic change in its entire being.
There is little at Achnacarry now to remind you of its wartime era gone are the mock grave-stones that once struck terror into the hearts of all new arrivals as they marched up the tree-lined drive from the main gate to the House in fact the only evidence of there having been a camp here at all is an old nissen hut positioned between the main gate and a group of out-houses. Or farm buildings. Can anyone confirm if this was a guardroom, perhaps? In the field adjacent to the house (Castle) where the parade ground and main part of the camp was sited, only a few lazy contented cows wander aimlessly where 'Royal once raced around like the proverbial 'Blue posteriored fly ! You are struck by the peaceful serenity of it all now, and it is difficult to imagine the noise and bustling activity of long ago.
The area is surrounded by thickly wooded hills, and at one side of the field, on the private road leading to Loch Lochy and the main public road stand two cottages, one either side, of which one is the Sub-Post Office.
According to the authors of earlier books. The most well worn item of kit must have been the Groundsheet Cape. and I must admit that the two photographs which I have been able to glean from the imperial War Museum support this theory as they were both taken in pouring rain  however, to give credit where it's due 1 must confess that on my visit I was drenched only in sunshine!
There is a pathway from the house, well trodden by many a hob-nailed boot, leading to the River Arkaig which runs to Loch Lochy a distance of just a mile or so. Many ideas and expressions widely used today originated here for instance the 'Death Slide' and 'Tarzan Course' across the river. Speed marches training irca. How many trainees. One wonders spent their time during exercise searching for the alleged treasure of' Bonnie Prince Charlie hidden somewhere around this shore!(RMHS)

1943. August. 46 RM Commando formed up at Dorchester, West Dorset mainly from men of 9th RM Bn; although its title was brief being disbanded on 31st January 1946.
Origin and titles:
Principal operations 1943–46:
Trained in Scotland with two weeks at Achnacarry (23rd October to 9th November 1943); Mobilisation completed on 24th January 1944, but intended night raiding role cancelled. Embarked 1st June with cliff climbing and demolition equipment for destruction of Benerville Bty (or Houlgate Bty as alternative target) in Normandy, but unfavourable  weather and the fact that neither battery was harassing shipping, led to the operation being cancelled. Landed Berniers (Normandy) on 7th June (D+1) capturing strongpoint at Petit Enfer before occupying the town. 7th / 8th June patrols sent inland to La Deliverande, Douvres; 9th June occupied the village of Douvres and came under command of 3 Canadian Division; 11th 12th June actions in Mue Valley; 17th June re-joined 4 SS Bde in Orne line; ‘S’ Troop re-equipped with support weapons; 17th August patrols entered Troarn to find it deserted but heavily mined; 19th August with 47 RM Cdo attacked Dozule successfully after silent approach at night. On 25th August, having been brought forward in transport, the Commando was south of Beuzeville, the CO Lt–Col Campbell Hardy was wounded but continued in action while the road was cleared a well- camouflaged enemy defences were engaged in a fire fight, as the Commando and a Para Bn advanced. After three hours the second in–command, Maj John Lee, MC, and 10 others had been killed and 37 all ranks wounded before the commando was withdrawn. The Commando went into billets the first in 12 weeks  on 26th August at  St Maclou; 11th-15th September guarded prisoners near Le Havre; 18th September in Bray Dunes area (Belgium) occupying former German defences investing Dunkirk; 7th October sailed for UK to join 1 SS Brigade. The Commando received 200 reinforcements and reorganised; sailed to Ostend (Belgium) on 15th January 1945 and detached from 1 SS Brigade for deployment to Antwerp. Took over a sector of line Heel to Beegden on the Mass on 2nd February, with standing patrols out but little activity. On 12th February the Commando relieved 3 (Army) Commando at Linne, and after spending several weeks here and further west, the Commando trained for river crossings. It crossed the Rhine on 23rd March, establishing a bridgehead, helping to clear Wesel next day; in April in actions crossing the Weser, Aller and on 29th April the Elbe. Arrived Neustadt (near Lubeck) on 5th May and returned to UK on 8th June. The commando spent the summer of 1945 at Tunbridge Wells training for operations in the Far East, but the Commando’s strength began to be run down from October.
Miscellaneous:
Memorable date: 11th June, the attack on Le Hamel and Rots (in 1944)(RMHS)

1943. August. 42 RM Commando and 42 Commando RM Origin and titles:
Formed in August 1943 at Sway (nr Lymington) from 1st RM Bn, the Commando was redesignated: 42
RM Commando (Light) in August 1945, and 42 Commando RM early in 1946.
Principal operations in World War II:
After ship  damaged 42 RM Cdo reached India by August 1944 and carried out jungle training at Belgaum with 1 (Army) Cdo; later trained at Combined Operations Training Centre (Indian east coast) in temperatures of 45 C at times. October 1944 at Teknaf; November relieved a battalion of 74 (Indian) Bde at Maungdaw, patrolling aggressively into Japanese held areas; December Teknaf; 12th January 1945 at Myebon; 19th January to early February at Kangaw early summer, exercise ‘Lilliput’ with Brigade at Kharakvasa (India); arrived Hong Kong about 11th September, where the Commando remained as part of the garrison after civilian administration restored in April 1946.
Principal deployments 1946–80:
1946 to June 1947 in Hong Kong; July 1947 to early 1948 based on Malta; May 1948 at Jerusalem, then Haifa, before evacuation on 27th June. While based in Malta, the Commando carried out exercises in Tripoli and Internal Security duties in the Canal Zone; returned to Hong Kong in August 1949; 1950-52 in Malaya based on Ipoh (Perak) for antiterrorist operations and later in southern Malaya; June 1953 returned to Malta. With Brigade in Canal Zone May 1953 to September 1954, when the Commando returned via Malta to Bickleigh to staff the Commando School from 4th October. The Commando remained here with exercises in Norway in 1955 and 1956, until the Commando was reactivated on 1st August 1956. Landed in ‘Suez’ operation 6th November 1956, and remained after the Brigade withdrew, until 27th November, later returning to Bickleigh as training cadre and operational nucleus. (One Troop in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, for eight months in 1957). Reactivated in summer of 1958 for Lebanon crisis and embarked for exercises in Libya; returned to Bickleigh and reduced again to a training cadre until 1959; reactivated for commando carrier force; embarked Bulwark March 1960 and after exercises in the Mediterranean began 11 years of service based on Singapore; 1st July 1961 landed Kuwait as defence force; December 1962 to Brunei at the time of the Indonesian confrontation, serving there till April 1963. In Sarawak July to October 1963 and February to June 1964; at Tawau December 1964 to May 1965; in Lundu area December 1965 to May 1966; at Aden 11th October to 29 November 1967 and retained until May at various periods in commando carriers; returned to Singapore until October 1971. Returned to UK in the summer of 1971 and spent eight periods of duty in Northern Ireland including: summer 1972, spring of 1973, summer 1974, winter 1975, spring of 1976, and July to November 1978. Also deployed in Norway on exercises in January to March or later, during 1979 and 1980. Company Group to New Hebrides from 13th June 1980 for two months.
Some Operations and deployments 1981-97:
1981 exercise ‘Mainspring’.
1982 The only Cdo RM to go to Norway.
1982 M Coy elements in recapture of South Georgia 24 April.
Landed Falkland Islands 20/21 May; advanced by helicopter to Mt Kent and patrolled from the Mt Kent.
31st May to 11th June; night attack on Mt Harriet was successful 11/12 June; flown forward to NE shoulder of Tumbledown and marched into Stanley 14 June.
1983 Exercises in Canada.
1984 Tour in South Armagh, N Ireland.
1985 M Coy in London ceremonies, November.
1986 Exercise ‘Westward Shift’ with 42RM ‘opposing’ Dutch 1 ACG & 45 RM Grp.
Exercise with Spanish amphibious shipping.
London Public Duties 17th June to 15th July
Exercises ‘Sea Soldier’ and ‘Eternal Triangle’.
1987 Recce Trp in N Ireland with Army units.
1988 Deployed in Norway during Spring, WD87.
1989 In Belfast during tour of N Ireland
M Coy training at Fort Whiteroga.
1992 Tour in N Ireland
1995 In the summer L Coy carried out joint training in Romania with the Romanian 2nd Mountain Brigade in the Brasvo/Predeal region.(Exercise ‘Eastern Climb’).
M Coy as Fleet Stand By Rifle Coy assisted civilians on Montserrat after volcano eruptions, helped in the aftermath of a hurricane on Anguilla in September.
K Coy and elements of HQ in exercise ‘French Phoenix’ off the coast of South Wales, before going to Brunei for exercise ‘Curry Trail’.
1996 In America on exercise ‘Purple Star’.
1997  Norway on WD97.
Miscellaneous:
Flag of Red St George cross on white cross over yellow ground, with white number ‘42’ dissected by inverted dagger in the centre. This flag is based on a Lt. Col’s colour in the Lord High Admiral’s Rgt of 1664-1689, adopted by 1st RM Bn as their unit flag in World War II.
The Commando raised a pipe band in 1943, which, with only a few breaks over the years, continues in 1997. Since 1968 one of these pipers has been appointed the Commandant General’s piper.
Memorable dates: 31st January, the battle of Kangaw (in 1945); and 11/12 June the attack on Mount Harriet (in 1982). Coys ‘K’, ‘L’ and ‘M’.(RMHS)

1943. August. The 4 SS/Commando Brigade. General history:
In August 1943 the RM Office had expected 4 Commando Bde to include 45, 46 and 47 RM Cdos, but formed in UK September 1943, CO Brig B. W. Leicester with 10 (Inter–Allied) Cdo, 41 RM Cdo, 46 RM Cdo and 47 RM Cdo with HQ staff from 101 RM Bde. Raised 48 RM Commando on approval dated.
February 1944. The Brigade HQ was in France and NW Europe from June 1944 until the winter of 1945. while at Ostend in October its HQ was the planning authority for the Walcheren landings and at this time 46 RM Cdo was replaced by 4 (Army) Cdo. During  the  winter of 1944-1945 this HQ had responsibilities from time to time for sectors of the Allied line in Holland, but Commandos were sometimes detached to other commands, as when 41 RM Cdo and 48 RM Cdo were under command of 116 RM Brigade, the remainder of the Brigade under its HQ formed a mobile reserve of 41 RM Cdo, 46 RM Cdo and elements of 10 Cdo, located south west of Rotterdam. On 22nd April the last of its raids was made by units under command. In late May 1945 the Brigade moved to Minden (Germany), where it was reinforced by drafts from 1 Commando Brigade in preparation for service in the Far East, but returned to the UK and was disbanded in December 1945.(RMHS)

1943. August. 41 Commando was formed.

1943. Wednesday 1st September. The 3rd Headquarters Special Service Brigade was formed from Headquarters 102 Royal Marine Brigade.

1943. Wednesday 1st September. 3 SS/Commando Brigade Origin and titles:
Formed 1st September 1943 at Dorchester with personnel of 102 RM Brigade HQ,13 CO Brig Nonweiler until 26th November 1944, Brig Campbell Hardy December 1944 to October 1945. Title changes as for SS Group but by October 1946 the Commandos were all RM units, with some army personnel serving in the Brigade.
The Brigade passed to the operational command of C-in-C India on 23rd November 1943 and
remained overseas until 1971.
Examples of Orders of Battle:
In August 1943 the RM Office had expected 3 Command Bde to include 42, 43 and 44 RM Cdos.
January 1945 - 1 (Army), 5 (Army), 42 RM and 44 RM, Brigade Signals Troop, LAD Type A (for vehicle maintenance) with ‘C’ Squadron 19th Lancers of Indian Army.
January 1946 - combined 1/5 (Army) Commando, 42 RM Cdo and 44 RM Cdo, with some Army subunits attached.
October 1946 - 42 RM Cdo, 44 RM Cdo and 45 RM Cdo, with some Army subunits attached. April 1961 - 40 RM Cdo and 45 RM Cdo with some army subunits attached.
During the decades since 1961 various Commandos have been detached to other commands from time to time but when not detached: all RM Commandos were under the Brigade’s command.
December 1997 - 40 Cdo RM, 42 Cdo RM, 45 Cdo RM, RM Stonehouse (barracks staff and instructors HQ Plymouth Garrison MR), 29 Cdo Rgt RA, 20 Cdo Bty RA, Cdo Logistic Rgt RM, 59 Independent Cdo Sqn RE, HQ & Signals Sqn RM, Patrol Troop and 539 Assault Sqn RM.
The Brigade became a part of the Rapid Reaction Force created in June 1995 as a reserve for possible operations in Yugoslavia. And in 1997 became a part of the UK Rapid Reaction Force.
HQ locations and principal operations of World War II and in 1946 & 1947:
Canterbury (Kent) in late summer of 1943; 12th December, Egypt; 9th –21st January 1944 at sea; February 1944 Poona (India); elements of this HQ remained in India; 17th March to 19th April at Maungdaw; early
summer became Area Command Silchar (Surma Valley); 13 August arrived Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka); early October Teknaf; November Maungdaw; December Teknaf; January 1945 Myebon and Kangaw, Tactical HQ in Motor Launch, main HQ aboard HMIS Narbada; February Akyabb and later Myebon;
March sailed for Madras (India); spring in Poona and later Kharakvasa; 12 September arrived Hong Kong.17 The internal security duties which the Brigade’s units carried out in the next two years included: the prevention of smuggling and illegal exports; raiding opium dens; patrols against armed robbers; and other police duties.
Tactical HQ 1944:
February/March Cox’s Bazaar and aboard LCH 261 for Alethangyaw operations.
Formation of RM Brigade:
In 1945–6 most long–service RMs were naval gunnery rates, and 720 Marines (mostly ‘HOs’) were drafted to Hong Kong to replace army commandos in the spring of 1946. Six RM Commandos were to be formed but this was cut by the end of 1946 to three in the Far East; 40 Commando RM (formerly ‘44’), 42 Commando RM and later joined by 45 commando RM.
HQ locations and principal events 1946–80:
1946 to 17th  May 1947 in Hong Kong; June 1947 to August 1949 in Malta (during these years elements of this HQ went to the Canal Zone (Egypt) from January to April 1948); August 1949 to 23rd May 1950 Brigade reinforcing Honk Kong garrison; June 1950 to March 1952 in Malaya, taking responsibility for military operations with police from August 1950; March 1952 to May 1953 in Malta (on 29th November 1952 the Duke of Edinburgh presented colours to 40 RM, 42 RM and 45 RM); May 1953 to August 1954 in the Canal Zone, Egypt (some elements stayed until September 1954); August 1954 to April 1961 in Malta except for operational tours (Cyprus in September 1955 to August 1956, ‘Suez’ operation November 1956, Tripoli exercise April 1957 and other HQ exercises); April 1961 to 1971 based on Singapore with three tours by HQ in Sarawak (July 1963 to October 1963, April to January 1964, January to March 1965); by late 1971 established at Plymouth where this HQ continued to be based; deployed as HQ in Norway January to March 1979 and again in 1980.
HQ locations and principal events 1981 -1997:
Based at Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth and mobilised for the Falkland Islands operation ‘Corporate’ from 2nd April 1982 when merged with HQ Commando Forces RM, landed East Falkland 20th May, fought various successful actions and returned to Plymouth after 11th July 1982. Deployed to northern Iraq for operation ‘Haven’ in April 1991 returning to Plymouth May/June 1991.
Miscellaneous: The Brigade commander’s pennant was navy blue with inverted red dagger.(RMHS)

1943. Friday 10th September. 'Return to Salerno'. From Ray Tebble RMAQ. A sunny morning at Salerno, Italy. On board our Landing Craft Gun, I had my gun crew closed up at "Action Stations", manning "B" gun, one of out two 4.7" QF guns.
On orders from the Northern Landing Sector, we proceeded south to deal with some troublesome 88"s near the mouth of the Sole Estuary. Closing into the beach, we swung broadside on about 75metres from the shore.
A few jerries appeared, sprinting along the top of the sand dunes at the rear of the beach, then, with an almighty "crack", we were greeted with the burst of airblast shrapnel right over our heads. This, with a mixture of mortar, machine-gun, and fire from the 88's, made things more than a little interesting.
Thus, another fire-fight began ...
September 1993. Whilst we were in the U.K. last year, my wife and I journeyed to Italy with a group of WW2 Italian Campaign veterans, together with a small group of widows of men that fell during that campaign.
On arrival in Rome, we travelled down Route 6 to Cassino, from which base we spent the next couple of days visiting the battlefields, an area over looked by the commanding heights of Monte Cassino. When standing up there in the monastery, you can appreciate the grim task faced by the Allies.           Although the Germans were not actually in the monastery itself, they were entrenched around the base of its walls, which gave them a perfect unobstructed field of fire covering 360°.
One site captured the imagination, Castle Hill, a tor about 150metres high just behind the town. On its crest a roman fort, built in the traditional style (a single keep with a thick outer wall), it had been defended by well
ensconced German Paratroopers, whose fire commanded the inner town.
A company of Kiwis had been given the task of removing them. They had clambered up this precipitous slope carrying scaling ladders and had taken the garrison by surprise, a remarkable feat of arms. That fort still stand there with its battle scars aging, and it terrain largely unaltered.
From Cassino we took the coach to Caserta, then on to Naples, and finally to Maiori on the beautiful Amalfi coast. Situated about 40 kms from Salerno it is reached by way of a tortuous coastal road running high above the sea, and is the place where the U.S. Rangers stormed ashore on that September day, fifty years before.
We visited Several prominent battle sites, that many with us remembered, but the primary aim of the tour was commemorate the landings of the 9th September 1943, with a re-enactment of the part played in the landings by HMS Boxer, an L.C.I., and to hold a memorial service for those that fell.
From those veterans and widows present, a representative party of 12, with 6 of the widows was to be embarked in HMS Boxer, not the original, but a modern Class 2 Frigate, that now bears the name.
To my pleasure and surprise, I was one of those selected, proud to be in the company of some Guards and county regiments veterans.
On the 8th, we were conveyed to the Salerno dockyard, and there ferried out to Boxer. I travelled out in a speedy inflatable, what else could I do as the only "Royal", the rest more sedately (and drier) by the ships launch. Once on board we were welcomed and shepherded down to the C.P.O.'s Mess.
Here we were generously entertained by a great bunch of blokes (Gee!!!! is that special "Sea Service" brew strong).
During the mean time the ship had got under way, and proceeded the Departure Point for the landings, on the exact bearings used in 1943.
From 8 miles out, the view was very much the same as when we went in all those years ago.
A memorial service was conducted on the ship's helipad, attended by various V.I.P.'s including Lord Alexander of Tunis, (the son of General Alexander), and as a former piper of the Scots Guards played "Flowers of the Forest" wreaths were dropped over the side by the war widows. It was a most moving and nostalgic occasion.
The service concluded we retired to the Chiefs Mess, where I was introduced to the detachment Sergeant Major, a tough looking Colour Sergeant.
He told me that there were twelve Marines in his detachment, whose main function was to provide "Minder" Squads for the ship inspection parties in the Gulf. If a vessel did not show signs of heaving too when signalled, they were boarded by marine squad abseiling from the ships Sea King helicopter. He also said that as each marine of the detachment had replaced a seaman of the ships compliment,(part of the British defence economies), that they had all received special sea training.
Before we left the ship he presented me with a Corps plaque inscribed "From the Royal Marine: Detachment of HMS Boxer-Salerno-1993."
Next day, September 9th, a memorial service was held in the British War Cemetery at Montecorvino, about 5kms behind the British sector od the beachhead. Two thousand of those that fell are interred here. Whilst there, I met with of group of former "Royals" of 41 RM Cdo. There are scattered throughout the cemetery, graves of the men from the Commando.
The attending officials, which included the German Ambassador and the unit representatives, laid wreaths at the foot of the Cross, the Guard of Honour was from our own Corps, the marines of HMS Boxer. The band resplendent in their scarlet tunics and bearskins were provided by The Royal Dragoon Guards, with the temperature hovering around 35°c they must have really been feeling it, the detachment by contrast were in K.D. with white helmet.
I laid wreaths at two headstones inscribed:
A Royal Marine "Known Only To God"
This was a personal choice, in remembrance of those old friends of my own unit, who have no known grave.
The following day, we went on a tour of the area we knew as the Southern Landing Sector, where the Americans landed, at Paestum. This is a remarkable place to visit, for there stand, almost intact, the remains of several Greek temples. Surprisingly enough they were not damaged during the fighting in that area.
On the way back we stopped to visit the area that was the extreme southern right flank of the British Sector. Again a bright sunny morning at Salerno, close to the mouth of the Sole estuary. We were allowed fifteen minutes on this beach, which gave me sufficient time to do a "Recce".
There they were, the sand dunes at the top of the beach with the woods behind them, just as they were on my last visit.
With extreme care I scanned the dunes and then searched the woods, but there was no trace of Jerry, his mortars, machine-guns or even the eighty-eights.
Well after all, it was September 10th. 1993. From Ray Tebble RMAQ.

