Commando Training 1971

Commando Training 1971

By the Author

Commando training started in Achnacarry, Scotland, during World War Two.

The Ethos was “United we Stand”.
Training was based on pushing a man to the very limit of endurance of stamina and mental ability.

 In the 50’s the training moved down to Plymouth, with the “All Arms Commando Course RM” being set up, this facilitated training for all ranks across the forces aspiring to become Commando’s.

 In 1971, 59 Independent Commando Squadron, Royal Engineers were formed and undertook the AACC RM course.

Some photos below were of my training course in August to October 1971. I had spent a year preparing to join 9 Para Sqn, setting myself a gruelling PT regime of Weight lifting, Cross country running, Swimming and much more. As with others, I found that training helped, but the ultimate test was on a man’s ability to withstand hardship in the face of adversity, yet retain a good sense of humour, which came from being united with others, who likewise, had one motivation, to become one of Britain’s Elite Troops. Deprivation of sleep, hardships, bullying to keep moving, having to be alert at all times, became one thing – adversity! To overcome this, one had to know he would not give in, no matter what, black humour also worked in certain circumstances, either on yourself or others – tripping and rolling down a Dartmoor hill into Cow shit, one would state the obvious ‘I am having a shit day’, others would immediately laugh and crack jokes, adversity was overcome.

Friendships formed, as sections within the troop were formed, were often long lasting for decades.

The Commando Course for the Royal Engineers begins at the Squadron – Pre-Beat Up!
Moves to the Royal Citadel – 29 RA Cdo, for the ‘Beat up’ Commando Training.
Finally to the Commando Course at the Citadel.

The whole thing starts 3 months of continuing Hell, as each day gets harder and more is expected of a man, right up to the day each is presented with his Commando Beret.

 

My Story – 24173474 Sapper Elliott RG (Ray)

I was literally escorted out of Germany, being a fighting troublesome lad, escorted to the plane by the RSM. Sent straight to Chatham for Petrol Engine training, there I was put on a 6 month course to be completed in 3 months, no days off for me. I worked 16 hour days, less on Sat & Sun, then straight to 59 Indep Cdo Sqn RE, looking for volunteers to start the first All Commando Troop – Condor Troop.

I arrived in Plymouth on the Monday morning, having to walk from the station to the Barracks, with my suitcase and be on time for Parade.

The SSM and the OC were all for sending me back to Germany, however, they listened to my story of being thrown out of Germany and how I received a 7 inch stab wound between my shoulder blades on Saturday evening.

After the MO took a look, he stated that I could go on the course, but agreed with the OC and SSM, “I would not last a week” the pain would stop me.

I had to agree to treatment – 5am and 10pm, pretending to go for a run, I would exit the base and circle around to the Medical wing, where I was strapped to a hospital trolley face downwards, to receive the new technical treatment.

The regular routine throughout the 3 months is:
Reveille at 05.00hrs, breakfast, then training started and ran until 20.00 hrs or sometimes later. If we were doing well, we had a Sunday off, but had to work hard to earn it. At the end of each day, cleaning your weapon came first, then clean your day's clothing in a sink.
On the few 'field' exercises which lasted 24 hrs or up to 3 or 4 days, it was clean your weapon first, find a stream to clean your clothes and sleep on them in your sleeping bag, to dry them.

I started with 24 other hopefuls, vying for the last 2 positions in Condor Troop, 3 months later, I was the only one to pass the course.

How could I overcome the pain of the injury and the course – quite simple really, I have a very high tolerance to pain and a very strong determination. Condor Troop would allow me to be within 2 hours of my girlfriend and I always wanted to be a Commando, failing the course was not in my vocabulary.During the course, each man is taught the basic saying “Mind over Matter” – translated it means “I do not mind and it does not matter”. I did not mind struggling on the course and the pain did not matter. ‘Grin and bear it’ comes to mind, more recently it is simply ‘suck it up’.

 Many years later, I found out that the Troop Officer selected the men he wanted in Condor Troop, my shoulder injury, though bad, was not sufficient to send me back to Germany, the Troop Officer wanted to find out how determined I was to join the Troop, basically, I needed the Troop and it needed me. He made sure I could cope through the Engine Course, with little sleep, he was pleased that I did as requested, so training for the Commando Course was accepted, despite my knife wound – which would normally end a man’s chance of commando training.

 The first few weeks, we the trainees were emptying lorries of their goods, the Squadron were still coming back from Singapore. We worked clearing the lorries during the day and straight into physical running and gym work during the evening.

Based in Stonehouse Barracks with the Marines, we had to help clean up Crownhill Fort, our Squadron’s new home.

 

Cleaning a disused Fort was hard work, especially clearing the dry moat that surrounded it, also setting up the assault course in the moat, which we had the pleasure of training in. A year later, our assault course was scrapped as far too dangerous. It had rocks to scramble over, topped with barbed wire, an old shed with holes in both sides – to dive into and then out of the shed, a water obstacle to dive under and go over, plus a few more to make it interesting, with a short abseil to start and hard climb out to finish. Usually starting and ending with a 5 mile run to and from the Fort.

