206:
493:
operations in which the commandos were treated as highly trained infantry instead of raiders. In addition to this, the losses suffered by the commando units serving in North Africa and Italy needed to be replaced. At the time there were widespread shortages across the entire
British Army, and the volunteer nature of the commandos meant that there were even greater difficulties to replace commando losses. As a result, it was decided that some of these losses could be made up by disbanding No. 12 Commando.
350:, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel S. Harrison, the unit, although technically a part of the Special Service Brigade under Brigadier Joseph (Charles) Haydon, largely remained independent of it and carried out small scale raiding and sabotage operations. The new unit was drawn from Irish regiments and from the 53rd and 61st Divisions which were based in Northern Ireland at the time. Training was conducted at various locations in Northern Ireland, including at
56:
38:
260:. He called for specially trained troops that would "develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast". At first they were a small force of volunteers who carried out small raids against enemy occupied territory, but by 1943 their role had changed into lightly equipped assault infantry which specialised in spearheading amphibious landings.
424:
for the raid which resulted in six men were killed and another 11 were seriously wounded, nevertheless the decision was made to continue with the raid. In the end, however, due to navigational difficulties the operation was eventually called off when the naval commander was unable to locate the fjord
456:
and a demolition party landed on the island capturing the German garrison who surrendered without a fight. Under
Harrison's command, they landed at Reine and after the garrison surrendered, the commandos stayed on the island for two days to carry out demolitions work, destroying two German wireless
492:
The decision was finally made to disband the unit in
December 1943 as part of the re-organisation of the commandos into four brigades underneath the divisional-sized commando Group HQ and the subsequent conceptual change in emphasis from small-scale raiding towards that of larger-scale infantry
1141:
1369:
624:
1506:
1496:
1134:
394:. Although no prisoners were taken, the raid was partially successful and the commandos were ashore for approximately an hour before returning to their landing craft and heading back to Britain.
1501:
374:
Compared with some of the other commando units, No. 12 Commando had a short history. Its first raid came on the night of 27/28 July 1941 when a party of 16 men carried out a landing near
314:. The course in the Scottish Highlands concentrated on fitness, speed marches, weapons training, map reading, climbing, small boat operations and demolitions both by day and by night.
1127:
1516:
1511:
1280:
284:
229:
1092:
1073:
257:
1393:
432:, which was the only raid it undertook during its history where the entire unit took part. The operation was a diversionary raid on the
457:
stations before withdrawing. They took 29 German prisoners and over 200 volunteers for the free
Norwegian forces in Britain with them.
321:
of assault infantry to spearhead future Allied landing operations. Three units were left un-brigaded to carry out smaller-scale raids.
187:
1054:
1035:
877:
739:
599:
589:
453:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1285:
1209:
1398:
1388:
1383:
496:
Following the disbandment of the unit, many of the unit's personnel were transferred to other commando units, namely
310:
and remained on their regimental roll for pay. All volunteers went through the six-week intensive commando course at
1403:
1214:
1342:
684:
659:
649:
604:
549:
465:
410:
1326:
1224:
674:
1470:
290:
By the autumn of 1940 more than 2,000 men had volunteered for commando training, and what became known as the
1475:
1378:
1199:
303:
291:
97:
694:
644:
1321:
714:
579:
383:
460:
After this No. 12 Commando undertook a series of small scale operations, with half of the unit forming
354:, where the commandos carried out a mock attack. In early 1941 they were billeted for a brief time at
1460:
1249:
619:
391:
177:
172:
152:
294:
was formed into 12 units called commandos. Each commando would number around 450 men commanded by a
1465:
1455:
584:
529:
306:. Commandos were all volunteers seconded from other British Army regiments and retained their own
244:
between 1941 and 1943 before being disbanded and its personnel dispersed to other commando units.
1119:
654:
594:
569:
351:
295:
272:
167:
1150:
1107:
1088:
1069:
1050:
1031:
704:
699:
689:
669:
664:
629:
609:
574:
544:
539:
476:, providing the recovery parties for the paratroops. Later other detachments took part in the
441:
253:
225:
162:
137:
1419:
679:
639:
614:
481:
429:
402:
347:
335:
317:
By 1943 the commandos had moved away from small raiding operations and had been formed into
233:
182:
157:
147:
142:
132:
127:
122:
117:
1358:
1244:
1239:
1234:
1229:
709:
559:
477:
433:
280:
112:
205:
1204:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1164:
634:
554:
534:
509:
505:
501:
497:
484:. In total the commando played a part in at least 15 raids between 1941 and late 1943.
