Chronicles the heroic deeds of Royal Naval Commandos, highlighting their unparalleled courage from training to pivotal World War II beach invasions.

'Every page of Beachhead Assault has a tale of almost suicidal courage.' – Tony Parsons, author of Man and Boy

‘Each tale leaves you gasping at the almost nonchalant, offhand accounts of extraordinary courage and dangers. This is a page-turner of a book.’ – Journal of Naval Engineering

‘Compelling reading . . . David Lee clearly and rightly admires these wonderful men and their deeds.’ – Colonel Mark Noble in Naval Review

The Royal Naval Commandos had one of the most dangerous and important tasks of any unit in World War II. They were first onto the invasion beaches and they were the last to leave. 

Their remarkable story, from their early formation and their training to the invasions they spearheaded, is told here through a series of brilliantly linked anecdotes. Each tale is one of extraordinary courage and should ensure the legacy of the Commandos is not forgotten.

The book includes a Foreword by Man and Boy author Tony Parsons, whose father was a Royal Naval Commando who fought at Elba. It also contains a preface by Ken Oakley, Chairman of the Royal Naval Commando Association.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• List of Maps
• Foreword
• Preface
• Author’s Preface
• Acknowledgements
• 1 Beginnings
• 2 Training
• 3 The Mediterranean (1)
• 4 The Mediterranean (2)
• 5 Later Operations
• 6 D-Day (1)
• 7 D-Day (2)
• 8 D-Day (3)
• 9 Normandy: The Beaches
• 10 Elba 220
• 11 Final Operations
• 12 Endings
• Appendix 1: Royal Naval Commando Formation and Operations Timeline
• Appendix 2: Known Medals Awarded to Royal Naval Commandos
• Select Bibliography