Richard Green is wearing his Green Beret with a cloth Royal Navy badge which probably means he was a Sick Berth Attendant (SBA - Medic, now known as a Medical Assistant - MA) who completed a full Royal Marines Commando Course prior to being posted to 42 Commando RM. These guys were very highly regarded in the Corps. His badge is picked out in red over dark blue.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 23 Sep 2020 23:30:19 BST
The aircraft is an Army Air Corps Auster ‘Air Observation Platform (AOP) used to spot targets and call for Air or Gunfire support for Troops on the ground.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 23:45:44 BST
I think the right hand man holding the SBS Colour holds the Royal Fleet Reserve Medal and if I am right it means he is RMR. Members of the RMR could train as Swimmer Canoeists but this required massive dedication and severe training.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 21:15:48 BST
All Otther Ranks accommodation was to the LEFT of the Main’Drag’, the two Galleys, JNCOs Club, and the ‘Blue Pig’ Marines Bar (Devon Scrumpy 6d or 2p) also on the left just past Sylvan Glade with the Camp Cinema and Gymnasium on the right at the bottom. There was no Camp Railway Station, we used Exton and yomped up to Dutchys for Goodnight scran!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 20:56:21 BST
This is a good picture showing the Main Gate, the main ‘drag’ running down towards the beautiful Exe Estuary. This is how all older Royal Marines will remember it. The Guard Room is to the right of the Gate with the small Gate Sentry Post visible just inside the Gate. The second building down on the left had a small shelter where there were slot machine for nutty and gophers (chocolate and drinks), the big trees half way down is a Sylvan Glade where the old Tarzan Course was sited. The Camp is shown much as it was originally built and can be dated as the Squad is armed with the 7.62mm Self Loading Rifle first issued to 728(CS) Squad RM in 1959. All OR accommodation was to the left of the picture and the build had commenced on the ‘new’ Officers’ Mess to the right and behind the Guard Room. Dutchys’ Hot-Dog and gophers caravan would be parked during the evening to the right of the Gates and outside the Camp. HappyDays.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 20:32:27 BST
In 1960 45 Commando RM moved to Aden relieving the Royal Warwickshire Regiment who were returning to the U.K.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 19:36:18 BST
3 Commando Brigade consisting of Brigade HQ, 40, 42 & 45 Commando Royal Marines would train regularly in Libya at that time it being ruled by King Idris who was very pro-British.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 19:14:02 BST
The photo shows the Commanding Officer together with the RSM , Quarter Master Sergeants, Colour Sergeants and Sergeants of the Unit The man in the Centre rank , ninth from the left is RN Petty Officer and Royal Navy Medical Assistant (then called a a Sick Bay Attendant or SBA) who would have completed the Commando Course and been awarded the Green Beret. The SNCO on right of the rank with a white webbing shoulder strap is the Unit Provost (Police) Sergeant. The rank of Quarter Master Sergeant is now Warrant Officer 2nd Class. A RSM is now a WO1 and Senior.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 22 Sep 2020 19:08:24 BST
A neighbour of mine served in the Troodos as a Royal Engineer in the troubles when Greek-Cypriot terrorists in EOKA under Colonel Grivas were fighting for ENOSIS (Freedom from British Rule) he used to carry out any repair work needed on defensive positions on the Mountain. One was manned by the Royal Welch Fusiliers and painted on a rock near to their position someone had painted, “Freedom for Wales”
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 11:29:53 BST
This Dress uniform and leather belt is only worn by members of the Royal Marines Band Service, but if someone from General Duties was getting married he could borrow this for that purpose.,
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 11:21:24 BST
If any Royal Marine is looking at this photo and wondering why there are Gunners pictured with the Squad, it is because the original plan to train Army guys to get their Green Beret and then train them as Commando Instructors went for a ball of chalk when only 8 passed out of a Cadre of 30 Officers and NCOs so they introduced trickle drafting to start getting Gunners thru. It worked very well as the Squads adopted these guys and helped if they struggled so they also bonded. Those joining Squads got a simple one week Acquaint and were then thrown in the deep end, sink or swim. The basic problem arose from the fact they had always traveled by vehicle so did not have a Bergen Mentality so the requirement to, “Yomp” had not been asked of them, there was also a problem with what the Corps calls, “Personal Administration” also resolved. The All-Arms Commando Course is the current solution, lasting 14 weeks at RM Chivenor.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 10:30:40 BST
