Lt Col. Charles Vaughan, Commandant of the Training Centre at Achnacarry later wrote of the Police Intakes, "there were only a few huts and tents in which to accomodate them, we also had to equip them with uniforms and the accoutrements of a soldier....and the conditions at Achnacarry, I can assure you, would have horrified the War Office recruiting agents or any Commandant of an ordinary training centre.....but, believe me, nothing deterred those chaps. They entered into the spirit of the situation and in two months I had the pleasure of presenting to those who passed (understandably not all did) their green berets, the hall-mark of a trained Commando....they were the finest material that I ever had to deal with in all my soldiering..." (Source: Dunning, Fighting Fourth, p. 94).
(Source: Durnford-Slater, Commando (Memoirs of a Fighting Commando in WW2, p.109).
If you cannot see the course dates above view the full page here https://www.commandoveterans.org/police_volunteers_ww2
John Henry Bardens was a Police Officer from Plymouth who volunteered for the Commandos enlisting 6 June 1942 joining the 2nd Police Intake to the Commando Depot (Commando Basic Training Centre), Achnacarry.
In 1939 William Booth was an Essex Constabulary Police Constable based at South Street Police Station, Romford. He volunteered for the Commandos in 1942 joining the 2nd Police Intake at the Commando Depot (Commando Basic Training Centre), Achnacarry.
Private Albert Clements served in 1 Troop and was injured in 1943 during training at Gibraltar after which he was evacuated to the UK for treatment.
Private Robinson Craig was killed in action at Dragone Hill, near Vietri, Salerno. He was buried there the following day, his grave being marked with a cross. However it was never again found and Private Craig is one of the many who now have no known grave.
Private Thomas Drury served in the HQ Troop Motor Transport Section. He was a serving Police Officer who volunteered for the Commandos as part of the Police Intakes. In 1939 he was a Police Constable residing in Dewsbury.
Private Gwilym Evans was reported missing 14 July 1943, later presumed killed in action, during operations at Agnone, Sicily, and the bridge at Malati (later called 3 Commando Bridge). Son of Daniel and Gwen Evans, of Porth, Glamorgan.
Private William Gale was wounded on 13 July 1943 during operations at Agnone Sicily and the bridge at Malati (3 Commando Bridge).
Lance Sergeant Herbert Jackson was wounded on 24 March 1945 (remaining on duty) during operations to cross the River Rhine at Wesel and again on 11 April 1945 at the River Aller.
Troop Sergeant Major William Leeming died during operations at Rots and Le Hamel, France. Son of William Herbert and Alice Leeming, of Dublin, Irish Republic.
In 1939 Frederick Manning was a Police Constable residing at 14 Council Cottages, West Malling, Kent. He volunteered for the commandos in 1942 and was posted to the 3rd Police Intake at the Commando Depot (Commando Basic Training Centre), Achnacarry, commencing 15 October 1942.
Guardsman Robert Parker was reported missing 26 February 1943 in Tunisia, North Africa (Battle for Steamroller Farm), later found to be wounded and a prisoner of war.
Volunteered for the Commandos from the Police. Joined the Royal Marines on 22 September 1942. Later served in 46RM Commando after its formation in July/August 1943. Returned to the Leicester Police after the war.
Edward was a Police Officer in Lancashire who had volunteered for the Commandos as part of the Police Intakes. In 1939 he was a Police Constable residing at 12 Crabtree Street, Colne.
Company Sergeant Major Miller Smith, a former Police Officer, was one of seven men from No.2 Commando captured after Operation Musketoon and later executed at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp under Hitler's Commando Execution Order.
John Snaddon was a Fife Constabulary police officer who volunteered for the Commandos in 1942 joining a Police Intake to the Commando Depot (Commando Badic Training Centre) at Achnarry. Lance Corporal Snaddon, No.5 Commando 4 troop, was wounded in 1944 during operations in Burma.
William Stack was a Police Constable in 1939 based at Central Police Station, Cheltenham. Volunteered for the Commandos 1942 and posted to the 2nd Police Intake to the Commando Depot (Commando Basic Training Centre), Achnacarry.
John Strowger was a Metropolitan Police Officer who volunteered for the Commandos. In 1939 he was a Police Constable serving at Croydon Police Station, London. Post war member of the Commando Association.
Corporal John Tanner was killed in action on 15 April 1945 at Lake Comacchio, Italy. The previous year on 20 March 1944 he was wounded (recovered) during operations in Italy.
Published in The Scotsman 15 January 1943.