British Commandos

The term ‘Kommando’ had its origins in South Africa at the turn of the 20th Century; irregular fighting units who caused havoc against the forces of the British Empire in the region. Move forwards to 1940 and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill – himself a veteran of the South African conflict – well remembered the outstandingly disproportionate effect which could be caused by a small, aggressive, highly motivated and well trained force which could strike with stealth and surprise.

In the summer of 1940, the first raids against enemy coastlines were made by Commandos of the British Army, men who had volunteered for ‘special service of a hazardous nature’. In 1942 the first Royal Marine Commando was formed – a move considered logical and if anything overdue by many. Whilst Commandos were undoubtedly an elite unit, they were first and foremost specialists in the theatre of amphibious assault and this had long been the province of the Royal Marines.

Through the dark early years of Britain’s war, newspaper headlines took great pleasure in detailing the successes of daring Commando raids against the enemy coastline – most often on a small scale, but occasionally producing amazing results such as a heroic raid on St Nazaire in March 1942. Unfortunately, not all activities were successful – as the Dieppe raid of August 1942 would prove. By the spring of 1944, with the planning for the Allied invasion of occupied Europe now well underway, the Commandos of the Royal Marines, British Army and Allied nations would be called upon to work alongside their brethren of the conventional infantry in the most critical amphibious assault yet – Operation Overlord.