2nd Special Service Brigade

2nd Special Service 2nd Commando Brigade
Active	1943–1946
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army Royal Navy
Type	Commando
Role	Coastal raiding Assault infantry Special operations
Part of	Combined Operations
Engagements	Second World War
Commanders
Notable commanders	Ronnie Tod
Insignia
Combined Operations Tactical recognition flash

The 2nd Special Service Brigade was formed in late 1943 in the Middle East and saw service in Italy, the Adriatic, the landings at Anzio and took part in operations in Yugoslavia.^[1] On 6 December 1944 the Brigade was renamed 2nd Commando Brigade, removing the title Special Service and its association with the Schutzstaffel.^[2]

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Italian Campaign

The brigade as a formation, was not involved in Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, but 40 RM Commando was involved in the assault landings as Army Troops. In Operation Shingle, the assault at Anzio, No. 9 (Army) Commando and No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando were the only units involved. The whole brigade would be involved in the final offensive of the Italian Campaign.

In 1945 the brigade was involved in the Lake Comacchio battle, Operation Roast, where Corporal Thomas Peck Hunter of 43 Commando was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous Gallantry in single-handedly clearing a farmstead housing three Spandau machine guns after charging across 200 metres of open ground firing his Bren gun from the hip, then moving to an exposed position to draw fire away from his comrades by engaging further Spandaus entrenched on the far side of the canal. After Operation Roast the brigade was involved in the follow-up actions until the German surrender.

The brigade remained in the area on security duties until it was disbanded in 1946 ^[1]

Formation

Brigadier Ronnie Tod

Battle honours

The following Battle honours were awarded to British Commandos during the Second World War.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b Army Commandos 1940–45 By Mike Chappell, p 31
^ British Commandos 1940–46 By Timothy Robert Moreman, p 32
^ Moreman, p.94

v t e British Commando units of the Second World War
British Army:	No. 1 Commando No. 2 Commando No. 3 Commando No. 4 Commando No. 5 Commando No. 6 Commando No. 7 Commando No. 8 (Guards) Commando No. 9 Commando No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando No. 11 (Scottish) Commando No. 12 Commando No. 14 (Arctic) Commando No. 50 Commando No. 51 Commando No. 52 Commando No. 62 Commando (Small Scale Raiding Force) Middle East Commando
Royal Marine:	No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commando No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando No. 42 (Royal Marine) Commando No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando No. 44 (Royal Marine) Commando No. 45 (Royal Marine) Commando No. 46 (Royal Marine) Commando No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando
Royal Navy:	Royal Naval Commandos British commando frogmen
Royal Air Force:	Royal Air Force Commandos
Joint Service:	No. 30 Commando
Brigades (List):	Special Service Brigade 1st Special Service Brigade 2nd Special Service Brigade 3rd Special Service Brigade 4th Special Service Brigade Special Air Service Troops
Ad hoc Forces:	Forfarforce Layforce Layforce II Northforce Timberforce
Other Commando forces:	Special Air Service Special Boat Squadron Special Raiding Squadron No. 1 Demolition Squadron Long Range Desert Group

This page was last edited on 25 October 2021, at 14:07

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