Arising from the armistice concluded by France with Germany in June 1940 and the evacuation of British forces from the Continent, a small organisation was established to take command of subsequent raiding operations against enemy territory and to provide advice on combined assaults. From this emerged a distinct Combined Operations Headquarters, staffed by all three services, but independent of all of them and under the command of a Director of Combined Operations.
Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Roger Keyes, was appointed first director in July 1940; he was succeeded in October 1941 by Commodore Lord Louis Mountbatten with the title Adviser on Combined Operations. In March 1942 this title was altered to Chief of Combined Operations; it was also decided that the Chief of Combined Operations should attend meetings of the Chiefs of Staff as a full member whenever major issues were in question and, as previously, when his own combined operations or any special matters in which he was concerned were under consideration. In October 1943 Lt. Col. Robert Edward Laycock became Chief of Combined Operations.
From the establishment of a Combined Training Centre in August 1940 at Inveraray, Argyllshire, the Combined Operations Command expanded rapidly both within the United Kingdom and overseas, notably in the Middle East and India. In 1942 it sent a permanent representative to the Joint Staffs Mission in Washington and in the same year a Combined Operations Experimental Establishment was set up at Appledore, Devon. This establishment was much involved in the investigation of problems likely to be encountered on the beaches in connection with an invasion of Europe, particularly as regards the landing of armoured vehicles, stores, supplies, etc. Following the successful invasion of Normandy in 1944, a similar establishment was set up in India to carry out the developments and trials necessary in the very different conditions in the Far East.
From its formation, Combined Operations Headquarters maintained a close, though sometimes strained, contact on the naval side with the Admiralty, which set up a number of combined operations branches within its own departments, particularly in relation to operations, materials and personnel. Raiding forces, such as commandos, came under the command of Combined Operations Headquarters, except when they were employed as part of larger operations.
Throughout the war Combined Operations Headquarters played a key role in the development of offensive operations against the enemy. This was notably the case in the raid on Dieppe in August 1942 and the preparation and planning of the North Africa and Sicily campaigns in 1942 to 1943, the invasion of Europe in 1944 and similarly, through its directorate in India, in operations in the Far East.
In June 1940 the first of the new army commando units were also being raised. A few months later on 11 October 1940 the Independent Companies were reorganised into Special Service (SS) Battalions merging with some of the new Commando units.
No.1 Independent Company formed from 52nd Lowland Division. Part of Scissors Force, a section of the British Expedition to Norway in May 1940.
No.2 Independent Company formed from 53rd Welsh Division. Part of Scissors Force, a section of the British Expedition to Norway in May 1940.
No.3 Independent Company formed from 54th East Anglian Division. Part of Scissors Force, a section of the British Expedition to Norway in May 1940.
Transcript of a report to the Essex Regiment by Lt Clibborn after the particpation of No. 3 Independent Company in the expedition to Norway as part of Scissors Force.
Contact us with details to have an a name included, or provide additional information.
Surname | Forenames | Rank | S/N | Additional |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ashcroft | Arthur, 'The Hawk' | Pte | 2929623 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; 2 Cdo 5 troop PoW St Nazaire |
Aspey | William | Pte | 2930678 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; 2 Cdo 5 troop |
Auld | Luke, Patchcott | Pte | 2931015 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; Scissors Force; Force X; Cpl ME Cdo Depot; SBS; PoW Escapee |
