UK Land Based Training Establishments
 

Mainly used by the Combined Operations Command for Amphibious Training in Landing Craft and Commando Operations.

There were dozens of Combined Operations Training Establishments in WW2 to prepare allied forces for amphibious invasions of North Africa and mainland Europe directly onto unimproved landing beaches against enemy coastal defences.

Many types of flat bottomed landing craft were constructed, which required their Royal Navy and Royal Marine crews (attached to the Combined Operations Command) to learn basic seamanship and craft control and then, with their human cargoes of troops and their transport and equipment, to train together in embarkation and disembarkation onto practice landing beaches, with the RAF in support in the final stages of training to provide a touch of realism by laying down smoke screens and strafing the landing beaches.

So the crews of landing craft, the soldiers they carried and the RAF in support, all required training singly to acquire basic skills and jointly to operate together as a proficient unified force. It was an enormous undertaking, involving hundreds of thousands of service personnel over the best part of 4 years.

The training establishments were mainly in the west of Scotland and the south of England, the former because of their remoteness and the latter because of their convenient location for mounting raids and landings against the enemy.

If you have any information, no matter how small, about any Combined Operations Training Establishments listed below or new additions, please contact us. Changes in the names, locations and use of the training establishments over the war years, conspire to confuse.

SCOTLAND

1. Achnacarry House

Function Commando basic training and assessment.

Address and  setting up Achnacarry, Inverness-shire, Scotland. Located about 14 miles from Fort William in a remote highland glen. In February 1942, Charles Haydon selected Achnacarry House as the base for Commando training.

Other information - Achnacarry was the Highland castle home of the Chief of the Clan Cameron. It was initially designated as a commando depot but later re-designated as the Commando Basic Training Centre. In terms of accountability, the centre came under the control of the Commando Group but its Commanding Officer also reported to Combined Operations HQ in London.

It was the main commando training facility and its remote location, rugged terrain, mountains and unpredictable weather, provided an excellent environment for the secret Commando training. Achnacarry left an indelible impression on those who passed through its doors. Col Charles E Vaughan, the Commandant, was known by some trainees as 'Rommel of the North', because of his strict discipline and rigorous training regime. However, few questioned the value of the training when they found themselves in action against the enemy.

In the early days, volunteers 'for duties of a hazardous nature' were recruited to commando units, put through the training course and returned to unit (RTU'd ) if they failed to meet the required standards. This practice was changed in 1942, when volunteers were posted to commando units after successfully completing the training course.

[Photo of the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge courtesy of Stephen Eblet.]

There is a memorial to the Commandos at Spean Bridge, just a few miles from Achnacarry and, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, a memorial to the Combined Operations Command in which the Commandos served.

The training was arduous and hazardous, as research by J M Briscoe into deaths of military personnel in the area, illustrates. The deaths of those identified as serving at Achnacarry can be mostly attributed to the hazardous, realistic training undertaken by the Commandos. Click Here for details. They, and countless others who died during training, are specifically remembered on the Combined Operations Command memorial dedication plaque.

2. HMS Lochailort

Function School for boat officers.

Address and commissioning history Inverailort Castle near Fort William, Scotland. Commissioned 24/8/42 and paid off 31/1/45.

Other information - At the start of the war, Christine Cameron of Lochailort House was advised that the house would probably be requisitioned if it was not already in use as a hospital or a school. She did not act on this advice and when in London sometime later, she received a telegram informing her that the house and estate had been requisitioned for military use. She returned as quickly as possible but all the furniture had been loaded into lorries and taken to Fort William for storage. No inventory was taken. There were storms which washed away some bridges, so three of the lorries unloaded the antique furniture and used it to bridge one of the rivers. When she learnt about this, she had a heart attack and went to stay with a relative. She died some time later. Most of the glass negatives from her photographs were just put in boxes in the attic. Many were broken. Like other estates, much of the furniture had woodworm when it was returned. (Martin Briscoe, Fort William.)

[These maps show the western side (top) and eastern side (bottom) of HMS Lochailort overlaid on a modern map for the purpose of locating particular base facilities long since demolished. Provided courtesy of  Mr Clyne. Thanks to staff at The Highland Historic Record for their assistance.]

Before 1942, Lochailort was an  infantry training school under the command of Col McMaster. The Royal Navy took over the premises in 1942 and renamed it HMS Lochailort. About this time, normal recruitment and training methods were not meeting the demand for junior officers. They were needed in vast numbers to crew the minor landing craft required for the invasion of mainland Europe. Initially officer trainees came from HMS King Alfred at Hove, which was an officer training establishment for ratings with potential. When this closed down on 1/7/43, the supply of officers for training came from Lochailort itself.

Much of HMS Lochailort still stands (2004) on ground now occupied by a fish farm. The then estate house was used as the HQ building, as the names of wartime officers on doors within the building testify to this day. The house was also used by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) to train men for work behind enemy lines; hand to hand combat, sabotage, use of explosives, survival etc. For personal memories of his time at Lochailort read the Memoirs of Ernest Dale 1939-1945.

3. HMS Dorlin (No 3 Combined Training Centre)

Function Training for RN Beach Signals and Royal Signals sections. Battle training.

Address and commissioning history Dorlin House, Acharacle, Argyll, Scotland was also known as the No 3 Combined Training Centre. Used by the Navy as early as 1940 but was commissioned as HMS Dorlin on 23/3/42. As D-Day approached, a period of care and maintenance followed from 6/4/44 to 28/11/44, after which it closed down. It was demolished (blown up?) after WW2 or in 1963 depending on local accounts. 

