It Had to Be Tough

by Dunning, James

• ISBN13: 9781848326385
• ISBN10: 1848326386
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-05-19
• Publisher: Frontline Books

Summary

This book tells the fascinating story of the origins of the Commandos (Britain's first Special Service troops and the forerunners of today's Parachute Regiment, the SAS and the SBS) and the development of their special training in World War II. The commandos were raised on the specific and personal orders of the prime minister, Winston Churchill, in the dark days of the summer of 1940 when these islands faced the real threat of a Nazi invasion. It was a bold, but typically Churchillian, decision.The book traces the formation of the Commandos and the development of the extreme and often unorthodox training methods and techniques used to prepare the volunteers from all branches of the British Army for subsequent world-wide-operations from 'bolt and butcher' raids to the 'great raids' on Norway and France and finally their employment in the full scale invasions of North Africa. Sicily, Italy, Normandy, the Crossing of the Rhine and finally in Burma, whilst at all times fostering that indomitable fighting spirit with which the name 'Commando' became synonymous. So great was the Commandos' contribution in that war that the Army Commandos were awarded thirty eight Battle Honors and these are emblazoned on the Commando Flag which hangs in Westminster Abbey. Arguably the Army Commandos were disbanded too hastily after the War but their legacy, traditions and fighting spirit lives with those artillery, engineer and corps troops who today win their coveted 'Green Berets' and serve alongside their comrades of the Royal Marines on active service today.

Author Biography

James Dunning is a veteran of the Commandos and a post-war President of the Commando Association.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. ix
Foreword	p. xi
Introduction	p. xiii
'A Bold Step' - Churchill's Commandos	p. 1
Setting Up - Billets and Organization	p. 23
Making a Start - Initial Training and Tribulations	p. 33
On the Water - Small Boats and Landing Craft	p. 53
Weapon Training - Shoot to Kill	p. 69
Training Centres - Lochailort and Achnacarry	p. 87
Special Operational Training - The St Nazaire and Dieppe Raids	p. 121
Small Canoes and Thick Jungles - SBS and Burma	p. 145
Snow, Mountains and Surf	p. 159
Parachuting Pioneers	p. 175
And Finally …	p. 187
Bibliography	p. 200
Index	p. 202
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