Commandos crossing a river by a Foggle bridge under 'enemy' fire, Commando Basic Training Centre, Achnacarry, Inverness-shire, 1943 (c)

Photograph, World War Two, 1943 (c).

After the fall of France in June 1940 the British established a small, but well-trained and highly mobile, raiding and reconnaissance force known as the Commandos. They were to carry on the war against the Axis after the evacuation from Dunkirk. The first Commandos were all volunteers selected from existing regiments in Britain.