Imperial War Museum film of No5 Commando raid on 13th Nov 1944

Hi All

I have just found this two part film on the Imperial War Museum's site, the title is "Crossing of the Chindwin at Sittaung and Operation Profit Commando Raid on Ramree.
The attached info states that the abortive raid was carried out by No5 Commando however one man in the film has a Garrand rifle so perhaps some members of No1 Commando (who were issued and retained these weapons from the Tunisan campaign) were also present..

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060031386

Cheers Andy

Hi Andy,
Thanks for the film clip.

With regard to the rifles, No.5 Commando were issued with American Garand rifles, in place of British SMLE (Lee-Enfield), on 31 October 1944.
Range firing of new Garand rifles took place on 6th November at Teknaf...

Cheers,
Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 28/05/2015 13:27:27

Although the film states that it was shot on 13 November 1944, I think that it is likely that most of the footage was shot earlier than actually stated; however it is likely that the commandos embarking on ML 412 and 413 at Teknaf jetty and 'camming up' onboard a gunboat, were members of 4 Troop, No.5 Commando who, on the 14 November 1944, left camp to make a landing behind enemy lines - this trip was indeed aborted with 4 Troop returning to camp on the 16th November having been spotted by the enemy.

Nick

Hi Nic

Thanks for the reply, I didn't realise that Commando units other than No1 and No6 were issued with the Garand.

Cheers Andy

Good Video Andy

Thanks

regards

John M

My father told me that when No. 4 were disbanded he was transferred to No. 3 Commando who were at that time billeted in Worthing in Sussex. They were all issued with new Garrand rifles and Colt .45 pistols in preparation for the operations in the far east. The rifles came in boxes packed in grease and the only way to remove it was to put them in old oil drums, fill them with water, light a fire underneath and wait until it was boiling. Fortunately, the Japs surrendered as my father said the one he didn't want to go was 'bloody Burma'.

Fantastic film, Andy.

Coincidentally, I was browsing on the NAM website before popping over here & had just read this about Garand rifles!

http://www.nam.ac.uk/online-collection/detail.php?acc=1992-03-160-1

Julie

Great and timely, research Julie - thank you.

However, it is interesting, but disappointing, that the National Army Museum has not got the titles of the Commandos correct - they were never 'Commando Regiments.'
It would seem that our work must go on...

Nick