90:
218:
19:
181:
193:. The units were also employed in greater numbers and engaged in more prolonged combat than the originally envisioned limited raids. By October 1943, the commandos had been further reorganised to meet this new role; the Special Service Brigade was superseded by the Special Service Group. This was followed by the formation of four new Special Service Brigades, each composed of four army and
81:. By 1944, SAS had also grown to a brigade-level command while maintaining its raiding role. Although never operating as a single entity, SAS units operated deep behind enemy lines, generally isolated from one another. All five brigades were maintained through the end of the war and were disbanded at the conclusion of hostilities.
176:
vessels were required to ferry a single company. This caused cohesion issues which limited the ability to assign a battalion to a single task as a complete unit. As a result, the brigade was reorganised. The term "special service battalion" was dropped, and each unit was renamed "commando." Following
167:
of 50 men. Not all commandos were assigned to the brigade. By
February 1941, the new organization was deemed unsuccessful. Its unit sizes were too difficult to command and control during training and too unwieldy to fit aboard a small number of ships. A 1,000-man commando battalion was too large to
337:
The
Special Service Brigade was formed on 1 November to command the various special service battalions that had been raised during the year. In 1941, the special service battalions were retitled as commandos. In November 1943, following the expansion of the commando forces, the Special Service
530:
The brigade did not fight as a cohesive force, instead the it oversaw the control of various units that were engaged in operations across Europe. With the exception of May through August 1945 when the brigade HQ moved to Norway, the HQ remained in the UK and ended the war there.
188:
During 1941 and 1942, additional commandos were formed from
British personnel as well as European exile volunteers. Some of these units were also assigned to the Special Service Brigade. By 1942, the role of the commandos had expanded to include spearheading large-scale
58:-occupied Europe, showcasing the British Army's still-vibrant offensive capability. At that time, most of the army was engaged in defensive duties protecting the UK; its raid ability was thought to boost public morale. These raiding forces were called "
128:
was seen as a way to demonstrate the
British ability to remain on the offensive while the bulk of its army maintained a defensive posture defending the UK. This offensive posture was also thought to boost public morale. The new volunteer force, dubbed
177:
the reorganization, the brigade commanded six commandos each of six 65-man troops. The reorganization allowed for one commando to be housed aboard one to two ships, depending on type, and fewer landing craft were needed to ferry the troops ashore.
1130:
1030:
205:
role. On 6 December 1944, the term "Special
Service" was dropped from the brigade titles and was replaced with "Commando". "Special Service" had negative connotations with the troops, as it was abbreviated "SS" and associated with the German
77:, resulting in a need to reorganise the force, expanding the single brigade to four. The four commando brigades would spearhead British Army attacks in Northwest Europe, Italy, and Burma. The expansion also led to the creation of the
1559:
1087:
1194:
1125:
1023:
1016:
264:
shoulder flash. The brigade was not intended to be used as a cohesive force akin to the
Commando Brigades; individual SAS units were deployed separately. The brigade's first assignment was to support the
1549:
148:
and new units of varying size were formed, with the intent that any force could be utilised as needed and would be capable of operating independently for a 24-hour period exclusively to conduct raids.
1110:
1187:
1135:
1105:
1180:
1115:
556:
1564:
230:
550:
1554:
1156:
1333:
210:, or SS. In 1946, following the end of hostilities, the brigades were disbanded along with the army commandos and most of the Royal Marine commandos. This left
1161:
1120:
332:
233:. Initially known as L Detachment, SAS grew in size and conducted behind-the-lines operations against Axis forces within the theatre. In January 1944,
1077:
252:. The brigade was based within the UK which required the British element to be transported from the Mediterranean back home. The brigade adopted the
1097:
1082:
1051:
545:
442:
Redesignated as 3 Commando
Brigade, on 6 December 1944. The brigade was withdrawn to British India in 1945, to prepare for operations to liberate
1056:
481:
369:
1061:
998:
979:
960:
941:
490:
Redesignated as 4 Commando
Brigade, on 6 December 1944. After the fighting in the Scheldt, the brigade remained in the area until after the
114:
269:
of German-occupied France by landing deep within the country to establish bases, raid and sabotage German positions, and liaise with the
1446:
273:. While elements of the brigade were operating in France, others SAS units were dropped behind the lines in Italy to work alongside the
134:
525:
373:
405:
141:
401:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1338:
1262:
491:
1451:
1441:
1436:
461:
385:
345:
274:
69:
As the war progressed, more commando units were formed; eventually their role transformed from raiding into acting as
1456:
1267:
501:
234:
130:
31:
23:
1395:
433:
361:
1379:
1277:
1523:
1528:
1431:
1252:
314:
160:
152:
1008:
169:
94:
89:
39:
1374:
485:
173:
151:
In
November 1940, as the number of units increased and the need for more centralised control grew, the
1513:
1302:
277:. In October 1945, the Special Air Service Troops brigade and its constituent units were disbanded.
