No. 1 Commando
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| No. 1 Commando | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | No. 1 Commando |
| Dates | 1940–1946 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Special forces |
| Role | Commando operations |
| Size | Battalion equivalent |
| Garrison | United Kingdom |
| Notable commanders | Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Robert Laycock; Lord Lovat |
No. 1 Commando was a battalion-sized formation raised in 1940 as part of the British Commandos during the Second World War. Formed from volunteers drawn from units such as the Royal Marines, Coldstream Guards, Royal Army Service Corps, and Royal Navy, the unit trained for raiding, amphibious assault, reconnaissance, and sabotage operations across the North Atlantic Ocean, English Channel, and the Mediterranean Sea. It served under formations including 47 (Royal Marine) Commando and operational commands such as 36th Brigade and elements of Combined Operations.
Formation and Training
No. 1 Commando was created in the early phase of the Second World War following directives from Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the establishment of Combined Operations Headquarters under Lord Louis Mountbatten. Volunteers came from regiments including the Parachute Regiment, Royal Scots, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), and King's Royal Rifle Corps, and officers transferred from units such as the Grenadier Guards and Coldstream Guards. Initial cadre training took place at schools influenced by techniques used by Special Air Service (SAS), Long Range Desert Group, and lessons from the Norwegian Campaign and the Dunkirk evacuation. Training centers included facilities in Achnacarry, where instructors with experience from France 1940, Greece (1941) Campaign, and operations around Shetland taught amphibious landings, cliff assaults, demolition, small-arms marksmanship, and map reading derived from Royal Engineers doctrine. Curriculum emphasized cold-water boat handling influenced by Motor Torpedo Boat practice, combining elements from Royal Navy seamanship, Royal Marines boarding actions, and signals procedures used by Special Boat Service.
Operational History
After formation, No. 1 Commando took part in raids and diversionary operations in coordination with formations including 1st Special Service Brigade, 2nd Special Service Brigade, and the Eighth Army. The unit deployed to theaters such as the North African Campaign, the Sicily Campaign, and the Italian Campaign, operating alongside formations like the Eighth Army (United Kingdom), 13th Corps, and units from the United States Army and Free French Forces. Command relationships saw attachment to staff under commanders including Bernard Montgomery and liaison with naval commanders such as Andrew Cunningham. Collaborative operations involved planning with the Royal Air Force for close air support and with the Mediterranean Fleet for landing craft and bombardment.
Organization and Structure
Organized on a battalion model, No. 1 Commando comprised troops and sections modeled on commando establishment set by Combined Operations doctrine. Its sub-units included fighting troops drawn from backgrounds such as the Royal Engineers, Royal Signals, Royal Army Medical Corps, and specialist cadres similar to those in the Parachute Regiment. Command structure linked closely with brigadiers from formations like Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat and staff officers trained at Staff College, Camberley. Logistics and administration interfaced with the War Office supply chains, involving transport from the Royal Army Service Corps and medical support influenced by policies from the Ministry of Health.
Notable Operations and Engagements
The unit participated in notable operations and raids that included small-scale amphibious assaults, cliff-borne attacks, and coastal reconnaissance. Actions were coordinated with broader operations such as the Allied invasion of Sicily, the Anzio landings, and diversionary raids during the Normandy landings. Engagements placed No. 1 Commando in direct contact with formations like the Wehrmacht, elements of the Luftwaffe during interdiction, and coastal defenses modeled on the Atlantic Wall. Notable collaborative actions involved liaison with units such as the Special Boat Service, US Navy, and Free Polish Forces operating in the Mediterranean, and support from squadrons of the Royal Air Force including those from No. 602 Squadron RAF and No. 272 Squadron RAF.
Equipment and Uniforms
Equipment used by No. 1 Commando reflected standard British issue adapted for commando tasks: rifles and submachine guns prevalent in units like the Royal Welch Fusiliers and Manchester Regiment, demolition charges similar to those employed by Royal Engineers, and specialized small craft akin to those used by Motor Torpedo Boat flotillas. Uniforms combined elements of British Army battledress and distinctive commando insignia authorized by Combined Operations Headquarters, sometimes worn with gear influenced by the Royal Marines pattern and camouflage experiments inspired by reports from the North African Campaign and Sicily Campaign. Personal weapons included variations of the Lee–Enfield, the Sten gun, and sidearms carried by officers trained at Sandhurst-style establishments.
Legacy and Commemoration
The heritage of No. 1 Commando influenced postwar developments in SAS doctrine, Special Boat Service practices, and the structure of postwar British special forces in the Cold War. Veterans joined associations linked to memorials such as those at National Memorial Arboretum and in regimental museums including the Imperial War Museum and local collections in Scotland and England. Annual commemorations have drawn representatives from allied units including United States Navy SEALs, French Commandos Marine, and veterans’ organizations associated with the Royal British Legion and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.