OFFICIAL Commando News Magazine Edition 15 2023

training have been tested in action. The basis of the
training will doubtless not alter much. This has been to
bring a body of young Naval Ratings, all volunteers for
a dangerous operation, to a certain degree of physical
fitness, mental alertness, and naval, military and
specialised ability. The time allowed was three months.
Owing to operational circumstances this period has
been extended to four months.
PERSONNEL
The following comprised the personnel of ‘X’
Training Camp 16 .
1 Lieut. (Sp)) R.N.V.R Officer in charge of Training
1 Sub - Lieut. R.A.N.V.R Gunnery Officer
2 Sergeant instructors A.I.F.
1 Leading Telegraphist V /S and W/T specialist
1 Corporal R.A.M.C. Medical Orderly
1 Able Seamen
1 Cook
12 Ordinary seamen.
In addition to these one Able Seaman was loaned
to the camp for one month for duties concerning
stores.
The original officers allocated to OP JAYWICK. L to R ‘Gort
Chester, Ivan Lyons, Bill Reynolds, Donald Davidson, Bert Overall
at Camp X in early 1943.
Source. Deadly Secrets, p126
REQUIREMENTS
A. Physical
(a) To reach a state of perfect physical condition,
capable of being maintained for six months on
hard tack under difficult victualling and living
conditions.
(b) To be able to cover long distances over land
and water; 50 miles a day on foot over roads or
tracks; 40 over much trackless country; 30 by
canoe on rivers, estuaries, and open sea; and 30
by land and water combined; were aimed at
and achieved.
16
These figures do not include the Operation JAYWICK party and
specialist support staff.
B. Morale
(a) Morale. To be capable of maintaining high:
morale under extremely trying conditions.
These are expected to be:
(i) cramped living conditions: 20 men in a 70 ft
trawler.
(ii) North- at Monsoon weather.
(iii) Coasting by night in dangerous navigational
waters and lying up by day in rivers and
mangrove swamps, by islands and exposed
coasts.
(iv) Voyaging in enemy controlled enters, in the
vicinity of and often ashore on, enemy con -
trolled territory.
(v) No contact, other than by W/T headquarters
or with assistance for six months.
(vi) Limited medical aid.
(vii) Tropical climatic conditions.
(b) Initiative and alertness. To train each man to be
capable of taking a lone hand, if necessary, in
the execution of our intended operation; to be
alert enough to take the initiative should events
alter the execution of subsequent movements;
and to be versatile enough to be able to make
his way through enemy-controlled waters to a
friendly territory should separation from the
main party overtake him.
C. NAVAL AND MILITARY
(a) Expert knowledge and handling of small arms
including .303 rifle, Owen sub-machine gun,
revolver, pistol, Bren, Lewis guns, 3" mortar, and
the Oerlikon.
(b) A high degree of proficiency in only small area
anti-aircraft, and a thorough grounding in the
principles of anti-aircraft gunnery.
(c) Fieldcraft
i. Stalking, with emphasis on night stalking.
ii. Use of cover.
iii. Attack and demolition of gun and search -
light positions
iv. working knowledge of map reading.
v. Use of prismatic compass on land and sea.
(d) Elementary navigation
I. Chart-reading
II. The compass
III. Wind, tides and currents
IV. Tide tables.
(e) Visual Signalling
Semaphore and Morse.
D. SPECIALISED
(a) Expert handling of collapsible canoes in all
possible weather and seas.
(b) Canoe navigation by night and day.
(c) Portage of canoes over road in rough country
(d) Handling of news in attacking and boarding
shipping and shore installations.
(e) Proficient in unarmed combat
(g) Knife combat
22 COMMANDO ~ The Magazine of the Australian Commando Association ~ Edition 15 I 2023