Editing Layforce (section)

==Disbandment==
By late July 1941 the operations that Layforce had undertaken had severely reduced its strength and under the circumstances reinforcements were unlikely.<ref name=Saunders61>Saunders 1959, p. 61.</ref> The operational difficulties that had been exposed during the Bardia raid, the changing strategic imperatives of the situation in the Middle East, and the failure of the high command to fully embrace the commando concept had largely served to make the force ineffective. As a result, the decision was made to disband Layforce.<ref name=Saunders61/><ref name=Chappell17>Chappell 1996, p. 17.</ref> Many of the men went back to their previous regiments following the decision, while others chose to remain in the Middle East and subsequently joined other special forces units that were raised later.<ref name=Saunders61/>

Laycock travelled to London to discuss with the [[War Office]]<ref>Parker 2000, p. 53.</ref> his concerns about the way in which his force had been treated. Upon hearing about its disbandment later, British prime minister Sir [[Winston Churchill]]—a great advocate for the commandos—ordered the formation of the [[Middle East Commando]], made up from the commandos that had remained in the theatre.<ref name=Chappell17/><ref name=Parker54>Parker 2000, p. 54.</ref> When Laycock returned from England he found that, although the Middle East Commando had indeed been set up, there were very few men for him to command. What men there were, were formed into six troops.<ref name=Chappell17/> The embryonic [[Special Air Service]], then known as [[History of the Special Air Service|L Detachment]], were designated  Nos. 1 and 2 Troops,<ref name=Parker54/><ref>Shortt and McBride 1981, p. 6 & 9.</ref> while 60 men from the disbanded No. 11 (Scottish) Commando made up No. 3 Troop. The men of [[No. 51 Commando]] formed Nos. 4 and 5 Troops, and the [[Special Boat Section]] made up No. 6 Troop, under [[Roger Courtney]].<ref name=Parker54/> These designations, however, were largely ignored as the men referred to themselves by their old designations.<ref name=Chappell17/>

In November, as part of [[Operation Crusader]], an offensive aimed at relieving the besieged garrison at Tobruk, No. 3 Troop of Middle East Commando  was involved in [[Operation Flipper]], an attempt to raid [[Erwin Rommel]]'s headquarters in Libya and kill the German commander.<ref name=Chappell18>Chappell 1996, p. 18.</ref> The raid was part of a larger operation involving Stirling's L Detachment and the SBS to penetrate behind the German lines and cause disruption in the rear areas in order to assist in the general offensive.<ref name=Parker54/> In the end, however, the raid failed and only two men—one of whom was Laycock himself—managed to return to British lines.<ref name=Chappell18/> The commander, Lt. Col. Geoffrey Keyes, was posthumously awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his leadership and bravery during the raid.<ref>Parker 2000, pp. 55–59.</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35600|supp=y|page=2699|date=16 June 1942}}</ref>

Although the Middle East Commando remained in existence after this—largely in an effort to placate Churchill—its personnel were mainly absorbed into larger formations. Many of these men joined the [[Special Air Service]], which was expanded by Stirling with Churchill's approval.<ref>Parker 2000, p. 58.</ref> Laycock was promoted to [[brigadier]] and put in charge of the Special Service Brigade, Middle East Command, replacing Brigadier Charles Haydon.<ref>Parker 2000, p. 59.</ref>