Their Drill matched any Kings Squad! The last NS Squad was going thru Lympstone in 1959 where I was undergoing a Regular Training. To our chagrin they already had the SLR whilst we still had .303 Lee Enfield No: 4 Rifle in use since 1944.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 20:31:52 BST
That is the Little Aden BP Oil Refinery in background, the photo taken on the Scramble Course used to acclimatise new members of 45 Commando RM to the climate (very hot with high humidity) certainly made you sweat! We would catch the tail end of the Monsoon Season when you could stand
in the open to soap and shower.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sat 19 Sep 2020 10:30:39 BST
The 30 foot ropes are in background.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 18 Sep 2020 23:24:57 BST
The Sangar is a Pashto word for fortification made using local Stone and similar immediately to hand. Dhala Camp was surrounded by a 5 foot, dry stone wall and barbed wire entanglements. There were two Sanger’s, Mortar and Machine Gun plus three Sentry Posts in early days but much improved latterly as the situation and threat changed. One thing that is not local are the sandbags forming part of this position.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 17:10:19 BST
The face of the right hand man in the front rank wearing a Green Beret has been blanked out may indicate a Royal Marine serving in SF (SBS?)
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 16:58:15 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 would patrol the plateau at the top of the Jebel Jihaf Massif visiting 4 local militia Forts. The Forts were Shima, As-arir Hiab and Khana. In1958 rebels besieged the Fort at As-arir trapping the the British Political Officer (Advisor to the local Emir) they had come across from The Yemen for that purpose. Major Bill Boucher-Myers of the East Lancs seconded to the Aden Protectorate Levies led a fighting patrol up the Jebel (Mountain) taking four hours hammered the rebels and saved the day! He was a Commando Officer in WW2 under Lord Lovat getting a MiD after Dieppe. He was awarded an immediate DSO for this action!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 22:37:47 BST
This is not Bisley and is probably a similar Competition being held on Malta judging by the burnt appearance of the general terrain, There are British personnel present wearing uniform shorts and US Naval Members in ‘whites’. The Shottist next to QMS Lyon is using the issue US military Rifle, the .30-06 M1 Garand used by them up to, and including Vietnam.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 14:10:00 BST
The right hand medal with red and white ribbon is the Naval General Service Medal (NGS) it has one bar for the Malayan Emergency, also the two Korean War Medals awarded for his Service with 41 (Independent) Commando RM where they fought alongside the US Marine Corps being awarded the US Presidential Citation for their Conduct in support of the USMC particularly for the Chosin Reservoir Action. A streamer is attached the the Unit Colour Commemorating this. Also his small Corps lapel badge, Blazer badge and Commando ‘Flash’
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 15 Sep 2020 13:58:11 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
This Range was near Falais Camp being built for British Troops to move into when we handed over to the new Federal Army being formed from the Aden Protectorate Levies and Federal National Guard (FNG) but it would all end up as a ball of chalk when the Government pulled us all out and left them to stew!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 22:21:41 BST
Marine Pearson was an Oppo and must have been one of the first to fire the84mm Carl Gustav on the a short Range at Bir Fukum. The problem with the weapon was that when it was fired the Venturi Tube (no breech) rang with ultra sonic sound causing serious hearing loss. Once this was discovered a canvas ‘gag’ was strapped to the tube to prevent the actual vibration causing that noise. In all later pictures that addition can be seen.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 22:15:51 BST
The sign behind this Gallant Royal Marine was designed for ‘X’ Troop 45RM Commando during WW2 and had it returned to ‘X’ Company by a former member of that original Unit when WW2 Commandos visited RM Condor in Scotland.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 14 Sep 2020 12:32:19 BST
The SNCO central is the Squad Drill Instructor holding his ‘Bsdge of Office’ the standard issue Pace Stick.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 13 Sep 2020 18:56:06 BST