Other information - there were 6 very tough assault courses listed below, which concentrated on dealing with natural and artificial defensive obstructions. The equipment available for the training exercises included 12 landing craft personnel mechanised (LCPMs), 5 cutters, 3 small drifters with a capacity of approximately 60 men and HMS Quentin Roosevelt, which was an ex French fishery protection vessel with accommodation for approximately 2 Companies.

[Photo; Dolrin House in 1935. Compare this view with a recent one of the location - first photo right. Photos right courtesy of Phil Jones; top to bottom; HMS Dorlin x 2, Glencripesdale x 2 and Glenborrodale x 2.]

At Glencripesdale, Glenborrodale & Roshven camps, stores were man-handled from boats some distance to the camps and the training was not easy either. The total training area was large and remote. This provided opportunities for training exercises in unfamiliar territory and for the development of self reliance in all aspects of survival. 'Opposed' landing exercises were carried out at Company strength on beaches mined by the Royal Engineers, with incoming live 3" mortar shells and live ammunition! The intention was to create the conditions the men would face on the landing beaches. There were also night-time training exercises undertaken with the aid of flares and tracer bullets.

1) Dorlin CTC staff plus 4 officers and 80 ordinary ratings (ORs),
2) Shielbridge 3 miles from Dorlin. 7 officers and 25 ORs,
3) Salen 7.5 miles from Dorlin. Combined Training Centre Administration plus 7 officers and 130 ORs,
4) Glencripesdale 7.5 miles by road + 0.5 hours by boat. 7 officers and 130 ORs,
5) Glenborrodale 16 miles by road. 7 officers and 130 ORs,
6) Roshven 17 miles by land or 1.5 hours by sea. 7 officers and 130 ORs. There is little left of the wartime buildings but foundations and lower walls can still be seen.

4. HMS Quebec (No 1 Combined Training Centre)

HMS Quebec I

Function A large training centre specialising in the training of Naval and Army personnel in 'minor' landing craft training. A training flotilla of craft was stationed in the area for that purpose. Quebec was the Naval component of the No 1 Combined Training Centre.

Address and commissioning history Inveraray, Argyllshire, Scotland. The name was approved on 1/9/40 and the base commissioned on 15/10/40. It was paid off on 1/7/46.

[Photo; The transporter took the landing craft from the water to the beach at HMS Quebec, Inveraray. © IWM (A 29900).]

Other information Combined Operations boat training was transferred to Dartmouth in January 1943. Visit HMS Quebec  for more information about the No 1 Combined Training Centre of which HMS Quebec was the Naval component.

HMS Quebec II

Function Combined Ops Centre... mainly administrative.

Address and commissioning history - Hollywood Hotel, Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland. It was commissioned on 11/10/41 to 31/3/43 (44?). It was earlier the HQ of Rear Admiral Commanding Northern Patrol and a Naval Hospital. It became HQ of Joint Air Ministry and Naval staff and Flag of the Commandant, Combined Training Centre, Inveraray (HMS Quebec). Re-designated HMS Quebec II on 10/3/42 as Vice Admiral Combined Training.

5. HMS Pasco

Function A landing craft signals school providing training for minor landing craft signalmen.

Address and commissioning history Glenbranter Camp, Glenbranter, Strachur, Scotland. The base was commissioned on 14/12/42 and listed to October 1945. In a previous existence it was a prisoner of war camp.

Other information Photo courtesy of Alan Brooke.

6. HMS Armadillo

Function Formation and training of RN Beach Commandos.

Address and commissioning history Glenfinnart, Scotland. This was a War Office camp which was transferred to RN use on 12/10/42. It was commissioned on 25/11/42, paid off on 30/9/45 and closed on 11/12/45. From 17/7/45 it came under the control of HMS Dundonald.

Other information See below HMS Dundonald I where training of RN Beach Commandos was undertaken with their respective beach groups. See RN Beach Commandos for information on how the training was put into practice against the enemy.

Leading Seaman, Harry ‘Dusty’ Millar, was a Gunnery Instructor at HMS Armadillo between 1943 and 1945. Prior to joining Combined Operations he served as a Gun–Layer on the Cruiser, HMS Penelope (Pepperpot) from 1941 to 1942. During his time in Ardentinny, he became close friends with two other instructors, Stanley Horsefield (Horsey) and Lofty Lloyd. They exchanged Christmas cards every year until their deaths. 

[Photo left; Harry taken outside his parent's home in Bannockburn c 1943. Photos right courtesy of Tony Rodaway; a small memorial cairn close to the site of HMS Armadillo on the shore of Loch Long, in remembrance of the RN Beach Commandos.]

Harry Millar met his wife (Heather de Burgh) in Ardentinny during 1944, where she was serving as a WRNS cook in the Officers’ Mess. She remembers WRNS Steward, Lilly Brennan, who accidentally shot Dusty Millar in the leg while undergoing (I suspect illegal) firearms training!

Harry's son Robert said, I've been living in Australia for the past 33 years and hope that somebody might remember them from those days. Sadly, my father died in December 1988 and seldom spoke about the war. 
 

7. HMS James Cook

Function Naval Beach Training Establishment providing training in the practice and theory of Navigational Training for officers of minor landing craft flotillas.

[Photos; Vera Curtis is seated on the left and below, the full complement of WRENS.]

Address and commissioning history Glen Caladh, Nr Tighnabruaich, Scotland. The base was commissioned on 11/11/42 and paid off on 30/9/45. The name initially incorrectly announced as HMS James Cooke.

