First in Last out

A seminal piece of Royal Marines Commando history, this 1950s doctrine summing up the lessons of World War II is published for first time. The official document Amphibious Warfare Handbook No. 10a: The Organisation, Employment and Training of Commandos is a unique piece of post-war Royal Marines Commando doctrine, never before published, or quoted at length. Prepared in 1951 at the height of the Korean War by the Chief of Amphibious Warfare and the Commandant General Royal Marines, this seventy-page aide memoire is, in essence, the distillation of major lessons learned by the British wartime Combined Operations Headquarters regarding amphibious warfare, raiding, cliff assaults, sabotage, intelligence-gathering, specialised infantry work, guerrilla warfare and Commando tactics. In addition, it offers its readership a delineation of the characteristics, skills and qualities required of a Royal Marines Commando. Published to mark the seventieth anniversary of its official issue, this rare example of bespoke Commando doctrine is a timely and highly relevant addition to a growing body of work on The Corps of Royal Marines. Currently undergoing significant institutional changes by means of the Future Commando Force (FCF) programme, the Royal Marines are having to challenge their existing operating concept, force structures, doctrine and organisational design to meet the emerging defence challenges of the 21st century. It serves to remind those currently evolving the FCF concept of General Sir John Hackett's advice, namely, 'To see where we are going, we must know where we are, and to know where we are, we need to discover how we got her'. AUTHOR: Educated at the universities of Warwick, London and Cambridge, Dr Paul Winter received his doctorate in history in 2009. He specialised in wartime intelligence and military history, publishing academic articles in Intelligence and National Security and War in History. In 2013 he was a Changing Character of War Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. From 2017 to 2020, he was an affiliated academic at 40 Commando Royal Marines assisting with Professional Military Education and Officer Career Development. He is currently a member of the Land and Littoral Strike team at the Maritime Warfare Centre.

“"...the level or research, the quality of graphics, and the readability are exceptional. [...] It is a subject area not covered often and it is a worthy addition to the bookshelves of readers with an interest in early Southwest Pacific air campaigns of World War Two."”

This is a most valuable contribution to the distinguished history of the Royal Marines, and is particularly relevant to Defence today. Liuetenant-General Sir Henry Beverly (Royal Marine)
Dr Winter has done the Corps a considerable service in republishing this valuable piece of Corps History. The Globe and Laurel 14/06/2021
it should be required reading for every serving Royal Marine today ... If the FCF is about returning to roots, then there can be no better place to start. The Wavell Room, Contemporary British Military Thought 14/06/2021
Paul Winter has taken on that mantel, with the same intellectual discipline used in a different way, to describe the Corps’ post World War Two approach to the Commando role and how this might, or rather as he seems to see things, is not shaping its future development. The publisher, Casemate, should be commended for this book. The Royal Marines Historical Society
Fascinating in its insights, it is recommended for those with an interest in the Royal Marines, Defence issues and the FCF concept. Miniature Wargames 11/05/2021
The distillation of major lessons learned by the British wartime Combined Operations Headquarters [and] of the characteristics, skills and qualities required of a Royal Marines Commando … A timely and highly relevant addition to a growing body of work on The Corps of Royal Marines. NavyBooks 02/08/2021

Educated at the universities of Warwick, London and Cambridge, Dr Paul Winter received his doctorate in history in 2009. He specialised in wartime intelligence and military history, publishing academic articles in Intelligence and National Security and War in History. In 2013 he was a Changing Character of War Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. From 2017 to 2020, he was an affiliated academic at 40 Commando Royal Marines assisting with Professional Military Education and Officer Career Development. He is currently a member of the Land and Littoral Strike team at the Maritime Warfare Centre.

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