The Independent Companies and Special Service Battalions

In April 1940 HQ 55th (West Lancs) Division issued Divisonal Operation Order 5 authorising the formation of No.4 Independent Company. At the time the 55th were a two Brigade Motor Divn consisting of 164 Bde. : 9th Bn. Kings Regt, 1/4th Bn. The South Lancs Regt, and 2/4th Bn. the South Lancs. Regt; 165 Bde. : 5th Bn. Kings Regt, 1st Bn. Liverpool Scottish QOCH, and 2nd Bn. Liverpool Scottish QOCH.
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)