Other information Vera Curtis was based at HMS James Cook from Nov 1942 until Aug 1945 along with about 50 other Wrens and 8 Wren Officers. She was just 17 when she arrived at HMS James Cook. Amongst a wide range of duties, she saw to the domestic needs of Navy Officers who were undergoing navigation and other training on landing craft.

8. HMS Brontosaurus (No 2 Combined Training Centre)

Function Initial Royal Navy training for the officers and crews of major landing craft.

Address and commissioning history Castle Toward, Dunoon, Argyll was the No 2 Combined Training Centre. It was known informally as Castle Toward (pronounced as in coward) and was located at Toward Point, 6mls south of Dunoon on the Clyde. It was commissioned on 07/8/42 and paid off on 10/7/46.

[Photo; The cinema (left) and canteen at HMS BRONTOSAURUS. © IWM (A 29911).]

Other information In November 1942, the ground force element at HMS Dundonald  was transferred to Castle Toward and to the No 1 Combined Training Centre at Inveraray about the time the Commandos and Infantry Battalions were being trained in amphibious operations. Visit Castle Toward for more information about the No 2 Combined Training Centre.

9. HMS Roseneath

Function Handed over to US control as an amphibious training centre. It was used during preparations for the landings in Vichy French North Africa in November, 1942. By 1943, following the success of the North Africa landings, Roseneath returned once more to British control as HMS Roseneath. However, sections of the base were retained by the US Navy for a 'Seabee' maintenance force and berthing/supply facilities for the depot ship USS Beaver and boats of US Navy Submarine Squadron 50.

Address and commissioning history Roseneath, Dumbartonshire, Scotland. Originally commissioned as a Combined Operations Base 'Louisburg' on 15/04/42, it was paid off on 03/08/42 and renamed Roseneath. It was commissioned by the RN on 3/8/42 and paid off on 3/10/42. It was then loaned to the US Navy from 29/9/42 to 12/1/43 (US Base two). On 12/1/43 it was re-commissioned and once more paid off, this time on 19/8/43. It was then returned to the US Navy from 20/8/43 to 13/6/45. The final re-commissioning took place on 13/6/45 and remained in force until July 1948.

Other Information The account below by Dennis Royal is reproduced here courtesy of Douglas Press. It provides details of a book about the Americans at Roseneath. The name appears as Rosneath in some 1945/46 publications.

10. Port Glasgow

Function Landing Craft Maintenance Base.

Address and commissioning history

Other information [Photos; Landing craft maintenance base at Port Glasgow seen from the East end. © IWM (A 29943) & © IWM (A 29942).]

11. HMS Monck

HMS Monck I

Function At Largs, HMS Monck was the HQ for Combined Training and included the Flag Officer. At Port Glasgow it was concerned with Carrier training, while also serving as a Royal Navy Barracks and landing craft base. At Roseneath it was an ICE (?) school by '44.
 

Address and commissioning history HMS Monck has a rather confusing history because of changes in its location and function. It was variously located in Largs , Port Glasgow and Roseneath...  all in the area of the River Clyde. Commissioned from 1/4/42 to 30/9/46.

[Colourised Photo; General view of HMS MONCK, showing hangars and craft. © IWM (A 29940).]

HMS Monck II

Function - Greenock HQ Flag Officer.

Address and commissioning history Greenock. Commissioned from 1/1/44 to 1/10/44

Other information

12. HMS Warren (No 4 Combined Training Centre)

Function Senior Officers training centre for Combined Operations which catered for the training needs of all 3 services.  

Address and commissioning history Largs, Ayrshire. The centre was also known as the No 4 Combined Training Centre or CTC Largs. It was commissioned on 12/10/42 and paid off on 31/12/46.

Other information The RAF base within CTC Largs was called RAF Vanduara which, in 1943, came under Wing Commander Carroll. The training centre was also the HQ of Rear Admiral Combined Operations Base (WA) and the Flag Officer commanding overseas assault forces. HMS Warren included the Hollywood Hotel in Largs.

Information on staffing at one point during the period of commission is reproduced below for the benefit of anyone with a special interest.

CTC Largs H.Q. Staff - Maj. Mallock (RA), S/L, Savory (RAF), Capt. Brown (RCS), Capt. Douglas (RUR), Maj. Vaughan Thomas (RCS), Maj. Sellon (KOSB), Maj. Wood (RA), Col. Hon. John Kemp (RA), Rear Admiral Horan (RN), Maj. Gen Sir James Drew (Cameras), Commander Aubrey St. Clair Ford (RN), Wing Commander, W. Tailyour (RAF).

CTC Largs Directing Staff - S/L Savory, Maj Mallock, Capt Brown, Capt Douglas, Maj Vaughan Thomas, Maj Wood, Comdr St Claire Ford, F/O Peggy Herbert, (WAAF), Col. Hon John Kemp, W/C Tailyour, Maj. Sellon.

RAF personnel Largs -  F/Lt Cox AFC, S/L Savory.

13. HMS Dundonald

HMS Dundonald I

Function Holding and training base for RN Beach Commandos and holding base for Combined Operations personnel. RN Beach Commandos trained with their respective beach groups. Initial naval training for officers and crews of major landing craft. See also HMS Armadillo.

Address and commissioning HMS Dundonald I, Gailes Camp, Auchengate, Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland. Commissioned on 1/4/42 and paid off in September 1946.

[Photo; General view of the beach at HMS DUNDONALD, Troon, where many Tank Landing Craft tests were carried out. German prisoners are working in the foreground. © IWM (A 29875).]