1943. Sunday 3rd October. During the early hours, 40 RM Commando (Lieutenant Colonel J C Manners) with No 3 Commando and elements of the Special Raiding Squadron landed under cover of darkness at Termoli, a seaport town on the Adriatic coast, north of the River Bifurno and behind the German lines, 40 Commando penetrated well into the town before the enemy were alerted and brisk close-quarter fighting with German parachute troops ensued. By 0800 hours, 40 Commando had captured the town and controlled the approaches. So complete was the surprise that German vehicles and motor cyclists still drove into a Commando ambush position until noon. The Germans retaliated in strength and 40 Commando with 3 Commando, the Special Raiding Squadron and some reinforcements from the 78th Division, held off repeated and heavy infantry and armoured counter-attacks by the 26th Panzer Division until eventually the 8th Army linked up with them on 6 October. The operation was an outstanding success. They had overcome all attempts, by a force vastly superior in numbers an armament, to dislodge them and in so doing, won a valuable harbour; they caused the enemy to withdraw from the natural defence line on the Bifurno and denied them the use of the important lateral road from Naples, thereby forcing them to retreat further northwards.

1943. Thursday 23rd October. 2 SS/Commando Brigade General History:
Formed from the Commandos in Italy on 23rd October 1943, CO army Brig T. B. L. Churchill with 2 (Army), 9 (Army), 40 RM and 43 RM Commandos. Units of this Brigade served in Italy, the Dalmatian Islands, Albania and Greece. The staff of its HQ provided a Brigade base at Molfetta (southern Italy) and Tactical HQs for operations with units detached to other formations. During the summer of 1944 they formed the garrison HQ on Vis with several thousand Allied troops to administer; the main HQ landed on Vis 5th March 1944 and returned to Italy on 13th August. It planned operations that autumn and sent a Tactical HQ to Albania. In the spring of 1945 the HQ moved to Ravenna and elements worked with the Brigade’s Commandos, which were all detached to Army commands during operations in April and May. Sailed for UK on 19 June. 43 RM Cdo absorbed into 40 RM Cdo as The RM Cdo of 2 Cdo Bde and 2 (Army) melded with 9 (Army) Cdo as The Army Commando of 2 Cdo Bde, disbanded in September.(RMHS)

1943. Monday 25th October. The RM Engineer Commando unit had developed from units in the RM Battalions which were trained in demolitions and as assault engineers. Although first established during the first war as: HQ; Holding Troop; and two fighting Troops (RM Circ 1303/43G dated 26th November 1943). By June 1944 there were 180 all ranks, forming a small HQ with a Training Troop (the Holding Troop?) and two fighting Troops. These were reorganised for the Normandy invasion with HQ and Training Troop in the UK, one Section with 1st SS Bde, one Section with 4 SS Bde, and six Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Units.
Sections with Commando Brigades:
The Section with 1st SS Bde of 39 all ranks commanded by a lieutenant, landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944 at H+75 minutes to demolish bridges; but these were still in enemy hands and this Section prepared the defences of Brigade HQ; later they were employed in mine–clearing and building strongpoints. They also improvised bridges and fords (‘wet bridges’ lying below the surfaces of rivers), before returning to the UK on 9th September 1944. The Section with 4 SS Bde. The Section which joined 4 SS Bde arrived in France at the end of June 1944 and served in mine clearing, demolition and other work of assault engineers. In November 1943 a third Section served in the Far East. This Section had joined 3 Commando Brigade in November 1943 and was increased to a Troop in the late summer of 1944. It built the ‘roads’ at Myebon (from 12th January 1945) and at Kangaw (from 19th January), under appalling conditions on both occasions.
Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Units:
In the Normandy landings on 6th June 1944, Nos 7 and 8 were with Force S, Nos 9 and 10 with Force G, and 11 and 12 with Force J. They were all intended to clear paths through beach obstacles, but owing to the conditions of the tide and dangers from incoming craft the men were unable to use their shallow water diving gear, but nevertheless cleared obstacles.
After World War II: Royal Marine assault engineers served with various Commandos from time to time and continue to do so, but see also history summary of 59th Independent Cdo Sqn RE.(RMHS)

1943.  Saturday 30th October. A first-hand account from Jack Eaves, RM CH\X 111853. Bowman LCA 994.

535 and 536 Flotillas joined HMS Glenearn, in the Murray Firth, (N.W. coast of Scotland) at Cromarty. When the Flotilla’s left Dartmouth College, they were sent to West Cliff near Southend, from there they went to Fort William on the West coast of Scotland. We stayed there a little while. There was a castle that we practiced abseiling down the buttress, forward! Flying Fox etc. This was the western end of the Caledonia Canal, our LCA’s were delivered there and we took them thru’ the canal to Inverness, and were billeted in the Cameron Barracks, from there we had exercises on the Firth for a while. Our officers were, Lieutenant Richards and 2nd Lieutenant Jefferies. Then 535 and 536 Flotillas joined HMS Glenearn on the 30th October 1943, on the Murray Firth.  Not as stated in London during December 1943. 536 Flotilla later transferred to the Empire Cutlass, and 543 Flotilla came on board. My service records confirm this Lieutenant Webber joined the Flotilla about December 1943, and 2nd Lieutenant Jefferies left. Therefore, Lieutenant Jefferies was not with us during the ‘D’ Day Landings.

The number of the Flotilla was determined largely by the number of davits available. On the Empire ships there were 18 davits. On HMS Glenearn there were 24 davits so there were two flotillas of 12. Although everything changed with 543 flotilla as it had 12 LCA’S, and 3 LCM’S which were carried on deck. on the HMS Manawa they could accommodate a flotilla of 20 lCA’s. Although there were photos of the Empire ships with a LCVP on deck. To tell them apart HMS Cutlass had a huge 'CS' painted on the side, HMS Battleaxe had a huge 'BX', HMS Broadsword had a huge 'BD' on the side. The little cross channel ships only carried 6 LCA’s. Therefore it varied immensly. The Ships had names and the flottila's had numbers.

1943. November. 1st SS/Commando Brigade's General history:
Formed in November 1943, CO Army Brig the Lord Lovat, DSO, MC, with 3, 4, 6 Army and 45 RM Commandos, its ordinal ‘1st’ signifying its association with officers and men from the Brigade of Guards who served in the 1st Cdo Brigade. Landed in Normandy and after 83 days was withdrawn to the UK from France. Although intended to move to the Far East, it returned to Europe in January 1945 with 3 (Army), 6 (Army), 45 RM and 46 RM Commandos under command. The Brigade was in action in penetrating the Siegfried line, crossing the rivers Rhine, Weser, Aller and Elbe. Early in May 1945 the Brigade was on the Baltic coast and later returned to the UK to be disbanded early in 1946.(RMHS)

1943. 40 & 41 Commandos land in Sicily during Operation Husky.

1943. The HQ Wing was originally formed during March 1941. However, by December 1943 the units and sub–units under command included four Street major units Ordnance Depot, Group Supply Unit, Medical Services and Boat Unit  and a number of specialist smaller units. while in the UK the Wing was deployed in training exercises before embarking for Egypt. The Wing’s Units were deployed to various locations before going to Sicily and Italy in support of naval parties as well as MNBDO forces.
The Landing and Maintenance Unit was formed in January 1941, and with effect from 1st October 1942, ‘X’ company of the 19th RM Battalion became No. 3 Company of this L & M Unit. By December 1943 it had four companies  Landing, Ship Unloading, Pioneer/Defence and Engineer which while in the UK trained both in port operating and in amphibious landings. On arriving in Egypt in the summer of 1943, the Companies were on occasions employed in the roles for which they had trained, but not until they landed at Augusta, Sicily, were they able to make full use of their special training, as they did later in Italy. (RMHS)

1943. Carrier Borne Air (later Ground) Liaison Sections. These were formed in 1943 to carry out similar duties to those which Forward Observation Officers carried out in directing naval guns, but CBALs (Seabals) directed aircraft on to ground targets or work in intelligence teams. The RMs in these units were trained at Yeovilton RNAS by 1946. There were CBALs numbered in the 60s by this date, when 20 of them returned to the UK from the British Pacific Fleet. CBAL 51 was formed on 22nd September 1944 but by 1947 CBAL 70 was an HQ at Yeovilton. The army had sponsored these Sections in 1943 and many included army officers, but by 1961 the Corps was unable to provide officers for training in this role, and the units continued as purely army Sections.(RMHS)

1943. 41 Commando land at Salerno in Italy during Operation Avalanche. The Royal Marine Battalions are formed into 40 & 43 Commandos in action in Italy, Albania and Yugoslavia.

1943. Royal Marines Provost. Coming from the RM commandeered 'Sunshine Holiday Camp' on Hayling Island. Pat Goulding commenced his Provost service at RMTG (Devon) Headquarters, The Grange, and Lympstone in August 1943, officially designated as RMTG Dalditch. When at the end of that year RMTG, RN Division, and MNBDO Provost Companies merged, HQ was set up in Exmouth at the Imperial Hotel, and another hotel as well as Lady Byron's House up on the Beacon, provided accommodation.
"The Provost Marshall during my stay at the Grange was a Major Corps RM, and the next senior member was Sergeant Jacks (a Scot), then two corporals (Brett and Bradley), and the remainder of us were L/corporals. Our motorcycles were BSA 500cc side-valve models plus one or two Royal Enfield's of similar capacity; a 15 cwt truck was used on our patrols which mainly took place at night in Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton (occasionally Exeter and Sidmouth) whilst daytime duties consisted of motor-cycle patrols or security duties in the Grange entrance hail. We were quartered in Nissan huts in the grounds where there was an orchard. I don't suppose more than a hundred personnel were employed here, made up of officers, clerks, storemen, drivers, sentries (medically downgraded men) and about 30 Provost.
I left the Grange early in 1944 to join a section in Merioneth, a few miles north of Towyn in Wales, where we were quartered in a requisitioned farm house on the side of a mountain overlooking a huge Royal Artillery training camp at Tonfanau. A sub section (relieved at intervals) was set up further north at Barmouth, and the SNCO of the unit was CSM Mogford who had been a recalled time, served Royal Marine and former Metropolitan Policeman.
Strange to relate I received no formal police training, with the exception of a motor-cycle riding course provided by the M/T section of Dalditch camp, where we attended daily for about three hours; although I vaguely recall that some of my colleagues did receive some form of training elsewhere.
We were army orientated, issued with Corps of Military Police patrol mackintoshes, and a. heavy motor-cycle mackintosh plus army greatcoat, then when I served with the Portsmouth Provost section I was issued with No 2 Blue uniform. Later, when serving with the London section, those of us who had army issue greatcoats were taken by train to Chatham and exchanged these for RM greatcoats"
Derrick Gibson-Ford (P0X3946) started his service at Eastney as a boy bugler aged 15 years on 15 May 1939, going on active duty onboard HMS IRON DUKE the following February as Captain's Bugler, returning to. Eastney in November 1941 as a recruit, having turned over to the General Duties ranks, because of the number of buglers. In Squad HO 138, of which he was the only 'regular' (CS), he was awarded the Naval Gunnery Medal and completed QR3 Course on passing out. Drafted to HMS BELFAST November 1942 until October 1944, he saw action with Russian Convoys, SCHARNHORST conflict, and 'D' Day operation covering Juno Beach as Flagship of the 10th Cruiser Squadron.
"Whilst on the Russian convoys, the Royal Marines and Sailors whose action stations or duties were on the upper deck (in below zero temp­eratures) were issued with fur coats. These were worn skin outwards and fur inwards and were quite expensive, so 'Jack Dusty' used to watch like a hawk that none 'walked' off the ship. I remember mine had long black fur."
When the ship went into dockyard hands in Newcastle that October for repairs and alterations for the Far East he returned again to Eastney, going thence onto the Pre-Commando School, Helmsley Camp (Helmsley House site on the northern outskirts of. Havant) and whilst there, he saw a call for volunteers in Divisional Orders for the Royal Marine Beach Provost; he applied and was accepted. (Minimum height was 5' 10") Living in a hutment camp in the grounds of Helmsley House (which was offices and the Officers Mess) he recalls the assault course just over the railway bridge on the road into Havant in fields and a small wood to the right (the country road and old bridge have' since been enlarged and housing estates appeared). "It started with a water jump, a single rope bridge (one for feet and one for hands) plus various other delights that ended with the 'death slide'....climbing up a tall tree and coming down a rope using a toggle held at each end with our hands."
"Field training was done in two places, using live ammunition. At Stoughton on the Downs (north. of Emsworth) in such manoeuvres as advancing on your feet (no taking cover), one assault group through the other, with the group in front giving covering fire as the rear group came through....all done at a fast pace intended for use in raids or rapid advances.
The second place was in the chalk pit above Cosham where a mock landing craft (made out of steel sheets) at the cliff top launched you down into the pit bottom where Bren guns were set up on fixed lines using live ammunition, and you crawled under the fixed lines, fired from the Bren guns to the centre of the chalk pit bottom where stood a large wooden hut with doors at each end. In one door and out of the other with just 7 seconds before thunder-flashes went off in the hut. From then on targets kept popping up as one advanced to the far end of the pit (each had to be fired at) then came the climb up the side of the pit to the top. This was done as a fighting unit not individually, and it was meant to be realistic. After a short rest you made a fighting return (retreat) back to the landing craft.
Of course accidents happened, but in wartime accidents were expected and allowed for, but we were trained soldiers, not recruits, so accidents were few. Not for us the luxury of a 3 ton lorry transport to Stoughton, or the pits, we did it Commando .style...half mile run and half mile walk! Our rig was fighting order, with the bayonet scabbard over the left shoulder, not on the -belt."
It was in November 1944 that he transferred to the Royal Marines Beach Provost; this was a special service unit of volunteers living in houses or hotels, drawing kit and pay from the nearest source (Home Base Ledger) by producing pay-books. They were formed for active service with the commandos and other landings, but later sections were set up at Portsmouth, Chatham and London, with Plymouth being served from the Exmouth base where all training was carried out. The London section were the only ones living in army barracks (Chelsea) with other allied military police, and messed with the Guards Regiment. They, and those in naval towns were the only ones who wore blue uniforms for foot patrols.
In wet weather the revolver would be worn under the khaki army motor­cycle (belted) mackintosh, and in dry cold weather the holster belt and strap was worn over the leather jerkin issued at Exmouth. Peculiar to Portsmouth was an alternate non-standard sheepskin jerkin-(a gift from the people of South Africa). This being sleeveless, the battledress blouse showed rank markings and MP Band when the jerkin was worn. The section frequently provided outriders for the C-in-C, one at each corner of the car.
Dress for foot patrols was No 2 Blues, blue Dockyard Police peaked cap with red cloth cover, HP arm band (red on blue); dockyard police leather belt, holster and strap (for .45 revolver) with our own .38 Smith and Wesson; sea service boots, and a greatcoat when cold. Coats were avoided if possible because they got in the way should some trouble have to be sorted out, and revolvers were seldom resorted to as the issue 12 inch torch proved a suitable baton! (Being smaller than the .45 revolver, the .38 Smith and Wesson gun was a loose fit in the holster)
LONDON SECTION - Dress for foot patrols was the same as Portsmouth, except that they used their white webbing belt, holster and strap.
EXMOUTH HQ - Here the khaki battledress was worn with the red cap cover over the khaki peaked cap, white webbing gear and shore service boots, and obligatory MP arm band. Top coats were the Greatcoat and Army (unbelted) khaki Military Police mackintosh. This 'khaki turn-out' was of course standard issue, and we had it at all times; the 'Blues' being additional for the capital and naval towns.
“I arrived at Exmouth in November 1944 at the Imperial Hotel and was interviewed by Major Little (Provost Marshal) and put on a course; it was a case of passing this and becoming a Lance Corporal RM Provost or fail and be posted to Dalditch for the RM Battalion which was forming for service in France.
The course at Exmouth incorporated military and civil law, traffic control, unarmed combat, foot patrols and brothel controls. (This caused great amusement, and we said that we now had a job we could do after our release!)
On completion we moved to Poole learning to load and unload tanks etc. from landing craft, find and mark vehicle parks and then get tanks and guns into them.  (This did not happen previously on ‘D’ Day; as tanks went straight into action).  We were taught to ride motor-cycles, not only on roads but rough riding under fire at high speed, in all conditions. Then back to Exmouth for the examination on completion of which (pass or fail) one was immed­iately posted. I went to Portsmouth until that unit (housed at 7 Brading Avenue, Southsea, near Eastney Barracks) closed down, and so moved up to the London detachment where after only about a year in the Provost I requested (for personal reasons) to return to General Duties and at the end of 1945 took a posting to HMS ST VINCENT at Gosport."
Although the UK units were now disband­ing, the Royal Marine Provost however went on to form No 35 Company Provost under Major Little for service in the Far East, where they had the honour to accept the surrender of a large Japanese naval ship, and the relief of Singapore Changi Jail.
A normal Provost unit comprised of a Captain RM (Provost Marshal), 1 Serg­eant, 2 Corporals, 12 L/Corporals (6 pairs), and I L/Cpl truck driver. Of course London and No 35 were much larger.
FOOTNOTE:- RM Provost Sections were attached to all main units during WW2, and were much in evidence at the Dieppe and Normandy landings, working in conjunction with their army counterparts, controlling traffic, and patrolling against looting and other disorders, right through to the occupation of Germany.
The last of these RM Police were disbanded in June 1946; but then in the Autumn of 1962 the branch was resurrected at Eastney when C/Sgt J. McDermott, from JSAW, took charge of 15 other Royal Marines for a seven weeks course at the Royal Military Police Depot at Inkerman Barracks, Woking, and the first successful candidates were posted out to Singapore as RM Police Troop of 3 Commando Brigade, and RMP units have been in existence ever since. (by Pat Goulding and Derrick Gibson-Ford)

1944. January. 43 Commando lands at Anzio. While in the UK 48 Commando was formed.

1944. January. Report from Arthur Gray, of the RMA Eastboure Branch.
45 Royal Marines Commando with 3, 4 and 6 Army Commandos formed No. 1 Special Service Brigade. I was a support section sergeant in A Troop; there were 5 troops, A, B, CO D, E with 65 marines in each, in addition F troop were responsible for the 3 inch mortars and Vickers Machine guns, and also there was a small HQ troop.
The end of January 1944 saw 45 arriving in Eastbourne after two months concentrated training in North West Scotland. Although talk of invasion was in the air and that we would be involved, nothing to date gave an inkling of the role which we would take.
Intensive training commenced with beach landings around Eastbourne, Newhaven, Seaford and Pevensey Bay. These landings were carried out from Landing Craft Infantry (small) approx. 45 feet in length with 2 small mess decks and capable of carrying 70 troops, upon beaching, two ramps were pushed over the bows. These landings were followed up by attacks on mock batteries and strong points in and around the villages of Wartling, Westham and Herstmonceux.
In late May 1944 came the move to Southampton, the entire Brigade were under canvas in a heavily protected area with wired enclosures and no contact with the outside world. There followed 10 days of intensive briefing with models, photographs and maps all bearing code names such as "Picadilly", "Freeman, Hardy & Willis". By now with our recent training and briefing I had some idea of our destination. There were final adjustments to our individual loads of 60 lbs to 70 lbs to each marine, weapons were thoroughly checked. Then after 24 hours delay the Commando embussed to the harbour of Warsash on 5th June. What a sight!
Full of various Landing Craft and other Naval vessels, anti­aircraft guns around the harbour walls and surrounding country, scores of small barrage balloons controlled by RAF personnel with a cable attached to a harness around their bodies, fighter aircraft on patrol were overhead. We. boarded our Landing Craft at 1730 renewing acquaintances with the seamen. The craft moved out of the harbour.
I was called to a Troop Commander's briefing and then I knew, France it was to be. Maps were issued, gone were the code names, also issued to each marine were phrase books in French and German and a personal message from the Supreme Commander about our forth­coming campaign to liberate Europe. 45 Commando would land on "Queen Red Beach" in the Sword Section 2 miles west of Ouistreham, rendezvous on high ground 800 yards inland and then fight our way to the River Orne and Caen Canal bridges and link up with the 6th Airborne who were landing by glider and parachute earlier. Then take and hold ground around Le Plein and Amfreville, the second objective being Franceville-Plage.
Daylight by now was failing and Force S (our sailing code) sailed to thunderous cheering from packed troop transports anchored in the Solent and mouth of the river. Final briefing took place, a brew of tea and special hot rations were passed around. Despite attempts at humour and leg pulling all were very tense, the point of no return was here, all were pondering the future. My own thoughts were - would I land reasonably dry, the landings would be at fairly low water, how strong would the defences be after the terrific pounding yet to come? I slept until 0400, then the brew of tea and a final check, daylight was approaching, we sailed past all sorts of warships. Apart from the drone of aircraft little else was happening, there was a fair sea running and the small craft were rolling but appeared to be keeping station.
0700, suddenly we were amongst it Guns were firing, low flying aircraft skimmed overhead Force S sailed on no sign yet of the Normandy coast     Now we could see amongst the haze and smoke the coast line. The landing craft prepared to run in. B troop's landing craft was hit but sailed on. All crouched on the upper deck and had to grin and bear it as German artillery and machine guns fired at us.
Now we were there - "down ramps" came the command, gallant seamen pushed these on to the sandy beach. I ran down, then in front of me the blast from a shell landing in the sea nearly blew a marine into 3 feet of water, I and others pulled him ashore. We quickly cleared the beach and made for the rendezvous. Now the move to the bridges, E troop followed by A troop led as we advanced under heavy mortar fire and the signal was received that the bridges were captured intact but were still under heavy fire. The CO Lt Col C Ries was hit and severely wounded. However, the linkup was achieved, Green and Red berets mingled, were the Paras glad to see us!
Then came a change of plan. 45 were to be detached as it was not clear whether the battery at Merville was in our hands. As we entered nearby Sallancelles fire from an enemy strong point pinned down a section of E troop with part of the Reconnaissance Section. Under heavy mortar fire from F troop landing on the strong point many were able to rejoin the Commando. With A troop leading, the Merville battery was reached, preparations for the assault were made. I learnt that the battery had been silenced earlier but the enemy had returned in strength to the nearby village. After sharp fighting the village was taken.
Thankfully my section was still intact. I moved into a nearby ditch on the outskirts of the village for a briefing narrowly missing a hail of mortar bombs which landed in the narrow road. I was ordered to take my bren and mortar groups around the east side of the village to cover the remainder of A and B troops now in the village and who were coming under fire from a wood to the south, accurate bren gun and mortar fire silenced the enemy.
The Commando dug in, in and around the village, tea was brewed. A group of German prisoners were in our hands and several of our own wounded were also a problem. As darkness fell machine gun fire persisted from the south. I thought what was the overall
position, had all the landings been successful? Our own position was very precarious on the extreme left of the allied beachhead and nearly two miles from our nearest commando friends, could we hold out? As I crouched in my slit trench I contemplated on the previous 24 hours. Sailing from Warsash, across the Channel, the landing and bitter fighting, to Merville. In retrospect an eventful day.

