The lady wears her French Legion d’Honneur Medal awarded for her action in helping British Commandos and Canadian soldiers involved in the Dieppe Raid. Two small Canadian badges can just be glimpsed above the Medal.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 11:06:21 BST
This Battery is a mix of RN, RM and Army Commandos who operate in very close liaison with SF out of a South Coast Base, I had a RA Oppo Radio Op who served with this Special Unit. Gunner John Mahoney RA (RIP). They are all Parachute Qualified.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 10:40:56 BST
I was stationed at CTCRM Lympstone when the first Gunners were going through training. Colonel O”Flaherty RA was very much in evidence during that time with his distinctive eye patch. The ‘buzz’ that went around was Spot On with regard to his Bravery at Vaagso but someone did say he had been awarded the VC. He was the holder of the DSO and from a distance the Medal Ribbon might have been mistaken.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 10:35:58 BST
The rough nature of the materials making up this obstacle means this was in the early days of Commando Training where the Instructors were working on a ‘make and mend’ basis using such items that were immediately to hand.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 10:29:56 BST
The two long items on stands in front of the Course as WD 4-draw ‘Scout’ Telescopes carried by all Snipers. They would always operate in twos, known as a “Sniper Pair”, so that one man could be observing generally and widely to their front whilst the other ‘stood down’ resting, making ‘wets’ etc., but could be quickly called in to action. The observer would use binoculars for the wider search and use the Telescope to pick out clear details on proposed targets, ie: Where are the Leaders as these would be the favourite target. Most of the fieldcraft, stalking etc., was drawn from Scottish Gillies skilled in stalking and killing Game. The methodology was much the same. If in position for any length of time the Snipers would build a ‘hide’ to give shelter, cover from view and protection for returning enemy fire.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 10:24:46 BST
Good photo all heavily armed but the give-away is the GPO (Red) Telephone Kiosk to the rear! Also stamp machine to the right of group.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 22:51:35 BST
The central man holds the Military Medal.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 22:37:13 BST
I have been trying to work out what is being issued and can only come up with cigarettes given the neat packaging and exact quantities. Apologies if wrong guys!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 20:57:32 BST
This is one of a number of photos showing Commandos building a temporary bridge over a ruined culvert using what materials are to hand. The photos are not in sequence,
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 20:52:43 BST
This a field kitchen set up to feed a full Troop with most food coming tinned in 10 man Ration Packs padded out with anything found, poached or pinched locally. The large metal boxes were known as Hay Boxes and were used to keep food (reasonably) hot, still in use well into the 1960s and very heavy.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 20:35:22 BST
The wreckage is that of a Short “Stirling” aircraft converted into Glider Tugs to tow Horsa Gliders across as part of the Airborne Forces. These took very heavy losses.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 20:24:39 BST
The Sherman Tanks in this photo are Duplex Drive fitted witha flotation collar which enabled them to ‘swim’ from Landing Craft onto the Beaches.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 19:01:37 BST
The SNCO central is the Squad Drill Instructor holding his ‘Bsdge of Office’ the standard issue Pace Stick.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 18:56:06 BST
This interesting photo was taken at the Infantry Training Centre RM at Lympstone (now CTCRM) in front of Sylvan Glade where the original Tarzan Course was built. The brick building to the left of the picture was the old Camp Cinema. It can be seen that the already Commando trained NCOs are wearing the same dark blue beret with the scarlet patch as the Recruits as the decision that all Trained Ranks would wear their Green Beret at all times lay in the future.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 18:53:20 BST
The Bailey Bridge was invented by a Donald Colman Bailey who had been called to come up with this form of design. It proved an essential ‘bit of kit’ and he was Knighted for his contribution after WW2. The famous Allenby Bridge across the River Jordan between Jordan and Israel was originally a British Army Bailey Bridge!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 18:43:54 BST
The small assault boat in the picture was US built and still in use for Royal Marines Recruit Training in the early 1960s during the Cliff Assault and Rocky Landings Phase in Plymouth Sound. A bowman was selected to stand on that blunt bow holding a rope and when the boat hit the rocks he had to jump and hold the whole thing steady as the Troops leapt
ashore. This fell to me, at night, and I still bear the scars!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 18:33:31 BST
See ROH
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 18:16:31 BST
Taken at CTCRM Lympstone on the occasion of his Kings Squad Pass Out where, on completion, the Squad Officer gives the Command , “ Royal Marines, to your Duties, Quick March! “They March Off to the tune of Auld Lang Syne played by the Royal Marines Band. He is wearing his hard earned Green Beret and the White Lanyard only worn by The Kings Squad. He is stood in front of the Centre Commando Memorial. Salute!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 18:04:44 BST
This Royal Marines Officer wears the Royal Navy Pilots’ Brevet (Wings) quite common as many qualified and flew from Aircraft Carriers. It is still a RM norm when they qualify, usually in Helicopters, but I read of one such who had qualified as a Hawker ‘Harrier’ Pilot and on secondment, in that Role, to the United States Marine Corps, quite recently.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 17:55:09 BST
This is a very unusual photograph as Marine Connolly stands at attention with rifle at the slope and bayonet fixed but is in front of the Regimental Colours of 42 Commando RM. I have never seen this allowed before. He must have been well thought of.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 17:46:11 BST
This Marine carrie the 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) which replaced the Bren Gun as a Section Support Weapon and used in the Light Role. It has the advantage of being belt-fed and can be used to lay down heavy immediate covering fire. It is fondly known as the ‘Gimpy’ It is also used in the Support Company in the Heavy Role as it can be
mounted on a solid Tripod and fitted with a heavier barrel. The ammunition comes as 4 in 1 Tracer.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 17:39:55 BST
The Cap Badge this Trooper wears is the South Wales Borderers, the man behind is possible a Royal Engineers (RE) but MAY be Royal Army Service Corps (RASC), their Cap Badges being similar in shape/layout.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 17:27:01 BST
This a ‘live firing’ Bren. If using blank ammunition a different barrel would be fitted, wooden rounds used and the cone shaped flash eliminator on the barrel would have a half metal plate across the bottom.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 13:22:05 BST
This shows a much larger Aldiss lamp fitted on board a Warship given the gun in the background.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 13:18:46 BST
These would appear to be Signallers training in the use of the Aldis Lamp dating from a time when this means was still in use, the man sat in front appears to be using a field issue Morse key. Interestingly the SAS used Morse well in to the latter part of the 20th Century due to the range this equipment had and the difficulty that arose if anyone tried to ‘jam’ it. In contrast a pal of mine with the Falklands Task Force spoke to SAS men on the deck of a Carrier heading South who were using equipment with a ‘fan type’ aerial similar to the old camera ‘flash’ gun and when he asked they were stealing Satellite time to have a chat with their families. As he expressed disbelief they linked him immediately with his Wife in Cardiff! You could not make it up!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 13:15:52 BST
