The River Orne and Caen Canal Bridges now named Pegasus Bridge.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 28 Sep 2020 21:44:21 BST
The photo is taken at the Infantry Training Centre Royal Marines during initial training, this is the bottom road where the new Accomodation Blocks were built in the 1960s. Dutchys’ Hot Dog Caravan would be parked further down to the left in later years. The camp is now the Commando Training Centre RM. ‘X’ Troop Recruits would ‘live’ to the left of the photographer whilst undergoing Commando Courses in identical huts.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 28 Sep 2020 19:34:36 BST
Corporal Jack French RM went on to become RSM (WO1) firstly with 40 Commando RM and then at CTCRM. One of the finest Marines I had the privilege of serving with and true Corps Legend.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 27 Sep 2020 21:38:32 BST
These are Army Ranks undergoing Commando Training and negotiating the Water Tunnel on the Woodbury Common Endurance Course. The men are taught to work in a Syndicate of three, one swimming, one pushing, one pulling, they then change places until all three have gone thru and move on to the next obstacle before the 4 and a half mile double back to CTCRM . They are wearing ‘58 Pattern Webbing and would be carrying a 7.62mm SLR. Three different Corps shown in this Syndicate, one an Officer.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 25 Sep 2020 20:19:56 BST
The 11 Hussars earned the nickname ‘The Cherrypickers’ during the Peninsular War after being forced to take cover in a Cherry Orchard’ and wear a badge-less beret in two shades of red.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 25 Sep 2020 14:41:18 BST
The Royal Marines in this photo are wearing Battledress (BD) with the RM
Shoulder ‘Flash’ and Commando Dagger. This was worn in the Corps until
the mid-1960s when the Lovat Uniform was introduced. The ‘Flash’ was later introduced again and worn on the Jersey Wool Heavy, known in the
Corps as a ‘Woolly Pulley’.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 24 Sep 2020 16:01:06 BST
Good shot of a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun in the light role as used in a Commando Rifle Section, it is belt-fed and ammunition comes in the metal liner seen alongside, and the belt fed into the gun ready for action, this comes as 4 ball rounds and 1 tracer., known as 4 and 1
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 24 Sep 2020 10:43:34 BST
Richard Green is wearing his Green Beret with a cloth Royal Navy badge which probably means he was a Sick Berth Attendant (SBA - Medic, now known as a Medical Assistant - MA) who completed a full Royal Marines Commando Course prior to being posted to 42 Commando RM. These guys were very highly regarded in the Corps. His badge is picked out in red over dark blue.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 23 Sep 2020 23:30:19 BST
The aircraft is an Army Air Corps Auster ‘Air Observation Platform (AOP) used to spot targets and call for Air or Gunfire support for Troops on the ground.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 23:45:44 BST
I think the right hand man holding the SBS Colour holds the Royal Fleet Reserve Medal and if I am right it means he is RMR. Members of the RMR could train as Swimmer Canoeists but this required massive dedication and severe training.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 21:15:48 BST
All Otther Ranks accommodation was to the LEFT of the Main’Drag’, the two Galleys, JNCOs Club, and the ‘Blue Pig’ Marines Bar (Devon Scrumpy 6d or 2p) also on the left just past Sylvan Glade with the Camp Cinema and Gymnasium on the right at the bottom. There was no Camp Railway Station, we used Exton and yomped up to Dutchys for Goodnight scran!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 20:56:21 BST
This is a good picture showing the Main Gate, the main ‘drag’ running down towards the beautiful Exe Estuary. This is how all older Royal Marines will remember it. The Guard Room is to the right of the Gate with the small Gate Sentry Post visible just inside the Gate. The second building down on the left had a small shelter where there were slot machine for nutty and gophers (chocolate and drinks), the big trees half way down is a Sylvan Glade where the old Tarzan Course was sited. The Camp is shown much as it was originally built and can be dated as the Squad is armed with the 7.62mm Self Loading Rifle first issued to 728(CS) Squad RM in 1959. All OR accommodation was to the left of the picture and the build had commenced on the ‘new’ Officers’ Mess to the right and behind the Guard Room. Dutchys’ Hot-Dog and gophers caravan would be parked during the evening to the right of the Gates and outside the Camp. HappyDays.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 20:32:27 BST
In 1960 45 Commando RM moved to Aden relieving the Royal Warwickshire Regiment who were returning to the U.K.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 19:36:18 BST
