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
These Royal Marines Commandos are showing captured souvenirs, the fact that both men on each side of the flag are wearing SS Daggers may mean they had been fighting this type of a German formation.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 22:58:39 BST
This a Royal Marine is wearing the a Winter Cap in dark blue material at that time the Corps would change into a white topped Cap in the Summer. That is now worn all the time.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 22:19:05 BST
This Royal Marines Commando wasa Driver and wears the MT Badge. This Would later be changed to the letter ‘D’ still worn today.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 22:16:41 BST
The weapon is the .303” Vickers Medium Machine Gun (MMG) this was a belt-fed, water-cooled Commando Support Weapon which could lay down heavy fire when the Unit went into action. There was a three man Gun Crew so when being man-packed, one to carry the barrel, one to carry the tripod and the other ammunition, spare parts (rarely needed) and a small jerrican which attached to the barrel thru the pipe in the picture to cool the barrel. It was capable of “plunging fire” so could engage targets in dead ground behind buildings and natural features. It was an incredibly rugged tool much loved in the Royal Marines until the late 1960s and last used in action by 45 Commando RM in Aden and in Borneo by Marine Tony Daker RM in Borneo, he was a a Squad mate in 723(CS) Kings Squad RM..
(Not in this photo) Marine Tony Daker RM MMG (Heavy Weapons - Support Company) and all round Good Egg (RIP)!
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 22:11:32 BST
The guy nearest thought he would get a B Pass, did not, threw his Teddy down, the guy next is reloading a 20 round magazine and is Guilty of ‘Barrel Waving’ a bad give-away sign showing his position to any enemy!
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 20:03:38 BST
That is the old stone gymnasium to the rear.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 19:57:47 BST
During WW2 there was a fake airfield on Woodbury Common east of Castle Feature equipped with a set of landings lights which would be switched on if the Luftwaffe approached. Exeter still badly hammered. The Switch Room was a concrete underground bunker north-east of Castle Feature, which the Training Teams used as accommodation when the Squads were doing Defence Exercise (slit trenches).
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 19:55:30 BST
Should have put 360 degrees (or 6400 mils)!
Posted by David Prichard on Tue 11 Aug 2020 12:30:05 BST
We were on Water Patrol, collecting bowsers full for the Camp, we were very close to the old border with the Yemen at a place called Awabba. We were ‘loaded for bear for’ this being a Country where every adult male carried a loaded rifle with the .303” Lee Enfield being most commonly seen.
This was either the SMLE or the newer Number 4 model.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 20:37:15 BST
This was taken up on Woodbury Common a local Training Area where the Endurance Course is sited. As we were sitting there some Ethiopian Marines Commandos under training ran past and one shouted, ‘ Hiya to 39! ‘ Happy a Days!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 13:28:54 BST
About this time the Corps was introducing a Swedish anti-tank weapon. It was the 84mm Carl Gustav and a real lump, I think it weighed about 35 pounds plus the Rounds! It was deadly and widely bought. What no-one realised, at first, was that when fired the Venturi Tube/Breech ‘rang’ at a very high pitch causing lasting hearing damage. Once that was spotted a canvas ‘muffler’ was affixed but for many that came too late so they were medically discharged.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 13:23:02 BST
The brick building in rear is the old a Gymnasium.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 13:05:48 BST
If any Instructor at CTCRM is reading this he can wander off to the left from the stream at the bottom of the re-entrant, trees were marked in paint for route markers and he will find the ‘second’ bog, it was about 100 yards, slightly uphill leading towards the “Smartie Tube” Tunnels on the old 25 yard (not meters then) Pistol and Sten a Range. If brought back into use timings might have to be amended, it was really sticky and hard work!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 13:04:09 BST
If you drive from Woodbury to Budliegh Salterton you pass thru a junction known to Royal Marines as Four Firs, further down the road on the right hand (southerly) side you will pass two brick built sentry posts about 100 yards apart. During WW2 when the Range, now part of the Endurance Course was in use, these would be manned. When any traffic approached their job was to was to notify the Firing Point, the order, “Cease Fire!” given, Red Flags run up, and only then would traffic be allowed to proceed. Back then some of our Instructors had trained at Dalditch Camp on the Woodbury Common so we had this type of yarn from them.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 12:52:17 BST
You can see that he has tried to waterproof his rifle because once back at CTCRM he will be firing ‘live’ as part of the Course, 10 rounds at ‘snap’ targets on 25 metre range. A good shoot can knock time of the run.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 09 Aug 2020 09:42:50 BST
Fourth from left was an ex-Para and Sniper (Nicholson?) next to,him is “Dutchy” Van Beck later WO2, he was the other B Pass, C was Average, D meant try again, E meant Goodnight Ladies!
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 08 Aug 2020 21:07:44 BST
The other Corporal is named Holmes and he was the holder of the Kings Badge.
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 08 Aug 2020 20:57:09 BST
