Mission

An Introduction:

 

1940 - Prime Minister Winston Churchill told the joint chiefs of staff to propose measures for offensive operations against German occupied Europe; ”...Enterprises must be prepared, with specially-trained troops of the hunter class, who can develop a reign of terror down these coasts, first of all on the ‘butcher and bolt’ policy..."

        The Commandos were formed.

 

In 1942 – Initial training was centralized at Commando Basic Training Centre, Achnacarry Castle and Estate under the command of Lt Col Charles Vaughan. The first prospective commandos arrived, including Army ranks, local police constables and gamekeepers. Royal Marines Battalions were reorganised and sent to Achnacarry. Between 1942 – 1946 some 24,000 Commandos were trained at CBTC, including Allied Nations: Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, France, Belgium, and USA.

 

During and since WW2, Army and Royal Marines Commandos as well as Allied units, established the tradition of depositing items of interest from operations around the world at the Spean Bridge Hotel. The owners, the Ferguson family, gathered these artefacts over nearly 70 years, where they were secured and displayed in the Commando Display room within the local hotel – a mini-museum, beside the well abused Commando Bar.

 

In 2014, Spean Bridge Hotel was sold and local communities informed commando veterans that the new owner had no interest in these important items and intended to dispose of these irreplaceable historical artefacts. Acting upon that information a joint RMA/CA mission recovered all items from the Spean Bridge Hotel and, after a short sanctuary in Achnacarry Castle, they have been moved to safe keeping in Inverness.

 

In 2022, The hereditary custodians, the Commando Association, commissioned a feasibility study to determine how these important historical artefacts and the associated heritage might be returned to the public domain.  The effective joint team of former Royal Marines and Army Commandos responsible for the Scott Sutherland Project, were co-opted. In June 2023 the report was accepted by both RMA and CA and the joint team were requested to form a stand-alone charity to carry out the mission derived from the recommendations.

 

25 March 2024 - INTERNATIONAL COMMANDO HERITAGE TRUST

was registered in Scotland as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. (SC053224)

 

MISSION STATEMENT

 

To PROTECT, PRESERVE, PRESENT and PROMOTE

the History and Heritage of Commandos and Special Forces of the United Kingdom and Allied Nations that trace their antecedents to WW2 training in Scotland and the original Commando Basic Training Centre, at Achnacarry, Lochaber.

 

IT IS INTENDED TO PUBLICLY LAUNCH THE ICHT IN JUNE 2025 AT ACHNACARRY

 

WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING CORPORATE / BRAND PARTNERS

 

PLEASE EMAIL THE TEAM AT: commando.heritage@gmail.com

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