'Special Boat Section'
Brief History
The first ever special boat section was raised in July 1940 under the command of Major Roger Courtney and was known as the Folboat Troop of No. 8 Commando. In February 1941 the Folboat Troop sailed for the Middle East as part of Layforce. It was after their arrival that the Folboat Troop acquired the name Special Boat Section. They trained at Kabrit on the Great Bitter Lake and were then attached to the 1st Submarine Flotilla. The Section operated from bases in Malta and Alexandria primarily in train wrecking and beach reconnaissance against targets in Italy and Sicily and raids along the Libyan and Cyrenaican coasts.
In December 1941 Major Roger Courtney returned to the UK. The success of the Special Boat Section had resulted in a decision to form a second Section in the UK and the first choice for selection of suitable candidates was obvious. 101 Troop of No. 6 Commando had been formed in April and had been tried and tested in operations on the French coast under the command of Captain G.C.S. Montanaro, D.S.O.
Special Boat Section (Home) later designated as 2 Special Boat Section was duly formed, their HQ on the 2nd April 1942 being at Ardrossan/Saltcoates in Ayrshire. Their commander was Major R.J. Courtney, later joined by Captain Montanaro D.S.O., of 101 Troop [more....]. Capt. Montanaro was the Chief Instructor in the early days until detached to command the Mobile Flotation Unit (MFU)*, being granted a commission as Lt. Commander in the Royal Navy and left the S.B.S. After 3 months training the Section was declared operational and moved to Titchfield in September 1942 .
No.1 Special Boat Section continued to operate in the same theatre of war but lost its independence when absorbed in November 1942 within the Special Air Service Regiment. The SAS itself was reorganised into the Special Raiding Squadron in 1943 with its new leader Paddy Maine, and included the now redesignated Special Boat Squadron under Lord Jellicoe comprising L, M, and S detachments
No. 2 Specal Boat Section training in the UK in 1942 were destined to take part in Operation Torch in North Africa, and later in raids and reconnaissance along the Mediterannean coast.
During 1944/5 No.2 Special Boat Section consisted of 'A', B', and 'C' groups operating primarily in the Far East under the command of Majors Kealy, Sidders and Livingstone respectively, with Major Kealy as the Senior Military Officer, and 'Z' SBS who had been recalled from the Far East to continue operations in the Mediterranean under the command of Major G.B. Courtney, M.B.E., M.C.
Source
Special Boat Section memorandum - Formation to February 1944.
British Special Forces, author William Seymour
* Mobile Flotation Unit, a commando boat which can be submerged while the crew hide out on shore, and which will surface automatically at a pre-arranged time. Function of the MFU is that of a long-range carrier for men and canoes, which may then be used for sabotage operations [Source: IWM catalogue no. ADM 184.]
Archive pages:
A timeline of the Special Boat Section (Home)
7 pages of a Special Boat Section memorandum about 2 SBS from its formation through to February 1944. An official memorandum by Lieut. Henry S. Quigley, Admin. officer 2 SBS dated February 1944. The last page details equipment used by 2 SBS. This document is from the collection of Arthur Horner who was attached to No.1 Commando and 2 SBS, provided to the CVA in 2010 courtesy of his son Ashton Horner.
Units:
'Special Boat Section'
Archive pages:
Special Boat Section Plaque, Isle of Arran
Extract from Commando Association newsletter 111 of September 2000.
On Friday 19th May last, at the Ingledene Hotel, Sannox, Arran, a small ceremony was held to unveil a plaque commemorating the forming of the Special Boat Section, otherwise known as the Folboat Section at the Ingledene in December 1940. Dedication of the plaque was made by the Rev. Hugh Gallagher of Whiting Bay and the plaque unveiled by Mrs. Betty Williamson, whose husband Ronnie, although not part of the original unit, was later a member of the SBS.
The inscription on the plaque is:- "Known originally as THE FOLBOAT SECTION, the Special Boat Section was born at Sannox on the Isle of Arran in December 1940. Personnel were recruited from No.8 Commando by Lt. R.J.A. Courtney (later Major) MC., K.R.R.C. and took up quarters at the Ingledene Hotel in Sannox.
Formation of the unit had been authorised earlier in the same year by Admiral Sir Roger Keyes Chief of Combined Operations and Lieutenant Courtney was ordered to proceed accordingly. Its establishment consisted of two officers and twelve men.
On completion of initial training on Arran they were attached to Layforce and sailed to Egypt in company with No's 7, 8 and 11th (Scottish) Commandos from Lamlash on February 1st 1941 on the Commando ships HMS Glengyle, Glenroy and Glenearn.
Almost immediately on arrival in Egypt the SBS went into action and from then until the end of the war with Japan, highly successful operations were executed in all theatres of the conflict. Those who served in the SBS did not seek recognition. Their deeds spoke for them. They wore their Green Beret with pride and they knew the value of their contribution to Victory".