Backhouse | Charles, R. | Pte | 2931647 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; Force X; 1st SAS, PoW escapee |
Baldwin | CQMS | 9th King's | ||
Baybutt | Jack, F. | Pte | 2929879 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn. ; returned to unit |
Black | Graeme, Delamere | 2/Lieut | 106240 | 2/4th S.Lancs; 2 Platoon Cdr; ScissorForce; 2 Cdo executed Op Musketoon - DSO, MC |
Blissett | D.A. | 2/Lieut | 5th King's | |
Blissett | H.H. | Capt | 90331 | Intel; 2 Cdo; 1 SS Bde Maj. - MiD |
Blythe | William, 'Bil' | Pte | 2930644 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; 2 Cdo 5 troop PoW St Nazaire |
Broome | Richard, Frank, 'Dickie' | 2/Lieut | 85468 | 1/4th S. Lancs; Sec Cdr 2 Platoon; Scissors Force; Force X; OC 2 Cdo 5 Tp; kia Salerno |
Brown | Louis, Walter, 'Ben' | LCpl | 2929147 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; 2 Cdo 5 Troop PoW St Nazaire |
Bruce | Kenneth, 'Ken' | Sgt | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; later TSM 5 Troop 2 Cdo until 1942 | |
Burke | Edward, 'Tiny' | Pte | 2929845 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; 2 Cdo 5 troop |
Campbell | J | Pte | 2929397 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; returned to unit. |
Carnston | J.B. | Lieut | 5th King's; No.1 Platoon Cdr. | |
Cheetham | Jack, F. | Pte | 2930999 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; 2 Cdo 5 Troop PoW St Nazaire |
Clarke | John, 'Nobby' | Pte | Liverpool Scots; ScissorsForce; Force X | |
Clarke | R.S. | Pte | 2929615 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; returned to unit |
Coates | Edward | Cpl | Liverpool Scots 2nd Bn; Force X; 2 Cdo 5 Troop | |
Copland | William,Oranmore, 'Bill' | Captain | 50169 | 2 I/C 4 Ind Coy then OC from Sept41; ScissorsForce; 2 I/C No.2 Cdo; PoW St Nazaire - DSO |
Cox | Hugh | Pte | 2931801 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; 2 Cdo 5 Troop St Nazaire |
Davidson | Andrew | Lieut | Liverpool Scots; 3 Platoon Cdr; Scissors Force; 2 Cdo 5 Tp injured 1941 mcy acc reurned to Liverpool Scots | |
Day | Stanley, Ambrose | Lieut | 70873 | 55th Div Signals; Adjutant 4 Ind Coy; No.2 Cdo PoW St Nazaire awarded MC |
Dorman | S.L. | 2/Lieut | 55th Div. RE | |
Dougal | D | Pte | 2928382 | Posted from ITC Camerons; HQ Sigs; returned to unit |
Drennan | A. Leslie | Pte | 2929199 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn |
Douglas | Edward, 'Ted' | Pte | 2927913 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; 2 Cdo 5 troop St Nazaire |
Evans | K.R.H. | 2/Lieut | 2/4th S.Lancs; 2 Sec Cdr 2 Platoon | |
Forshaw | Leslie, 'Les' | Pte | 2930952 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; Scissors Force; Force X |
Frost | G.L. | 2/Lieut | 1/4th S.Lancs; Sec cdr 2 Platoon | |
Fryer | Bennet, William, 'Ben' | Pte | 2931435 | Liverpool Scots 2nd Bn; 2 Cdo 5 Troop |
Geddes | Robert, C.E.B. | Pte | 2929914 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; returned to unit |
Gerrie | R | Pte | 2930581 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; returned to unit; transferred to CMP |
Gwynne | John, Edward, Herbert | Pte | 2929834 | Liverpool Scots; No.2 Cdo 5 troop; kia St Nazaire - MiD |
Harding | H. John | LCpl | 2931062 | Liverpool Scots 1st Bn |
Hayes | A.F. 'Nat' | Pte | 2929843 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn |
Hoare | Albert | LCpl | 2929174 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; returned to unit; later joined No.5 Cdo |
Holt | Frederick | Pte | 2929875 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; 2 Cdo 5 Troop PoW St Nazaire |
Homer | Levi, 'Leo' | Pte | 2930668 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; 2 Cdo 5 troop |
Honey | Peter | Pte | 2930015 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; MM with No.2 Cdo 5 troop PoW St Nazaire |
Hooper | Richard, Henry | 2/Lieut | 70956 | 5th King's; Cdr Support Sec Platoon; ScissorForce, 2 Cdo, Op Archery, St Nazaire - MC |
Horrobin | Leslie, G.J. | Pte | 2929849 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; returned to unit |
