9 Commando

History of the Unit

No. 9 Commando was initially formed with No.11 Commando in July 1940 from Scottish Command. Their first commanding officer was Lt. Col. John Maclean 'Jack' Saegert, RE. Many original members of No.9 came from No’s 6 and 7 independent Companies which had been raised in April 1940. No.9 became part of the 2nd Special Service Battalion in the autumn of 1940.
The unit did not wear a cap badge as such but while serving in the 2nd Special Service Battalion they wore a black hackle in a khaki Balmoral hat. When the Special Service Battalions were re-organized in March 1941, the unit reverted to its 9 Commando title. Their H.Q. at this time was at Criccieth, North Wales. They retained the Balmoral and black hackle which was transferred to the green beret when the latter was adopted in 1942.
Operation Sunstar. The first operational raid by the Commando was on the nights of 22nd/23rd November 1941 on the French coast at Houlgate. A successful landing and evacuation was affected without loss. After this raid Lt Col R Tod assumed command of the unit. 
Operation Chariot. In March 1942 a small contingent of Commandos from No.9 took part in the famous St.Nazaire raid in support of No 2 Commando.
No.9 Commando were then called on to reinforce the garrison in Gibraltar during the lead up to the Torch landings in North Africa .The unit remained in Gibraltar until March 1943 after which it returned to the UK for refitting. After being posted to the Mediterranean and arriving there in November 1943 No 9 were in action again on the islands of Tremiti and Pianosa.
Operation Partridge. December 1943 in the river Garigliano area. 
On 20 January 1944 No.9 Commando landed at Anzio and then was promptly withdrawn on the 25th to be deployed to the area of Monte Ornito. The Commando suffered heavy losses during the bitter fighting at Monte Ornito and Monte Faito. 
2nd Anzio Landing - 3 March 1944 No.9 Commando were once again deployed to Anzio and it was here that Major Callf led 5 troop, now only half strength due to casualties at Monte Ornito, in a successful bayonet charge against a much larger force of German paratroopers.
Operation X - Anzio beachhead 19 March 1944 No.9 were tasked with clearing three Wadis about half a mile from the perimeter of the beachhead.
With his Commando strength severely depleted Lt Col. Tod reformed the Troops into three Squadrons. Fighting was brutal and often at close quarter. No.9 Commando had 73 casualties killed, wounded , or missing
After this No.9 Commando was withdrawn to Naples, and then onto Molfetta. The next few months were spent rebuilding the Commando from replacements sent from the UK already Commando trained, and when there no more available, from volunteers from Regiments operating in North Africa and the Central Mediterranean . These then had to undergo their training from the Commando training group that had been formed in Italy.
Other operations by No 9 included 'Operation Darlington 11’ May 1944, and Operation ‘Gradient’  August 1944. This latter operation featured men on bicycles attacking a garrison. The garrison did not exist so a local telephone exchange was ransacked instead !

Later No 9 Commando operated in Greece before returning to Italy for its last engagement at Commachio and Argenta in April 1945.
Once the the war ended a decision was made to disband all Army Commando units.


View:  Photos and history of the Marble Memorial at Mt. Ornito

View: Gallery images of No 9 Commando

Click/touch No 9 Commando below for additional content, or follow the links below it to specific content entries.


Ask Questions / Add Information / Add Photos

Use the Archive Forum for research enquiries, or to add information or photos. [register now]
Read some frequently asked questions here [FAQ's].
Contact the Archive via the [contact form].
 
All content is researched and administered by the Commando Veterans Archive.