Other information Combined Training Centre personnel (Middle East) stayed at Gailes Camp in March '45 on return from their tour of duty. They were absorbed into Armadillo in July '45.

HMS Dundonald II

Function Combined Signals School (CSS) for the RN, RAF and Army also training of RN Beach Signals Sections.

Address and commissioning history H.M.S. Dundonald 2, Auchingate, Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland. Commissioned on 1/4/42 and closed on 6/6/46.

Other information - The CSS was formed at Inveraray, Argyll on the 1st Nov 1941 as part of the No I Combined Training Centre - HMS Quebec. It was the brainchild of Mountbatten and, in common with all other training programmes, was designed to meet a specific need. The CSS was an early example of a Combined training school. The first Director was Commander LC Skinner, R.N. Initially joint control was vested in a Lt  Col. of the Royal Signals, an RAF Wing Commander and a Major Royal Marines with a unified command structure.

[Photo; Signals class at work at HMS DUNDONALD, Troon. © IWM (A 29876).]

Signalling procedures were developed, taught and put into practice in communications training exercises to and from landing craft. The school was also responsible for experimentation and training in early forms of navigational aids using radio and other devices. These were designed to assist small landing craft find their way to designated landing places on hostile beaches. In 1942 the school moved to Troon (HMS Dundonald 2) and the training centre there was treated to the unusual sight of men from all services parading together and reporting to a Signals Duty Officer, who could be from any of the three!

14. Dundonald Air Station

Function Home station of RAF 516 Squadron which was attached to Combined Operations. Its primary purpose was to provide realistic air attack and smoke screen input for amphibious landing training. Also assisted in the calibration of radar on the 3 specially commissioned vessels called Fighter Direction Tenders - FDT 13, FDT 216, and FDT 217.

Address and commissioning history Adjacent to the village of Dundonald in Ayrshire.

Other information Also known as Bogside. For more information on Dundonald Air Station visit 516 Squadron. Sources RAF Dundonald operational books and public archives.

15. HMS Dinosaur

Dinosaur I

Function HQ for tank landing craft training operations. Training establishment for major landing craft officers and major landing craft gunnery school.

Address and commissioning history Troon, Ayrshire. Base was commissioned from 1/4/42 to May 1946.

Other Information

Dinosaur II

Function Major landing craft work-up and repair base.

Address and commissioning history Irvine, Ayrshire. Base was commissioned on 1/11/43 to 31/12/44. Subsequently renamed Fullerton.

Other Information

16. HMS Stopford

Function Major landing craft base for 'working up' craft prior to operations. Passive defence school and balloon school (?)

Address and commissioning history Bo'ness, West Lothian. Base was commissioned on 18/4/42 and paid off on 15/9/45.

Other information Used the London and North East (LNER) docks at Bo'ness as landing craft base and Bo'ness Hosiery premises for ratings' billets.

ENGLAND

17. HMS Arbella

Function

Address and commissioning history Boston, Lincolnshire. Base was commissioned on 21/1/43 and paid off on 9/8/45.

Other information

18. HMS Mylodon

Function Repairs and maintenance of landing craft marine engines, possibly training stokers (Marine Engineering Mechanics).

Address and commissioning history Lowestoft. Name announced in Nov 1942, commissioned on 19/1/43 and closed on 28/6/46.

Other information Testimony of veteran who served at Mylodon; Brooks’ shipyard was just upriver from HMS Mylodon at Lowestoft. They made ocean going minesweepers even though they were made entirely of wood. Some lists, it seems, incorrectly refer to Great Yarmouth.

19. HMS Woolverstone

Function Landing craft base and training establishment.

Address and commissioning history Ipswich. The base was commissioned on 1/1/43, care and maintenance from 9/7/43, re-commissioned on 15/10/43 and paid off on 20/2/46.

Other information Was St Felix School in Southwold, Ipswich. Also HQ for FORCE L FOLLOW-UP for the Normandy landings. Originally a 'suspense station' which provided accommodation at Woolverstone Hall.

20. HMS Helder

Function Naval training, afloat and ashore, for officers and crews of minor landing craft.

Address and commissioning history Brightlingsea. Base was commissioned on 5/4/42 and paid off on 30/9/44. Later, as RN Camp St Osyth, it was used as accommodation for Naval raiding parties.

Other information Up to 1/7/43 officers for marine landing craft were supplied by the training establishment HMS King Alfred at Howe, where they entered as ratings, and following training, graduated as officers. When this supply dried up following the closure of King Alfred, officers were recruited from HMS Lockailort. They were then trained in landing craft operations at HMS Helder and HMS Effingham at Dartmouth.

After 1/4/43, the recruitment policy changed in favour of the Royal Marines, supplying officers and crews for the minor landing craft. Under these arrangements, marine officers did a preliminary 9 week course 6 at HMS Eastney and 3 weeks in craft at HMS Northney. From there they were appointed to HMS Helder or HMS Effingham for 6 week courses in training with their crews. The first 4 weeks were essentially on naval aspects and the remaining 2 in working with the military. During this phase, flotillas of small landing craft were formed and allocated to Combined Operations bases, where further  training of formed flotillas was undertaken. Pending allocation to Force Commanders, formed flotillas could be attached to Combined Training Centres for work with the military.

21. HMS Westcliff

HMS Westcliff

Function Further training of formed flotillas was carried out here, also at HMS Foliot I, II and III (Plymouth), HMS Lizard (Shoreham) and HMS Sea Serpent (Burnham).

