No 2 Commando Kit guide

There is a 2 commando guide in the pipeline... I've just been forgetting it.

Insignia... officially no it shouldn't be worn in the field at all for 2 commando.

However we do as otherwise unit identity goes out of the window.

I'm not sure that a brassard would work with the insignia... its a bit high up. The preferred method is to have the 2 commando insignia on the BD and the hallamshire insignia on a piece of serge that can be "tacked" on over the top as required.

Headgear... no rules... go with what you want, but it would be best if a green beret were worn when socialising in kit and in the safezone...

Kit guide is up now, apologies for the delay ....

http://www.ww2airsoft.org.uk/zoom/2commando.html

Lovley stuff, thanks Dave, looks great.

Looking good, Pete. Loving the designer stubble - but of course, you're a cover star now!

Pin up for some i bet....

I hope to do a commando kit in the future well i hope to do 3 British kits, 50th Devonshires, Airborne, and commandoes, eccept my commando kit i wanted a commando jumper and a helmet comforter instead of a beret.

Thats fine... But you'd want a Beret for a smart look at some point...

Hello all, 2 Commando has always been a great interest of mine since I found out that my Great Grandfather was a member of them for the duration of there existance.

Below is an acturate re-creation of his bd for late 1943, the medals are his and the picture in the frame is of him in 1928, he had joined the TA in 1923 and served until 1953. As you will see I am missing the lanyard but am currently making one.

You may notice his insignia, conteary to most books No 2 Army Commando did not wear the "No 2 Commando" red on black shoulder title either printed or embroided. The Peter Taylor book is full of errors and should not be classed as accurate reference. After late 1942 early 1943 the title was changed from the white on black "2 Commando" version to the red on black "Commando" version in printed and embroided versions. What distinguished members of 2 Commando from others was the black and white single twist lanyard:

No 4 Army Commando had a red and orange lanyard but this has been seen in use with the "Commando" and "No 4 Commando" titles. No 2 Army Commando never has been seen to take up the "No 2 Commando" red on black shoulder title.

I do have one picture of 2 Commando in action in Italy. I will try and scan in as soon as possible, they are wearing a mixture of Denisons and Jerkins and also puttee's and gaiters with standard battledress. Headdress is either beret or comforter. Webbing seems a mixture of pistol and standard ammunition type. No bergens or rucksacks can be seen within the picture.

Danny

Excellent info Danny, cheers.

Glad you mentioned the denisons, i know they were on issue to commandos but still wasnt too sure when we used them for our shoot.

Does this affect the No2 Commando guide? Should we remove the No2 bit from the shoulder insignia and get an appropriate lanyard?

I'd like to see more proof to be honest. I do find it odd that the Peter Taylor book has pictures of insignia just like the ones we use and yet apparently they are wrong. I'd like to know for sure where they come from before we start to re-badge our kit.

This is not the first time I've had the Peter Taylor book said to contain errors, but still that other time came completely without any proof whatsoever. At least we do have a single picture to support what Danny said, but since that means we just have one book versus one picture I'd still like to see more proof that the No2 should be removed.

BTW, I'm saying this not because I'm loathe to resew my patches, far from it. The No2 Commando insignia I have is not currently on my BD anyway!

Here's a picture of 2 Commando landing at Corfu in mid November 1943 after capturing the port of Sarande in Albania. Note that most are wearing assault jerkins rather than webbing equipment. Also note the mixture of kd and bd uniform items, insignia seems to be only beret and badge and white tape for rank on the KD items.

Also further evidence to the "Commando" only title comes from ACI (Army Council Instruction) 905 dated 12th June 1943, which states the text of regimental designation shall be "Commando"

Danny

Okay... looking good... but where have the (original?) "No2 Commando" shoulder titles come from?

Have been checking an Opsrey book 'British Army Commandos', and of the illustrations that have shoulder titles, they appear to show as 'No2 Commando'; I know that there are errors in a number of their books, however.

Don't know how accurate it is, but i've just been reading 'Commandos and Rangers of World War 2' by J Ladd, and on page 18 it shows a 'Commando' badge in red thread on dark blue background as an example of an 'unauthorised commando flash'?

It also states, and i quote:

From 1940-42 varying styles of flash were worn and identifying numbers was 'not likely to be approved for security reasons'. After May 1943, however, numbers were incorporated in the printed flashes replacing the then forbidden red on blue variety of flashes including red embroidery on worsted. Early in the war, some commando officiers wore a white and black lanyard.

So it looks like the 'No. 2 Commando' flash we have was worn post-1943.

That makes sense as, having checked again, the pics are 'late war' and 'normandy'.

The Osprey books are also one for there artistic licence one prime example is their "Para's 1940 - 80" Showing South Staff badges which didn't come into use until the 1950's and also using a Sterling curved mag on a Pratchett

I haven't found any further ACI's for the Commando's post ACI 905 dated 12th June 1943 reference insignia. The introduction to the ACI states:

"No distingushing marks other than those as given in this ACI and which are listed below or those authorized by Army Regulations are permitted to be worn"

It is noted that this document was valid until the end of hostilities and in most cases into the 1950's. Only further ammendments were as follows:

ACI 1593 30/10/43 - Tartan flashes inplace of shoulder titles for Scottish Infantry units
- S.W.B to read South Wales Borderers
- Gloster to read Gloucestershire
ACI 1898 25/12/43 - A.&S.H. changed for diced flash
ACI 1207 09/09/44 - Royal Corps of Signals to read Royal Signals
- Cornwall to read D.C.L.I
ACI 510 05/05/45 - R.A.P.C to read Royal Army Pay Corps

ACI 905 dated 12th June 1943 also states the correct colours for the badges that being red lettering on dark blue backing. Prior to the introduction of this ACI a wide range of variants is seen but all commando insignia has been white on black backing and either "2 Commando" or the same as the post ACI 905 version that being "Commando".

Danny

Okay... me and Gadge had a chat about this... We'd like to go with what Dan is suggesting and recommend you snip off the "No2" from the insignia.

However we'd like it to be optional as we can't actually find anything definite that says that the "No2" was not there some of the time... mainly because the "No2 Commando" insignia had to come from somewhere!

I'll be doing this to mine tonight...

BTW, another option is to go without insignia at all... which is correct for "invasion regs"

And something for Dan... Was No2 commando the only one to wear "commando" only shoulder titles, or can we then get away with other commando impressions with just a cap badge change?

In resurrecting this thread I just wanted to check, though I do assume it still to be the case, that snipping the 'No 2' off is still recommended, as my insignia are flying towards me in the post at the moment.

ta
Craig