40 Spearhead WW II

First Bastion of Fortress Europe Falls

Royal Marines lead in World War II

For many months before the invasion of Europe two weapons were ready to be used when and where its striking power would be the most effective. They had been skilfully fashioned for their role; they were Nos. 40 & 41 Commandos of the Royal Marines.

On Monday, 28th June 1943, all was deemed ready; the two Commandos sailed with Laycock and his headquarters in the troop transport ships "Derbyshire" and "Durban Castle".

"It was a moment for which we had all been waiting," records Colonel T.B.L. Churchill of Brigade Headquarters. "I felt as if we were all on a conveyor-belt which now would take us inexorably on, and the feeling brought a noticeable sensation of awe mixed with relief and resignation."

"My servant, Sapper Baldwin, was very anxious to know where we were going, he was very indignant when I told him it was a secret."

"After all," he said, “we’re the blokes who've got to do the fighting, and there ain't any pubs we can let it out now?"

2-cdo-Commachio 40-cdo-Commachio 43-cdo-Commachio

Far away at the eastern end of the Mediterranean

Durnford Slater’s, No. 3 Commando, half of them were on board H.M. Transport "Dunera," a famous ship belonging to the British India Steam Navigation Company, and the other half on H.M.S. "Prince Albert", one of the staunchest of the landing ships, were steaming through the Suez Canal.

The two bands of Commandos, one from Scotland, the other from Egypt, were to meet before the low shores of Sicily.

After its heavy losses at Dieppe, No 3 Commando had been brought up to strength by what their Commanding Officer described as "a magnificent draft consisting entirely of policemen; of superb physique and excellent initiative and intelligence."

Unlike the Commando soldiers who passed through the depot at Achnacarry, the police recruits had come direct from civilian life. They were all of the same opinion; since they could not hope to apprehend a Commando Soldier, they thought it better to join their ranks.

On 3rd July the main plan was outlined by Laycock to the officers. Off of the North African coast one of the escort vessels sank a submarine.

3 cdo Dieppe 40 cdo Dieppe 4 cdo Dieppe 4 cdo Dieppe 2

By 8th July two other convoys

Were on the horizon, one of them carrying American forces which were to land at Gela, West of the positions to be assaulted by the Commandos. The other included the monitor H.M.S. "Roberts," mounting two 15-inch guns which were to prove of the greatest use.

"Everywhere you looked," writes Tom Churchill, "you saw ships all steaming steadily in the same direction. It was a most majestic spectacle; it warmed our hearts and sharpened our spirits."

On the 9th July 1943, 40 and 41 Commandos of the Royal Marines were informed that they would be leading the invasion of Sicily; it would be the beginning of freeing Europe from German occupation.

Col-Manners 40-Garigliano 40-Termoli

On the 9th July the final meeting took place

A sudden change of weather almost wrecked the enterprise. About noon the breeze began to freshen, by dusk the velocity of the wind was between forty and forty-five miles per hour.

All of the ships were rolling and pitching, while the little motor launches were being tossed about like corks.

Then, even more suddenly than it had risen, the wind abated. The Commandos prepared to go ashore. Tom Churchill left his cabin, tipped the steward, and then went to his waiting landing craft.

"The night was not very dark," he says, "as there was a bright moon, near the full. I could see the dark loom of the ship, the brilliantly clear stars, and the Milky Way like a great white road in the sky.

From the Derbyshire, just after midnight. One after another the flights of landing craft took to the water carrying No. 40 Commando Royal Marines with Lieutenant-Colonel J.C. Manners in Command, and Brigade Headquarters who were in a motor-launch moved off to the rendezvous.

40 CDO Sangin 40 Commando's Medical Centre 60s-Life-Malta

10th July 1943

40 & 41 Royal Marine Commandos

Had the glorious honour of leading the Allies to triumph in World War II.

The very privilege of leading the Allied Forces had been allotted to them. They were the very SPEARHEAD of invasion Europe.

No greater responsibility, trust of duty or worthiness can be bestowed upon any Fighting Force, and rightly so.

The Royal Marines were not new to this type of action; they had been at the forefront of Britain’s amphibious landings; and they had been doing it with distinction, for hundreds of years; nobody was better equipped or as experienced as the Royal Marines, this type of warfare was their special prerogative.

40 cdo RM Brunei 40 Commando Sibu

10th July 1943 Liberation Started

41 Commando under Lieutenant-Colonel Lumsden, (Lumsden's Commandos) boarded their landing craft from the "Durban Castle". Twenty-two assault craft carrying members of the Royal Marine Commandos headed for the coast they could not see. Spray drenched the the tightly-packed Marines in the well deck.

No. 41 Commando Royal Marines was the first ashore. The motor launch had led the Commando to the right place, but some of the coxswains were reluctant to bring their landing craft up close to the beach. Most of the Flotilla carrying No.40 Commando Royal Marines was too far to the east.

Churchill induced the coxswain of his craft to turn to port, where he recognised Punta Castellazzo. When the assault craft rounded the point it came under fire. "I directed the coxswain to the second bay-as I knew this would be Commando Cove. On the way round we were fired at again four or five times-we grounded some fifteen yards from the beach and ran ashore dropping in waist high water."

