Documents and maps relevant to No 1 Commando. These include reports on specific actions, orders of the day, troop reports, newsletters, and other items. Some of these documents are transcripts taken from official records covering specific periods. They are basic transcripts for private research and educational use only. Whilst we always endeavour to achieve accuracy, we acknowledge that there may be dates and/or entries missing, and other possible errors, The actual documents can be found at the National Archives in Kew. The full and complete documents at Kew should be viewed by those wishing to reference/source war diary entries in any future publications to ensure historical accuracy. The UK National Archives website
After the Victoria Cross citation, the documents are listed in date order.
No. 1 Commando - News Letter
13th February 1944
Author: Lieut. John S. Gilson
Copy of original document supplied by: John Mewett
Transcribed by: Jennie Barlow
In The Field
This, the second news-letter from INDIA and the fifth since the Commando left England, comes from the same camp described in our last letter of the 29th January.
We have been stationed here for three weeks; and since we have gained a clearer view of conditions, some fuller description of the Commando's daily life might be in place. Of what training we are doing, you will appreciate that we can say little, but you might like to hear of the sports that are played every evening.
Our Inter-Troop League in Hockey, soccer, basketball, volley-ball and soft-ball is underway and, if training permits, every troop plays at least one of these games each evening. An athletic meeting will soon be held.
The Officers of 1 Commando have played the Officers of No. 5 Commando at hockey.
Boxing is becoming very popular; Lieut. T.H. Bowman, our Boxing Officer, is arranging a boxing meeting with 5 Commando on the 18th February, and later on we hope to take part in a 3 S.S. Brigade meeting.
Passing to other forms of recreation, I may say that the four Commandos have arranged among themselves a tombola session to be held in the canteen on three nights of every week: that a reading room has been opened, Padre having obtained some books to form a small library: that one night 5 troop held a sing-song around a blazing fire, and that a native conjuror - magician has given two amusing performances. You may be interested to hear that the Officers of the Unit were invited to the opening of the Sergeants' Mess, and on the 5th February the W.O.'s and Sergeants were invited to a party in the Officer's Mess.
As a footnote to this description, I may say, that cigarettes here are cheap: a packet of ten "Capstan" costs four pence. Beer, however, costs rather more than it does in England: for a pint bottle one is charged 2/3d.
So much for the present: of the past, I can say now that a few days after our arrival we received a visit and had an encouraging talk from our former C.C.O. Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten: of the future there is nothing more startling to tell than that on the 10th February, forty-five men from 6 Troop are going on forty-eight hours leave to an army rest camp in POONA and that it is hoped that the whole unit will spend 48 hours leave there before March 10th.
On Saturday, 6th February, with our Commanding Officer as judge, a Commando competition for the smartest tent and an inter-troop competition of the best troop lines was held.
Best in layout, cleanliness and improvements was 1 Troop, with H.Q. Troop a close second. A tent in 3 troop called "Hobo's Rest" was found to be the smartest in the Unit.
Promotions and Appointments
As from 2nd February 1944:
To be Sergeant:
T/128368 L/Sgt. Kirkley A.
To be Corporals:
5830863 L/Cpl. Bate W.
5628253 L/Cpl. Thorpe J.
5676395 L/Cpl. Salter J.
5933005 L/Cpl. Wallis R.
14241719 L/Cpl. Tennick M.
3392348 L/Cpl. Irvine H.
As from 5th February 1944:
To be L/Cpls:
1534184 Gnr. Smith T.
14513163 Pte. Gamble G.
To be L/Sergeant:
3959214 Cpl. Mundy L.
3392797 Cpl. Waterhouse W.
1057916 Cpl. Perry A.
2614133 Cpl. Baker (D.C.M.) A.
To be L/Corporals:
3970601 Pte. Barrett J.
4192239 Fus. Wareham E.
2579764 Sgm. Berry L.
3915347 Pte. McDonald T.
1149363 Gnr. McCudden G.
2613937 Gdsm. Whittingham L.
4196440 Fus. Wales W.
As from 10th February 1944:
To be L/Corporals:
3963727 Pte. Rowlands W.
Inter-Troop Transfers
The following men have been posted to the Troops stated against their names:
5772993 Pte. Piggott H. (6 Tp) to 4 Troop
7690515 Pte. Marshall C. (3 Tp) to 2 Troop
3970740 Pte. Morgan J. (2 Tp) to 5 Troop
6215774 Pte. Williams D (2 Tp) to 6 Troop
4203417 Fus. Smethurst W. (2 Tp) to 6 Troop
3964661 Pte. Noden G. (2 Tp) to 6 Troop
3392797 L/Sgt. Waterhouse W. (4 Tp) to 5 Troop
5628253 Cpl. Thorpe J. (5 Tp) to 1 Troop
5933005 Cpl. Wallis R (4 Tp) to 6 Troop
4196440 Fus. Wales W. (6 Tp) to 5 Troop
3771698 Gnr. Olsen J. (1 Tp) to 2 Troop
5773066 Pte. Bilham A. (2 Tp) to 4 Troop
3976195 Pte. Jones W. (2 Tp) to 5 Troop
1641438 Gnr. Mullett L. (2 Tp) to 6 Troop
5383388 Pte. Nutley W. (2 Tp) to 6 Troop
T/128368 Sgt. Kirkley A. (6 Tp) to 3 Troop
1057916 L/Sgt. Perry A. (3 Tp) to 1 Troop
5676395 Cpl. Salter J. (5 Tp) to 4 Troop
2613937 L/Cpl. Whittingham L. (3 Tp) to 5 Troop
Queries
Reference second News Letter, 23 Dec 43, No. 1136783 Gunner Williams G. is very grateful for the news of his wife, Mrs. G. Williams of 26 Milburn Street, Crook, C. Durham and sends her the following message:
"Pleased with news. Hope everything is O.K. Keep smiling. Am very well.
