42 Cdo RM

The title is pronounced as "Four Two Commando"

42 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.

Roled as a Commando light infantry unit, 42 Cdo RM is capable of a wide range of operational tasks. Based at Bickleigh Barracks near Plymouth, 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.

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.

History

In October 1943 the 1st Battalion Royal Marines was reorganised and renamed 42 Commando RM. The 1st Battalion was first formed in 1760, and in the following year took part in the capture of Belle Isle. The laurel wreath borne on the Colours and devices of the Royal Marines is believed to have been adopted in honour of the distinguished service of the Corps during this operation. The Battalion served in the American War of Independence in 1775, in the Crimea in 1850, in China in 1857 and in Egypt in 1882. During the First World War it took part in the landings at Gallipoli and in the campaigns in France and Flanders. At the beginning of the Second World War the Royal Marines Brigade, of which the 1st Battalion was a part, was of one of the few fully manned and armed brigades capable of withstanding a German invasion. The battalion which formed at Bisley in January 1940, was manned by men from the Chatham Division Royal Marines and it was at this time that the distinctive white lanyard, originally worn by men of that Division, was first adopted. After taking part in the abortive Dakar expedition, Operation MENACE, the Battalion returned to its defensive role in England, before being reorganised as a Commando. One of the company officers during this period was the writer Evelyn Waugh.

INDIA AND BURMA 1943-1945

Formed from 1st Battalion in August 1943 at Sway near Lymington, the Unit underwent rigorous Commando training at Achnacarry in Scotland. In November they sailed for India where they were to form part of 3 Special Service Brigade in the defence of India, which then appeared to be in a perilous position as a result of the Japanese invasion of Burma. It was during the voyage that the Unit Pipe Band was formed, which played a part in most Unit ceremonial occasions until the 1970s when it was finally disbanded. After being hit by a bomb in the Mediterranean, the ship was delayed in Alexandria for repairs. Following training in Ceylon the Commando moved in November 1944 to the Teknaf area of India (the southern tip of present day Bangladesh) for further training, and to take part in operations and raids on the coast of Burma against the retreating Japanese. These were at Akyab, Myebon and Kangaw in January 1945, and it was at Kangaw on 31 January that the Commando, commanded by Lt Col HH Dales RM, heroically held Hill 170 in the face of heavy Japanese bombardment and repeated infantry attacks. Hill 170 was vital to the security of the beach-head and the ferocity of the battle is best illustrated by the fact that some 340 Japanese corpses were subsequently found in an area 100 yards square immediately in front of the Unit’s position. In a Special Order of the Day to 3 Commando Brigade Lt Gen Christison, Commander of XV Corps, stated “The battle of Kangaw has been the decisive battle of the whole Arakan campaign, and that it was won was very largely due to your magnificent defence of Hill 170”. Kangaw Day is celebrated each year by the Commando as a memorable day in its history.

HONG KONG AND THE MEDITERRANEAN 1945-1954

In August 1945 the Commando embarked at Bombay for occupation duties on Penang Island but were diverted on route, with the remainder of 3 Commando Brigade, to Hong Kong where it assisted in the resurrection of the colony’s civil administration, and helped to guard the Japanese prisoners of war. Following the decision in June 1947 that in future the Royal Marines would be responsible for the provision of all Commando Forces the Unit, in company with the rest of the Brigade, moved to St Andrews Barracks in Malta. In 1948 the Commando deployed, as part of 3 Commando Brigade, to Jerusalem to cover the withdrawal of the British High Commissioner, as the British Mandate in Palestine ended. After an intensive training period in North Africa the Commando moved to the Canal Zone to protect installations there before returning to Malta in March 1949. After a short respite the Unit, again as part of the Brigade move, was deployed to Hong Kong in July 1949 to counter the threat to the colony from what was rapidly becoming a communist China. However some 11 months later in June 1950 the growing state of emergency in Malaya caused the whole Commando Brigade to be deployed to that country. Based at Ipoh initially and later Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaya, the Unit was responsible for killing 67 terrorists, wounding 27, recovering 69 weapons and finding 197 camps. The Commando’s losses during 22 months of active operations were 2 killed and 11 wounded and 28 awards for gallantry were awarded to members of the Unit including 5 MCs, 1 DCM and 2 MMs. The Unit returned to the Malta in 1952. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh presented the first sets of Colours to 40, 42 and 45 Commandos there on 29 November 1952. In May 1953 42, as part of the Commando Brigade, was deployed to the Suez Canal zone to protect British interests during a crisis in Anglo-Egyptian relations. Based by the Great Bitter Lake, they remained there until their move back to UK, via Malta, the following year.

