‘S’ Battery, Royal Marines

United Kingdom: February 1940 – February 1941

No.11 Searchlight Regiment, R.M.

 [The war diary for February – June 1940 is missing.]

The ‘S’ Battery, Royal Marines was formed in February 1940 at Portsmouth as part of No.11 Searchlight Regiment, R.M.  At Yeovil, on 12th February, the nucleus of the Regimental Headquarters and ‘S’ Battery arrived at Houndstone Camp for training under the 220th Searchlight Training Regiment, R.A.  On 15th May, the Headquarters of No.11 Regiment and ‘S’ Battery moved to the Royal Marines Reserve Depot at Exton, Hampshire where on 18th June they formed an infantry unit, known as ‘S’ Battalion.  The purpose of the unit was to counter an airborne landing by German troops – a threat which was perceived as very likely at the time.  The ‘S’ Battalion was organised as Battalion Headquarters with two companies, ‘A’ and ‘B’, each of four platoons.  It was at first responsible for the R.A.F. Station at Clyst Honiton which today is Exeter Airport.  The Battalion moved to the Deal area on 26th June where it took up the defence of the Ringwould and Kingston area.  At the end of August, the ‘S’ Battalion participated in an exercise with the 1st London Division.  At Deal, on 20th September 1940, the Battalion reformed as Headquarters, No.11 Searchlight Regiment, R.M. and ‘S’ Battery, R.M.  The ‘S’ Battery left Deal on 20th September for Collingbourne Dulcis, near Andover and on arrival deployed in the area of the 529th Searchlight Area.  The Battery moved to the 542 Searchlight Area to the north of Plymouth on 9th October and was in action against German raiders in that area until January 1941.  On 2nd January the Battery left for Southend, arriving the next day.  The Battery left Southend for Gourock on 4th February and arrived the next day where it immediately embarked for Egypt on the H.M.T. H6, the M.V. Rangitata.  The ship left Gourock on 8th February to join with convoy WS 6A.[1]

Egypt: April 1941 – Crete May 1941

No.11 Searchlight Regiment, R.M.

The ship arrived at Durban on 26th March 1941 and the Battery disembarked and went to Clairwood Transit Camp.  Three days later, the Battery re-embarked, this time on board the H.M.T. Costa Rica which sailed for Egypt on 1st April.  At Port Said, on 21st April, the Battery disembarked and went by train to El Quassassin, arriving the next morning.  Later that morning it moved to El Tahag Camp.  At Alexandria on 10th May, the ‘S’ Battery boarded the ship Nieuw Zealand which sailed for Crete the next day.  A Suda Bay on 14th May, the Battery disembarked and after a couple of days providing working parties, a large detachment of untrained Marines deployed for training to sites occupied by the 304th Searchlight Battery, R.A.  On 20th May, the day of the German airborne assault, the ‘S’ Battery was also organised as infantry and moved to the Monastery Ammunition Dump.  It moved to Canea on 23rd May before being ordered to withdraw to Sphakia on 25th May.  A number of men of the Battery were evacuated from the beach at Sphakia on 30th May and carried to Alexandria where they disembarked on 1st June.  Together with the survivors of the Regimental Headquarters, the Marines went to Sidi Bishr before going to El Tahag on 4th June.[2]

Egypt: June 1941 – June 1943

No.11 Searchlight Regiment, R.M.

The ‘S’ Battery left El Tahag for Moascar, Ismailia on 1st July 1941 where it served in the infantry role under the operational command of ‘R’ Battery, R.M.  Untrained Marines went to a searchlight training camp just outside of Ismailia.  The Battery redeployed to an area south of Ismailia on 11th September and had deployed to searchlight sites by 28th September.  The Battery re-deployed to the Canal Zone in March 1942.  It remained until October 1942 when elements of the Battery moved to Kabrit and Kasfareet.  A large detachment known as ‘Scott Force’ was sent to Alexandria on 30th October 1942 and did not return to the Battery until 18th December.  In February 1943 orders were received from the Headquarters, 1 R.M. Group concerning the formation of an Emergency Brigade, in the event of an urgent need.  The ‘R’ and ‘S’ Batteries were to form two infantry companies to serve with 51 Battalion, Royal Marines.  However, no emergency arose and it seems that the batteries were never required to operate in this role.  The ‘S’ Battery moved to Geneifa on 1st May 1943 where it remained until embarking for Ceylon with No.11 Regiment and other elements of M.N.B.D.O. I. on 16th June.[3]

Ceylon: June – July 1943

No.11 Searchlight Regiment, R.M.

Having arrived at Colombo on 26th June 1943, the next day the Battery moved with the Regiment to H.M.S. Ukussa, Royal Naval Air Station, Katukurunda.  On 18th July, roughly half of the Battery went to Exeter Camp, Katukurunda to provide an infantry company for the ground defence of the aerodrome.  The balance of the Battery moved to Exeter Camp on 24th July.[4]

Ceylon: August 1943 – February 1944

3 Mobile Naval Base Brigade, R.M.

The Royal Marines in Ceylon now underwent a major re-organisation, the intention being to form two defence brigades which were to support future amphibious operations.  The Regimental Headquarters, No.11 Regiment, R.M. was dissolve on 31st July 1943 and the next day the now independent ‘S’ Battery became part of 3 Mobile Naval Base Brigade, R.M. (3 M.N.B. Brigade).[5]

A troop was deployed from Exeter Camp to Colombo on 13th September 1943 and the remaining elements of the Battery moved to Royal Camp, Katukurunda on 19th September.  In the event of an emergency, the 3 M.N.B. Brigade was to act as an infantry formation of two battalions and an independent company, all formed from the units under command.  The ‘S’ Battery was combined with men of the 3rd Coast Battery, R.M. into the second of these battalions, known as ‘Coast’ Battalion.  When the organisation of this ‘Emergency Infantry Organisation’ was amended at the end of October 1943, the ‘S’ Battery was then to have joined with the 2nd A.A. Regiment, R.M. to form ‘H’ Battalion.  The Battery remained at Katukurunda until 13th January 1944, when all but the deployed troop moved to Campbell Park Camp, Colombo, and reverted to the direct command of the Royal Marine Group, M.N.B.D.O. I.  The deployed troop rejoined the Battery on 21st January.  The Battery left the camp on 18th February to embark on H.M.T. C85 at Colombo, leaving Ceylon for the United Kingdom.[6]

United Kingdom: March 1944

3 Mobile Naval Base Brigade, R.M.

The ‘S’ Battery arrived with the 3 M.N.B. Brigade at Glasgow on 16th March 1944.  All units of the Brigade disembarked and went to Johnstone Castle.  After enjoying a period of foreign service leave during April the majority of personnel were posted away as anti-aircraft personnel, landing craft crews and, possibly, as Commandos.  On 15th May 1944, the Battery was disbanded and the remaining personnel, three officers and 22 men, were transferred to the 2nd A.A. Regiment, R.M., by then under the command of the 5th R.M. A.A. Brigade.[7]

29 January 2021