David Haig-Thomas is mentioned a couple of times in the diary of my father, W.J.Milne, in March 1942 when, as a Recce Corps officer, he was attending the School of Winter Warfare at Skogar Camp near Akureyri in northern Iceland. David Haig-Thomas was one of his instructors. Here is one entry from when they were up on the glacier on the mountains above the camp:
18 March. Vindheimajökull. My birthday! The mist was down completely – we paraded on a little slope and the trudge up that slope just after breakfast almost kills one, although the rise is only about a hundred feet - but, carrying skis and all the other paraphenalia, it is completely exhausting.
Even Scott, the Chief Instructor, the man who explores Greenland and glaciers, rather feels the strain when he goes up this business of the parade slope.
It's rather amazing the few clothes that one has to wear in the daytime and when one is doing anything at all. When we were building igloos this afternoon, we were again in shirt sleeves. ...
David Haig-Thomas is mentioned a couple of times in the diary of my father, W.J.Milne, in March 1942 when, as a Recce Corps officer, he was attending the School of Winter Warfare at Skogar Camp near Akureyri in northern Iceland. David Haig-Thomas was one of his instructors. Here is one entry from when they were up on the glacier on the mountains above the camp:
18 March. Vindheimajökull. My birthday! The mist was down completely – we paraded on a little slope and the trudge up that slope just after breakfast almost kills one, although the rise is only about a hundred feet - but, carrying skis and all the other paraphenalia, it is completely exhausting.
Even Scott, the Chief Instructor, the man who explores Greenland and glaciers, rather feels the strain when he goes up this business of the parade slope.
It's rather amazing the few clothes that one has to wear in the daytime and when one is doing anything at all. When we were building igloos this afternoon, we were again in shirt sleeves. Igloo building, by the way, is great fun - one gets a good constructive satisfaction out of cutting a good snow block and then building the walls. Haig-Thomas says the walls didn't slope enough and that an Eskimo builds one in an hour with just a knife. We took quite an hour in cutting and laying the first layer.
Posted by Robin Milne on Tue 04 Jun 2024 21:30:13 BST
#5 we believe is my grandfather Francis ‘Irvine’ Steadman. He has been identified by his Son (my father) as well as matching him with other photos we have from his Army days. We’ll be staying in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings to pay our respect and would appreciate any stories or details of where 3 troop served during those times. Like many he chose not to talk much of his time in the Army so we have very limited information. Thanks
Posted by Matt Steadman on Sat 25 May 2024 05:37:32 BST
John Bartholomew Davies
Hello all,
John Davies is my grandad and I'm trying to find out abit more about his career if anyone is willing to help me please? I am currently serving within the British Armed Forces myself.
^Admin (PR)....email contact made.
Posted by Anthony on Sat 27 Apr 2024 18:09:53 BST
Number 1 - Ronald Stanley Freeman
I believe number 1 to be my Grandfather Ronald Stanley Freeman - 6352714. He shared many of his war stories with me, as well as leaving me his medals, which I am now tallying up against the historical data of the No 3 Commando's activities.
He was wounded on the 21st July 1943 in Sicily during the capture of the Ponte dei Malati Bridge (No 3 Commando Bridge).
He was fortunate enough to recover from his injuries and passed away in 1999.
Posted by Gary Walton on Fri 12 Apr 2024 15:53:56 BST
Sorry to be a bother, but this surname is misspelled, it should be "Withrington".
Posted by Jack Withrington on Tue 05 Mar 2024 06:24:12 GMT
Sorry to be a bother, but this surname is misspelled, it should be "Withrington".
Posted by Jack Withrington on Tue 05 Mar 2024 06:22:00 GMT
Sorry to be a bother, but this surname is misspelled, it should be "Withrington".
Posted by Jack Withrington on Tue 05 Mar 2024 06:21:44 GMT
ID
Bottom line no.6 is Lt. Michael McConville
Posted by Jan Mas on Tue 30 Jan 2024 11:08:40 GMT
Front far left is Alexander Davidson
Front far left is my grandfather Alexander Davidson (Eck)
Posted by Macdonald on Sat 27 Jan 2024 16:18:44 GMT
Photo Update
I can identify my Uncle Reginald Skinner as sitting 4th row from the top and 7th from the left.
