Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sat 25 Apr 2026 19:02:49 BST
HMS Albion
This has to be HMS Albion. HMS Bulwark carried Wessex Whirlwind HAS 7 helicopters,flown and maintained by 848 Naval Air Squadron. The helicopters shown are Westland Wessex HU.5 helicopters. When HMS Albion came out to "singers" in 1962, she had on board Wessex choppers operated by 845 NAS. The changeover was carried out in Mombasa and coincided with the assault on Limbang, meaning that we had to fly to Labuan* on an RAF aircraft.
*The airfield at Brunel was not big enough.
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Thu 10 Jul 2025 22:28:20 BST
Jack Ashman
Jack was No.1 Diamond and, as you point out, Pete, the King's Badge recipient of 733 Squad. He also received the Commando Medal.I was a member of 733 and am still in touch with Jack. He became Chief Constable of Northumbria (I think) police, after having to leave the Corps prematurely due to hearing loss - a PWs common problem in those days before decent ear defenders. The badge on the left arm of the L/Cpl fourth from the left is commonly referred to as a PW3 qualification. A former colleague of mine in 45 Recce had that SQ and told me that it was a sniper course downgraded qualification - failure on some part of the course but fairly minimal. The sniper badge has crossed rifles, but closer together, with the letter "S" above.I don't recognise Jack in that picture.
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Sat 21 Dec 2024 23:13:18 GMT
Hi, do you know where this photo was taken?
Posted by Jackie Birtles on Mon 22 Jan 2024 18:28:58 GMT
Nigel Starmer-Smith
Renowned Harlequins and England rugby player and sports commentator.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Mon 07 Mar 2022 14:16:23 GMT
My mother informs me that this photo was taken on his return from Korea.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 16:36:46 BST
Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 16:25:09 BST
I think this photo was taken possibly in Lymestone in Devon, rather than Eastney in Portsmouth.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 16:21:11 BST
I think this photo was taken possibly in Lymestone in Devon, rather than Eastney in Portsmouth.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 16:20:24 BST
The photo could show my father with his friend Jack Collington.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 16:13:57 BST
Royal Marine Party in Malta mid 1950’s
I assume 3 Commando Brigade friends as this was who my Dad was attached to.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 16:10:26 BST
43 Commando RM
To the best of my knowledge, 43 Commando didn't serve in the Far East at that time. 40 and 42 Commandos (42 at RNAS Sembawang and 40 at Burma Camp in Malaya) did alternate 5 month tours in Borneo. Additionally, almost all the buildings at RNAS Sembawang (commissioned as HMS Simbang) were of concrete construction, not wood. Finally, the rig (uniform) doesn't look right. My attempts to discover what 43 Commando were doing in the period 1964/5 have borne little of substance. However, The Imperial War Museum site has a piece regarding another Royal Marine: (his name I choose not to disclose) ..... who served as a signaller with 42 Commando RM in Borneo, served with 43 Commando RM in GB 1964 - 1965, served with Naval Beach Unit in Bahrain 1965 - 1966. So where in the UK was it?
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Mon 05 Jul 2021 10:59:50 BST
The officer in front of the three ranks of men is Lieutenant Peter "Soapy" Waters, who was wounded during the Limbang raid. He was 2i/c of Lima Company.
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Thu 04 Mar 2021 16:51:22 GMT
Photo updated
Thank you Colin. Photo now updated with name.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 22 Nov 2020 19:02:56 GMT
300 Tp (Plymouth) 131 Indep Cdo Sqn RE (V)
SSgt Simon Miller
Posted by Colin Cheesman on Fri 20 Nov 2020 11:41:12 GMT
Photo update
See our Archive page for more about Maj Gen. A.P. Willasey-Wilsey CB, MBE, MC, MiD.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Wed 07 Oct 2020 21:22:56 BST
Every Royal Marine had his own dhobi bucket!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 16:24:49 BST
RAS - Replenishment at sea.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 16:16:12 BST
This is the 105mm Artillery Piece used by Commando Gunners and was designed by the Italians as a Mountain Gun as it is claimed it can be moved by man and mule once disassembled. It has three roles, A Howitzer B Artillery C Anti-Tank. When withdrawn it was replaced by the 105mm Light Gun which weighed twice as much and which Pussers’ Helicopters could not lift in one piece!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 11:02:22 BST
The kit being filled with water in the photo are widely used in hot climates and were known, in Aden, as “Choggles” the material used is canvas which is not waterproof so it leaks leaving the outside continuously wet. The wind acts to cool this and that means you have ready access to a cool drink but the “Choggle” needs topping up regularly.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 10:54:15 BST
Unform
These are pre Lovat uniform days, so the Royal Marines in the photo are still wearing Battledress (BD) and what appears to be the '44 pattern webbing belt, blackened. It's hard to be certain, but the RM Recruits appear to still have the Cash's name tape bearing the words "Royal Marines". This rule was maintained until a controversial Royal Marines Routine Order (RMRO) declared that from 1960 all trained ranks would wear the "Royal Marines Commando" flash and wear the green beret. This meant that RMs that had never completed commando training, or even attempted it, fell into this category, including members of the Royal Marines Band attached to 3 Commando Brigade RM in the Far East. The RM recruits also appear to be still wearing the blue beret with a red patch, having not yet earned the right to wear the green "lid" - but, again, I cannot be certain of this.
Cpl. Jack French is still a PW2 at this stage.
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Fri 02 Oct 2020 10:18:51 BST
You will note the A/WO1 Langdale MBE(Mil) RM has a large First Field Dressing (FFD) strapped to his webbing on the right shoulder. Given his Service he is probably a RM Mountain Leader as Brigade Reconnaissance
Force is drawn from that group of Specialists (now Special Forces).
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 11:44:37 BST
The Royal Marine in this famous photo has been immortalised by the erection of the ‘Yomper’ Staute on the grounds of the former Royal Marines Barracks Eastney. As the Royal Marines Museum is moving into HM Dockyard at Portsmouth there is some discussion as to the future location of this landmark.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 11:24:55 BST
The rank of QMS has been replaced by Warrant Officer 2 in the Royal Marines.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 10:18:49 BST
A couple of months after this was taken I popped down the Sick Bay get my ears syringed because of persistent ringing, Diagnosis: Tinnitis (Stereo) and Perceptive Traumatic Deafness, end of a promising Career. I could have gone (T) but I was getting Married so I thought time to move on , I was accepted by a number of Police Forces (Pusser helped) but chose my Home City Cardiff and that is all she wrote. I was going bonkers so applied to join RMR Bristol and that was where I spent 19 years getting some good “Runs” in usually back with the Corps as I could pick my own Training, This was ‘Dawn Patrol’ with 41 “Clockwork” twice with 42, Mountain Training at
Kinlocleven and even a trip to Nantes in France when HMS “Cardiff” made a Courtesy Visit and Captain wanted RM Guards for VIP Visits. Took some of my Lads over and we had a cracking time, doing the business and ashore........
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 29 Sep 2020 18:27:17 BST