TRAINING UNIT, ENGLAND – 1954-1960

In September 1954 42 Commando was selected to return to UK to ease a manpower problem by setting up as a training Unit at Bickleigh, Plymouth to run command and specialist courses, and be responsible for all Commando training as the “Commando School”. An operational nucleus was retained, however, and this proved to be very wise because on two occasions the Commando was deployed overseas. Firstly, the Suez operation, which was carried out on 6 November 1956, following the nationalisation of the Canal by President Nasser: the two main assault units were 3 Commando and 16 Parachute Brigades, and 42’s losses were 4 killed and 14 wounded. Secondly, as a result of the deteriorating situation in the Lebanon, the Commando was sent to Malta for 6 months in July 1958.

MIDDLE AND FAR EAST 1960-1971

In 1960 as a result of the use made of helicopters at Suez the Commando ship (LPH) concept was adopted and in March 42 Commando sailed in HMS BULWARK, a converted aircraft carrier, for Singapore, where it arrived in June. The Unit then started a pattern of amphibious exercises in the Middle and Far East. It was during one of these exercises in the Middle East with the Commando embarked on HMS BULWARK that a threat to Kuwait, to whom Britain had treaty obligations, developed from neighbouring Iraq. The Commando was diverted from its exercises and deployed on Mutla Ridge on 2 July 1961, 48 hours before any Army battalion arrived. In December 1962 when 42 Commando was in Singapore a revolt broke out unexpectedly in the state of Brunei in North Borneo. The Unit flew to Labuan and was given the task of clearing Brunei Bay: more specifically L Company were tasked with the release of 14 hostages, including the British Resident and his wife, from the town of Limbang which was held by a strong force of rebels. Assaulting from river craft, L Company secured Limbang and released the hostages in 20 minutes for the loss of 5 killed and 6 wounded. 20 rebels were killed in the engagement.

The next four years were spent with alternating 6 month tours in Singapore with 5 months on the Indonesian border with Sarawak and Sabah, countering armed incursions and, at times, crossing the border to attack Indonesian camps. In 1967 the Unit was deployed in HMS ALBION to cover the withdrawal of British troops from Aden, and was the last Unit to leave.

From 1967 until 1971, when the Unit returned to England, 42 Cdo spent much of its time on amphibious exercises in the Far East and Mediterranean embarked in an LPH or LPD. In June 1968 the Unit was presented with New Colours by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, in Singapore.

UK 1971-1982

The Commando returned to UK in July 1971 to its new home at Bickleigh Barracks – formally opened by Major General Moulton on 16 September 1971: the Pipe Band made its last recorded appearance at this occasion. The first of the Unit’s Northern Ireland operational deployments in support of the civil police started in October that year - the longest campaign fought by the Corps or the British Army in its history. It carried out 8 tours in this period. Between these tours the Unit regularly deployed on NATO amphibious exercises in places as far apart as Canada, the Caribbean, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.

In 1977 the Unit provided the majority of the manpower for the inspection of the Royal Marines by HM the Queen at Plymouth in August. By the end of that year the Commando was heavily involved in fire fighting commitments in Birmingham and Strathclyde, as a result of a firemen’s strike.

In 1978 42 was equipped as the second arctic warfare trained Unit in the Corps and commenced the first of its annual deployments to Norway.

