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Piper Bill Millin

Date: 15/03/2008 Views: 3750 Owner: Geoff Murray

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	I was a member of the RM /RMR Training Team when 131 Indep Commando Sdn RE(V) converted from Airborne Forces to the Commando role.This was my RMR Annual Training for that year. I carried out a variety of duties, Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 19:39:33 BST
	This is not the Canal Zone (flat) so maybe this is Palestine/Israel. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 19:24:41 BST
	I am guessing, but given the fence and watch tower this may be either in the Canal Zone or perhaps Palestine/Israel. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 19:22:26 BST
	These Commandos are working/cleaning a .303 inch Bren and the others have the US .30-06 Garand rifles might indicate they were issued to give their Rifle Section additional firepower.The ammunition for these weapons are a different calibre so are not compatible. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 19:12:09 BST
	These Commandos are carrying out a ‘live’ 3 inch Mortar shoot. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 19:03:17 BST
	I believe this photograph was taken at RMB Eastney (closed) Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:56:27 BST
	He is wearing his Commando Dagger on the right hip. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:53:27 BST
	In the Royal Marines the term ‘Heavy Weapons’ meant either 1 3 inch Mortar 2 .303 inch Vickers Machine Gun (MMG) 3. Assault Engineers The Mortar Men and MMG Gunners would wear the sleeve badge HW in a Wreath. One star means 3rd Class, Two stars 2nd Class and a Crown over the letters First Class by which time the man would probably be a SNCO. An Assault Engineer would wear AE in the same sequence. Nowadays there are Anti-Tank Marines, who wear the same HW badge. They would all be in Support Troop/Company. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:51:46 BST
	The Bench has been carved with the Insignia of the Special Boat Service. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:34:15 BST
	This photograph would have been taken at a Camp initially known as RM Exton, then the Infantry Centre Royal Marines and is now entitled The Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM). Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:30:34 BST
	Sam was a a Sergeant of the Cardiff City Police when I joined, there were a few Police Officers in the Force at that time who volunteered for service with the Commandos when the ban was lifted allowing Officers to either go RAF Aircrew or to the Commandos. The ones I can remember is Frank Kirby, Ray Sparkes, Bill Everett.They were highly respected in both aspects. I took some joshing having come from the Royal Marines Commando Training where I had been JNCO Instructor until I mentioned I was 4 on D-Day and shorter than their ‘A’ Frame rucksack. I believe they all served with 3 Commando. On retirement he took up a position as Chief Security Officer at The University Hospital of Wales. He was a fine man and extremely popular in the Force. ‘ Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:10:32 BST
	This Officers’ Sam Browne has a fitting for his whistle on the shoulder strap normally seen on those worn by Light Infantry Officers although his ‘collar dogs’ are either Royal Artillery or Royal Engineers. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 17:48:59 BST
	This is a small map case with fitment for pens, pencils etc. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 17:42:32 BST
	’38 Pattern holster for .45 Webley Service Revolve small pouch above was for spare rounds (bullets for the uninitiated). Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 17:40:43 BST
	This waistcoat was designed to carry loaded curved magazines for the .303” Bren, there were a few at CTCRM used by Camp Staff who laid on flash demos or acted as “Enemy” in the early 1960s, there were also some WW2 German helmets. At CTCRM there was a group of Trained Marines who formed the Field Training Staff (FTS) who would lay on ‘flash’ demos as part of Recruit Training and would show the right and wrong methods to be used so it formed part of the harsh learning curve. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 17:34:54 BST
	Marine Harvey is holding a .303” Bren with a Magazine fitted which may indicate the Unit was expecting trouble. He is also equipped with an issue handgun for personal close-quarter protection as the Bren is not the most suitable weapon to bring to bear at close-quarters. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 17:27:10 BST
