Terry Knott was an excellent boss. When I joined Recce Troop in November 1966 (I'd already had a month in "Y" Company) things in Aden were already starting to get a bit lively.TK expected each and everyone of us to be able to act independently and to be able to think for ourselves but at the same time he led from the front and set standards that were a hard act to follow. His MC was awarded for his leadership when Recce were sent to Milestone 39, south of Al Habilayn, where a party of Royal Engineers and their escort had been ambushed by rebel tribesmen. Despite being under heavy incoming fire, we attacked the enemy positions and cleared the area.
I am still in touch with him all these years later.
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Tue 22 Sep 2020 09:27:13 EDT
This definitely a German Casement or Bunker and you can see the wide field of fire it would have had when Operational, close to 140 degrees (or
3000 mils) it can be seen this is a large Artillery piece capable of being used enormous damage to the Troops landing.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 08:22:57 EDT
My temporary home.
Despite the sand (very fine and got into everything!), the heat and the flies and scorpions), it wasn't too bad on the whole. It might have been a different matter if the Iraqis had decided to invade, though. I'm posing again for this picture and I think that, looking back, I didn't take life too seriously in those days. Borneo was a wake up call.
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Tue 22 Sep 2020 07:59:08 EDT
Posing!
The OP had been uneventful. Most were, although occasionally we were compromised and had to be extricated.
I'm obviously posing for this picture - I've even bothered to make my hair tidy! The M16 Armalite on my knee has green hessian around the handguard, an attempt at camouflage, although the stainless steel watch should have been covered as well.
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Tue 22 Sep 2020 07:52:49 EDT
These Troopers are stood in a German Artillery Casement or Bunker
probably at or near the Invasion Beach. Much of the guns used had been
stripped from Czech Border Defences in the Sudetenland which were
rendered useless when German Troops occupied that area., others from
the French Maginot Line which was well equipped but proved useless as the German Blitzkreig attack completely outflanked it.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 07:47:01 EDT
ITCRM in the 1960s
Despite being at ITCRM at the same time as you, I don't remember you, although I remember most of the training team that you have posted pictures of.
When did you join and which squad were you in?
Did you only serve in 45 apart from the UK?
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Tue 22 Sep 2020 07:38:39 EDT
Here the same Officer is helping the ‘next man’ through the Water Tunnel, something he had to do unaided, although the tunnel is short if a man panics it can be very dangerous. I only ever saw one Royal Marines Recruit refuse to go through. He was eventually discharged.’Services nolonger required.’ (SNLR)
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 04:11:17 EDT
This Officer seemingly has no-one pulling him through the Water Tunnel Obstacle, he should be in a Syndicate of three, one pushing, one swimming and one pulling, this is a safety measure.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 04:04:38 EDT
There is no demonstrable technique for crossing the Endurance Course Bogs , it is simply a case of, “There it is, get through it .” The Instructor must stand clear and shout encouragement not get this involved, all he is doing is getting filthy.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 03:58:12 EDT
Madame Gondres’ family owned the Cafe Gondre in the back ground which was the first building on Mainland Europe to be liberated when Glider Borne Troops led by Major John Howard DSO (Ox & Bucks LI) landed Two capture the bridges over the Orne River and Caen Canal as the first Allied Troops to land in the Invasion.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 03:37:19 EDT
