Looking at his history it is probable he was a top rate Armourer responsible for all a Commando weaponry.
Posted by David Prichard on Tue 18 Aug 2020 11:48:49 BST
This Royal Marine was a Quarter Master Sergeant (Technical) or QMS(T) he is wearing a blue beret with a scarlet ‘flash’ but his Cap Badge is that of Sergeant/Colour Sergeant as it is Matt/Gilt finish so was taken before promotion to QMS. At that time all ranks in the UK would wear that form of beret except Green Berets were worn in the UK by all ranks serving in either 41 or 42 Commando RM (Bickliegh Camp) and Instructors in “X” Troop (Commando Training) at the Infantry Training Centre RM, later renamed Commando Training Centre RM. The rank of QMS later changed to Warrant Officer (Second Class) in line with the whole UK Forces. A QMS would be addressed by his title and a WO(2) as “Sir”. Technical means he would be a Specialist as one of the many skilled Tradesmen supporting the Corps. His history makes in clear he was Commando Trained. A QMS or WO2 would wear a ‘split’ Cap Badge.
Posted by David Prichard on Tue 18 Aug 2020 11:45:19 BST
Look at the way they are leaning into this, still in step and going strong with one turning to grin at me, they know they are making good time and they have this cracked. Time allowed is 7 hours. As their Instructor it gave me a great feeling seeing them looking this good. It was never our job to fail people, there was a job waiting for them either on a Course or Brigade. No water stops and they were expected to arrive at finish with a full water bottle!
Posted by David Prichard on Tue 18 Aug 2020 00:18:29 BST
The snake has eaten something swallowed whole the shape of which can be seen!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 17 Aug 2020 12:34:49 BST
The Marine nearest camera is carrying the British Jungle Carbine which was a .303’ Lee Enfield Rifle with minor alteration.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 17 Aug 2020 12:32:51 BST
The Gunners from 29 Commando Regt RA were trained on the 105mm Pack Howitzer. The Whirlwind helicopters could not lift it which led to the introduction of the Wessex Mark 5 which could. Then came the 105mm Light Gun, which was anything but as the Gun had to be broken down into two parts to be lifted into Battle. A variant of the Sea King was able to lift this new Gun in one piece. No Land Rover could haul this new heavier Weapon so Land Rover produced a 1 Tonne High-rise vehicle which could do the business. MoD bean Counters putting cart before the horse! The two parts were(1) barrel and breech (2) Chassis, gun platform and wheels. Light Gun ?????
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 23:59:21 BST
Wessex Mark 5 Helicopters on deck of Commando Carrier either HMS “Bulwark” or HMS “Albion”
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 23:17:20 BST
The Artillery piece in the Sanger is the 105mm Pack Howitzer in use with 29 Commando Regiment RA when formed but I am not sure who would have been manning this Gun here. It was an Italian design described as being a Mountain Gun which was man and mule packable.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 23:11:59 BST
The helicopter is a Bristol “Belvedere” twin rotor.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 23:02:34 BST
This shows the construction of a ‘Brushwood Bivvie’ during Mountain and Arctic Training (MAW) I did two attachments with 42 Commando RM at Andalsnes in deep a Winter, hard going and hard soldiering.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 19:37:31 BST
This is post -1985 as they are carrying the ‘new’ 5.65 mm SA80, not the best Infantry Rifle the SAS would not touch it!
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 19:30:47 BST
This is an early morning shot judging by the shadows and may be the lads First Acquaint imagine doing this in January when the ice had to be broken!
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 19:25:47 BST
The Staff Sergeant nearest camera wears the qualification ‘Wings’ of an Army Parachute Jumping Instructor (APJI)
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 18:21:55 BST
I was a Sgt RMR when 131 converted to the Commando Role having come from Airborne Forces. They did not enjoy giving up their beloved Red Berets so the Pass Out Parade was a mix of sadness and also looking forward to the Challenges of working with Commando Brigade and 59 their a Regular counter-parts.I had been called down to CTCRM to form up with the mixed Training Team of both Regular and RMR Instructors. A great fortnight with some great guys!
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 18:15:58 BST
This shows a Syndicate of three men going thru the Endurance Course Water Tunnel working as a team, one swimming, one shoving and one tugging.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 18:05:38 BST
This is quite an early photo taken as Colin crosses a Peters’ Pool on the Woodbury Common Endurance Course. He is carrying his 7.62mm SLR (Self Loading Rifle) the standard British Military weapon, it had a magazine holding 20 Rounds of ammunition and he will be expected to fire 10 ‘live’ Rounds at ‘snap’ targets back at the Commando Training Centre as part of the Course, he has a way to go yet followed by a 4 and. half mile run back. This is against the clock, Time allowed 72 minutes!
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 17:57:59 BST
The 32 round magazine fitted the 7.62mm SLR but an old Penny had to placed over the loading tray as the tray would be damaged when the last round was fired when the rifle working parts came forward.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 13:08:42 BST
This time of day is early morning and the misty area in the background is The Yemen with their border Town being Qataba.,We were informed there were Russian made APCs there.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 13:04:55 BST
I have seen one photo in this Archive which shows an RA Corporal taking a Gunner group through the Endurance Course, he has made the mistake of ‘going through the bog’ himself and is well bogged down so,is unable to either watch/assist his group. Big mistake and one no RM Instructor would make!
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 13 Aug 2020 07:25:24 BST
The guy nearest thought he would get a B Pass, did not, threw his Teddy down, the guy next is reloading a 20 round magazine and is Guilty of ‘Barrel Waving’ a bad give-away sign showing his position to any enemy!
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 20:03:38 BST
That is the old stone gymnasium to the rear.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 19:57:47 BST
During WW2 there was a fake airfield on Woodbury Common east of Castle Feature equipped with a set of landings lights which would be switched on if the Luftwaffe approached. Exeter still badly hammered. The Switch Room was a concrete underground bunker north-east of Castle Feature, which the Training Teams used as accommodation when the Squads were doing Defence Exercise (slit trenches).
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 19:55:30 BST
Should have put 360 degrees (or 6400 mils)!
Posted by David Prichard on Tue 11 Aug 2020 12:30:05 BST
We were on Water Patrol, collecting bowsers full for the Camp, we were very close to the old border with the Yemen at a place called Awabba. We were ‘loaded for bear for’ this being a Country where every adult male carried a loaded rifle with the .303” Lee Enfield being most commonly seen.
This was either the SMLE or the newer Number 4 model.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 20:37:15 BST
This was taken up on Woodbury Common a local Training Area where the Endurance Course is sited. As we were sitting there some Ethiopian Marines Commandos under training ran past and one shouted, ‘ Hiya to 39! ‘ Happy a Days!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 13:28:54 BST
