Commando: The Illustrated History of Britain's Green Berets

by David Reynolds

The 7th Armoured Division was widely recognized as being the most powerful in Europe during World War II. Its emblem of a scarlet desert rat became famous throughout the British Army and to the war-torn British public as a symbol of heroism in their time of need. This volume sees the Desert Rats fighting in North Africa, Burma, Sicily and Italy. Their bravery is relived through the words of the combatant soldiers - the author has interviewed troopers, gunners and infantrymen to tell this story of Churchill's favourite division. Patrick Delaforce fought with the 11th Armoured Division as a troop leader in Normandy and as FOO in Holland and Germany during World War II.'

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database. For more information please see David Reynolds.

A Professor of International History and a Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge. He was awarded a scholarship to study at Dulwich College, then Cambridge and Harvard universities. He has held visiting posts at Harvard, Nebraska and Oklahoma, as well as at Nihon University in Tokyo and Sciences Po in Paris. He was awarded the Wolfson History Prize, 2004, and elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2005. He teaches and lectures both undergraduates and postgraduates at Cambridge University, specialising in the two world wars and the Cold War. Since October 2013 he has been Chairman of the History Faculty at Cambridge.

Reviews

[Ben G · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I don't think the blurb in this Goodreads preview is correct. It makes reference to the Desert Rats which isn't explcitly what this book is about..?

Bought on a whim from Oxfam. I have an interest in the armed forces having never served in the military, although my father did as did many other of my relatives. I think the pinnacle of those forces maybe regarded as the infantry - who often pay (and are most likely to of all regiments / corps) the ultimate costs of any armed conflict they are sent into fight, by our governments.

This book begins with the formation of 'Commando' battalions during the 2nd World War and their actions in providing swift and rapid attacks on enemy infrastructure and their role in the D-day landings. It charts the post-war years beginning with the Commando role being assimilated into the structure of the Royal Marines and the battles these Royal Marine Commando's fought in Malaysia, Aden and notably the Falklands. There is a chapter dedicated to the 'troubles' in Northern Ireland and the roles the RM played in this conflict.

Training to become a Commando is covered in some earlier chapters where training was conducted at Achnacarry during WWII before moving (via some other establishments) to its current home of Lympstone. The role of the 3 Cdo Brigade and it's wider application to protecting UK interests around the world in the form of mounting amphibious operations (inter alia) and the Corps interaction with allies (US and Dutch Marines) is also covered. A fascinating and tacit lesson in UK contemporary (post-WWII) history.