3 June 2025
A permanent memorial to the leaders of 1 Commando Company has been dedicated at the site of the unit’s original barracks in Georges Heights, Sydney.
Twenty-seven retired commandos, adorned in Sherwood Green berets, surrounded the sandstone plinth as it was unveiled by former Chief of Army Lieutenant General (retd) Ken Gillespie on April 6.
A bronze plaque details the officers commanding of the company, from its raising in 1956 until 2000.
It accompanies an historical marker that was unveiled in June last year to mark the location of the former barracks, which is now parkland, with none of the original buildings remaining.
The project was undertaken by Allan Miles, chairman of Operation Pilgrimage, a group of former commandos who conduct charitable works.
“I can’t express the emotions I had at the ceremony, and to be in the presence of so many of my mates who travelled from all over the country to witness the acknowledgement of our service,” Mr Miles said.
The battle banner covering the plinth was presented to Mark Skipper, son of Major Jack Skipper, Officer Commanding 1 Commando Company 1959-1961.
The memorial was dedicated by Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson, and blessed by Major Brett Gallagher, of the Salvation Army.
'I can’t express the emotions I had at the ceremony, and to be in the presence of so many of my mates who travelled from all over the country to witness the acknowledgement of our service.'
Seeing the plinth unveiled after years of work was profoundly satisfying for Mr Miles, who served in the unit from 1963 to 1976.
“When we placed the plinth on its base, a young kookaburra flew down and landed on it – a positive sign – then it started laughing, and so did we,” he said.
“The day was everything I could have asked for. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
On Anzac Day this year, Mr Miles gave the Ode at the memorial during the dawn service in Georges Heights.
The commando company was raised in 1956 in Sydney as a citizen’s military force to maintain the special warfare skills learnt by Australian forces during World War 2.
The first officer commanding was Major William Grant, a WW2 commando veteran who served in the 2/5th Independent Company and the 2/12th Commando Squadron.
It was the first unit of its kind to be raised in Australia, along with 2 Commando Company in Melbourne.
The companies operated independently until they were combined to form the 1st Commando Regiment in 1981, though they remained in their original locations.
In 2006, 1 Commando Company relocated from Georges Heights to HMAS Penguin in Balmoral.