Posted by Nadine Skinner on Tue 23 Jan 2024 20:05:43 GMT
Hi, do you know where this photo was taken?
Posted by Jackie Birtles on Mon 22 Jan 2024 18:28:58 GMT
photo Ken Young
Kate think my dad Alan "Mitch" Mitchell serve with you dad got photo of whet looks like reunion "Ken"
Posted by kenneth mitchell on Wed 03 Jan 2024 22:22:27 GMT
These men are from the U.S.29th Provisional Rangers
(intake 01.02.-04.03.1943).
They are wearing their one-piece herringbone coveralls and
leggings.
Posted by Jan Mas on Thu 30 Nov 2023 11:40:05 GMT
Reply for Dave re Woodcock
Bernard Edward Woodcock, Suffolk Regiment, s/n 76597, served in No.1 Commando with Lt Col Tom Trevor hence the US Rangers connection, then 4 Special Service (Commando) Bde., finally CBTC.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Thu 23 Nov 2023 23:11:27 GMT
No 4 is Lt.R.W.Pantall MM, 3Cdo and CBTC
See also "CBTC Officers'Mess 1945"
He is also to be seen in the 1945 IWM film "Story of the Green Beret", leading the attack from LCA's on Loch Lochy.
Posted by Jan Mas on Tue 21 Nov 2023 17:04:10 GMT
Comment from Richard Straw
Richard Straw identifies his grandfather as standing at the end of the middle row on the right - PLY/X2187 Sergeant (ATy) Maurice Kenneth Straw.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Mon 06 Nov 2023 10:33:44 GMT
Standing, 4th from left, directly behind the newspaper is PLY/X2187 Sergeant (ATy) Maurice Kenneth STRAW.
Posted by Richard Straw on Tue 24 Oct 2023 14:08:14 BST
Ernest Arthur Paget
7th from left 2nd row (tallest one in the middle) is my father Ernest Arthur Paget. He was in No. 4 commando and took part in the Dieppe raid. His service book shows him as being in HOC from December 1943 to January 1945
Posted by Philip Hugh Paget on Mon 09 Oct 2023 10:23:43 BST
Pillion
The pillion rider is Alistair Kirkman.
Posted by Dr Ian Frayling on Wed 06 Sep 2023 09:35:25 BST
A[listair] Kirkman
Alistair Kirkman's wife was my late father's secretary at Perkins Diesel in Peterborough. Alistair gave me the maps he used in Normandy in 1975, and after his decease his widow gave me his green beret, badges and some photos. On 20th July he is noted as having been evacuated due to a severe skin rash. Both he and his widow related to me that he had been badly burned due to a mortar attack exploding the petrol tank in the jeep he was driving. He certainly had burns and after I qualified in medicine, by coincidence, I happened to live near the Manchester Skin Hospital where he had been treated.
Posted by Dr Ian Frayling on Wed 06 Sep 2023 07:59:33 BST
Alistair Kirkman
A[listair] Kirkman is 2nd row, 3rd from L. He gave me the maps he used in Normandy, and his late wife gave me his green beret, badges and some photos after his decease.
Posted by Dr Ian Frayling on Wed 06 Sep 2023 07:48:33 BST
Alistair Kirkman
Dvr Alistair Kirkman is Top row, 2nd from the R. His late wife, Stella, was my late father's secretary at Perkins Diesel in Peterborough. He gave me the maps that he used in Normandy, and after his decease she gave me his green beret, badges and some photos.
Posted by Dr Ian Frayling on Wed 06 Sep 2023 07:45:04 BST
210 James Underwood
My brother Jimmy had an original photo of all these brave men who fought in WWII but it was in very poor condition. I am his son Stephen and my wife managed to find this original photo. My father would have been 26 years old at the time this picture was taken. He had 4 daughters and 2 sons.
Posted by Tanya Juttla-Underwood on Sat 19 Aug 2023 07:55:47 BST
This photo is similar to another one taken by Tom Italiaander in Feb-Mar 1944 at the back of what seems to be one of the Dutch Troop HQs in Eastbourne.
Posted by Duncan Cramer on Sat 12 Aug 2023 10:13:38 BST
