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
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
Trooper Churchill wears his Legion d’Honneur Medal above his British War Medals.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 11:47:13 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
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
There are an enormous variety of berets badges at these Re-Unions which represent all the many Regiments, Corps and Branches of HM Armed Forces who have traditionally formed the Commandos.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 11:29:08 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
This is the man himself enjoying delicacies with local Dignitaries. The Red, White and Blue sashes the wear means they hold Office. It is interesting to
Mention that the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines have formed a four week Recruit Orientation Phase (ROP) for people joining the Corps to prepared them mentally and physically before entering the 32 week full Training Cycle. In this training and preparation Phase they are members of Howards Troop named for Major Howard and are accommodated in Normandy Block at CTCRM which is wholly appropriate. Two little known facts are that the Coup de Main Bridge Assault Group carried out hard training on the Exeter By-Pass, and Exeter Ship Canal Bridges at Countess Wear in Exeter because of the physical similarity to their impending target. On a lighter note the soldiers began fighting with locals in Town on a final night out resulting in some being arrested. The Chief Constable had to be called out to authorise the mans’ release immediately but...
This is the man himself enjoying delicacies with local Dignitaries. The Red, White and Blue sashes the wear means they hold Office. It is interesting to
Mention that the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines have formed a four week Recruit Orientation Phase (ROP) for people joining the Corps to prepared them mentally and physically before entering the 32 week full Training Cycle. In this training and preparation Phase they are members of Howards Troop named for Major Howard and are accommodated in Normandy Block at CTCRM which is wholly appropriate. Two little known facts are that the Coup de Main Bridge Assault Group carried out hard training on the Exeter By-Pass, and Exeter Ship Canal Bridges at Countess Wear in Exeter because of the physical similarity to their impending target. On a lighter note the soldiers began fighting with locals in Town on a final night out resulting in some being arrested. The Chief Constable had to be called out to authorise the mans’ release immediately but without being told why that was an absolute imperative!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 11:15:53 BST
The Airborne Trooper (centre) in the Maroon Beret wears the beret and blazer badge of The Army Air Corps so may have been the Pilot of a Horsa Glider used in the Bridges attack. The man in the same beret behind looks like Major John Howard DSO (Ox & Bucks LI) who led the Coup de Main Assault on D-Day 6 June 1944 with a party drawn from his Regiment and other Supporting Arms.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 10:49:07 BST
The Standard borne by this Polish Special Forces Trooper interestingly bears the Combined Operation emblem or an Eagle, Thompson Sub Machine Gun and the Kedging Anchor so they retain the Wartime connection with Pride.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 10:41:43 BST
The Trooper on the right in the photo is Polish.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 10:38:59 BST
Steve Unwin is a former Chief Petty Officer Royal Navy and wears the Dolphins Badge of the Submarine Service above his Medals . Medals on the right breast are those of a family member worn in their honour.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 10:36:34 BST
The RN Commando at rear would have completed the Commando Course
probably at CTCRM Lympstone and been a member of a Commando Unit
in on e of three roles: 1 Doctor 2 Dentist 3 Instructor or ‘Schoolie’.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 10:23:50 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
CO and men of 43 Commando RM in front of the Commando Memorial at
Spear Bridge.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 30 Sep 2020 19:18:21 BST
Trooper Parsons wears the white and red hackle of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and a Royal British Legion and British Veterans badges on his lapel.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 30 Sep 2020 19:01:40 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
This is a mixed Dutch Contingent.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 30 Sep 2020 18:46:48 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
The Royal Navy Rating in the photo is a Naval Airman (Photgrapher) who is at the Service taking Official photographs. The Specialist Qualification on
the right arm also indicates that he is Class 2 (two stars) and the letter ‘P.’
his Job.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 30 Sep 2020 18:35:29 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