Two “Spearhead” deployments are worth of mention. The first occasion was in September 1979 to Hong Kong where it helped stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the colony. The second was June 1980 when a task force of 166 all ranks (M Company Group & Commando HQ), together with a contingent of French Paratroops, helped to restore the authority of the Government of the New Hebrides, so that it was able to complete the peaceful transition to become the newly independent state of Vanuatu. This was a classic example of early military intervention preventing civil disturbance, which would inevitably have led to loss of life.

OPERATION CORPORATE – THE FALKLANDS WAR

When Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in April 1982 an amphibious task force sailed within a week, carrying the whole of 3 Commando Brigade, plus 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Parachute Regiment. The CO at this time was Lt Col NF Vaux RM. M Company, with Special Forces backing, first recaptured South Georgia. After the main landings on 21 May at San Carlos, the Unit was flown forward to Mt Kent from where it patrolled aggressively, gaining intelligence on the enemy defences. On the night of 11/12 June 42 Commando was one of three Brigade Units taking part in a co-ordinated night attack, with their target Mt Harriet. By moonlight, and in freezing temperatures, the Commando moved undetected through enemy minefields in a 9 km right flanking movement to surprise the enemy in the rear. Following a feint by J Company (composed of men from the former Falklands Detachment), consecutive assaults by K and L Companies up the steep craggy slopes, against initially strong resistance, eventually brought success by dawn, a tribute to careful planning, resolute leadership and determined men. The Commando took in excess of 300 prisoners, and inflicted a large number of casualties, for the loss of two dead and twenty wounded.

1983 – 2003

This period saw the Unit on exercises abroad, for example in Canada in 1983 and Portugal in 1986, and on active in Northern Ireland on 7 occasions, in South Armagh, Belfast, and Fermanagh / Enniskillen. By the time it had completed its 15th and final tour in 2002 the Unit had lost 6 killed and some 26 wounded. Tours were either of four or six months, unless they were emergency or “Spearhead” tours of shorter duration. 42 carried out Public Duties in London in 1986, mounting guards on Buckingham Palace, St James’ Palace and the Tower of London, and also at Windsor Castle. Newly armed with the SA 80 rifle, they were the first military unit to do so with this weapon. Ceremonial duties, winter deployments, mountain training, and the Royal Tournament were also undertaken.

1995 was a busy, but not untypical year. L Company carried out 4 weeks arduous mountain training in Romania, while M Company gave humanitarian assistance to the West Indian island of Montserrat following a volcano eruption, moving from there to Anguilla to provide similar help in the wake of a hurricane. K Company flew to Brunei for a period of jungle training. At this time, before the Fleet Protection Group took over the task, units provided Fleet Standby Rifle Companies / Troops, following the withdrawal of RM detachments from RN ships. It was in this role that M Company had deployed to the West Indies, and in 1997 a troop deployed to HMS BIRMINGHAM prepared to assist in the evacuation of British nationals from Albania, but were not actually used.

In 1997 elements of 42 Commando were part of an amphibious force that deployed to Brazzaville, Congo for a similar purpose, this time to evacuate the British from Kinshasa, Zaire, but again were not required to act.

The Unit sailed in HMS OCEAN for the Mediterranean for exercises with NATO allies in March 2000. After training in France and Portugal, they were recalled to the ship in May due to the situation in Sierra Leone, where the legitimate government was under threat. As part of a large Naval task force (Op PALLISER) they deployed ashore to help stabilise the situation and support the UN. Intensive patrolling took place on land to keep the rebels away from the airhead at Lungi, and on the rivers using landing craft and hovercraft. Leaving the theatre in June, the Unit embarked in OCEAN again in September, and after another round of Mediterranean exercises, returned to Sierra Leone to provide an amphibious landing and firepower demonstration, thus issuing a timely warning to the dissident forces opposing the UN (Op SILKMAN).

