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On 22 June 1940 No 2 Commando commanded by Lt Col CIA Jackson RTR was turned over to parachute duties. Live jumping commenced on 13 July at the Central Landing School set up at Ringway near Manchester. By 21st September 21 officers and 321 other ranks had been accepted for parachute duties.

On 21 November No 2 Commando was re-designated the 11th Special Air Service (SAS) Battalion.

Commanding Officers:

June 1940          Lt Col CIA Jackson

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Media

Group photos

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Group Photo of L Troop 11 SAS Battalion, 1941
Group Photo of L Troop 11 SAS Battalion, 1941
Members of 11 SAS Battalion at Ringway, 1941
Members of 11 SAS Battalion at Ringway, 1941
King George VI inspecting men of 11 SAS Battalion near Windsor, May 1941
King George VI inspecting men of 11 SAS Battalion near Windsor, May 1941
Gen Dill inspects men of 11 SAS, with Lt Col Jackson in attendance, December 1940
Gen Dill inspects men of 11 SAS, with Lt Col Jackson in attendance, December 1940
Men of No 2 Commando on exercise
Men of No 2 Commando on exercise
A stick of No 2 Commando inside a Whitley
A stick of No 2 Commando inside a Whitley
Men of No 2 Commando on exercise
Men of No 2 Commando on exercise
Men of H Troop No 2 Commando
Men of H Troop No 2 Commando
50th Anniversary Parade, marching through Knutsford
50th Anniversary Parade, marching through Knutsford
Group Photograph of Parachute Training Course, 1940
Group Photograph of Parachute Training Course, 1940
Men from C Troop, No 2 Commando, 1940
Men from C Troop, No 2 Commando, 1940
Members of X Troop Sulmona POW Camp, Italy
Members of X Troop Sulmona POW Camp, Italy

Audio

Major Tony Hibbert describes his first descent with No 2 Commando during form up of Airborne Forces 1940-1
Major Tony Hibbert describes his first descent with No 2 Commando during form up of Airborne Forces 1940-1
Major Tony Hibbert discusses 2 Commando Commanding Officers and early training
Major Tony Hibbert discusses 2 Commando Commanding Officers and early training
Major Tony Hibbert on 2 Commando as part of Special Forces
Major Tony Hibbert on 2 Commando as part of Special Forces
Major-General Deane-Drummond on the formation of No 2 Commando
Major-General Deane-Drummond on the formation of No 2 Commando

Documents

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Godfrey Maguire North Africa. Note: dates are one year before they happened - page 1
Godfrey Maguire North Africa. Note: dates are one year before they happened - page 1
Godfrey Maguire North Africa. Note: dates are one year before they happened - page 2
Godfrey Maguire North Africa. Note: dates are one year before they happened - page 2
Godfrey Maguire North Africa. Note: dates are one year before they happened - page 3
Godfrey Maguire North Africa. Note: dates are one year before they happened - page 3
Godfrey Maguire Service History - page 1
Godfrey Maguire Service History - page 1
Godfrey Maguire Service History - page 2
Godfrey Maguire Service History - page 2
Godfrey Maguire Service History - page 3
Godfrey Maguire Service History - page 3
Handwritten note by Godfrey Maguire asking for rations
Handwritten note by Godfrey Maguire asking for rations

Photos

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Members of 11 SAS Emplaning
Members of 11 SAS Emplaning
Men of No 2 Commando in unarmed combat training at Ringway
Men of No 2 Commando in unarmed combat training at Ringway
Stick from No 2 Commando prior to emplaning, 1940
Stick from No 2 Commando prior to emplaning, 1940
Stick of F Troop 11 SAS emplaning at Ringway, 1941
Stick of F Troop 11 SAS emplaning at Ringway, 1941
Early photo showing No 2 Commando inside Whitley bomber on a training jump.
Early photo showing No 2 Commando inside Whitley bomber on a training jump.
Early photo showing No 2 Commando inside Whitley bomber on a training jump.
Early photo showing No 2 Commando inside Whitley bomber on a training jump.
Members of 11 SAS Battalion leave Norwich Castle after an exercise, 1941
Members of 11 SAS Battalion leave Norwich Castle after an exercise, 1941
Parachute instructor lands and starts to collapse his parachute, Tatton Park, 1940-1
Parachute instructor lands and starts to collapse his parachute, Tatton Park, 1940-1
Parachute instructor lands and starts to collapse his parachute, Tatton Park, 1940-1
Parachute instructor lands and starts to collapse his parachute, Tatton Park, 1940-1
Thompson Machine carbine
Thompson Machine carbine
General Sir John Dill inspects a parachute with 11 SAS at Tatton Park December 1940
General Sir John Dill inspects a parachute with 11 SAS at Tatton Park December 1940
Major Geoff Rothery wearing a Step-in Smock circa 1941
Major Geoff Rothery wearing a Step-in Smock circa 1941
St Mary's Church, Walton on Thames, 2012.
St Mary's Church, Walton on Thames, 2012.
Driver Ralph Evans' Headstone, St Mary's Church, Walton on Thames, 2012.
Driver Ralph Evans' Headstone, St Mary's Church, Walton on Thames, 2012.
Driver Ralph Evans' Headstone, St Mary's Church, Walton on Thames, 2012.
Driver Ralph Evans' Headstone, St Mary's Church, Walton on Thames, 2012.
Stick from No 2 Commando emplaning to a Whitley, late 1940
Stick from No 2 Commando emplaning to a Whitley, late 1940
Paratroopers in leather RAF B Type helmets, being inspected by General Sir John Dill, c1940.
Paratroopers in leather RAF B Type helmets, being inspected by General Sir John Dill, c1940.
Paratroopers in leather RAF B Type helmets, being inspected by General Sir John Dill, c1940.
Paratroopers in leather RAF B Type helmets, being inspected by General Sir John Dill, c1940.

Letters and Cards

Tony Hibbert's application to join No 2 Commando
Tony Hibbert's application to join No 2 Commando

Solo photos

A Sgt from L Troop
A Sgt from L Troop

Medal Citations

Maj TAG Pritchard DSO Citation
Maj TAG Pritchard DSO Citation

Insignia

No 2 Commando 11 SAS Association Tie Emblem(circa 2003)
No 2 Commando 11 SAS Association Tie Emblem(circa 2003)
GQ Parachute Wings
GQ Parachute Wings
GQ Parachute Wings
GQ Parachute Wings
GQ Parachute Wings
GQ Parachute Wings
GQ Parachute Wings
GQ Parachute Wings

Pegasus extracts

The Capture of a Crown Prince's Car, 1940
The Capture of a Crown Prince's Car, 1940