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40 Commando Royal Marines (40 CDO RM)
Royal Marine in Training
Former WO1(GSM) Peter Padley MBE
Formed in 1942 – from ‘A’ Commando – 40 Commando was the first Royal Marine Commando unit to be raised.
40 Commando first saw action at Dieppe on 19th August 1942. The Dieppe Raid, initially codenamed Operation ‘RUTTER’, was predominantly a Canadian operation supported by 40 Commando – who had been given specific tasks in the port area and to provide reinforcements as and when required. Over 6,000 infantrymen took part in the operation with the objective of the raid to prove that it was possible to seize and hold a large port for a specific period of time, to gather intelligence from prisoners, capture materials and to assess the German response to such a raid. The destruction of coastal defences and port buildings was also a vital part of the raid.
In general terms the Dieppe Raid was a disaster with approximately 3,500 members of the force either killed, wounded or taken prisoner. The Royal Air Force lost nearly 100 aircraft while the Royal Navy lost one destroyer and over 30 landing craft. None of the objectives of the raid were achieved but it did influence planning for Operations ‘TORCH’ – the North African Landings held in November 1942 – and ‘OVERLORD’ – the Normandy Landings commencing on 6th June 1944.
Casualties sustained by 40 Commando while trying to land under intense enemy fire, and in impossible conditions, were severe. With an initial unit strength of 370 a total of 76, including the Commanding Officer, were lost on the beaches – and it was these terrible losses that made it necessary for 40 Commando to undergo an extended period of training and replenishment prior to moving to Italy.
In July 1943 40 Commando was sent to Sicily but it was in early October 1943 that the unit came to greater prominence during Operation ‘DEVON’ when it landed under cover of darkness behind the German lines on the Italian Adriatic coast at Termoli with 2 Commando and the Special Raiding Squadron (SRS). By early morning on 3rd October 1943 40 Commando had advanced, captured the town and eventually had control of all entry and exit points to the town. German counter attacks by the 26th Panzer Division were repeatedly beaten off during the next three days until the arrival of the 8th Army on the 6th October. For their steadfast and decisive opposition to a far superior force ranged against it 40 Commando was awarded the Battle Honour ‘Termoli’.
From Termoli 40 Commando went on to be involved with Operation ‘SHINGLE’ – the Allied amphibious landings at Anzio – before later moving into Yugoslavia and Albania. At the end of WWII 40 Commando were to be found carrying out policing duties on the island of Corfu in the Ionian Sea.
After WWII 40 Commando were involved in the Civil War in Palestine. The Commando was redeployed to Cyprus, Hong Kong and Egypt where they undertook security duties prior to moving on to Singapore in 1961 where for the next 10 years the unit was employed on counter terrorist operations during the Indonesian Confrontation.
Returning to the United Kingdom in 1971 40 Commando RM relocated to Plymouth where during the next decade the unit served multiple deployments to Northern Ireland on Operation ‘BANNER’ tours and an unexpected two month tour of Cyprus after the Turkish invasion in 1974.
Subsequent to the invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentina in April 1982 40 Commando, as part of 3 Commando Brigade, took part in Operation ‘CORPORATE’ – the name given to the operation to remove Argentine armed forces from the Falkland Islands. Given the task of securing the San Carlos beachhead 40 Commando was the first unit to move ashore by landing craft on 21st May 1982 and it was their ‘lot’ to remain at San Carlos for the majority of the conflict to ensure the area was defended against attack. In the final days of the conflict two companies of 40 Commando were moved forward to reinforce the 1st Bn The Welsh Guards – tasked with securing Sapper Hill – but before the attack went in the Argentine surrender had been negotiated with hostilities ending at 0900hrs on 14th June 1982.
On return to UK 40 Commando was kept busy in the ensuing years with deployments to Northern Ireland, Belize and Cyprus. For the Commando’s valuable contribution, in excess of their normal role and duties, toward the establishment of good and friendly relations with the Cypriot community 40 Commando were awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace.
Subsequent to the 1990/91 First Gulf War – Operation ‘GRANBY’ – 40 Commando, with the majority of other 3 Commando Brigade units, were sent to Northern Iraq in April 1991 to undertake Operation ‘SAFE HAVEN’ – the provision of humanitarian aid and security to the Kurds who were being oppressed by Saddam Hussein’s regime. On return to UK the Commando undertook further operational tours of Northern Ireland which were interspersed with winter warfare deployments to Norway and participation in an Asia-Pacific Amphibious Exercise. In 1998 40 Commando deployed to the Congo Republic to protect British interests and ensure the safe evacuation of British nationals from Kinshasa.
Under the command of Lt Col Gordon Messenger RM 40 Commando deployed to the Persian Gulf in advance of Operation ‘TELIC’ – the Invasion of Iraq in March 2003. On the night of 20th March 2003 40 Commando, supported by an immense amount of coalition firepower, became the first conventional troops to attack Iraq when they launched an assault to seize the Iraqi oil installation on the Al-Fawr Peninsula. 40 Commando were to be involved in intense operations during the next two weeks as they cleared major Iraqi troop concentrations outside Basra . During this operation they accounted for approximately 150 Iraqi soldiers killed in action and took 450 prisoners. The Commando returned to Iraq in 2004 as part of a multi-national division conducting peace-support operations.
40 Commando have deployed to Afghanistan on Operation ‘HERRICK’ VII (October 2007/April 2008) and Operation ‘HERRICK’ XII (April/Oct 2010). It was on Op ‘HERRICK’ VII that LCpl Croucher activated a Taliban grenade booby trap while moving through a compound. Realising what he had done he threw himself to the ground using his rucsac to shield those around him from serious injury when the grenade exploded. His rucsac and body armour contained the explosion and he survived suffering a nose-bleed and disorientation. For his selfless action LCpl Croucher RM was awarded the George Cross by HM The Queen at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace on 30th October 2008.
Members of 40 Commando have lost their lives on Operations ‘HERRICK’ VII & XII in Afghanistan.
40 Commando Royal Marines is based at Norton Manor Camp, Taunton, Somerset.
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