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.