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Mark Heard and family at Alrewas 2010

Date: 27/06/2010 Views: 5649 Owner: Pete Rogers (Admin)

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	Note the No: 36 HE (High Explosive) Grenade clipped to his belt by the fly off handle. It holds one pound of HE and has an immediate killing zone of 25 yards with the base plate up to 100 yards. If it comes off he has 4 seconds to get to safety! Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 20:29:19 BST
	This Marine is undergoing Commando Training as the Bren LMG he holds is for Weapon Handling Drills ONLY as it is marked with the white ‘flash’ which means it is NOT to be used for live firing. He will be instructed in all necessary and safety drills on this type of Bren before moving on to live fire on Range and Field Firing to include Group Handling and a Section Attacks )live), Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 20:11:28 BST
	Viaques is on Puerto Rico where the US Marines have Training Area. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 19:42:16 BST
	Trooper Mason served in the Durham Light Infantry. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 19:12:42 BST
	Interestingly in this impressive set is the UN Korean War Medal. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 16:51:10 BST
	Clear shot of the Itside rubber sole on the Commando Boots. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 16:44:35 BST
	At first glance Niall Thompson appears to have a Parachute Regiment Cap Badge in his Green Beret but looking it closely I think it is a Dutch Parachutist Badge he has been ‘gifted’ it being common practice to ‘swap’ this type of item. We had Dutch Instructors at Lympstone but they wore a dark blue beret with a scarlet ‘flash’ their Cap Badge was a sloping Fouled Anchor with a Dutch Crown. I was told that Dutch Commandos were trained by the French and then posted to the Commando Troopen more similar to SAS and other SF. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 16:32:31 BST
	This is not Bisley and is probably a similar Competition being held on Malta judging by the burnt appearance of the general terrain, There are British personnel present wearing uniform shorts and US Naval Members in ‘whites’. The Shottist next to QMS Lyon is using the issue US military Rifle, the .30-06 M1 Garand used by them up to, and including Vietnam. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 14:10:00 BST
	This retired Royal Marine must have held Warrant Officer Rank during his service in the Corps. He has his (hard earned) Veterans lapel badge. The Medals worn are, left to right, The British Empire Medal, the Naval General Service Medal (one bar, withdrawn 1962), the General Service Medal (one bar), the Falklands Medal with Rosette, the Meritorious Service Medal and his Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (awarded after 15 years Service from the age of 18 years, service under that age not being counted and recovered in the Corps as “girls’ time”). The bars referred to are Campaign Bars showing Theatre and Date). This means he soldiered for over 22 Years and in our Corps that translates as hard soldiering! The Naval General Service Medal (NGS) was replaced by the standard General Service Medal (GSM). The Rosette on his Falklands Medal means that he landed with his Unit at that time. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 13:18:13 BST
	I should add the plate across the barrel ‘broke up’ the wooden bullets being fired. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 21:20:21 BST
	Both the leading Troopers have their ‘Commando’ shoulder title stitched high on the right sleeve so that the epaulette can be seen. There is no room for any other badge above that single ‘flash’ they can only be Army Commandos. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 17:36:04 BST
	This is quite a macabre photo as it appears to be a staged ‘execution’ with the man in trunks welding a Japanese sword (Katana) and his pals using a cape to suggest a beheading as there are two men under the cape, one crouching the other lying flat, face down. Not PC chums! Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 14:08:27 BST
	The right hand medal with red and white ribbon is the Naval General Service Medal (NGS) it has one bar for the Malayan Emergency, also the two Korean War Medals awarded for his Service with 41 (Independent) Commando RM where they fought alongside the US Marine Corps being awarded the US Presidential Citation for their Conduct in support of the USMC particularly for the Chosin Reservoir Action. A streamer is attached the the Unit Colour Commemorating this. Also his small Corps lapel badge, Blazer badge and Commando ‘Flash’ Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 13:58:11 BST
