You are correct David. Ralph Bazeley was the 43RM Commando M.O. and I have now updated the photo accordingly.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 16 Aug 2020 19:27:52 BST
In clear view are the ‘A’ frame Bergen Rucksacs issued to all Commandos and a vast improvement on the ‘37 Pattern Large Packs, we were still using them into the 1960s
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 19:12:26 BST
This Commando Trainee is doing the Cat Crawl across the rope wearing the Cap Comforter adopted by the ‘new’ Commandos, he is wearing ‘37 Pattern Fighting Order. The rifle is the .303” SMLE (Short magazine Lee Enfield) and he has an 18” bayonet in clear view.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 19:01:37 BST
MOA means Marines Officers Attendant which was the Corps term for a Batman. He would move close to ‘his’ Officer in a Battle usually carrying the inter-Unit radio.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 16:59:31 BST
Some of these men are wearing Brown Leather Jerkins which might mean they were Drivers (MT) but these were so good if you could ‘proff’ one you did as they had a blanket lining and as they would frequently live very basic and rough these were magic!
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 16:29:56 BST
The fourth Officer from left is not a Royal Marine but may be a Royal Army Medical Corps (different Cap Badge).
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 16:17:27 BST
Another sign this is old style BD is the small pocket on the right front of their trousers which would hold a First Field Dressing in action (FFD). It should only be used on the man himself if wounded, that is what the Rule Book states but who can say?
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 16:14:56 BST
Although these officers are wearing battledress and white web belts which would normally be that of “ other ranks” they are wearing collar and tie, but the giveaway is the ‘Split’ Cap Badge Which has a silver Globe with gold a Kings Crown and gold Wreath.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 16:08:42 BST
These Royal Marines are wearing early style Battledress. The right hand man is a Quarter Master Sergeant he is wearing his badge of rank on lower left sleeve which is a Crown surrounded by a wreath. He would have been addressed as, “ QMS “ or perhaps more informally as, “ Q “. He would be the most senior NCO in a Commando Rifle Troop. This rank was changed in the late 1970s to Warrant Officer 2nd Class who are addressed as,“ Sir.”
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 15:58:13 BST
The Gunners from 29 Commando Regt RA were trained on the 105mm Pack Howitzer. The Whirlwind helicopters could not lift it which led to the introduction of the Wessex Mark 5 which could. Then came the 105mm Light Gun, which was anything but as the Gun had to be broken down into two parts to be lifted into Battle. A variant of the Sea King was able to lift this new Gun in one piece. No Land Rover could haul this new heavier Weapon so Land Rover produced a 1 Tonne High-rise vehicle which could do the business. MoD bean Counters putting cart before the horse! The two parts were(1) barrel and breech (2) Chassis, gun platform and wheels. Light Gun ?????
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 23:59:21 BST
Wessex Mark 5 Helicopters on deck of Commando Carrier either HMS “Bulwark” or HMS “Albion”
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 23:17:20 BST
The Artillery piece in the Sanger is the 105mm Pack Howitzer in use with 29 Commando Regiment RA when formed but I am not sure who would have been manning this Gun here. It was an Italian design described as being a Mountain Gun which was man and mule packable.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 23:11:59 BST
The helicopter is a Bristol “Belvedere” twin rotor.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 23:02:34 BST
This shows the construction of a ‘Brushwood Bivvie’ during Mountain and Arctic Training (MAW) I did two attachments with 42 Commando RM at Andalsnes in deep a Winter, hard going and hard soldiering.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 19:37:31 BST
This is post -1985 as they are carrying the ‘new’ 5.65 mm SA80, not the best Infantry Rifle the SAS would not touch it!
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 19:30:47 BST
This is an early morning shot judging by the shadows and may be the lads First Acquaint imagine doing this in January when the ice had to be broken!
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 19:25:47 BST
The Staff Sergeant nearest camera wears the qualification ‘Wings’ of an Army Parachute Jumping Instructor (APJI)
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 18:21:55 BST
I was a Sgt RMR when 131 converted to the Commando Role having come from Airborne Forces. They did not enjoy giving up their beloved Red Berets so the Pass Out Parade was a mix of sadness and also looking forward to the Challenges of working with Commando Brigade and 59 their a Regular counter-parts.I had been called down to CTCRM to form up with the mixed Training Team of both Regular and RMR Instructors. A great fortnight with some great guys!
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 18:15:58 BST
This shows a Syndicate of three men going thru the Endurance Course Water Tunnel working as a team, one swimming, one shoving and one tugging.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 18:05:38 BST
This is quite an early photo taken as Colin crosses a Peters’ Pool on the Woodbury Common Endurance Course. He is carrying his 7.62mm SLR (Self Loading Rifle) the standard British Military weapon, it had a magazine holding 20 Rounds of ammunition and he will be expected to fire 10 ‘live’ Rounds at ‘snap’ targets back at the Commando Training Centre as part of the Course, he has a way to go yet followed by a 4 and. half mile run back. This is against the clock, Time allowed 72 minutes!
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 17:57:59 BST
The 32 round magazine fitted the 7.62mm SLR but an old Penny had to placed over the loading tray as the tray would be damaged when the last round was fired when the rifle working parts came forward.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 13:08:42 BST
This time of day is early morning and the misty area in the background is The Yemen with their border Town being Qataba.,We were informed there were Russian made APCs there.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 13:04:55 BST
From left Nos: 5 and 9 have large first field dressing (FFD) being pre-packed sterile bandages.
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 13 Aug 2020 18:28:35 BST
I have seen one photo in this Archive which shows an RA Corporal taking a Gunner group through the Endurance Course, he has made the mistake of ‘going through the bog’ himself and is well bogged down so,is unable to either watch/assist his group. Big mistake and one no RM Instructor would make!
Posted by David Prichard on Thu 13 Aug 2020 07:25:24 BST
RM Commandos showing captured German items. The left hand man, rear rank, is holding a Panzerfaust hollow charge anti tank Infantry weapon.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 23:05:33 BST