Houghton | J.B. | Lieut | 130206 | see record for Johnson-Houghton |
Hughes | William, A. 'Bladder' | Pte | 2929408 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; 2 Cdo 5 Troop PoW St Nazaire |
Hurst | Edward | Pte | 2931768 | Q.O.C.H; 2 Cdo 5 Troop St Nazaire |
Jackson | Terence, 'Terry' | Cpl | 2929594 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; left to OCTU |
Jameson | James, A. | Pte | 2929294 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; returned to unit |
Johnson | J | Pte | 2931063 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissor Force; returned to unit; transferred to CMP |
Johnson-Houghton | Joseph, Blundell | Lieut | 130206 | South Lancs; ScissorsForce, St Nazaire, Captain awarded MC, executed Op Musketoon |
Jones | Colin | Pte | 2931662 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; 2 Cdo 5 Troop PoW St Nazaire |
Jones | Harry | Pte | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; to A.A.C; PoW at Arnhem | |
Kelly | D.J. | Pte | 292262 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; returned to unit |
Knowles | John, A. 'Johnny' | Pte | 2931031 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; 2 Cdo 4 troop PoW St Nazaire |
Layton | Thomas, A. | Cpl | Liverpool Scots; Scissors Force; returned to unt | |
Lima | Cyril, V. | Pte | 2929262 | Liverpool Scots; Scissors Force; 2 Cdo 5 Troop |
Lowson | Robert, Charles, 'Bob' | Pte | 2929977 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Force X; MM with SAS |
Mackenzie | G | Pte | 2929775 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; returned to unit |
Marples | N.I. | Pte | 2 Platoon 4 Ind.Coy | |
Martin | Robert, George, 'Twim' | Pte | 2930946 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; died May 1940 Scissors Force |
Mason | John | Cpl | ||
Matthews | H.K. | 2/Lieut | 5th King's; Sec Cdr 1 Platoon | |
McAllister | Kenneth, 'Ken Mac' | Pte | 2929412 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; later TSM of 5 Troop 2 Cdo |
McCormack | Thomas, 'Tom' | Pte | 2930404 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; 2 Cdo 5 Troop kia St Nazaire |
McGarrity | John, 'Sleuth' | LCpl | 2929120 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; Force X; 2 Cdo |
McIver | A.I. | Captain | RAMC attached 2nd Bn Liverpool Scots; Medical Officer Scissors Force | |
McMorron | Jack, E. | Pte | 2929386 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn |
Milnes | Graham | Pte | 2929965 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; returned to unit |
Mitchell | Eric | Pte | 2931218 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; Force X |
Moffat | 'Cocky' | Pte | Attached from QOCH | |
Moodie | J. 'Jock' | Cpl | 3053415 | Posted from ITC Camerons |
Morgan | Richard, Fuller | 2/Lieut | 105100 | S.Lancs; Support Section; 2 Cdo PoW St Nazaire - MiD |
Moss | Alan | Sgt/RSM | 2930992 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; 1st RSM of No.2 Cdo; kia St Nazaire |
Murdoch | Sydney | Pte | 2929161 | Liverpool Scots 1st Bn; 2 Cdo 5 Troop; PoW St Nazaire |
Nethercott | T | Pte | 2929569 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; returned to unit |
Norris-Jones | W | 2/Lieut | RE; Support Section | |
Page | William, 'Mate', 'Bill' | Pte | 2931157 | Liverpool Scots 2nd Bn; Force X; PoW CasList WO417/92 |
Patterson | John, Rimmer | A/Major | 29978 | Liverpool Scots; OC 4 Ind Coy; Scissors Force; Sept.1940 posted back to Liverpool Scots later Lt. Col 1st Bn |
Peachey | Frederick | Pte | 3654154 | S/Lancs; 2 Cdo; St Nazaire; MM and bar |
Perkins | Leonard, 'Perky Len' | Pte | 2930945 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; 2 Cdo awarded MM and MiD |
Porter | K | A/Sgt | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; to HQ ; 1944 2nd Lt RAC | |
Proctor | John, David | 2/Lieut | 117903 | 1st Bn Liverpool Scots; Scissors Force; St Nazaire seroiusly wounded; CBTC |
Prout | C. Leslie, 'Jed' or 'Arab' | Pte | 2929485 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; Force X |
Purvis | J | LCpl | 3185932 | Posted from ITC Camerons; returned to unit |
Quayle, DCM | R.H. | LCpl | 3763380 | King's Regt; returned to unit |
