Commando Mountain Warfare Training Centre

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 11/09/2011 01:50:43

Could anyone suggest the location for the CMSWTC North Wales.
I know that the Commandos did some of their ship to shore training at Porthmadoc.

Cheers
Kevin

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 23/04/2009 22:54:54

Kevin,
As far as I can establish, the Commando Mountain & Snow Warfare Training Camp CMSWTC), at Braemar Aberdeenshire was commanded by Sqn Ldr Frank Smythe (RAF), with Maj John Hunt as Chief Instructor.

The name changed (slightly) to Commando Mountain Warfare Training Camp (CMWTC) and it moved to Llanrwst in North Wales where it was commanded by Geoffrey Rees-Jones, No5 Cdo,

In December 43 it made its final move to St Ives in Cornwall.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 23/04/2009 22:56:49

The Commando HQ was at 'Plas Gwydyr' (across the road to the Pen y Bryn pub) Llanrwst . The NCO's were billeted in 'Plas y Dre's' outbulidings, then they moved to Hendre, Nebo Road, Llanrwst. It is believed that they were there for 18 months training for D-Day, four days after the invasion the Commandos 'up sticks' and were away.

Kevin

I visited Llanrwst today with the intentions of trying to get photos of these buildings. Unfortunately one of the building (The NCO bullet) no longer exist but was lucky to find the others. Plas Gwydyr and Hendre. The owner of Hendre House, a Mr Michael Tree was most accomadating and helpfull, is currently renovating the property which has been empty since the 1950's. This property became vacant in 1939 (If I'm correct) and became empty again when the Commandos left. He was very interested in the history and would like to know more, and would love to put a plaque on his wall to support this, but I have no written facts to authenticate this, If any one can confirm this and add a little more info. so that I let him know?

Kevin

HQ

Hendre

Hendre House 1954

Kevin,

Great photos of a lovely house - so pleased that it is being restored.

I struggled to find any info to your first query (this thread) but happened upon the fact that the CMWTC moved to Llanrwst, so I was really surprised and pleased when you, almost immediately, replied with such detail...

I will endeavour to find my source again - it would be fantastic to have a plaque on the house.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 11/09/2011 01:48:53

I have added some of the pictures in this forum message to the new "Houses, buildings, or locations, used for Commando training" sub album. This is located in the WW2 photos Training Album.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/buildings/CMWTC/

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 11/09/2011 01:47:53

Some interesting photos just posted in the gallery provided by the son of Sgt Ernie Brooks of No.4 Commando. They state Capel Curig as the location. Interestingly the year on one photo and written against another is 1942 and not 1943.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/csmtc/IMG_8402+resized.jpg.html

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/csmtc/IMG_8399+resized.JPG.html

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/csmtc/IMG_8400+resized.jpg.html

I have just added a new album in our Commando Training Gallery for the CMWTC and will be including in there some items provided to us by Major Jimmy Dunning. Amongst these is a booklet which contains a brief history of the CMWTC and a nominal roll of staff at the St Ives centre where Jimmy was Adjutant. The album can be seen on this link to the training album where it is located 2nd row down :

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 12/09/2011 15:46:42

Some great photos there,

Pete wrote:Some interesting photos just posted in the gallery provided by the son of Sgt Ernie Brooks of No.4 Commando. They state Capel Curig as the location.

In his book " It Had To Be Tough", James Dunning has a chapter entitled 'Snow, Mountains and Surf', in this chapter he states that the CMWTC moved to Snowdonia and established it's base at Llanwryst [Llanwrst].

Although to be honest, Capel Curig would made better sense as it is 15 miles further into the mountainous region of Snowdonia than is Llanwrst.

Pete wrote:Interestingly the year on one photo and written against another is 1942 and not 1943.

Jimmy Dunning also states that "in Sept 1941, after No4 was taken off a proposed large scale operation, opportunities returned for more specialized training. Jimmy had just become TSM of C Troop when his Troop Leader, Capt Robert Dawson, persuaded Lord Lovat to allow C Troop to go mountaineering and rock climbing with a view to them becoming the Commando's specialist Climbing Troop.
In Snowdonia they based themselves in Bethesda [9 miles from Capel Curig] and took over a couple of empty shops as Troop HQ and Stores..."

Nick

I'll visit the camp at Capel Curig when the weather improves a little (wind and motorbike) no good on that part of the A5, and see if they have any info. As mentioned before the three Commando bases were in Llanrwst.

I'll also look into the Bethesda issue (they must have been only too glad to have left there) a misserable place in fine weather, in rain, fog, mist and snow

Kevin

Happy Christmas to all!

I returned to this thread because in the Christmas edition of Country Life there is a reference to Hendre House Llanwrwst, and to its owner Mr Michael Tree. In it he is complimented by a leading architectural historian with carrying out an "historic" fourteen year restoration project on the whole estate.

This, surely, might be the appropriate time for an approach to him about a commemorative plaque - if it hasn't already been done.

Quite separately, I am a little puzzled about the mountain training undergone by my late uncle, Sgt Donald Martin of C troop 4 Cdo. He joined C troop in the autumn of 1942, after it had apparently been designated as a climbing troop. However, I am certain that he attended CMWTC in Llanwrwst, rather than Braemar. I suppose that members of the first Police intake - of which he was one - may have been sent to do catch up training in small numbers.

John Martin