Gordon."
Author: Anonymous;
Copy of original document supplied by John Mewett; Transcribed by Jennie Barlow.
"You may gather how very pleased I'm feeling now that there's this 'club' running for your benefit and mine too. It sure makes me feel that there's someone in this lot who cares enough to let us wives know under what circumstances you are in."
This is an extract from an Airgraph received by one of our men from his wife in England. I think it is a fitting opening to this news letter. As a tribute, it speaks for itself: may we add that we are all equally grateful for the work you are doing back home.
The Commando is still in the location described in the News Letter of 13th February. The location hasn't changed but the weather is daily becoming warmer. Between eleven in the morning and four in the afternoon it is now appreciably better than England in August.
As for recreation in Camp, on the evening of the 14th February we enjoyed a very fine show by an E.N.S.A. party consisting of seven girls and three men. The Camp cinema continues to show a surprisingly good selection of old films. A wireless set and two amplifiers provide some radio entertainment to the Camp; we hope to improve on this soon. A Brigade magazine entitled "The Third Jungle Book" in being published. From this unit Lieut. J.R. Turpin is publishing advisor and Lieut. A.J. Davies is Art Director, on the publishing staff. Finally on the 3rd and 4th March, "Commando Performance" the unit's Concert Party is celebrating its first birthday and giving a show. I can't do better than give you the artists' names and quote from the programme, for we are very proud of this show. They are:
Lieut. Alan Davies (More Caricatures)
Q.M.S. Brown (on the high C's)
Sgt. Frank Payne
L/Sgt. George Sutton
Pte. Maurice Hook (with his harmonica)
Pte. Fitzgerald (on sentry go)
Gdsm. Jack Raymond ("The Story Teller")
Pte. "Taffy" Lewis (The Welch Tenor)
Pte. Freddie Witton (and a piano)
and Pte. Maxie Walters ("Jankers Permitting")
The show is devised and produced by CSM. J. Smith.
To Bombay, Fus. Burden (H.Q.), Gnr. Bernini (3 Troop) and Rfn. Smith (4 Troop), went on the 23rd and 24th February to take part in a Greeting Film that is being made. On the 11th and 12th of this month Pte. Garbutt (3 Troop) and Fus. Dawson (4 Troop) also went to Bombay for the same purpose.
The relatives of these men will be informed of the time and place where these films will be shown in the United Kingdom.
Every troop has by now had 48 hours leave in POONA. POONA has several good cinemas and a swimming pool for H.M. Forces; and while on leave the Troops lived in a very good rest camp.
While training permits, sport is carried on as usual. Hockey, football and volleyball games are held, if possible in the evening. The Sergeants won a hard game with the officers at hockey by the odd goal on the 25th. On the afternoon of the 27th February the officers of No. 1 Commando played the officers of No. 42 Commando at football, the result of this hard-fought game was a draw.
To round off this description of our life during the last fortnight I would like to tell you of the boxing meeting held in POONA on the evening of Saturday 26th February. You may remembers that we were to fight No. 5
Commando. That meeting, "owing to the exigencies of the service" had to be cancelled and in its place a meeting was held with a team drawn partly from our friendly rivals 42 (RM) Commando and partly from Poona District. There were 15 bouts each of three one and a half minute rounds. They were fought in an open air stadium before a large crowd. This was our team:
Lieut. T.H. Bowman No. 6 Troop
Sgt. Jackson No. 4 Troop
Pte. Prosser No. 2 Troop
Gnr. O'Donnell. No. 5 Troop
Rfn. Osbourne No. 6 Troop
L/Cpl. Ware
Pte. Rudgely No. 6 Troop
Pte. Wren Intelligence Section, Headquarters
Pte. Talbot No. 6 Troop
Pte. Crellin No. 1 Troop
L/Cpl. Chapman No. 4 Troop
Pte. Thompson No. 4 Troop
Pte. Croxford No. 3 Troop
Pte. Curran No. 1 Troop
Rfn. King No. 4 Troop
The contest was very keen and the result very close, for of the fifteen fights, 1 Commando won seven and Poona District eight. I think the show put up by everyone has put 1 Commando on the map out here. 1 Commando won a cup as winning team compared with the Marines.
