Corporal Cant was the holder of The British Empire Medal and the Police Long Service Medal shown with his Commando Medals. The Police Medal does not include the usual term ‘and Good Service ‘ , with the Police that is a given.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 23:39:21 BST
Colonel Sankey RM was a former CO at Lympstone, his son Bob joined the Corps in the Ranks where I served with him, later Commissioned and made at least Captain. I believed he emigrated to Rhodesia and that his Son is a serving RM Officer.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 23:25:26 BST
This photo taken at RM Exton (CTCRM) in Nutwell Square in front of the NAAFI , the building to the right is No: 1 Galley. The Drill Instructor is a Colour Sergeant holding his Pace Stick. He is to the right as you look at the photo.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 23:15:50 BST
Ian Gourlay
Lt Col Gourlay was 42 Commando RM 2i/c for some of the time when I was in the unit. He was a gentleman through and through and returned to 42 as CO in 1963. He became Commandant General Royal Marines and was described by Lord Mountbatten as "the best Commandant General that the Royal Marines had ever had". His decorations and awards were: KCB, CVO, OBE, MC.
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Tue 22 Sep 2020 23:10:40 BST
I had a pal who was a Royal Marines Sergeant Weapons Instructor. He was on secondment to the French Marines and on the anniversary of Trafalgar was surprised to be invited to a Celebration of Trafalgar. He told them that they lost there and was told, “ We shot Nelson!”
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 23:00:54 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
The weapon in the picture is the famous and very effective Vickers .303” Medium Machine Gun, belt-fed and water cooled it was extremely sturdy and reliable capable of laying down heavy protective fire in any action, the Heavy Weapons gunners loved it.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 20:11:43 BST
Captain Gray RM wears a colourful line in sweaters and is also holding the
famous Thompson Sub-Machine Gun easily identified by the top cocking
handle.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 20:04:35 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
The buildings along the edge of the Parade Ground were Accommodation Blocks for JNCOs and Marines and the Barracks the former home of the Royal Marines Artillery which amalgamated with the Royal Marines Light Infantry on St Georges’ Day 1923 when the present style of Cap Badge was introduced.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 19:30:17 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
This is a Support Troop evidenced by the 3 inch Mortars and .303 inch Vickers Medium Machine Guns (MMGs) set up in front. The tripod mounted equipment stood front centre looks like a range finder judging by the lenses at each end of the tubular fitting.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 18:40:34 BST
This Is definitely a German Casement or Bunker and you can see the wide field of fire it would have had when Operational, close to 140 degrees (or 3000 mils) it can be seen this is a large Artillery piece capable of being used enormous damage to the Troops landing.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 13:22:57 BST
These Troopers are stood in a German Artillery Casement or Bunker probably at or near the Invasion Beach. Much of the guns used had been stripped from Czech Border Defences in the Sudetenland which were rendered useless when German Troops occupied that area., others from the French Maginot Line which was well equipped but proved useless as the German Blitzkreig attack completely outflanked it.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 12:47:01 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
Madame Gondres’ family owned the Cafe Gondre in the back ground which was the first building on Mainland Europe to be liberated when Glider Borne Troops led by Major John Howard DSO (Ox & Bucks LI) landed Two capture the bridges over the Orne River and Caen Canal as the first Allied Troops to land in the Invasion.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 08:37:19 BST
Major John Howard DSO (Ox & Bucks LI) led Operation “Deadstick” the Glider-borne Coup de Main Assault on two bridges over the River Orne and Caen Canal in the early hours of D-Day 6 June 1944. This proved successful and the bridges were held until his party was relieved by Lord Lovat and Commandos who had Speed Marched up from Sword Beach. The Horsa gliders landed exactly as planned totally surprising the Germans guarding these vital bridges. Major Howard was a former Police Officer in the Oxford City Police efore the War. The bridge is now known as Pegasus Bridge after the Formation Sign of all British Airborne Forces the Mythical Winged Horse.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 23:06:43 BST
Trooper Kealy wears the Cap Badge of The Kings Royal Rifle Corps, and with his WW2 Medals, the Police Long Service Medal for 22 years Service.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 22:38:58 BST
The tradition of wearing the Medals of a former Serviceman or Servicewoman is accorded to their families and are worn on the right breast as seen in the photo
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 11:59:16 BST
Members of 43 Commando RM parade before the Commando Memorial. The red sashes worn by the SNCOs are traditional dating back to the time when these were used to support stretchers carrying injured men off the Battle Field with the colour representing their blood. These are only worn by SNCOs of Infantry Regiments.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 11:55:38 BST