1518:
1508:
585:
246:
237:, a brigade-sized formation with a total strength of about 2,000 men, was founded with two British
226:
145:
78:
217:
1172:
517:
477:
447:
417:
365:
266:
211:
197:
commandos. Although these brigades conducted some small raids, they were largely committed to an
190:
110:
98:
1203:
994:
975:
956:
937:
521:
270:
117:
59:
338:
Brigade was replaced by HQ SS Group, which would control four new brigades that were formed.
1472:
929:
106:
43:
581:
494:. It then entered Germany for occupation duties, and was subsequently withdrawn to the UK.
1411:
1297:
1292:
1287:
1282:
1272:
249:
125:
51:
260:. Like the UK contingent, the French and Belgian elements also wore the British airborne
180:
18:
1257:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1222:
1217:
864:
862:
443:
437:
202:
74:
1543:
194:
137:
66:-level command size and was re-organised to coordinate its structure and management.
253:
198:
121:
70:
55:
47:
27:
1492:
1482:
1343:
1328:
1323:
1318:
242:
1487:
451:
257:
256:
of the
British airborne forces, and the British troops had to discard their
156:
54:. The army intended that these units would conduct hit and run attacks on
1477:
561:
238:
159:
were formed by merging many of the small commando units and independent
261:
63:
34:
brigade, following the end of the war and prior to it being disbanded.
30:(centre, walking towards camera) reviews the French contingent of the
1560:
Military units and formations of the British Empire in World War II
216:
179:
164:
88:
22:
During the Second World War, British brigades were commanded by a
17:
93:
more Elements of the 1st Special Service Brigade standing aboard
120:
requested a new force be raised to conduct hit and run raids on
1176:
1012:
305:
446:. But the war ended so this operation did not occur. With the
308:
62:." Toward the end of 1940, the commando force had grown to a
582:"The Special Air Service (SAS) During the Second World War"
514:
UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Norway
410:
Redesignated as 2 Commando Brigade, on 6 December 1944.
378:
Redesignated as 1 Commando Brigade, on 6 December 1944.
1039:
British military formations during the Second World War
557:
British Commando operations during the Second World War
214:
for peacetime service, continuing the commando legacy.
1550:
Lists of military units and formations of World War II
450:, the brigade sailed to re-establish British rule in
229:(SAS) was formed out of the commando forces based in
974:. Battle Orders. Botley, Oxfordshire: Osprey Press.
551:
List of British deception formations in World War II
1501:
1465:
1420:
1404:
1388:
1367:
1311:
1210:
1149:
1096:
1070:
1044:
955:. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press.
163:. Each battalion controlled two companies with ten
993:. Men-at-Arms. Botley, Oxfordshire: Osprey Press.
553:, for the 104th Special Service (Commando) Brigade
358:Italy, UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany
105:In June 1940, following the Allied defeat in the
1204:British Commando units of the Second World War
912:
821:
809:
797:
785:
773:
761:
1188:
1024:
953:Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945
8:
1565:United Kingdom in World War II-related lists
1298:No. 62 Commando (Small Scale Raiding Force)
989:Shortt, James G.; MacBride, Angus (2005) .
1555:Lists of British Army units and formations
1195:
1181:
1173:
1031:
1017:
1009:
474:UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany
284:
896:
876:
546:British Army during the Second World War
500:
460:
416:
384:
344:
313:
892:
872:
853:
837:
749:
737:
725:
701:
689:
677:
665:
653:
641:
629:
617:
573:
908:
888:
868:
849:
833:
713:
605:
482:Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine
370:Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine
302:
290:
231:Mediterranean and Middle East theatre
38:In mid-1940, after the defeat of the
7:
299:
296:
293:
184:Insignia worn by all commando units.
936:. Elite. London: Osprey Military.
