No 40. Royal Marine Commando

This the first Royal Marine commando unit was formed at Deal in Kent on 14th February 1942 and designated ‘The Royal Marine Commando’. Before long it was re-designated RM ‘A’ Commando. Col J Picton Phillips was the Commanding Officer.

The Commandos baptism of fire was at Dieppe, when having been held has a floating reserve it was thrust forward when things had already gone badly wrong. Of the 370 officers and men 76 were lost on the beaches. Among those killed was the Commanding officer.

On the return and further training it was again re-.designated this time No 40 RM Commando. Further training and re-plenishment was carried out and until at last back to full strength it was sent to Sicily in July 1943 and a little later in September it saw action at Pizzio. Later that year the Commando was in action Termoli in October, and in 1944 was embroiled at Anzio.

Later service in Yugoslavia and Albania followed by Policing duties at Corfu wound up No 40’s war time Activities.

Surviving another reorganisation after the war years No 40 is still in service today although by 1947 the original unit had ceased to exist. Find out more about No 40. Royal Marine Commando