Address and commissioning history Southend. Base was commissioned on 17/11/42, paid off on 21/1/46 and closed on 6/3/46.

Other information

HMS Westcliff II

Function Combined Operations holding base for RM landing craft personnel.

Address and commissioning history

Other information

HMS Westcliff III

Function Landing craft base and holding base for Combined Operations personnel.

Address and commissioning Burnham en Crouch. Base was commissioned from 7/43 to 10/46.

Other information

22. HMS Wildfire

HMS Wildfire II

Function Combined Operations base.

Address and commissioning history Commissioned on 7/12/42 and paid off on 6/6/45.

Other information

HMS Wildfire III

Function Combined Operations base.

Address and commissioning history Sheerness. The base was commissioned on 7/12/42.

Other information

23. HMS Robertson

Function Hutted accommodation encampment. A holding base for RM landing craft personnel (guns crews) and minor landing craft base.

Address and commissioning history Kitchener (?) Camp, Richborough, Kent. Base was commissioned on 23/6/43 and paid off on 31/8/46.

Other information

24. HMS Allenby

Function Combined Operations base.

Address and commissioning history Folkestone. Base was commissioned on 14/3/43 and paid off on 10/4/45. Some records show that the base was in existence as early as 1/12/42.

Other information Possibly called Bluebird III before 12/42. If so, reverted to Bluebird III 11/45.

25. HMS Haig

Function

Address and commissioning history Rye. Base was commissioned on 20/8/43 and paid off on 15/9/43. Re-commissioned on 2/2/44 and paid off on 10/1/45.

Other information

26. HMS Newt

Function Landing craft base.

Address and commissioning history Newhaven. Base was commissioned on 15/10/42 and paid off on 22/6/45. In March 1945 it was no longer required as a landing craft base and became accommodation for 'Eclipse' (?) parties.

Other information

27. HMS Lizard

Function Combined Operations landing craft base.

Address and commissioning history Shoreham. Base was commissioned on 7/10/42, placed on care and maintenance on 31/10/45 and closed on 31/12/45.

Other information - from the Royal Navy Reserch Archive.

28. HMS Sea Serpent

Function

Address and commissioning history The base was located in two areas... Bracklesham Bay and Birdham near Chichester. It was commissioned on 20/10/42 and paid off on 30/6/45, leaving Birdham as tender to Victory III. Birdham was paid off on 30/11/45.

Other information Combined Ops 'suspense base' prior to commissioning. Used the Sussex Ideal Holiday Camp and Gibson's Camp in Bracklesham Bay, the Brackleshan Bay Hotel and various properties at Birdham.

29. HMS Northney, I, II, III & IV

Northney

Function Training establishment for landing craft and Combined Ops camp.

Address and commissioning history Hayling Island. The base was commissioned on 15/6/40 (without being named) under Victory III. It was known as HMS Northney from 26/1/41, was commissioned on 3/2/41 and paid off  in Jan '46.

Other information

Northney I

Function Landing craft base.

Address and commissioning history Hayling island. Commissioned on 1/10/42 and paid off in January 1946.

Other information

Northney II

Function Assembly base for landing craft 'mobile units' destined for foreign service, also a training establishment for engine room ratings, providing a 7 week course of theory and practice.

Address and commissioning history Hayling Island. The base was commissioned from 1/10/42 to 31/12/45.

Other information

Northney III

Function Landing craft base and, from August 1945, a holding camp for Combined Operations personnel.

Address and commissioning history Hayling Island. The base was commissioned from 1/10/42 to 18/12/45.

Other information

Northney IV

Function Landing craft base and from August 1945 a holding camp for Combined Operations personnel.

Address and commissioning history Hayling Island, Sunshine camp. Base was commissioned from 25/11/42 to 10/12/45.

Other information

See HMS Helder.

30. Warnford

Function Repair base COPP Depot. (Combined Operations Pilotage Parties) (?)

Address and commissioning history

Other information

31. HMS Tormentor

Function Minor landing craft operational base including maintenance, also an operational training base for craft of Force J Flotilla in Aug 1941.

Address and commissioning history Hamble, Southampton, located in the Household Brigade Yacht Club. It was commissioned from 12/8/40 to 31/3/46.

Other information

HMS Tormentor II

Function Training camp.

Address and commissioning history Cowes, Isle of Wight from 5/42 to 8/6/42. Amalgamated with HMS Osborne to form HMS Vectis, Seaview, Isle of Wight, which was commissioned on  8/6/42 and paid off on 20/5/45.

Other information See HMS Vectis No 36 below.

32. HMS Squid

Function Tank landing craft repair base.

Address and commissioning history Southampton. The base was commissioned on 1/9/42, placed on care and maintenance from 12/1/46 and paid off on 1/2/46. It was established at Harland and Wolff shipbuilding yard on 11/6/42. Later Elmsfield Court, Oakville Mansions, Devonshire Buildings and Southern Railway Depot used for HMS Squid.

Other information

Squid II.

Function Landing craft squadron staff.

Address and commissioning history Westcliff Hall Hotel, Hythe. Squid II was commissioned on26/2/44 and put on care and maintenance from 19/4/45.

Other information

33. Calshot

Function Gunnery, navigation, signals, aircraft recognition, training and disciplinary course for Petty Officers.

Address and commissioning history

Other information Later transferred to HMS St Barbara, Bognar, which was commissioned on 1/9/43.

34. HMS Mastodon

Function Combined Ops base for landing craft from Jan 1943, providing administrative support and facilitation of servicing needs. Also accommodated spare crews and replacement Royal Marines for flak and gun craft.