526:Western Allied invasion of Germany
374:Western Allied invasion of Germany
144:shortly after formation. Existing
14:
286:List of special service brigades
155:was formed. Five Special Service
111:evacuation to the United Kingdom
1359:No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando
1354:No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando
1349:No. 46 (Royal Marine) Commando
1344:No. 45 (Royal Marine) Commando
1339:No. 44 (Royal Marine) Commando
1334:No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando
1329:No. 42 (Royal Marine) Commando
1324:No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando
1319:No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commando
1263:No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando
1:
564:, also known as Special Force
297:Wartime date ceased to exist
533:
529:
516:
513:
505:
496:
489:
476:
473:
465:
456:
441:
432:
430:Italy, British India, Burma
429:
421:
412:
409:
400:
397:
389:
380:
377:
360:
357:
349:
340:
336:
331:
328:
323:
318:
124:-occupied Europe. Launching
1452:4th Special Service Brigade
1447:3rd Special Service Brigade
1442:2nd Special Service Brigade
1437:1st Special Service Brigade
462:4th Special Service Brigade
418:3rd Special Service Brigade
398:Italy, Yugoslavia, Albania
386:2nd Special Service Brigade
346:1st Special Service Brigade
275:Italian resistance movement
109:and the British military's
99:Allied invasion of Normandy
1581:
1457:Special Air Service Troops
1268:No. 11 (Scottish) Commando
913:Shortt & MacBride 2005
822:Shortt & MacBride 2005
810:Shortt & MacBride 2005
798:Shortt & MacBride 2005
786:Shortt & MacBride 2005
774:Shortt & MacBride 2005
762:Shortt & MacBride 2005
502:Special Air Service Troops
333:Raids on the Atlantic Wall
235:Special Air Service Troops
32:Special Air Service Troops
1524:No. 1 Demolition Squadron
1396:Royal Air Force Commandos
972:British Commandos 1940–46
434:Allied invasion of Sicily
362:Allied invasion of Sicily
79:Special Air Service (SAS)
1519:Special Raiding Squadron
1380:British commando frogmen
1278:No. 14 (Arctic) Commando
1052:Commands and Army Groups
934:Army Commandos 1940–1945
281:Special Service brigades
1529:Long Range Desert Group
1432:Special Service Brigade
1253:No. 8 (Guards) Commando
1116:Commonwealth and Empire
991:The Special Air Service
951:Joslen, H. F. (2003) .
315:Special Service Brigade
153:Special Service Brigade
97:, 3 June, prior to the
1502:Other Commando forces:
222:
212:the 3 Commando Brigade
185:
102:
95:Landing Craft Infantry
35:
1514:Special Boat Squadron
1375:Royal Naval Commandos
1045:Higher level commands
970:Moreman, Tim (2006).
915:, pp. 12, 14–16.
840:, pp. 54, 66–67.
220:
183:
174:Landing Craft Assault
146:independent companies
92:
21:
1303:Middle East Commando
836:, pp. 454–455;
303:Notable campaign(s)
1509:Special Air Service
1131:(101–308 and named)
895:, pp. 32, 85;
875:, pp. 32, 85;
608:, pp. 454–455.
586:Imperial War Museum
329:UK, Norway, France
300:Location(s) served
287:
227:Special Air Service
168:travel in existing
40:World War II Allies
856:, pp. 32, 85.
740:, pp. 16, 32.
448:surrender of Japan
285:
223:
191:amphibious attacks
186:
170:troop transporters
135:Lieutenant-Colonel
103:
36:
1537:
1536:
1170:
1169:
1000:978-0-85045-396-6
981:978-1-841-76986-8
962:978-1-84342-474-1
943:978-1-85532-579-1
899:, pp. 31–32.
776:, pp. 12–13.
728:, pp. 31–32.
704:, pp. 27–30.
680:, pp. 21–22.
668:, pp. 16–17.
644:, pp. 14–15.
537:
536:
271:French Resistance
245:regiments, and a
221:The Pegasus flash
172:, e.g., multiple
118:Winston Churchill
26:. Here Brigadier
1572:
1389:Royal Air Force:
1197:
1190:
1183:
1174:
1126:Infantry (1–100)
1033:
1026:
1019:
1010:
1004:
985:
966:
947:
916:
906:
900:
886:
880:
866:
857:
847:
841:
831:
825:
819:
813:
807:
801:
795:
789:
783:
777:
771:
765:
764:, pp. 4–10.
