Trooper Machin is wearing ‘Ever Open Eye’ shoulder flash designed by Lt. Rex Whistler, Welsh Guards, a famous Artist, KIA 1944. This badge was worn by those serving with the Guards Armoured Division formed 1941.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 07:01:00 EDT
This a ‘live firing’ Bren. If using blank ammunition a different barrel would be fitted, wooden rounds used and the cone shaped flash eliminator on the barrel would have a half metal plate across the bottom.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 08:22:05 EDT
This shows a much larger Aldiss lamp fitted on board a Warship given the gun in the background.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 08:18:46 EDT
These would appear to be Signallers training in the use of the Aldis Lamp dating from a time when this means was still in use, the man sat in front appears to be using a field issue Morse key. Interestingly the SAS used Morse well in to the latter part of the 20th Century due to the range this equipment had and the difficulty that arose if anyone tried to ‘jam’ it. In contrast a pal of mine with the Falklands Task Force spoke to SAS men on the deck of a Carrier heading South who were using equipment with a ‘fan type’ aerial similar to the old camera ‘flash’ gun and when he asked they were stealing Satellite time to have a chat with their families. As he expressed disbelief they linked him immediately with his Wife in Cardiff! You could not make it up!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 08:15:52 EDT
I believe that this Troopers’ medals include a Police Long Service Medal so he may have been one of the Wartime Police entries who returned to that Job on demobilisation, it is the right hand medal as the photo is looked at.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 08:06:37 EDT
I served with a number of Wartime Commandos in Cardiff City Police and was told that when they arrived at the Commando Depot they had no previous military affiliation so had to select one prior to being issued with kit, given a Regimental Number and receive any pay. Some chose this Cavalry Regiment because of the Cap Badge. Correction to previous.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 07:59:26 EDT
These Troopers appears to be sat on the roof of a railway carriage given the curved roofline and it is interesting that they are wearing studded boots (Boots AP or Army Pattern) and not Commando Boots with It side made cleated rubber soles so perhaps this is quite early on.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 07:49:53 EDT
This shows a .303 inch Bren Light Machine Gun loaded with a magazine which could hold 28 rounds and there are spare mags stacked close to hand in the picture.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 07:45:42 EDT
These LSTs were built to run straight up onto the beach where, if possible, Tanks, Troops and other equipment could be landed ‘dry-shod’ through large doors in the bow. Each was also fitted with a huge Kedging Anchor on the Stern which had a swivel ‘fluke’ plate attached to powerful windlass also stern mounted. On the run-in to the beach that anchor would dig into the seabed. This meant that the LST and other similar ships could quite literally haul itself back out into deep water where that anchor was recovered. That Kedging Anchor features on the famous Combined Operation ‘ flash’ brought into use which also shows the equally famous Thompson Sub Machine Gun and an Eagle for the Air Forces involved.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 07:39:17 EDT
His Cap Badge is the Mailed Fist of the Royal Armoured Corps in silver or nickel metal.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 14:32:17 EDT