| 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.
Contents |
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]
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.
43 Commando RM was reformed between 1961-1968 for "as a further contribution to the forces available for seaborne operations".[9]
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.
The following Battle honours were awarded to the British Commandos during the Second World War.[10]
|
||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||