Richard. I finally saw your post on the photo of 12 Commando E Troop in Dover for Operation Chess. Unfortunately I don’t get notifications when posts are made as I didn’t put the photo on the site - one of the administrators did on my behalf. My father left behind a note book he kept during some of 1942 when he was still in E Troop and in it are various lists of names of soldiers he served with. Unfortunately your father’s name isn’t mentioned although that of Sgt Parr is. If you could get in touch with me we can discuss the photo - I’m afraid it is very small and rather blurred.
Regards
Graham
Posted by Graham Robinson on Tue 03 Nov 2020 10:54:06 GMT
Allum Parr Wright
Richard and James. Sorry but I haven’t looked at this site for a while and don’t get notified when something is posted about this photo as it was put on the gallery by one of the administrators on my behalf. I think it’s highly likely that Malcolm Parr was on the raid. My father kept a note book of various E Troop activities during 1942 and Sgt Parr gets a mention. John Huntington’s Memories also mentions a Sgt Mac Parr in the list of E Troop comrades. Unfortunately, I can’t comment on anyone called Allum or Wright - neither are mentioned in my father’s notes nor in John Huntington’s Memories (apart from Sgt Knocker Wight and L/Cpl Dicky Wright RMC). The photo is very small and what you see on this site is probably as good as it gets although if you want, once I am able, I will explore what a professional might be able to do with it. Graham
Posted by Graham Robinson on Tue 03 Nov 2020 10:22:34 GMT
This photo represents the Belgian Commandos of 10 IA Commando during a parade at the Abbaye de la Cambre in Brussels. The occasion is the Belgian National Day of 21 July 1945.
They will soon leave the British Army to become part of the new Belgian Army as "Régiment Commando".
The reviewing officers are (L/R):
Capt.Paul ROMBOUTS; Maj.Godfrey FRANKS(HQ 10IA
Commando); Lt.Gen.BEERNAERT; Maj.Georges DANLOY(C.O.);
Capt.Pierre ROMAN M.C.;Maj.Gen. G.E. WILDMAN-LUSHINGTON (Commando Group).
Posted by Jan Mas on Mon 02 Nov 2020 14:45:27 GMT
Clare Ash added at the time of providing this image "I note there is a photo on this site with Marine Todd in it. 46 RM Commando Z troop, second row from back on the right side end. I think Wally Todd is the miserable looking one in the same position in my photo, although I can't be sure. Can anyone help me with his RM career? His name was William Alfred Wallace Todd, known as Wally, b. 1912, Westbourne, W. Sussex"
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Wed 21 Oct 2020 16:24:39 BST
Capt Dennis Buckle is the very tall officer at the back
Posted by Nick Collins on Sat 17 Oct 2020 01:23:37 BST
These Police Officers carry their Gas Masks in the small chest haversacks and are training with the .303 inch Lee Enfield SMLE Rifle fitted with an
18 inch bayonet.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 21:59:20 BST
Trooper Wall wears the Territorial Army LS & GC Medal so probably may have resumed serving Post War. I understand that a Year of War Service counts as two when calculating entitlement.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 21:50:22 BST
The “X” Troop Insignia on the board held centrally shows a Skull and Crossbones with the letter SS in each eye socket. That symbol was given a whole new meaning by the German SS. It was changed to a picture of a Disney’s’ Pluto wearing a Green Beret and a Fairbairn & Sykes Commando Fighting knife clenched in its jaws. The original Artist attended a Re-Union of 45 Commando RM at RM Condor and made a Presentation of this to “X” Company who have since adopted it as their emblem. I will attach a copy soonest.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 21:16:55 BST
In the photo he is wearing the Undress Tunic of Guards Officer which may be confusing but he was “released “ from the Commandos and not liked by Lord Lovat. There are reports of “friction.”
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 16:11:08 BST
His rank then was Troop Sergeant Major.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 16:02:40 BST
The detonator and fuse on No: 36 HE Grenade was shaped like a Capital “J” when you pulled the Grenade FROM the pin you lobbed the Grenade (high) the spring loaded handle shot off with a very distinctive “ping” the plunger shot down onto the low end of the “J” striking the det cap then the fuse burnt for 4 seconds before “going off”. Immediate killing area 25 yards but the base cap could be dangerous out to 100 yards. The Grenade Case was indented so it broke into shrapnel pieces about half an inch square. The Grenade held one pound of HE and looked like a metal Pineapple.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 15:59:21 BST
The rifles are “slung” from the right shoulders in the photo a more relaxed marching style.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 14:35:07 BST
The Officer behind the man “Stood at Ease” May have given him that Order as he is holding his Swagger Stick low and looking downwards.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 14:31:32 BST
“F” Troop was the Commando Vickers .303” Medium Machine Gun Troop.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 11:07:50 BST
Captain Fletcher RM was OC ‘F’ Troop (Vickers .303 inch Machine Guns ) on D-Day when they landed on Sword Beach so was ‘Boss’ to my pal
Marine Cliff Welsh RM and the rest is history.,
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 21:42:49 BST
Lord Lovat wears the distinctive Loval Scouts Beret and badge.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 12:16:35 BST
The man in the Inspection Party wearing a Green Beret is the Unit RSM.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 12:12:59 BST
The RMFVR was later retitled Royal Marines Reserve and after their conduct in support of the Regular Corps during recent conflicts have given the honour of dropping the RMR Shoulder Title on Blues and Lovats so now wear simple RM bronze and Stabright titles. The small later ‘R’ worn on Jersey Wool Heavy (JWH) referred to in the Corps as the ‘Woolly Pulley’, has also been dropped.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 12:08:52 BST
This type of motor-cycle combination S was a common German Wartime vehicle made by either BMW or Zundapp.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 12:00:02 BST
All the berets worn for the photo would be dark blue with a scarlet flash for the badge, at a later date all Trained Ranks who had passed Commando Training would wear the Green Beret from the date of passing the Course.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 11:38:06 BST
The Troopers are French Fusiliers Marins wearing traditional Naval Caps , they wear their Commando ‘flash’ above a Cross of Lorraine symbol of Free French Forces.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 30 Sep 2020 18:53:31 BST
On this formal occasion Trooper Baloche chose to wear his French Naval Cap perhaps in deference to Lord Louis Mountbatten.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 30 Sep 2020 18:42:03 BST
Marine Taylor is wearing the Wolsey Helmet, holding a ‘Walking out ‘ cane,
a leather Dress belt (now only worn by the Royal Marines Band) and Sea Service Boots. He may be the Duty Orderly.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 29 Sep 2020 20:02:45 BST
These Troopers have constructed a temporary field kitchen using the frame of and old reclining chair and appear to have things well in hand. Adapt, Improvise, Overcome!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 28 Sep 2020 19:15:48 BST
Four of the Troopers seen in this photo have large First Field Dressing attached within easy reach, these are wrapped and sterile bandages meant to be used with large wounds so they may have been in recent action where these would be life-savers.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 28 Sep 2020 14:30:58 BST
