https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/ Other Independents Companies formed were:
No.1 Independent Company formed from 52nd Lowland Divn;
No.2 Independent Company formed from 53rd Welsh Divn;
No.3 Independent Company formed from 54th East Anglian Divn;
No.5 Independent Company formed from 56th London Divn;
No.6 Independent Company formed from 9th Scottish Divn;
No.7 Independent Company formed from 15th Scottish Divn;
No.8 Independent Company formed from 18th Eastern Divn;
No.9 Independent Company formed from 38th Welsh Divn;
No.10 Independent Company (click on the link) formed from 66th East Lancs. Divn.
There was a No.11 Independent Company formed for one specific operation.

The first 5 Independent Companies sailed to Norway under the name Scissors Force to join Operation Avonmouth - the British Expeditionary Force. After their return Commando units began to be raised from June 1940 onwards. On the 11th Oct 1940 they were all then formed into Special Service (SS) Battalions (Bn).

1st SS Bn. A and B Coys. was formed from Nos. 1,2,3,4,5,8 and 9 Ind. Companies (No.2 Cdo was later formed from B Coy. under Lt Col. Newman at Paignton);
2nd SS Bn. was formed from No.6 and 7 Ind. Coys. and Commandos from No.9 and 11 Commando;
3rd SS Bn. was formed from Nos.4 and 7 Commando;
4th SS Bn. was formed from Nos.3 and 8 Commando;
5th SS Bn. was formed from Nos. 5 and 6 Commando.

During February/March 1941 the Special Service Battalions were again reorganised back into Commando Units which were smaller and more workable.

[Special Service Roll of Honour……].

(Album created by Pete Rogers. Additional details provided courtesy of Dennis Reeves, Liverpool Scottish Museum Trust)]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Mon, 08 Jun 2026 02:45:45 +0100 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/6208-10/Independent+Companies.jpg https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/ https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/Frank+Sumner-1+_2_.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/Frank+Sumner-1+_2_.jpg.html
Liverpool Scottish (QOCH), No.4 Independent Company, and 5 Troop No.2 Commando. Wounded and prisoner of war at St Nazaire.

Main archive entry: http://www.commandoveterans.org/FrankSumner2Commando
In album The Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Thu, 08 Jul 2021 23:46:21 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/Capt-HH-Blissett.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/Capt-HH-Blissett.jpg.html
[Photo from the private album of Major 'Bill' Copland DSO, of No.4 Ind Coy., and 2 Cdo., courtesy of his son Peter].
In album The Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 11 May 2026 17:49:11 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/No-4-Ind-Coy-tents-Sizewell-neach.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/No-4-Ind-Coy-tents-Sizewell-neach.jpg.html
[Photo from the collection of Major 'Bill' Copland DSO, of No.4 Ind Coy., and 2 Cdo., courtesy of his son Peter].
In album The Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 11 May 2026 18:00:53 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/4-ind-coy-HQ-Sizewell-apr-40.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/4-ind-coy-HQ-Sizewell-apr-40.jpg.html
[Photo from the collection of Major 'Bill' Copland DSO, of No.4 Ind Coy., and 2 Cdo., courtesy of his son Peter].
In album The Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 11 May 2026 18:00:21 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/CJB+_amp_+John+Craven.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/CJB+_amp_+John+Craven.jpg.html
John Craven (1st left) & Charles Pollitt (2nd left) served together in 10 Ind Company and again in No.1 Commando so it is thought that this photo is when they were in 10 Independent Company.
In album The Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions]]> Nick Collins photo Sat, 22 Sep 2018 22:58:21 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/LCpl+Bibby+and+Fred+Peachey.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/LCpl+Bibby+and+Fred+Peachey.jpg.html
[Photo from the collection of LSgt Fred Peachey MM and bar (No 4 Ind Coy, 1 SS Bn, and No 2 Cdo) courtesy of his great nephew Mark Brammer.]
In album The Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Thu, 21 Dec 2017 17:11:33 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/1940+4+IND+Coy+after+returning+from+Norway+later+on+we+all+went+to+SANDWICH_.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/1940+4+IND+Coy+after+returning+from+Norway+later+on+we+all+went+to+SANDWICH_.jpg.html
...after returning from Norway. "Later on we all went to SANDWICH." [ Fred Peachey.]
In album The Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions]]> Nick Collins photo Sun, 19 Apr 2020 12:25:31 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/Glenfinnon+Scotland+1940+left+to+Right+Jim+Smith+Fred+Arnold+Stubs+Jim+killed+at+Salerno+arnold+works+at+UKAEA+Risley_.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/Glenfinnon+Scotland+1940+left+to+Right+Jim+Smith+Fred+Arnold+Stubs+Jim+killed+at+Salerno+arnold+works+at+UKAEA+Risley_.jpg.html
[Photo from the collection of LSgt Fred Peachey MM and bar (No 4 Ind Coy, 1 SS Bn, and No 2 Cdo) courtesy of his great nephew Mark Brammer.]

Left to Right: Jim Smith, Fred Peachey, Arnold Stubs.
Jim was killed at Salerno, Arnold worked at United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Risley.

In Memory of 3654054 Lance Corporal James Smith [view]
South Lancashire Regiment and No 2 Commando
who died on the 13th September 1943 at Dragone Hill Salerno
Remembered with honour at the Cassino Memorial.
In album The Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions]]> Nick Collins photo Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:07:41 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/No_2_Glenfinnon_1940.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/No_2_Glenfinnon_1940.jpg.html
[Photo from the collection of LSgt Fred Peachey MM and bar (No 4 Ind Coy, 1 SS Bn, and No 2 Cdo) courtesy of his great nephew Mark Brammer.]

Fred Peachey, top left and fellow commandos Glenfinnan in 1940. The photo is marked on the back as No.2 IRSS Commando.

The location and date and their Regiment (Fred was in the South Lancs) suggest this to be No 4 Independent Company raised in April 1940, or during the short period of redesignation in October 1940 to No. 1 Special Service Bn. A new No 2 Cdo was then raised in Feb 1941 from these units.
In album The Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions]]> Nick Collins photo Thu, 21 Dec 2017 17:01:47 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/Albert+Copus.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Independent+Companies/Albert+Copus.jpg.html
Albert Copus was a PTI in the Seaforth Highlanders. Service number 3133642. Served in the Independent Companies 1940 and later rejoined his unit and was stationed in barracks at Ayr. In 1942 he embarked for East Africa and was attached to the East African Force, Somali Bn. His final rank was Colour Sergeant. Photo and information courtesy of his brother Ron Copus.
In album The Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions]]> ron copus photo Sat, 27 Oct 2018 16:05:38 +0100