New Colours were presented to all three Commando Units on Plymouth Hoe in 2001, this being 42’s third set since the original presentation in Malta. During the period 2002 – 2003 Commando Units were restructured in the light of recent operations to make them able to fight more effectively, a concept titled “Commando 21”. 42’s turn came in 2002 after their final Northern Ireland tour.

IRAQ - OPERATION TELIC 2003

Operation TELIC was the UK’s contribution to the Coalition effort in Spring 2003 to create the conditions in which Iraq would disarm in accordance with its obligations under UN Resolutions, and remain so disarmed in the long term. Within this overall objective, two key tasks were to remove the Saddam Hussein regime, and to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction. The UK contributed some 46,000 personnel - including 3 Cdo Bde (40 and 42 Commandos), 33 RN and RFA ships, and 215 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. 42 Commando landed by helicopter at night on the Al Faw pensinsula on 21 March 2003 with the task of blocking Iraqi forces that might threaten 40 Commando who were to defend the vital oil installations. This was successful and the blocking line was not penetrated. Following this, the Commando operated in Umm Quasr conducting reassurance and deterrence patrolling, and the Presidential Palace in Basra was relieved of its former owners. The operation demonstrated the Commando’s ability to move quickly from war fighting, to public order activities, to humanitarian operations in a matter of hours.

AFGHANISTAN – OPERATION HERRICK

A major preoccupation for the Commando Brigade during the 2004 / 2005 period was the introduction of new and complex equipment. The key item was the Bowman communication and information system. A thirteen week conversion package for each Commando needed to be followed by exercises at Company, Unit and Brigade level before operational competence was achieved, with some 748 RM vehicles needing modification.

Operation HERRICK is (2009) the name given to the British operations in Afghanistan in support of the NATO led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The stated role is to promote security and development, and help the Afghan government exert its authority in the lawless regions of the country. It also involves training the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police (ANP). Despite this serene sounding aim the region, particularly the southern province of Helmand, has been the scene of the most intensive and bitter infantry action since the Falklands war.

In 2006 J Company deployed to Afghanistan in the early part of the year for a short period, then the Brigade, with 42 and 45 Commandos, moved in for a full deployment starting at the end of September – HERRICK 5. The Commando, under Lt Col MJ Holmes RM, was based on the purpose built Camp Bastion, but with elements occupying key installations in strategically important locations such as the Kajaki Dam and Sangin town centre. From there numerous offensive operations against Taliban strongholds were launched. When conditions allowed, interaction at grassroots level was undertaken, and shuras (meetings) with local village elders. The citation for the award of the Military Cross to Marine Matthew Bispham of 42 Commando gives a feel for the nature of the operations:

“On 13 January 2007 Bispham’s company conducted a deliberate attack on a hill, and compounds. The enemy fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades from a group of compounds and all troops were pinned down by the accuracy of the fire. Bispham’s group was tasked to assault. He and another marine had over fifty metres of open ground to cover before reaching the first building to be cleared. Fearlessly and with absolute disregard for their own safety, they dashed forward. As they reached the building, an enemy emerged and shot his colleague, killing him instantly. Fighting almost hand to hand, Bispham engaged and killed a second enemy. His company’s deliberate attack addressed this situation and regained the initiative from a bold and cunning enemy. His fighting spirit, resolve and unflinching courage contributed directly to his company’s success”.

Four men in the Unit lost their lives during the tour, which ended in March 2007.

2008 saw the Commando carrying out arctic training in Norway at the beginning of the year, and in September the Brigade (42 and 45 Commandos again) returned to Afghanistan, with Lt Col CR Stickland RM as CO, for HERRICK 9.