All the arrangements of 19th May were planned and carried out by Walter Marshall (11 Cdo) still resident at Arran, and thanks are due to him for his ceaseless endeavours in ensuring that it was a most successful event. The Association is pleased to have contributed the cost of the plaque now resident at the Ingledene Hotel.
2 SBS establishment Officers Feb.1944.
Units:
In February 1944 the following Officers were shown serving in the War Establishment.
'A' Group
'B' Group
Major D.S. Sidders
2/Lieut. E. Wesley
'Z' SBS
Major G.B. Courtney
Capt. N.G. Kennard
Capt. W.G. Davis
Headquarters No. 2 Special Boat Section Feb. 1944.
Commanding Officer
Major R.J. Courtney, M.C.
2nd in Command
Major R.P. Livngstone, M.B.E.
Chief Instructor
Captain B.N. Eckhard.
Technical Officer
Captain R. Davy.
Navigational Officer
Lieut. W.W. Armstrong.
Admin. Officer
Lieut. H.S. Quigley.
Operational Officers
Capt. J.P. Foot, M.B.E.
Lieut. D.S. Smee.
Lieut. J.B. Sherwood, M.M.
Source
Special Boat Section timeline memorandum - Formation to February 1944.
Linked Content:
Archive pages:
SBS Partial Nominal Roll WW2
This is a work in progress roll of some who served in the Special Boat Section, Special Boat Squadron, or Special Boat Service during WW2. It is not complete by any means but is included whilst being worked on to assist researchers browsing our archive.
Listed alphabetically by surname. Lieut. Michael ALEXANDER ** Sgt. ALLAN (No.1 SBS) ** Capt. Richard Knowles Brian ALLOTT, MC 2/Lieut. W. W. ARMSTRONG * Sgt. AUSTIN* Capt. Philip Atterbury AYTON (No.2 SBS) * Lieut. George BARNES. MM and bar * Cpl. E. BARR (No.1 SBS) ** Mne. BARROW (No.1 SBS) ** Sgt. Leonard BATES *
Cpl. BELL **
Lieut. Frederick Norman BEST Pte. BLAKE (Hamps. Regt) (No.1 SBS) ** Sgt. John Hamilton BOOTH, DCM *
Pte. R. BOYES *
Sgt. C. BLEWETT (397220) * Cpl. George BREMNER, MM ** Bdr. John BRITTLEBANK (No.1 SBS) Cpl. David 'Scotty' BURNS Cpl. Howard Herbert Cosens BUTLER, MM ('M' Section) Cpl. CARVER* Sgt. CAVE (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.)** Cpl. Alfred Robert CHILD (No.1 SBS) LAC COBB, RAF (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.)** Lieut. A. COLVILLE * Maj. Roger James Allen COURTNEY, MC* Maj. Godfrey Basil COURTNEY, MBE, MC (RWK)* Gnr. CRIDLAND (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.)** Pte. Kenneth Carr DARLINGTON, MM* Capt. DAVIDSON* Lieut. W.G. DAVIS*
Capt. Richard DAVY* Cpl. DIDCOTT* Mne. DUGGAN (No.1 SBS) ** Sgt. W. DUNBAR, MM ('M' Section)
Capt. George Ian Alistair DUNCAN, MC Cpl. DURAND ** Lieut. S.B. DURNFORD* Capt. Basil Newton ECKHARD * Cpl Keith Valentine EDSALL Sgt. Derek Charles ELLIS, MM (KSLI)* CSM Arthur Edward EMBELIN* Pte. Augustus George EVANS, MM Cpl. EVANS* Cpl. C. FEEBERY, DCM ** Sgt. W. FIELD Capt. James Panton FOOT, OBE (Dorsets) * Cpl. GAIN * CSM John GALLOWAY * Sgt. John GILMOUR, MM and bar (No.2 SBS)* Capt. GRANT-WATSON (Scots Gds) (No.1 SBS) ** Cpl. E.A. GRAY (Hamps. Regt) Cpl. 'Eddie' GRIFFITHS ** Cpl. GURNEY ** Mne. HARRIS (No.1 SBS) **
Cpl. HART * Sgt. HAWKINS * Capt. Harold Vere HOLDEN-WHITE (R. Sussex Regt)* Cpl. Charles HOLDING (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.) **
