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
Everything in these photos point to them being taken in the Far East.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:59:11 BST
The Rifle pictured would be issued with an 18” Bayonet.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:58:00 BST
The leading Commando has a slung .303” SMLE Rifle as evidenced by
the two studs just under the muzzle so this might be an early photo I. By
mid-1944 the .303” Lee Enfield No: 4 Rifle with a pig-sticker bayonet was
on issue.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:57:10 BST
The caption states “Mortars on Fire!” But this probably means the a Mortar
is BEING fired as there are casings for the Bombs for the 3 inch Mortar visible on the grass on the low right of this picture. A Mortar is simply a strong steel tube and the only thing that can burn are the ‘charges’ attached to the Bombs by the 3 man crew. The type of charge and number being governed by the type of target and range. These charges look similar to the phials of petrol which could be bought in a Tobacconist for lighter fuel.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:52:39 BST
The item low centre is a No: 36 HE Grenade which has a distinctive shape
similar to a pineapple, they must be expecting trouble having this so close
to hand! The segmentation design meant that the Grenade exploded into
many pieces propelled outwards by 1lb of HE.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:42:47 BST
This looks like “Letters from Home” being distributed by the man standing
who might be the Unit “Postie”.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:39:31 BST
This would appear to be a Japanese PoW judging by he cap he is wearing.
Not many prisoners were actually taken as they either died in a final
“Banzai” charge or committed Seppku (A form of ritual Suicide also known as Hara-Kiri)
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:36:44 BST
They are preparing food for either a Section or Troop as the the metal “box’ to the left of the seated Corporal is a Hay-Box liner in which hot food was
taken forward to Troops in the field. The steel pot handle visible in the bottom left hand corner is a standard issue cooking pot used on a 1Star Petrol fired Field Cooker still in use well into the 1960s. The ladle the Corporal is holding is another clue!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:32:22 BST
This photo taken on Tilbury Docks, the War had ended and these Commandos are back in the UK with bulging Rucksacks and Kitbags. I wonder what they have managed to ‘scrounge’ under the “To the Victor the
Spoils Rule! A war time Commando told me that the seabed outside the
entrance to Portsmouth Naval Base would have been littered with German
Lugers and Daggers after being warned that Customs Officers awaited!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:19:26 BST
These men appear to be living in ‘Civvie’ digs, standard in the Commandos of the day with a Subsistence Allowance being paid.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:10:43 BST
These are not the standard British Sniper Rifles issued at that time which was the .303inch Lee Enfield No: 4(T) and was still in use in the Royal Marines until mid-1960 when it was re-chambered to use the 7.62mm round. The standard round issued was not good enough so special rounds were ordered for Sniper use only. When using the Lee Enfield Snipersin the Corps would try an d get the .303inch 7Z round which was standard issue for the .303inch Vickers Medium Machine Gun (MMG) which had a “Boat end or tapered “ bullet, the new style Rifle was called the L42. In this photo these Rifles are perhaps being “trialled” to measure their worth.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:07:44 BST
There is a Commando Trained Bugler on the left of this photo sounding a Salute Call.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 19:23:25 BST
This Commando is holding a German Stick Grenades and draped in belted ammunition which is probably also from the same source.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 19:17:13 BST
This Royal Marines SNCO is in full Blues, the Badge above his Sergeants’ stripes mean that he is either a 1st Class Drill or Weapons Instructor. Back in the day there was a Specialist Qualification of Military Instructor who would teach both disciplines.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 19:14:27 BST
I hope that is a Green Fez!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 17:41:48 BST