A stop press item of news is that on Sunday 27 Feb 44 the unit was inspected by General Sir Claude Auchinleck, G.O.C. India Command. Films were taken of this visit and of the visit of Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten; these may be shown in the U.K.
Promotions
4194098 L/Bdr. Williams (Headquarters) to be Bdr.
5676284 Pte. Reid, D. (Headquarters) to be L/Cpl.
War Diary entry for the Troop organisation of No 1 Commando Nov 1944.
Source: National Adchives Document Reference WO218/81
TRAINING INSTRUCTION NO. 3 COPY NO. 18 (ARAKAN) 22 OCT 44
Copy of original document supplied by John Mewett
Transcribed by Elaine Southworth-Davies
N/A Document WO/218/63
During the next 10 weeks the Commando will be required to mount and carry out small raids on the enemy coast line. These raiding parties will form a back-bone of well trained personnel for larger scale ops in the future.
TRAINING ORGANISATION
It is suggested that Tps form 6 raiding parties per Tp.These will be composed of 1 Offr, 2 TMOs, 2 Bomber- Pistolmen, 2 Garrand Riflemen (This may be increased to 3 B.O.Rs at Tp Comdrs discretion;the Sec Offr being trained to lead in 3 groups).A Bren Gp or 2” Mortar Team may be attached and will, invariably, be attached with 2 Gps which are working together:the 2” Mortar to be used for smoke, H.E., and light signals to confuse the enemy.
The best organisation will be carefully studied and particular attention will be paid to weights and equipment.After trials, Tp Comdrs will submit their proposals.Tp Comdrs are reminded that the success of any raiding party depends largely on attention down to the very smallest detail. See Suggested Organisation shown in para 3.
TRAINING TASKS
(b)The night will be the usual time for training in order that movement and control may bebrought to a high standard.Battle drills will be studied and rehearsed.
(c)The following points will be studied and practiced:Stalking of sentries-capturing and securing a prisoner – small demolition work on bridges and guns-road mining and ‘booby trapping’-general knowledge of first aid and the carrying of a wounded comrade-searching of a village and contacting friendly agents-disembarkation and swimming through surf-the waterproofing and rapid cleaning of weapons-ambuscades-the use of field glasses and telescope.
(d)Sand Table:A largescale sand table is being prepared so that patrol sand table exercises, battle drills, movement, can be studied.
(e)Shooting:Ranges of various types are being made so that men will be well-exercised in their weapons.Tp Comdrs will make full use of these ranges.
(f)Support Troop:2 Tp will organise Troop patrol parties out of MMG personnel.The 3” Mortar Sec will be practiced in firing from S.L.Cs and if it can be arranged will occasionally man the 3” Mortars already mounted in M.Ls.
(g)Intelligence:Int personnel will be attached to Tps and will pay particular attention to observation-using the telescope or field glasses.
(h)Signals:Sigs will exercise under the Signal Offr and complete their post classification training.A new Sig Cadre will be started and the Signal Officer’s target will be to have a 400% reserve of trained signallers.
NO. 1 COMMANDO - BLOCK TRAINING PROGRAMME
For 4 days Ship-board Training
|
6 periods (inc. Boat Drill) per day. Total ….24
A. Lectures to Troops6
B. Exercise8
C. Boat Drill6
D. Military Tag3
E. Spare1
24 |
A. (i) Lectures to Tps ( 1 period each)
Serial |
Lecturer |
Subject |
Reference |
Given to |
1 |
Lt. Larcher |
Jungle Lore |
AITM 21 4 Corps Notes 2 Div Notes, etc. |
All Tps |
2 |
Lt. Dawson |
“Words of Wisdom from the Front” |
AITM 24 |
do. |
3 |
Capt. Davies |
Japanese in Battle |
Enemy methods Notes on Jap Army No.1 Battle Bulletin No.1 News from Theatres of War 12 & 15 |
do. |
4 |
Lt. Nias |
Arakan – Country and people. |
- |
do. |
5 |
Trg. Offr. |
Drill for occupation of Cdo Box |
- |
do. |
6 |
Medical Offr |
New Medical Pack |
- |
do. |
(ii) |
Lectures to selected personnel (NOT inc. in Block Programme) |
|||
7 |
Sig. Offr |
Supply by Air |
14th Army 316/8/CT |
Officers, WOs & Sgts |
8 |
I.O. |
“Maplay” M.R. Code |
3 S.S.Bde G/14/5/21 |
All Officers |
9 |
I.O. |
“Unicode” M.R. Code & Syllabic Cipher |
do. |
do. (for transmission to Tps) |
D |
Military Trg |
Rifle Tps will do periods a, b, c. Signal Sec “ “ “ b, c, d. Intell. Sec. “ “ b, c, d. |
4/10/44 (J.H.S. TURNBULL) Major. Offr i/c Trg. No. 1 Commando.
Document listing the composition in men and arms of a fighting patrol for No 1 Commando for November 1944 in Burma operations.
Document was sent to John Mewett by Sgt. John Huntington 3 Troop N0 1 Commando