1944. February. The 5 RM Anti-Aircraft Brigade. When the anti–aircraft regiments of MNBDO I and II returned to Scotland in February 1944, they were to be disbanded, but a general of the army’s Air Defence Staff asked that some units be retained and from these AA Bde HQ and Ops Room MNBDO II, 1st RM HAA Rgt (ex–MNBDO I), 3rd RM HAA Rgt (ex–MNBDO II), 4th RM LAA RGT (ex–MNBDO II) and a Signals Section (ex–MNBDO I) g 5 RM AA Brigade was formed on 22nd March 1944 at Hamilton (Lanarkshire), under the command of Brig J. E. Leech–Porter, OBE. His Brigade came under army command of GHQ AA Troops three days later. It was then mobilised to Army War Establishments. During May and early June the Brigade spent six weeks at the army’s AA practice camp at Clacton on Sea, Essex. Gunnery practice and mobilisation (with all this entailed in drawing stores) were carried on at the same time, some army HAA Regiments joining the brigade in May.
During July and August the Brigade’s regiments were deployed against ‘flying bombs’ on the south coast of England, destroying 122 of these V1s. The Brigade landed in France early in September , and took over the anti-aircraft gunnery defences of the Scheld estuary that winter, and in addition to RM formations had under command 111 HAA, 114 LAA and 133 LAA Regiments RA; 105 AA Brigade (12 army regiments); 6/2 and 415/54 Searchlight Batteries RA; and 202 Fixed Coastal Defences RA.
Makeshift accommodation was improvised with shacks and ‘huts’ along dykes. Communications were also difficult with more than 2,000 miles of telephone line laid by the Brigade’s signallers in a duplicate system; this connected all sites guns, searchlights, smoke–generating machines, and operations rooms the duplications proving invaluable after later air raids. All major units were also in wireless (radio) contact, the strength of Brigade signals units being raised from 80 to 200 personnel.
The heavy gun batteries fired on occasions in support of ground troops during the first few weeks of October, but their principal role was to defend against air attack a 7,000yds circle covering Antwerp and the area to its west. When V1s began coming over on 27th October, two zones or ‘belts of AA fire’ were organised around Antwerp and Brussels with a corridor between; there were American AA units (with SCR 58420 radar linked predictors and proximity fuses) in the east and south east zones, and as the flight path of V1s brought them near to the Brussels defence zone, that could therefore contribute to Antwerp’s defence. The Brigade’s Operations Room at Antwerp recorded 483 V1 and 313 V2 (rocket) incidents in the month to 12th December 1944. Units of the Brigade also formed rescue squads with equipment to help civilians buried in wrecked buildings after V1 and V2 explosions.
The German air activity increased in preparation for their Ardennes offensive. The last air attack on Antwerp, on New Year’s Day 1945, was initially at low level (500ft), when the Brigade shot down four planes; around this time the V1 and V2 attacks intensified. The Brigade was relieved on 5th March 1945, and moved to Ostend.
The Brigadier took over as AADC for Ostend and Calais on 11th March. The last plot in the Brigade Operations
Room was for a friendly aircraft on 6 May, and the Brigade returned to the UK some three weeks later on 28th May.22 Brig S. G. B. Paine commanded the Brigade in the autumn of 1945.
The Brigade was stationed at South Brent (Devon) in December 1945 when they were disbanded, the HQ having been disbanded at Topsham, Devon, the month before. The continuous service personnel returned to their Divisions and the ‘HOs’ were absorbed into the 27th and 28th RM Battalions. (RMHS)

1944. Thursday 2nd March. 48 Royal Marine Commando formed at Deal from the 7th Royal Marine Battalion. (RMHS)

1944. Thursday 2nd – Monday 13th March. The 48 RM Commando was formed at Deal from 7th Bn and disbanded at Beeding, near Horsham, on 31st January 1946.
Principal operations 1944 - 45:
Trained at Achnacarry 13th March to 3 April 1944; 6 June landed in Normandy and captured the strongpoint at Langrune sur Mer where the Commando remained on security duties after suffering 50 per cent casualties; 9th June reinforcements arrived, bringing strength to 250, before advance to Douvres for patrolling; 11th June in Orne line and next day advanced 1,000yds to Sallenelles where the Commando in a defence line for 60 days, although the number of patrols was limited so as not to interfere with other Commandos’ patrols, since there were four Commandos on a 2,000yds front. On 20th August moved from Troarn, by passing Dozule to advance in daylight to reach Clermont en Auge, attacked German field batteries etc before midday, and later secured high ground overlooking Dozule;
25th August outflanked enemy positions near Beuzeville which were mortaring 46 RM Cdo, and next night infiltrated behind this town to St Maclou with 41 RM Cdo; advanced across Seine to Valmont against no opposition; 5th-13th September in Valmont for rest; policed Le Havre for next two days; 18th - 27th September held front of 10,000yds investing Dunkirk and patrolling. October trained for Walcheren operation; on 1st November landed on Walcheren, clearing south of the ‘gap’ and successfully assaulted W13 battery about 1600 hours; D+1 (2nd November) captured strongpoint W287 at first light (0630 hours), ‘A’ Troop entering Zouteland at 1100 hours before 47 RM Cdo passed through; clearing dunes while other units gave support fire from north of the ‘gap’; the Commando moved north to support 41 RM Cdo on D+4 (5th November) before being withdrawn on 12th November. After rest at Haan, moved to Goes (South Beveland) training reinforcements; three Troops, ‘X’, ‘Y’, and ‘Z’ under command of 47 RM Cdo as only infantry in Oosterhout area at the end of December. During March 1945 the Commando mounted five raids against Schowen and Overflakkee, the Commando suffering casualties on mines. On 25th March in defensive positions on the River Maas at s’Hertogenbosch, a road and rail centre 6,000yds from German positions; enemy artillery and patrols were active; in April on a quieter front of 35,000yds, as reserve to Belgians and Dutch near Kapelsches Veer; raided in dories into the Biesbosch, among marshes and waterlogged islands; 23rd April last operation by this Commando to rescue a patrol in the Biesbosch without casualties before ceasing fire, except for defence. From 1st May to 31st August based at Minden (Germany) as defence force for the HQ of Allied Naval Commander Expeditionary Force (ANCXF); September to 21st October at Waltrop and nearby controlling displaced persons (DPs). October to  November 1945 the Commando  on occupational  duties at Kreis Buren looking after two camps of DPs, with patrols based on five burgomasters’ offices; these patrols stopped ‘black market’ rackets, rapes and armed robberies; Marine officers organised camp improvements before returning to UK on 29th November and disbanded January 1946.
Miscellaneous: Memorable date: 6th June, the landing in Normandy (in 1944).(RMHS)

1944. March. The 1st RM Survey Company: with HQ of AA Command Ceylon and formerly and L & M Unit. In March 1944 absorbed by 5 RM AA Bde HQ and disbanded in December 1945 or soon afterwards. (RMHS)

1944. Tuesday 14th March. The RM Armoured Support Craft Group was formed on 14th March 1944, this Group would command the two RM Armoured Support Regiments and an RM Independent Battery of Centaur tanks. It was commanded by Brig D. C. W. Sanders, OBE, AFC, who had been CRA of the RM Division. He was killed when this HQ was in Normandy in June 1944 and succeeded by the second in  command Col A. J. Harvey, OBE. The small tactical headquarters was staffed by RM officers who developed: first, the techniques for firing engineless tanks on Bailey bridging in LCT(Adapted); and later, the methods of firing and control for these Centaurs with their engines replaced.
The headquarters returned to the UK in late June 1944 after several weeks in action, and on being disbanded that autumn  the personnel were transferred to the 29th RM Bn, later forming the 34th Amphibian Support Regiment. (RMHS)

1944. Saturday 22nd April. 418 Kings Squad passed for duty by General Armstrong Plymouth Division. Squad Photo.

1944. April - May. RM Detachment 385:15 was formed at Havant, Hampshire, from volunteers, many of whom had served with MNBDO I and MNBDO II. Seven officers flew to Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) for instruction from Lt. Col H. G. Hasler and were later to train the main body (112 all ranks) after their arrival in Ceylon on 7th July 1944. Between August 1944 and February 1945 the Detachment completed training. Operations were mounted for reconnaissance, deception and to land clandestine forces in Burma, Malaya, Thailand, and the Nicobar Islands between late February and mid-August 1945, in all 16 operations, some of which comprised more than one raiding party. After World War II some personnel were absorbed into the SBS when this Detachment was disbanded.(RMHS)

1944. Spring. 1st and 2nd RM Armoured Support Regiments were formed in the spring of 1944, each with two Batteries, these Regiments were landed from LCT(Armoured), being LCT(Adapted) that had been modified. The HQs, each of some 40 all ranks, were mainly administrative, and only the tactical portion of two officers and two other ranks landed with the Batteries on 6th June 1944 in Normandy. The Regiments’ personnel included RA officers and RA gunner–drivers, with RAC fitters and mechanics, but the majority were RM gunners, including those who had trained for LCG(L)s. Many of the HQ staff transferred ultimately to the 34th Amphibian Support Regiment, after the armoured Support Regiments were disbanded in the autumn of 1944. (RMHS)

1944. Spring. 1st and 2nd RM Armoured Support Regiments were formed in the spring of 1944, each with two Batteries, these Regiments were landed from LCT(Armoured), being LCT(Adapted) that had been modified. The HQs, each of some 40 all ranks, were mainly administrative, and only the tactical portion of two officers and two other ranks landed with the Batteries on 6th June 1944 in Normandy. The Regiments’ personnel included RA officers and RA gunner–drivers, with RAC fitters and mechanics, but the majority were RM gunners, including those who had trained for LCG(L)s. Many of the HQ staff transferred ultimately to the 34th Amphibian Support Regiment, after the armoured Support Regiments were disbanded in the autumn of 1944. (RMHS)

1944. Monday 5th June. Operation Neptune a Miniscule Part of the Cross Channel Assault of Operation Overlord. H.M.S. Glenearn LSA (L). By Jack Eaves RM CH\111853, Bowman of LCA 994.

Part One. All of the ships and landing craft were blacked out, so in total darkness HMS Glenearn carrying two Royal Marine flotillas of landing craft, 535 & 543 flotillas, 27 craft in all, 24 LCAs and 3 LCMs.535 had 12 LCAs; 543 had 12 LCAs & 3 LCMs, leads Convoy S7 from the Spithead, `Glenearn ` followed by the Empire Ships, Emp. Cutlass, Emp. Battleaxe, & Emp. Broadsword, Princess Astrid, Maid of Orleans, and Headquarters' ship HMS Largs, the ships had a small dark blue light that was lighter in the centre on the stern for the smaller craft to follow and keep station on for the next 90 miles or so, there was host of various but equally important smaller craft that preformed a great job keeping station in the adverse weather conditions and the darkness, some were towing the LCPL `s that would later be used to land the troops from HMS Largs at Ouistreham, all were escorted by 4 of HM Destroyers, there were also messages broadcast from Rear Admiral Talbot, and General Eisenhower.
Later, on deck in the darkness, overhead we could hear the continuous drone as wave after wave of planes carrying the airborne troops, others towing Gliders to make the first strike after midnight, then I went below and slung my hammock to snatch a few hours' sleep, others were playing cards on the mess tables to while away the time.
`Glenearn `reached the lowing position at 05.33 Double British Summer Time 6.6.1944. Minus 2hrs for standard time.
"Wakey Wakey" had been at 04 25, when the troops and the ships company were awakened, and breakfast was served, about 05.15 a prayer services were held on deck, one for RC and a separate one for the C of E, the murmur of prayers could be heard across the deck, it was just beginning to get light, but overcast, with a dampness in the air that was chilly.
At 05.25 Boat Lowerers and crews were closed up, from the top of the starboard forward Luffing Davit it was light enough to see the two halves of the Norwegian Destroyer `Svenner `about 300yds astern, which had taken a torpedo amidships, with both Bow and Stern high in the air forming a large stark black "V" was folding up and sinking.
535 Flotilla had been briefed to make a landing on Sword Beach at a place called
Bas Lion?? Between Ouistreham and Lion sur Mer, on the Queen White section of the beach, with units of the 3" British Div. South Lancs. And East Yorks. Regiments, with Colonel Hutchinson I/C. (when Captain Hutchison introduced him to us he said that he was a `chin' one of the Far East branch of the (his) family).
At 0545 the Tannoy ordered `AWAY BOATS' and the first flight of eight loaded LCAs were lowered down, in the half-light it could be seen by the way that the bow reared up then plunged into the following trough that a reasonable swell was running, this motion was negated somewhat as the craft got under way and surged ahead, this left 4 LCAs on the Luffing Davits (a Luffing Davit held 3craft, lowered one at a time ) LCA No 994 was the second craft on the forward starboard Luffing Davit, as 994 hit the water, the wave lifted the bow slackening off the falls so enabling the Bowman (me) to unhook the forward hook, as the wave passed under the craft and lifted the stern Joe Cooper aft unhooked the stern hook, we then held on to the hooks as they were being hoisted out of harm's way, if left uncontrolled they would swing around and cause damage to the occupants within the craft, we had always synchronized unhooking in sequence since we started training in late Oct. 1943, to miss unhooking in sequence could cause problems in rough weather, next was to unshackle the chains of the forward hoisting eye, and lay it into a recess in the deck, a cover was then put on it and it became part of the central seat, approx.( 8"x 8") for the troops to sit on, there was a similar seat each side under cover of a steel overhead deck covered with coconut matting that we used as a walkway to go fore and aft.'
The first flight of 8 craft had been standing off while the others were being lowered, the spare 535 Flot. Crews went over to HMS Largs, on another assignment, and the two other 535 Flot. Craft were to join up with 543 Flot. to take in a Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Unit, LCA 994 and another then joined up with the main body of eight that had been lying off, then in two lines ahead headed for the beach about 6 miles away, the troops were allowed to stand up, someone then produced a mouth organ, many of the troops sang along, on 994 morale was very good, the Officer in charge of 994 was Lt. Webber RM. The Cox'n was L\cprl Jack Danks, the stoker was always referred to and called Stokes, so I can't remember his name, Joe Cooper was a signalman, every craft that had an officer on board carried a signalman.
As the Flotilla headed in, to port running in with us was another Flotilla, but these craft were painted in "Pacific " colours, light and mid blue, they seemed quite bright and conspicuous, as it was a dull grey morning, they may have come from the "Princess Astrid " or the " Maid of Orleans" whilst our craft were white and grey Atlantic colours, Lt Webber thought that they were a Canadian Flotilla, the sea was moderate, "rough" was what we had experienced during training off the NE coast of Scotland during winter of 1943-1944, this was quite comfortable, with a short choppy following sea we were partially surfing along, comfortable for a small LCA, probably a very lumpy ride for the larger landing craft, 40yds to starboard there was an LCT (R ), about a I000yds or so from the shore the LCT (R) fired off salvo after salvo of rockets, the noise was deafening, the flames from the rockets were awesome, we could follow the flight of them to the beach, all along the front we could see more rockets as the salvos were fired off from other LCT(R)s with devastating effect on the beach defences we hoped!! Things were now getting serious, so the mouth organist stopped playing.
About 500yds from shore, there was a lone Naval Officer "standing on the top of the water, holding on to a pole” or so it seemed to us, actually he was standing on the deck of a submerged Midget Submarine holding on to the periscope and pointing out which way we had to go!! which was slightly to port, it was an incredible sight to see him standing there surrounded by the sea, just rolling with the waves, (the subs had been on station for a few of days, watching the beach to monitor for any unusual activity, which would have meant that word had got out that the landings were coming,) the troops were sat down, Lt Webber and the O\C troops looked at their watches, said that we were early, but go for it, no sense in hanging about now, the Flotilla deployed to inline abreast, veered slightly to port, in the direction that the Submarine Officer had indicated, we gave the Submarine Officer a wave and a cheer, and at full speed headed for the beach.
100 yards or so from the beach, the troops were changed from sitting to a get ready crouch position, the starboard rope holding the ramp was released, and the port rope was slackened ready, just being held in my hand, I was standing in a "niche" on the port side, so as not to impede the troops on their way out, we (the crew) had the "luxury" of standing up and looking around and evaluate what was going on, while the troops crouched in the bottom of the of the landing craft could see nothing, only hear the gunfire, one can only imagine what thoughts would be going through their heads, the next thing they would see would be a very hostile beach,... right ahead, slightly to the right, beyond the beach obstructions at the back of the beach was the tall house that had been shown to us at our briefing, so 994 was right on target.
When 994 hit the beach at full speed, the ramp slammed down, we were running in with an LCT about 25ft to starboard, above us a matelot with his oerlikon depressed was firing at the house up the beach, the gun platform was outboard, so he seemed to be just above our heads, on the starboard side another crew member was probably firing the other oeriikon as tracers seemed to be flying everywhere, some just floating about aimlessly, 994 made the classical copy book LCA "dry " landing, when the ramp slammed down the Officer I\C troops burst open the armoured doors and dashed out, closely followed by his troops, they were faced with about 60 - 80 yds of beach with obstructions.
As 994 was going astern, coming thru' the water between 994 and the LCT, was a man, his body visible only from the waist up, and surrounded by a brown canvas dodger, as he closed with the beach he seemed to rise out of the water, and under him was a Tank!! It was a swimming Tank, how he came thru' without being swamped or run down by a Landing craft I'll never know, after all there wasn't much of him showing above the waves, he stopped at the beach edge, lowered the dodger, and then he just trundled away off up the beach.
Danksie then put the starboard engine full ahead and the port one full astern to make a tight turn to port in the restricted space between the LCT and the beach obstructions which consisted of large steel girders sticking out of the water, Mortar Bombs were coming down now, even so 994 came round and up against one of these obstructions, Joe and I managed to bear off from it very gingerly before actual contact was made, the mine on top was angled seawards, then 994 was clear and heading away from the beach, a little way out there was an LCA with both engines stopped just drifting, I\C was Sgt. Dixon (Croix De Guerre), the Cox'n was L\cprl "Taffy" Hughs, the crew were Ted Neale and "Pincher" Martin, Stan Martin was the Stoker, their LCA had landed on a sand bar, so the troops had to wade ashore up to their waists, holding their rifles above their heads, very unlucky, and very vulnerable, but both engines had failed trying to get off the sand bank, 994 took this craft in tow and headed out, later Ted Neale told me that he thought that a mortar bomb had actually dislodged them from the sandbar.(RMAQ Jack Eaves)

 

In the Pacific Ocean she also carried a Helicopter.

