The second man from left is carrying the very heavy MMG Tripod like it Has no weight! The Commando in front of him has a Bren slung over his right shoulder.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 22:34:50 BST
You can see the long wooden truncheon carried pushed inside the body armour worn, it was a nasty place to be for a British Marine!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 22:29:40 BST
A perfect picture of the .303 inch Vickers Medium Machine Gun not long before it was withdrawn from Service. The cloth belt holding rounds has been fed into the gun by the No: 2 , the can containing water for barrel cooling linked by pipe to the barrel lies underneath with the gun fitted onto the very heavy tripod. The No: 2 is wearing ‘58 Pattern Webbing but has a ‘44 Pattern water bottle, carrier and mug which was a popular “proff” item as the bottle and mug were aluminium so, you could both brew a wet and drink it from the mug. Being aluminium you had to stick some black masking tape on the mug lip or end up with burnt real lips I still have mine!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 22:26:06 BST
The right hand man is holding a captured German rifle.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 21:27:35 BST
This photo shows an injured WO2 being carried to a Field Dressing Station on a litter made using rifles
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 21:26:16 BST
Close examination of the two Grenades next to right hand man shows that Fuses have not yet been inserted into a Grenade base, ie. No Teeth !
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 21:21:23 BST
This photo must have been taken quite early on as he is not wearing a Reserve (chest) packed Parachute.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 21:18:07 BST
This is a ‘free’ climb and Marine Wellman is wearing heavily cleated J Army Pattern boots.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 21:16:06 BST
I believe the badge on the chest of the Commando in the centre of this photo are Polish Parachute “Wings”
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 21:13:35 BST
This photo shows the small (back) pack of the ‘37 Pattern Webbing with Gas Cape neatly folded, below that is the ‘new’ style Respirator pack and below that the handle of the entrenching tool. All these Polish Commandos are also carrying the famous Toggle Ropes .
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 21:10:51 BST
This photo show the ‘new’ Combat Suits which came in. Plain drab green colour and being G1098 so could be exchanged one-for-one, most people preferred the Dennison Smock traditional Commando Dress.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 20:51:50 BST
His Cap Badge is the Mailed Fist of the Royal Armoured Corps in silver or nickel metal.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 19:32:17 BST
The kneeling Commando has his F & S Commando Knife gripped in his teeth!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 19:19:04 BST
Notice the cowling over front headlight to prevent unnecessary lights showing.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 19:05:59 BST
The central man is a Despatch Rider (motor cycle rider) judging by his Helmet, breeches and high boots. Known as DonR they would wear a badge with the letters DR centred on wings and were used extensively to carry any urgent messages when radio communications were either not secure or not working properly.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 19:04:29 BST
As the front number plate is white this is probably a captured a German Military Motor Cycle.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 18:53:29 BST
This mix includes one matelot and some Yanks apparently relaxing!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 18:51:48 BST
I stand corrected, he was actually a Member of a Naval Police a Unit which had a Royal Marine included. The armband reads NP those letters being separated by a a Crown. He would have had limited powers to take action against a Service Personnel found mis-behaving or Off-Limits.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 18:49:27 BST
Judging by his uniform etc., he is a Member of Regimental Police Unit. He is wearing an arm band which would carry the letter RP as opposed to MP as the a Royal Marines did not have Military Police trained as such until the 1960s.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 18:43:24 BST
This Commando is meeting a Yank judging by the Rifle he is carrying which is a M1 Garand.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 23:08:25 BST
The string around the waists are Jack-Knife Lanyards which were issue items.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:49:00 BST
He is wearing the distinctive Parachutist Brevet of the SAS. Now worn on the top right sleeve.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:32:35 BST
In the preparation for D-Day Commandos used Bombed and wrecked British Cities to acquire skills for Fighting in Built-Up Areas which was to stand them in good stead once across the Channel. This known by the Acronym FIBUA.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:26:06 BST
The badges on the left arm of Jess are his rank, ie: Leading Seaman, and the three stripes are Long Service Stripes , one for each period of 4 years, indicating 12 years under the Colours since the age of 18, any time before that was regarded as ‘Boys Time” and did not count towards Pension. At this time youngsters still went to Sea regardless, with many being Killed in Action!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:16:46 BST
The webbing worn is WW1 Pattern so they may have been short of kit as the Corps faced rapid expansion with the influx of Hostilities Only (HO) recruits.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:09:50 BST
