http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/
Prior to Achnacarry becoming the Commando Basic Training Centre each individual Commando Unit arranged its own training. The first fixed base for specialist training was at Lochailort and was known as STC Lochailort. STC being the Special Training Centre. Nissan huts were on the grounds by the banks of Loch Ailort. The HQ was in Inverailort Castle. Both the Loch and the Castle take their name from the River Ailort. There were later many other STC's for different purposes. Achnacarry was used initially as a sort of Holding Unit for those awaiting training at the STC Lochailort. Messrs. Fairbairn and Sykes began instructing at Lochailort in 1940 along with many other distinguished names such as Lord Lovat, Brig. Mike Calvert, Colonel Spencer Chapman, Major Peter Kemp, the Stirling brothers, and so many more. From July 1940 officers and NCO’s from the newly formed Commandos, and others, attended the STC to be instructed in the new specialist techniques and skills. They then returned to their respective Commandos to blend the skills they had learned and combine those with the individual training each Commando Unit did at that time. Lt Col Charles Newman of No.2 Commando wrote a factsheet of the skills required titled 'Service of a Commando' which is documented below (to view click on the 1st photo). Other specialist groups being formed also attended the STC. Early 1942, STC Lochailort ceased to be used for this purpose (being taken over by the Royal Navy) and Achnacarry was taken into full use as the Main training centre being initially known as the Commando Depot, later changing its name to the Commando Basic Training Centre (CBTC). The first courses began in March 1942. From then on all Commando training was fully centralised with the initial course being at the CBTC.

In the book "It had to be tough" by James Dunning he states the following about Commando Training at Achnacarry :"Normal intakes of trainees were allocated to one of the three training Commandos: Keyes, Haydon or Sturges, named after pioneers of Combined Operations and the Commandos. Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, our first beloved boss, and his son Geoffrey, who won the first Commando VC; General Haydon, the original commander of the Special Service Brigade and leader of the Lofoten Islands Raid; General Sturges, a Royal Marine, who after the Madagascar operation became the first overall commander of the Commando Group of four Commando Brigades. Each Training Commando was commanded by a Captain, with a minimal headquarters of a CSM, a clerk and a storeman. The Commando was organized into four training Troops, each under an instructor-officer, assisted by a Troop Sergeant."
James Dunning was in Haydon Training Commando in 1943.

There are additional pictures of Commando Training in both the No.2 and No.4 Commando galleries

© All photographs and information on this site are subject of copyright. Contact the CVA for further details]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.7 Fri, 24 May 2013 15:37:18 +0000 120 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/3756-11/Commando+Training.jpg http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/ http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Cdo+Training+in+Scotland.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Cdo+Training+in+Scotland.jpg.html
Training during a blizzard in Scotland, Cpl Martien van Barneveld, 2(Dutch)Troop, No10 (IA) Cdo is the tall figure with a beret in the centre of this photo. Known to the Dutch recruits as 'the Big Man of Achnacarry', Martien van Barneveld was an instructor of trainee commandos for 2 (Dutch) Troop, this was in 1944 when he had returned from the battle of Arnhem. Information provided by Martien van Barneveld. Photo posted by N Collins

For more photos from this training course click on this link http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/Dutch/Reinforcements/]]> Nick Collins photo Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:42:24 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Defence+of+a+village+by+Lt+Col+Newman+No2+Commando.pdf.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Defence+of+a+village+by+Lt+Col+Newman+No2+Commando.pdf.html
This training document written on the 20th August 1941 by Lt Col. Augustus Charles Newman (Officer Commanding No.2 Commando and later awarded the Victoria Cross on Operation Chariot) is from the collection of Len Justice No.2 Cdo 1 troop courtesy of his son David Justice. Posted by Pete R.

