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Beret and Knife
Today the British Commando units are still regarded as the most highly trained and effective fighting units in the world. The two symbols that have won international recognition as representative of these units are the famous Green Beret and the equally renowned F.S. Fighting Knife.
Green Beret
‘We decided not to wear our steel helmets but would wear our green berets’
The words of LtCol. Kenneth Trevor C.O. No 1 Commando before No.1 Commando took Hill 170, near Kangaw, Burma January 1945.
The summer of 1942 and No.1 Commando’s then C.O. LtCol. Will Glendenning was in discussion with second in command Major Tom Trevor (Ken Trevor’s Brother) and adjutant Captain’Puggie’ Pugh when the problem of head-dress arose.
Like all Commando units No 1 had representatives from nearly every regiment and corps in the army. In No. I Commandos case this totalled 79 different cap badges, berets, forage caps and the like. An RSM’s nightmare.
After much discussion it was decided that a common head-dress was desirable and a beret would be the obvious choice. Easy to wear but could be secreted in the pocket quickly.
There was already in use the colours black for regulars and red for the parachute regiment so these had to be avoided.
No 1 Commandos’ badge at that time was the Salamander passing through fire. The Salamander was green in colour and the flames red and yellow so green seemed to be the natural choice. All decided this was the correct choice to make.
Captain Pugh was detailed to look into the production side of the beret.
A nearby factory at Androssan was already involved with the production of berets for the Royal Tank Regiment. Pugh organised the factory to produce a couple of ‘Examples ‘and after several attempts the shade of green and the style of beret was decided upon.
The firm completed the order within two weeks.
Next the approval of Commander of the Special Service Brigades Brigadier Bob Laycock was sought. It was asked for No.1 Commando to officially take into use the ‘Green Beret’ as the official head-dress. Bob Laycock answered by return that he had been considering a common head-dress for sometime and agreed immediately. Further to this he also decreed that as soon as stocks were available No.1 Commando were to be issued with them first.
No 1 Commando took the beret into use just prior to their involvement in operation ‘Torch’ in November 1942. For the first time the Green Beret was seen on the battle field proudly worn by the men of No. 1 Commando. The rest as they say is history.
The F.S Fighting Knife
By the very nature of their calling the type of man that volunteered for Commando service and passed through ‘Achnacarry’ during the second world war ensured a diverse mix of characters. And many a veteran can remember comrades with a particular prowess in all sorts of disciplines. Good swimmers, fine boxers wily thinkers and natural warriors. The instructors at such a place had to be their equal or better in order to gain their respect and following. This threw up many fabled names that have remained in Commando history until today. Among the most prominent of these legendary figures must surely be W.E Fairbairn and E.A.Sykes the innovators and designers of the F.S.Fighting knife.
Both Fairbairn and Sykes had been blooded in the service of the Shanghai police force.
During their service there they had learnt skills in oriental martial arts Ju-Jitsu, Judo and knife fighting. The use of small arms and concealment of weapons were a useful knowledge in the crime ridden times of the 30’s in Shangai.
On returning to the UK in 1940 they were commissioned into the army both men being given the rank of Captain.
Both men were then posted to the Commando Basic training centre at Achnacarry in the highlands of Scotland.
Their knowledge of close quarters combat and the quick use of small guns and knives were of great use to the emerging Commando forces. But it soon became evident that a specially designed weapon for the type of missions envisaged for the commandos was in order.
An approach was made to the War Office for such a weapon and this was readily approved. Wilkinson Sword were the obvious choice as the makers of this special knife as they had had along history of manufacturing military knives and swords.
John Wilkinson-Latham was brought into the design team and a proto-type was soon produced. This proto-type had a three inch ‘S’ shaped cross-guard which proved troublesome on drawing the weapon. This cross-guard was therefore shortened and flattened slightly and the classic 1st pattern F.S. Fighting knife was produced.
See an example of this military classic on the right hand side of this site.
The FS is still in use by the Commando and Special Forces of today. With minor modifications it remains a lasting tribute to the ruthless intelligence of Captains Fairbairn and Sykes
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