Read main thread: origins of the term Commando
November 4th, 2005  
PrivatePyle
Milites Gregarius
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bushpig1998
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrivatePyle
I'm not sure about it being from the Boer war, never heard it, but that doesnt mean its not true.

It was certainly popularised by Winston Churchill as it was at his request that commando forces were formed to perform raids against German coastal positions.

I dont think they had the greatest military value, but kept the Germans on guard and would of told us alot about there coastal defences. Also when we werent waging a land war in Europe it would of been good for moral.
Churchill knew about Commando's (Kommandoe) because he was captured by a Boer Kommandoe unit during the Boer War.
I think he wrote about it in a book somewhere. Another good book about said war is "The Boer War" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Well worth a read.
I think the Commando's really did a lot to save allied lives during WW2. I mean, look at their training at the time - it was way more advanced that any training available to anyone else at the time.
I'm onto amazon now Cheers for the background info.
 
 
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