https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/ en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:31:52 +0100 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/18039-7/COBU.jpg https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/ https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/Officers+C_O_B_U_.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/Officers+C_O_B_U_.png.html
Published in the The Tatler - Wednesday 31 January 1945
Image © Illustrated London News Group.
Image created courtesy of The British Library Board accessed via the British Newspaper Archive.

Surnames added to enable result in search facility
heard, coxon, patterson, turner, hartley, ashton, oppenheimer, hewitt, sinclair, rooney, arnold, freeman, lloyd, mellor, price, collinson, cleminson, benson, meiklejohn, denholm, blayney, barratt, sharratt, greenhowe, stuart, frame, emsley, sykes, mclellan, noble, richards, mccormack, todd, pate, creasey, booth, gaunt, clark, todd, gower, webb, kennion, hetherington, atherton, boyle, hope, smith, crawford, coulson, hodge, ritchie, hurn, nesbitt, boniface.
In album Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU)]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 08 Jun 2019 19:51:17 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24340_.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24340_.jpg.html
Photo title: THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: THE CAMPAIGN IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944

Description: Naval telegraphists Crooke, Sherry, Rose and Winch, of an FOB unit (Forward Observation Bombardment) with Captain J F Burgess, RA, moving forward to an observation post in the Sword area. The gun crews of the Royal Navy rely on them for correct ranges as they bombard enemy strong-points and gun-nests ashore. Note two of the men carrying a spool of telephone wire in the foreground.

Photo © IWM (A 24340). Reproduced here under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. Posted by Pete R
In album Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU)]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:21:30 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24351_.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24351_.jpg.html
Photo title: THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: THE CAMPAIGN IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944

Description: Major R A H Arnolds, RA, (left) in charge of the Forward Observation Bombardment Unit talking to Lieutenant Colonel Seccombe of Combined Operations as the pair consult a map in the Sword area. It is men of the "Forward Observation Bombardment" among whom are naval telegraphists, volunteers from HM ships, that the gun crews of the Royal Navy rely on for correct ranges as they bombard enemy strong-points and gun-nests ashore.

Photo © IWM (A 24351). Reproduced here under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. Posted by Pete R
In album Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU)]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:16:35 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24349_.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24349_.jpg.html
Title: THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: THE CAMPAIGN IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944

Description: Naval telegraphist W J Crooks operating from a forward observation post in the Sword area. He is sending back the range of a vital enemy target situated on the outskirts of Caen. It is men of the "Forward Observation Bombardment" among whom are naval telegraphists, volunteers from HM ships, that the gun crews of the Royal Navy rely on for correct ranges as they bombard enemy strong-points and gun-nests ashore.

Photo © IWM (A 24349). Reproduced here under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. Posted by Pete R
In album Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU)]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:10:10 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24353_.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24353_.jpg.html
Photo title : THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: THE CAMPAIGN IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944

Description: An FOB unit (Forward Observation Bombardment) armoured lorry in operation in the Sword area. The telegraphist inside is protected from snipers by a colleague with a Bren Gun whilst the ranges are sent through to HM Ships. Sometimes a land-line is run from the lorry for a mile forward where the observation post is in action. It is men of the "Forward Observation Bombardment" among whom are naval telegraphists, volunteers from HM ships, that the gun crews of the Royal Navy rely on for correct ranges as they bombard enemy strong-points and gun-nests ashore.

Photo © IWM (A 24353). Reproduced here under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. Posted by Pete R.
In album Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU)]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:05:01 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24342_.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24342_.jpg.html
Photo title: THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: THE CAMPAIGN IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944

Description: Men of an FOB unit (Forward Observation Bombardment) at work in one of the forward observation posts in the Sword area. The gun crews of the Royal Navy rely on them for correct ranges as they bombard enemy strong-points and gun-nests ashore.

Photo © IWM (A 24342). Reproduced here under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. Posted by Pete R
In album Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU)]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 22 Sep 2012 23:59:15 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24347_.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB+__+IWM+_A+24347_.jpg.html
Photo title: THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: THE CAMPAIGN IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944

Description: In a rest billet less than two miles from the front line. Seen through the doorway of a damaged building Captain J F Burgess, RA, briefing his party of FOBs (Forward Observation Bombardment) before setting out for the observation post. The party will move off in an armoured lorry for a certain distance while the remainder of the journey is made on foot.

Label : Captain J F Burgess, Royal Artillery, briefing a party of FOBs (Forward Observation Bombardment) in a Normandy village, June 1944.

Photo © IWM (A 24347). Reproduced here under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. Posted by Pete R
In album Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU)]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 22 Sep 2012 23:54:39 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB++__+IWM+_A+24343_.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/FOB++__+IWM+_A+24343_.jpg.html
Photo title: THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: THE CAMPAIGN IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944

Description:

The wireless set being manned by telegraphists from a Royal Navy FOB unit (Forward Observation Bombardment) in the Sword area. The gun crews of the Royal Navy rely on them for correct ranges as they bombard enemy strong-points and gun-nests ashore. It is from here, the forward HQ of the FOB, that the spotting teams move forward, and it is also from where messages are sent to HM Ships and shoots are co-ordinated.


Photo © IWM (A 24343). Reproduced here under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. Posted by Pete R
In album Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU)]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 22 Sep 2012 23:49:07 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/HMS+PONGO+c3+Bombardement+Unit+copy.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/COBU/HMS+PONGO+c3+Bombardement+Unit+copy.jpg.html
The board held by one of the men states C/3 Bombardment Troop. Photo courtesy of Norma Hutton who adds "In the picture my father, George Ross Dewar, is in second row down third one in from the left."

Left to right

Top Row (9 men):

2nd row down (12 men): 1-2. nk; 3. George Ross Dewar; 4-12. nk.

3rd row down (sitting)(14 men): 1-10. nk; 11. Herbert 'Tony' Hawes; 12-14. nk.

Bottom Row (cross legged)(7 men):
In album Combined Operations Bombardment Units (COBU)]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:26:31 +0100