Address and commissioning history Exbury House, Southampton. The base was commissioned on 6/5/42, placed on care and maintenance from 4/45 and closed on 6/7/45.

Other information Here is an account by Canadian Bill Newell (Photo), who remembers his time at HMS Mastodon very well.

The five lorries carrying the men of Royal Canadian Navy Beach Commando (RCNBC) "W" from the railway depot at Southampton, on the south coast of England, turned into the entrance gate at HMS Mastodon at Exbury. It was a beautiful day near the end of February 1944, and I could see a large palatial mansion with expansive and beautifully landscaped grounds. Known as the Exbury Estate, on the eastern edge of the New Forest, it  belonged to the famed Rothschild banking family.

We were mustered into our three 28 man combined Commando sub-units W-1, W-2 and W-3, with each sub unit assigned to one of several Nissen accommodation huts located throughout the woods. They were furnished with single beds and were dry and clean. This was our first posting after completing our basic training at the Royal Navy Commando base HMS Armadillo, in the hills of Scotland at Ardentinny on Loch Long. HMS Mastodon provided further training on a variety of landing craft on the nearby Beaulieu River.

It was a lovely landscaped estate with trees, bushes and flowering plants from far away lands, most with identification plaques, dedicated to members of the British royal family. It had been requisitioned  by the Royal Navy Combined Operations Branch for the purposes of planning "Operation Neptune" which, as we learned later, was the amphibious stage of "Operation Overlord" - the invasion of Normandy. We were told that the enemy knew about the base and its purpose and that we were there to provide security, as well as continuing with various aspects of our training.

In terms of our personal well-being, this new location was an improvement on Scotland. The winters there had been long and harsh, the training hard but, despite these hardships, those of us who completed the training gained a sense of individual self-dependency as well as that of team-work. In some individuals it cultivated a rebellious nature, resulting in incidents of insubordination, particularly between members of our unit and the British NCOs and Officers.

Our equipment comprised equal numbers of Lee-Enfield rifles and Reising 9mm submachine guns, which were literally Sten guns with wooden stocks. Each of the three units also had a Lewis .303 machine gun. This was an older type of air-cooled machine-gun, which was fed from a '47 round' circular pan with a dangerous habit of jamming on every 17^th round. An assistant gunner was assigned to handle the ammunition and to keep a number of pans loaded and ready. The normal firing order of  the rounds was 123, (one tracer, one ball-point and one armour-piercing).

We were still outfitted with British Army battle-dress uniforms and were not issued with the more comfortable Canadian Army uniforms until we were on a tank operating course with a Canadian armoured regiment at Aldershot, further to the east in southern England. From HMS Mastodon we were assigned to various bases for specialist training in combat equipment, and between these assignments we undertook security duties on the base. We noticed the comings and goings of rather high-ranking service personnel but could only guess at their purpose.

The local village of Exbury was quaint, with a Post Office, which also served as our savings bank, and a pub, which was important to our recreational needs. The villagers were pleasant and congenial, and although we could not discuss any military matters, I enjoyed many a conversation about the Exbury estate during the pre-war days.

On occasions we took part in pre-dawn search parties for enemy agents, who may have been parachuted into the area during the night; but always without success. After daylight we would often meet members of the Women's Land Army, who worked in the fields. We would chat with them to gather any information on suspicious people or events. Most farmers, who employed the WLA girls, belonged to the Home Guard and they had been alerted to watch for strangers. Of course, our conversations with the girls were not always limited to official business but rather to arranging dates with them during recreation time.

We saw evidence of military deception while walking along quiet country roads. On one occasion, over the hedgerows, we saw the muzzles of several anti-aircraft guns pointing skyward but, oddly, without the usual sounds of activity associated with this type of installation. On closer examination they turned out to be fake gun emplacements complete with camouflage netting.

Although most of our volunteer members seemed somewhat less subservient than their UK counterparts, they were no less loyal to our king and country. We were British subjects and proud of it and I became indignant and even hostile at any suggestion that these convictions were insincere.

I revisited the Exbury estate in June, 2006, to participate in the anniversary ceremonies of the Normandy landings by the Exbury Veterans' Association. My daughter, Kari Lou, and I had the pleasure of being invited by Edmund Rothschild to spend a day as the guests of himself and his wife, Anne, on the estate.

During my discussions with Edmund, I recalled an incident when a 30' blue spruce tree, on the estate grounds in front of the mansion, had been cut down by axe during the night. The wanton damage was by itself bad enough but made all the worse by the fact that the tree had been dedicated by a member of the Royal family. Despite the lack of evidence or confessions, our Commando unit was held responsible for it. Edmund was very pleased to have the opportunity to put the matter straight after so many years. He had returned to the estate at the end of the war, after completing his duties as Commander of two British artillery regiments in Italy and Europe. When he learned of the tree incident of 1944 he asked the Military Police Service to investigate. They established that two Irishmen, who worked on landing craft on the nearby river, were responsible. It had been an expression of their anti-British feelings brought to the fore after spending a long evening in the pub.

Edmund strongly felt that a formal apology to the Canadian Navy was required but by this time it was far too late to be in order. He said to me, "Please accept my apology on behalf of the base commander and the Royal Navy." I replied, "On behalf of the Royal Canadian Navy, the apology is accepted."

Honour had been served after 62 years!

35. HMS Medina

Function Landing craft base and Fleet Air Arm camp.

Address and commissioning history Puckpool, Ryde, Isle of Wight. The base was commissioned on 15/11/39 and paid off on 31/7/42.

