British and American Officers at the Commando Basic Training Centre
Taken outside Achnacarry House, home of the Commando Basic Training Centre (CBTC), during the period when the US Rangers received their commando training. Photo courtesy of Christina Bird, daughter of one of the instructors, Lieut. Alick Cowieson.
It is thought the Americans are from the 29th Provisional Ranger Bn. In 1943 there were two Course intakes for Ranger Bn's at Achnacarry.
4 rows left to right.
1st/Top row (9 standing): 1- 2. n/k; 3. n/k but is also in this image No 6 Commando Officers training for DDay; 4-9. n/k.
2nd row (14 standing):1. Capt. Douglas Cotton-Minchin; 2 (arm in sling). Capt Vicomte Arthur de Jonghe; 3 - 9, nk; 10. Lt. Derek Burr; 11. Capt. Dennis Sydney 'Bill' Kerr; 12 - 13. nk; 14. Major Robert Dawson.
3rd row (8 sitting):
4th/bottom row (11 sitting): 1. Lt. Swisher (US from Evanston Illinois); 2. Major M. Dunning-White; 3. Maj. William Gordon La Trobe 'Peter' Cockcraft (2i/c CBTC); 4. Lt. Col. Derek Mills-Roberts; 5. Capt. Lloyd M. Marr (from la Mesa Texas, 29th Prov. US Ranger Bn. Executive officer and 2i/c) ; 6. Lord Lovat ; 7. Lt Col Charles Vaughan (OC CBTC); 8. Capt, Ernst (US from New York Village Maine); 9. Lt Alick Cowieson; 10. Capt. G.B. Hoare; 11. Lieut. McNabb (US from Bertram Texas.)
nb. some uncertainty of the ranks at the very time this photo was taken.
Notes
This photo was published in The Sphere on the 5th June 1943. The names of the front row were all included. Major Cockcraft had been previously recorded as Peter Cockraft. However the Sphere record him as Maj. W.G. La T. Cockcraft. Commando Association newsletter 88 issued March 1989 record this Officer in their Obituaries as Major W.G.T. Cockcraft (CBTC) from Hartley Wintney, Hants.) A search of London Gazettes (Supp. 38691, page 3965) shows his Regiment as R. Berks. and his service number as 53758. The IWM have an Oral Interview (catalogue number 3935) recorded with Major William Gordon La Trobe Cockcraft covering the period he served with the R. Berks Regt. and the training of the 4th Bn King's African Rifles in Uganda, Kenya and East Africa, 1938-1942. At the very end of the last reel (reel 2) Major Cockcraft states he left them to volunteer for the Commandos.
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Recent comments
(view all 4 comments)Photo updated
Additional names added. This photo was published in The Sphere - Saturday 05 June 1943 - with the names of all in the front row included.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Fri 13 Jul 2018 20:13:40 EDT
"British and American officers at the CBTC"
| show fullshow summaryThis photograph concerns the second intake of U.S. 29th Provisional Rangers who stayed at the CBTC from 1.5.1943 to 29.5.1943.They were under the command of Capt. Lloyd M. MARR.He is 5th on the bottom row from the left.
The first intake of ...
This photograph concerns the second intake of U.S. 29th Provisional Rangers who stayed at the CBTC from 1.5.1943 to 29.5.1943.They were under the command of Capt. Lloyd M. MARR.He is 5th on the bottom row from the left.
The first intake of the U.S.29TH Provisional Rangers stayed at the CBTC from 1.2.1943 to 4.3.1943 under the command of major R.MILLHOLLAND,with Capt.Lloyd M.MARR as 2nd in command.
Another famous photo in the gallery (CBTC) shows "Maj.MILLHOLLAND",Lt.Col. C.E.VAUGHAN and Lord LOVAT.
Most probably taken at the time of the 2nd Intake. This is not "MILLHOLLAND" but "MARR".
Posted by Jan Mas on Mon 28 Nov 2016 10:23:54 EST
Great and interesting photo !!!! Thank you to share it.
Posted by stephane on Tue 22 Nov 2016 06:02:47 EST