 

Scramble Course schematics & picture

 

As training ‘kicked’ into real training, we started using Dartmoor a great deal, for yomping, rock climbing and as an assault course.

Above is the scramble course at Tavey Kleeve, a circuit scramble course, often over looked by civilians.

We would run down the banking near the bridge, cross the stream, run up the opposite banking, over a fence stile, round a tree, back across the stile, down the bank, through the stream, up the bank to the start. 4 or 5 circuits was normal, with a final ‘competition’ circuit, the first 6 would get an Ice Cream from the van that regularly parked there, the others had to buy their own.

The banks were steep, the stream littered with boulders, it was physically and mentally challenging and produced a lot of laughing, it was really a fun thing, but very dangerous.

The Squadron had yet to set up an organized training circuit, so we were ‘guinea pigs’, as the PTI’s started looking at places to train men. The Gym was used in Stonehouse Barracks. At a whim, the PTI would walk up to a man or group of men and shout “Drop, give me 50” meaning 50 press-ups.

Rope climbing was imperative as was Rock climbing, with abseiling thrown in for fun.

Beach running and crawling through mud was the PTI’s favourite “give them hell” sport, walking in the sea was hard enough, but add a telegraph pole between 8 men, pure murder. Then to top it off, have each man carry another across his shoulders, walking 200 yards on the beach and in the sea – Commandos never leave their wounded behind.

Comradeship became high, it was “Us” against the “PTI’s”, we helped each other as though twin brothers, even sharing clothing, but no-one felt sorry for the other, we were a team and pulled together at the slowest man’s pace, even helping him to speed up by carrying his weapon or Bergen.

 

 

Then we were off to the Royal Citadel 29 Commando Royal Artillery.

 



 

It looks very imposing, as we head up to the main gates, this is a massive Fort, with excellent training areas, seemingly to pass the course here, means to pass the All Arms Commando Course, so we knew this was going to be tough!!!

The same training continued, but far more organized.

As with the Squadron, my medical continued in the same routine.

Obstacle Course training – running across swinging bridges, over-arm through scaffolding, running between tyres, along planking and walls, drop down into tunnels to crawl through, sometimes on your stomach to wriggle through. 6 foot and 12 foot upright walls – 6 foot one jumped up and pulled oneself over, the 12 foot wall was a two-man job, using cupped hands to fling the first man up, who leaned across the wall top and pulled the first man up.

The Obstacle was usually after a run, or finished with a run.

We started the Tarzan Course – various rope formations set in trees – 15ft up with no safety harness or foam ditches to fall into, so simply, fall off and break a bone or two. The Rope regain was taught over a 3 foot deep pool, then done higher up in the Tarzan course.

Various Running lengths against the clock, Carrying another man across your bergen, whilst he had his bergen on and you carried both weapons for 200yds on tarmac.

Rock Climbing and abseiling, the Citadel walls were high and steep, ideal for climbing and abseiling, with odd shows for the citizens.

Beach running with the logs, exercising with the logs – throwing them from one group to the other, lifting them up and down, plus holding them out sideways, ultimately to lying on the beach, head to head with the other team and throwing the log across our heads to the other team and back again.

Lots of Gymnasium work out routines, vaulting horse, parallel beams, bench presses, pull-ups, press-ups, climbing rope, murder-ball with a medicine ball.

 

Then onto the Ciradel – AACC  RM

As with the Squadron & Citadel, my Medical continued in the same way, only now, No-one had to know about the wound, or I would be returned to unit.

Looks like any other Army base, but far from easy!!!

As with the Citadel, we carried out the various training routines.

Most of the photos were of me, except the ranges and rope regain.

  Scramble nets

 

 

 

 Swing overpole

 Swing bridge

 Tunnels

 Water tunnel

From the start, each man teams up with a “buddy”, sections are also formed, but runs are generally Troop size, or half troop size competing against each other.

The 'Bottom Field' was the most dreaded, this was the tunnels - a thin layer of sharp aggregate on the bottom, you had to crawl through the tunnel with and without a Bergen on your back, I think there were about 5 tunnels of different shapes and depths.  Also here was the Walls - 6 foot, 12 foot and 100 foot - this you climbed using a rope, or using the hand & foot grips (just over half inch sticking out), ideal for mountain climbing training.This course was an every day one, before and after running. Often used before the Scramble course - steep hills of scree, so you ran sliding downwards on the scree slope, through thick thickets and other obstacles.

Peter's Pool and the dreaded water tunnel. A rope hung across this small 'lake', wading across holding the rope with one hand, holding your rifle up with the other. If you were close to 6 feet in height, you had no trouble. Under 5 feet 8 inches, you could drown. The person behind a smaller person, would help hold that smaller person up. This was done with and without a pack. Then onto the Water Tunnel, working in teams of three, one at each end, one to go through. As the man submerges to enter the pipe, his team mate would duck under the water and push him through. His other team mate would duck down and grab him, to help pull him through. Each would swap places, until all three had gone through.