759:
753:
747:
741:
735:
729:
723:
717:
711:
705:
699:
693:
687:
681:
675:
669:
663:
657:
651:
645:
639:
633:
632:, pp. 9–10.
627:
621:
620:, pp. 4, 9.
615:
609:
603:
597:
596:
594:
592:
578:
508:
492:German surrender
468:
424:
392:
352:
326:
321:
288:
140:, conducted its
107:Battle of France
50:began raising a
44:Battle of France
1580:
1579:
1575:
1574:
1573:
1571:
1570:
1569:
1540:
1539:
1538:
1533:
1497:
1461:
1416:
1412:No. 30 Commando
1400:
1384:
1363:
1307:
1293:No. 52 Commando
1288:No. 51 Commando
1283:No. 50 Commando
1273:No. 12 Commando
1206:
1201:
1171:
1166:
1145:
1141:Special Service
1092:
1066:
1040:
1037:
1007:
1001:
988:
982:
969:
963:
950:
944:
928:
924:
919:
911:, p. 456;
907:
903:
891:, p. 455;
887:
883:
871:, p. 455;
867:
860:
852:, p. 455;
848:
844:
832:
828:
820:
816:
808:
804:
796:
792:
784:
780:
772:
768:
760:
756:
748:
744:
736:
732:
724:
720:
712:
708:
700:
696:
688:
684:
676:
672:
664:
660:
652:
648:
640:
636:
628:
624:
616:
612:
604:
600:
590:
588:
580:
579:
575:
571:
542:
506:
466:
422:
390:
350:
324:
320:1 November 1940
319:
291:Formation name
283:
267:Allied invasion
87:
12:
11:
5:
1578:
1576:
1568:
1567:
1562:
1557:
1552:
1542:
1541:
1535:
1534:
1532:
1531:
1526:
1521:
1516:
1511:
1505:
1503:
1499:
1498:
1496:
1495:
1490:
1485:
1480:
1475:
1469:
1467:
1466:Ad hoc Forces:
1463:
1462:
1460:
1459:
1454:
1449:
1444:
1439:
1434:
1428:
1426:
1418:
1417:
1415:
1414:
1408:
1406:
1405:Joint Service:
1402:
1401:
1399:
1398:
1392:
1390:
1386:
1385:
1383:
1382:
1377:
1371:
1369:
1365:
1364:
1362:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1315:
1313:
1309:
1308:
1306:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1258:No. 9 Commando
1255:
1250:
1248:No. 7 Commando
1245:
1243:No. 6 Commando
1240:
1238:No. 5 Commando
1235:
1233:No. 4 Commando
1230:
1228:No. 3 Commando
1225:
1223:No. 2 Commando
1220:
1218:No. 1 Commando
1214:
1212:
1208:
1207:
1202:
1200:
1199:
1192:
1185:
1177:
1168:
1167:
1165:
1164:
1159:
1153:
1151:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1121:British Indian
1118:
1113:
1108:
1102:
1100:
1094:
1093:
1091:
1090:
1085:
1083:British Indian
1080:
1074:
1072:
1068:
1067:
1065:
1064:
1059:
1054:
1048:
1046:
1042:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1035:
1028:
1021:
1013:
1006:
1005:
999:
986:
980:
967:
961:
948:
942:
930:Chappell, Mike
925:
923:
920:
918:
917:
901:
881:
858:
842:
826:
814:
802:
790:
778:
766:
754:
742:
730:
718:
716:, p. 454.
