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 18:13:18 EST
The River Orne and Caen Canal Bridges now named Pegasus Bridge.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 28 Sep 2020 16:44:21 EDT
The 30 foot ropes are in background.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 18 Sep 2020 18:24:57 EDT
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 08:12:45 EDT
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 03:04:45 EDT
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 12:41:35 EDT
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 Mon 17 Aug 2020 19:18:29 EDT
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 18:59:21 EDT
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 02:25:24 EDT
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 15:03:38 EDT
That is the old stone gymnasium to the rear.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 14:57:47 EDT
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 14:55:30 EDT
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 08:28:54 EDT
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 08:23:02 EDT