3 Commando Brigade consisting of Brigade HQ, 40, 42 & 45 Commando Royal Marines would train regularly in Libya at that time it being ruled by King Idris who was very pro-British.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 19:14:02 BST
The photo shows the Commanding Officer together with the RSM , Quarter Master Sergeants, Colour Sergeants and Sergeants of the Unit The man in the Centre rank , ninth from the left is RN Petty Officer and Royal Navy Medical Assistant (then called a a Sick Bay Attendant or SBA) who would have completed the Commando Course and been awarded the Green Beret. The SNCO on right of the rank with a white webbing shoulder strap is the Unit Provost (Police) Sergeant. The rank of Quarter Master Sergeant is now Warrant Officer 2nd Class. A RSM is now a WO1 and Senior.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 19:08:24 BST
Here the same Officer is helping the ‘next man’ through the Water Tunnel, something he had to do unaided, although the tunnel is short if a man panics it can be very dangerous. I only ever saw one Royal Marines Recruit refuse to go through. He was eventually discharged.’Services nolonger required.’ (SNLR)
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 09:11:17 BST
This Officer seemingly has no-one pulling him through the Water Tunnel Obstacle, he should be in a Syndicate of three, one pushing, one swimming and one pulling, this is a safety measure.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 09:04:38 BST
There is no demonstrable technique for crossing the Endurance Course Bogs , it is simply a case of, “There it is, get through it .” The Instructor must stand clear and shout encouragement not get this involved, all he is doing is getting filthy.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 08:58:12 BST
A neighbour of mine served in the Troodos as a Royal Engineer in the troubles when Greek-Cypriot terrorists in EOKA under Colonel Grivas were fighting for ENOSIS (Freedom from British Rule) he used to carry out any repair work needed on defensive positions on the Mountain. One was manned by the Royal Welch Fusiliers and painted on a rock near to their position someone had painted, “Freedom for Wales”
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 11:29:53 BST
This Dress uniform and leather belt is only worn by members of the Royal Marines Band Service, but if someone from General Duties was getting married he could borrow this for that purpose.,
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 11:21:24 BST
If any Royal Marine is looking at this photo and wondering why there are Gunners pictured with the Squad, it is because the original plan to train Army guys to get their Green Beret and then train them as Commando Instructors went for a ball of chalk when only 8 passed out of a Cadre of 30 Officers and NCOs so they introduced trickle drafting to start getting Gunners thru. It worked very well as the Squads adopted these guys and helped if they struggled so they also bonded. Those joining Squads got a simple one week Acquaint and were then thrown in the deep end, sink or swim. The basic problem arose from the fact they had always traveled by vehicle so did not have a Bergen Mentality so the requirement to, “Yomp” had not been asked of them, there was also a problem with what the Corps calls, “Personal Administration” also resolved. The All-Arms Commando Course is the current solution, lasting 14 weeks at RM Chivenor.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 10:30:40 BST
Their Drill matched any Kings Squad! The last NS Squad was going thru Lympstone in 1959 where I was undergoing a Regular Training. To our chagrin they already had the SLR whilst we still had .303 Lee Enfield No: 4 Rifle in use since 1944.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 20:31:52 BST
That is the Little Aden BP Oil Refinery in background, the photo taken on the Scramble Course used to acclimatise new members of 45 Commando RM to the climate (very hot with high humidity) certainly made you sweat! We would catch the tail end of the Monsoon Season when you could stand
in the open to soap and shower.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 10:30:39 BST
The 30 foot ropes are in background.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 18 Sep 2020 23:24:57 BST
When a Royal Marines Squad is formally presented with Green Berets on the Parade Ground a dustbin is placed into which they throw their defunct dark blue berets for disposal. When the area was prepared for these men that dustbin was placed out as a norm. On changing Berets each man carefully placed his Maroon Airborne Beret inside his Dennison Smock! To them that Beret is Sacred! In an Airborne Unit any man who jumps at least twice with a Foreign Para Unit is awarded their “wings” which are stitched onto his Smock. I do not know if that practice was continued but as they were now Commando Forces they could still attend a Reserve Forces Para Course to earn the badge and to keep practising that skill.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 18:18:44 BST
