41 Independent Commando RM, commanded by Lt. Col. D.B. Drysdale, was
formed on 16th August 1950 at Bickleigh Camp. Initially the unit
comprised three separate groups; volunteers from UK establishments who
were flown out by BOAC to Japan in plain clothes; some volunteer
sailors and marines from the British Pacific Fleet, these were already
in training when the UK contingent arrived and formed a rifle section
known as the Fleet Volunteers; and a reinforcement draft destined for 3
Commando Brigade, aboard the troopship Devonshire, which was diverted
to Japan by air via the Philippines.
The unit assembled at Camp McGill, a US Army post at Takehama near the
US Naval Base of Yokosuka. 41 Commando was to be under US Naval
operational command and was supplied, armed and equipped by the
Americans. The first task was to train each component, as it arrived,
on US weapons (Appendix A) and raiding techniques (Appendix B).
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EARLY RAIDS
Background
With a bold stroke of military genius the C in C UN Command, General
Douglas MacArthur, reversed the fortunes of the beleaguered UN forces
by withdrawing the Ist Provisional USMC Brigade from the Pusan
perimeter to form the 1st US Marine Division (I Mar Div) at sea with
two Regimental Combat Teams (or Brigade Groups) and HQ elements brought
from the States. This fine Division made an amphibious landing at
Inchon on 17 September 1950 and went on to seize the South Korean
capital of Seoul. Simultaneously United Nations forces broke out of the
Pusan perimeter. North Korean resistance started to collapse and their
forces began to withdraw North of the 38th parallel.
41 Commando's Operations
As each part of 41 Independent Commando became operational it was
despatched on operations. First POUNDFORCE comprising mainly the Fleet
Volunteers, 14 men under command of Lt E G D Pounds, left in HMS
WHITESAND BAY to support the Inchon landings with a diversionary raid,
as part of a US Army Raiding battalion on the West coast on 12/13
September. Subsequently the force joined 1 Mar Div for the Inchon
landings on 17 September penetrating as far as Kimpo airfield before
rejoining to participate in C and D Troops' raids.
67 personnel of A and B Patrol, later to be organized into B Troop,
accompanied by Lt Col Drysdale, raided the East Coast railway on 2
October from the troop carrying submarine USS PERCH (1526 tons); a
converted Balao class submarine with its torpedo tubes removed to make
space for 110 troops. A cylindrical hangar abaft the conning tower
carried a small power craft which could tow the rubber boats. On this
raid anti tank mines laid under the rails were heard to detonate during
the withdrawal. Regrettably a Royal Marine was killed during this raid.
The above is a report below is a memorial
Marine Jones, P.R. 41 Commando 2/10/1950
http://www.britains-smallwars.com/korea/roh-korea/rn_rm-roh.html
Please info on memorials to the above death anywhere worldwide or
further info on Peter.
Thank you
Robert Alun Chick (Penarth)