The right hand man is holding a captured German rifle.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 21:27:35 BST
This photo shows an injured WO2 being carried to a Field Dressing Station on a litter made using rifles
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 21:26:16 BST
I believe the badge on the chest of the Commando in the centre of this photo are Polish Parachute “Wings”
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 21:13:35 BST
This photo shows the small (back) pack of the ‘37 Pattern Webbing with Gas Cape neatly folded, below that is the ‘new’ style Respirator pack and below that the handle of the entrenching tool. All these Polish Commandos are also carrying the famous Toggle Ropes .
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 21:10:51 BST
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 19:32:17 BST
The kneeling Commando has his F & S Commando Knife gripped in his teeth!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 19:19:04 BST
Notice the cowling over front headlight to prevent unnecessary lights showing.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 19:05:59 BST
The central man is a Despatch Rider (motor cycle rider) judging by his Helmet, breeches and high boots. Known as DonR they would wear a badge with the letters DR centred on wings and were used extensively to carry any urgent messages when radio communications were either not secure or not working properly.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 19:04:29 BST
As the front number plate is white this is probably a captured a German Military Motor Cycle.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 18:53:29 BST
This mix includes one matelot and some Yanks apparently relaxing!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 18:51:48 BST
I stand corrected, he was actually a Member of a Naval Police a Unit which had a Royal Marine included. The armband reads NP those letters being separated by a a Crown. He would have had limited powers to take action against a Service Personnel found mis-behaving or Off-Limits.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 18:49:27 BST
Judging by his uniform etc., he is a Member of Regimental Police Unit. He is wearing an arm band which would carry the letter RP as opposed to MP as the a Royal Marines did not have Military Police trained as such until the 1960s.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 18:43:24 BST
This Commando is meeting a Yank judging by the Rifle he is carrying which is a M1 Garand.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 23:08:25 BST
He is wearing the distinctive Parachutist Brevet of the SAS. Now worn on the top right sleeve.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:32:35 BST
In the preparation for D-Day Commandos used Bombed and wrecked British Cities to acquire skills for Fighting in Built-Up Areas which was to stand them in good stead once across the Channel. This known by the Acronym FIBUA.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:26:06 BST
The badges on the left arm of Jess are his rank, ie: Leading Seaman, and the three stripes are Long Service Stripes , one for each period of 4 years, indicating 12 years under the Colours since the age of 18, any time before that was regarded as ‘Boys Time” and did not count towards Pension. At this time youngsters still went to Sea regardless, with many being Killed in Action!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:16:46 BST
The webbing worn is WW1 Pattern so they may have been short of kit as the Corps faced rapid expansion with the influx of Hostilities Only (HO) recruits.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:09:50 BST
Although the photo has an original endorsement stating Mortar Platoon the weapon on the left is a .303” Vickers Medium Machine Gun. (MMG)
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:03:56 BST
In this photo the Regimental Numbers of some of the Royal Marines is shown and anyone studying may wonder what the odd sequence means. Back in the day there were three Grand Divisions of the Royal Navy which are Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. A RM posted to those would be issued with his Regimental Number denoting which Division he was in, ie: Ch/X (Chatham), Po/X (Portsmouth) and Ply/X (Plymouth) the odd one out In this is Ex/ denoting that the man had joined the Corps at Exton probably as a Hostility Only Rating (HO). Surprisingly perhaps is that the Corps maintained the training of Regular Recruits throughout, at a time when there were RM Detachments on all ‘Big Ships’ including a Band. The Band manned the Magazines supplying RM manned Guns and once at Action Station were locked in. This accounts for the massive casualties suffered by the RM Band Service, if there was a fire in a Magazine it was flooded with no chance of escape, hard times! Exton Camp is now the Commando Training Centre RM at...
In this photo the Regimental Numbers of some of the Royal Marines is shown and anyone studying may wonder what the odd sequence means. Back in the day there were three Grand Divisions of the Royal Navy which are Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. A RM posted to those would be issued with his Regimental Number denoting which Division he was in, ie: Ch/X (Chatham), Po/X (Portsmouth) and Ply/X (Plymouth) the odd one out In this is Ex/ denoting that the man had joined the Corps at Exton probably as a Hostility Only Rating (HO). Surprisingly perhaps is that the Corps maintained the training of Regular Recruits throughout, at a time when there were RM Detachments on all ‘Big Ships’ including a Band. The Band manned the Magazines supplying RM manned Guns and once at Action Station were locked in. This accounts for the massive casualties suffered by the RM Band Service, if there was a fire in a Magazine it was flooded with no chance of escape, hard times! Exton Camp is now the Commando Training Centre RM at Lympstone, Devon, near Exmouth where all RM Basic Training is concentrated together with most Specialist Infantry
Skills.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:01:08 BST
On first glance this appears to be a Knuckleduster/Knife but it appears to also include a Skull in the design which might be deliberate.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 13:43:10 BST
The creature in this Crest is a Salamander which in myths is claimed to survive fire.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 13:39:23 BST
Lt/Colonel Ries RM was badly injured during the landings and Major NicoL
Gray RM took Command on the Unit thereafter. His actual rank was as a
Temporary Major, Acting Lt/Colonel. He was awarded the DSO for
personal Bravery in the resultant actions. Promoted to Lt/Colonel, and
winning a Bar to his DSO following Rhine Crossing and capture of the
Wesel. Post War he was appointed Inspector-General Palestine Police during the British Mandate. Later appointed as Companion to the Order of the Order of St Michael and St George.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 11:37:37 BST
The Machine Gun on the Tank Turret is the famous Browning .5 inch Heavy
Machine Gun quite recently bought by the British and issued for Active
Service. It is one hell of a weapon. When Prince Harry was pictured firing
aMachine Gun with the Gurkhas is was this type,
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 11:12:13 BST
The very shiny bolt handle and well worn magazine of the rifles and both men nearest camera is evidence of hard usage recently. They have been engaged in heavy firing.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 11:05:16 BST
I would venture to suggest that this photo was taken before D-Day as no man, not even the NCOs is wearing any medal ribbon(s). The webbing belts are an old Pattern replaced by ‘37 Pattern before that day. They are
wearing Battle Dress and not Denims as the man on the left (as you look at the photo) is wearing one Long Service Stripe denoting 4 years under the
Colours, this would not be worn on denims (fatigues).
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 10:08:13 BST
