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
In the photo he is wearing the Undress Tunic of Guards Officer which may be confusing but he was “released “ from the Commandos and not liked by Lord Lovat. There are reports of “friction.”
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 16:11:08 BST
His rank then was Troop Sergeant Major.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 16:02:40 BST
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
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 When withdrawn it was replaced by the 105mm Light Gun which weighed twice as much and which Pussers’ Helicopters could not lift in one piece!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
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
