Independent Company

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Independent Companies
Active 1940
Allegiance United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Territorial Army
Type Light Infantry
Role Coastal raiding
Engagements Norwegian Campaign
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Colin Gubbins

An Independent Company was a formation of the British Army during the Second World War. Initially there were ten Independent Companies, who were raised from volunteers from Territorial Army divisions in April 1940. They were intended for guerrilla-style operations in the Allied campaign in Norway. The companies were disbanded after returning to Britain at the end of the campaign but another company, No. 11 Company, was formed from volunteers from the first ten Independent Companies on 14 June 1940, and took part in the first British commando raid, Operation Collar[1]

Origins

Early in 1940, the British Army had been making plans for a campaign in Norway, ostensibly to support Finland in the Winter War against Russia, who then had a pact of alliance with Germany. When the Finns capitulated on 12 March 1940, the troops assigned to the operation were instead sent to France.[2] Nevertheless, contingency planning continued. As part of this, MI(R), a department of the War Office responsible for irregular operations, was asked to plan for raids on the Norwegian coast. The department's head, Colonel J.C.F Holland, summoned Lieutenant Colonel Colin Gubbins, leading MI(R)'s mission in Paris, to prepare and train the troops.[2]

On 9 April, the Germans launched Operation Weserübung, occupying Oslo and Narvik and several other ports in Norway, taking the allies by surprise. On 13 April, Holland submitted MI(R)'s first proposals to the War Office. He intended to break up the Lovat Scouts to form the raiding parties. However, the Scouts' commanding officer (Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Melville) objected, and instead Holland proposed to form the Independent Companies.[2]

Companies

Ten companies were formed from volunteers from Territorial Army divisions still stationed in Great Britain:[3]

Each of the 10 companies was organised as three platoons, each of three sections. Royal Engineers and Royal Signals personnel were attached to each company headquarters. The companies consisted of 21 officers and 268 other ranks.[1] They were intended to operate independently for several days. However, each company's only heavy weapons were Bren light machine guns, a single Boys anti-tank rifle and some 2-inch mortars in a Support section. The companies therefore were unsuitable for holding fixed defences or mounting rearguard actions.[4]

Norwegian Campaign

Formal approval for the establishment of the Independent Companies was given only on 20 April. No. 1 Independent Company nevertheless first embarked for Norway on 27 April.[2]

On 2 May, Gubbins was given command of "Scissorsforce", consisting of Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 5 Independent Companies, and ordered to prevent the Germans occuying Bodø, Mo and Mosjøen. Part of the force (Nos. 4 and 5 Independent Companies) arrived at Mosjoen on 8 May. They successfully ambushed the leading Germans advancing on Mosjoen from the south, but were harassed by Luftwaffe aircraft during the long daylight hours and were outmatched by the main body of German Gebirgsjäger (mountain troops). Exhausted, they were withdrawn by a Norwegian coaster to Bodø on 11 May.[5]

On 10 May, 300 Gebirgsjäger with two mountain guns disembarked from the commandeered coaster Nordnorge at Hemnesberget, roughly midway between Mosjøen and Mo. A platoon of No. 1 Independent Company and some Norwegian reservists defending the town were outnumbered and forced to escape by boat after a stiff resistance. No. 1 Independent Company and some Norwegian troops attacked the next day but failed to dislodge the Germans, who had been reinforced and resupplied by seaplanes.[6]

Gubbins's force was then placed under the command of 24th (Guards) Brigade at Bodø. The destroyer carrying the brigade's commander (Brigadier William Fraser) was put out of action by the Luftwaffe, and Gubbins assumed command of the brigade.[7] Nos. 1 and 3 Independent Companies of the former "Scissorsforce", reinforced by No. 2 Independent Company,[8] thereafter generally fought in rearguard actions while attached to the brigade's infantry units in several actions in Nordland, until all British troops were withdrawn from Bodø in the early hours of 1 June.[9]

Aftermath

The ten Independent Companies were disbanded after the Norwegian campaign. While most of their men were returned to their parent units and formations, calls were being made throughout the Army for men to join the new Commando units. Those men from the Independent Companies who volunteered were formed on 14 June into No. 11 Independent Company, with an establishment of 25 officers and 350 other ranks. The Company took part in Operation Collar, a raid on the Pas de Calais on 24 June.[1]

Gubbins returned to MI(R) and eventually became the director of the Special Operations Executive. Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Stockwell, who had commanded No. 2 Independent Company in Norway, set up the Commando training centre at Lochailort, before enjoying a distinguished record as a brigade and division commander.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Moreman, p.13
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Wilkinson and Astley (2010), p.50
  3. ↑ http://www.commandoveterans.org (Retrieved 8 Mar 2012)
  4. ↑ Wilkinson and Astley (2010), p.51
  5. ↑ Wilkinson and Astley, pp.52-53
  6. ↑ Adams (1989), pp.73-74
  7. ↑ Wilkinson and Astley (2010), p.54
  8. ↑ Wilkinson and Astley (2010), p.62
  9. ↑ Wilkinson and Astley (2010), p.66

Sources

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See also

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