Comment from Richard Straw

Richard Straw identifies his grandfather as standing at the end of the middle row on the right - PLY/X2187 Sergeant (ATy) Maurice Kenneth Straw.

Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Mon 06 Nov 2023 10:33:44 GMT

Standing, 4th from left, directly behind the newspaper is PLY/X2187 Sergeant (ATy) Maurice Kenneth STRAW.

Posted by Richard Straw on Tue 24 Oct 2023 14:08:14 BST

Captain Sturges is cleaning his F & S Commando Fighting Knife, perhaps they are going in action quite soon.

Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 14:43:21 BST

Here you can see how ID discs are worn. The round one is cut off if the man dies and sent to the Regimental Pay and Records Office used to close his Personal Record, in the Royal Marines that is entered as “Discharged Dead”. The other discs is buried with the man for later identification and any re-burial.

Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 14:40:58 BST

This is a ‘flash’ demo over a swimming pool and getting the tension on the rope may have been problematic. There are 2 US Navy men sat watching from the flat-roofed building distinctive in their Tropical Whites and the small round issue hat.

Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 11:24:30 BST

The Bailey Bridge was invented by a Donald Colman Bailey who had been called to come up with this form of design. It proved an essential ‘bit of kit’ and he was Knighted for his contribution after WW2. The famous Allenby Bridge across the River Jordan between Jordan and Israel was originally a British Army Bailey Bridge!

Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 18:43:54 BST

The small assault boat in the picture was US built and still in use for Royal Marines Recruit Training in the early 1960s during the Cliff Assault and Rocky Landings Phase in Plymouth Sound. A bowman was selected to stand on that blunt bow holding a rope and when the boat hit the rocks he had to jump and hold the whole thing steady as the Troops leapt
ashore. This fell to me, at night, and I still bear the scars!

Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 18:33:31 BST

You will see that the Commando is actually a Bugler Corporal. Back in the day Buglers could apply for Commando Service. That meant a full Commando Course and the award of the Green Beret. Each a Commando Unit has a complement of 1 X Corporal and 4 X Buglers who were part of the Provost Section working with the RSM on ammunition duties in action. When I was in Aden serving with 45 Commando RM the working day was punctuated with the old Bugle calls starting with Reveille at 0600 hours (Yougorragerrupyougorragerrupyougorragerrup it’s morning.) Stand Easy (Ifyouwannahavewazfallout) Meal Call (Cometothecookhousedoorboys) and lastly at 2200 the Last Post (LightsOutlightsout), It could be this was an informal Unit Visit where a Quarter Guard was mounted which would be a Commanded by a Sergeant, with12 Marines and. Bugler. As the men are in full Battledress this was either in the UK or Malta. I had the privilege of Commanding such a Guard when Lord Mountbatten dined with RMR Bristol Officers at Dorset House. Me...

You will see that the Commando is actually a Bugler Corporal. Back in the day Buglers could apply for Commando Service. That meant a full Commando Course and the award of the Green Beret. Each a Commando Unit has a complement of 1 X Corporal and 4 X Buglers who were part of the Provost Section working with the RSM on ammunition duties in action. When I was in Aden serving with 45 Commando RM the working day was punctuated with the old Bugle calls starting with Reveille at 0600 hours (Yougorragerrupyougorragerrupyougorragerrup it’s morning.) Stand Easy (Ifyouwannahavewazfallout) Meal Call (Cometothecookhousedoorboys) and lastly at 2200 the Last Post (LightsOutlightsout), It could be this was an informal Unit Visit where a Quarter Guard was mounted which would be a Commanded by a Sergeant, with12 Marines and. Bugler. As the men are in full Battledress this was either in the UK or Malta. I had the privilege of Commanding such a Guard when Lord Mountbatten dined with RMR Bristol Officers at Dorset House. Me and the Bugler (from CTCRM) took a Tot of Rum with him afterwards as is a Custom!

Posted by David Prichard on Tue 25 Aug 2020 18:11:37 BST

Edwin (Bob) Bond?

I think that the second on the left, back row is my Grandad - Edwin Bond (he was always known as Bob). I've been trying to find out more information about his time in the Marines but have been drawing a blank. I know he was in Burma and that's about it!

Posted by Abigail Bond on Wed 13 Nov 2019 14:45:21 GMT

Additional Info

44 Cdo crest on Stable Hill, built by RSM John Spencer in 1946. In 1970 40 Commando were considering refurbishing it as very little remained. However the advice was not to do so. [Source: Globe and Laurel October 1970.]

Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Tue 20 Aug 2019 16:49:05 BST

Photo updated

Originally created by 44RM Commando in 1946. Later refurbished by 42 Commando but then built on after that.
[Source: Letter of response from the RM Museum dated 11 Mar. 1998.]

Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Mon 19 Aug 2019 14:49:20 BST

Names

Does anyone have the names of those on the photograph?

Posted by John Martin on Mon 25 Aug 2014 17:36:51 BST

Album updated

Information added

Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Tue 10 Sep 2013 19:44:40 BST

Photo update from Peter Hensman

My father was in 44 Commando and we were just looking at photo's on website (he also has many of these. The ones marked Malaya were actually HK - New Territories/Chinese border crossing. Malaya 4 is a bailey bridge called Chick Bridge and guarded the border crossing. The original bridge was underneath it but had been blown up by Middlesex Regiment when they left HK in the retreat

Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Mon 12 Aug 2013 10:29:48 BST

Photo update from Peter Hensman

My father was in 44 Commando and we were just looking at photo's on website (he also has many of these). The ones marked Malaya were actually HK - New Territories/Chinese border crossing. Malaya 3 this blockhouse which is still there is Tac U Ling (not correct spelling)

Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Mon 12 Aug 2013 10:29:05 BST

Photo update from Jill Hensman

My father was in 44 Commando and we were just looking at photo's on website (he also has many of these).The ones marked Malaya were actually HK - New Territories/Chinese border crossing. Malaya 2 the blockhouse is in Hang Ma Ling (this is not correct spelling but will get that soon)

Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Mon 12 Aug 2013 10:27:58 BST

Photo update from Jill Hensman

Jill adds, “My father was in 44 Commando and we were just looking at photo's on website (he also has many of these. The ones marked Malaya were actually HK - New Territories/Chinese border crossing. Malaya 1 is Chicks Bridge.”

Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Mon 12 Aug 2013 10:26:57 BST

photo updated and resized

Derek Richard Tunmore added

Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Wed 10 Apr 2013 09:27:07 BST

Derek Richard Tunmore

My wonderful grandfather ( bottom right )
Sadly passed away 25th march 2013. Until we meet again, love Stuart x

Posted by Stuart Brian coe on Tue 09 Apr 2013 19:05:24 BST