Haste to the BattleA Marine Commando at War by J L Moulton. Originally published in 1963, new edition 2024 privately published, available By Clicking Here

Priced at £12.50 + £3.50 p&p in the UK, or get international shipping rates/multiple purchases info is available via email By Clicking Here

In the early years of World War 2, the Corps manned as it traditionally did all the major ships of the Royal Navy. The main land formations were the RM Division and two Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisations (MNBDOs). The latter have been described as ‘… unwieldy, defensive and far from mobile…’ (at one point MNBDO 1 had a strength of some 4,500 men) though when required e.g. in the defence and chaotic evacuation of Crete in 1941 the individual units fought bravely. The RM Division was disbanded in 1943, with the men in it becoming largely either Commandos or landing craft crews for the forthcoming invasion of Europe. Most elements of the MNBDOs followed in a similar fashion.

1943 thus proved to be a pivotal moment for the Corps, with 42 to 47 RM Commandos created and joining 40 and 41 formed the previous year. 48 was established at Deal with ranks from 7th Battalion RM at the beginning of March 1944, completing the RM Commando ORBAT.