	Now amalgamated with the Royal Welch Fusiliers to form the Royal Regiment of Wales who wear the Fusiliers Hackle in the beret. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 17:02:12 BST
	I believe that Brigadier Thomas wears the Cap Badge of the Welch Regiment (the story is that when serving in India a local contractor made the badges thus and it was then adopted). Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 16:59:38 BST
	This Commando is wearing a ‘collar dog” of The Royal Regiment of Artillery in his Green Beret. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 16:54:03 BST
	A Light Infantry Commando. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 16:38:58 BST
	This Commando is from a Light Infantry Regiment, his Cap Badge bears the LI Hunting Horn. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 16:36:54 BST
	The Identity Discs shown serve a number of purposes. They show Name, Regimental Number, Religion with Blood Group on the reverse. If killed the red circular disc is removed and sent back to the Pay and Records, the other buried with the body. In the case of a Royal Marine his Personal Record is endorsed, “Discharged Dead” and closed. They should be knotted so that the red disc can be cut off with the other above the knot remaining secure. You will note that the RM Cap Badges bear the Kings Crown (King George Vl) Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 16:32:17 BST
	Interestingly this Commandos’ Cap Badge is the 17/21 Lancers, and is the Skull and Crossbones Emblem of that Regiment with the Motto “Or Glory”. It must have looked well impressive on his Green Beret! Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 16:19:29 BST
	\| show full show summary You will see that the Commando is actually a Bugler Corporal. Back in the day Buglers could apply for Commando Service. That meant a full Commando Course and the award of the Green Beret. Each a Commando Unit has a complement of 1 X Corporal and 4 X Buglers who were part of the Provost Section working with the RSM on ammunition duties in action. When I was in Aden serving with 45 Commando RM the working day was punctuated with the old Bugle calls starting with Reveille at 0600 hours (Yougorragerrupyougorragerrupyougorragerrup it’s morning.) Stand Easy (Ifyouwannahavewazfallout) Meal Call (Cometothecookhousedoorboys) and lastly at 2200 the Last Post (LightsOutlightsout), It could be this was an informal Unit Visit where a Quarter Guard was mounted which would be a Commanded by a Sergeant, with12 Marines and. Bugler. As the men are in full Battledress this was either in the UK or Malta. I had the privilege of Commanding such a Guard when Lord Mountbatten dined with RMR Bristol Officers at Dorset House. Me... You will see that the Commando is actually a Bugler Corporal. Back in the day Buglers could apply for Commando Service. That meant a full Commando Course and the award of the Green Beret. Each a Commando Unit has a complement of 1 X Corporal and 4 X Buglers who were part of the Provost Section working with the RSM on ammunition duties in action. When I was in Aden serving with 45 Commando RM the working day was punctuated with the old Bugle calls starting with Reveille at 0600 hours (Yougorragerrupyougorragerrupyougorragerrup it’s morning.) Stand Easy (Ifyouwannahavewazfallout) Meal Call (Cometothecookhousedoorboys) and lastly at 2200 the Last Post (LightsOutlightsout), It could be this was an informal Unit Visit where a Quarter Guard was mounted which would be a Commanded by a Sergeant, with12 Marines and. Bugler. As the men are in full Battledress this was either in the UK or Malta. I had the privilege of Commanding such a Guard when Lord Mountbatten dined with RMR Bristol Officers at Dorset House. Me and the Bugler (from CTCRM) took a Tot of Rum with him afterwards as is a Custom! Posted by David Prichard on Tue 25 Aug 2020 18:11:37 BST
	The bar you can see crossing the down rope was a ‘new’ addition after a Review of the Course following an accident when a a Recruit failed to loop his toggle OVER the Death Slide Rope and fell 60 feet resulting in serious injury. A Catch-Net was also placed in front of the Platform to ensure no repition of this dreadful incident. The PTI on the Platform failed to check! Previously the man coming down the rope was stopped by NCOs hanging onto a brake rope. Posted by David Prichard on Tue 25 Aug 2020 17:41:35 BST