Cpl. HOOK * L/Cpl. Arthur HORNER * Mne. W.G. HUGHES (No.1 SBS) ** Sgt. J. HUTCHINSON (or HUTCHISON) * Lieut. INGLES ** CSM JONES * Gnr. Raymond Walter JONES, MM Maj. Michael Robert Bayley KEALY* Capt. Noel, G. KENNARD* Lieut. K.S. KERR* Cpl. KIERMAN **
Cpl. KILKENNY ** Capt. Thomas Bennett LANGTON, MC Capt. Richard Percy LIVINGSTONE, MBE* Cpl. Ronald William LOASBY * Pte. Ronald Ernest LOVELL * Capt. Eric John Alfred LUNN, MC and bar* Cpl. MACKENZIE (HLI) (No.1 SBS) ** Pte. MASSEY *
Capt. Alexander Richard McCLAIR* Pte. McKENZIE *
Cpl. William, H. MERRYWEATHER ** Pte. MILES * Mne. MILES, RM (No.1 SBS) ** LSgt. G.W.J. MILLER, MM.* Capt. Gerald Charles Stokes MONTANARO, DSO* Capt MONTGOMERIE ** Sgt. MOSS (Devonshire Regt) (No.1 SBS) ** Lieut. George Eric NEWBY, MC Sgt. James Ernest NEWSOME Capt. Joe Colin Conesa PAGNAM* Sgt. PARKS* Cpl. Ernest 'Dick' PALMER Capt. PATE* Sgt. Herbert Henry Victor PENN * Lieut. Richard James McGregor PETERS* Sgt. Frederick Amos PREECE, DCM * Lieut. Henry, S. QUIGLEY (No.2 SBS Admin Officer) * Pte. Leo Gerard 'Digger' RICE. Cpl RILEY(No.1 SBS) ** Lieut. Duncan RITCHIE RN ** Cpl. Harry ROBERTS ** AB. ROBSON, RN (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.) **
Lieut. RODNEY ** Lieut. 'Buck' RYAN ** Sgt. Arthur Le Mesnil SALISBURY * LCpl. Clive SEVERN Lieut. James Barlow Brooks SHERWOOD, MM * Maj. Douglas SIDDERS (RWF) * Sgt. Ronald SIDLOW * Lieut. David, S. SMEE (RA) * Sgt. SMITH * Cpl. SMITHSON *
Cpl. SOMERS *
Lieut. STOBIE* Lieut. D.G. SUTHERLAND, MC (No.1 SBS)** Cpl. SWAIN * Sgt. THOMPSON, MM* Flight Lt. Roy THOMPSON RAF (MO) Cpl. TOOGOOD * Sgt. TOUGH ** Lieut VAN HOUTEN* Pte. WATSON * CSM Stamford WEATHERALL, MBE*
Lieut. Edward Alfred Wellesley WESLEY, MC* Cpl. WESTOW ** Pte. WHEELER * Mne. WHITE, RM (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.)** Pte. WILLIAMS * Sgt. T. I. WILLIAMS, MM Capt. R. 'Tug' WILSON, DSO* Sgt. Hector 'Timber' WOOD ** Pte. Harold WRIGHT * Sources * Special Boat Section memorandum about 2 SBS ** SBS in WW2, author G.B. Courtney. Commando Veterans Archive - View the SBS Gallery.
Listed alphabetically by surname. Lieut. Michael ALEXANDER ** Sgt. ALLAN (No.1 SBS) ** Capt. Richard Knowles Brian ALLOTT, MC 2/Lieut. W. W. ARMSTRONG * Sgt. AUSTIN* Capt. Philip Atterbury AYTON (No.2 SBS) * Lieut. George BARNES. MM and bar * Cpl. E. BARR (No.1 SBS) ** Mne. BARROW (No.1 SBS) ** Sgt. Leonard BATES *
Cpl. BELL **
Lieut. Frederick Norman BEST Pte. BLAKE (Hamps. Regt) (No.1 SBS) ** Sgt. John Hamilton BOOTH, DCM *
Pte. R. BOYES *
Sgt. C. BLEWETT (397220) * Cpl. George BREMNER, MM ** Bdr. John BRITTLEBANK (No.1 SBS) Cpl. David 'Scotty' BURNS Cpl. Howard Herbert Cosens BUTLER, MM ('M' Section) Cpl. CARVER* Sgt. CAVE (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.)** Cpl. Alfred Robert CHILD (No.1 SBS) LAC COBB, RAF (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.)** Lieut. A. COLVILLE * Maj. Roger James Allen COURTNEY, MC* Maj. Godfrey Basil COURTNEY, MBE, MC (RWK)* Gnr. CRIDLAND (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.)** Pte. Kenneth Carr DARLINGTON, MM* Capt. DAVIDSON* Lieut. W.G. DAVIS*
Capt. Richard DAVY* Cpl. DIDCOTT* Mne. DUGGAN (No.1 SBS) ** Sgt. W. DUNBAR, MM ('M' Section)
