Beachhead Assault: The Combat History of the Royal Naval Commandos in World War II

by David Marshal Lee

The Royal Naval Commandos had one of the most dangerous and the most important tasks of any in World War II - they were first on to the invasion beaches and they were the last to leave. Formed in 1941 as the Royal Naval Beach Parties, many lost their lives in the Dieppe raid. After Dieppe they became fully fledged fighting commandos with their legendary Fairbairn Sykes commando knives, organized into units from a commando through to the all Canadian W Commando.

Under their officers who were designated as Beachmasters, the Royal Naval Commandos led the way in on the beaches as part of the allied landings in Madagascar, Dieppe, North Africa, Pantelleria, Sicily, Salerno, the Volturno River, Anzio, Arakan, D-Day, Elba, Walcheren and Commachio. Their work on the beaches was crucial to the success of the allied invasions. After the war the Royal Naval Commandos were disbanded and forgotten and their wartime role was given to the Royal Marines.

The personal accounts of Royal Naval Commandos contained in this book tell the story of a remarkable but little-known group of men, ensuring that their legacy will not be forgotten.

Genres: World War II

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

David John Pryer Lee, air-force officer

Reviews

[Michael Koch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 2004. The British Royal Naval Commandos were formed following the Dieppe Raid in August 1942 and functioned until the end of the war. The Dieppe raid was one of the largest assault landings since the start of the war. It followed the traditional British control and operations practices in getting soldiers (Army) into the landing craft (Navy), over the water to the beaches (Navy) where they would disembark (Army) fight the enemy and get themselves through the beaches.

Clearly, Dieppe had challenges, the loss of surprise allowed the Germans to be ready with all weapons before the landing craft even got to the beaches. The earliest landings carried Naval personnel who were to direct the landing craft to their correct location and the soldiers to their correct gathering locations. The early German reaction caused chaos and casualties among the landing craft and beaches, resulting in army units being mislocated, and officers searching for their units. Soldiers had trouble finding their officers and freshly landed soldiers faced intense fire trying to find their units. With mostly independent Army and Navy radio communication, important information between land and ships was often lost, late or misunderstood.

After Dieppe, a new naval command was established to ensure that all landing functions in the Navy and the Army were in one command, the Royal Naval Commandos. Not to be mistaken for Royal Marine Commandos, the Royal Naval Commandos (RNC) piloted all landing craft, regardless of type, and provided extensive personnel to direct all landing craft to their location using signs, radio, flag communication and flares. They provided de-mining on the beach and in water to a depth of about five feet, identified the beach exits and directed units and vehicles in the right directions and wounded to medical care. They were first on the beach and were to fight the enemy far enough that beach casualties, men and equipment, were reduced. RNC personnel were equipped with automatic weapons and artillery to destroy or capture German hardened and dangerous areas. Forward Operational Officers were equipped with radio communication with ships specified to help clear the beaches and target longer ranges.

Facing all this battle, RNCs were trained with and by other commandos. This helped the RNC general morale, learn the lexicon and weapons of the Army as well as the Navy. This training allowed both the Army and Navy to help each other as their tools and weapons were all the same as was their language. Their expansive radio network was able to assist Army and Navy units' communications with their headquarters or ships. While some RNCs served for hours or days, those at the Normandy D-Day were present for weeks or months.

This book covers about 10 beach assaults including Dieppe. The stories are told by then-serving members of all ranks. Lee included short descriptions of the larger picture or any gaps in the story of each battle. The personal tales are interesting and well told. A worthy read of an infrequently told story. Four Stars.

[Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. I knew nothing about the Canadian participation in WWII. In fact I knew nothing about the Commandos. The interviews of actual Commandos added veracity and interest to their story. David Lee creates a good read and keeps it moving despite the documentary it is. As most of WWII vets they were brave men who did their best often times in spite of the heads of their service. By the way we won.

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book- it covers such an important facet of the Allied success in WWII and helps to fill in key gaps in the overall narrative of the Allied Liberation of Europe and Asia. David Lee is a historian and transport author whose father was one of these brave fellows- and thus iss well-suited to talking to the Veterans and tell their story. Royal Naval Commandos were not as much another arm of special forces/raiders as the Marine and Army Commandos were, but rather a force of Landing and Beach management soldier-sailors who were tasked with turning a beach into a temporary harbour- and then operating it until it was not required for logistics anymore. While first used without much success at the mishap at Dieppe- this force would grow in size and capability as the requirements grew from the "Torch" landings in Africa to "Husky" in Sicily, all the Italian beachheads (Taranto, Salerno, Anzio and some less well know assaults), the D-Day and Dragoon landings in France, river crossings, and also several operations in Asia. Throughout, they would be among the first in- and almost always the last out- constantly working to keep efficiency high and confusion limited whilst Armies and Navies cooperated to peel back the grip of Fascism.

It is often stated that a resisted landing on an enemy coastline or riverbank is the most challenging tactical exercise there is- and the Allied Command in Britain faced many of these if they were to wrest Europe from the Nazis, and at the very same time, Occupied Asia from the Japanese. This was an assignment several factors harder than the pinprick raids the Allies were attempting in the early war. These beaches would first be battlefields- then tactical routes and finally- one hoped- logistical conduits for a time- at least until whole actual captured deep water ports could replace them. Taking conventional Harbour Masters and training them up for combat theatre was not an option- their hands were full running harbours already- and most of them were older men not suited for harm's way. A new formation was needed- Sailors who could dominate a beach - and then run it effectively for the other services. The author takes us through the creation, training and finally the many various landings, not all of them as well know as the large ones- all the time weaving narrative and interviewed memories into a really compelling story. I think his father would be proud of the work done as the whole of it jumps off the page . A strong rec from this reviewer , for sure.

There are some adult themes and several grim violence and injury passages, this is a book for the Juni0or Reader over 14/15 years with a Nautical/Historical interest. For the Gamer /Modeler /Military Enthusiast this is a great resource, as it has plenty to offer. The Gamer gets a new unit to use- depending on rules and scale, with the promise of Khaki serge wearing lads with Naval ratings caps or helmets- and the only users of the Navy's Lanchester Submachine guns ashore that I have ever heard of . The Modeler get all that- and some really interesting build and diorama ideas- especially with the small but interesting b/w photo selection that shows training and action shots. For the Military Enthusiast, a deepish dive into a little known but really important factor of amphibious warfare is a real boon. With Amphibious Warfare such a big factor in WWII- on both sides of the world- I think any curious reader will find this intriguing.