This Ceremony took place on the former Parade Ground at the Royal Marines Barracks Eastney, now long closed and converted into luxury flats.The Tower visible away to the left was where the Union Flag was raised at 0600 hours whilst a Bugler sounded Revielle. At 2200 hours it was lowered to the sound of the Last Post. A Marine from the Guard Room would have the job of running up many stairs to carry out that duty, going back down to a welcome mug of hot chocolate always available being supplied under old RN rules, I believe we called it ‘Kai’. The Union Flag only becomes a Jack on board a RN Ship or Shore Establishment (known as Stone Frigates). 2200 hours also meant “Lights Out”
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 19:06:34 BST
Captain Sturges is cleaning his F & S Commando Fighting Knife, perhaps they are going in action quite soon.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 14:43:21 BST
Here you can see how ID discs are worn. The round one is cut off if the man dies and sent to the Regimental Pay and Records Office used to close his Personal Record, in the Royal Marines that is entered as “Discharged Dead”. The other discs is buried with the man for later identification and any re-burial.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 14:40:58 BST
The Officer on the right is wearing RAF Pilots Wings which may help in making an ID.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 10:34:38 BST
That is the Little Aden BP Oil Refinery in background, the photo taken on the Scramble Course used to acclimatise new members of 45 Commando RM to the climate (very hot with high humidity) certainly made you sweat! We would catch the tail end of the Monsoon Season when you could stand
in the open to soap and shower.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 10:30:39 BST
Photo taken in the U.K. (Water/Fire hydrant sign on wall) possibly during pre-D-Day Training in bombed British City known as a Fighting in Built Up Areas (FIBUA) common practice in preparation for the coming Invasion.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 10:19:31 BST
The 30 foot ropes are in background.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 18 Sep 2020 23:24:57 BST
Marine Green is not wearing best blues but No: 3 Dress which would be working dress, all rank and specialist badges would be scarlet. All badges and buttons would be brass and require daily cleaning.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 18 Sep 2020 23:09:27 BST
The left hand man in this photo is wearing the miniature of the Military Cross which, at that time, was awarded to Officers. Other Ranks would get the Military Medal.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 23:42:43 BST
The Cap Badge is The Shropshire Light Infantry.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 23:37:15 BST
This is probably post-War as he is wearing a ‘Tankies’ suit standing in front
a “Chieftan” Main Battle Tank.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 23:33:06 BST
Trooper Lain served in the South Wales Borderers.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 21:05:35 BST
Sergeant Johns is wearing an unusual Combined Operations Emblem Cap Badge.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 21:04:04 BST
Still wearing his Kings Royal Rifle Corps Cap Badge!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 21:00:23 BST
Trooper Hatch served in a Light Infantry Regiment as evidenced by his Hunting Horn Cap Badge.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 20:56:57 BST
KRRC, the Kings Royal Rifle Corps
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 20:52:57 BST
Other souvenirs here are a Japanese Officers’ pistol and sword (Katana)
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 20:47:08 BST
There is a bit of a mix here, he appears to be wearing a US Steel helmet, holding a Japanese Officers’ sword (Katana) and has a .303” Bren at his feet with magazine fitted.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 20:43:00 BST
Trooper Redman may have joined the Army as the War drew to a close as he does not wear Campaign Medals from that Conflict. He soldiered for quite a few years afterwards. He has the General Service Medal (GSM) with two Clasps and he fought in the Korean War earning both the British and UN Medals awarded.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 20:36:38 BST
When a Royal Marines Squad is formally presented with Green Berets on the Parade Ground a dustbin is placed into which they throw their defunct dark blue berets for disposal. When the area was prepared for these men that dustbin was placed out as a norm. On changing Berets each man carefully placed his Maroon Airborne Beret inside his Dennison Smock! To them that Beret is Sacred! In an Airborne Unit any man who jumps at least twice with a Foreign Para Unit is awarded their “wings” which are stitched onto his Smock. I do not know if that practice was continued but as they were now Commando Forces they could still attend a Reserve Forces Para Course to earn the badge and to keep practising that skill.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 18:18:44 BST
Trooper Burgess was either an Officer or WO in the Royal Army Ordnance
Corps judging by the hand embroidered Cap Bsdge worn.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 18:01:21 BST
Trooper Mason wears the Durham Light Infantry Cap Barge.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 17:59:04 BST
Trooper Roderick wears the cap badge of his home Regiment, The Highland Light Infantry. He wears a Commando Dagger lapel badge.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 17:57:55 BST
This is a clear image of his original issue Cap Badge as it has a Kings’ Crown and is well worn. The Hunting Horn shown appears on all Light Infantry Cap Badges.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 17:55:28 BST
Trooper Moore’s Regiment before joining the Commandos was probably The Kings Royal Rifle Corps a Light Infantry Unit.,
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 17:52:24 BST
