The Wartime Memories Project

- No.1 Commando during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

No.1 Commando



   No. 1 Special Service Battalion was formed in 1940 from Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 Independent Companies In March 1941 they were renamed and became No. 1 Commando. They saw action in September 1941 during raids on the French coast. In November 1942 they were in North Africa, returning to Britain in April 1943. They were in action again in September 1944 in Ceylon moving to Burma in November 1944 and to Hong Kong the following year. In 1945 they amalgamated with No. 5 Commando, to form No. 1/5 Commando.

 

28th Sep 1941 Raid

28th Mar 1942 In Action

2nd Apr 1942 Raid

3rd Jun 1942 Raid

21 October 1942 Operation Torch planned

8th Nov 1942 In Action

1st Dec 1942 In Action

1st Mar 1943 Infiltration

3rd Mar 1943 Withdrawal

April 1944 Reliefs

18th Jun 1944 Raid  location map

9th Nov 1944 Raids

20th Nov 1944 Parol

22nd Nov 1944 In Action

23rd Nov 1944 Prisoner

13th Dec 1944 Training  location map

29th Dec 1944 Orders

1st Jan 1945 Preparations

2nd Jan 1945 On the Move

3rd Jan 1945 On the Move

3rd January 1945 Landing

3rd Jan 1945 Landings  location map

4th Jan 1945 Conference

4th Jan 1945 Advance  location map

5th Jan 1945 Patrols

6th Jan 1945 On the March

6th Jan 1945 Patrols  location map

7th Jan 1945 Visits

8th Jan 1945 Orders

9th Jan 1945 Move Postponed

10th Jan 1945 Preparations

10th Jan 1945 Recce  location map

11th Jan 1945 On the Move

12th Jan 1945 Into Position

12th Jan 1945 Landings  location map

13th Jan 1945 In Action

13th Jan 1945 In Action  location map

14th Jan 1945 Patrols

14th Jan 1945 Patrols

15th Jan 1945 Patrols

15th Jan 1945 Attack Made  location map

16th Jan 1945 Patrols

16th Jan 1945 Advance  location map

17th Jan 1945 Patrols

18th Jan 1945 Recce

18th Jan 1945 Patrols  location map

19th Jan 1945 Orders

20th Jan 1945 On the Move

20th Jan 1945 Preparations

21st Jan 1945 On the Move

21st Jan 1945 On the Move  location map

22nd Jan 1945 On the Move

22nd Jan 1945 Advance  location map

23rd Jan 1945 Enemy Attack

24th Jan 1945 Shelling

25th Jan 1945 Shelling

26th Jan 1945 Shelling

27th Jan 1945 Shelling

28th Jan 1945 Exchange of Fire

29th Jan 1945 Intermittent Shelling

30th Jan 1945 Orders

31st Jan 1945 In Action

31st Jan 1945 Enemy Attack

1st Feb 1945 Moping up

1st Feb 1945 Reliefs

2nd Feb 1945 In Camp

3rd Feb 1945 Orders

4th Feb 1945 Service

5th Feb 1945 Address

7th Feb 1945 Reorganisation

8th Feb 1945 In Camp

9th Feb 1945 In Camp

10th Feb 1945 Change of Command

11th Feb 1945 In Camp

12th Feb 1945 On the Move

13th Feb 1945 On the Move

14th Feb 1945 Construction Work

15th Feb 1945 Construction Work

16th Feb 1945 Training

17th Feb 1945 In Camp

18th Feb 1945 In Camp

19th Feb 1945 Inspection

20th Feb 1945 Training

21st Feb 1945 Fire

22nd Feb 1945 Football

23nd Feb 1945 Football

24th Feb 1945 Competition

25th Feb 1945 Competition

26th Feb 1945 Training

27th Feb 1945 Visit

28th Feb 1945 Swimming

23rd March 1945 Crossing the Rhine  location map


If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.



Those known to have served with

No.1 Commando

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Adcock Wallace.
  • Durrant VC. Thomas Frank. Sgt. (d.28th March 1942)
  • Hirst James Richard. Pte.
  • Shipp Les. Sgt.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of No.1 Commando from other sources.



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Want to know more about No.1 Commando ?


There are:1411 items tagged No.1 Commando available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Wallace Adcock Royal Norfolk Regiment

Wallace Adcock was stationed with the Royal Norfolk Regiment in India prior to the outbreak of WW2. He volunteered for guerilla warfare in Finland and when Russia joined the Allies he became part of the Independent Companies prior to the formation of the Army Commando. He served in number one Commando and I was informed at his funeral that he was highly thought of by Lord Lovat. (They were involved in certain ploys). After jaunts to Norway and North Africa prior to Torch, and beach sampling near Boulogne he went as weapons instructor to Achnacarry. There are photographs of him with Lord Lovat.

Hugh Montgomerie Adcock



Pte. James Richard "Grim Jim" Hirst 1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment

James Hirst was called up to the Essex Regiment and was transferred to the 1st Suffolks in 1940. He volunteered for glider training which was cancelled, then volunteered instead for Special Service Battalion at Dartmouth. He became redesignated as No.1 Commando. He was in the Reserve Unit at St.Nazaire and Madagascar. He landed at Algiers as part of Operation Torch and took part at Sedjenane. He received the Africa Star as part of 1st Army. He then returned to the 1st Suffolk Regiment and trained for D-Day. He landed on Sword Beach and as member of A Company and helped take position Hillman. He was moved on to Chateau de la Londe and repatriated after being wounded there. He was transferred to Royal Engineers to end of war. Jim died in August 2015.

Tony Birth



Sgt. Les Shipp No. 2 Troop No. 1. Commando

I am enquiring on behalf of my son-in-law about his father who he has only recently learned about. He is Sgt. Les Shipp, No.1 Commando, No.2 Troop. If anyone has any recollections of him or any photographs, he would be very grateful.

April Clark









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