1 COMMANDO BRIGADE SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN MAY/JUNE 1945

Discussion in 'Commandos & Royal Marines' started by Bluebell Minor, Sep 28, 2017.

  1. Bluebell Minor

    Bluebell Minor Junior Member

    Help please

    As some will know I am assisting Historic Steve produce an outline ORBAT/LOCSTAT to show the transformation of 21 ARMY GROUP into BAOR. I have a particular interest in Schleswig Holstein/ 8 Corps District. My current area of research includes 1 Commando Brigade and I have studied the relevant War Diaries held in Kew in the ADM 202, WO 171 and WO 218 Series. However I have some problems.

    By way of Background the Brigade rejoined 21 Army Group to provide a specialist assault capability just before the Rhine Crossing in late March 1945. They remained under command providing a much needed Infantry asset and provided the spearhead force for the 8 Corps crossing of the River Elbe to the west of Lauenburg. They then moved as part of the 15 Scottish Division advance to the Baltic and were south and west of Lubeck when the Ceasefire/Stanstill Orders took effect on the 4th May. They then deployed further north into the Fehmarn Peninsular following the Unconditional Surrender of Nazi Germany as part of the Allied OPERATION ECLIPSE plans which took effect on 8th May. Their stay was short and The Brigade returned to the UK in early June,to reorganise prior to a projected move to the Far East and the planning of the Invasion of Malaya (which never took place.

    The basic ORBAT was 3 and 6 Army Commandos, 45 and 46 Commandos Royal Marines with 1 Mountain Regiment providing Artillery Support.

    The Problem areas are:-
    a. 10 (International Allies) Commando.
    There is brief mention of reinforcements from this unit coming under command after the move into the Fehmarn Peninsular possibly as replacements for the departing 1 Mountain Regiment RA. One internet source suggested that they may have been from the Belgian 4th Troop. However to date I have been able to track down the unit war diaries for this period. These reinforcements joined 80 Anti Aircraft Brigade when the Commando Brigade returned to the UK..

    b. Combat Support.
    I have been unable to track down accurate details of the units providing the essential combat support to the Brigade.
    Royal Engineers
    There is a brief comment in Commander Engineers 8 Corps asset surveys for mid and late May 1945 that Engineer Support to the Brigade was in the form of a Troop with manpower provided by Royal Marine Engineers not Army Sappers.
    Royal Signals
    There is brief mention of the existence of a Signals Troop in one of the OP Orders but no clues as to who provided the manpower. I assume Army wireless sets had to be used in order to receive orders from higher authorities and to communicate with flanking formations, A Royal Signals presence is very likely.
    RASC
    An integral RASC Company, providing the essential Combat Supplies (fuel, ammo,rations and water) was an essential asset to any Brigade. Apart from brief mention of troop lifts by un named RASC units in individual Army war diaries I have been unable to find any reference to this unit. (surprisingly there is no mention in the fairly comprehensive OP ORDER issued by Brigade HQ to the subordinate Commandos outlining their OP ECLIPSE tasks)..
    RAMC
    A RAMC Field Ambulance or equivalent would have been an essential part of any operational medical plan but as yet, apart from temporary reinforcements from 193 Field Ambulance to 1 Mountain Regiment in Neustadt to alieviate a horrendous humanitarian aid problem, I have not been able to identify any RAMC unit
    REME
    Although the equipment dependency for the Brigade was relatively small and simple there must have been a need to provide backup REME 2nd Line facilities to support the unit tradesmen. Again this unit has yet to be identified.

    Any suggestions as to where I might find accurate authorative information would be much appreciated.
     
    Historic Steve likes this.

Share This Page