43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines

Early Commando units were all from the British Army but by February 1942, the Royal Marines were asked to organize Commando units of their own, and 6,000 men volunteered.[3]

43 Commando was formed in July 1943 after the decision was made to convert the battalions of the Royal Marine Division into commando units.[4] The initial intake of personnel was drawn from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Marines,[5] and following commando training at Achnacarry in Scotland, the unit consisted of about 450 men organized into a headquarters, five infantry troops consisting of three officers and 63 other ranks, along with a heavy weapons troop—armed with Vickers machine guns, 3-inch mortars and 6-pounder anti-tank guns—and a signals platoon.[6][7]

Along with No. 2, No. 9 and No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commandos, 43 Commando formed the 2nd Special Service Brigade.[8] Throughout the course of 1943–45, No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando served in Italy, Yugoslavia and Greece.[9]

Corporal Thomas Peck Hunter was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during Operation Roast at Lake Comacchio, Italy during the Second World War. Hunter cleared a farmhouse containing three Spandau machine-guns on his own, firing a Bren Gun from his hip. Hunter then proceeded to draw enemy fire until most of his troop had taken cover.[10] The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ian Riches RM was also awarded the DSO in this action. He went on to be Commandant General Royal Marines between 1959 and 1962.[11]

43 Commando RM was reformed at Stonehouse Barracks in 1961[12] "as a further contribution to the forces available for seaborne operations".[13] The unit was disbanded again in 1968.[12]

On 1 May 1980, the Comacchio Company Royal Marines was formed - taking its name from the battle honour "Comacchio, Italy 1945", where Hunter posthumously received the Victoria Cross for his actions.[14] On its formation, Comacchio Company took on the colours and traditions of the then-defunct 43 Commando.[15] The company's purpose was to guard the UK's Naval nuclear weapons and as a Maritime Counter-Terrorism unit for offshore installations, including oil rigs and ships.[15] The company initially numbered around 424 personnel.[15]

The Comacchio Company RM became Comacchio Group RM in November 1983.[15] From 1987 onwards, Comacchio Group also ceased performing the Maritime Counter-Terrorism role after a study transferred the task to the newly formed M-squadron of the Royal Marines Special Boat Service.[15]

The Comacchio Group RM was renamed Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines in March 2001, and was restructured into its current organisation.[15] The Group also moved from RM Condor in Arbroath Angus (where it was co-located with 45 Commando) to HM Naval Base Clyde, which is situated near Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute (both in Scotland).[15]

In 2012, FPGRM formally adopted the name 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines.[16]

In 2016, it was announced that elements of the unit would be using the Colt Canada C8 carbine instead of the standard L85A2.[17]

• 1961–1963 Lt-Col A.P. Willasey-Wilsey

• 2001–2002 Col. M.J.D. Noble
• 2002–2003 Col. M.W. Dunham
• 2003–2005 Col. I.P. Huntley
• 2005–2007 Col. P.R. Denning OBE
• 2007–2009 Col. R.A.W. Spencer OBE
• 2009–2011 Col. M.N. Gray MBE
• During 2011 Col. A. Litster OBE[18]

• 2011–2013 Col. A. Litster OBE[19]
• 2013–2015 Col. M.F. Pierson
• 2015–2017 Col. G.W. Fraser
• 2017-present Col. T. de Reya MBE[20]