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Private Henry Donkin

Date: 03/11/2010 Views: 3776 Owner: Pete Rogers (Admin)

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	The informal ‘out of Barracks’ setting means that these Troopers were probably in Civvie Digs using subsistence allowances. To someone not familiar with the set-up this was how Commando Units, with no usual Regimental Home, managed being being constantly on the move when preparing for the coming Invasion and Battles in France and beyond. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 18:25:44 BST
	WHAT A CRACKING GESTURE! Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 18:15:59 BST
	The Commando standing centrally wears the General Service Medal with Two Campaign Bars but the right hand medal in the picture is the Pingat Jasa Malaysia awarded by the Malaysian Government to ALL British Personnel who served in either the Malay Emergency or during the Borneo Confrontation Operation (the Undeclared War) when Indonesia threatened Invasion and a bitter “Small War” broke out. There is some controversy as regards wearing of this Medal but most people wear it as seen. Only HM The Queen can grant permission for Foreign Medals/Awards to be worn by Serving or former Service men and women. It would take a brave person to tell people of this calibre to “Take it Off!” Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 18:13:55 BST
	Judging by the embroidered Cap Badge I am guessing this Commando is an Officer. Rank badges are now worn of a small frontal chest flap. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 17:58:13 BST
	When skioring Troops are towed behind an over-snow tracked vehicle hanging onto an attached rope of cable. Vehicles used previously was the BAE (Sweden) BV but that has now been replaced by the “Viking” Armoured Fighting Vehicle. Skioring is a hard art to acquire as seen in the photo! Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 17:55:29 BST
	On the right lapel of his blazer he wears his original Army Commando Association badge, then a small Parachute Regiment Cap Badge and below a small set of British Military Parachute ‘Wings”, he also has a full size British Military Parachutists Badge stitched. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 17:46:04 BST
	On his blazer lapel he is wearing his Veterans’ Badge, below that a Dutch Commando Troopen badge and the third appears to show an Elephants’ head. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 17:42:10 BST
	Headgear back on! Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 17:38:04 BST
	The Ladies have borrowed Glengarries for this photo and the man on the right of photo a .303” SMLE Rifle! Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 17:36:59 BST
	I believe this Commando is wearing a Staffordshire Regimental Cap Badge as I can just make out the Staffordshire Knot which was designed to hang three people at a time! Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 17:34:36 BST
	The tanks, known as Duplex Tanks, were also fitted with a propeller on the ‘stern’ and could make headway once afloat. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 17:29:25 BST
	These Commandos moving off the Landing Beach are wearing a single word shoulder title reading ‘Commando” and below that the circular Combined Operations ‘flash’. A Royal Marine Commando would wear a three part set of shoulder titles including his Commando Number, ie: 40 - 48, then a silk flash bearing the words: “Royal Marines” then a standard Commando ‘flash” as mentioned, and below again the Combined Operations circular ‘flash’. There is no doubt these are from an Army Unit. The silk ‘flash’ mentioned was made by the Cash Company more famous for making name tabs for school kids and still in use in the Corps until the 1960s, when Battle Dress was replaced by the Lovat Uniform which is now issued. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 17:26:14 BST
	The Officer wears the Campaign Service Medal awarded after WW2 with the Medals awarded during that War. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 17:12:00 BST
	The Troopers are wearing the Gas Capes which proved so useful being waterproof but never intended for this usage, Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 17:09:04 BST
	Bob holds the Military Cross and fought in Korea. Janet has ‘pinched’ his Commando Association tie and wears a Royal British Legion Blazer Badge. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 16:59:53 BST
	His Regiment is the Kings Royal Rifle Corps (Light Infantry) and he wears the black Corporals stripes of his ‘home’ Regiment. All SAS Troopers today have this same “home Regiment” and if killed that is used avoiding a SF reference. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 16:56:35 BST
	The sign behind this Gallant Royal Marine was designed for ‘X’ Troop 45RM Commando during WW2 and had it returned to ‘X’ Company by a former member of that original Unit when WW2 Commandos visited RM Condor in Scotland. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 12:32:19 BST
	This is a very interesting photo as there are weapons here which might not be that well known. The long barrelled weapon is a .55” Boyes anti-tank rifle, the other two are both .303” Bren Light Machine Guns but what is most unusual is that these are fitted with a 100 round circular or drum magazine. The Landing Craft is heading ashore to rescue members of the Parachute Regiment who had taken part in the Bruneval Raid where vital German Radar equipment was seized and the Regiment earned its First Battle Honour. In the Raid a RAF Radar Specialist jumped with the Troops and was awarded a very rare Military Medal for a member of the RAF at that time. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 12:27:27 BST
	This Obstacle Crossing was known as “The Postmans’ Walk” and what can be seen is the rope tension is not adequate. This same sort of obstacle was built into all Commando Tarzan Courses and heavy duty pulley blocks used to get that tension right. The CTCRM Tarzan Course had a steel cable for the lower ‘rope’ which was caught against the heel-block when sliding the foot along. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 12:14:59 BST
	Trooper Machin is wearing ‘Ever Open Eye’ shoulder flash designed by Lt. Rex Whistler, Welsh Guards, a famous Artist, KIA 1944. This badge was worn by those serving with the Guards Armoured Division formed 1941. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 12:01:00 BST
	These Troopers are “enjoying” a hot meal and tea probably from the Field Kitchen seen in a previous photo. There are a lot of them which must be more than one Troop and they look quite relaxed in what must be a quiet time in the continuing actions. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 11:43:28 BST
	The photo shows the Commando issue ‘A’ Frame Rucksacks with good detail. These were an immense improvement on the previous ‘37 Pattern Large Pack. The WO1 on the right wears the Cap Badge of the Reconnaissance Regiment and is armed with a pistol or revolver which is attached by the lanyard which can be clearly seen. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 11:39:51 BST
	This is a ‘flash’ demo over a swimming pool and getting the tension on the rope may have been problematic. There are 2 US Navy men sat watching from the flat-roofed building distinctive in their Tropical Whites and the small round issue hat. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 11:24:30 BST
	These Troopers are carrying the folding bicycles issued to Commando and Airborne Forces and which had been specially developed for that purpose. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 11:15:45 BST
	This Royal Marine wears the dark blue beret with scarlet flash worn by those members of the Corps who were not Commando Trained so he was probably a Landing Craft Rating manning the small Craft used in the raid. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 11:13:25 BST