Raisbeck | Robert | Pte | Liverpool Scots; Scissors Force; Force X | |
Randall | Donald, Charles, 'Don' | LCpl | 2929382 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; HQ Sigs; PoW St Nazaire; awarded DCM |
Rennie | James, Jim' | Cpl | 2930599 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn |
Richardson | S | Pte | 2929794 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; returned to unit |
Roberts | Harold, 'Aggs' | Pte | 2931676 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; PoW St Nazaire |
Rogers | Joseph, Gerard, Anthony, 'Joe' | Pte | 2933493 | Liverpool Scots; 2 Cdo 5 Troop St Nazaire; awarded MM Splije, Albania, 1944 |
Rolph | Norman | Pte | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; Scissors Force; Force X | |
Roy | Donald, William | 2/Lieut | Liverpool Scots 2nd Bn; Sec Cdr 3 Platoon; Scissors Force; OC 2 Cdo 5 Tp at St Nazaire POW awarded DSO | |
Sherman | Thomas, 'Tom' | Sgt | 3772771 | King's Regt; Scissors Force; TSM 4Troop 2 Cdo; Vaagso, St Nazaire; to OCTU; Later Hon Col RM Reserve OBE |
Sinclair | 'Lofty' | Pte | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn | |
Smith | Jack | Pte | Liverpool Scots 2nd Bn; Force X; batman to Lt Taylor | |
Smith | James, 'Jim' | Pte | 3654054 | S/Lancs; 2 Cdo kia Salerno |
Smith | John | Pte | Liverpool Scots | |
Sowerbutts | E.G. | Pte | 2930775 | Liverpool Scots 2nd Bn |
Stalker | William, James | Pte | 2931430 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; Scissors Force; Force X |
Stewart | John, Alexander | Pte | 2931169 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; kia Salerno with No.2 Cdo |
Stubs | Arnold | Pte | S/Lancs | |
Sumner | Frank | Pte | 2930811 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn |
Taylor | Lawrence, 'Larry' | 2/Lieut | 2nd Bn Liverpool Scots; 3 Platoon Sec. Cdr; ScissorForce; Force X; Capt No.2 Cdo 5 troop | |
Taylor | Stanley, 'Stan' | Pte/Cpl | 2929159 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; Force X |
Vanderwerve | John, Edward | 2/Lieut | 9th King's; No.1 Platoon Sec. Cdr; 2 Cdo kia St Nazaire | |
Whelan | George, Leslie, 'Les' | Pte | 2930965 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; No.2 Cdo PoW St Nazaire |
White | W.H. | 2/Lt | 9th King's; No.1 Platoon Sec Cdr | |
Whittle | Frank | WO2 CSM | 5th Kings | |
Wilcock | Richard, 'Dick' | Pte | 2931468 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; No.2 Cdo PoW St Nazaire |
Wilkes | Frederick, 'Fred' | Pte | 2931680 | Liverpool Scots. 2nd Bn; No.2 Cdo PoW St Nazaire |
Wilkinson | Cyril | Pte | 2929839 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; 2 Cdo 5 Troop |
Wilson | Gerry, 'Tug' | Pte | 2929369 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn |
Wynne | Hugo | Pte | 2929646 | Liverpool Scots. 1st Bn; Scissors Force; 2 Cdo 5 Troop |
A list of names of a few of those from No.4 Independent Company who went on to serve in 5 Troop No.2 Commando and stayed on afterwards or moved elsewhere. Collection of Lance Sergeant Joseph Rogers MM, No.2 Commando 5 Troop. Contains links on the header to pages within the Commando Veterans Archive.
Photo courtesy of Mrs Desiree Roderick MBE.
Standing l-r : Cap. Donald Roy; Lt. Joseph Houghton; Lt. Richard Broome; Lt. John Proctor; Lt. Richard Morgan; Lt. John Vanderwerve;; Lt Wright; Capt. Larry Taylor.
Seated l-r : Capt. A. McKeiver (also seen spelt as McIver, McIvor); Capt. Graeme Black; Capt. Stanley Day; Major Bill Copland; Capt. Andrew Davidson; Capt. Richard Hooper; Capt. Harold H. Blissett
Most of these Officers went on to serve in No.2 Commando.
Lieutenant Donald Roy became Captain of 5 troop No.2 Commando. He was taken POW during the St Nazaire raid. He was i/c of an Assault Party on board HMS Campbeltown.
Lieutenant Joe Houghton joined No 2 Commando. He took part in the St Nazaire raid as head of the Protection Party on board ML443. After returning to the UK he rejoined No 2 Commando and took part in Operation Musketoon. He was captured and later executed whilst a POW.
Lieutenant Richard Broome later became Captain of 5 troop No 2 Commando. He was killed in action during Operation Avalanche at Salerno.