	Lewis served in the Welch Regiment Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 13:32:39 BST
	This Trooper served in a Light Infantry Regiment evidenced by the Hunting Horn on his Cap Badge. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 13:31:14 BST
	The plaque on far wall is that of 40 Commando RM as the sky blue flashes are both the Unit Colour and that of the Lanyards worn on right shoulder. 42 is White, 45 is Scarlet and Brigade Commando Green. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 13:27:18 BST
	This photo taken at the Camp known variously as a Exton, the Infantry Training Centre RM, and now as The Commando Training Centre RM. The small wood behind is known as Sylvan Glade and originally housed the Tarzan Course. Behind the woods is the Drill Shed and Parade Ground (NEVER referred to as the Parade Square!). The Instructor in Battle Dress (BD) on the right of the photo will be the PW(1) Platoon Weapons Instructor 1st Class. The Sergeant in Blues is the DI1 Drill Instructor 1st Class, he holds his ‘’Badge of Office’, his traditional Pace Stick. The Officer without Medals is probably the Squad Officer. The Recruit on the left of the front rank as you view it wears Medal Ribbons which points to him having served ‘under the Colours’ but not the Royal Marines. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 13:08:45 BST
	Judging by their War worn appearance this may be Major Walls’ patrol. They are certainly near water given the RN ratings in background, who seem to be viewing the group admiringly. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 12:54:36 BST
	I did not realise that, when serving with 45 Commando RM in the rugged mountains of Aden, that I was walking in the footsteps of this superb Wartime Commando Officer. We patrolled the Jebel Jihaf Massif visiting Forts manned by the Federal National Guard (FNG) a form of local Police one being at Al-Asirir. In November 1958 Major Bill Boucher-Myers of the East Lancs Regiment, on secondment to the Aden Protecterate Levies (APL) led a rescue when the local British Officer was besieged by Yemeni dissidents who had crossed the nearby Border. This was successful and Major Boucher-Myers was awarded an immediate DSO. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 10:49:19 BST
	We were using Foggin Tor Quarry for this which is located North-West of Princetown and Dartmoor Prison and was one worked by Convicts back in the day, a wild place in Winter. We also used it for a “Cordon and Search” Exercise as part of the Commando Course Training Recruits in that Skill. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 08:04:45 BST
	This Range was near Falais Camp being built for British Troops to move into when we handed over to the new Federal Army being formed from the Aden Protectorate Levies and Federal National Guard (FNG) but it would all end up as a ball of chalk when the Government pulled us all out and left them to stew! Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 22:21:41 BST
	Marine Pearson was an Oppo and must have been one of the first to fire the84mm Carl Gustav on the a short Range at Bir Fukum. The problem with the weapon was that when it was fired the Venturi Tube (no breech) rang with ultra sonic sound causing serious hearing loss. Once this was discovered a canvas ‘gag’ was strapped to the tube to prevent the actual vibration causing that noise. In all later pictures that addition can be seen. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 22:15:51 BST
	The photo shows a fully constructed “Toggle Rope Bridge” using the items issued to each man in a Commando or Airborne Unit. The Paras were still issued with these into the 1970s. When I was at CTCRM there was a Para Colour Sergeant Dave Merry, The Parachute Regiment (3 Para), on a two year secondment and his was attached to his ‘58 Pattern Fighting Order as a norm, but the rope had been dyed dark green. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 18:46:14 BST
	The LMG is placed ready to fire from the right shoulder, the foresight being off-set to the left on the barrel as the rear sight was on the left hand side of the weapon. Earlier models had a drum sight later replaced with a leaf-sight where the aiming point was also off-set to line up with the foresight. That was followed when the weapon was re chambered to fire the standard 7.62mm NATO round. I treasured that LMG which I carried in Aden. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 18:39:18 BST
	The interesting point in photo is the .303” Bren Light Machine Gun (LMG) carried by the leading man. Unusually this is fitted with a handle BELOW the butt, this LMG was intended to be used in an anti-aircraft role mounted on a Tripod or similar fitting on the Bren Carrier Tracked Vehicle. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 18:33:30 BST