During WW2 there was a fake airfield on Woodbury Common east of Castle Feature equipped with a set of landings lights which would be switched on if the Luftwaffe approached. Exeter still badly hammered. The Switch Room was a concrete underground bunker north-east of Castle Feature, which the Training Teams used as accommodation when the Squads were doing Defence Exercise (slit trenches).
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 14:55:30 EDT
This was taken up on Woodbury Common a local Training Area where the Endurance Course is sited. As we were sitting there some Ethiopian Marines Commandos under training ran past and one shouted, ‘ Hiya to 39! ‘ Happy a Days!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 08:28:54 EDT
About this time the Corps was introducing a Swedish anti-tank weapon. It was the 84mm Carl Gustav and a real lump, I think it weighed about 35 pounds plus the Rounds! It was deadly and widely bought. What no-one realised, at first, was that when fired the Venturi Tube/Breech ‘rang’ at a very high pitch causing lasting hearing damage. Once that was spotted a canvas ‘muffler’ was affixed but for many that came too late so they were medically discharged.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 08:23:02 EDT
The brick building in rear is the old a Gymnasium.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 08:05:48 EDT
If any Instructor at CTCRM is reading this he can wander off to the left from the stream at the bottom of the re-entrant, trees were marked in paint for route markers and he will find the ‘second’ bog, it was about 100 yards, slightly uphill leading towards the “Smartie Tube” Tunnels on the old 25 yard (not meters then) Pistol and Sten a Range. If brought back into use timings might have to be amended, it was really sticky and hard work!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 08:04:09 EDT
If you drive from Woodbury to Budliegh Salterton you pass thru a junction known to Royal Marines as Four Firs, further down the road on the right hand (southerly) side you will pass two brick built sentry posts about 100 yards apart. During WW2 when the Range, now part of the Endurance Course was in use, these would be manned. When any traffic approached their job was to was to notify the Firing Point, the order, “Cease Fire!” given, Red Flags run up, and only then would traffic be allowed to proceed. Back then some of our Instructors had trained at Dalditch Camp on the Woodbury Common so we had this type of yarn from them.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 07:52:17 EDT
You can see that he has tried to waterproof his rifle because once back at CTCRM he will be firing ‘live’ as part of the Course, 10 rounds at ‘snap’ targets on 25 metre range. A good shoot can knock time of the run.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 09 Aug 2020 04:42:50 EDT
Fourth from left was an ex-Para and Sniper (Nicholson?) next to,him is “Dutchy” Van Beck later WO2, he was the other B Pass, C was Average, D meant try again, E meant Goodnight Ladies!
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 08 Aug 2020 16:07:44 EDT
The other Corporal is named Holmes and he was the holder of the Kings Badge.
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 08 Aug 2020 15:57:09 EDT
I think he joined from the RMR where he had earned a Green Beret so this was second time around.
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 08 Aug 2020 15:20:21 EDT