Jack was No.1 Diamond and, as you point out, Pete, the King's Badge recipient of 733 Squad. He also received the Commando Medal.I was a member of 733 and am still in touch with Jack. He became Chief Constable of Northumbria (I think) police, after having to leave the Corps prematurely due to hearing loss - a PWs common problem in those days before decent ear defenders. The badge on the left arm of the L/Cpl fourth from the left is commonly referred to as a PW3 qualification. A former colleague of mine in 45 Recce had that SQ and told me that it was a sniper course downgraded qualification - failure on some part of the course but fairly minimal. The sniper badge has crossed rifles, but closer together, with the letter "S" above.I don't recognise Jack in that picture.
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Sat 21 Dec 2024 23:13:18 GMT
The River Orne and Caen Canal Bridges now named Pegasus Bridge.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 28 Sep 2020 21:44:21 BST
The 30 foot ropes are in background.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 18 Sep 2020 23:24:57 BST
It is still North to South here with Exouth to,the right (West) of the Firing
Point.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 13:12:45 BST
We were using Foggin Tor Quarry for this which is located North-West of Princetown and Dartmoor Prison and was one worked by Convicts back in the day, a wild place in Winter. We also used it for a “Cordon and Search” Exercise as part of the Commando Course Training Recruits in that Skill.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 08:04:45 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
Look at the way they are leaning into this, still in step and going strong with one turning to grin at me, they know they are making good time and they have this cracked. Time allowed is 7 hours. As their Instructor it gave me a great feeling seeing them looking this good. It was never our job to fail people, there was a job waiting for them either on a Course or Brigade. No water stops and they were expected to arrive at finish with a full water bottle!
Posted by David Prichard on Tue 18 Aug 2020 00:18:29 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
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
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
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
I think he joined from the RMR where he had earned a Green Beret so this was second time around.
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 08 Aug 2020 20:20:21 BST
The current tunnel is far more sophisticated and Recruits now go under water and depend on their Oppos to get through safely, once you have done this you are soaked to the skin, not funny in a Winter! They work in threes, one swimming, one shoving and the other grabbing and hauling!
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 08 Aug 2020 20:16:32 BST
781 Squad RM yomping up onto Dartmoor for field firing. It must be Winter (gloves) but a fine day, Dartmoor could be very cruel! There is no-one looking at the camera as you might expect.
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 08 Aug 2020 20:11:22 BST
I was up on Woodbury Common one gorgeous Summers’ Day doing Section Battle Drills/Attacks. It was mid-afternoon and the lads had been working flat out and we arrived at the Water Tank. I shouted, “ Strip off, keep boots on (in case of glass) you have a 10 minute break. “ They were soon in hooting and hollering with me acting as Weapons Sentry. I dug out my ‘The Infantry Platoon in Battle’ Book (Vol lV) and was having a quick refresh when the Camp Commandant turned up out of the blue. He was Colonel A J S Crockett RM. I believe he was the holder of the DSO. I saluted and explained, he made no demands. At 10 minutes I gave a blast on my NCOs whistle, the lads were soon rigged and ready for the off. I gave the axis of advance heading up to Four Firs, put in another Attack with the Commandant tagging along, talk about me being nervous! Transport was waiting, He called me to one side and thanked me saying, "I enjoyed that, Corporal."
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 08 Aug 2020 13:19:53 BST
In those days non-Royal Marines joining Brigade did a 1 week Acquaint at Lympstone then joined up with Recruit Squads on a “sink or swim” basis. Not many failed because by that time the actual Squad would have a strong Team Spirit and would help anyone struggling in ‘their’ group. Some did fail then it was a case of “pack your bags and leg it!”
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 08 Aug 2020 12:51:37 BST
