This Commando is holding his Personal Weapon the US made Thompson Sun-Machine Gun which is also depicted on his right shoulder Combined Operations ‘flash’. I think that the hilt of his F & S Commando Fighting knife can just be seen in his right hand map-pocket.
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 29 Aug 2020 18:37:52 BST
This French Commando Officer wears the Cap Badge depicting the Cross of Lorraine symbol of The Free French. He is wearing his Commando Toggle Rope which seems to have been adopted as Badge of Honour by the French as they can be seen wearing them in many Parade photos.
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 29 Aug 2020 18:27:35 BST
In the preparations for the Invasion Troops trained in bombed-out areas of British Cities where they could practise and rehearse ’Fighting in Built-up Areas’ (FIBUA) as opposed to training in areas of open land such as the Hills and Moorland. In some parts of the UK whole areas were taken over and all the inhabitants and livestock moved out. Some have never been allowed back with those areas still retained by the MoD for Military Training. One is near Thetford in Norfolk, another at Imber on Salisbury Plain and the third is near Lulworth Cove which includes a ‘live’ Tank Gunnery Range. The whole of the South Hams in Devon was cleared for ‘live’ Infantry Training (means weapons were being fired ).
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 29 Aug 2020 18:15:00 BST
The reference here to a ‘Tommy Cooker’ is the small, tin folding cooker using Hexamine Blocks which were still in use in the 1980 when I finally hung up my Green Beret.
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 27 Aug 2020 23:44:31 BST
Although Major Keiffer appears to be on Parade in an urban environment he still proudly wears his British Commando Toggle Rope
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 27 Aug 2020 23:32:38 BST
This unusual photo shows a Bren Gun mounted on a tripod designed for use when being used in the anti-aircraft role!
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 27 Aug 2020 22:50:10 BST
These Commandos are holding Rising Sun flag which will have been taken from a dead Japanese soldier..Traditionally these flags were given by families and would have messages written on them, they would be found wrapped around the body. There have been cases where these flags have been returned to Japanese families when the British soldier has made the effort and traced them for that purpose.
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 27 Aug 2020 22:27:53 BST
This is the standard British 3 inch mortar in general use, the base-plate would be stamped into the ground prior to firing
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 27 Aug 2020 22:17:32 BST
This Commando is wearing a standard issue life-belt but fully inflated for reason which are not clear. It was inflated by blowing through the mouthpiece.
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 27 Aug 2020 22:05:11 BST
These men are holding the famous Thompson Sub-Machine Gun so may well be their first sight of this US weapon.There was no British equivalent.
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 27 Aug 2020 21:52:02 BST
It seems the Scottish element has been dropped, Green Berets adopted and standard Army field dress worn.
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 27 Aug 2020 21:43:34 BST
Most of these Commandos are wearing the very popular issue brown leather jerkin (always a good ‘proff’) the man 6th left has the Commando Toggle Rope around waist.
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 27 Aug 2020 21:37:27 BST
The small packs worn on the chest hold the respirator (gas-mask) issued to all personnel as there was a real fear that the Germans both had, and would use, poison gases. Fortunately this never happened. The German equivalent is the metal, corrugated tubs often seen hanging off their Field Order. The men here are wearing field kilts in a plain, khaki cloth.
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 27 Aug 2020 21:25:08 BST
These Commandos are working/cleaning a .303 inch Bren and the others have the US .30-06 Garand rifles might indicate they were issued to give their Rifle Section additional firepower.The ammunition for these weapons are a different calibre so are not compatible.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 19:12:09 BST
These Commandos are carrying out a ‘live’ 3 inch Mortar shoot.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 19:03:17 BST
I believe this photograph was taken at RMB Eastney (closed)
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:56:27 BST
He is wearing his Commando Dagger on the right hip.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:53:27 BST
In the Royal Marines the term ‘Heavy Weapons’ meant either
1 3 inch Mortar
2 .303 inch Vickers Machine Gun (MMG)
3. Assault Engineers
The Mortar Men and MMG Gunners would wear the sleeve badge HW in a Wreath. One star means 3rd Class, Two stars 2nd Class and a Crown over the letters First Class by which time the man would probably be a SNCO. An Assault Engineer would wear AE in the same sequence. Nowadays there are Anti-Tank Marines, who wear the same HW badge. They would all be in Support Troop/Company.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:51:46 BST
This photograph would have been taken at a Camp initially known as RM Exton, then the Infantry Centre Royal Marines and is now entitled The Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM).
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:30:34 BST
Sam was a a Sergeant of the Cardiff City Police when I joined, there were a few Police Officers in the Force at that time who volunteered for service with the Commandos when the ban was lifted allowing Officers to either go RAF Aircrew or to the Commandos. The ones I can remember is Frank Kirby, Ray Sparkes, Bill Everett.They were highly respected in both aspects. I took some joshing having come from the Royal Marines Commando Training where I had been JNCO Instructor until I mentioned I was 4 on D-Day and shorter than their ‘A’ Frame rucksack. I believe they all served with 3 Commando. On retirement he took up a position as Chief Security Officer at The University Hospital of Wales. He was a fine man and extremely popular in the Force.
‘
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:10:32 BST
This Officers’ Sam Browne has a fitting for his whistle on the shoulder strap normally seen on those worn by Light Infantry Officers although his ‘collar dogs’ are either Royal Artillery or Royal Engineers.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 17:48:59 BST
Marine Harvey is holding a .303” Bren with a Magazine fitted which may indicate the Unit was expecting trouble. He is also equipped with an issue handgun for personal close-quarter protection as the Bren is not the most suitable weapon to bring to bear at close-quarters.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 17:27:10 BST
Now amalgamated with the Royal Welch Fusiliers to form the Royal Regiment of Wales who wear the Fusiliers Hackle in the beret.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 17:02:12 BST
I believe that Brigadier Thomas wears the Cap Badge of the Welch Regiment (the story is that when serving in India a local contractor made the badges thus and it was then adopted).
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 16:59:38 BST
This Commando is wearing a ‘collar dog” of The Royal Regiment of Artillery in his Green Beret.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 16:54:03 BST
