Commando operations on or from the Dalmatian islands.
Read more here in our No 2 Commando History section.
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Lieut. Col. J.C. MANNERS Lieut. Col. J.P. PHILLIPPS |
Formed 14th February 1942 as The RM Commando, it was briefly known as "A" RM Commando before being designated 40 RM Commando. It was the only Royal Marine Commando formed entirely from volunteers as with the Army Commandos. Early training was on the Isle of Wight with the RM Commandos billeted in homes at Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor.
Their notable actions during WW2 are Dieppe, St Benere, Termoli, Anzio, Dalmatian Islands, and Lake Comacchio.
The role of 40RM Commando during the Combined Operations raid at Dieppe raid was to assault and secure the harbour area.
Follow this link for the ROH of all the Commando Fallen at Dieppe
HMS Fidelity was sunk by torpedoes during a U Boat attack (U435) on the 30th December 1942 off the Azores. The U-boat reported a large number of survivors on rafts and in the water. All drowned in the rough seas as the weather deteriorated. The only survivors were a few who had launched a motor boat from the ship before the attack. Among the casualties were 53 members of 'T' Company 40 RM Commando who were on board. The letter 'T' was never used again by 40RM Commando for a Company.
All Casualties are listed by the CWGC as dying on the 1st January 1943.
Mne Alexander was killed during operations at Dieppe.
The CWGC shows his unit as 40RM Commando which is technically correct at the time of the raid. However it should be pointed out that we have an Image of a Signals Intelligence Unit formed for the raid at Dieppe which operated covertly on on this raid as a platoon of 40RM Commando. On that image Mne Alexander is named as a member of the unit.
Mne. Altringham was killed during operations at Lake Comacchio.
Mne. Andrews was killed along with the rest of 'T' Company 40RM Commando, when the ship they were on board, HMS Fidelity, was torpedoed and sunk.
Mne. Anson was killed along with the rest of 'T' Company 40RM Commando, when the ship they were on board, HMS Fidelity, was torpedoed and sunk.
Mne. Appleby was killed along with the rest of 'T' Company 40RM Commando, when the ship they were on board, HMS Fidelity, was torpedoed and sunk.
Sgt. Maj. Bain was killed during operations at Sarande, Albania.
Mne. Barrington died in Italy. At the time of his death his Commando were engaged in operations at Termoli.
Mne. Basham was killed along with the rest of 'T' Company 40RM Commando, when the ship they were on board, HMS Fidelity, was torpedoed and sunk.
Mne. Bates was killed during operations on the enemy held island of Brac, Yugoslavia.
Sgt. Beesley was killed during operations at Dieppe.
Mne. Bishop was killed during operations in Sicily whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during a bombing raid.
Mne. Bluck was killed during operations at Anzio.
Mne. Bone was killed during operations on the enemy held island of Brac, Yugoslavia.
Mne. Boothroyd was killed along with the rest of 'T' Company 40RM Commando, when the ship they were on board, HMS Fidelity, was torpedoed and sunk.
Mne. Bradley was killed along with the rest of 'T' Company 40RM Commando, when the ship they were on board, HMS Fidelity, was torpedoed and sunk.
Mne. Bremner was killed during operations at Lake Comacchio.
Mne. Bryce was killed during operations on the Dalmatian Islands.
The Naval history website record him as dying of wounds. 7 days before his death his Commando were engaged in Operation Flounced, an attack on the enemy held island of Brac.
Mne. Burfitt was killed during operations at Termoli.
Mne. Burgess was killed during operations at Anzio.
Joe Rogers MM
No 2 Commando
Bob Mewett
No 12 & No 1 Commando
Mick Collins
No 5 Commando
