COMMEMORATIVE COMMANDO MARCH

~ COMMEMORATIVE COMMANDO MARCH ~

TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A SPEED MARCH AND WE HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH ANY ORGANISATION THAT RUNS ONE. OUR MARCH IS FOR RE-ENACTORS AND ANY COMMANDO VETERANS WHO WISH TO ATTEND A WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AND/OR TO TAKE PART IN THE MARCH IN PART OR WHOLE. (Peter Scally).

2006

2007

2008

2009

~ The 4th Annual Commando Commemorative March 4/5th April 2009 ~

The 2009 Commando March will take place over the weekend of the 4th/5th April. Any re-enactors with appropriate uniform and weaponry are invited to contact Peter Scally for information and/or to declare an interest in taking part. More information will be posted here when available meantime the accounts of earlier marches (below) provide an indication of requirements and organisation. Commando veterans of WW2 are most welcome to join the weekend commemorations but are not expected to take part in the march itself. Transport for veterans will be provided from Spean Bridge to the starting point at Achnacarry House and the return trip to the Commando Memorial for a wreath laying ceremony. Peter Scally can be contacted by e-mail at pscally@toucansurf.com or by phone at 01655 760 380 (UK).

~ The 3rd Annual Commando Commemorative March 4/5th April 2008 ~

This year's march went very well in cold wintry weather all too familiar to the wartime Commandos who trained in the area around Achnacarry and Spean Bridge. There were around 85 re-enactor marchers representing British Commandos, No 10 Inter Allied Commando and the US Rangers. In attendance there were 4 WWII jeeps and 3 trucks, a good piper and a serving medic with his back up team who did a great job. Their involvement in the march was all the more appreciated knowing that, until a few days earlier, they were on active service in the Gulf.

Hopes for more WW2 veterans this year did not materialise but all taking part were delighted to, once again, welcome Mr Leslie Whipps of No 9 Commando. At the age of 85 he kept position amongst the leading marchers despite the efforts of the medics to slow him down! However, it should be pointed out that WW2 Commando veterans are not expected to undertake the march. Their attendance at the wreath laying ceremony and/or evening dinner would add greatly to the event. Arrangements could also be made to transport them along the route behind the marchers.

At the Commando Memorial wreath laying ceremony Les Whipps laid a wreath on behalf of this website. For photos and reports about the march visit the links below. More information and photos will be added as they are received.

http://durham-light-infantry.ch/CommandoMarch08.htm http://keeshu.blogspot.com/

~ The 2nd Annual Commando Commemorative March 2007 ~

Peter Scally reports that the march was very successful and once again benefited from the attendance of Pte Leslie Whipps of No 9 Commando but, this time, with the addition of four other WW2 Commando veterans. A padre and piper participated in the proceedings of the day including the service at the Commando Memorial.

The organisers are looking at ways to reimburse the costs incurred for the services of the padre and piper and for fuel for the trucks and the other incidentals.

~ The 1st Commando Commemorative March 2006 ~

A number of re-enactment groups from the Netherlands, France, England, Wales and Scotland joined forces with this website, the No 3 Commando Re-enactment Group and the Combined Operations Association, to raise funds for the Combined Operations Memorial. We are indebted to Patrick van der Vegt of the No 10 (IA) Commando Re-enactment Group, located in the Netherlands, for organising the event. In the finest spirit of Combined Operations the march was an international operation. The event raised £1500.00 from veterans, individuals, organisations and associations with an interest in Combined Operations.

The 7 mile march started at Achnacarry in the Highlands of Scotland where WWII Commandos undertook their gruelling training under the Combined Operations Command and the immediate scrutiny of the legendary Col Charles E Vaughan. The route passed the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge where a wreath laying ceremony was held. To see the route of the march click on the thumbnail opposite.

Below you'll find a small selection of photos taken on the day, articles from the media together with a link to around 300 other photos taken by the march's official photographer, Kees Huyser.

	Lochaber Life Magazine featured the Commando March in their November 06 edition. Achnacarry House, the Commando Memorial and Spean Bridge are all within the Lochaber district. Around 11,000 copies of the magazine were distributed mainly around Lochaber. Copies were generously provided by the publishers, Scottish Provincial Press Ltd., for distribution to all who took part in the march. http://www.lochaber.com/lochaberlife/index.htm
	Courtesy of the Oban Times - a west of Scotland newspaper.
	Courtesy of the Sunday Post - a national newspaper.
	This is the road from Achnacarry to Spean Bridge as it crosses over the Caledonian canal. It will be recognised by any Commando or US Ranger from WW2 who trained at Achnacarry. In the front is Patrick van der Vegt, the organiser of the re-enactor's march and Pte Leslie Whipps of No 9 Commando.
	A lone Commando stands guard over the memorial prior to the arrival of the marchers at 12.15 pm. Although he morning parade at 08.30 am was taken in wet snow with thick low cloud overhead, a few hours later the clouds gave way to blue sky.
	An informal photograph of the marchers with the Commando memorial in the background.
	CSM Peter Scally takes charge of the wreath laying ceremony. A wreath from everyone associated with the Memorial Fund and this website was laid by the great grandchildren of a Combined Operations Veteran - the late Flt Sgt John Glen who served on FDT 217 off Normandy.
	The sacrifices of the 1700 Commandos who died in WW2 is captured in this photo. The child represents the future they fought and died for, the Commando marchers represent the present generation paying their respects and the Commando Memorial represents an earlier generation who did their duty.
	The amazing Pte Leslie Whipps of No 9 Commando. He completed the march with panache! He is over 80 years old and such was his modesty that he could not understand why he was given the seat of honour at the 'regimental' dinner held later in the day!

To view the 300 photos taken by the march's official photographer click here.

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