1944. Monday 5th June. 'I Remember' by Roy H. Leaney (Onetime Po/x110850 Corporal RM)
D-Day -1. Being in the old docks at Southhampton, at S3 Hard, aboard LC(Flak)32 taking on water and boxes of compo rations and then with the victualling completed that we slipped and moved out into the Solent to tie up alongside an 'Oiler' for fuel and finally on to the ammunition barges, where we took on extra boxes of Oerlikon and Porn-Porn ammunition as deck cargo.
That then being in all respects ready for sea, we moved slowly down the Solent, passing Fawley Oil Refinery and steered for the Isle of Wight, there turning to portwe proceded to Portsmouth arriving in the early afternoon. Here we 'lay-to' between the forts and the Mab Tower in company with many other ships and Landing Craft of all types.
That about 173Ohrs, a lone German aircraft flew over the massed fleet of over 8,000 ships and we thought the "gaff" was blown, but the A/A gunners on Southsea Common immediately put up a barrage of fire which ringed him, the next salvo was plumb centre and down he went in flames - Talk about good shooting!
Sailing Orders were received and with all scuttles closed and the only lights, a Blue and a White, visable under the stern of each ship, the flotilla moved out in line astern, keeping station on those small Blue and White convoy lights of the preceding craft.
During the Second Dog Watch, all hands were briefed as to our ship's tasks at the beaches, first at Sword, then Juno and Gold, as the needs be.
Orders being passed down from the bridge for all hands to bathe and change into clean underwear and "Best" battledress before the watches turned in for the night.
D-DAY. Being 'Stood To' at action stations, I, in command of the Starboard Oerlikons and Pom-Poms on the upper deck. That around 0430hrs, we arrived off the French coast and took up our respective station ready to take in the first wave of troops to the area designated as "Sword Beach".
On the sea, hundreds of smoke cannisters dropped from ships drifting towards the shore belching their concealing clouds.
It was some time between 0530 and O600hrs that we slowly started to approach the shore and that as we came out of the smokescreen, it was 'full steam ahead' and I could clearly see the beach and the "White House" that was the landing marker for the first loads of troops in our sector.
The salvos of heavy gunfire, with shells screeching overhead to burst behind the beaches, fired from the battleships Warspite and Ramilles and the monitor Roberts, together with the Cruisers, assorted Destroyers and Landing Craft (Rocket), that made up our Gunfire Support Bombardment Force, and every where I looked, landing craft packed with troops heading for the shore.
As we closed the beach we opened up on the German gun emplacements, to give the first troops covering fire as they dis-embarked and moved along the beachhead.
We took in a second wave before OSOOhrs and that our skipper broadcast the BBC's 8 o/clock News over the 'Tannoy' with it's theme music "Into Battle", which raised a resounding cheer from all on board.
Even today, I can still see the smoke drifting along the sea wall, the dead and wounded awash at the waters edge and scattered over the beaches, the litter of smashed craft, trucks, tanks and scattered equipment that we could see every time we escorted the LC(A)'s and (P)'s into the beach.
Watching LCT's taking in the tanks, some having their doors blown off as they beached, their ramps setting off the mines buried in the sand as they were lowered. Seeing the tanks move forward up the beach, each exploding as if it had been 'picked off' by a Jerry gunner, only to learn that they were blowing of their water-proofing.
A. Rocket-ship firing a salvo, a lone Mustang fighter patrolling over the beachhead that rolled and banked to get clear, but was hit and crashed onto the beach.
That as darkness fell, we were ordered up channel towards the port of Le Harve, where we were to anchor, swinging with the tide to form part of the "Trout Line" protecting the eastern flank from attacks by "E" Boats.
We had to put up with the "Jerry's" 'box barrage' which he put over the top of us nearly every night, making life very uncomfortable on the deck at night.
A piece of shrapnel that hissed between the Skipper and myself to stick in the duck-boards of the bridge (I picked it up and still have it to this day).
D+2. Moving back from the "Trout Line" to the landing beaches, we had a call, "100+ aircraft passing over from the north" what a sight! Then as the sun rose we could see their bombs shinning like tinsel on a Christmas tree, gilttering all the way down until they exploded.
A bomber on his way home with his starboard engine on fire, trying to crash land on the sea, but a ship was in his way and as he banked away his starborad wing tip hit the water and he cart-wheeled in and exploded in a ball of flame.
A nearby MTB racing into the flames in the hope of picking up any survivors (We later learned that the commander of the MTB was Peter Scott).
What was to become our daily routine for the next three months, working the beaches during the day, taking in stores, mail and personnel or the worst job of all, trying to recover the bodies of those killed during the landings that bobbed to the surface and floated in and out with the tide. Mostly they were Americans and seemed so young. I never thought that we were the same age.
That as the days turned to weeks the number of dead coming to the surface decreased but those that did were so badly decomposed as to be un-recoverable, all we could do was try to retrieve their 'dog tags' and then pierce them with a boathook and allow them to return to their watery grave. Then back at night to Le Harve to form the "Trout Line".
On the 19th a terrific storm struck, playing havoc with the fleet, driving some ships and many of the craft, especially the smaller ones aground. We could not hold our position, so headed inshore streaming our kedge anchors astern and ran the craft up onto the beach, where we remained for the next couple of days until the gale eased off.
During our short stay on the beach, Sir Brian Horrocks, came aboard and asked for the marines to go with him as they had suffered casualties, our skipper politely refused,I suppose he didn't want to lose most of his crew and be left stranded on the beach.
When the weather turned fine again we hauled off and returned to the "Beaches By Day-Trout Line By Night" routine.
One evening, just at dusk, as we were swinging on the "Trout Line" I was standing on the bridge with the Officer of the Watch, when I spotted a lone aircraft coming from the direction of the land which I reported to the Duty Officer. The aircraft banked and flew eastward up the coast, then turned out to sea and finally turning back so that he had us between himself and the land.
The O.O.W. Imediately rang "Action Stations" and as the guns crews closed up, those that could bear turned to cover him.
I identified the the aircraft as a Junkers 88 and requested permission to open fire, but the skipper said "Wait until he gets a bit closer." At. 501 yards and coming in with his bomb doors open we could see the lights in his bomb-bay gleaming. "Open Fire" came the order from the bridge, and the poor devils never knew what hit them. The aircraft crashed into the sea about 50 yards off our starboard bow with only part of the fuselage and the rudder sticking out of the water. This was to be the only aircraft confirmed as shot down by '32' during her commission and was duly painted on the front of the bridge.
In early August, we heard that LCF 1, armed with two flinch HA/LA guns in open shields and with bridge waist Oerlikons had been sunk by a "weasel" on August 2"/3rd and that how sad I was to hear this. I had served in her from December 43 to March 44 and had known most of her crew.
That the 'Weasel' was a high speed 8ft-10ft speedboat packed with explosives and fitted with spring-loaded detonators around the outside of its hull.
That in late August/early September we were ordered back to England for repairs and to re-victual and that each watch was to have seven days leave.
My leave was spent harvesting on Lord Brockett's estate at Camberley, Surrey, working alongside my future wife Betty, who was serving with the Woman's Land Army. Thoses seven wonderful, sunny and peaceful days.
Yes! I Remember. (Roy H. Leaney RMAQ)

1944. Tuesday 6th June. The Landings in Normandy, or D-Day as it became known. Over 17,000 Royal Marines took part in the largest amphibious operation in history. Most of the minor landing craft were manned by Royal Marines, as also were the guns of the support craft, and all capital ships carried an RM detachment. Five RM Commandos (41, 45, 46, 47 and 48) landed during the assault phase, grouped with three Army Commandos into two Special Service Brigades. In addition the Corps provided a number of specialist units including an Armoured Support Group, beach clearance and control parties and engineers. The first 48 hours of the operation were the most critical, involving a seaborne assault against a heavily protected and strongly held coastline. Most of the RM Commando were ashore by 0900 hours on 6th June and had achieved their initial objectives by early on 7th June. The Corps thus played a leading role in the establishment of secure beach heads from which subsequent operations to defeat the German Army in the west were developed. Nine officers and 85 men were killed in action on 6th June. The number of wounded is not known. The following gallantry awards were conferred upon Royal Marines during the Normandy campaign, most of them for actions on 6th June: 5 DSOs, 3 OBEs, 13 DSCs, 10 MCs, 1 CGM, 26 DSMs and 13 MMs. (Sea & Land – June 1989)

1944. Tuesday 6th June. Operation Neptune a Miniscule Part of the Cross Channel Assault of Operation Overlord. H.M.S. Glenearn LSA (L). By Jack Eaves RM CH\111853, Bowman of LCA 994.
Part Two. The Flotilla formed up into 2 lines ahead, and was being straddled by shell fire but no craft were hit, we could see the splashes of the of the falling shells, the sun was now shining, and looking back it seemed that all the "Canadian " craft had come to grief and were broached to on the beach, broadside on, being pounded by the surf, they looked so bright in the sunshine, a sad sight indeed, all our craft were present, no craft was flying the prearranged signal that there were wounded on board, that would have given them priority on the davit outside of the Sick Bay, also `Glenearn ' would have made a lee side for them, soon Stan Martin cleared the sand from the engine filters, so they were able to proceed under their own power, none of the `Canadian' craft came off the beach to return to the Landing Ships with 535 flotilla, about an hour into the return journey we passed 543 Flotilla going in, signals were exchanged by the flotilla commanders.
Lt. Webber said that the beach bombardment was to lift at 0720, we were supposed to land at 0725, but we actually landed at 0722, was it that 3mins.that were so crucial as to make it easier for 535 flotilla which landed so soon after the beach bombardment, before the defenders were in position? This also gave our troops a good run up the beach; I feel that we were indeed very fortunate; also did we stir up a hornet's nest for those that followed us?? as 994 approached "Glenearn "the forward hoisting eye was raised into position, and secured with the chains and shackles, the Battleships and Cruisers were still firing at targets beyond the beach, the battleship ' Warspite ` fired a broadside as 535 Flot. came by, and being between her and the shore it was an unforgettable sight, later Lt Webber wrote a poem entitled 'Little Ships' the last line I remember was' On that day June the sixth forty four.' I do not have a copy.
Returning to the Landing Ships which seemed to be strung right across the horizon `Glenearn' seemed to stand out because of her unique silhouette but the Empire ships all looked identical so on the side of Empire Cutlass was painted a huge CS, Empire Battleaxe had BX, and Empire Broadsword had BD, so they could be identified from a great distance.
"Glenearn" had the hooks partially down ready for us, just low enough for us to take the Bow line off the forward hook (which was attached by a 3\8in grommet) and slip the eye over the outboard bow cleat, this held the LCA in position under the hooks, and the two engines were stopped, the hooks were then put thru' the hoisting eyes to be hoisted, as the wave lifted the craft with the left hand we pushed the heavy block with the steel cables running through it away from us, so as to stay clear of the steel cables that were hanging around loosely, but with the right hand kept the hook inside the eye, as the craft dropped into the trough of the wave the steel cables would suddenly tighten and sound like vibrating guitar strings, this would happen 2 or 3times as we were hoisted until we were high enough to be clear of the waves.
994 took No 12 davit aft so we were lifted up on to the Poop Deck, the pan was removed from the Stripped Lewis Gun ( 1916 vintage) and the round up the spout fired off, leaving it safe, it was by then late morning, we made our way down to the Mess Deck, there is no doubt that 535 Flotilla had been so very very lucky, no casualties in either men or landing craft, the Sick Bay was very busy, over 70 survivors from the Norwegian Destroyer had been picked up and were on board `Glenearn' many required surgery, other casualties were also transferred to "Glenearn' from other vessels.
We sat around on the forms and tables discussing events and winding down, when the Sergeant came down to the messdeck to say that Lt. XXXX wanted us to parade on deck for a rifle inspection in 20 minutes, this was greeted with all the old expletives and quite a few new ones never heard before, fortunately Captain Colin Hutchison DSO and bar, OBE, RN ( known on board as "Father" ), sent down permission for 535 Flotilla to sling their Hammocks for a couple of hours or so as 543 Flotilla were not due back for a while, so we turned in and forgot about the rifle inspection.
543 Flotilla had left `Glenearn' at 0650 to head for Queen Red Beach, they carried C & D Companies of the East Yorks Regiment, also one unit R.N. Beach Commandos and the Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance unit, a packet of bacon sandwiches was handed out to each one of the troops as they boarded their craft, to keep for later, they slipped them into their battle dress blouse, some craft of 538 Flotilla from the' Empire Broadsword' were to accompany them and to land other army units, as the LCAs pulled away the craft carrying Lieutenant Colonel Hutchinson, his Battalions Bugler blew the General Salute, to be answered by the ' Glenearn' Bugler, the LCAs proceeded in two columns following an LCF which was in the lead, on return 543 Flotilla appeared to have lost 7 craft, some craft were recovered in the following days as 'Glenearn' returned to the beaches.
By early afternoon it appeared that all the craft that could return that day would have, and having many wounded, injured, and Norwegian survivors on board, `Glenearn' got under way, and then came under fire from a shore battery, there were some shell splinters flying around, just some superficial damage, no casualties `Glenearn made smoke, then out of the smoke came HMS Warspite steaming between `Glenearn' and the shore firing her big guns at the shore battery which immediately stopped firing, on the return journey `Glenearn' was threading her way thru' all sorts of vessels that were all heading towards France, the large concrete portions of the Mulberry Harbour were being towed across, at that stage we did not know what they were, the huge concrete blocks dwarfed the tugs that were towing them, it was akin to an ant pulling an elongated sugar cube, also there was PLUTO Pipe Line Under The Ocean whereby fuel was pumped over 90 miles (150Kms) from England to France thus eliminating vulnerable and valuable tankers, `Glenearn` arrived off of the Isle of Wight that night but with the urgent need of both men and materials for France' Glenearn ' did not get alongside until early the next morning to land the wounded and survivors, some had died.
When we returned to the beaches 9 6 44 on Juno beach there had been a big storm in the channel, so there was a large swell running, it was extremely rough, about 200 yds off shore were about 5 or 6 ships that had been sunk parallel to the shore it was relatively calm behind these `Block Ships' but the seas were crashing right over them, and from the Mulberry Harbour (now we knew what the huge concrete blocks were ) to the beach there was a floating `roadway', along this were being driven some trucks, the sections of the' roadway' seemed to be canting in all directions with the wave action, looked a pretty hair raising job, coming out from the relative calm behind the block ships, the flotilla made its way back to `Glenearn 'that for the only time that I can recall made a lee side to hoist the craft inboard, we were quite used to the waves running fore and aft while being hoisted, but with the lee side one moment the ship appeared to be looming right over us then leaning away I found this was `different', this then became the pattern, embark troops and return to the beaches every few days and land them on the beach.
On the 16 6 44 `Glenearn' and the `City of Canterbury' put the British Army Commandos ashore on `Omaha' beach, and about two dozen US Nurses, I asked the commandos why we were putting them ashore on Omaha they told me that the yanks were bogged down and that their job was to go thru' their lines and break out for them, they wore khaki `Glengarries' and by their cap badges just about every British Regiment was represented.
The nurses were chattering and laughing as they landed that they could now tell their grandchildren that they had landed in France, - on Omaha beach-- from a landing craft, (they would've done that by now) in a day or so they would be very welcome and much appreciated when they joined their unit, they walked along the beach in small groups, mingling with the commandos towards the beach exit.
On one return trip sitting on the mess deck, there was this enormous roar, we shot up on deck, a Buzz Bomb (`V' 1) had just 'passed' 'Glenearn' the lookouts on the bridge swore that they were looking down on it ! ! on another return trip we passed `Glenearn' s' sister ship 'Glenroy' lying low in the water, she had struck a mine and was awaiting a tug to tow her back to the UK, when POWs were sent back to England they were bought alongside and bought inboard thru' the sally port, they must have had their own guards that travelled with them as we had no contact with them whatsoever.
Early in July, `Glenearn' went into a dry dock at Greenock, everybody had a spot of leave then, as part of Force X sailed for the SW Pacific to join the 7t' US SW Pacific Fleet, on the marine messdeck a geriatric 8 or 10 in. metal electric fan that rumbled and grumbled continuously was installed that oscillated between every two mess tables, we were now rigged for the tropics! The petrol for the landing craft was stored below the marine's messdeck, and the explosion that occurred in April 1945 was said to have been caused by a spark from one of these fans. 535 Flotilla had left `Glenearn' but a few days earlier.
535 Flotilla ( also 536, 537, 538 & 539) were formed about July-August 1943, (mainly from the old 22 Training Battalion that had been sent to Arthog in Nth Wales to train for the M N B D 0, building docks, piers, etc. with steel gibing) at the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, where they all underwent seamanship classes on LCMs, and at Dartmouth we were issued with one beret ( told that we were the first marines to receive them) and retained one forage cap, the Flotillas then went to West Cliff, on marching in we were greeted with wolf whistles and cat calls by the resident marines as in those days berets were considered effeminate, or for French onion sellers, with the influx of the flotillas the dining room had to have two sittings, one with berets and one with forage caps, we had both, a great opportunity for the gannets especially when it was egg and chips for supper, 535 was sent to Fort William, where the Stokers who had been on their course in Nth. Wales re-joined the flotilla, (Arnold Rose was one of the stokers with 535 flotilla) the LCAs were delivered, then a two day trip thru' the Caledonian Canal to Inverness.
535 were then billeted in the Cameron Barracks for 2-3 weeks, doing day and night exercises on the Moray Firth?? with the LCAs, 535 and 536 flotillas then joined HMS Glenearn late in October 1943 in the Moray Firth, after one or two exercises HMS Glenearn went down to Rosyth dockyard to have the hooks modified, the marines were put ashore at HMS Brontosaurus for some square bashing, 536 flotilla went across and joined the Empire Cutlass, later 543 flotilla joined HMS Glenearn, early in 1944 Arnold Rose was transferred to 544 flotilla on the 'Monawia' from which they landed troops on JUNO beach on D-Day, on the run in Arnold poked his head up thru the stokers hatch to see what was going on and saw three RAF planes making a low sweep along the beach, they ran into the rocket fire from the landing craft and one was bought down.
535 Flotilla sent in 10 LCAs on D Day all returned, 543 sent 14 LCAs, 7 returned, 9 LCPLs left 'Largs', Frank Taylor was a cox'n on one of them, just one returned, 544 flotilla (Monowia) sent in 20 LCAs just 6 returned.
535 Flotilla was awarded 5 Croix de Guerre by the French Gov.
Frank Taylor was cox'n of an LCPL from HMS Largs landing at Oustreme.
I think that one of my most outstanding memories of that `D' Day morning would be the memory of that lone Submarine Officer with the whole invasion force bearing down on him just standing there pointing out which way for us to go !
Marching song at that period at Arthog was
MNBDO MNBDO We want blues
We wanna go to sea
We got the blues, cos" we're in khaki
MNBDO
Now that we're left on shore
With the A T S and the R A F
We might as well be a second B E F
Instead of M  N B D 0
Instead of M N B D 0

1944. Tuesday 6th June. Royal Marines and the Normandy Landings. by Frank Murphy PLY5647 - RM19521.
The landings of the Allied Forces in Normandy on 6th June 1944 needs little introduction here. It was the culmination of years of hard tracking and detailed planning. It employed the largest number of men ever known in this kind of operation and the troops, sailors and airmen, under the supreme command of Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower, came from many nations, including the United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, France, Holland and Belgium. By D+28 a million men of the allied Armies of Liberation had landed in France.
But the first 48 hours were among the most vital ones for the Allies and the Royal Marines part in establishing the bridgehead can be accurately assessed by covering those first two days ashore.
The Normandy landings on 6th June 1944 witnessed the largest gathering of Royal Marines ever to be used in one operation. Over 10,000 were employed in a wide variety of roles, some
traditional, others entirely new to the Corps.
All the LCVs (Landing Craft Vehicle)  and LCMs (Landing Craft Mechanised) which were used to ferry supplies to the beaches for the forward troops were manned by marines as were many of the LCAs (Landing Craft Assault) LC (S) (Landing Craft Infantry Small) which ferried the assault groups to the shore. Marines manned their usual turrets on the warships which bombarded the coast before the invasion and provided gun crews for the LCGs (Landing Craft Gun) and LCFs (Landing Craft Flak) which gave close fire support to the troops on the beaches. They also made up five of the eight Commandos (formed into two Special Services Brigades) which landed close behind the assault battalions, and provided specialised units. These special units included. the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group, landing craft obstruction clearance units, Royal Marine assault engineers, beach parties, signallers, AA armament crews and personnel for running the naval ports, both natural and artificial.
Chronologically, it is right to describe first the hazardous role of those employed in getting the troops to the beaches, and supporting and supplying them. A typical example of the many acts of bravery committed by the marines involved in this task was that of Cpl Tandy.
Tandy was coxswain of. LCA. 786, and when the steering wheel of his craft was carried away he acted as a human rudder in order to get the LCA with its troops to the beaches. The accident occurred when the LCA was being lowered from the parent ship, and though the beach was seven miles away Tandy immediately went over the stern and guided the rudder with his foot. Though waist deep in water most of the time and. battered and bruised by the heavy swell Tandy got his craft to the shore on time and then returned it to the parent ship still steering it with his foot, and his body half-submerged in the rough seas. For this exploit Tandy was later awarded the ISM.
Among those who went in with the first waves of assault troops were three members of the US Marine Corps acting as observers in an LCG. They kept an invasion diary which vividly describes what it was like to be there.