398:
276:
43:
1490:
881:
743:
521:
473:
397:
On 9 December 1941, a detachment from No. 12 Commando, along with a detachment from
845:
107:
61:
445:
1439:
1429:
1290:
1275:
1270:
1265:
564:
469:
464:
in Norway, while the other half carried out operations in France along with the
449:
387:
268:
1434:
461:
417:
375:
311:
420:. During the voyage an incident occurred while some of the men were priming
386:, they were towed to a position 2 miles (3.2 km) from the mouth of the
307:
221:
1111:
1424:
363:
359:
71:
421:
355:
339:
318:
264:
437:
406:
379:
299:
263:
The man initially selected as the overall commander of the force was
241:
237:
428:
Later that month, on 26 December 1941, No. 12 Commando took part in
524:
were awarded to the
British Commandos during the Second World War.
343:
1123:
283:. Keyes resigned in October 1941 and was replaced by Admiral
472:. On 27/28 February 1942, a detachment took part in the
840:
838:
1066:
Encyclopaedia of Elite Forces in the Second World War
1507:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1943
236:, they carried out a number of small-scale raids in
1497:
Commando units and formations of the United
Kingdom
1448:
1412:
1367:
1351:
1335:
1314:
1258:
1157:
358:before undertaking combined operations training at
252:The commandos were formed in 1940, by the order of
200:
195:
103:
93:
85:
77:
67:
49:
31:
23:
18:
1502:Military units and formations established in 1940
1049:. Elite Series # 64. London: Osprey Publishing.
452:. No. 12 Commando along with 68 Norwegians from
742:. Commando Veterans Association. Archived from
1151:British Commando units of the Second World War
416:, an infantry landing ship, they set out from
1135:
936:
934:
924:
922:
920:
918:
916:
8:
1517:1943 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
878:"No 12 Army Commando – The 'Irish' Commando"
1245:No. 62 Commando (Small Scale Raiding Force)
1142:
1128:
1120:
880:. www.commandoveterans.org. Archived from
872:
870:
868:
866:
864:
401:and some Norwegian soldiers, took part in
302:of 75 men and further divided into 15-man
1512:1940 establishments in the United Kingdom
230:British Army during the Second World War
801:
799:
797:
731:
444:, which was a larger commando raid on
15:
1104:The Green Beret: The Commandos at War
1102:Saunders, Hilary St. George (1959) .
271:himself a veteran of the landings at
7:
1028:No. 10 Inter-Allied Commando 1942–45
201:Combined Operations Shoulder Patch
14:
650:North-West Europe 1942, 1944–1945
405:, a raid on the town of Florø in
204:
54:
36:
454:Norwegian Independent Company 1
1306:No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando
1301:No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando
1296:No. 46 (Royal Marine) Commando
1291:No. 45 (Royal Marine) Commando
1286:No. 44 (Royal Marine) Commando
1281:No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando
1276:No. 42 (Royal Marine) Commando
1271:No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando
1266:No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commando
1210:No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando
425:upon which Floss was located.
1:
1106:. London: Four Square Books.
298:. They were sub divided into
625:Middle East 1941, 1942, 1944
480:and a raid on Sark known as
1399:4th Special Service Brigade
1394:3rd Special Service Brigade
1389:2nd Special Service Brigade
1384:1st Special Service Brigade
1026:van der Bijl, Nick (2006).
967:Saunders 1959, pp. 187–188.
600:Landing at Porto San Venere
334:Formed on 5 August 1940 at
1533:
1404:Special Air Service Troops
1215:No. 11 (Scottish) Commando
1064:Haskew, Michael E (2007).
1471:No. 1 Demolition Squadron
1343:Royal Air Force Commandos
1085:British Commandos 1940–46
466:Small Scale Raiding Force
1466:Special Raiding Squadron
1327:British commando frogmen
1225:No. 14 (Arctic) Commando
1047:Army Commandos 1940–1945
1476:Long Range Desert Group
1379:Special Service Brigade
1200:No. 8 (Guards) Commando
1045:Chappell, Mike (1996).
823:van der Bijl 2006, p.12
440:, as part of the wider
292:Special Service Brigade
98:Special Service Brigade
1449:Other Commando forces:
985:Saunders 1959, p. 100.
846:"12 Commando | ͏"
832:Moreman 2006, pp.84–85
1461:Special Boat Squadron
1322:Royal Naval Commandos
1087:. Osprey Publishing.
1083:Moreman, Tim (2006).
1030:. Osprey Publishing.
994:Chappell 1996, p. 30.
976:Saunders 1959, p. 70.
958:Saunders 1959, p. 51.
949:Chappell 1996, p. 47.
940:Saunders 1959, p. 42.
928:Chappell 1996, p. 14.