The worst for many was the Tarzan Course, here you scramble across sets of ropes, 15 feet off the ground, no safety rope or padding to fall into. Fall off and go to hospital.

Climb up a rope ladder hung on a tree, move around the tree trunk to the rope sequence - Single to crawl across from tree to tree, round the next one and two ropes - one for the feet and one above for hands, the next was two ropes to walk on and one above, then two to stand on with two hand ropes. This culminated to a single rope going downwards which you slid down, culminating onto a builders plank. Run along the plank as fast as possible, then launch yourself up and forwards, thrusting an arm outwards in front, your arm goes through the thick netting in front. Start climbing it fast, over the top and down the other side, culminating with a run to the 100 feet wall and climb up it using the rope.

The rope regain was by far the hardest, deliberately coming off the rope and hanging under it for a couple of minutes, then having to 'regain' the rope using a sequence, it could "shatter nerves. Initially done hanging over a water pond, then done on the single Tarzan Course rope. First of all done with no kit, then the final time with webbing and rifle.

 

 

 

 

 

 Tests are carried out after a few weeks, covering all aspects of the training.
 

My last RE contender dropped out with a sprained ankle on the Scramble Course with two tests to go, I had no-one from the RE’s to compete against, I was on my own.

The most mind numbing was the Interrogation. This occurs after an exhausting yomp, where we set up base in a copse of trees. Suddenly the area is lit up by a helicopter, troops rush in from the darkness and we are dragged to lorries, where we have our arms tied and a foul smelling sack put over our heads, then pushed into the lorry and transported to an ancient fort. Here we are dragged off the lorry, made to crawl, receiving kicks to guide us into rooms. Here we are forced to stand with the use of weapon butts between the shoulders, our restraint is cut and we are made to lean against a wall on tip toe and finger tips for hours, with “white music” (noise on radio in-between music stations, loud hissing), to prevent us hearing anything. Twice I tried to move away from the wall and was hit with a rifle butt, the second time hit my wound full on, I lost my temper and ripped the hood off, only to be pounced on by three lads and forced back against the wall.

After many hours, we are dragged from the room, forced to crawl to an interrogation room. Here I was stripped naked, had a freezing pale of water tipped over me, interrogated by a woman. Firstly the ‘heavy’ approach, then the ‘light’ approach, when that all failed, the desk was up-turned, grazing across my legs as I stepped back, stupid I know, but I then turned and attacked my two guards, but more came in and I was subdued and crawled back to the room.

Later we were guided into a large room, from here we were going to being "executed", a pig swill took up part of the room, filled with stinking rubbish, this was our last meal.  Suddenly the door crashes in, Marines pour in, overcome the guards and lead us out, running around 5 miles to transport and back to base, where we were issued weapons and sent back to attack that base, we returned very happy, devoured a well earned meal, cleaned kit and straight into an exhausted sleep.

The end test was the formidable 30 Miler, 16 miles across Dartmoor and 14 miles along roads. It is based on an escape and evade basis, we are open to capture by enemy troops; safety is 30 miles away with Green Beret troops. Helicopter onto Dartmoor around 2am after the briefing, working in sections and we must finish as a section. Given grid references and a compass, we must find our way to the first check-point 16 miles away, here we drink a pint of salt water or take salt tablets, then start the 14 mile yomp. Our map reader brought us off Dartmoor, within 200 yards of the check point – bloody good young Marine!

The walk/run along roads was by far the worst, blisters formed, burst and formed again, but we were against the clock. Each member felt totally exhausted and wanted to quit, the others took their pack and weapons and pushed them through the tired break, we had to finish as a Section. A few times, we had to dive for cover, as a vehicle approached – civilian cars, no military.

Somehow, I survived to within 3 miles of the end, the lads started to remove my pack, but one lad rammed his rifle butt into my wound, well… I chased that lad running flat out, with the section closely following. As we rounded a bend a figure jumped out, I hit him on the run, thinking it was enemy troops, we continued our run. Stopped a mile on and told to return to where I hit the lad. The lad had forgot to put his Beret on, was startled by our running and lunged out, only to be knocked backwards. He had a great laugh with us, here we received sandwiches and tea or coffee, before transport back to base.

The next morning we were presented with our Green Berets. I was whisked away to Stonehouse Barracks to join Condor Troop, immediately I received my beret, no time for a photo or to receive my pass certificate.

I was now one of the Elite Fighting Troops, saying I was Proud of my achievement, is an under statement. Every inch of my body wanted to rest for days, my spirit though, was as "high as a kite", nothing from then will ever get me despondent anymore.

Back at Stonehouse, I was immediately given kit, packed it quickly and went with Condor troop to the Brecon Hills in Wales, for training with the SAS for 2 weeks on survival, followed by one week Explosive refresher course, now that was true fun.

Then we left for Scotland, where I wanted to be, close to my girlfriend and future wife.

 

Commando Training is not for the faint hearted, even the fittest person can fail. The course is designed to teach a man to 'dig deep' mentally and physically, look out for your mates and obey orders to the letter - it could save lives. Most of all, to face Adversity with humour and determination, anything is possible, if like minded people face adversity.