There are some places where history doesn’t just sit quietly behind glass cases it jumps out at you, tangible and immediate, a visit to the Castletown D-Day Centre on Portland is exactly that kind of experience, and made me both smile and shed a quiet tear. In June 1944 Portland was one of the key embarkation points along with Weymouth for Allied forces, in particular US Troops, heading to Normandy. Thousands of American and British troops along with tonnes of equipment passe

Unit/ Formation : 41 Cdo RM Location : Korea Period/ Conflict : Korean War Year : 1951 Date/s : 7 April 1951 THE SORYE DONG RAID 41 Independent Commando moved into Ebisu Camp in the suburbs of Tokyo in January 1951 and all ranks enjoyed a period of R&R. Later, the Unit was transferred to HMAS Commonwealth at the Naval Base at Kure to re-equip, train and absorb reinforcements. Unfortunately, the arrival of key specialists was delayed and the CO became concerned that morale wou

Unit/ Formation : Royal Marines Location : Burma Period/ Conflict : Second Anglo-Burmese War Year : 1852 Date/s : 5th April 1852 HMS Fox at the very start, 10 January 1852, of the Second Anglo-Burmese War at the mouth of the Yangon River. Burmese Stockades. View towards Rangoon, with the interpreters boat in tow , War steamer Hermes, Burm ese King's ship Yathunah-gee-mhon (King Pagan's royal ship), H.M.S. Fox. The Illustrated London News, 27 March 1852 Fox frigate at Rangoon

Unit/ Formation : 46 Cdo RM Location : Wesel Period/ Conflict : World War II Year : 1945 Date/s : Friday, March 23, 1945 Brigadier Mills-Roberts summarised his plan: 'I decided to send 46 Commando over first in the Buffaloes and go with them with a small Brigade Headquarters. No. 46 had to capture the bank of the river and 6 Commando – which would be next ashore from the storm boats – had to sweep up the river bank and enter Wesel. The other two commandos would be brought acr

Unit/ Formation: Royal Marines Location: Sicily Period/ Conflict: World War II Year: 1943 Date/s: 10 July 1943 The comparatively small...

Commando Men an Epic Mini Series by Si Biggs You asked for it, yes you did! A British Private Ryan and Band of Brothers (at last!) Live,...

Invasion, The Royal Marines and the Battle for Normandy, 1944. Author - George Gelder. Soft Back, 602pp. Published Royal Marines...

Unit/ Formation: 40 Cdo RM Location: France Period/ Conflict: World War II Year: 1942 Date/s: 19 August 1942 The Royal Marine Commando...

The village of Langrune-sur-Mer is defended by a large anti-tank wall and the support point Wn 26 manned by soldiers of the 9th company...

Unit/ Formation: 41 Cdo RM Location: Lion Sur Mer Period/ Conflict: World War II Year: 1944 Date/s: 7 June 1944 7th June 1944 Place: Lion...

Unit/ Formation: 41 Cdo RM Location: Normandy Period/ Conflict: World War II Year: 1944 Date/s: 6 June 1944 The beach at Lion Sur Mer was...

7th June 1944 Place: La Deliverande 2200 - 'B' and 'X' Tps with Command Post reached LA DELIVERANDE and occupied the town. 8th June 1944...

As the 21st Panzer Regiment launched a counter attack against the Orne Bridghead HMS Rodney fired a Naval Bombardment which helped stem...

Unit/ Formation: 45 Cdo RM Location: France Period/ Conflict: World War II Year: 1944 Date/s: 6 June 1944 On 5th June, 1944, 45 Commando...

Support Craft. The following would provide close support for 7 Brigade. LCG 831, 1007 and 1062. Landing Craft Gun each with two 4.7”...

U nit/ Formation: RM ASG Location: Off Solent Water Period/ Conflict: World War II Year: 1944 Date/s: 5 June 1944 On the night of the...

ON D-DAY, six Royal Marine and four Royal Navy LCOCUs, Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Units [LCOCUs pronounced Lock-yews] each comprising an officer and 11 men, were deployed from LCAs from H-Hour. LCOCUs (3, 4 RN), 9 and 10 were assigned to Gold Beach (Force G), 7 and 8 to Sword (Force S), and (1, 5 RN), 11 and 12 to Juno (Force J). Launched from LCAs and operating from inflatable boats, they were responsible for clearing obstructions in depths between 3m and 1.4m,

HMS Erebus Erebus was a monitor, a shallow draft vessel which could steam at around 12 knots, she was basically a floating gun platform...

Mounted by two thousand men of the 4th Battalion Royal Marines and Royal Navy under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes. The...

Unit/ Formation: 41 Cdo RM Location: France Period/ Conflict: World War II Year: 1944 Date/s: 6 June 1944 The most experienced unit in...