1944. Tuesday 6th June.Ch/x111865, Jack Eaves was one of the Royal Marines who took part in the D-Day landings, on Sword beach. What he witnessed has remained with him to the present day (May 2018 age 93). During a conversation with Jack he even described the sea gulls flying through the barrage of explosion, be it in the water or in the air above the landing craft. Over the years Jack became an artist with many fine paintings to his credit. The following paining was one of the last ones he under took during 2018 at the tender age of 93. Even adding the seagulls flying above the boat. The other black and white photo is of a Landing Craft heading for the beach. Jack cannot remember who took the photo, but assures me that it was taken on an old (new in those days) what was known as a box camera. (Terry Aspinall 2018)

 

1944. Tuesday 6th June. The British 50th (Northumbrian) Division and No 47 Royal Marine Commando at GOLD Beach.
This post is dedicated to the memory of those who died on Tuesday 6 June 1944 in pursuit of freedom. It is through their sacrifice that we enjoy the freedoms we have today.
In this the seventh part of the story of D-Day, 6 June 1944 we concentrate on the actions of the British 50th (Northumbrian) Division and No 47 Royal Marine Commando at GOLD Beach. This is their story:
GOLD Beach was the codename of the centre of the Allied landing beaches on D-Day, 6 June 1944. It was more than 5 miles long and included the coastal towns of La Rivière and Le Hamel. At the western end of the beach was the small port of Arromanches, and slightly west of that port was the town of Longues-sur-Mer. It was the most westerly beach of the British sector and was the responsibility of the British XXX Corps commanded by Lieutenant General Gerard Bucknall which would assault one Division up, with the British 50th (Northumbrian) Division leading.
The defending German forces consisted of elements of the German 716th Static Division and at least part of the 1st Battalion of the German 352nd Infantry Division who were at Le Hamel. Many of the Germans were set up in houses along the coast, with the greatest concentrations located at Le Hamel and La Rivière. These fighting positions were vulnerable to naval gunfire and aerial bombardment and could easily be set on fire, but the Germans counted on a counterattack capability with Kampfgruppe Meyer, a mechanized unit of the 352nd Division based at the nearby town of Bayeux. This unit had practiced rapid manoeuvre to the beach to meet possible invasion attempts.
In addition to the German seafront defences, a formidable fortified artillery observation bunker had been constructed on top of the steep cliffs on the outskirts of Longues-sur-Mer that directed the fire of a German Coastal Artillery Battery located about half a mile inland from the beach. The four 155 mm guns of the Battery were heavily protected with one-metre-thick concrete and were considered to be a significant threat to the seaborne invasion troops who were to land in the area.
The assault sectors at GOLD Beach were designated (from west to east) Item, Jig (comprising sections Green and Red), and King (also consisting of two sections named Green and Red). The assault was to be carried out by the British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, which included Battalions from the Devonshire, Hampshire, Dorsetshire, and East Yorkshire Regiments. The beach was wide enough for two brigades to be landed side-by-side, so the 231st Brigade was assigned to Le Hamel in Jig sector and the 69th Brigade to La Rivière in King sector. No 47 Royal Marine Commando, attached to the 50th Division for the landing, was assigned to Item sector.
The main objectives of the British 50th Division were to seize the town of Bayeux, cut the Caen-Bayeux highway, capture the small port of Arromanches, link up with the Americans from Omaha Beach to the west at Port-en-Bessin and link up with the Canadians from Juno Beach to the east. The 50th Division was also to take the Longues-sur-Mer Battery from the rear.
H-Hour was set for 07.25 hours, 50 minutes later than in the American sector to allow for the difference in the tide, which meant that high water was later in the British sector. On the morning of D-Day however the wind came directly from the northwest and piled up the water rapidly. The outer beach obstacles that the Germans had installed to damage and destroy invading landing craft were therefore under water before British demolition teams could get to them. When the demolition teams arrived they came under direct fire from the German seafront defences and were prevented from effectively clearing the obstacles.
Due to the heavy seas it was decided not to launch the Sherman DD Tanks from their LCTs several miles out at sea but to run them straight up to the beach. The first wave to land came in under heavy fire from the German defenders and suffered heavy casualties. The 1st Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment lost its Commanding Officer and Second-in-Command within minutes of landing. Following up behind the 1st Hampshires were the Commandos of the 4th Special Service Brigade. They too suffered badly during the run in and only one of their allotted landing craft actually reached the shore. The decision to land the tanks directly on to the beach however proved to be the saving grace as there was no German armour in the area. Once ashore the tanks provided close support to the infantry and most of the initial German resistance was quickly overcome. Many of the German strong points had been neutralised by the naval bombardment earlier in the morning and it was only the main fortified areas of resistance that held out, but by 10.00 hrs La Rivière was captured and Le Hamel was in British hands by mid-afternoon.
No 47 (RM) Commando, which was the last British Commando unit to land, also came ashore on GOLD Beach east of Le Hamel on Item sector. Their task was to immediately push inland, then turn right (west) and cross 10 miles of enemy held territory in order to seize and hold the coastal harbour of Port-en-Bessin. This small port was significant as it was to be the prime early harbour for supplies to be brought in including fuel by underwater pipe from tankers moored offshore. After landing, No 47 (RM) Commando passed south of Arromanches and pushed west to within a mile of Port-en-Bessin where they were halted just to the south of the Longues-sur-Mer Battery. Here they dug in on ‘Hill 72’ and Port-en-Bessin did not fall into British hands until 8 June 1944 after some very heavy fighting.
Although heavily bombed prior to the invasion the guns at the Longues-sur-Mer Battery were still capable of firing on D-Day. At 05.30 hrs they had opened fire against the British fleet which continued until the afternoon when they were put out of action in a furious duel with the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Ajax and the Free French Navy cruiser Georges Leygues. The 184 artillerymen at the battery surrendered to the British the following day.
By the evening of D-Day the British 50th Division had landed 25,000 men, penetrated 6 miles inland, hooked up with the Canadians from Juno Beach on the left, and reached the heights above Port-en-Bessin. Whilst it had not seized Bayeux, cut the Caen-Bayeux highway or linked up with the Americans from Omaha Beach, it had made an impressive start. The British sustained around 400 casualties while securing the GOLD Beachhead. (by Ian R Gumm)

1944. Tuesday 6th June. Royal Marines and the Normandy Landings (Part One)
The landings of the Allied Forces in Normandy on 6th June 1944 needs little introduction here. It was the culmination of years of hard training and detailed planning. It employed the largest number of men ever known in this kind of operation and the troops, sailors and airmen, under the supreme command of Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower, came from many nations, including the United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, France, Holland and Belgium. By D+28 a million men of the allied Armies of Liberation had landed in France.
But the first 48 hours were among the most vital ones for the Allies and the Royal Marines part in establishing the bridgehead can be accurately assessed by covering those first two days ashore.
The Normandy landings on 6 June 1944 witnessed the largest gathering of Royal Marines ever to be used in one operation. Over 10,000 were employed in a wide variety of roles, some traditional, others entirely new to the Corps.
All the LCVs (Landing Craft Vehicle) - and LCMs (Landing Craft Mechanised) which were used to ferry supplies to the beaches for the forward troops were manned by marines as were many of the LCAs (Landing Craft Assault) + LC (S) (Landing Craft Infantry Small) which ferried the assault groups to the shore. Marines manned their usual turrets on the warships which bombarded the coast before the invasion and provided gun crews for the LCGs (Landing Craft Gun) and LCFs (Landing Craft Flak) which gave close fire support to the troops on the beaches. They also made up five of the eight Commandos (formed into two Special Services Brigades) which landed close behind the assault battalions and provided specialised units. These special units included. the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group, landing craft obstruction clearance units, Royal Marine assault engineers, beach parties, signallers, AA armament crews on theme, and personnel for running the naval ports, both natural and artificial.
Chronologically, it is right to describe first the hazardous role of those employed in getting the troops to the beaches and supporting and supplying them. A typical example of the many acts of bravery committed by the marines involved in this task was that of Cpl Tandy.
Tandy was coxswain of. LCA. 786, and when the steering wheel of his craft was carried away, he acted as a human rudder in order to get the LCA with its troops to the beaches. The accident occurred when the LCA was being lowered from the parent ship, and though the beach was seven miles away Tandy immediately went over the stern and guided the rudder with his foot. Though waist deep in water most of the time and. battered and bruised by the heavy swell Tandy got his craft to the shore on time and then returned it to the parent ship still steering it with his foot, and his body half-submerged in the rough seas. For this exploit Tandy was later awarded the ISM.
Among those who went in with the first waves of assault troops were three members of the US Marine Corps acting as observers in an LCG. They kept an invasion diary which vividly describes what it was like to be there. (Author Unknown)

1944. Tuesday 6th June. Amazing D-Day facts reveal are some of the things you may not have known about one of Britain’s finest hours
1 Planning for Operation Overlord began in earnest in 1943 with Dwight D Eisenhower made supreme commander. British general Bernard Montgomery, hero of the Eighth Army in North Africa, was put in charge of the ground troops.
2 About 3,200 reconnaissance missions were launched in the run-up to the invasion to take photos of vital locations.
3 In the summer of 1943 an early copy of the plans blew out of a window in Norfolk House, London. A man who was passing by handed them in, saying his sight was too bad to read them.
4 Beach landings in Normandy were chosen instead of the Pas-de-Calais because defences were lighter and advancing troops would have fewer rivers and canals to cross.
5 There were to be five landing zones along a 50-mile stretch of coast. The Americans would attack at Utah and Omaha, the British at Gold and Sword and Canadian troops at Juno.
6 D-Day was originally set for June 5 but had to be postponed for 24 hours because of bad weather.
7 The “D” in D-Day actually only stood for Day and was simply used to preserve secrecy.
8 On April 28th, 1944 off Slapton Sands in Devon, 946 American servicemen were killed when German torpedo boats sank a convoy of ships involved in a D-Day dress rehearsal.
9 A phantom army of dummy camps, planes and tanks was constructed in Kent and Essex in order to deceive Germans into thinking the invasion would be at Calais.
10 Spanish-born double agent Garbo also plied the Germans with misinformation that led them to believe the Normandy landings were just a ruse.
11 In May 1944 crucial codewords for D-Day began appearing in Daily Telegraph crosswords. An MI5 investigation failed to find any evidence of foul play. 
12 Allied troops faced formidable defences as part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, which had been built all along the coast using 100,000 workers.
13 High command thought a successful landing would cost 10,000 dead and 30,000 wounded – 30,000 stretchers and 60,000 blankets were issued.
14 New gadgets designed for D-Day included a “swimming tank” and a flame throwing tank called “the crocodile”. There were even collapsible motorbikes.
15 Terence Otway, whose unit was tasked with taking the vital Merville battery, decided to test security among his men. He sent 30 members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force to local pubs to see if any of his troops would divulge the top secret plan – none did.
Condoms were issued to soldiers – most were used for covering the end of their rifles to keep them dry
16 The night before the landings nervous Prime Minister Winston Churchill said to his wife: “Do you realise that by the time you wake up in the morning 20,000 men may have been killed?”
17 On the eve of battle Eisenhower told troops: “You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.”
18 He also wrote a draft statement in case the landings failed which read: “I have withdrawn the troops If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.” 19 Coded messages were sent to alert French Resistance to begin a programme of sabotage. Phrases used included “the dice is on the carpet” – an order to destroy trains and railway lines.
20 The naval operation, codenamed Operation Neptune, involved an armada of 6,939 vessels including 4,126 landing craft – the largest single day amphibious invasion of all time. On June 5 they assembled at a point known as Piccadilly Circus off the Isle of Wight.
21 From 11pm on June 5 some 24,000 airborne troops were delivered behind the German lines to secure important roads and bridges. Along with more than 2,000 aircraft 867 gliders were used. Dummy paratroopers were also dropped to help convince the Germans that the real landings would take place elsewhere.
22 The first British casualty on D-Day was Lt “Den” Brotheridge, shot in the neck shortly after landing in France in a glider at 00.16am. His unit was tasked with taking the crucial target of Pegasus Bridge, an objective that was achieved.
23 Many paratroopers that day were dropped in the wrong place including US Private John Steele. His parachute famously became snagged on the church steeple at Sainte-Mère- Eglise. He was trapped for two hours before being taken prisoner.
24 At 3am 1,900 Allied bombers attacked German lines. A staggering seven million pounds of bombs were dropped that day. A total of 10,521 combat aircraft flew a total of 15,000 sorties on D-Day, with 113 lost.
25 A naval bombardment from seven battleships, 18 cruisers, and 43 destroyers began at 5am and went on until 6.25am. Midget submarines, called X-boats, lay submerged in the sea off the coast of France, surfacing on the morning of D-Day to guide in the invading craft using beacons.
26 The flat-bottomed landing craft were originally designed to rescue flood victims on the Mississippi river in the US.
27 US troops went ashore on the landing beaches at 6.31am, followed an hour later by the British and Canadians on their beaches. There were 61,715 British troops, 21,400 Canadian soldiers and 73,000 Americans.
28 Defences on the beaches included concrete gun emplacements, wooden stakes, mines, anti-tank obstacles, barbed wire and booby traps. Around 50,000 German troops opposed the landing forces.
29 Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was in charge of defending northern France from the expected Allied invasion. On June 6 he was at home in Germany celebrating his wife’s 50th birthday having been told the sea was too rough for a landing.
30 Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was asleep when word of the invasion arrived. No one dared wake him and it’s said vital time was lost in sending reinforcements.
31 The heaviest losses were on Omaha beach where US forces suffered 2,000 casualties. Canadian forces met heavy resistance on Juno. In the first hour the chance of becoming a casualty was one in two.
32 The newly developed drug penicillin went with troops on D-Day and saved thousands of lives.
33 Condoms were issued to soldiers – most were used for covering the end of their rifles to keep them dry.
34 Despite setbacks, including the failure to capture the city of Caen, D-Day saw the Allies establish a successful beachhead from which they could continue the invasion of Normandy. By the evening of the first day, along with more than 150,000 men, 20,000 vehicles had been landed.
35 The Allies ferried two prefabricated harbours called Mulberries across the Channel to help supply the beachhead with equipment. The one at Arromanches involved 600,000 tons of concrete.
36 Total Allied casualties on D-Day were much lighter than feared – around 10,000 with 4,572 killed including 1,641 Brits. The Germans are estimated to have lost about 9,000.
37 Actor Richard Todd starred in The Longest Day, a 1962 film about D-Day, as Major John Howard. He was involved in the real landings as an officer in the 7th Parachute Battalion.
38 James Doohan, who would go on to find fame as Scotty in Star Trek, was a lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Artillery on D-Day and lost a finger during the fray.
39 The stunning Omaha Beach scene in the 1998 movie Saving Private Ryan, starring Tom Hanks, cost £7million to film and used 1,000 extras.
40 Famous photographer Robert Capa captured some of the most memorable images of the action though only a handful of the frames he took survived. The others were accidently destroyed by a lab technician. (By James Moore published Monday 2nd June 2014)

1944. Monday 12th June. Small Operations Group:15. Formed to co-ordinate small scale raiding parties in South East Asia Command, the Group was based in Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) with an RM base staff by 1945. Under command were four COPPs, three SBS Groups and four Sea Reconnaissance Sections, all with army and naval personnel and RM Detachment 385. Units of the Group had carried out 174 operations by June 1945 and several after this date. The Group was disbanded in the autumn of 1945.(RMHS)

1944. June. 'An Impression of D-Day'. Author unknown.
I took a taxi from Southampton station and alighted at the beginning of the Common. It seemed an odd, commonplace way of going to war. I didn't know quite where I was heading but followed a formidable barbed wire fence till I saw on the other side two green berets adorned with shining Globes and Laurels.
"How do I get in?" I asked.
"If you take our advice, sir, you don't" was the reply. "Once you are in here, you don't get out."
Despite this friendly discouragement, I found my way in. They were quite right. Once in, it was almost impossible to get out. Almost, but not quite. There was a legal fiction called "returning stores" which enabled a favoured few to make fleeting contact with the outside world.
I remember with satisfaction a few pints snatched at the White Horse, in Romsey, under cover of this dispensation.
The sun shone. We did nothing on Southampton Common but bask in it. But the Day rolled nearer. When I look back I suppose the most extraordinary thing was the absence of tension or excitement. Everyone seemed quite astonishingly calm and unruffled.
Each night as we rolled in our blankets we heard the crash and rumble of the armour as it poured endlessly down the road to the docks, where the landing craft were packed in so tight that if a new ship came in another had to pull out to make room for it. (Why didn't Jerry bomb them?) Then the briefings came along, on real maps but with phoney place names. As far as I recall one of our objectives was "Vienna". These served to remind us that we were there for a purpose.
As the inevitable date drew close the weather broke. That did make a real difference to the atmosphere. I think all were depressed and rumours of postponement or even cancellation buzzed around. Embarkation was in fact postponed for 24 hours. When recalling our own feelings most of us would no doubt agree that few men in history ever carried alone such a weight of responsibility as the Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower, when he made the solitary decision that Overlord should go forward.
A NIGHTMARE
On D-minus-1 we took our last meal in the camp. Considering the occasion, it might have been a better meal. It might also have saved me the intense discomfort of the following night at sea. Rather unwisely I chose to supplement that meal with a quantity of self-heating soup and some odds and ends of chocolate. I paid for the folly.
The journey by m/t to Warsash introduced a touch of emotion into those hours. Everyone we passed waved and wished us good luck. They knew quite well where we were going and somehow managed to convey their feelings.
After embarkation the officers of Brigade HQ gathered in the tiny wardroom of the LCI, when the skipper, a Lieutenant RNVR, with a beard as big as himself, came down the ladder. We waited in dead silence for his news, for the decision to sail was still not firm, as far as we knew.
"We’re off”, he said. The silence continued. We had waited nearly four years for those words, and comment escaped us. At last, someone - if he reads this, he will no doubt remember - chanted: "We’re off to see the wizard." We all laughed, and the tension relaxed.
The night was a nightmare. The craft made its way across Channel in a series of stops and starts, like a London bus in a traffic block. It seemed as if we should never get anywhere. There were few among those present who did not pay one visit to the rail to offer his tribute to Neptune. Even the RC Padre, an old destroyer man, hauled down his colours.
Dawn broke at last, a grey, dull dawn with low cloud and a threat of rain. Unseen overhead roared the bombers. The coast of Normandy appeared just above the horizon. Already the plumes of smoke were rising as we sighted the steeples of Courcelles, St. Aubin and Langrune.
Then followed yet another interminable period of waiting, during which we were passed by a long line of LCAs bearing the North Shore Regiment of Canada, who were landing a few minutes ahead of us. They cheered as they passed, but the sound was snatched away by the wind and we only saw their waving arms.
After that things began to happen fast. The nose of the LCI turned inshore and the beach began to rush towards us at an alarming speed. We lay down on the deck on our bellies.
IN BLINKERS
I shall always retain a vivid photographic image of a short strip of beach about fifty yards wide. The sands seemed bright yellow, like a Margate poster. To the right of my picture was the orange glare of a fire, from which billowed up masses of thin, black smoke. A row of red-roofed villas confronted us and, just in front of them, the sea-wall scowled with its festoons of barbed wire. There was no sign of life. To the right and left of that picture I have no recollection whatever. It was as if I were in blinkers.
When the craft grounded quite gently, the wooden ramps were shoved out and the first two men stood up to go over. Immediately one of them was shot and the other went down again. There was a pause of a split second, and then a bunch of us went for it with a rush.
The ramps were swinging wildly as I went down. I was too occupied keeping my balance to pay any attention to what was going on around. I found myself waist deep in the sea, with huge baulks of timber washing furiously around. I struggled up the sands and reached the very welcome cover of the sea-wall.
As good luck would have it, we were sheltered from the St. Aubin strongpoint (which, despite the bombardment, was very active, as 48 Commando, who landed to our left, can bear witness) by a bulge in the sea-wall. There we queued up while a recce party sought a passage through the minefield, for all the world like a crowd waiting for the turnstiles to open at a football match. The Oerlikons of the LCI opened up over our heads to blast out the odd riflemen lurking in the villas above us.
I suppose it was only a few minutes before we were on the move, but it seemed like an hour. A way through the minefield had been cleared by flail tanks and through this we passed till we struck the main coast road. A pall of sharp-smelling smoke that brought tears to the eyes was spreading over the whole area. On the far side of the road was a field of green corn, higher than the corn in England. On the wire fence hung a yellow notice with a black skull and crossbones and the words "Achtung! Minen."
It was the sight of that notice that made me realise that we were really in France, that the ground on which I stood had been occupied territory less than an hour before. And already one felt a good solid feeling that we were there to stay.
NONCHALANT FRENCH
Of the assorted recollections of that day of days, a few unrelated details have fixed themselves in my memory. One was the great number of cattle killed by our bombardment. Cows were lying with their legs stuck grotesquely into the air and with distended bellies.
Another was the extraordinary nonchalance of the French people. As I was moving cautiously in the direction of Langrune, keeping in the ditch for fear of snipers, I met a French peasant in a blue blouse, apparently on his way to work. He was an old man and strolled quite casually along the middle of the road. He shamed me into following his example - with some trepidation.
In the house where the Brigade established its first HQ ashore, the proprietor came in with a great bowl of eggs, which he placed on the table. Having carefully read the little booklet with which we had been supplied, in common with all the invasion troops, before sailing, we were convinced that all the French were starving. No one touched the eggs for about an hour, till eventually our host, with many gesticulations, made it plain that he expected us to help ourselves. We did.
By the evening of D-Day there were quite a number of French boys on bicycles on the roads, following up the troops rather like urchins in England would follow the fire brigade. By D-plus--1 these hardy or foolhardy youngsters were numerous enough to be a nuisance.
The Messerschmitt's paid us a visit that night, but the "Brock's Benefit" of coloured tracer that shot up to meet them from the beach can hardly have been a great encouragement. Next morning they came again at first light. On D-plus-2 they did not arrive, but a dawn patrol of Spitfires sailed serenely over our heads. By that time we were thoroughly at home.
BRITISH BULLETS
One other incident of the early days will always stick. I went up the steeple of the lovely church at Douvres la Delivrande to see a naval bombardment of the radar station that was still holding out just outside the town.(41 Commando captured it a week later.) The bombardment did not materialise. Rather disappointed, an Army cameraman who was with me decided to photo­graph a big convoy of light ack-ack just rolling up the road from the beach. He stuck his camera into an embrasure and leaned out for the purpose.
The chaps in the convoy had just landed and were trigger-conscious. They decided we were snipers (despite the fact that 47 Commando had captured the town 24 hours before) and opened up with their Brens. In a split second the belfry was full of bullets, humming around like angry hornets and knocking splinters off the stonework. We flattened on the deck till they got themselves under control again and ceased fire.