To view this report click on 'Download document' typed in blue below. You may need to scale down the size slightly using your PDF viewer for ease of viewing

*** NB *** when finished and if you wish to go back to the gallery click on the 'back arrow' top left rather than on the close document 'X' top right. Clicking directly on the close document 'X' may take you out of the website]]> Peter Rogers photo Thu, 22 Nov 2012 22:03:13 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Holmes-001.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Holmes-001.jpg.html
Back row of 3 men [l-r]: 1-3. n/k

Middle row of 14 men [l-r]: 1-14. n/k

Front row of 15 men [l-r]: 1-6. n/k; 7. Maj. A.G. Komrower DSO, 2 i/c; 8. Lt. Col. Charles Vaughan MBE(Commandant); 9-11. n/k; 12. Lt. H.J. Keigwin ?; 13-15. n/k


[Photo courtesy of Paul Bell who adds "I was recently fortunate enough to win at auction a selection of papers and photographs belonging to Major R.E.W. Holmes - No.1 SS (Cdo) Bde. which included this one" Posted by Pete R.]]]> Peter Rogers photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:15 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Service+in+a+Commando+by+Lt_+Col_+A_C_+Neman_001.pdf.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Service+in+a+Commando+by+Lt_+Col_+A_C_+Neman_001.pdf.html
This early document was written by Lt Col. Augustus Charles Newman, CO of No.2 Commando. It outlines the skills and abilities, both mental and physical, required of a Commando. Lt Col Newman would later lead his men on the epic raid on the dry dock at St Nazaire, subsequently being awarded the Victoria Cross

Click on 'Download document' typed in blue below to open the document

*** NB *** when finished and if you wish to go back to the gallery click on the 'back arrow' top left rather than on the close document 'X' top right. Clicking directly on the close document 'X' may take you out of the website

Posted by Pete R]]> Peter Rogers photo Thu, 22 Nov 2012 21:50:51 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/180099+copy.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/180099+copy.jpg.html
The caption reads:

"Lt. Col. C.E. Vaughan, Commandant of a Commando Depot confers with this Second in Command, Major Peter Cockraft on the day's schedule for a Ranger Unit. Speanbridge, Scotland."

Date: 12 February 1943.

III-SC 180099, Credit The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

[Courtesy of Dave Kerr. Posted by Pete R.]]]> Peter Rogers photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:11 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/180098+copy.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/180098+copy.jpg.html
The caption reads:

"Major Peter Cockraft, Second in Command at Commando Depot, somewhere in Britain, poses with Captain Viscount De Jonghe, Demolition Officer, at a Combined Operations Unit Training Ground, somewhere in Britain.

"Commando Depot, Speanbridge, Scotland."

Date: 7 February 1943.

III-SC 180098, Credit The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

[Courtesy of Dave Kerr. Posted by Pete R.]]]> Peter Rogers photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:11 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Milling.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Milling.jpg.html
This document provided to John Mewett by Henry Brown OBE, No.1 Commando, and General Secretary of the Commando Association 1946-1986.

[Posted by Pete R.]]]> Peter Rogers photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:08 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/dcm+achnacarry.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/dcm+achnacarry.jpg.html
Four men squatting l-r:

Front row seated (13 men)l-r: 1-4. n/k; 5. T/Maj. Douglas Cotton Minchin (Chief Instructor); 6. Lt.Col. Charles Vaughan (Commandant); 7. n/k; 8. Captain Joy (became Adjutant); 9-13.n/k

1st row standing (15 men)l-r:

2nd row standing (11 men)l-r:

Back row standing (12 men)l-r:

Photo courtesy of Daphne Garey, sister of Douglas Cotton Minchin who is pictured here as Chief Instructor. Posted by Pete R.]]> Peter Rogers photo Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:39:48 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/unamed+drummer+from+CBTC.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/unamed+drummer+from+CBTC.jpg.html
Note the inscription on the drum. Photo from a collection at Inverary Castle courtesy of the Duke of Argyll. My thanks to Jim Brown (Inverary Castle Esates Office) for his help, and to Pete Dunlop who photographed their collection for the CVA. Posted by Pete R]]> Peter Rogers photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 14:47:46 +0000 http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Pipe+Major+T_A_+Maclauchlan+1943.jpg.html http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Pipe+Major+T_A_+Maclauchlan+1943.jpg.html
Commando Depot Pipes and Drums, 1943. Photo from a collection at Inverary Castle and courtesy of the Duke of Argyll. My thanks to Jim Brown (Inverary Castle Esates Office) for his help, and to Pete Dunlop who photographed their collection for the CVA. Posted by Pete R]]> Peter Rogers photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 14:47:46 +0000