No. 8 (Guards) Commando

No. 8 (Guards) Commando was a British Commando unit formed during the Second World War. Raised in 1940, it was unique among the Commando units in that it was primarily composed of men from the Brigade of Guards, specifically drawn from the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards. This distinguished them from the other Commando units which recruited from across the British Army.

The unit participated in a number of significant raids and operations, including Operation Claymore, the raid on the Lofoten Islands in Norway in March 1941. This operation, one of the earliest Commando raids, aimed to disrupt German operations and bolster morale. No. 8 (Guards) Commando played a crucial role in the successful execution of the raid.

Following the Lofoten raid, the unit continued to train and participate in various smaller operations. However, the Commando suffered significant losses during operations and faced challenges in maintaining its unique Guards composition. In 1943, No. 8 (Guards) Commando was disbanded. Its remaining personnel were largely absorbed into other Commando units, most notably No. 6 Commando. The disbandment marked the end of a unique experiment in Commando warfare, highlighting both the potential and the difficulties of forming specialized units based on pre-existing regimental affiliations within the larger British Army structure.