40 Commando Royal Marines

The title is pronounced as "Forty Commando"

40 Commando RM is a battalion sized formation of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet.

40 Commando RM mess plaque

Roled as a Commando light infantry unit, 40 Commando RM is capable of a wide range of operational tasks. Based at Norton Manor Camp, their barracks in Taunton, Somerset, personnel regularly deploy outside the United Kingdom on operations or training. Whilst 3 Commando Brigade RM are the principal cold weather warfare formation, personnel are capable of operating in a variety of theatres including tropical jungle, desert or mountainous terrain. 40 Commando is a regular participant in the annual Brigade cold weather warfare exercise in Norway. The unit’s first “winter” was 1991, until which the unit was nicknamed the “Sunshine Commando”.

All personnel will have completed the Commando course at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone in Devon, entitling them to wear the green beret, with attached personnel having completed the All Arms Commando Course.

Unit memorable dates

The Landing at Termoli — 3 October 1943
The Clearance of the Al-Faw Peninsula — 20 March 2003

History

Formation

The first Royal Marines commando unit was formed at Deal in Kent on 14 February 1942 and designated ‘The Royal Marine Commando’. Before long it was re-designated RM ‘A’ Commando. Col J Picton Phillips was the Commanding Officer.

Dieppe Raid

The Commando’s baptism of fire was at Dieppe on 19 August 1942. In support of the main Canadian assault force, Nos. 3 and 4 (Army) Commandos were to destroy the enemy coastal batteries covering the main landing beaches, whilst No. 40 had selected tasks in the port area and was to be responsible for reinforcements as required. In the pre-dawn run-in the landing craft of No. 3 were fired upon and scattered with the result that only two small parties managed to land, one was overwhelmed, but the other successfully engaged the Berneval battery for some hours before withdrawing. On the other flank at Varengeville No. 4, under the command of Lord Lovat, carried out what was officially hailed as a 'classic operation of war' and completely destroyed the Hess Battery, successfully withdrawing and re-embarking with prisoners. Unfortunately, No. 40, when committed to their landing, under well-nigh impossible conditions, suffered severe casualties. Of the 370 officers and men 76 were lost on the beaches. Among those killed was the CO.

WW II

On return RM ‘A’ Commando was again re-designated; this time as 40 (RM) Commando. Further training and re-plenishment was carried out and until at last back to full strength it was sent to Sicily in July 1943 and a little later in September it saw action at Pizzio. Later that year the Commando was in action Termoli in October, and in 1944 was embroiled at Anzio. Later service in Yugoslavia and Albania followed by policing duties on Corfu wound up 40’s wartime activities.

Post-WWII reorganisation

Following the Second World War 2 Commando Brigade (Nos. 2, 9, 40(RM) and 43(RM)) disbanded leaving 3 Commando Brigade (42(RM), 44(RM) and 45(RM)). To recognise 2 Cdo Bde one of the Commandos was renamed, No44(RM) becoming No40(RM).

Post WW2

The Commando was deeply involved in 1947–1948 Civil War in Palestine acting as the rearguard in the Protectorate, leaving in 1948. They subsequently undertook security duties in Cyprus, Hong Kong and Egypt before moving to Singapore in 1961, where it was involved in operations during the confrontation with Indonesia (Borneo) throughout the following decade.

Canal Zone

In early 1953 40 Cdo was in Sinai for 2 exercises (Crossbow and Longbow) following which they did a trip to Cyprus and Malta. The Unit was rushed back to El-Geneifa in the Canal Zone from Malta in Mid May 1953 during which 2 members of the Commando were killed due to an air crash on 17/5/1953 at Luqa airport.

Although this emergency went on between 1951 and 1954 and was classed as 'Active Service', plus approximately 600 service personnel lost their lives due to the actions of terrorists and ill health brought on by the unhygienic conditions prevalent in the Canal Zone at that time, no medal was awarded for this theatre of operation where the normal tour of duty was between eighteen months and three years.

Eventually in 2003 The Naval General Service medal 1951- 1954 was finally issued to members that served during this campaign.

Return to UK

In 1971 the Commando left Singapore and re-established itself in Seaton Barracks, Plymouth. Over the next decade the Commando found itself deployed to Northern Ireland four times and also undertook an unexpected two month tour in Cyprus after the invasion by the Turkish Army.

Falklands Conflict

In 1982, following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, the Commando deployed on Operation Corporate. On 21 May the Commando were among the first troops ashore and secured the beachhead at San Carlos. The Unit was subsequently split having two companies attached to the Welsh Guards, preparing to attack Port Stanley, when the Argentine surrender came.