910:Saunders 1959, p. 41.
858:Chappell 1996, p. 15.
384:assault landing craft
1250:Middle East Commando
1003:Moreman 2006, p. 29.
901:Moreman 2006, p. 18.
645:North Africa 1941–43
232:. Formed in 1940 in
173:Operation Roundabout
153:Operation Fahrenheit
89:250 officers and men
1456:Special Air Service
338:after gathering in
814:Moreman 2006, p.12
791:Chappell 1996, p.6
773:Chappell 1996, p.3
764:Chappell 1996, p.5
710:Valli di Comacchio
660:Pursuit to Messina
382:. Embarking on an
352:Aldergrove Airport
296:lieutenant colonel
188:Operation Hardtack
168:Operation Crackers
1484:
1483:
1094:978-1-84176-986-8
1075:978-1-84415-577-4
1068:. Pen and Sword.
805:Haskew 2007, p.48
782:Moreman 2006, p.8
740:"No. 12 Commando"
605:Landing in Sicily
442:Operation Archery
285:Louis Mountbatten
254:Winston Churchill
212:
211:
163:Operation Cartoon
138:Operation Chariot
1524:
1336:Royal Air Force:
1144:
1137:
1130:
1121:
1115:
1098:
1079:
1060:
1041:
1013:
1010:
1004:
1001:
995:
992:
986:
983:
977:
974:
968:
965:
959:
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947:
941:
938:
929:
926:
911:
908:
902:
899:
893:
892:
890:
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859:
856:
850:
849:
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824:
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792:
789:
783:
780:
774:
771:
765:
762:
756:
755:
753:
751:
736:
690:Steamroller Farm
640:Normandy Landing
482:Operation Basalt
430:Operation Anklet
403:Operation Kitbag
348:Northern Ireland
234:Northern Ireland
208:
183:Operation Forfar
158:Operation Batman
148:Operation Basalt
143:Operation Aflame
133:Operation Brandy
128:Operation Biting
123:Operation Anklet
118:Operation Kitbag
108:Second World War
60:
58:
57:
42:
40:
39:
16:
1532:
1531:
1527:
1526:
1525:
1523:
1522:
1521:
1487:
1486:
1485:
1480:
1444:
1408:
1363:
1359:No. 30 Commando
1347:
1331:
1310:
1254:
1240:No. 52 Commando
1235:No. 51 Commando
1230:No. 50 Commando
1220:No. 12 Commando
1153:
1148:
1118:
1101:
1095:
1082:
1076:
1063:
1057:
1044:
1038:
1025:
1016:
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993:
989:
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827:
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795:
790:
786:
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777:
772:
768:
763:
759:
749:
747:
738:
737:
733:
724:
719:
518:
490:
478:St Nazaire Raid
434:Lofoten Islands
409:. Embarking on
372:
332:
327:
281:First World War
250:
218:No. 12 Commando
215:
178:Operation Carey
113:Operation Chess
55:
53:
37:
35:
19:No. 12 Commando
12:
11:
5:
1530:
1528:
1520:
1519:
1514:
1509:
1504:
1499:
1489:
1488:
1482:
1481:
1479:
1478:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1452:
1450:
1446:
1445:
1443:
1442:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1416:
1414:
1413:Ad hoc Forces:
1410:
1409:
1407:
1406:
1401:
1396:
1391:
1386:
1381:
1375:
1373:
1365:
1364:
1362:
1361:
1355:
1353:
1352:Joint Service:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1345:
1339:
1337:
1333:
1332:
1330:
1329:
1324:
1318:
1316:
1312:
1311:
1309:
1308:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1262:
1260:
1256:
1255:
1253:
1252:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1222:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1205:No. 9 Commando
1202:
1197:
1195:No. 7 Commando
1192:
1190:No. 6 Commando
1187:
1185:No. 5 Commando
1182:
1180:No. 4 Commando
1177:
1175:No. 3 Commando
1172:
1170:No. 2 Commando
1167:
1165:No. 1 Commando
1161:
1159:
1155:
1154:
1149:
1147:
1146:
1139:
1132:
1124:
1117:
1116:
1099:
1093:
1080:
1074:
1061:
1055:
1042:
1036:
1022:
1015:
1014:
1005:
996:
987:
978:
969:
960:
951:
942:
930:
912:
903:
894:
860:
851:
834:
825:
816:
807:
793:
784:
775:
766:
757:
746:on 10 May 2010
730:
723:
720:
718:
717:
712:
707:
702:
697:
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682:
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672:
667:
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652:
647:
642:
637:
632:
627:
622:
617:
612:
607:
602:
597:
592:
587:
585:Greece 1944–45
582:
577:
575:Djebel Choucha
572:
570:Dives Crossing
567:
562:
557:
552:
547:
542:
537:
532:
526:
522:Battle honours
520:The following
517:
516:Battle honours
514:
489:
486:
413:Prince Charles
399:No. 6 Commando
371:
368:
331:
328:
326:
323:
277:Zeebrugge raid
258:Prime Minister
249:
246:
213:
210:
209:
