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
The pile of German helmets in front of this Group probably means that they are from enemy soldiers encountered in Battle.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 28 Sep 2020 14:24:30 BST
I believe Trooper Innes May have actually been an Inspector when this photo was taken judging by a single shoulder ‘pip’,and banded Cap visor. He is not wearing Medal Ribbons, so may have been pre-War.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 26 Sep 2020 09:57:26 BST
The gun barrel is from a ‘Pom-Pom’ machine gun designed for anti-aircraft fire, usually in multi-barrelled mounts.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 26 Sep 2020 09:47:10 BST
The weapons laid out left to right in the photo are 1) Tripod mounted Bren, 2) PIAT Infantry anti-tank gun 3) 9mm Sten sub-machine gun 4) Lanchester 9mm sub-machine gun 5) I think a second PIAT fired using compressed spring 6) Second tripod mounted Bren. The tripods were used for firing in defensive positions on ‘Fixed Lines’ at night to cover possible enemy Assault lines of attack. All that was necessary was to pull the trigger which could be done with strong string.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 26 Sep 2020 09:44:14 BST
You can just make out the top of a ‘37 Pattern water-bottle over the top of the Majors’ sandwich, I am betting it is corned beef! He is also a trained Parachutist ‘Wings’ on his right sleeve.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 26 Sep 2020 09:31:53 BST
Great photo and not one my family have seen before.
Bottom row, second from right is my grandfather - Joseph Spicer.
Posted by Laura Stokes on Fri 25 Sep 2020 10:12:41 BST
Flame can be seen between pots 1 & 2 and could shoot out about 10 feet.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 24 Sep 2020 14:57:15 BST
Grub is being prepared for at least a Troop, the gear being used was the ‘Hydro’ Burner which ran on 1 star petrol where a ring ahead of the nuzzle was heated, the petrol under pressure would be sprayed onto it so that it produced a burst of very hot burning petrol which was channeled down a folding metal tunnel on which the various ‘fannies’ and Hay box liners were placed using a mix of tinned Ration Pack food and anything scrounged in the locality. The Hydro was very noise so could not be used anywhere near action. Still in use well into 1960s.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 24 Sep 2020 14:55:27 BST
....and the piano!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 24 Sep 2020 11:06:21 BST
Nice touch here, having borrowed chairs for the previous photo these men are taking them back in, not something Russians would do!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 24 Sep 2020 11:04:46 BST
