Royal Marines Commando, Special Boat Service, and RM Reserve

Home Forum Login Register

Commandos since WW2

1. Royal... 2. Army... 3. Commando... 4. Army... 5. HQ 3...

Random Image

Glyn 'Fish' Nicholas No. 2 Special Service Brigade HQ (on the right) and unknown

Date: 17/04/2012 Views: 5802 Owner: Pete Rogers (Admin)

Latest Comments

first previous

Page 5 of 11

next last

	The Jebel Jihaf Massif towering in the background. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 03 Sep 2020 21:28:04 BST
	Life at a Dhala was fairly primitive as can be seen. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 03 Sep 2020 21:27:03 BST
	This now fully Trained Marine is wearing a Red Diamond on his left shoulder to indicate he has been spotted as potentially NCO material. He is also now a Marksman on a Rifle, Section Light Machine Gun and Sterling Sub-Machine Gun. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 03 Sep 2020 21:25:47 BST
	Back in the day this is exactly how any Recruit would be rigged (dressed) to ‘Go Ashore’ (into Town) including Parade Boots! We had to be back in Barracks by 2359 hours and the sound of all these returning at the double sounded like a train coming, they would all be in step! Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 03 Sep 2020 21:20:00 BST
	The Sergeant at left is holding the 9mm Sterling Sub-Machine Gun which is not dis-similar the the Wartime Sten firing a parabellum round. Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 03 Sep 2020 21:13:00 BST
	The Royal Marine nearest camera is carrying 2 inch Mortar capable of using HE, Smoke and Para Illumination Rounds. Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 19:51:56 BST
	Corporal Shellard RM was an Assault Engineer (AE) forming part of a Support Troop. He finished as a QMS (WO2) and then joined the Prison Service where he worked until retiring. Sadly he a Crossed the Bar some time back but I have an occasional pint with two of his nephews. A cracking Man and Royal Marine. Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 19:47:59 BST
	His weapon looks like something I saw on HMS ‘Vanguard’ which was called a Lanchester looked like a posh Sten with fixed wooden butt. Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 19:17:13 BST
	These Marines are arming No: 36 HE Grenades. These come in the very distinctive wooden box seen. Each has to be armed with a 4 second fuse. Two Grenades can be seen on the deck to his right on the right hand man. Killing Zone 25 yards but the base plate could kill up to 100 yards. Contrary to popular belief the Grenade is pulled FROM the pin where the thrower has a finger of the left hand through the split pin and the man pulls back to the full extent of the right arm before lobbing the actual Grenade at the enemy and taking cover! Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:57:08 BST
	The Jebel Jihaf . Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:43:10 BST
	The Camp was wholly tented, protected by dry-stone walls and barbed wire and armed Sentries. The high ground in the background was the Jebel Jihaf (7920 feet) we used to patrol up to, and along the plateau attop. Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:41:41 BST
	The small neat houses near the Beach housed BP families with their Lido in clear view, this was protected by anti-shark nets. We were allowed access to beach and swimming. I swam out to the raft in the Lido many times! We were under orders to be on best behaviour when there (or else!). Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:35:47 BST
	The BP Refinery is away to the left. The building in between housed the 11 Hussars (Cherry pickers) and 45 Commando RM . Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:31:30 BST
	This is a RN Wessex “Whirlwind” operating from a Commando Carrier off shore, given the date it was probable HMS “Bulwark” the ability to ‘lift’ any significant weight being badly affected by the heat and altitude at Dhala. Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:27:38 BST
	When 45 was stationed at Dhala supplies came up the Dhala Road from Aden the Capital and negotiated the Khiriba Pass so that the high ground overlooking that Pass was always picquetted to ensure safety. These Marines look very relaxed, no weapons to hand so perhaps there was no immediate threat. Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:22:54 BST
	The left hand man in this group was a Squad mate name Skinner, may have been a Signaller when this was taken. We were in 723 (CS) Squad RM. Posted by David Prichard on Fri 28 Aug 2020 23:53:18 BST
	This is not the Canal Zone (flat) so maybe this is Palestine/Israel. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 19:24:41 BST
	I am guessing, but given the fence and watch tower this may be either in the Canal Zone or perhaps Palestine/Israel. Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 19:22:26 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
	He was a a Sergeant in the FNG who acted as armed Militia or Police and carried .303” SMLE Rifles (Short Magazine Lee Enfield) Posted by David Prichard on Fri 21 Aug 2020 01:14:21 BST
	I mentioned the Aden Protecterate Levies in my first comment. They had a large camp near us andhad been originally raised, trained and Officered by the RAF Regiment to standard British military standards. They were Adenis and as smart as paint. On occasion we were carrying out a joint patrol with them in the Dhala area near the border with The Yemen we were fired on and a 3” Mortar Team of the APL swung into action near me, it was textbook, straight out of a training manual soon putting bombs down on suspect locations. I watched In total admiration, there was no more unfriendly fire needless to say. All small guys built like Japanese wrestling snakes. Posted by David Prichard on Fri 21 Aug 2020 01:09:37 BST
	We are wearing the SV Commando sole boots mentioned elsewhere Posted by David Prichard on Fri 21 Aug 2020 00:44:07 BST
	The crippler was we were paid 6s 8p per week Kit Upkeep Allowance (KUA) and we had to buy new boots ourselves. These only lasted two or three patrols. They were known as SV Boots (Service Viulcanised) the original Commando sole and they were expensive. They would be sent up from Little Aden by convoy, you signed a chit and the full price was docked from Pay Posted by David Prichard on Wed 19 Aug 2020 18:02:23 BST
	The guy just in view left was Scouse Griffith’s (722(CS) Kings Squad RM. The tall guy centrally was a Jock, name may have been Ferguson, good egg! The others are then”newbies” who were to relieve so we could go home to Blighty! Note bandolier of 100 rounds on tall Marine in centre (worn around waist) Posted by David Prichard on Wed 19 Aug 2020 08:21:36 BST
	Sunny Malta with chums from the a Royal Navy. Posted by David Prichard on Tue 18 Aug 2020 12:24:36 BST