It is an interesting fact to recall that the nearest I ever came to buying it was from our own bullets. Once, in Sicily, a bullet from another Marine actually touched me. It is a sobering thought to reflect that one bullet is as good as another, British or German. (Author unknown)

1944. July. The 26th RM Battalion. The damage caused by German V1 ‘flying bombs’ and by V2 rockets was considerable, many houses being damaged in London and its suburbs. The Admiralty was approached by the Ministry for Reconstruction, and to provide help with building repairs this 26th RM Battalion was raised at Lower Sydenham (London) in July 1944, the battalion HQ opening on 10th July, CO Lt. Col R. E. S. Jeffries.
Organised in 15 Platoons (16 by 1st August) of about 30 men each, the repair squads ‘followed the bangs’ and during the next few months patched up 6,720 houses, made permanent repairs to 1,414 buildings and even built a few houses from their foundations. Three men had been killed by bombs before the Battalion was to be disbanded on 14th March 1944; but after the Ministry had asked for its continuance, 250 men were replaced by those in low medical categories. The Battalion continued its building repair work, covering sites as far apart as Esher, Kew, Ilford and Orpington, until it was disbanded early in 1946.(RMHS)

1944. Thursday 24th August. The 27th RM Battalion was one of several raised from cadres of former LC crews and recruits, as Beach Battalions for service in the Far East and on a war establishment appropriate to troops in a light division. Formed at Dalditch on 24th August 1944, CO Lt. Col P. W. O’H. Phibbs, the Battalion was trained in Scotland during December. On 4th January 1945 the Battalion came under command of 116 Infantry Bde RM for service as infantry and the war establishment was changed to that for an army rifle battalion. Lt. Col N. H. Tailyour was appointed CO on January 1945.
On 12th April the Battalion was detached from the Brigade, and under US Army command, prepared for the assault on Bremerhaven (Lower Saxony), but about the 26th April the Battalion was switched to the command of 4 Canadian Armoured Division for the assault on Wilhelmshaven further west. Later ‘A’ Coy was detached to take the surrender of ships in Emden, ‘B’ Coy went to Sengwarden where it ‘chaperoned’ naval personnel in that former German HQ, and the Battalion Anti-Tank Platoon was billeted in Wilhelmshaven Dockyard. In taking the surrender of ships’ crews, the Poles of Conrad (formerly HMS Danae) assisted the Marines.
The Battalion returned to the UK on 27th - 28th June, and provided parties that autumn to work on farms while based at Beacon Hill Camp (nr Falmouth). On 27th November it moved to Chedworth (nr Cheltenham), before becoming a training battalion at Windrush Camp (west of Burford, Oxfordshire) early in 1946 and absorbing the 33rd RM Bn. On 1st April the Battalion became the training cadre at the Infantry School RM, Bickleigh (RMRO 323).(RMHS)

1944. Thursday 24th August. The 25th RM Battalion was formed at Dalditch, CO Lt. Col T. W. B. Sandall and was disbanded on 24th August 1944.(RMHS)

1944. August. The 28th RM Battalion HQ was formed at Dalditch, CO Lt. Col J. M. Fuller. During the early winter the men who had served in the 1st Armoured Support Rgt were drafted to the Battalion. They moved to Scotland on 8th - 9th December, where the Battalion trained as the nucleus for a Beach Group. But on 4th January the Battalion
came under command of 116 Infantry Bde RM, and its original war establishment was changed to that for an army battalion. After service on the Maas the Battalion continued under army command. It returned to the UK in June 1945, and was stationed in August at Okehampton (Devon) in the late summer of 1945. From here it took part in internal security duties, quelling riots in a Polish naval camp. It was later briefly stationed in Plymouth and St Germans (Cornwall), where it provided parties for farm work. In November it was in South Brent (Devon), there it absorbed men from the 30th RM Bn. In rationalisation as demobilisation continued, the Battalion moved to Windrush Camp and was disbanded on 21st January 1946, the men being transferred to 27th RM Bn.(RMHS)

1944. August. 'X FORCE' by Jack Eaves RM CH\111853, Bowman of LCA 994, 535 Flotilla HMS Glenearn.
Part One. X Force consisting of HMS GLENEARN, and the empire ships now flying the White Ensign, Emp. ARQUEBUS, Emp. BATTLEAXE, Emp. SPEARHEAD, & Emp MACE, HMS LAMONT formerly .SS CLAN LAMONT, which was taking the place of the Emp. BROADSWORD which had been sunk by a mine, 536 Flotilla was on the Emp. ARQUEBUS as the Emp. CUTLASS had been damaged by a Doodle Bug (VI) whilst alongside, Force X would be under Rear-Admiral Talbot flying his flag in HMS LOTHIAN, formerly the SS. City of Edinburgh, Force X was to proceed to the S.W. Pacific, attached to the US SW FLEET and under their jurisdiction, via New York and the Panama Canal, the force sailed from the Clyde on 3.8.1944. Frank Taylor had now joined Emp. Spearhead which accompanied 'Glenearn' for many months.
On approaching New York 14. 8 .1944 there was a heavy sea mist, a prelude to a very hot Aug. day, I was up in the lookout station, could not see anything, not the deck below, nor the fo'c'sle, looking up it seemed a bit brighter, right ahead high up in the mist I could make out a vaguely familiar shape, I reported `Barrage Balloon Dead Ahead' then `Barrage Balloon moving to Starboard' then the shape stayed above us still quite indistinct and kept station with us, as the mist cleared we could see that it was a US Coast Guard Blimp, I had no idea that these small airships were still in use, especially in any armed forces, as the visibility cleared we could plainly see the crew who were checking us out.
`Glenearn' went alongside a pier, and a run ashore was like going to another planet; shops full of every that we hadn't seen in Britain for years, no shortages, plenty of everything, at night all the streets and shops lit up, neon lights, restaurants, bars etc. open until the early hours, there was no sign of war here, while in port the US Gov. gave us an extra 50 cents a day for cost of living, this may not sound much, but then it was a terrific boost to our pay, then stores were loaded on to the ship, we couldn't believe it, ice cream, chicken, biscuits, luxuries we hadn't seen for a very long time, they weren't for us, several hundred US Army Air Force came on board, these were all aircraft mechanics and maintenance men, they were all sergeants, top sergeants, and every other sergeant, there were more stripes than a herd of zebra, to us they were all old men, must have been 22yrs to 25yrs old, also there were 6 young seamen, ( Gobs )17 & 18yrs of age , they were going to the Pacific to reinforce a See Bees unit, but they hoped to get a ship, they spent a lot of time with us, there were two cold water fountains installed on board for the troops, then we sailed for Panama, there was a hurricane south of us so we put in to Charleston, South. Carolina for a day or so, then on to Panama.
The troops seem to congregate in little circles , playing poker, all around, no one took any notice, gradually the games got less and less, but the seamen told us that the reason for this was that the stakes were getting higher and higher, you could not enter a game unless you had a $100 then later $500 then the games were hidden out of the way with the main participants paying guards to vet anyone who came too close, they would have been down on the troop deck, or below them, the `Buzz' was that the Paybob, had to borrow from them to pay the crew, as there was not much cash in circulation on the ship, the main players had their own bodyguards as this was all cash, on arrival at Finschhaven they were given an armed escort ashore to bank the money by the US.
We still had our hot meal at midday, but the US troops had theirs in the evening, so at midday they were given sandwiches, the `fillings at times were quite strange to them, the first time they got corned beef they asked us what it was, naturally we answered `corned dog' they were horrified, they knew that Britain was very short of food, but to be eating dog!! And to serve it up to them they were aghast!! we tried to tell them that that was our slang name for corned beef, but I think they remained unconvinced as every time they asked a crew member what it was they got the same answer' corned dog ',the 'errins' in' drew some unique comments too !! And the young seamen who wore jeans tried to age them, they tied them on the end of a line and put them over the side all night, then laid them out in the sun to fade them, so what's new in 2008?
Through the Caribbean it was starting to get hot so we took our hammocks and slung them in the LCAs on the davits, we did this from then on in the tropics, on deck were rigged a couple of canvas `pools' filled with sea water about 2ft 6in deep, that we could dip in to keep cool, unfortunately one of our corporals dived in and broke his neck, he lived and was put ashore in Colon, the outboard LCAs were lowered and the davits turned inboard before entering the Canal, then `Glenearn' entered the canal like a mother duck with her brood of LCAs following close behind, at Panama it rained like I've never seen before about 6in. in about 30 minutes, we stripped off and climbed up to the craft on the davits and pulled the bungs out in case they got swamped those craft following behind had to keep the bilge pumps going !! At Balboa the LCAs were hoisted then with Captain Hutchison as senior officer `Glenearn and the 4 Emp. ships sailed on, next stop was Bora Bora; `Lothian' and `Lamont' were left behind for `repair'.
On arriving at Bora Bora some of the US troops were put ashore, and we heard that there had been a mutiny on the `Lothian' half a dozen stroppy matelotes had played up because there was an acute water shortage on board and the Admiral made them parade in clean pressed whites every day, also someone had painted Rear Admiral Talbot's initials on his cabin door, in white paint, this is all that we knew about the mutiny, I did not know any more until I read the book "Mutiny in Force X" by Bill Glenton about 1995, then many things became clear, the ships company of HMS Lothian had walked off the ship at Balboa, we then pushed on to New Guinea as there was something big coming off and we were to be part of it.
Approaching Finschhaven at the end of Sept. 1944, ` Glenearn' was told to wait for a pilot, Captain Hutchison sent back "I surveyed these waters before you were born " and came in and docked unaided, the rest of the troops and the young seamen were put ashore, the something `big' was the invasion of the Philippines, there were talks held with the top US brass, US officer in charge of landing craft was known as "Dan Dan the Amphibious Man" who gave permission for us to take part as long as we only used US landing craft, LCVPs (Higgins Craft) which of course did not fit our davits.
X Force had over 100 landing craft so could carry 3500 troops or more but were not required, A US sergeant drawled that it would not look good on the news "stateside" to see British landing craft at the Liberation of the Philippines after Gen. McArthur's much trumpeted "I Shall Return'.
X Force was broken up, 'Glenearn `and 'Emp. Spearhead `were sent down to Cairns and Townsville to train the Australian Army for amphibious landings, it was on Trinity Beach that we were instructed to practice re-embarking troops from the beach for an operation on Nth Borneo, but we heard no more as Gen. McArthur needed all available ships for the Philippine campaign, the Aussies enjoyed the 'errins' in', a big change for them from their Bully Beef!! The other ships were sent to various destinations around the SW Pacific, and now as a unit of the USN we were given a number, HMS Glenearn became HMS PZ 47 or something like that.
The Australian troops came on board in their faded jungle greens and slouch hats, they had a yellowish tinge to their skins which they said was due to the anti-malaria drug Atabrin that they had to take, one of the first to come on board was a bloke who stopped and looked around, then said `I've been on this ship before, this is the ship that evacuated us off of Crete (1941)'
Captain Hutchison had the troops and Ships Company assemble on deck to explain the programme, he started off by saying `I hate Australians!! A big silence followed this announcement - then said `I was waiting for my wife outside a West End cinema in London and these Australians asked me what time the last feature started,(this was in reference to cinemas having a uniformed commissionaire outside) this bought a bit of a laugh, and every one settled down, the troops were on board for a week at a time then back to port and embark the next lot, the first lot we ran in a bloke asked me how far out we were going to drop them off as on an exercise with the USN they had to grab "shorty" (4ft in high heels)before he disappeared beneath the waves, I said you won't even get your feet wet they didn't, a run ashore was different, the pubs closed at 6pm so about 5.45 everyone bought as many drinks as possible, lined them up outside on the footpath against the wall, when the doors were closed we kept drinking outside for another 30 min or so.
December 1944 saw `Glenearn' back in New Guinea carrying troops to various places sometimes Australian troops, sometimes US troops, on the occasions when both were carried at the same time they had to be kept apart, they were not compatible, (no matter what present day politicians would like to tell us) we knew that ashore there had been many a punch up, and according to the Aussies a shoot out!! the Aust. troop deck exited into the port alleyway, and they were allowed forward to the Fore Well Deck, the US troop deck exited into the starboard alleyway and were allowed to go aft to the After Well Deck, and at specific places marines were on duty to make sure that they didn't come in contact with each other, a "sorry this part of ship out of bounds to troops" was sufficient to turn them around, at times `Glenearn' proceeded independently, sometimes' in company' with the Emp. Spearhead, Xmas 1944 was spent at Hollandia (now Jayapura) in Humboldt Bay, Xmas dinner was as near as possible normal fare, no plastic in those days, so the chickens were frozen in Hessian bags, some uncharitable soul reckoned the bags would taste better than the chicken I had no such complaint and enjoyed the day, in the Islands courtesy of the USN we were issued with two bottles of beer per month per man, only to be consumed while in port, in Nth New Guinea with temperatures over 100 degrees even a warm beer was like nectar from the gods, the few teetotal blokes had no problem swapping their bottles, what a difference from Xmas 1943.(RMAQ Jack Eaves)

