'RM Engineer Commando'
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History of the Unit
Extracts primarily from their War Diary
This unit had developed from units in the RM Battalions which were trained in demolitions and as assault engineers. 1 Engineer Company RM became 1 Engineer Commando RM in October 1943 under the reorganisation of the RM Division [source....].
- 25.10.1943 War Establishment: HQ; Holding Troop; and two fighting Troops (RM Circ 1303/43G dated 26/11/43).
- 11.02.1944 Lieut. D.J.Cogger RM and 36 OR's from No.2 Troop move to Combined Operations Experimental Establishment (C.O.X.E.) at Appledore, N. Devon.
- 15.02.1944 Unit moved from Worthing to Steyning, Sussex; HQ at Chantry Green House.
- 15.03.1944 No.1 Troop comes under command of 1 Special Service Brigade.
- 20.03.1944 Capt. Bowerman RM, Lieut. Hilligan RM, Lieut. Baxter RM and 56 OR's join from RM Group MNBDO II.
- 21.04.1944 CSM Morss, 2 Cpl's and 18 OR's from C.O.X.E. to Force 'S'; 1 Sgt and 9 OR's to Force 'J'.
- 22.04.1944 Lieut. D.J. Smith RM and 9 OR's return from 79 Armoured Division Engineer Wing to C.O.X.E. Appledore.
- By June 1944 there were 180 all ranks, forming a small HQ with a Training Troop (the Holding Troop) and two fighting Troops. These were reorganised for the Normandy invasion with HQ and Training Troop in the UK, one Section with 1st SS Bde, one Section with 4 SS Bde, and six Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Units.
- 06.06.1944 RM Eng Cdo Detachment HQ 1 SS Bde commanded by Lieutenant Denis Neville RM disembarked H+75. Detachment consisted of 1 Lieut., 1 Sgt., 5 Cpls., and 32 Marines. The Section with the 1st Special Service Brigade comprised of 39 all ranks. Their initial task was to demolish bridges but these were still in enemy hands and this Section then prepared the defences of Brigade HQ. Later they were employed in mine clearing and building strongpoints. They also improvised bridges and fords before returning to the UK on 9 September 1944.
- The Section which joined 4 Special Service Bde arrived in France at the end of June 1944 and served in mine clearing, demolition and other work of assault engineers.
- 30.09.1944 designation of 2 Troop is with effect this date No.1 Troop RM Engineer Commando. Lieut.J.J.A. McLaren RM assumes command of No.1 Troop in the absence of Capt. A.B. Jackson RM
Section with 3 Special Service/Commando Brigade
In November 1943 a third Section served in the Far East. This Section joined 3 Commando Brigade in November 1943 and was increased to a Troop in the late summer of 1944. It built the roads at Myebon (from 12 January 1945) and at Kangaw (from 19 January), under appalling conditions on both occasions.
Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Units (LCOCU)
In the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, Nos 7 and 8 were with Force S, Nos 9 and 10 with Force G, and 11 and 12 with Force J. They were all intended to clear paths through beach obstacles, but owing to the conditions of the tide and dangers from incoming craft the men were unable to use their shallow water diving gear, but nevertheless cleared obstacles.
6 June 1944
Team 7 under command of Lieut A.B. Jackson RM disemberked H +20.
Team 8 under command of CSM D.J.R. Morss RM disembarked H +20.
Team 9 under command of Lieut. D.J. Cogger RM disembarked H.
Team 10 under command of LSgt P. H. Jones RM disembarked H.
Team 11 under command of Lieut. D.J. Smith RM disembarked H +20.
Team 12 under command of LSgt. K.M. Briggs RM disembarked H +20.
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