David Haig-Thomas is mentioned a couple of times in the diary of my father, W.J.Milne, in March 1942 when, as a Recce Corps officer, he was attending the School of Winter Warfare at Skogar Camp near Akureyri in northern Iceland. David Haig-Thomas was one of his instructors. Here is one entry from when they were up on the glacier on the mountains above the camp:
18 March. Vindheimajökull. My birthday! The mist was down completely – we paraded on a little slope and the trudge up that slope just after breakfast almost kills one, although the rise is only about a hundred feet - but, carrying skis and all the other paraphenalia, it is completely exhausting.
Even Scott, the Chief Instructor, the man who explores Greenland and glaciers, rather feels the strain when he goes up this business of the parade slope.
It's rather amazing the few clothes that one has to wear in the daytime and when one is doing anything at all. When we were building igloos this afternoon, we were again in shirt sleeves. ...
David Haig-Thomas is mentioned a couple of times in the diary of my father, W.J.Milne, in March 1942 when, as a Recce Corps officer, he was attending the School of Winter Warfare at Skogar Camp near Akureyri in northern Iceland. David Haig-Thomas was one of his instructors. Here is one entry from when they were up on the glacier on the mountains above the camp:
18 March. Vindheimajökull. My birthday! The mist was down completely – we paraded on a little slope and the trudge up that slope just after breakfast almost kills one, although the rise is only about a hundred feet - but, carrying skis and all the other paraphenalia, it is completely exhausting.
Even Scott, the Chief Instructor, the man who explores Greenland and glaciers, rather feels the strain when he goes up this business of the parade slope.
It's rather amazing the few clothes that one has to wear in the daytime and when one is doing anything at all. When we were building igloos this afternoon, we were again in shirt sleeves. Igloo building, by the way, is great fun - one gets a good constructive satisfaction out of cutting a good snow block and then building the walls. Haig-Thomas says the walls didn't slope enough and that an Eskimo builds one in an hour with just a knife. We took quite an hour in cutting and laying the first layer.
Posted by Robin Milne on Tue 04 Jun 2024 21:30:13 BST
210 James Underwood
My brother Jimmy had an original photo of all these brave men who fought in WWII but it was in very poor condition. I am his son Stephen and my wife managed to find this original photo. My father would have been 26 years old at the time this picture was taken. He had 4 daughters and 2 sons.
Posted by Tanya Juttla-Underwood on Sat 19 Aug 2023 07:55:47 BST
My Dad
Seated 5th from the left looking at the photo, Sgt Leslie George Woodward.
My dad, he died 30th April 1994 aged 76
Posted by Joanne Lesley Matthews (nee Woodward) on Thu 13 Jul 2023 19:50:31 BST
Number 19 Leslie George Woodward
Sgt Leslie George Woodward also known as Darky is my dad. Sadly he died April 30th 1994 at the age 76. We miss him everyday.
He is number 19.
Posted by Joanne Lesley Matthews (nee Woodward) on Thu 13 Jul 2023 19:40:00 BST
My Dad
Sgt Leslie George Woodward also known as Darky is my dad. Sadly he died April 30th 1994 at the age 76. We miss him everyday.
Posted by Joanne Lesley Matthews (nee Woodward) on Thu 13 Jul 2023 19:36:39 BST
Adding a name for number 280
My dad is number 280 Lesley George Woodward. Sadly he died 30th April 1994.
Posted by Joanne Lesley Matthews (nee Woodward) on Thu 13 Jul 2023 19:26:19 BST
Not 100% positive but Pte Maurice White (grandad) is furthest left (not holding a rifle).
Posted by Michael Collier on Mon 29 Aug 2022 18:35:21 BST
Pte Maurice White 2nd left, or 3rd row up on the left.
Posted by Michael Collier on Mon 29 Aug 2022 18:30:57 BST
Back row 14
My father, Ernest Arthur Paget, is no 14 (partly obscured). This photo is in my late mother's collection
Posted by Philip Hugh Paget on Sun 10 Jul 2022 09:53:06 BST
billeting Commandos in Troon homes
As a child during WW2, I lived in a 2-bedroom council house at 38 Logan Drive, Troon. I had to give up my bedroom and sleep in my parents' room throughout the war, and we billeted two servicemen, mainly no.4 commandos,who trained in a field at the end of the road.They all left as D-Day approached, and I have often wondered hiow they fared.
Posted by William Templeton on Mon 24 Jan 2022 23:03:21 GMT
Cpl John Ainsworth - Top row 1st Man
Identified by Family members - Later Joined Glider Pilot Regiment winning Military Medal in Scilly
Posted by TIM WARGEN on Thu 30 Dec 2021 17:56:02 GMT
2nd row, 3rd from right
I can't be sure, but this chap has the likeness of my Grandfather - Harold Wilkinson.
He was originally from the 7th Manchesters and I have photos of him wearing the uniform of the 52nd Lowland (confirmed history with them).
The history we have suggests Commando involvement (either working alongside or within at Achnacarry, Walcheren/Flushing) but I have yet to prove this.
Posted by Paul Wilkinson on Thu 05 Aug 2021 12:29:31 BST
My grandfather
The gentleman 4th from the left in the back row is my grandfather John G May.
There is some confusion about what name he would have used as my mothers side of the family tended to use random names/nicknames. Officially he was John Graham De Wynne Montagu May.
Posted by Toby Young on Thu 22 Jul 2021 17:30:53 BST
Photo update
Service number should be 884501.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Tue 13 Apr 2021 15:46:14 BST
35 is Jack Lewington
Posted by Jan Mas on Tue 16 Mar 2021 16:42:12 GMT
William M. P. McGunnigle (Bill) is 5
Posted by Amanda McGunnigle on Mon 15 Mar 2021 18:22:56 GMT
Bottom left is Maurice White.
Posted by Michael Collier on Tue 09 Feb 2021 14:42:18 GMT
Front Row - 3rd from right Maurice White
Posted by Michael Collier on Tue 09 Feb 2021 14:38:53 GMT
R/L : 3 GUY LAOT
Posted by Jan Mas on Wed 16 Dec 2020 17:12:47 GMT
Lieutenant Bottom Right
Lt. Donald Cecil GLASS The Kings Regiment 'B'Troop 4 Commando
Posted by Guy Hudson on Mon 14 Dec 2020 13:53:49 GMT
His rank then was Troop Sergeant Major.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 16:02:40 BST
The detonator and fuse on No: 36 HE Grenade was shaped like a Capital “J” when you pulled the Grenade FROM the pin you lobbed the Grenade (high) the spring loaded handle shot off with a very distinctive “ping” the plunger shot down onto the low end of the “J” striking the det cap then the fuse burnt for 4 seconds before “going off”. Immediate killing area 25 yards but the base cap could be dangerous out to 100 yards. The Grenade Case was indented so it broke into shrapnel pieces about half an inch square. The Grenade held one pound of HE and looked like a metal Pineapple.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 15:59:21 BST