Lieutenant John Proctor served as a Lt in 5 troop No 2 Commando and took part in the St Nazaire raid as part of Capt Roy's Assault Party on HMS Campbeltown. He was seriously wounded resulting in one of his legs amputated. Evacuated back to the UK on one of the 3 ML's that returned, he later served on the staff at the C.B.T.C.
Lieutenant R. F. 'Dickie' Morgan joined No.2 Commando 2 troop. He was i/c of a protection squad for the demolition team on board ML262. POW at St Nazaire.
Lieutenant John Edward Vanderwerve joined No.2 Commando and was killed in action during the St Nazaire raid. He was i/c of a protection squad for the demolition team on board ML306.
Captain Larry Taylor joined No 2 Commando and then went overseas with Force 'X' to Malta. He was involved with covert operations from submarines during this period. He later returned to 5 troop No 2 Commando as their Captain after Captain Dickie Broome was killed at Salerno. He died not long after the war on the 25/1/1949.
Captain A. McKeiver (also seen as McIvor and McIver) was the Medical Officer for No 4 Independent Company.
Captain Graeme Black joined No 2 Commando and took part in Operation Musketoon. He was captured and later executed whilst a POW.
Captain Stanley Day was the Adjutant of No 4 Independent Company and became Adjutant of No 2 Commando. He was in Lt. Colonel Newman's HQ party at St Nazaire and taken POW.
Major Bill Copland became the 2nd i/c of No.2 Commando and was taken POW on the St Nazaire raid.
Capt. Andrew Davidson joined 5 troop No 2 Commando after Norway. He was injured in a motorcycle accident in 1941 eventually rejoining the 1st Bn. Liverpool Scottish Regt.
Captain Richard Henry 'Dickie' Hooper MC joined No.2 Commando. He took part in the raids on Vaagso and on St Nazaire i/c of an assault squad on ML156. He returned to the UK and remained with No 2 Commando throughout the remainder of the war.
Captain Harold H. Blissett joined No 2 Commando and remained with them until being appointed to the staff of No.1 Special Service Brigade HQ as Brigade Major during the invasion of North West Europe.
No.5 Independent Company formed from 56th London Division. Part of Scissors Force, a section of the British Expedition to Norway in May 1940.
No.6 Independent Company formed from 9th Scottish Division.
No.7 Independent Company formed from 15th Scottish Division.
No.8 Independent Company formed from 18th Eastern Division.
No.9 Independent Company formed from 38th Welsh Division.
The Small Scale Raiding Force (also known as 62 Commando) were trained in Commando style combat together with aspects of seamanship in the use of small craft such as Dory's. Formed at Fareham and commanded by Major Gus March-Phillipps, DSO, MBE, until he was killed during a raid in France in September,1942. They based themselves at Anderson Manor, Dorset, and recruited from units such as the SOE and the SBS, included foreign nationals, and were often supported by Commandos, in particular individuals from No.12 Commando. Their primary role was small raids along the Channel coastline of occupied France. Officers included Major John Geoffrey Appleyard DSO, MC, and Captain's Peter Kemp DSO and Graham Hayes MC
2/3rd Sep-42 Operation Dryad. Raid on Alderney - 8 raiders to the rocks beneath the lighthouse. When they returned later they had the enemy's code books and seven prisoners - the lighthouse keepers, radio operators and guards.
12/13th September - Operation Aquatint..raid on Saint Honorine .
3-Oct-42 Operation Basalt Sark Channel Islands.
11-Nov-42 Operation Farenheit The Pointe de Plouezec - Raid on a signalling station French Coast.
1942 Foretop France (Foretop N Allied 1942 - 1943 NW Europe Plan to raid U-boat bases on French coast, abandoned as too impractical).
Early in 1943 the S.S.R.F. disbanded with many of the men forming the nucleus of the new 2nd Special Air Service.
View Photos of the SSRF.
Mission 204 was the designation given to the British Military Mission to China.
Photos of the Special Service Detachments, British Military Mission 204 to China.
An account from the Australian War Museum of Australian involvement in Mission 204.
A detachment (SSD1) taken from British Military Mission 204 for use in operations in Burma.
A detachment (SSD2) taken from British Military Mission 204 for use in operations in Burma.
Transcript (by Elaine Southworth-Davies) of a letter from Major R.W. English in response to an enquiry from Kevin O'Marah about the war service of his father WO1 Andrew O'Marah.
"April 15. 1984
Dear Mr O’Marah
I am writing in response to your request in the Legion under “Lost Trails” for information concerning the British Military Mission to China (204 Mission).
