Commando War Diaries - How were they put together?

I`m about to spend a lot of money on The National Archives web site ordering Commando War dairies. All of which I will be sharing with every member on this forum. I want to research the smaller actions which arent mentioned in any of the books.

I`m finding it really difficult to understand how the officer who wrote the diary could write about a raid which he wasnt even on, on the day? Does this mean commando war diaries were compiled when the men returned from the raids and the officer when back and filled in the events?

I have seen many war diaries I just cannot fathom how a special forces war diary is put togther for a unit operating behind enemy lines, could someone please explain?

Thank you in advance.

A bit the bullet and I have to say the results were disappointing to say the least.

It would appear commando war diaries ARE NOT written in retropsect as I thought they might be. Bob is correct about those small scal raids very often they arent even mentioned. The only real clue a raid took place appears to be the citations for the gallantry awards.

From memory most of the troop diarys in No4 had an person allocated to do the diary.

Bill Harvey