706:
694:
682:
670:
658:
646:
634:
622:
610:
598:
572:
570:
567:
566:
565:
559:
554:
548:
541:
538:
535:
534:
532:
528:
515:
512:
509:
507:7 January 1944
504:
498:
497:
495:
488:
475:
472:
469:
464:
458:
457:
455:
444:British Malaya
440:
431:
428:
425:
420:
414:
413:
411:
408:
399:
396:
393:
388:
382:
381:
379:
376:
359:
356:
353:
348:
342:
341:
339:
335:
330:
327:
322:
317:
311:
310:
307:
304:
301:
298:
295:
292:
282:
279:
203:light infantry
115:Prime Minister
86:
83:
75:light infantry
71:assault troops
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1577:
1566:
1563:
1561:
1558:
1556:
1553:
1551:
1548:
1547:
1545:
1530:
1527:
1525:
1522:
1520:
1517:
1515:
1512:
1510:
1507:
1506:
1504:
1500:
1494:
1491:
1489:
1486:
1484:
1481:
1479:
1476:
1474:
1471:
1470:
1468:
1464:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1445:
1443:
1440:
1438:
1435:
1433:
1430:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1419:
1413:
1410:
1409:
1407:
1403:
1397:
1394:
1393:
1391:
1387:
1381:
1378:
1376:
1373:
1372:
1370:
1366:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1316:
1314:
1312:Royal Marine:
1310:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1215:
1213:
1211:British Army:
1209:
1205:
1198:
1193:
1191:
1186:
1184:
1179:
1178:
1175:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1148:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1111:Anti-aircraft
1109:
1107:
1104:
1103:
1101:
1099:
1095:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1075:
1073:
1069:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1050:
1049:
1047:
1043:
1034:
1029:
1027:
1022:
1020:
1015:
1014:
1011:
1002:
996:
992:
987:
983:
977:
973:
968:
964:
958:
954:
949:
945:
939:
935:
931:
927:
926:
921:
914:
910:
905:
902:
898:
897:Chappell 1996
894:
890:
885:
882:
879:, p. 31.
878:
877:Chappell 1996
874:
870:
865:
863:
859:
855:
851:
846:
843:
839:
835:
830:
827:
824:, p. 16.
823:
818:
815:
812:, p. 15.
811:
806:
803:
800:, p. 14.
799:
794:
791:
788:, p. 13.
787:
782:
779:
775:
770:
767:
763:
758:
755:
752:, p. 85.
751:
746:
743:
739:
734:
731:
727:
722:
719:
715:
710:
707:
703:
698:
695:
692:, p. 25.
691:
686:
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656:, p. 16.
655:
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467:November 1943
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423:November 1943
419:
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391:November 1943
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351:November 1943
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225:In 1941, the
219:
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208:Schutzstaffel
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200:
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195:Royal Marines
192:
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138:Dudley Clarke
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84:
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61:
57:
53:
52:raiding force
49:
45:
41:
33:
29:
25:
20:
16:
1422:
1140:
1088:Commonwealth
990:
971:
952:
933:
904:
893:Moreman 2006
884:
873:Moreman 2006
854:Moreman 2006
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838:Moreman 2006
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781:
769:
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750:Moreman 2006
745:
738:Moreman 2006
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726:Moreman 2006
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709:
702:Moreman 2006
697:
690:Moreman 2006
685:
678:Moreman 2006
673:
666:Moreman 2006
661:
654:Moreman 2006
649:
642:Moreman 2006
637:
630:Moreman 2006
625:
618:Moreman 2006
613:
601:
589:. Retrieved
576:
294:Date formed
258:beige berets
254:maroon beret
224:
207:
187:
150:
104:
68:
48:British Army
37:
28:Mike Calvert
15:
1493:Timberforce
1483:Layforce II
1473:Forfarforce
1368:Royal Navy:
909:Joslen 2003
889:Joslen 2003
869:Joslen 2003
850:Joslen 2003
834:Joslen 2003
714:Joslen 2003
606:Joslen 2003
591:13 November
1544:Categories
1488:Northforce
1421:Brigades (
922:References
309:Source(s)
157:Battalions
142:first raid
113:, British
85:Background
1150:Deception
1071:Divisions
452:Hong Kong
239:regiments
161:companies
131:commandos
60:commandos
24:brigadier
1478:Layforce
1106:Airborne
1098:Brigades
932:(1996).
562:Chindits
540:See also
478:Normandy
406:Adriatic
366:Normandy
250:squadron
1162:British
1078:British
486:Scheldt
262:Pegasus
247:Belgian
199:assault
64:brigade
42:in the
1157:Allied
1136:Mobile
1057:Armies
997:
978:
959:
940:
518:France
306:Notes
243:French
241:, two
165:troops
122:German
56:German
46:, the
1062:Corps
569:Notes
522:Italy
438:Burma
402:Italy
133:" by
126:raids
1423:List
995:ISBN
976:ISBN
957:ISBN
938:ISBN
593:2021
73:and
201:or
1546::
1425:):
861:^
584:.
524:,
520:,
511:—
484:,
480:,
471:—
454:.
436:,
427:—
404:,
395:—
372:,
368:,
364:,
355:—
1196:e
1189:t
1182:v
1032:e
1025:t
1018:v
1003:.
984:.
965:.
946:.
595:.
129:"
101:.
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