I was with the Malayan Contingent which arrived in Burma (Maymyo) when the Bush Warfare School was opened in 1941. During the first few weeks we were joined by the other Contingents which made up 204 Mission. These Contingents came from Middle East (Commando Units) Australian Infantry Units (Malaya ) Far East (Hong Kong) and ourselves of course, drawn from Infantry and R E Units etc., Malaya.
After several months training and following the outbreak of hostilities with Japan the Mission left for China as planned. Those left behind in Burma were to eventually reinforce the Mission as and when required. However, in the light of the events that followed those remaining were eventually absorbed into the Burma Forces and it is at that time that No. 9 Independent Coy. and the Special Service Battalion must have been formed.
As for ourselves, we stayed in China for about twelve months and eventually were flown out to India. Not having really done an awful lot, most of us came out sick and when fit again joined other Units such as Wingate Forces. With a number of others, I later joined Force 136.
I cannot recall your father but certainly have still a vivid recollection of those days in Maymyo and, having been there from the very early days, may be able to assist you if you should require information on any specific details. If so, please let me know.
Yours sincerely
(signed)
R. W. English, Major "
Follow this link to view our Images of Mission 204 and the Special Service Detachments.
Transcript (by Elaine Southworth-Davies) of part of a reply dated 23 January 1985 from the Imperial War Museum (ref CJVH/ES/074472) to Kevin O'Marah in response to his enquiry about the war service of his father WO1 Andrew O'Marah.
"Dear Mr O'Marah
Thank you for for your recent letter, your father appears to have had an eventful war career.
Mission 204 was the designation given to the British Military Mission to China as can be seen from the extract below:
" In discussing the forces available for the defence of Burma, mention has been made only of the troops actually in the country, but arrangements existed for military assistance from China in the event of a Japanese attack. Shortly after Far East Command had been set up in November 1940, Major-General L.E. Dennys was appointed Military Attache in Chungking with a view to his becoming the head of a British military mission in China (known as 204 Mission) should war break out.
Largely owing to his work and that of Wing Commander J. Warburton (Air Attache), British relations with the Chinese were satisfactory, and considerable progress was made in plans for mutual co-operation. These included a visit in April 1941 by a Chinese military mission to Burma and Singapore.
British assistance took the form of aid in the preparation of airfield sites in the Kunming area for the protection of the Burma Road and the despatch of stocks of explosives, aviation petrol bombs and other material to China. In addition, special squads of British and Indian personnel were put under training in Burma for eventual attachment to the fifteen Chinese guerrilla companies which were being formed in China. It was proposed ultimately to double the number of these companies and consequently, that of the special squads. The Chinese on their part promised to send troops into Burma if required, and to to threaten the Japanese northern flank should they advance against Burma by way of Chiengrai."
which was taken from The War Against Japan, Volume 2, India's Most Dangerous Hour, by Major General S. Woodburn-Kirby (London HMSO 1958). A further extract relates to the outcome of the idea of the joint British Chinese commando units:
"Major-General Dennys, who commanded the mission at the outbreak of war had been killed in an air crash on the 14th March 1942. His place was taken by Major-General J. G. Bruce. The latter recommended the withdrawal of the small British contingents in China since they were not being properly used by the Chinese. They were withdrawn by October 1942 and in November General Bruce handed over the command of the mission to Major-General Grimsdale, who was at that time British Military Attache in Chungking."
Follow this link to view our Images of Mission 204 and the Special Service Detachments.
A personal account of the memories of Ted Stuart, No 5 Commando, who volunteered for Mission 204.
A Combined Operations Bombardment Unit (COBU) provided fire direction for ships in shore bombardment in WW2. The first COBU was formed in 1940 and by the end of the war there were five in existence. In 1946 all were disbanded, except No.2 COBU which joined the School of Combined Operations (later the Amphibious Warfare Centre) at Fremington. They were a mixture of men from different Services - Royal Artillery, Royal Marines, and the Navy. (Information from Stu Hart ex 29 Cdo)
View in our gallery some Photos of the COBU.
Confirmation from Admiralty Fleet Order A.F.O. 3440/45 page 14 of the correct unit title of the Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Units (LCOCU).
The SRU were part of the Special Operations Group within Combined Operations.
