Volunteers were called for amongst the regualr units of the British Army. The name Commando was taken from the the raiding and assault style of Boer Commando units of the Second Boer War and the new founded Commandos would continue in this vein by carrying out lightening raid on strategic points of Nazi Europe.

Much of the Commando training was done in the Scottish countryside around the area of Achnacarry, Spean Bridge and Fort William. In recognition of their contribution to the war effort a memorial statue was unvieled in 1952 by the Queen Mother. It sits a mile (1.5 km) west of Spean Bridge...  

The text on the base reads as follows....

UNITED WE CONQUER

IN MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE COMMANDOS WHO DIED IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THIS COUNTRY WAS THEIR TRAINING GROUND. 

Further information...

There is a free exhibition in the village of Spean Bridge at the Commando Hotel....

http://ipoint.co.uk/Lochaber/SpeanBridgeCommandoExhibition.html

Further information about the Commandos, their history and their honours can be found here....  http://encyclopaedic.net/english/br/british_commandos.html

Glencoe

Glencoe sits on the banks of Loch Leven and is probably on of the most famous Glens in Scotland. This notoriety is in many ways due to the infamous Glencoe Massacre which took place On February 13, 1692 when members of the McDonald Clan were killed by members of the Clan Campbell. No one was spared, after being given shelter by the Mcdonalds, the Campbells then turned on their hosts during the night and killed not only the men but the women and children also. Many of those killed died as they slept in their beds and many more were cut down as they fled in the snow....

At first it was thought that a personal family feud had boiled over but as time past and investigations continued it was found to be much more than that....

A story connected to family history, religion, royal support, politics and loyalty to the king was finally unearthed and uncovered.

So severe was the weather on the night of the 12/13th of February 1692 that the final total of 38 deaths barely reflected the governments plans to make sure that over 500 people would be killed before 5am

Although it took place ove 300 years ago the Massacre of Glencoe remains a sensitive issue in the Highlands and feelings continue to run deep.

In 1963 Alastair MacDonald relased a song entitled 'Glencoe' which tells the story of the massacre. At first he claimed it was a reworking if a traditional ballad. But that is incorrect, as Alastair MacDonald has agreed with. Jim McLean wrote the song back in 1963 and Nigel Denver recorded it; by now over 50 artists have recorded the song... the best verison Ive heard is by The Corries. Its not difficult to get... 

chorus:
Oh cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe,
and covers the graves o'Donald.
Oh cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe,
and murdered the house of MacDonald.

They came in a blizzard, we offered them heat,
a roof o'er their heads, dry shoes for their feet,
we wined them and dined them, they ate of our meat,
and they slept in the house of MacDonald.

chorus

They came from Fort William with murder in mind,
the Campbell had orders, King William had signed,
put all to the sword, these words underlined,
                  leave no one alive called MacDonald.                  

chorus

They came in the night while our men were asleep,
this band of Argylls, through snow soft and deep,
like murdering foxes among helpless sheep,
they butchered the house of MacDonald.

chorus

Some died in their beds at the hand of the foe,
some fled in the night and were lost in the snow,
some lived to accuse him, who struck the first blow,
but gone was the house of MacDonald.

chorus

More information on the Glencoe Massacre:

http://www.legenca.freeserve.co.uk/history/glencoe.html

This site is probably one of the most comprehensive on the subject HOWEVER it does have a very annoying midi version of the Snows of Glencoe, so its best making sure ou have the speakers on your PC turned off!... the address is...

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/glencoe/index.html