Lieutenant William Eric Lloyd who wrote this letter was killed in action on 14 July 1943 whilst Captain of 4 Troop No.3 Commando.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sat 27 Mar 2021 18:17:49 GMT
Tommy Brindle
#59 identified as: 2720672 Gdsm Thomas Brindle, Irish Guards & No.3 Cdo, by his son Thomas Brindle
Posted by Nick Collins on Wed 10 Mar 2021 18:05:29 GMT
This photo was originally marked as No.1 Commando 4 Troop, Raiding Party Lofoten Raid (No.1 Cdo. did not take part in this raid) and it is now established as being No.3 Commando 4 Troop. Two Commandos from No.1 were later identified by nephews as Jim Hirst (No.1 Cdo), back row, 3rd from left. and John Abrams (No.1 Cdo) back row 1st left. However as can be seen in the details above, different identifications of No.3 Cdos. are now made.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Tue 05 Jan 2021 21:24:49 GMT
I believe Trooper Innes May have actually been an Inspector when this photo was taken judging by a single shoulder ‘pip’,and banded Cap visor. He is not wearing Medal Ribbons, so may have been pre-War.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 26 Sep 2020 09:57:26 BST
The gun barrel is from a ‘Pom-Pom’ machine gun designed for anti-aircraft fire, usually in multi-barrelled mounts.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 26 Sep 2020 09:47:10 BST
Trooper Burrows wears the original REME Cap Badge in his Green Beret.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 23 Sep 2020 16:02:07 BST
The Troopers appear to have “Taken Post” on entering harbour.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 11:12:45 BST
This is a British Railway Station, the lads are home safe!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 11:09:39 BST
The Bren Gunner nearest camera has his mug to hand in case there is a “wet” going!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 11:06:00 BST
The Troopers are in Close-Quarter fighting and ready to engage any enemy to their front, they are well dug-into the rubble which offers cover from any source or angle.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 11:00:51 BST
This appears to be a British train and the Troopers are showing captured souvenirs to people “off camera”, The smaller flag seems to be straight out of its wrapping.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 10:56:29 BST
There is a captured German machine-gun in front of the Nazi flag. The Troopers are not wearing webbing fighting order, so are temporarily on “Stand Down” and relaxing.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 10:53:01 BST
The right hand man appears to be acting as a “spotter” for the shooter and will be indicating potential targets.The shooter does not have his leaf-sight up so is using his lower Battle sight. They are both extremely alert and in danger.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 10:49:45 BST
These Commandos are probably leaving the final UK camp heading for the Embarkation point as they all their kit well strapped down and the leading Trooper has water-proofed the bolt area of his rifle with tape to prevent sand clogging it. Some are wearing Assault Vests or have bandolier of 100 rounds about their person. This is possibly on the 4/5 June 1944.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 10:45:23 BST
Trooper Mason served in the Durham Light Infantry.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 19:12:42 BST
I should add the plate across the barrel ‘broke up’ the wooden bullets being fired.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 21:20:21 BST
Trooper Machin is wearing ‘Ever Open Eye’ shoulder flash designed by Lt. Rex Whistler, Welsh Guards, a famous Artist, KIA 1944. This badge was worn by those serving with the Guards Armoured Division formed 1941.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 12:01:00 BST
This a ‘live firing’ Bren. If using blank ammunition a different barrel would be fitted, wooden rounds used and the cone shaped flash eliminator on the barrel would have a half metal plate across the bottom.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 13:22:05 BST
This shows a much larger Aldiss lamp fitted on board a Warship given the gun in the background.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 13:18:46 BST
These would appear to be Signallers training in the use of the Aldis Lamp dating from a time when this means was still in use, the man sat in front appears to be using a field issue Morse key. Interestingly the SAS used Morse well in to the latter part of the 20th Century due to the range this equipment had and the difficulty that arose if anyone tried to ‘jam’ it. In contrast a pal of mine with the Falklands Task Force spoke to SAS men on the deck of a Carrier heading South who were using equipment with a ‘fan type’ aerial similar to the old camera ‘flash’ gun and when he asked they were stealing Satellite time to have a chat with their families. As he expressed disbelief they linked him immediately with his Wife in Cardiff! You could not make it up!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 13:15:52 BST
I believe that this Troopers’ medals include a Police Long Service Medal so he may have been one of the Wartime Police entries who returned to that Job on demobilisation, it is the right hand medal as the photo is looked at.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 13:06:37 BST
I served with a number of Wartime Commandos in Cardiff City Police and was told that when they arrived at the Commando Depot they had no previous military affiliation so had to select one prior to being issued with kit, given a Regimental Number and receive any pay. Some chose this Cavalry Regiment because of the Cap Badge. Correction to previous.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 12:59:26 BST
These Troopers appears to be sat on the roof of a railway carriage given the curved roofline and it is interesting that they are wearing studded boots (Boots AP or Army Pattern) and not Commando Boots with It side made cleated rubber soles so perhaps this is quite early on.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 12:49:53 BST
This shows a .303 inch Bren Light Machine Gun loaded with a magazine which could hold 28 rounds and there are spare mags stacked close to hand in the picture.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 12:45:42 BST
These LSTs were built to run straight up onto the beach where, if possible, Tanks, Troops and other equipment could be landed ‘dry-shod’ through large doors in the bow. Each was also fitted with a huge Kedging Anchor on the Stern which had a swivel ‘fluke’ plate attached to powerful windlass also stern mounted. On the run-in to the beach that anchor would dig into the seabed. This meant that the LST and other similar ships could quite literally haul itself back out into deep water where that anchor was recovered. That Kedging Anchor features on the famous Combined Operation ‘ flash’ brought into use which also shows the equally famous Thompson Sub Machine Gun and an Eagle for the Air Forces involved.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 12:39:17 BST