For the duration of this seven month deployment 42 Commando were detached from 3 Commando Brigade, to work as an independent Commando Group deployed for regional effect, or embedded in one of the region’s four Task Forces. Based at Kandahar Airfield, the Commando conducted 19 aviation assaults, and acted as a component part of 15 full scale Commando Group operations, often involving complex convoys through uncharted terrain

Overall the Commando Group enjoyed great success on HERRICK 9, with a significant impact on the insurgency. Large quantities of weapons and ordnance were recovered, with detainees entering the Afghan justice system, and many local nationals now understanding better the ISAF presence. In addition a huge amount of information and intelligence was gathered that shaped multinational operations, thus taking the campaign forward.

UNIT FLAG

The Unit flag was devised by the 1st Battalion and is based upon a Lieutenant Colonel’s Colour of the Lord High Admiral’s Regiment of 1664 - 89. A red St George Cross is superimposed on a white cross over a yellow background..

UNIT MEMORABLE DATES

BR 1283 Royal Marines Instructions:

The Battle of Kangaw 31 January 1945

In Burma during January 1945, following the capture of the Myebon Peninsula, 3 Commando Brigade was given the task of making a further landing near Kangaw, with the intention of cutting the Japanese lines of withdrawal down the coast. On 22 January 1945, 42 Commando (Lieutenant Colonel HH Dales) together with No 1 Commando landed and occupied positions in the mangrove swamp. Subsequently the Commando was ordered to capture a heavily wooded ridge known as Hill 170. Two days of hand-to-hand fighting were necessary before the Japanese could be driven from the ridge, and no sooner were they dislodged than they subjected it to heavy artillery fire. After a lull of several days, the Japanese counter-attacked at dawn on 31 January 1945. The enemy attacked repeatedly. In spite of heavy casualties to the Commando, the Japanese were finally beaten off, and withdrew, leaving their dead and dying among the Commando positions. In a Special Order of the Day to 3 Commando Brigade Lt Gen Sir Philip Christison, Commander of XV Corps, concluded: “The battle of Kangaw has been the decisive battle of the whole Arakan campaign, and that it was won was very largely due to your magnificent defence of Hill 170”

The Attack on Mount Harriet – 11/12 June 1982

During the initial landings on the Falkland Islands on 21 May 1982, 42 Commando RM (Lieutenant Colonel NF Vaux) were Brigade reserve at Port San Carlos before seizing Mount Kent in a night move by helicopter. By 4 June the Unit had moved forward, mostly under cover of darkness, to positions west of the high ground overlooking Stanley and the last Argentine stronghold. After days of probing reconnaissance, a Brigade assault took place on the night of 11/12 June in which the Commando’s task was to secure Mount Harriet on the Brigade right flank. In the moonlight and freezing temperatures, 42 Commando moved undetected through enemy minefield in a 9 kilometre right flanking movement to surprises the enemy in their rear. Consecutive attacks by K and L Companies followed up steep slopes on to company positions among the crags at either end of the feature. Careful planning, resolute leadership and the boldness and determination of Marines against initially strong resistance and continuous artillery bombardment eventually prevailed. By first light more than 30 enemy had been killed and over 300 prisoners taken as 42 Commando consolidated on Mount Harriet.

BICKLEIGH BARRACKS

The camp was built by A F French & Co in early 1940. The site was reportedly originally designated as a sewage disposal farm, but Plymouth needed an evacuee camp, though the first occupants were Free French and Polish servicemen. The following year the camp was taken over by the Canadian Fire fighting Service until the end of 1942, when it was returned to the Civil Defence Organisation for its original purpose of housing refugees. The camp was called the General Evacuation Centre (South West).

By the end of the War Polish Naval Personnel once again occupied the camp, but it was empty when the first Royal Marines arrived on 1 April 1946 as an Infantry Training School, being part of RM Training Group Devon based in Plymouth. It had an HQ, an Officers’ Wing, and a training cadre from 27 RM Battalion. This organisation developed to include an OCTU Wing, the Commando School RM, and the Cliff Assault Wing (which moved from St Ives in 1950). Later it became simply The Commando School RM.