1944. August - March 1945. 'Force X' by Jack Eaves RM CH\111853, Bowman of LCA 994, 535 Flotilla HMS Glenearn.
Part Two. Xmas day 1943 alongside in some far north Scottish town, dark grey granite stone quay and buildings, a very grey day, cold and blowing hard, I was Corporal of the Gangway, the place was deserted, not a soul about, just after mid-morning the Officer of the Watch and the Quartermaster just disappeared so I went up to the next deck where I had a much better view of the quay and anybody approaching the gangway and partially out of the wind, from behind me came a seaman dressed in a faded boiler suit carrying two small galvanized buckets, I stepped aside to let him pass and saw that the buckets were about a third full with a dark brown liquid, he just grinned and continued on his way, later when I was off watch on the mess deck the Sergeant put up a new roster on the notice board, the Rum Locker had been broken in to so the marines had to stand guard on it until it could be repaired, the seaman's or the stokers mess must have had merry Xmas 1943. I kept stumm.
Also in the tropics fresh water was a problem, only salt water showers, so when it seemed. the ship was heading into a rain squall we would scamper below, strip off and wait on the fore well deck for the squall to hit and with our soap lather up, the deck would be awash with soapsuds and we hoped the squall would last long enough to rinse off.
In the Pacific `Glenearn' in addition to the landing craft also carried a small helicopter for submarine surveillance, a pad had been built on the port side, just aft of the fo'c'sle, partly over the fore well deck, it could take off from there OK but could not land. It was on floats and would land on the water near the starboard bow, there was a lifting eye in the centre of the blades and it was then was lifted in board with the derrick, and made fast, also as part of the ships company there was a `Beach Party' of RN commandos, these were sometimes put ashore on a dark night by LCA, then picked up again before dawn, by sunrise `Glenearn' was well away, they never discussed their work, but it was assumed that it was clandestine beach reconnaissance.
For months we had scrubbed our web belts, and with salt water and a touch of Milton they were very white and clean, then the powers that be decreed that hence forth they would blancoed green and scaffold planks were set up on the after well deck `Blanco for the use off' the deck being hosed down after, this was not popular as the blanco seemed to get into everything on the mess deck, Cpl. Bates asked if everyone was willing to give him 2 bob so that he could buy up all the blanco in the canteen this we did, so the entire stock was bought up and dumped over the side, blanco not being available in the canteen any more we happily went back to scrubbing our belts.
In Jan. 1945 `Glenearn' with US troops bound for Leyte called in to Manus Island, a signal was sent ashore with a request for water, the answer was `no water available for 24 hrs' Captain Hutchison's answer was' enough water on board to last ships company 24 hrs, none for 800 US troops', the water `barge' was alongside in an hour or so, the `barge ' was a huge bamboo raft on which was a water tank, generator, and pump, we then proceeded to Leyte and discharged the troops and returned to Hollandia, on the return the lookout reported `Smoke coming from the sea' it was a submarines snorkel, `Action Stations' was sounded, `Glenearn' went to full speed ahead, heeled over making a tight turn to port, and raced to the position, the sub had dived, some depth charges were dropped, and debris from packing cases surfaced, the Japs still had isolated garrisons that had been leapfrogged, and were supplied by submarine, between Finschhaven and Hollandia the Japanese still occupied Wewak.
There would have been hundreds and hundreds of ships in the SW Pacific, far from any major ports, fresh vegetables were a big problem, so we had de-hydrated potatoes, beef, onions, carrot, and apple?? Was that greenish stuff cabbage?? Who knows!! It looked like green pasta strips, when word got around that fresh spuds were on board, everyone looked forward to dinner, we were like kids at a Xmas party, never was the humble spud so revered, the flour was full of weevils so the bread, pastry and duff contained plenty of them, not that all this worried us as we remained a very healthy and happy mob, so it done us no harm, extract from the `Glenearn ' magazine Jan. 1945, "the record breaking weevil from the bakery this week went to No 13 mess. Protests are being lodged at this favouritism."
The next convoy from Hollandia was a slow one to Luzon, Captain Hutchison said that this was our last "run" for USN, 'Glenearn was acting as vice- commodore, the convoy that had left a couple of days earlier had lost several ships, so lookouts were doubled and trebled, a lone LST going south passed the convoy, we heard later that it had been torpedoed in a position that the convoy had been in that morning, a couple of hours earlier, an Officer making his rounds asked me why I hadn't reported something floating by , I said that I couldn't see it, he thought I was having a go at him and put me on a charge pending the MO report, an eye test revealed that I was short sighted, so there was no more lookout duty for me.
Three or four days out there were three small freighters that could not keep up the speed so gradually they slowly dropped astern of the convoy, there was a huge steep swell running that seemed to toss the little ships in all directions as they valiantly tried to stay on course but gradually they fell behind, very vulnerable with no escorts, all we could do was wish them god speed, and hoped that they made it, these were in pretty dangerous waters.
The troops we were carrying were combat troops, ordinary everyday blokes, quite unassuming, and polite, if they approached us on deck, it was always' pardon me sir', we found the `sir' part disconcerting, I don't know if at times they had access to a drop of jungle juice or some trading with the crew for their tot, anything was possible, but on occasion a small group would quietly break out into song, after Leyte `Glenearn' was appointed convoy commodore, and headed for Lingayen Gulf in northern Luzon, `Glenearn' usually zigzagged at the rear of the convoy, on arrival at the gulf `Glenearn' surged ahead passing all the ships, the troops lined the rails giving each ship a huge cheer as we passed, probably relief at the end of a long, slow, monotonous convoy.
A few miles along the bay the Japs were bombing the Capital ships, but lucky for us were leaving the transports alone.
The troops were landed at Lingayen Gulf, there was a very heavy swell and the troops were beached with no problem, whilst being hoisted in LCA 994 (I think we may have had a different LCA by then, No 1243 I think) L\Cpl. Jack Danks got out of the cox 'n's cockpit before the davit had taken the weight, and was standing next to the chain holding the hoisting eye, it suddenly took the weight, the chain tightened, moved about 3in. and broke his thigh bone, there was quite a lot of shipping in the Gulf, very busy, another convoy formed up and with `Glenearn' as commodore headed south for Hollandia.
A day or so later `Glenearn' left the convoy and closed with the coast, sailing down the coast there was a huge pall of dirty grey smoke, mile after mile just lying above the tops of the trees like a thick fibre glass blanket, we then entered Manila Bay, and sailed around an island, was this Corregidor that Gen. McArthur had escaped from? we could plainly see the camouflaged concrete bunkers, but there was no movement, all quiet, the Japs had left, and looking down the bay we could see Manila was burning, smoke was billowing and roiling from the great fire that was consuming it, a terrible sight, then re-joining the convoy "Glenearn' sailed for Hollandia.
At Hollandia personnel were embarked for passage to Sydney, among them were 3 very grateful British seamen, rescued from a Japanese Prisoner of War camp near Cabanatuan City on Luzon, in a daring raid by US Rangers 25miles behind the lines, they bought them all out safely, quite a feat, the directive from the War Ministry in Tokyo dated August 1944 which laid out for the annihilation of all POW's, to stop them being rescued, was known, as was the fate of the US POW's at Puerto Princes a prison camp at Palawan, Philippines.
Heading around Milne Bay then south `Glenearn' ran into a Cyclone, this was with us for 2or 3 days, the whaler stowed on the fore well deck was smashed to pieces, Cpl Jones who was prone to seasickness under normal conditions, spent the whole day sitting on a bench outside the sick bay, 'Bung'ole' for supper three nights as the galley had problems, then on to Sydney.
There was a strong "buzz" that the USN had awarded us the Philippine Liberation Medal, in the book In Time of War by Alex Aiken (the story of Glenearn from go to whoa) this was later confirmed at a meeting when Lt Bell RM, (543 Flotilla) was told by Admiral Lord Frazer that HMS Glenearn and two other RN ships had been offered the Philippine Liberation Medal, but that Admiralty policy dictated that it could not be accepted, 535 Flotilla was taken off of `Glenearn' and put onboard Emp. Battleaxe for passage back to UK accompanied by the Emp. Mace, and Emp. Arquebus with Rear Admiral Talbot on board, they left Sydney at the beginning of April 1945. `Glenearn' went back to the Philippines to re-join the British Pacific Fleet; which had now arrived in the Pacific; the Emp. Spearhead spent some time in the Philippines.
I do not know what duties the other `Empire `ships were involved in, except that in Dec 1944 - Jan. 1945 a few LCAs from Emps. Arquebus, Battleaxe and Mace took part in a small but vital operation on the Jaba and Tekessi River, also monitored the mouth of the Tuju River on Bougainville, taking Aust. troops and stores up the rivers, LCVPs couldn't be used as their draft was too deep, even with LCAs it was often the case in the shallows of everyone over the side and push, during this operation 2 Australian coast watchers were also rescued by 536 flotilla, I was told that an account of this operation was in the Sept 1945 Globe & Laurel.
LCA 223 was our oldest craft, was always referred to as `Old 223'and was a veteran of the Anzio landings, as the oldest craft it had something to prove and had just one speed - flat out, unfortunately this ended abruptly in Cairns (I think) when it hit some rocks, was too badly damaged and had to be left behind.
X Force would have been sent to the SW Pacific with the best of intentions, but on arrival the impression was that we were trespassing on someone else's turf, the USN probably had everything in hand, and we were surplus to requirements, island hopping was finished.
Back on parade at West cliff the same drill sergeant that was there in 1943, he noticed about a quarter of an inch of green shirt cuff showing below the cuff of one marines battle dress and bellowed 'you will not come on my parade in a non-issue shirt'
Mne. It is an issue sergeant,
Serg. And just where would you be issued with a green shirt?
Mne. Up the river on Bougainville, Sergeant
Serg. Where is Bougainville?
Mne. Some place you've never been to -Sergeant
Serg. GET YER `AIR CUT?
We were back!
Captain Colin A G Hutchison, DSO & Bar, OBE. RN. Known on board as `Father', it was said that he was one of the youngest captains in WWI, and one of the oldest in WWI 1, in his younger days he was part of a survey team that surveyed the S W Pacific, arriving at Finschhaven late one afternoon, was told that the harbour was full and so was told to anchor outside, with the knowledge that subs were in the area he took `Glenearn' farther along the coast, thru' a narrow opening, into a lagoon that lay behind the beach out of harm's way, there was not enough room to swing, so the ship was made fast to trees on either side, and went out stern first in the morning. there is an island off of the Nth Queensland coast, and a reef off the Solomon Islands named after him, at one time the accuracy of the Admiralty Charts were queried, they said that he bristled and let it be known in no uncertain term that they were part of his work.
'Jimmy' was Commander R N Hardman-Jones, he was a very large man with an exaggerated plum in his mouth, at a ships concert when he was mimicked no one enjoyed the joke more than he did, he always went ashore with a bike, one of those big, heavy `no nonsense, sit up and beg' bikes, it would be taken ashore for him and put on the quay, then he would climb on board and sedately pedal off, and when on watch as corporal of the gangway at night, it was not unusual to see one, two, at times even three ratings matelot or marine roll up at the last minute where the Commander had given them his bike so that they wouldn't be adrift, he would walk up later and claim his bike, the petrol for the LCAs was stored under the marines mess deck, usually the tank was immersed in water except when refuelling the landing craft, on the 9.4. 1945 there was an explosion with many casualties, Commander Hardman- Jones was killed in a second explosion while down on the messdeck rescuing the injured from the first explosion, there was also a small seamen's mess under too, it happened at `stand easy'.
Actually I was quite surprised to hear of the casualties sustained in the explosion on Glenearn when 535 flotilla was on board and the landing craft were being refuelled, Serg. Dixon stood in the starboard passageway and absolutely refused to let anyone below stand easy or not, he gave me one minute to change for watch keeping duties, giving me the hurry up all the time, except for the two seamen who manned the ASDIC in their own steel cabin, when 535 left their place was taken by a landing craft maintenance group from a shore base in Sydney, they were possibly unaware of the danger.
Between October 1943 and mid 1945 Arnold Rose (1943-44), Frank Taylor (1945) and myself (1943-45) all served at different times on HMS GLENEARN.(RMAQ Jack Eaves)

1944. Thursday 3rd August. 535 LCA Flotilla HMS Glenearn Record of Voyage as attached to ForceX 1944-5 by Jack Eaves RM CH/111853, Bowman of LCA 994, 535 Flotilla Glenearn.
Thursday 3rd August. Force sailed and joined the convoy. Told we were en-route to America and next port of call would be New York.
Monday 14th August. Arrived at New York. Docked at pier 51.
Friday 18th August. Left New York with troops of United States Transportation Corp. Sailed Southwards.
Sunday 27th August. Arrived at Colon, Panama. Atlantic end of the Canal. Sailed through Panama Canal.
Monday 28th August. Docked opposite Balboa. Panama at the Pacific end of the canal.
Wednesday 30th August. Sailed into the Pacific. Our next port of call was to be an island of the Society Group. Bora-Bora.
Thursday 14th September. Arrived at Bora-Bora. 353 Flotilla ashore for route march only.
Sunday 17th September. Sailed from Bora-Bora. En-route to Finshhaven. New Guinea.
Thursday 21st September. At 1200 hr we cross the International date line. It is now Saturday.
Friday 29th September. Arrived at Finschaven. New Guinea. Court Martial held on board the Lothian re refusal to obey an order.
Saturday 30th September. Glenearn, Lothian & Empire Spearhead sailed at 1700hrs
Sunday 1st October. Arrived at Hollandia. 0730 hrs. American troops disembarked.
Monday 2nd October. Force X to be spit up. Lamont &Arquebus to Cape Gloucester, New Britain. Mace & Battleaxe to Noumea New Caledonia. Glenearn &Spearhead to Cairns in Queensland, Australia. Americans do not want us.
Thursday 5th October. Glenearn with 70 casualties aboard, sailed from Hollandia, en-route to Milne Bay with Empire Spearhead.
Sunday 8th October. Arrived at Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. Discharged the stick and wounded. Australian passengers aboard.
Monday 9th October. Accompanied by Empire Spearhead, sailed to Cairns, Queensland.
Wednesday 11th October. Arrived at Cairns. Water to shallow. Anchored 9 miles out. Overnight sailed south to Townsville.
Thursday 12th October. Arrived at Townsville. Glenearn moored along side jetty. Both watches 24 hrs shore leave.
Saturday 14th October. Sailed to Trinity Bay Training Ground.
Sunday 15th October. Arrived early morning 10 miles North of Cairns, the start of an 8-day training period with troops of the 7th A.I. Div.
Monday 23rd October. Returned to Townsville for water and provisions. Also 2 days’ rest.
Wednesday 25th October. Again, to Trinity Bay for training with the 25th Australian Brigade for a further 8 days training.
Friday 3rd November. Back to Townsville for another 2 days’ rest.
Sunday 5th November. To Trinity Bay.
Monday 6th November. A 3rd period of 8 days training of the 18th Brigade ended with exercise ‘Octopus’ at Unity Bay.
Monday 13th November. Glenearn to spend next 8 days in Townsville.
Friday 24th November. Returned to Trinity Bay. A continuation of the seeming endless dawn landings by the 9th Australian div.
Saturday 2nd December. Training of the 2nd Brigade ended in a full landing exercise at Red Cliff bay. 9 miles North of Trinity Bay.
Sunday 3rd December. Glenearn back to Trinity Bay 0740. Then sailed 140 miles south and anchored for the night.
Monday 4th December. Wireless Telegraphy controlled bombardment took place. Later in the forenoon sailed 6 miles to Juno Bay. Joined by HMS Lothian who sailed early. Glenearn left at 0830 hrs joined her at Acheron Island,
Tuesday 5th December. Glenearn returned to pier 1 East Side. Training of Australians complete. Expecting to stay at least a week.
Wednesday 6th December. 535 Flotilla on a route march.
Thursday 7th December. The Flotilla ashore on range to fire Lewis guns. Glenearn left the wharf and sailed, 4 ratings missed the ship.
Friday 8th December. At Trinity Bay, put reminder army personnel ashore. Left to sail to Milne Bay.
Saturday 9th December.  2 LCA’s of535 Flotilla, 223 &994 were left. Replaced by LCA’s 1268 & 1296. At 0300hrs. Glenearn sailed.
Sunday 10th December. Anchored in Langemak Bay, just south of Finschhaven.
Monday 11th December. Her engines giving trouble. Spearhead & Lamont now to do the job instead of her. They left Glenearn staved.
Sunday 17th December. Glenearn sailed to Hollandia.
Tuesday 19th December. 3 US Navy Staff Officers boarded. Rumours the ship was going to take News reporters & US Senators around the battle area. It was too good to be true. Americans did not want the British ship, so proposal vetoed.
Tuesday 26th December. Boxing Day. Glenearn, together with Larmont & Spearhead sailed early.
Wednesday 27th December. Afternoon watch saw the beginning of a waterspout, then rain in one black sheet. In & out of Langermak Bay.
Thursday 28th December. Milne Bay similary visited. Ships sailed due south, outside the Barrier Reef, down the east coast of Australia.
1945.
Tuesday 2nd January. Passed between the heads into Sydney Harbour. US men leave. Afternoon off duty watch, liberty men ashore.
Wednesday 3rd January. LCA’s lowered from port side. Glenearn slipped from buoy, passed under Harbour Bridge to Cockatoo Island.
Thursday 4th January. Floating crane Titan, alongside to lift out armature crank shaft.
Monday 8th January. Glenearn entered dry dock for a short refit.
Tuesday 9th January. Painting of the bottom commenced. New wires received for LCA’s davits.
Wednesday 10th January. Ships bottom inspected by executive & engineer officers before flooding the dock commenced.
Friday 12th January. Dock gate opened and Glenearn floated out. 400 R.A.N. and US personnel embarked. Seaman named Kingnape deserted. Glenearn slipped from the wharf at 1650hrs. Cleared the heads and set sail for Brisbane.
Sunday 14th January. River Pilot aboard. Ship secured to N02 Newstead wharf. Royal Marines ashore. (beer shortage)
Tuesday 16th January. After taking on water, oil & stores. Also, US personnel. Ship sailed for Milne Bay (from Jack Eaves RMAQ)

1944. Friday 1st September. After HMS Lothian reached Balboa in Panama an armed mutiny (the first in the Royal Navy since the 19th century) occurred on-board due to the atrocious conditions. A Royal Marine detachment was sent on board to quell the mutiny. 17 senior men were court-martialled and reduced in rank, whilst other mutineers were given six months' extra duties and punishment drill. However, as the mutineers could not be removed from the ship in Balboa for lack of another ship or available jails, sentences were suspended and the ship proceeded to the Pacific.

HMS Lothian joined the U.S. 7th Fleet at New Guinea on Friday 29th September 1944, but the British vessel went unused by the Americans and she eventually set sail for Sydney, after seeing no combat.

HMS Lothian was a former cargo ship launched in 1938, as MV City of Edinburgh, which was requisitioned during the Second World War as a troop transport and later converted by the Royal Navy into a headquarters ship in the Pacific. Shortly after the start of the Second World War the City of Edinburgh was requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport for war work. In September 1943 the ship was passed to the Admiralty and converted to a Landing Ship Headquarters for operations in the Pacific for which she was totally unsuited.

In July 1944 the ship was recommissioned as HMS Lothian and was sent to be part of the U.S. 7th Fleet as part of Force X. Leaving the Clyde on Thursday 3rd August 1944, the Lothian sailed for New York and then down to the Panama Canal. The ship's complement had swelled to 750 (instead of the normal 450) under the command of Rear Admiral Arthur George Talbot. Conditions aboard were extremely poor as the ship, being unsuited for tropical climates, had poor ventilation and air-conditioning and a lack of sufficient water.

In February 1945 the Lothian became flagship to Rear Admiral Douglas Blake Fisher and operated as a control ship for merchant transports arriving to supply the British Pacific Fleet. After the Japanese surrender in August 1945, she was used to evacuate civilians and prisoners of the Japanese from Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

In 1946 HMS Lothian was returned to the Ellerman Line and reverted back to the MV City of Edinburgh. She resumed her previous route and in April 1961 was sold to Hong Kong Salvage and Towage Company, renamed Castle Mount and sailed to Hong Kong for scrapping in July 1961.

1944. Tuesday 3rd October. The 29th RM Battalion. When the Armoured Support Group was disbanded after returning from France during 1944, many of its personnel were transferred to this Battalion which was formed on 3rd October 1944 at Burma Camp in Llwyngwril (North Wales). However, on 1st March 1945 practically all its personnel were drafted to form the 34th Amphibian Assault Rgt RM. Although, the Battalion HQ was not disbanded until February 1946.(RMHS)

1944. October - November. First Hand account from Jack Eaves CH\X 111853 Royal Marine serving on HMS Glenearn.
During October and November 1944 HMS Glenearn, (Landing Ship Infantry, Large) was in North Queensland training Australian troops in amphibious landings, then the training changed from landing troops to practicing embarking personnel from the beach, the (craft had to be kept floating) for an operation on North Borneo in conjunction with Australian troops, and that the USN had given us permission to take part in this operation as Nth Borneo was British Territory, (we were ostensibly classed as a unit of the USN), our comments to this was are they expecting a ‘Dunkirk’ in North Borneo?? Beyond that nothing made sense. In December 1944 ‘Glenearn’ headed back to New Guinea, and were told that Gen. McArthur now needed every ship that he could muster for the Philippine campaign, which was now top priority.

Many years later I read the book ‘Project Kingfisher’ foreword by Sir Roden Cutler VC and then things made sense. Photo of book below.

My personal observations and I have also been told that a ‘project’ is an operation involving Paratroops, who in this case would have dropped on Sandakan and consolidated the area then the landing craft (us!) would come in and pick up the POW’S and the Paratroops, also there were four other Large British Infantry Landing Ships in the area, HMS Empire Mace, HMS Empire Arquebus, HMS Empire Battleaxe, and HMS Empire Spearhead.

A Tokyo signal of August 1944 for the final disposition of POW’s was known, there is no doubt in my mind that a rescue had been planned, whether successful or not we will never know, these men deserved their chance.
A year before the end of WW2, the Japanese War Ministry issued written orders to all prison camp commandants instructing them to prepare for the 'final disposition' of their POWs:
It Read:
Whether they are destroyed individually or in groups, or however it is done, with mass bombing, poisonous smoke, drowning, decapitation or whatever, dispose of them as the situation dictates.
In any case it is the aim not to allow the escape of a single one, to annihilate them all, and not to leave any traces.

1944. In late October. A letter from Roy Leaney Po/x110850. (25.11.1924. - 15.11.2016) who was on board  LCF 32 Landing craft (known as flakkers) to the Author.

Our ship was proceeding up the English Channel and I could see the French and Belgian coasts, as part of a Close Support Squadron Eastern flank. Later we went to anchor in the port of Ostend.

Our Captains, Commanders and RM officers all went ashore for conference that took place aboard the Command Ship that lay in the harbour. On their return, all hands were mustered in the Marines Mess and briefed as to our next task. This was to provide close gun support t4 our own 41, 47 & 48 RM Commando's of the 4th S.S. Brigade, who were to assault the island of Walcheren across the shallows of the Scheldt estuary We were told quite bluntly this was to be no 'picnic! The island was heavily defended, with some 50 German Heavy A/A and coastal batteries plus the German 70th Division.

On the afternoon of the 31st October, orders were again passed for all hands to bathe and change into clean underclothing ready for action. We sailed early that evening. We came in sight of Walcheren Island at about 0730hrs, on the morning of the 1st November, I remember the weather was cold and bleak with a slight sea mist and the sky overcast.

As we moved in, we came under very heavy fire from the German 88's and heavy mortars, the squadron was hit severely with the a few casualties. However, we had been lucky, although hit several times we had sustained no casualties. At about 1000hrs we received a radio message that the Canadians with 4 Army Commando, had landed at Flushing from the mainland side, and we were ordered to proceed at all costs.

The craft left were reformed and with 'Battle' ensigns flying and still under intense and accurate fire, turned into line ahead, and ran for the breaches blown in the dyke by the RAF, and as we steamed at full speed we could hear the bottom of the craft grating across the gravel of the sea bed, hoping against hope that we would not ground, turning again and gaining a few extra knots from the running tide, we opened up with very gun we could on the German positions on the high ground and in the dunes, they in turn plastering us with everything they had.

As we went in our young Lieutenant RM stood up in the how with his binoculars, calling the shots when they fired, and telling, us when to 'Duck'. lie was irreverently known us as "Dagwood" for he looked so much like him.

