On the 8th October 1943 the 1st Battalion Royal Marines became known as 42 Commando Royal Marines,

on the day the unit was sent to Alexandra on HMT Ranchi. By December 42 Cdo RM arrived in Alexandr

a and spent Christmas there. The stay was caused by an air attack by 16 Heinkels which caused damage to the Ranchi's Foc'sle.

Then in January 1944 they embarked on HMT Scythia at Port Tewfik and set sail for Bombay.

They arrived in Bombay and proceeded to Kedgaon to carry out Jungle training in the Belgaum Jungle.

This was in temperatures of 45C at times. During November the unit relieved a battalion of 74 (Indian) BDE at Maungdaw,

patrolling aggressively into Japanese held areas.