No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando

No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando
Cap Badge of the Royal Marines
Active	1943–1946 1961–1968 1980–Present as FPGRM
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Marines
Type	Commando
Role	Coastal raiding force Assault Infantry
Size	One battalion
Part of	2nd Special Service Brigade
Nickname	Four Three
Motto	Per Mare Per Terram (By Sea By Land) (Latin)
March	Quick - A Life on the Ocean Wave Slow - Preobrajensky
Insignia
Commando Flash

No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando or 43 Commando was a unit of Royal Marines trained as Commandos during the Second World War. They served in the 2nd Special Service Brigade in the Mediterranean, Italy and the Adriatic. They were disbanded in the aftermath of the Second World War then reformed and disbanded again in the 1960s. In 1980 43 Commandos traditions and colours were continued by Comacchio Company Royal Marines formed to protect the United Kingdoms independent nuclear weapons. In 2001 Comacchio Company was renamed the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines.

Second World War

Formation

Early Commando units were all from the British Army but by February 1942, the Royal Marines were asked to organise Commando units of their own, and 6,000 men volunteered.^[1]

43 Commando was formed in July 1943 after the decision was made to convert the battalions of the Royal Marine Division into commando units.^[2] The initial intake of personnel was drawn from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Marines,^[3] and following commando training at Achnacarry in Scotland, the unit consisted of about 450 men organised into a headquarters, five infantry troops consisting of three officers and 63 other ranks, along with a heavy weapons troop—armed with Vickers machine guns, 3-inch mortars and 6-pounder anti-tank guns—and a signals platoon.^[4][5]

Along with No. 2, No. 9 and No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commandos they formed the 2nd Special Service Brigade.^[6] Throughout the course of 1943–45, No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando served in Italy, Yugoslavia and Greece.^[7]

Victoria Cross

Corporal Thomas Peck Hunter of was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during Operation Roast at Lake Comacchio, Italy during the Second World War. Hunter cleared a farmhouse containing three Spandau-machine-guns on his own, firing a Bren Gun from his hip. Hunter then proceeded to draw enemy fire until most of his troop had taken cover.^[8] The Commanding Officer, Lt Col Ian Riches RM was also awarded the DSO in this action. He went on to be Commandant General Royal Marines between 1959 and 1962.

Re-forming

43 Commando RM was reformed between 1961-1968 for "as a further contribution to the forces available for seaborne operations".^[9]

Successor

The traditions and colours of the unit were continued by Comacchio Company Royal Marines when it was raised in 1980 at RM Condor, Arbroath to protect the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons. It used the name "Comacchio" in honour of the battle at Lake Comacchio. It was renamed to Comacchio Group Royal Marines in 1983. On 23 May 2001 it was again renamed to Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines and the unit was moved to HMNB Clyde.

Commanding officers

• Lt Col R W B Simonds RM ('Bonzo' Simonds), 1 August 1943 - September 1944
• Lt Col I F McAlpine BW, September 1944 - 8 October 1944
• Major N G M Munro MBE RM, 8 October 1944 - 22 November 1944
• Lt Col I H Riches DSO RM, 22 November 1944 - August 1945
• Lt Col N G M Munro MBE RM, August 1945 - 31 January 1946 (disbandment)

43 Commando RM

• Lt Col A P Willasey-Wilsey MBE MC RM, 5 September 1961 - 10 February 1963
• Lt Col P R Kay MBE RM, 11 February 1963 - 25 January 1965
• Lt Col S D Smith RM, 26 January 1965 - 14 March 1967
• Lt Col E G D Pounds RM, 14 March 1967 - 30 September 1968 (Colours "marched off" 26 September 1968)
• Maj Frank Reynolds RM, 1 October 1968 - 15 November 1968 (disbandment)

Battle honours

The following Battle honours were awarded to the British Commandos during the Second World War.^[10]

Adriatic Alethangyaw Aller Anzio Argenta Gap Burma 1943–45 Crete Dieppe Dives Crossing Djebel Choucha Flushing Greece 1944–45 Italy 1943–45 Kangaw Landing at Porto San Venere Landing in Sicily Leese Litani Madagascar

Middle East 1941, 1942, 1944 Monte Ornito Myebon Normandy Landing North Africa 1941–43 North-West Europe 1942, 1944–1945 Norway 1941 Pursuit to Messina Rhine St. Nazaire Salerno Sedjenane 1 Sicily 1943 Steamroller Farm Syria 1941 Termoli Vaagso Valli di Comacchio Westkapelle

Notes

1. ^ Haskew, pp.48–49
2. ^ Neillands 2004, pp. 81–82.
3. ^ Neillands 2004, p. 81.
4. ^ Neillands 2004, p. 79.
5. ^ Saunders 1959, p. 180.
6. ^ Chappell 1996, p. 28.
7. ^ Neillands 2004, p. 78.
8. ^ "Ninth Supplement". The London Gazette (London) (37127): 3087. 12 June 1945. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37127/supplements/3087. 
9. ^ "The Naval Review, Vol XLIX, No 3 dated July 1961, p292". 1961. http://www.naval-review.org/issues/1961-3.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-12. 
10. ^ Moreman, p.94

References

• Arthur, Max (2005). Symbol of Courage; Men behind the Medal. Pan Books. ISBN 978 0 330 49133 4. 
• Chappell, Mike (1996). Army Commandos 1940–1945. Elite Series # 64. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855325799. 
• Neillands, Robin (2004) [1987]. By Sea and Land: The Story of the Royal Marine Commandos. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1 84415 043 7. 
• Saunders, Hilary St. George (1959) [1949]. The Green Beret: The Commandos at War. London: Four Square Books.