Other information Accommodated overflow from nearby Fleet Air Arm depots.

36 HMS Vectis

Function Minor landing craft base and HQ of SO Force J. See No 31 HMS Tormentor.

Address and commissioning history Seaview, Isle of Wight. The base was formed from the amalgamation of HMS Tormentor and HMS Osbourne. HMS Vectis was commissioned on 8/6/42 and paid off on 20/5/45.

Other information

37. HMS Manatee                                                                                                  

Function Landing craft base for barge personnel... training of officers and ratings.

Address and commissioning history Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Norton and Savoy camps. The base was commissioned on 15/11/42  and paid off  in September 1944.

Other information Thames bargees and their barges were requisitioned for Overlord.

38. HMS Turtle

Function Combined Ops training establishment... assault gunnery school.

Address and commissioning history Poole, Dorset. The base was commissioned on 7/10/42 and paid off on 1/3/46.

Other information Shaftesbury Homes in Poole, Lake Camp in or near Hamworthy and Round Island.

39. Dartmouth III

Function Combined Operations Boat Training ashore and afloat for officers and crews operating minor landing craft. 6 week course. Was transferred from the No 1 Combined Training Centre, Inverarary on Loch Fyne to Dartmouth in January 1943, when the College at Dartford was transferred to Eaton Hall.

Address and commissioning history Dartmouth, Devon, England. Commissioned 23/12/42 (1/2/43?) and renamed HMS Effingham on 19/7/43.

Other information Took over the site previously occupied by Dartford College, which moved to Eaton Hall in Jan 43. See HMS Helder.

40. Salcombe

Function Barge personnel - training of crews.

Address and commissioning history Originally located at the Salcombe Hotel in Salcombe but later transferred to the Imperial Hotel in Exmouth. Commissioned on 17/7/43 and paid off on 1/1/44.

Other information

41. HMS Foliot I and III

HMS Foliot I

Function Landing craft accounting base.

Address and commissioning history Plymouth. 1944 to 31/3/46.

Other information On 6/5/44 landing craft accounting and maintenance was transferred from Albatross.

HMS Foliot III

Function Holding base for Combined Ops personnel.

Address and commissioning history Bickleigh, Plymouth. Base was commissioned from 7/43 to 10/46.

Other information

42. HMS Appledore and II

HMS Appledore

Function Combined Operations base and training establishment, including HQ of the Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Unit (LCOCU) to which the Navy's frogmen belonged.

Address and commissioning history Fremingham Camp, Appledore. The base was commissioned on 1/8/42 and paid off on 23/4/48.

Other information [Photo; Frogmen of the LCOCU leave the water after completing their task. © IWM (A 28998).]

Appledore II

Function Combined Operations base.

Address and commissioning history Ilfracombe. The base was commissioned on 17/9/43 and paid off on 30/11/46.

Other information On 17/9/43, Appledore II took over the site/premises previously occupied by Excellent II, which was transferred to Collingwood Hotel Ilfracombe in Oct 43 and renamed Odyssey on 4/11/43.

43. Staines

Function

Address and commissioning history

Other information

44. Amersham

Function Amersham was the base used by 30 Assault Unit, the combined RN/RM unit deployed to seize Axis secrets and weapons.

Address and commissioning history The brainchild of Lord Louis Mountbatten and Cdr Ian Fleming, it was founded as a Field Intelligence Unit in the autumn of 1942. The base was at Cold Morham Farm that is situated on the old A413 just north of the current Old Town.

Other information The original Unit was formed from 34 (Army) Troop, and 33 (RM) Troop SS Brigade. The Unit history is provided by Sqn/Ldr David Nutting (and Lt/Cdr Jim Glanville) in the book 'Attain by Surprise' ISBN 0 9526257 1 7 published by David Colver, 12 March Square, Chichester PO19 4AN in 1997. (Information courtesy of Jerry Maycock.)

45. Combined Operations HQ (COHQ)

Function Headquarters of Combined Operations Command.

Address and commissioning history Admiralty House in London from mid June to the end of August 1940, when it moved to 1a Richmond Terrace, London.

Other information Combined Operations Headquarters was housed in the Admiralty from the time of Lt General Alan Bourne's appointment as 'Commander of raiding operations on enemy coasts and adviser to the Chief's of Staff on Combined Operations' on the 14th of June 1940. The activities of the fledgling organisation fell under the 'protective wing' of the senior service and thereby the Chiefs of Staff. This may have suited General Bourne but with Churchill's personal appointment of Sir Roger Keyes (a long standing close personal friend) to the post of Director of Combined Operations in July, the cosy arrangement was about to change. Keyes quickly set about moving to separate premises and, like Moses, he led his staff out of Admiralty House and into 1a Richmond Terrace, London in late August 1940.

ESTABLISHMENTS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAP (Later Additions)

HMS Monster

Function Combined Operations Base.

Address and commissioning history Fortrose, near Inverness, Scotland.

Other information Commissioned 15/11/43. Pensioned off 15/8/44.

HMS Pauline

Function Naval Officer in Charge (NOIC) and Coastal Forces (CF) Base including accommodation. Later a Combined Operations base.

Address and commissioning history Yarmouth, Isle of Wight and Poole, England. 8/42 to 10/12/42. Base acquired by Combined Operations (?) 3/43 and re-allocated to Manatee (see 37 above). Commissioned 7/43 at Lymington as a Combined Operations base and pensioned off 7/44. No longer required 20/8/44, Laid up 9/44 and disposed of 10/44.

