Commando Units Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar, Abderdeenshire

Braemar Local History Group is compiling a timeline for the Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar, Aberdeenshire.
Commandos were housed in the hotel when they were first formed, during WW11 and we would like to know what units were there and what training they did in the area. Dates and photographs would be beneficial.

The Fife Hotel in Braemar was the home of the CSMWTC (Commando Snow & Mountain Warfare Training Camp)...
The Commanding Officer was Squadron Leader Frank Smythe, RAF, an accomplished mountaineer and the 2nd in command and Chief Instructor was Major John Hunt...
Its role was to train Commandos to fight in high, snow covered, mountain territory.

CSMWTC had been established, in December 1942, following some successful operations carried out by No.12 Commando and the Free Norwegian Commandos in Norway, its aim was to train specialist Commandos to carry out more, sustained, operations in Norway.
The CSMWTC HQ was set up in the Fife Hotel, but, for those attending courses, it was two-man 'Arctic Tents' and 'compo rations' out in the mountains!
Three full Commando Units attended the CSMWTC - Nos. 1,4 & 12 Commandos but, within 6 months, the decision was made that the base should no longer be used to train Commandos but to train The Lovat Scouts, a Terrotorial Army unit, as a Mountain Battalion.
Following this decision, the unit moved from Braemar to Llanrwst in Snowdonia and the word 'Snow' was dropped from its title.

Nick