WW2
The Unit was formed in August 1943 and sailed for India where it was involved in the Burma campaign.[1] In Burma during January 1945, following the capture of the Myebon Peninsular, 3 Commando Brigade was given the task of making a further landing near Kangaw, with the intention of cutting Japanese lines of withdrawal down the coast. On 22 January 1945, 42 Royal Marines Commando (Lt Col H H Dales) together with No 1 Commando landed and occupied positions in the mangrove swamp.
Subsequently the Commando was ordered to capture a heavily wooded ridge known as Hill 70. Two days of hand-to-hand fighting were necessary before the Japanese could be driven from the ridge, and no sooner were they dislodged than they subjected it to heavy artillery fire. After a lull of several days, the Japanese counterattacked at dawn on 31 January 1945. The enemy attacked repeatedly. In spite of heavy casualties to the Commando, the Japanese were finally beaten off and withdrew leaving their dead lying thickly among forward Commando positions.
In a Special Order of the Day to 3 Commando Brigade, Lt Gen Sir Philip Christison, Commander of XV Corps, concluded. "The Battle of Kangaw has been the decisive battle of the whole Arakan campaign, and that it was won was very largely due to your magnificent defence of Hill 170[2]
[edit] Post-WW2
Following the Second World War 2 Commando Brigade (Nos. 2, 9, 40(RM) and 43(RM)) disbanded leaving 3 Commando Brigade (42(RM), 44(RM) and 45(RM)). The Commando was involved in operations during the confrontation with Indonesia (Borneo)it was during this tour that the famous Limbang Raid was conducted by Lima Company. Throughout the following decade and was based in Singapore at the RNAS Sembawang or HMS Simbang [3][4]
[edit] Return to UK
After the return the UK the Commando was deployed to Northern Ireland, the New Hebrides in 1980 and exercised regularly overseas. Recently the Commando had seen operational service in South Georgia, Montserratt in 1995, Iraq and Afghanistan. [5]
[edit] Falklands Conflict
In 1982, following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, the Commando deployed on Operation Corporate. On 21 May the Commando were Brigade reserve at San Carlos under Lt. Col. Nick Vaux RM. The unit was deployed to seize Mount Kent in a night move by helicopter. By 4 June the unit had moved forward, mostly under cover of darkness, to positions west of high ground overlooking Stanley and the last Argentine stronghold. After days of probing reconnaissance, a Brigade assault took place on the night of 11/12 June in which the Commando's task was to secure Mount Harriet on the Brigade right flank.
By moonlight and in freezing temperatures, 42 Commando moved undetected through enemy minefields in a 9km right-flanking movement to surprise the enemy in their rear. Consecutive assaults by "K" and "L" Companies followed, up steep slopes onto company positions . Against strong resistance and continuous artillery bombardment, the Marines prevailed. By first light more than 30 enemy had been killed and over 300 prisoners taken as 42 Commando consolidated on Mount Harriet. 42 Commando suffered 2 fatalities themselves – one on Mount Harriet and one on Wall Mountain.
For the bravery shown in the attack on Mount Harriet, 42 Commando was awarded 1 DSO, 1 Military Cross, 4 Military Medals and 8 men were Mentioned in Dispatches.[6]
[edit] Recent History
The new millennium saw the Commando deploy on Op Telic 1 for the invasion of Iraq in 2003 where they launched a helicopter assault on the Al Faw Penisular to support 40 Commando RM. The unit returned from Afghanistan on 16 April 2008.