41 Independent Commando formed up at Bickleigh in 1950 before deploying to the war in Korea, and returned to be disbanded here in 1952. In 1954, 42 Commando, which had been in Malta, came home to be based at Bickleigh, and was run down in size, retaining an operational cadre, and supporting the Commando School and other specialist training. The Commando was reactivated for the Suez operations in 1956, and again in 1958 for a crisis in Lebanon, then left for a decade long stay in the Far East in 1960. The Commando School left for Lympstone in this year, which saw the reformation of 41 Commando on the site. 41 remained here until it moved to be based in Malta in 1971, to be replaced by 42 Commando, returning from Singapore in the summer of that year. Rebuilding and development of the Camp, henceforth to be called Bickleigh Barracks, was completed in 1971, with an official opening by Major General JL Moulton on 16 September.

Capt Guy Woods, letter to Tony Perrett, 10 Jul 80:

“I was on the advance party that went to take over Bickleigh which was one of the three camps which we understood to have been built for the bombed out people of Plymouth whose reaction on first sighting it was to prefer to go back to Plymouth and risk the bombing. It had then been allocated to, I believe, a Czechoslovakian Battalion whose crest was still there when we took the camp over, but subsequent to their being stationed there it had been taken over by the Navy with the North camp being called HMS Foliot III and the South camp, the Royal Naval Fire Fighting and Anti-Gas School – it was of interest that the two units came under separate authorities and as such the fire fighting and anti-gas school were entitled to rum and ticklers (pusser’s cigarettes) whereas HMS Foliot was not.

The first duty that the Royal Marines were invited to carry out on HMS Foliot III was to provide a guard on the Wrennery. After a short while the 27th Battalion ceased to exist as such and Bickleigh was titled the “Training Cadre Royal Marines” and then the “Infantry Training School Royal Marines” and housed the Officers’ School, the NCO’s School and the Training Cadre.

It was a depressing camp surrounded by barbed wire, a lot of corrugated iron roofing and generally pretty muddy. The first full-time CO, Col. Ferguson-Warren, was a strange choice since he had only recently returned as a prisoner of war with the Japs, but he was greatly admired and respected. He unfortunately died about three years ago. The role of the Training Cadre was to give infantry training and at that stage we had all the company support weapons to include our anti-tank guns, Bren carriers, flame throwers etc. and the main exercise was “Exercise Pull Through” which took place on Dartmoor.

We were very much the poor relations at Bickleigh and in desperation we distempered out the officers’ mess ourselves led by Col. Warren. While dressed in denims doing this, the first young officers course arrived and came into the mess to enquire where the mess was to be greeted with a flick of the distemper brush and to be told “You’re in it chum”! Shortly after this the South camp, which had remained on my signature from the beginning, was required to house the OCTU(Officer Cadet TrainingUnit), under the command of Col. Ries, due to move from Thurlestone”.

Extract from Globe and Laurel 1980 p34 “Royal Marines Devon (South)” by Tony Perrett

The 15th Century church of St Mary’s houses several RM associations. Of note, the altar cross now bears the Corps badge, two silver candlesticks commemorating those who fell in the Korean War (1950/53) and the oak pulpit in memory of the 1956 Suez casualties whose names are carved upon it. Between 1962 and 1961 Bickleigh underwent a transformation scene similar to Lympstone’s, with all the original wooden huts being replaced by modern brick blocks, so that by the time 41 Commando returned from their Belfast winter quarters early in 1971 their old home had risen in status from Camp to Barracks. Maj Gen JL Moulton CB DSO OBE officially opened the new Bickleigh on 6 September that same year, and whilst the modernisation programme had not been so detailed as Lympstone’s in the “G&L”, some pattern of progress can be followed in the editions of September 1946 (p285), April 1968 (p82) and February 1971 (p22). Bickleigh lost its railway lifeline to Plymouth when the Tavistock branch route fell to “The Beeching Axe” in the mid 1960s, yet while the platforms once familiar to Bootnecks of the camp’s first two decades are barely visible through undergrowth, the nearby tall brick viaduct over the Vale still serves the Corps for abseil training!