Small point here it will be seen the Commissioned Officers are all carrying “Swagger” sticks and wearing fawn coloured short Puttees, the ORs are
wearing Khaki short Puttees. The “Swagger” sticks were leather covered going out of use in the 1970s.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 11:01:18 BST
Cap Badge is South Wales Borderers.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 10:54:22 BST
The Fusilier central in the 3rd rank/file is wearing SAS “Wings” above left breast pocket.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 10:52:13 BST
Should read: ‘ prior to being......
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 10:45:24 BST
The canoe in the picture was specifically developed for SBS use being
collapsible and capable of being assembled on a Submarine Deck toBeing being used on a clandestine mission. May still be is just in a modified form
by todays’ SBS. Still is use in the 1970s.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 10:44:06 BST
The goggles the men are wearing are taken from the standard issue
Respirator (gas mask) and made of celluloid. The attack on Suez by 45
Commando RM was the first time the Corps had used helicopters in an
Assault across water from an Aircraft Carrier and the goggles were used
to counteract the blinding dust thrown up on landing. An interesting point
regards these goggles is the Field Marshall Erwin Rommel can be seen wearing these British issue items having found them perfect for the same reason (dust) in North Africa during WW2.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 10:35:36 BST
The Grenade in this picture is the No: 94 Energa Infantry anti-tank weapon which is fired from the .303” Lee Enfield No: 4 Rifle using a projector all
Men carried. The rocket shape can be seen with the tail-fins to the left of the picture. It was fired using a Ballastite Cartridge and was a ‘hollow
charge” action. It had a ‘graze-nose-fuse’ so did not have to hit square on the target. It could be fired at any target if necessary but the cartridge had
quite a kick’ so the trigger would only be stroked with a straight index finger
And the rifle butt dug into the ground if necessary.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 10:27:18 BST
This is an interesting photo, the men are definitely Commandos and are carrying the standard “A” Frame Rucksacks not issued to Line Infantry. The Tanks in view are US made Shermans which have ‘swum” ashore being fitted with collapsible equipment and came a a huge surprise to the German defenders. Many were lost when they sunk particularly on the US Beaches where they had been released into the sea too early and too far out. Many of those still lie where they sank that day, not many of the crews survived. Imagine that predicament!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 10:16:37 BST
I would venture to suggest that this photo was taken before D-Day as no man, not even the NCOs is wearing any medal ribbon(s). The webbing belts are an old Pattern replaced by ‘37 Pattern before that day. They are
wearing Battle Dress and not Denims as the man on the left (as you look at the photo) is wearing one Long Service Stripe denoting 4 years under the
Colours, this would not be worn on denims (fatigues).
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 10:08:13 BST
Everything in these photos point to them being taken in the Far East.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:59:11 BST
The Rifle pictured would be issued with an 18” Bayonet.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:58:00 BST
The leading Commando has a slung .303” SMLE Rifle as evidenced by
the two studs just under the muzzle so this might be an early photo I. By
mid-1944 the .303” Lee Enfield No: 4 Rifle with a pig-sticker bayonet was
on issue.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:57:10 BST
The caption states “Mortars on Fire!” But this probably means the a Mortar
is BEING fired as there are casings for the Bombs for the 3 inch Mortar visible on the grass on the low right of this picture. A Mortar is simply a strong steel tube and the only thing that can burn are the ‘charges’ attached to the Bombs by the 3 man crew. The type of charge and number being governed by the type of target and range. These charges look similar to the phials of petrol which could be bought in a Tobacconist for lighter fuel.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:52:39 BST
The item low centre is a No: 36 HE Grenade which has a distinctive shape
similar to a pineapple, they must be expecting trouble having this so close
to hand! The segmentation design meant that the Grenade exploded into
many pieces propelled outwards by 1lb of HE.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:42:47 BST
This looks like “Letters from Home” being distributed by the man standing
who might be the Unit “Postie”.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:39:31 BST
This would appear to be a Japanese PoW judging by he cap he is wearing.
Not many prisoners were actually taken as they either died in a final
“Banzai” charge or committed Seppku (A form of ritual Suicide also known as Hara-Kiri)
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:36:44 BST
They are preparing food for either a Section or Troop as the the metal “box’ to the left of the seated Corporal is a Hay-Box liner in which hot food was
taken forward to Troops in the field. The steel pot handle visible in the bottom left hand corner is a standard issue cooking pot used on a 1Star Petrol fired Field Cooker still in use well into the 1960s. The ladle the Corporal is holding is another clue!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:32:22 BST
This photo taken on Tilbury Docks, the War had ended and these Commandos are back in the UK with bulging Rucksacks and Kitbags. I wonder what they have managed to ‘scrounge’ under the “To the Victor the
Spoils Rule! A war time Commando told me that the seabed outside the
entrance to Portsmouth Naval Base would have been littered with German
Lugers and Daggers after being warned that Customs Officers awaited!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:19:26 BST
These men appear to be living in ‘Civvie’ digs, standard in the Commandos of the day with a Subsistence Allowance being paid.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:10:43 BST
These are not the standard British Sniper Rifles issued at that time which was the .303inch Lee Enfield No: 4(T) and was still in use in the Royal Marines until mid-1960 when it was re-chambered to use the 7.62mm round. The standard round issued was not good enough so special rounds were ordered for Sniper use only. When using the Lee Enfield Snipersin the Corps would try an d get the .303inch 7Z round which was standard issue for the .303inch Vickers Medium Machine Gun (MMG) which had a “Boat end or tapered “ bullet, the new style Rifle was called the L42. In this photo these Rifles are perhaps being “trialled” to measure their worth.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:07:44 BST
There is a Commando Trained Bugler on the left of this photo sounding a Salute Call.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 19:23:25 BST
This Commando is holding a German Stick Grenades and draped in belted ammunition which is probably also from the same source.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 19:17:13 BST
This Royal Marines SNCO is in full Blues, the Badge above his Sergeants’ stripes mean that he is either a 1st Class Drill or Weapons Instructor. Back in the day there was a Specialist Qualification of Military Instructor who would teach both disciplines.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 19:14:27 BST
I hope that is a Green Fez!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 17:41:48 BST
This shows a 3’ Mortar Team preparing to open fire. No: 1 of the weapon is setting the sight whilst the others prepare bombs for the ‘stonk’ they are about to drop onto the target.The striped rod in front is one of the aiming posts which would be set out to use in the DF(SOS) mode, Defensive Fire SOS. The range would depend on which fuses were placed in the base of each bomb.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 17:37:01 BST
