Unit/ Formation: 47 Cdo RM
Location: Great Britian
Period/ Conflict: World War II
Year: 1943
Date/s: 1 August 1943
47 (RM) Commando was formed at the DEPOT BARRACKS DORCHESTER on the first day of August 1943. On the previous day these barracks had been occupied by the 10th Battalion Royal Marines, and it was this unit which was to provide the nucleus of the new unit.
LT COL C.N.S. SMITH RM who had been in command of the Battalion, remained with the Commando in a supervisory capacity until the arrival on 5th August of LT COL C.F. PHILIPS, RM. During the few days that elapsed before the arrival of the latter, there was much organisation to be carried out, first it was necessary to give a name or a numeral to each of the fighting troops.
It was soon decided that these should conform with ship's turrets, and A,B,X,Y, were established. There was some doubt about the fifth troop, until LT COL SMITH proposed that it should be known as Q troop, Q being the letter of the alphabet by which the mid turret of a ship is known. At a very long meeting, the men were selected for the various troops, and for Commando HQ.
This proved a very difficult task, and over 50% of al1 NCOs and men who had been serving with the 10th Battalion RM were rejected for service with the Commando either on physical or disciplinary grounds.
As events proved, many more were rejected during ensuing weeks, but reinforcements rolled in satisfactorily, though the unit was always slightly below strength for the first few months of existence.
On the arrival of LT COL PHILIPS, officers were appointed to their troops, and to various regimental appointments. The original set up did not, however, remain constant for very long
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