Looking for any info on what 40 Commando Troop George Elliott served in WW2 please.
We know that George served in Malta in 1942/1943 and was photographed at HMS St Angello, and then served in Italy 1944/1945.
His service continued after the war, where he was in Malaya.
He then went on to work with the Bomb Disposal Team based at Broadbridge Heath Camp.
He sadly passed away in 2019 aged 97.
If anyone did serve with him, or is related to anyone who served with him, there are many photos that his daughter Linda has let me borrow, which she is happy to share.
Posted by Chris on Tue 08 Feb 2022 15:35:30 EST
Photo update
Photo updated from Forum message
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Wed 21 Oct 2020 11:29:33 EDT
Clare Ash added at the time of providing this image "I note there is a photo on this site with Marine Todd in it. 46 RM Commando Z troop, second row from back on the right side end. I think Wally Todd is the miserable looking one in the same position in my photo, although I can't be sure. Can anyone help me with his RM career? His name was William Alfred Wallace Todd, known as Wally, b. 1912, Westbourne, W. Sussex"
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Wed 21 Oct 2020 11:24:39 EDT
Colonel Sankey RM was a former CO at Lympstone, his son Bob joined the Corps in the Ranks where I served with him, later Commissioned and made at least Captain. I believed he emigrated to Rhodesia and that his Son is a serving RM Officer.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 18:25:26 EDT
Although the photo has an original endorsement stating Mortar Platoon the weapon on the left is a .303” Vickers Medium Machine Gun. (MMG)
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:03:56 EDT
In this photo the Regimental Numbers of some of the Royal Marines is shown and anyone studying may wonder what the odd sequence means. Back in the day there were three Grand Divisions of the Royal Navy which are Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. A RM posted to those would be issued with his Regimental Number denoting which Division he was in, ie: Ch/X (Chatham), Po/X (Portsmouth) and Ply/X (Plymouth) the odd one out In this is Ex/ denoting that the man had joined the Corps at Exton probably as a Hostility Only Rating (HO). Surprisingly perhaps is that the Corps maintained the training of Regular Recruits throughout, at a time when there were RM Detachments on all ‘Big Ships’ including a Band. The Band manned the Magazines supplying RM manned Guns and once at Action Station were locked in. This accounts for the massive casualties suffered by the RM Band Service, if there was a fire in a Magazine it was flooded with no chance of escape, hard times! Exton Camp is now the Commando Training Centre RM at...
In this photo the Regimental Numbers of some of the Royal Marines is shown and anyone studying may wonder what the odd sequence means. Back in the day there were three Grand Divisions of the Royal Navy which are Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. A RM posted to those would be issued with his Regimental Number denoting which Division he was in, ie: Ch/X (Chatham), Po/X (Portsmouth) and Ply/X (Plymouth) the odd one out In this is Ex/ denoting that the man had joined the Corps at Exton probably as a Hostility Only Rating (HO). Surprisingly perhaps is that the Corps maintained the training of Regular Recruits throughout, at a time when there were RM Detachments on all ‘Big Ships’ including a Band. The Band manned the Magazines supplying RM manned Guns and once at Action Station were locked in. This accounts for the massive casualties suffered by the RM Band Service, if there was a fire in a Magazine it was flooded with no chance of escape, hard times! Exton Camp is now the Commando Training Centre RM at Lympstone, Devon, near Exmouth where all RM Basic Training is concentrated together with most Specialist Infantry
Skills.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:01:08 EDT
This a Royal Marine is wearing the a Winter Cap in dark blue material at that time the Corps would change into a white topped Cap in the Summer. That is now worn all the time.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 17:19:05 EDT
This Royal Marines Commando wasa Driver and wears the MT Badge. This Would later be changed to the letter ‘D’ still worn today.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 17:16:41 EDT
The weapon is the .303” Vickers Medium Machine Gun (MMG) this was a belt-fed, water-cooled Commando Support Weapon which could lay down heavy fire when the Unit went into action. There was a three man Gun Crew so when being man-packed, one to carry the barrel, one to carry the tripod and the other ammunition, spare parts (rarely needed) and a small jerrican which attached to the barrel thru the pipe in the picture to cool the barrel. It was capable of “plunging fire” so could engage targets in dead ground behind buildings and natural features. It was an incredibly rugged tool much loved in the Royal Marines until the late 1960s and last used in action by 45 Commando RM in Aden and in Borneo by Marine Tony Daker RM in Borneo, he was a a Squad mate in 723(CS) Kings Squad RM..
(Not in this photo) Marine Tony Daker RM MMG (Heavy Weapons - Support Company) and all round Good Egg (RIP)!
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 17:11:32 EDT
Great photo, thank you for sharing. I met some of those men in Dieppe during commemorations.
Posted by stephane on Sat 30 May 2020 03:57:13 EDT