A rare and difficult to find very early Special IV Service (4 Commando) shoulder title

This is a neat example of a rare and difficult to find very early Special IV Service (4 Commando) shoulder title in white thread, separated by the Roman numerals IV in salmon pink thread on a black arc. 4 Commando was formed in 1940 from Southern Command, along with 3 Commando. Its first shoulder title was the SPECIAL IV SERVICE version. This changed in 1941 to 4 Commando. In both cases the numeral was in pink or red. In 1942 there was a final change, this time to No.4 Commando in red on black. In August 1942 three Troops of French Marines were added to the unit, bringing with them insignia unique to them. This led to a number of variations of badge combinations within the unit. No. 4 Commando was a battalion-sized British Army commando unit, formed in 1940 early in the Second World War. Although it was raised to conduct small-scale raids and harass garrisons along the coast of German occupied France, it was mainly employed as a highly trained infantry assault unit. The unit's first operation was the successful raid on the Lofoten Islands in March 1941. The next two planned operations were both cancelled and it was not until 1942 that No. 4 Commando took part in another raid, Operation Abercrombie, a raid on the French coastal town of Hardelot. Later the same year No. 4 was one of three commando units selected for the Dieppe raid. Under the command of Lord Lovat, No. 4 Commando landed on the right flank of the main landings and successfully silenced a German gun battery. This was the only complete success of the operation, which was eventually aborted following heavy losses. As part of the 1st Special Service Brigade, No. 4 Commando took part in the Normandy Landings in June 1944. Finally withdrawn to Britain in September 1944, they were reassigned to the 4th Special Service Brigade for the assault on Walcheren island. At the end of the war No. 4 Commando became part of the occupation force in Germany, but together with all other army commando units were disbanded in 1946.

Code: 50573