In 1942 the large island of Madagascar that lies off the East African coast was controlled by a Vichy French government that was more friendly towards the Axis powers than it was towards the Allies.  After some argument and debate, but prompted by Japanese advances in the Indian Ocean, the Allies decided to seize the northern tip of the island; the aim of this military action, named Operation Ironclad, was to deny naval facilities to the Japanese. 

The operation was mounted on 5th May 1942 using three British infantry brigades, an Army Commando and a substantial Allied naval force; after some serious and brisk fighting the country around Diego Suarez was seized.  The British casualty figures were 109 men killed or missing in action and 283 wounded; French figures were around 150 killed and 500 wounded.  French West African troops, collectively named Senegalese, were the best infantry in the Vichy force.

On 23 March 1942, No.5 Commando (Army) embarked at Glasgow to participate in the battle. No.5 Commando landed near Diego Suarez (also known as Antsiranana) on 5 May 1942.  The total campaign lasted 6 months. Three consecutive operations were planned under the names Operation Stream, Line, and and Jane.

'Stream' commenced 10 September 1942 with 29 Independent Infantry Brigade and No.5 Commando (Army) assaulting from the sea and seizing Majunga on the west coast of the island. As part of 'Stream' a small diversionary Commando group of 40 men landed at Morondava, 280 miles south of Majunga