Amphibious Operations in Sicily

Commando Amphibious Operations in 1942

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One of the Original functions of the Corps of Royal Marines was; to provide detachments for amphibious operations, such as raids along an enemy coastline or fortifications and bases.

World War II imposed new conditions, amplifying this function, by the magnitude of targets available. At that time Combined Operations played the major role in all of the strategies.

The Royal Marines were particularly suited to conduct raids but they had not been overly used; but this were to change.

The definition of their duties were altered to make it clear that they would in future, undertake, in co-operation with other Army Commandos, special amphibious operations.

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The reason they had not been used

From the moment when Britain became a beleaguered fortress, was simple. The Royal Marine Special Service Brigades, which were set-up in 1939, were one of very few trained formations of men, in the country who was capable of withstanding a German invasion.

When the threat of an invasion became negligible the Royal Marine Special Service Brigades had been preserved intact.

The emergence of the Commandos was viewed with mixed feelings.

It appeared they had been formed to carry out the duties, which the Royal Marines had been justly famous for more than two centuries.

Others thought that it was right, for the Army to form special volunteers to maintain its fighting spirit by raiding the enemy.

True, within their ranks there had been some Marines notably in No. 8 Commando; true, to, that the Corps had co-operated with the Commandos in a certain number of operations.

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Had turned the scale of the battle at what might have been a critical moment in the attack on Antsirane.

No. 40 Commando Royal Marines composed entirely of volunteers had suffered grievous losses at Dieppe. No. 11 Commando which were marine volunteers failed gallantly to seize the harbour of Torbruk.

At the beginning of 1943, these had been the main amphibious actions of any note that they had been engaged. Then came the change, henceforth they were to bear their full share in all such enterprises.

By the middle of 1942, the Corps became available for Amphibious Operations. More Royal Marine Commandos were formed of which members was very largely not volunteers.

The difference between the two types of Commandos was but one of degree, which with every operation became smaller and smaller until they were all volunteers.

Army Commandos and Royal Marine Commandos

Were brigaded together, with two of each forming a Brigade. They fought alongside each other in one-hundred and forty-seven actions, with a success amply proved by their deeds.

The first time these brigades of Commandos performed was in Sicily. The decision to invade Sicily was taken at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943. The planning for the invasion began before Von Arnim surrendered in Tunis.

Montgomery, in Command of the 8th Army, his intention was to seize the south-east corner of Sicily by putting troops ashore to the east and south, and then to advance through Syracuse and Augusta to Catania and the port of Messina which faces Italy at the narrowest point of the Straits.

To carry out this operation the 1st Canadian Division was to land on beaches on the south coat close to the baroque town of Pachino. To make it possible for them to go ashore, certain coast defence batteries covering the planned landing beaches would have to be put out of action.

It was a task well suited to Commandos, it was entrusted to, No. 40 Commando Royal Marines, who had reorganised and had been brought up to strength after Dieppe. And, No. 41 Commando Royal Marines. They were taken from the Isle of White to Scotland and put through a rigorous course of training. Which was overseen and supervised from time to time by Combined Operations Headquarters in London.

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 no pubs we can let it out now?"

Away at the eastern end of the Mediterranean,

No. 3 Commando, half of them 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 civil 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.

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 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. 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.

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. Brigade Headquarters moved off to the rendezvous in a motor launch. No. 41 Commando Royal Marines under Lieutenant-Colonel B.J.D. Lumsden came from the "Durban Castle".

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41 Commando Royal Marines was 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 to the beach. Most of the Flotilla carrying No. 40 Commando Royal Marines were 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 into two feet of water."

To read more about this story go to: "40 Cdo Spearhead WWII"

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Amphibious Operations 40 Cdo Spearhead WWII Commando Bridge

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