Other information

HMS Rodent

Function Special Boat unit HQ.

Address and commissioning history Coldhayes, Liss, Hampshire, England. Commissioned 30/10/43. Paid off 17/2/44.

Other information HQ for Royal Navy Boom Commando, Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPPs), Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachments (RMBPDs) and Special Boat Sections.

HMS St Barbara

Function AA Range

Address and commissioning history Bognor Regis, West Sussex, England. Commissioned 10/9/43. Pensioned off 14/6/45.

Other information Attached to HMS Dinosaur 23/1/45 (?)

HMS St Clement

Function Combined Operations base for major landing craft.

Address and commissioning history Coal House Fort, Tilbury, Essex, England. Commissioned 7/9/43, closed 20/1/46 and Paid off 2/2/46.

Other information Also listed as a degaussing station (de-magnetising ships to protect them against magnetic mines, although some reports state that only testing was carried out here). Spelt St Clements in some lists. Also St Clements I, Perrys, Tilbury; St Clements II, St Johns, Tilbury and St Clements III, 16/5/44 to 20/1/46, holding base/transit camp for transfers to and from Germany.

HMS St Matthew

Function Combined Operations Training Base.

Address and commissioning history Burnham on Crouch, Essex, England. Commissioned 8/11/43 and paid off 3/10/45 and closed 7/12/45.

Other information Initially under Harwich. Later concentrated on the training of officers with ratings transferred to Helder.

HMS Bradford

Function Accommodation ship and Accounting Base for Combined Operations.

Address and commissioning history Devenport, Plymouth, England. Commissioned 2/6/43 and used by Combined Operations until 10/44 (at least). Broken up 8/46.

Other information

HMS Dragonfly

Function Combined Operations "Suspense" Base.

Address and commissioning history South Hayling Island, Hampshire, England. Commissioned 7/6/43 and paid off 15/1/46.

Other information Later became a Landing Barge Base and a Mobile Landing Craft Advanced Base (MOLCAB) assembly point. MOLCAB facilities were quickly established according to need on suitable sites. They provided accommodation for personnel and the maintenance and first aid repairs of hulls, machinery and armament of landing craft. The total strength of a typical MOLCAB was 36 officers and 374 other ranks, of which the major proportion were Royal Marines, under a Royal Marine Commanding Officer.

HMS Melisande

Function Original HQ of Combined Operations.

Address and commissioning history Hamble, Southampton, England. Commissioned 20/10/39 and sold 06/9/45.

Other information This establishment appears to have been a depot ship (yacht).

HMS Tullichewan

Function Holding base for Combined Operations personnel.

Address and commissioning history Tullichewan Castle Camp, Balloch, Loch Lomond, Scotland. Commissioned 10/3/45 and paid off 10/6/46.

Other information From 1942 to 1944 was a training base for WRNS under the name of Spartiate II.

HMS Victory II

Function Combined Operations HQ.

Address and commissioning history Portsmouth, England. Commissioned 30/6/44.

Other information

HMS Houptoun

Function Landing Craft and Minesweeper base.

Address and commissioning history Port Edgar on the River Forth, a little west of South Queensferry, Scotland. Commissioned 25/10/43 and paid off 28/2/46.

Other information Also the location of a base called Lochinver.

HMS Porcupine II

Function Combined Operations Base and Hard Party School. (A 'hard' was a hard landing area on a beach).

Address and commissioning history Stokes Bay, Alverstoke, Hampshire, England. Commissioned 29/1/44, closed 29/4/44 and paid off 30/4/46.

Other information Comprised 'hards' at Stokes Bay and Fort Gilkicker. Loading point was the South Parade Pier.

HMS Porcupine

Function Combined Operations Base.

Address and commissioning history Stokes Bay, Alverstoke, Hampshire, England. Commissioned March 43 and paid off 30/4/46 with care and maintenance only.

Other information Used for the storage of minor landing craft on shore at the end of the war.

HMS Effingham

Function Combined Operations Boat Training (Landing Craft?).

Address and commissioning history Previously HMS Dartmouth III (see above) and renamed HMS Effingham on 19/7/43. On 31/12/43 the training was transferred to HMS Westcliff III and HMS St Matthew, when the RN College was transferred to USN on 1/1/44.

Other information

Overseas Combined Operations Bases

1 HMS Saunders Combined Training Centre Middle East

2 Assegai, near Durban, South Africa.

3 Braganza II, Bombay, India.

4 Dilwarra, Manora, Bombay, India (Royal Indian Navy).

5 E L Hind (1938) Bombay, India, (Royal Indian Navy).

6 Ellissa Medina, Combined Operations Base.

7 Hamiccar Djedjelli, Algeria Messina, Combined Operations Base.

Further Reading

There are around 300 books listed on our 'Combined Operations Books' page. They, or any other books you know about, can be purchased on-line from the Advanced Book Exchange (ABE). Their search banner link, on our 'Books' page, checks the shelves of thousands of book shops world-wide. Just type in, or copy and paste the title of your choice, or use the 'keyword' box for book suggestions. There's no obligation to buy, no registration and no passwords.

If you have any information, no matter how small, about Combined Operations Training Establishments please contact us. Changes in the names, locations and use of the training establishments over the war years, conspire to confuse.

Acknowledgments

The book 'Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy' by Lt Cdr B Warlow, RN, the Bulldozer magazine of the Combined Operations Association, Public Archives including staff officers' course notes taken on 30/7/43 and 18/3/44 and information from individuals whose individual contributions are acknowledged, where appropriate.