Number 4 Commando was one of over a dozen such units created by the British Army in World War II. The British took the name “Commando” from the Boer word “Commando” in the Boer War (circa 1899-1901).
No. 4 Commando is of special interest to me as my father, lieutenant Arnott Hume (“Pete”) Stevens was attached to them in the summer of 1943 and he was wounded while serving with them on a small raid in September 1943 near St. Pierre Eglise on the Cherbourg Peninsula in France.
No. 4 Commando was involved in the Raid of Dieppe (in France) in August 19, 1942. Their part in the raid went so well that a training manual was published 7 months later to help other British and Allied soldiers.
No. 4 Commando was also involved in the fighting in Europe from June 1944 when they landed on D-Day to the end of the war.