These are just a few of the units from different countries that engaged in operations or training specifically with the Commandos. This does not include the troops that formed No 10 Inter Allied Commando as they were a specific unit of the Commandos and can be found in our WW2 Commandos section.
In our gallery we have numerous photos of Americans, Candians, and Greeks who operated with, or were trained by, Commandos.
We welcome more input regarding those individuals who served in this capacity.
The members of the 1st Ranger Battalion were drawn in the main from two divisions that had recently been sent to Ireland from the U.S., the 34th Infantry Division and the 1st Armoured. In May 1942, Company A of the 1st Ranger Battalion was formed. All of the men were volunteers. They were moved to Scotland where they were trained under the instruction of British Commandos. Their commander was Captain William Darby. Some of them were among the first US troops to fight in Europe during the raid on Dieppe in 1942. Later they were expanded and trained to a battalion of 467 men. The US Rangers took part in the North African campaign Operation Torch, serving with Nos. 1 and 6 British Army Commandos. After this additional Ranger Battalions were formed along similar lines and took part in operations in all theatres of the war
Leilyn Young, one of the first US Rangers to have Special Forces training by the new UK Commandos in WW2. Leilyn trained at the Special Training Centre, Lochailort, and then again at the Commando Depot, later renamed the Commando Basic Training Centre, Achnacarry. Both training centres were in Scotland, otherwise known as Commando Country.
This letter is a diary of events from when he left America, his arrival in Ireland, subsequent Commando training in Scotland, then onto North Africa. The letter was taken back to the USA by a returning fellow US Ranger. Leilyn Young not only went through a 4 week course at Lochailort in 1942 but also a 4 week course a few weeks later at Achnacarry with Colonel Darby and his other Rangers. This latter course ended on the 1st August 1942. Leilyn reached the rank of Colonel but was a Captain when this letter was written.
His niece Lisa McCollum recalls this about him " He was an incredible man, very soft spoken and one of the kindest and gentlest men I had ever met. I did not know him as well as I would have liked." Leilyn Young died on the 28th July 2004 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Our thanks to Lisa McCollum for sharing her Uncle's letter with us
American Rangers at the Commando Depot, Achnacarry. Major Derek Burr later served as OC 4 troop No.5 Commando (ref. LL2/CA Newsletter).
The caption reads:
"Lt. Derek Burr of a Commando Depot stands behind four men of a Ranger unit whom he is instructing in the use of a M.1. Rifle.
(L-R): Pfc. Vernon Dougherty of Altoona, Pa., Pfc. Chas. Perachka of Mercer, Pa., Cpl. Alonzo Colds of Todd, N.C., and Cpl. Laurence Hickman of Bishopville, Md."
Date: 7 February 1943.
III-SC 180095, Credit The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
W Party were mostly Canadian Beach Commandos attached to the RN Commandos. They were specially trained Commandos set up to create and maintain order on Normandy's Juno Beach during the landings. Such was the uncertainty of what they would find that they trained for all conceivable contingencies from protection against chemical warfare and clearing obstacles to driving Sherman tanks! However, their main task was to keep the traffic of men, machines and supplies flowing through the beach area.
Formed in Palestine in 1942 from Greek Officers and cadets fighting at the time in the Middle East and originally under the command of Major Antonios Stefanakis. When its new commander Col. Christodoulos Tsigantes took over he changed the role to one of a Special Forces nature and they trained at the SAS base in Cairo. Also known as "Sacred Band" and increased in size to 400 men, the unit fought with General Leclerc's Free French forces in Tunisia, the SAS in the Libyan desert, and with the SAS and SBS in the Aegean. In 1944 it is increased to Regiment strength and put under the command of British Raiding Forces. It is involved in combat operations with the combined SAS/SBS raiding forces on the islands of the northern Aegean sea and the Dodecanese.
Notable among the many operations - July 1944 a combined Greek-British raiding force catures the German garrison on the island of Simi. Under Brigadier Turnbull's overall command, Lt.Col. Lapraik DSO, OBE, MC and bar [more....], played a leading role as OC of the British Special Forces (Force 142 a combined SAS/SBS force) involved. Throughout the months of 1944 and 1945 it continues in successful operations against the German garrisons on other islands. On the 7th August 1945 the unit disbands at a parade in Athens.
View on this link our Photos and documents about the Squadron.
Read the full history here The Sacred Squadron.
Prepared under the direction of the Chief of Combined Operations, March 1945.