We have developed this site in order to appeal to all those who have an interest in the Commandos. If you have earned the right to wear the coveted Green Beret and served with Commando Forces from their inception in 1940 through to the present day, or if you are a family member or a friend of the Commandos, you are as equally welcome to enjoy and hopefully add to our site. Please feel free to pay tribute, research or simply satisfy the curiosity that you may have about the proud history of the Commandos.
Many of the photos displayed have additional information which can be read by touching or clicking on them.
Please feel free to join our association as either a Full Member (Commandos) or Associate Member (families and friends). Simply download the relevant application form, complete it in full and pop it in the post as directed on the form. You will receive your membership pack including membership card and a copy of our most recent newsletter 'Dispatches' which includes information on the Association and planned events. If you do not wish to join then please enjoy the site and history of the Commandos and if possible pass on our details to any Commandos you may know.
United we conquer
If you are looking for any kind of specific information regarding the Commandos , whether on units, campaigns, equipment, insignia etc, or information on individuals who have served in the Commandos, then please visit our website forums. On registering you will be able to create a post in the relevant forum and add the many questions that you may have.
Follow this link for some Useful tips and links for research
Whether you are thinking about a future career as a Commando, or simply curious about the training, you should make yourself aware of the origins of their training. This resume tells you how it all began, and developed into the present All Arms Commando Course. Follow this link to our section on Commando Training.
There are too many operations and/or notable dates to mention each and every one but here are some. Touch/click photos for more information.
14th/15th July 1940 Operation Ambassador, a raid on the coast of Guernsey by men from the Independent Companies grouped together as No 11 Ind. Coy. and led by Major Ronnie Tod and also No 3 Commando. Our gallery for the Independent Companies can be viewed HERE .
July 1941 saw 'B' Bn Layforce (No 8 Commando) in action in Tobruk and No 12 Commando in action at Ambleteuse, France.
July 1943 Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. In addition to Commando units the Special Raiding Squadron (SRS) also participated. Whilst the SRS were engaged at Bagnara and Augusta and other areas, No 3 Commando's time in Sicily included one particular action at Agnone. On the 14th/15th July 1943 No.3 Commando were tasked with taking and holding a bridge at Punta dei Malati until the arrival of the 50th Division. After capturing the bridge from the Italians and removing the demolitions they had laid, a counter attack by the Germans with support of tanks inflicted heavy casualties on No.3 Commando. Eventually they were ordered to withdraw but the bridge had been saved from demolition. General Montgomery later ordered that a stone be carved with “3 Commando Bridge” and this stone cemented into the Punta dei Malati bridge. An excellent account of the raid can be found here :
Recollections of Sicily and Malati Bridge by Lieut.John Channon Erskine RE & No.3 Commando
One of the pillboxes still remains at the bridge and it can be viewed HERE.
The graves of some of the fallen from No 3 Cdo during this operation can be viewed on this link to our gallery for Syracuse War Cemetery
July 1944 saw the continued advance into NW Europe after D day with heavy fighting in many areas. Thousands of British and Allied troops took part in these landings. The Commando Units involved were HQ Commando Group, Nos. 1 and 4 Commando Brigades, and troops from No.10(IA) Commando. Much has been written in the past about the landings and we could not hope to cover it in this small piece. Our thoughts are with them all. Suffice to say that those Commandos who made that original journey and did not come home are remembered with honour.
Some of their graves can be seen in our War Graves albums for France HERE .
On the 14th July 1944 a memorial service was held at Le Plein where Captain the Abbe Rene de Naurois addressed the men of No.1 Special Service Bde. On the 16th July 1944 a medal ceremony took place at L'Ecarde Quarry, Amfreville, where Field Marshall Montgomery issued gallantry medals to some Commandos. Photos of individual Commandos receiving awards at this ceremony can be found in their respective Commando Unit galleries.
Some photos can be found here Normandy - Operation Overlord
July 1944 also saw Commando operations around the world.
No 5 Commando and 44RM Commando in Operation Silchar at Assam,
28/29th July No. 2 Commando at Spilje, Albania (Operation Healing 2.)
Some photos can be viewed here
The Commando Veterans Association has an ongoing project to photograph the graves of the Commando Fallen. If you live near, or may be visiting close to, a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, and wish to help, please contact Pete here Contact Us
Please advise us if you consider the CWGC need to be informed of anything about the condition of any grave. Click/touch the photo to view this grave.
Click/touch the mage to view names of those whose passing we have been informed of.
The Commando Prayer
Teach us, good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This is an interview with Lord Lovat recorded in 1978 in Inverness before his attendance at a reunion of the Commando Association.
The first speaker is Henry Brown OBE who compiled this iterview onto a tribute tape for the Army Commandos.
Lord Lovat tells of some of his memories of D-Day as the Commander of 1 Commando Brigade who spearheaded the D-Day assault.
The tape was kindly donated by Ray Brooks son of Ernie Brooks No 4 Commando, implemented by John Mewett, and converted to MP3 by Mike Thomas at Yellow Wall studios Lockington Liecs.
The CVA has organised a trip to Normandy for the 70th Anniversary of the D day landings. This is a 5 day, 4 night, bed and breakfast only, stay at The Campanile Honfleur Hotel in Honfleur, not far from the beaches.
The website is under renovation which will be ongoing over the next few months with more information and graphics being added. [PR/12/2013]
Website report for 25th July 2014:
Main site updates this year to date:
January........Commencement of monthly report on Homepage of WW2 Commando History
February..... New Commando Training section added to Home Page menu.
February..... New Army Commando nominal rolls added to WW2 Commando section.
Here you will find all the latest news, gossip, and details of some activities. Please refer to the CVA Events section for details of all our annual UK events.
