RCN Beach Commando W - Part 1 is the Chronicles of W's establishment, training and operations during WWII. During World War Two (WWII) and Part 2 is the Portholes or off-the-record anecdotal reports of the men of RCN Beach Commando W. One of the many lessons learned from the Dieppe Raid was the need for highly trained personnel to supervise beach areas during and after an assault. This was assigned to the Beach Commandos and principally entailed disembarking troops and vehicles from assault and follow-up landing craft, organizing and supervising suitable "beach" areas, and loading serviceable vessels either with wounded and/or prisoners. In the event of a withdrawal, they were tasked with organizing the loading of landing craft from the beach. To provide adequately for its various planned amphibious landings, Combined Operations evidently decided that 20 Royal Navy Commandos would be required, two each for the three Army assault divisions, one per assault brigade, with 100% spare in reserve. In September, as a direct result of the Allied leaders deliberations, the Canadian War Cabinet Committee authorized the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to form a Beach Commando with training in Britain to be completed by the spring of 1944. The next step entailed the selection and appointment of' the personnel for the Royal Canadian Naval Beach Commando "W" which represented the last of twenty-two such units. This is the story of "RCN Beach Commando W" from inception, through training and on to service on Juno Beach in June to September 1944.

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