41 Commando landed at: 03:00 hrs.

“It was hard to believe that this land beneath us , the first we had trodden since leaving Britain, was enemy soil, the first bastion of the fortress of Europe,” wrote a Royal Marine officer.

Now they had set foot on the south coast of the enemy held territory of Sicily, the Commandos were determined to hold it.

Their first task was to capture the beach and form a bridgehead, for 40 Commando to go through, they would branch off to the right and attack the German batteries covering the main beach where the Allied Canadian Forces, were due to land when signalled.

The second; 40 Commando under Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Manners, (nick named 'Manners Commandos') landed on time ten minutes later. The touch-down had been made within one-hundred yards of the point originally planned.

They quickly passed through the bridgehead and moved to the left to attack the next batch of coastal defences. All expected resolute opposition and all were prepared to overcome it.

Bursts of fire on the right

From a machine gun died down when tracer fired in the direction brought cries from a dying Italian. The Commandos moved on at a good pace, overcoming opposition as it appeared.

A group of buildings occupied as a barracks was cleared and prisoners taken. Continuing until they had successfully accomplished their tasks, they started exploiting eastwards.

Two other troops attacked a strong point known as Casa della Marza, which commanded the western exit from the beach and the road from Pachino to Spaccofono. The main buildings were cleared with little difficulty, but two machine guns opened from corners of the enclosure. Both surrendered when the Commandos began to advance for an assault.

A sniper was dislodged from a low tower surmounting the Casa.

At approximately 7 a.m. Manners 40 Commando fired a green success flare to show that they had fulfilled all of their objectives.

When Lumsden's Commandos fired theirs, success was complete; from point to point the area between Solarino and Punta Castellazzo was firmly in the hands of the two Commandos.

Lumsden’s 41 Commando joined with the Canadian advance party arriving from the beaches. Together they moved forward when having completed their objectives they continued to advance against the enemy.

The Royal Marines had been allotted this mission; even if the resistance had been fiercer it is not likely that the Commandos would have failed.

The Commandos were trained to strike more swiftly than other fighting men, by virtue of a special discipline, a special devotion, that is their aim, which is why they accomplished their tasks.

Bootnecks

John Durnford-Slater

Landed at Scoglio Imbiancato

With half of No.3 Commando, their task on the northern side of the island was to silence the shore batteries. But they had great difficulty finding their beach at Scoglio Imbiancato.

Much time had been lost, then they came under heavy machine gun fire at about two-hundred yards from shore from a pill box. They retaliated eagerly against the disturbance with ceaseless fire from Tommy and Bren guns.

Once ashore Durnford-Slater quickly led his men through the masses of barbed wire and other beach obstacles, and then they went on towards the batteries they had come here to destroy, totally disregarding the moans and groans coming from the wounded in the pill box.

Cassibile Beach unopposed dawn landing

Peter Young with his half of No.3 Commando, eventually landed unopposed at the right end of the Cassibile Beach, on the northern side of the island.

Their coxswains had great difficulty finding the beach they were land on; then just when daylight was setting in Cassibile Beach loomed up before them. Peter Young was not a happy man.

The sound of fire and intermittent mortaring was coming from the direction of Cassibile village, which had defences that proved not to be formidable; having accomplished his task; the Colonel started to cheer up a little.

Invasion so long awaited by the world

10th July 1943 was a jubilant day

In my opinion the 10th July 1943, is more significant than some of those dates that we celebrate on an annual basis. It is a very important date in the history of the Royal Marines.

Lord Mountbatten was Chief of Combined Operations at the time; it would have been his first choice to use the Royal Marine Commandos.

During his tenure of command he wanted to see all Commandos develop and prosper, more so the Navy’s sea soldiers the Royal Marine Commandos.

It was their right of birth to land first, a task not carried out for the first time, nor would it be their last. This day was different to others, and it should become recognised as so.

It has been one of the greatest days history can record, the start of the greatest liberation ever.

It was the day the World had been waiting for, for so long.

On 23rd October 1943 Brigadier R. E. Laycock, D.S.O. was appointed to succeed Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten with the acting rank of Major-General.

On this day Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten took over command of the Far East where he attained the title of Burma.

Had this change happened earlier; it is highly possible an Army Commando would have had the privilege of the Spearhead Europe.

Military Figures

40 Commando Association RM held their first reunion at Didsbury, just outside Manchester. There was an impressive turnout for their first occasion and I am sure the Association will increase its membership immensely over the coming years.

At the AGM it was agreed that the newly formed Association would make a healthy donation to the 40 Commando Royal Marines Memorial Wall.

I was pleased to meet 684 Squad mate, Gerry Binsted and his wife; not having seen Gerry since we departed after training. At first it is difficult trying to fit an 18 year old face to a seventy year old body but in the end the new picture gradually takes shape and fits into place.

At the hotel we had chances to buy memorabilia and gifts from the Military Firgues stall.

All in all, it was a great weekend where we made new friends and met others we had known for many years.