Capt. George Ian Alistair DUNCAN, MC Cpl. DURAND ** Lieut. S.B. DURNFORD* Capt. Basil Newton ECKHARD * Cpl Keith Valentine EDSALL Sgt. Derek Charles ELLIS, MM (KSLI)* CSM Arthur Edward EMBELIN* Pte. Augustus George EVANS, MM Cpl. EVANS* Cpl. C. FEEBERY, DCM ** Sgt. W. FIELD Capt. James Panton FOOT, OBE (Dorsets) * Cpl. GAIN * CSM John GALLOWAY * Sgt. John GILMOUR, MM and bar (No.2 SBS)* Capt. GRANT-WATSON (Scots Gds) (No.1 SBS) ** Cpl. E.A. GRAY (Hamps. Regt) Cpl. 'Eddie' GRIFFITHS ** Cpl. GURNEY ** Mne. HARRIS (No.1 SBS) **
Cpl. HART * Sgt. HAWKINS * Capt. Harold Vere HOLDEN-WHITE (R. Sussex Regt)* Cpl. Charles HOLDING (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.) **
Cpl. HOOK * L/Cpl. Arthur HORNER * Mne. W.G. HUGHES (No.1 SBS) ** Sgt. J. HUTCHINSON (or HUTCHISON) * Lieut. INGLES ** CSM JONES * Gnr. Raymond Walter JONES, MM Maj. Michael Robert Bayley KEALY* Capt. Noel, G. KENNARD* Lieut. K.S. KERR* Cpl. KIERMAN **
Cpl. KILKENNY ** Capt. Thomas Bennett LANGTON, MC Capt. Richard Percy LIVINGSTONE, MBE* Cpl. Ronald William LOASBY * Pte. Ronald Ernest LOVELL * Capt. Eric John Alfred LUNN, MC and bar* Cpl. MACKENZIE (HLI) (No.1 SBS) ** Pte. MASSEY *
Capt. Alexander Richard McCLAIR* Pte. McKENZIE *
Cpl. William, H. MERRYWEATHER ** Pte. MILES * Mne. MILES, RM (No.1 SBS) ** LSgt. G.W.J. MILLER, MM.* Capt. Gerald Charles Stokes MONTANARO, DSO* Capt MONTGOMERIE ** Sgt. MOSS (Devonshire Regt) (No.1 SBS) ** Lieut. George Eric NEWBY, MC Sgt. James Ernest NEWSOME Capt. Joe Colin Conesa PAGNAM* Sgt. PARKS* Cpl. Ernest 'Dick' PALMER Capt. PATE* Sgt. Herbert Henry Victor PENN * Lieut. Richard James McGregor PETERS* Sgt. Frederick Amos PREECE, DCM * Lieut. Henry, S. QUIGLEY (No.2 SBS Admin Officer) * Pte. Leo Gerard 'Digger' RICE. Cpl RILEY(No.1 SBS) ** Lieut. Duncan RITCHIE RN ** Cpl. Harry ROBERTS ** AB. ROBSON, RN (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.) **
Lieut. RODNEY ** Lieut. 'Buck' RYAN ** Sgt. Arthur Le Mesnil SALISBURY * LCpl. Clive SEVERN Lieut. James Barlow Brooks SHERWOOD, MM * Maj. Douglas SIDDERS (RWF) * Sgt. Ronald SIDLOW * Lieut. David, S. SMEE (RA) * Sgt. SMITH * Cpl. SMITHSON *
Cpl. SOMERS *
Lieut. STOBIE* Lieut. D.G. SUTHERLAND, MC (No.1 SBS)** Cpl. SWAIN * Sgt. THOMPSON, MM* Flight Lt. Roy THOMPSON RAF (MO) Cpl. TOOGOOD * Sgt. TOUGH ** Lieut VAN HOUTEN* Pte. WATSON * CSM Stamford WEATHERALL, MBE*
Lieut. Edward Alfred Wellesley WESLEY, MC* Cpl. WESTOW ** Pte. WHEELER * Mne. WHITE, RM (attd. 'A' Group May 1945 from the S.R.U.)** Pte. WILLIAMS * Sgt. T. I. WILLIAMS, MM Capt. R. 'Tug' WILSON, DSO* Sgt. Hector 'Timber' WOOD ** Pte. Harold WRIGHT * Sources * Special Boat Section memorandum about 2 SBS ** SBS in WW2, author G.B. Courtney. Commando Veterans Archive - View the SBS Gallery.
Archive pages:
Lt Peters ('B' Group) and others 2 SBS image
Lt Peters, 2nd from the left in the middle row of 4 men seated, was in 'B' Group 2SBS. Photo courtesy of his nephew Robert Barton. Full resolution in Gallery.
In Memory of 226391 Lieutenant Richard James McGregor PETERS
Kings Royal Rifle Corps, 7th(1st Bn Queen Victoria's Rifles) Bn., and Special Boat Service SAS Regt., AAC., who died on the 8th February 1945. Remembered with honour at Taukkyan War Cemetery.