202:
198:
197:
193:
192:
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185:
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100:
95:
91:
90:
87:
83:
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79:
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74:
69:
65:
64:
51:
47:
46:
44:United Kingdom
33:
29:
28:
25:
21:
20:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1529:
1518:
1515:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1494:
1492:
1477:
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1402:
1400:
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1387:
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1313:
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1302:
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1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1263:
1261:
1259:Royal Marine:
1257:
1251:
1248:
1246:
1243:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
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1213:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1162:
1160:
1158:British Army:
1156:
1152:
1145:
1140:
1138:
1133:
1131:
1126:
1125:
1122:
1113:
1109:
1105:
1100:
1096:
1090:
1086:
1081:
1077:
1071:
1067:
1062:
1058:
1056:1-85532-579-9
1052:
1048:
1043:
1039:
1037:1-84176-999-1
1033:
1029:
1024:
1023:
1021:
1020:
1012:Moreman, p.94
1009:
1006:
1000:
997:
991:
988:
982:
979:
973:
970:
964:
961:
955:
952:
946:
943:
937:
935:
931:
925:
923:
921:
919:
917:
913:
907:
904:
898:
895:
884:on 2010-05-10
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879:
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623:
621:
618:
616:
613:
611:
608:
606:
603:
601:
598:
596:
593:
591:
590:Italy 1943–45
588:
586:
583:
581:
578:
576:
573:
571:
568:
566:
563:
561:
558:
556:
555:Burma 1943–45
553:
551:
548:
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543:
541:
538:
536:
533:
531:
528:
527:
525:
523:
515:
513:
511:
507:
503:
499:
494:
487:
485:
483:
479:
475:
474:Bruneval Raid
471:
467:
463:
458:
455:
451:
447:
443:
439:
435:
431:
426:
423:
419:
415:
414:
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341:
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227:
223:
219:
214:Military unit
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52:
48:
45:
34:
30:
26:
22:
17:
1219:
1103:
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1065:
1046:
1027:
1019:Bibliography
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1017:
1008:
999:
990:
981:
972:
963:
954:
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906:
897:
886:. Retrieved
882:the original
854:
828:
819:
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787:
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769:
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744:the original
734:
726:
725:
630:Monte Ornito
519:
495:
491:
459:
427:
412:
396:
392:Motor Launch
373:
333:
316:
289:
262:
256:the British
251:
228:unit of the
217:
216:
94:Part of
62:British Army
1440:Timberforce
1430:Layforce II
1420:Forfarforce
1315:Royal Navy:
715:Westkapelle
685:Sicily 1943
680:Sedjenane 1
670:St. Nazaire
655:Norway 1941
550:Argenta Gap
535:Alethangyaw
512:Commandos.
488:Disbandment
470:Forfarforce
468:as part of
388:Slack River
269:Roger Keyes
104:Engagements
1491:Categories
1435:Northforce
1368:Brigades (
888:2009-08-17
722:References
695:Syria 1941
620:Madagascar
462:Northforce
418:Scapa Flow
376:Ambleteuse
370:Operations
312:Achnacarry
308:cap badges
248:Background
411:HMS
330:Formation
222:battalion
27:1940–1943
1425:Layforce
580:Flushing
530:Adriatic
422:grenades
364:Scotland
360:Inverary
319:brigades
304:sections
275:and the
273:Galipoli
226:commando
196:Insignia
72:Commando
1112:1260659
700:Termoli
675:Salerno
356:Warsash
340:Belfast
336:Crumlin
325:History
279:in the
265:Admiral
224:-sized
81:Raiding
32:Country
1110:
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750:3 June
705:Vaagso
635:Myebon
615:Litani
595:Kangaw
565:Dieppe
498:Nos. 1
446:Vågsøy
438:Norway
407:Norway
380:France
300:troops
242:France
238:Norway
220:was a
59:
50:Branch
41:
24:Active
727:Notes
665:Rhine
610:Leese
560:Crete
545:Anzio
540:Aller
450:Måløy
390:by a
344:Derry
1370:List
1108:OCLC
1089:ISBN
1070:ISBN
1051:ISBN
1032:ISBN
752:2010
508:and
448:and
342:and
267:Sir
240:and
86:Size
78:Role
68:Type
436:in
346:in
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