With LC(F)37 ahead of us and 26 astern we continued firing until 37 took a shell forward and one astern, then with her guns still firing she was hit amidships, smack in the magazine, she went up in a ball of flame. We also had now received several more hits and startled I looked aft to see how 26 was, she was swamped with water and clouded in spray from the shells failing around her, but still struggling through. Our No 2 Port Porn-Porn was hit by a heavy armor-piercing shell, it passed straight thought the gun platform, through the Skippers cabin under the bridge, through the Radio Root & Spud Locker, the Drying Room and into the Galley on the starboard side before bursting and blowing up the deck by my Starboard Pompom, killing the P.O. Motor Mechanic, as the smoke cleared the Skipper popped his head up and asked if we were okay, yours truly was just about to cut the last tie of a Carley Float, ready to go over the side.

We were in a mess, the fire hoses, pipes and appliances on the starboard side were gone, the after starboard Oerlikon ready-use locker was on fire, with 'Jock' Proudfoot a, Scotty from Glasgow, and the Marine in charge of the gun, up to his elbows in the burning locker, grabbing ammo and tossing it over the side, without doubt his quick action saved us from what could have been a major explosion aft. After a short lull or so it seemed at the time, I was suddenly hurled across the deck from the starboard side coaming, it's true you never hear the one that's yours, I didn't, just a flash and the smoke, I had been lucky, crouched down as it hit, I was not injured just winded by blast. Another hit Port side forward destroyed the Marines Mess, we jammed hammocks in the hole and drove in wooden wedges to stem the flow as the sea rushed in.

We had taken the brunt of the German fire, but by 1300hrs the commandos were ashore. It was to cost them dearly, the 4th S.S. Brigade had some 500 casualties.

I knew that LCG(M)10 had also gone down, although some of her lads were picked up. While our ship was sorely hurt, holed and taking water with one engine gone, we could do nothing but run her up on the beach 'again', pumping out and with all hands struggling to make her seaworthy.

In the evening we kedged off, and signaled to is destroyer to take us in tow, as we had not been able to repair the damaged engine only to receive the signal back:
"Sorry - You are in a minefield"
Good thing it was it was now high tide.

For 72 hours, without hot food, without sleep, and with the pumps going continuously, we struggled back to Ostend, on our one engine, there, just before we entered the harbour, Commander SELLAR came aboard, going directly onto the bridge where he asked for a Marines beret, then putting it on, he turned to our Skipper and said "Now you can take her in - job well done".
Having tied up, hot food was brought on board, and well fed, we slung our hammocks and slept, Boy did we sleep!

Next morning; awoke early to find the water was up over our ankles, and the mess deck awash, our ship was sitting firmly on the harbor bottom.

The Army Fire Service came and pumped us dry and we went back to plugging holes and trying to make the mess decks livable as best we could.

Later that morning Commander SELLAR again came aboard and we were mustered on deck. He pointed to a lovely motor-ship laying alongside us, "Go home on her - Five days survivors leave - See your Skipper first - Dismissed "was all he said. With all the ship crew below deck, came a 'pipe from the Skipper "Help me get this ship back to England and I still see what I 'can do".
With rough repairs completed, we slowly worked our way across the channel, past the white cliffs of Dover, keeping close inshore to the beaches of Hastings, Brighton and Worthing, so close that we could almost touch the piers, ready at any time to run her up on the beach.
We finally arrived off Cowes in the Isle of Wight and going alongside an ammunition barge, we de-unmunitioned ship, then they pulled us up a slipway; Rockies everywhere! Riveters, Painters, Welders, Engineers, Carpenters, you name them - we had them.
The skipper reported to Headquarters on shore and on hi: return said, "Thank you for getting this ship back home - Both watches 21 days leave apiece".

The entire company of LC(F)32 was put in for a recommendation, as a result of which, the Skipper got a DSO, 'Jock' Proodfoot the DSM, with our ships Sgt. Major, Mark Snell, Sgt. Johnny Bryant, and the P.O. all receiving a Mention in Dispatch's.
Although we did not know it at the time, the Eastern Flank Close Support Squadron had been all but wiped out at Walcheren. Of the twenty-eight Support Craft engaged, 9 had been sunk, 11 put out of action, and the remaining 8 damaged, so sadly the Squadron was dis-banded.
To those of the Squadron who never made it back from Walcheren, I say:
REST IN PEACE, OLD FRIENDS.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning.
We that did, will always remember you.

1944. Wednesday 1st November. The Assault on Walcheren. The leading troops in the successful seaborne attack on Walcheren in November 1944, were the 4th Special Service Brigade (Brigadier B.W. Leicester DSO) consisting of Numbers 41, 47, and 48 Commandos and Number 4 Army Commando. The three RM commandos attacked Westkapelle with little support, owing to the weather, other than that provided by the naval support craft, the guns of which were manned by RM crews. The success of the landing was in no small measure due to the self sacrifice and gallantry of the naval support craft, and after some days' heavy fighting ashore, the batteries covering the mouth of the Scheldt were captured. The clearing of the entrance to the river, in which the RM thus performed a gallant and leading part, was of the greatest importance to the operations of the Allied Armies in Flanders.

1944. November. 'Westkappelle' By Major Wilfrid Sendall RM.
In future days to come the silver bugles will be blown in the old Headquarter Divisions of the-Royal Marines on yet another "memorable date in the history of the Corps." This will be the 1st November, the date of the assault on the Westkappelle Dyke in the island of Walcheren.
It is not lightly that an operation is honoured in company with occasions like Belle isle or Zeebrugge, but, when the histories come to be written, there is no doubt that Westkappelle will be rated as the highest achievement of the Royal Corps since St George's Day, 1918 Like the Zeebrugge raid, it is a classic example of the traditional role of the Corps, an amphibious operation with a naval object-in this instance, the opening of the estuary of the Scheldt and the great port of Antwerp.
Since their defeat in Normandy there is no doubt that the Germans had fought a hard and cunning defensive battle, clinging on desperately to the ports that-they knew were vital to the development of Allied strategy, But they made one major blunder. Disorganized by the dash and elan of the 11th Armoured Division, they allowed us to capture Antwerp almost undamaged. To cover up this disaster to their plans, they defended tenaciously the positions that covered the entrance to the Scheldt estuary in particular the island of Walcheren, where big batteries that could command the sea-road to Antwerp were sited.
The first blow against Walcheren was struck by the RAF Lancaster bombers with their "earthquake" bombs tore two great breaches in the Westkappelle dyke, the biggest dyke in the Netherlands. The North Sea poured in through these gaps in the historic sea wall and flooded almost the whole of the island. But many of the German batteries were sited in the dyke itself, which still stood above the floods. These had to be destroyed.
A three-point attack was planned. One thrust by the 52nd Lowland Division from the east, over the causeway seized by the Canadians; a landing by an Army commando at Flushing followed up by a brigade of the same division; the final blow, to be launched from the sea at Westkappelle, was entrusted to three Royal Marine commandos, supported by a powerful naval bombardment force in which Royal Marines played a leading part at the guns. The Marines were called upon to destroy five or six powerful German batteries in the dyke north and south of Westkappelle, landing actually in the big breach that the RAF had made.
The naval force, consisting of HMS WARSPITE, EREBUS and ROBERTS, a landing craft support squadron of twenty six craft and flotillas of landing craft tank, was commanded by Capt A F Pugsley, DSO RN. The military force under Brigadier B W Leicester, RM consisted of three Royal Marine commandos, two troops of an Allied commando, an assault regiment, Royal Engineers, manning tracked amphibians in which the commandos were landing, a squadron of tanks, two field companies, RE, and a detachment of Pioneers.
Over 50 per cent, of the personnel of the support squadron were Royal Marines, manning the guns of the craft. Of the German defences the most important were W17 a battery of four 220-mm guns to the north near Domberg, W15 a battery of 150-mm guns near Westkappelle, and two batteries of 150-mm.-"13 and W11-to the south of the gap. These big batteries were covered and supported by a series of smaller positions, the whole constituting an almost continuous fortification along the dyke. The plan allowed for a heavy air bombardment followed by a naval bombardment of these positions, after which the Marines laid in the gap, one commando supported by the Allied commando and the tanks to the north, two commandos to the south. These latter had with them artillery forward observation parties, who could call up and direct by radio the fire of field batteries on the mainland near Breskens.
On the morning of 1st November, as the lighthouse tower of West­kappelle rose above the horizon, the RAF liaison officer aboard the headquarter ship had to inform the commanders that, owing to weather conditions, air support could not be relied upon.
As postponement would mean loss of the advantage of a three-point simultaneous attack, the difficult decision was taken to proceed without air support. As it ensued, over 400 sorties were flown by Typhoons of the Tactical Air Force in very difficult conditions. This help was invaluable, but it was not, of course, on anything like the scale originally planned.
As the force closed in towards the gap the sea was calm and visibility good-good enough to make the craft fine targets for the big German guns. WARSPITE, EREBUS and ROBERTS set the ball rolling with their 15-inch guns. When the support squadron was about 10,000 yards off the Germans opened up in reply, but their fire was not accurate, and they ceased. When the mass of landing craft was closer in they opened up again, this time with considerable accuracy.
The support squadron, though outranged and out weighted, continued to close in with the greatest resolution, taking the brunt of the enemy fire. At short range they engaged the big batteries north and south of the gap and the pillboxes that supported them. They found the range and held it, despite the concentration of heavy shells upon them, but several were sunk. One craft beached barely fifty yards from a powerful German pillbox covering the gap and shot it out at point-blank range. Many of their shells bounced off the solid concrete, but the Royal Marine gunners stuck to it for twenty minutes, though the craft was hit in several places by shells of various calibres, from 6-inch to 20-mm and the guns' crews were under small-arms fire. Then, with her guns out of action, the craft withdrew, only to sink by the stern as soon as she reached deep water. The companion craft to this one, which went in to engage a similar target, was last seen on the beach in flames.
The courage of the sailors and Marines in these craft saved the day, and the assault troops were able to get ashore with comparatively light casualties. General Eisenhower paid them a high tribute.
"The manner in which the unarmoured support vessels went in," he said, "and slammed it out with heavier guns in reinforced concrete in order to get the soldiers ashore almost unscathed was one of the incidents that would be remembered in British naval history."
Of the twenty-six craft in the support squadron, nine were sunk and eight badly damaged, 372 officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines being killed or wounded.
While this gallant but unequal "duel was in progress, landing craft tank had been discharging the amphibians of the Royal Marine commandos each side of the gap. Some of the landing craft were hit and several amphibians blown up on mines which defended the edges of the dyke. Only two landing craft could go in on each beach at once so that disembarkation was a slow, nerve-racking process, the enemy gunners having pin-pointed the range to the gap. But once ashore on the sand dunes that were piled high on the solid masonry of the dyke, the Marines made rapid progress.
To the north the commando overcame a pillbox that opposed their land­ing and swept into the wrecked streets of the village of Westkappelle. Having secured this, they pressed on along the dyke towards the first of the big batteries. Supported by the Allied commando and those tanks which had survived the landing-several were destroyed, and others trapped by the rising tide in the flooded ruins of Westkappelle­ they carried the battery. By nightfall they had reached the village of Domburg to the north. Such swift progress was only possible by vigorous leadership and good team work, but many of these Marines, though only youngsters, were veterans of Sicily and Salerno, to say nothing of D Day and the tough fighting that followed in Normandy.
To the south the first objective to fall was a German radar station, already in ruins after heavy bombardment. From here the attackers moved on across a difficult terrain of soft sandhills to battery wil. There was little room to manoeuvre, as the distance between the sea and the deep flood water inland was barely three hundred yards.
Determined to maintain the impetus of their attack, the Marines went straight into an assault on this powerful battery position, protected by minefields and heavily concreted positions. The first troop came under heavy mortar fire and was beaten back with serious casualties. A fresh troop took up the assault, but again they were held up by a hail of accurately placed. mortar bombs. A pause was made to organize fire support.
The forward observation parties called up artillery fire from away on the mainland directly on to the German fortifications, and Typhoons of the Tactical Air Force swept in to release shattering salvoes of rockets. Then, under cover of smoke, the Marines attacked again. By nightfall the control post and half the battery were in. their hands. Under cover of darkness fighting patrols dislodged the enemy from their remaining positions and, at first light, the advance continued to the little village of Zouteland. After a series of small engage­ments the great dyke which overhangs the village was captured. The Germans in the village surrendered after firing a few shots.
At this point a third Royal Marine commando took over the leadership of the attack. They went forward towards the next big battery. Their way was barred by a road block, a deep anti-tank ditch and a system of dragons' teeth and minefields. Weather forbade air support, but again the artillery from the mainland were called into action.
With their aid two troops of Marines managed to cross the ditch, but they were held up again by the destructive fire of the German mortars, losing many men.
Meanwhile, three other troops had by-passed this defence position by pushing along the top of the sand dunes. They reached the outskirts of the battery, but were held up by stiff resistance. Owing to pockets of resistance in the rear it was impossible to reinforce these advanced elements. All the troop commanders had been wounded and casualties were serious. When darkness fell again, supplies and ammunition were man-handled forward across the Sandhill's and the Adjutant went up to reorganize the position.
Another troop cleared up the pockets of resistance behind, but the enemy launched a night counter-attack against the forward troops. This was successfully beaten off.
When daylight came a troop from the other commando came in to cover the left flank while another full-scale assault with artillery support was launched. Fighting went on stubbornly until noon and then the Germans began to crack. Once the crack appeared it spread rapidly. German officers were induced to call upon their troops in deep bunker positions to lay down their arms.
After some face-saving talk, the German Commandant himself surrendered handing over his pistol with the words: "If you think I am a coward, shoot me."
The Marine advance continued swiftly until a second gap in the dyke, torn by RAF bombs, was reached. On the other side an Army commando, which had made a gallant landing at Flushing, captured most of that town and then fought its way along the dyke to meet the Marines, was waiting.  With this link-up the German grip on the Scheldt estuary was finally broken. Very soon afterwards the minesweepers of the Royal Navy were seen proceeding up the river to sweep the channel to Antwerp.
There remained some mopping up to be done north of Domburg, but the main battle-zone of the strangest of the war-was now virtually over. The cost had not been light, 379 officers and men killed, wounded or missing. This was not all the price. The whole centre of the fertile Walcheren island was submerged in floods, the great dyke alone standing above the water like the rim of a gigantic saucer.
The meaning of this destruction can only be understood by the gallant Dutch people who bear the burden.
But the prize was the greatest port in Western Europe to nourish and sustain the great offensives that General Eisenhower will soon loose upon Germany itself.
In the village of Zouteland, comparatively slightly damaged, Dutch girls in their charming costume, billowy blue skirts and white linen caps, with knots of orange ribbon in their hair-were out to greet their liberators. The battered main street blossomed with Dutch flags. From the top of the towering dyke a tiny Dutch boy, wearing the biggest possible orange sash, waved his hand to the Marines as they passed by and shouted all the English he knew, which was "Good morning, good morning."
(Reproduced from The Navy - The official organ of the Navy League - Jan 1945)

1944. Monday 18th   December. A first-hand account from Jack Eaves RM CH\X 111853. Bowman LCA 994, to the Author:

The Jaba river Operation, Bougainville. Part of X Force.

The Commander of 2nd Australian Corps requested from the Flag Officer Commanding 'X' Force the loan of 4 LCA’s for an operation up the Jaba River with the 29th Australian Infantry Brigade. The army’s LCM’s and LCVP’s being too deep a draught to cross the bar at the mouth of the river.

Two LCA’s from each HMS Empire Arquebus (536 Flotilla) and Empire Battleaxe, (537 Flotilla) were selected and under the command of Lieutenant H.E. Day RM, of HMS Empire Battleaxe, were prepared and proceeded at first light on the 19th December.

At 0800 hrs on the 20th, 'DAYFORCE' as it became known, moved in single line ahead, eastward across Augusta Bay for the Tekessi River. Following their guide, an Australian launch, stolid looking and unromantic in contrast to the low green shapes of the LCA’s. To Port lay Bougainville, hazy in the morning mist, it’s mountain range thick with dense scrub, it’s flats covered in steaming jungle. The hills were Japanese territory, and the flats dominated by them represented the tiny perimeter which had been consolidated for more than a year.

By1000 hrs the force had crossed the bar at the mouth of the Tekessi River and reported to the Australian Brigadier at his HQ. We had come prepared for any emergency, Lewis Guns, Rifles, Medical Supplies, Camp Gear, Motor Mechanic, Wireman, and a Marine Shipwright.

Beyond the Tekessi River, the Australians had infiltrated along the coast as far as the Jaba River and were reported to be scouting the Tuju River. Patrols had been confined within the coastal strip and the Brigadier was anxious to know whether the Jaba river was navigable inland as far as the patrol, which was operating on the left bank, the limit would be a sign 'JAPS AHEAD'. He was also interested in the Tuju, about four miles beyond the Jaba, but was questionable if the sand bar at its mouth could be crossed by LCA’s. Bougainville rivers flow fast, coming down from the hills, fed daily by thunderstorms and with a 4-knot race, pile up sand barriers at their mouth.

The Jaba is 40 yards wide in the flats and with the dense jungle on either side makes it difficult to locate from seaward. We found out when we hit the sand bar and poled and pushed into the estuary. It would have been ‘happy hunting grounds’ for the R.M.O.C.U, and a quick finish for the coxswain who was ‘shaky’ in seamanship. The river was alive with snags, branches of sunken logs sticking above the water, with other logs whizzing past every other minute. The deeper water was obviously to be found at the outer edge of the bends and the current flowed round with its complemenent of torn up tree trunks sweeping on into the dense jungle. By pole soundings and good luck, we struggled 5 miles inland, located the patrol on the bank and then turned back for the Tuju.

The mouth of the Tuju lay 4 miles down the coast, Australian patrols had reported that the mouth was clear of the enemy, and we spent an hour there before eventually finding a channel through the sand bar, we then returned and made our report.

At first light the following morning the real job began, a ferry service was established between the Tekessi, and the Jaba rivers. All day a constant stream of troops, stores and ammo, moved up the Jaba, the north bank had been cleared of the enemy, but it was known that a Japanese strong point was located in the swamps of the south bank beyond the forward elements. The Japanese appeared to be fairly well supplied with small arms and machine guns. Although they had lost most of their artillery when counter attacking the perimeter the previous March. A landing was made on the Southbank, behind the enemy position, and a small force moved inland to start a pincer move to outflank the Japanese, it would have to be by river.  

The following morning two LCA’s were loaded with the New Guinea movement. On the north bank the left flank was held up by dense jungle, it had taken a company two hour to move 200 yards and it was realised that the infantry had to be moved up by river. The 'JAPS AHEAD' sign (a 4ft target painted white with a red ball in the centre) was sighted about 100 yards up river from our start point. As far as we were concerned this was 'H' Hour, the Lewis guns were ready and, in the bow, sat a New Guinea boy watching the dense jungle like a hawk. It was said that the New Guinea native could smell a Jap before he could see them. The coxswain watched the river for anywhere in the dense jungle the Nips could be sitting with his 'Wood-pecker' trained on us. At times the craft jammed on the sand bar and stuck. Then every man jack went over the side and pushed like hell. Occasionally we saw a crocodile, parakeets, and butterflies with 6-inch wing spans. Someone remarked that they were big enough to be paratroops- that crack carried us a mile up the river. After landing our troops, we returned downstream with wounded and some prisoners. You cannot beat the Jaba on the run, there is more danger on the way down than on the run up, the fast current forced us to keep the engines at full astern to minimise the impact should we hit a snag, and we hit them hard and often. During this period there were no casualties among the LCA crews, but one craft had to be abandoned. On the 29th December, two craft from HMS Empire Mace were sent to augment the small flotilla, and the sunken craft replaced. The newly established drop off point was now fed by the river service, and a daily trip was necessary.

Each trip had its troubles, we knew where the enemy were said to be located and precautions were taken to cover the well deck of the craft as a counter against grenades (we hoped that they would bounce off into the drink), this subsequently found to be a worthwhile precaution because 4 days later reconnaissance patrols confirmed the Japs had been where we thought they were.
No grenades were ever thrown at us or shots fired, perhaps credit for this should go to the silent running of the craft. Attacks on us were confined to dive-bombing mosquitoes and infiltrating ants, the ants made their most violent attack one trip when the river rose to full flood in a thunder storm and swept our LCA into the bank, the crash bringing down an ant nest on to the head of the coxswain who spent the rest of the trip cursing, searching, and scratching. This was far more frightening than when a battery of Australian 25 pounders began a bombardment of the river bank only a few hundred yards from the craft.
As exploitation progressed, troops were ferried further and further up the Jaba river until the Japs were cleared out of the area. On the 6th January, our job was done, 'Dayforce' returned to their parent ships where on inspection one craft were found to have 15 fractures in her bottom.
This story, one of those small events involving the Corps and so often overlooked was compiled from the appendix to the official report of the Flag Officer Force 'X' as supplied by RMAQ members Jack Eaves and Tony Cude.