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
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Fri 07 Aug 2020 14:46:25 BST
6th from left is ‘Pincher’ Martin later a Drill Instructor Sergeant at CTCRM, saw him when on RMR attachment to 41 Commando RM in Sardinia on Exercise ‘Dawn Patrol’ an Annual massive NATO Ex centred around US 6th Fleet - Awesome! Starts at Gibraltar ends in Turkish Thrace. Involved UK, US, Dutch, Italian, Greek and Turkish Marines, these latter will NOT train together!
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 07 Aug 2020 11:30:24 BST
Magazine on .303” Bren held 28 rounds, these were rimmed rounds , the 7.62mm Bren used rimless rounds.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 05 Aug 2020 19:19:21 BST
This should be seen together with 2 Section loading before patrol, I was
Section Bren Gunner.
Posted by David Prichard on Tue 04 Aug 2020 23:01:17 BST
TOMS’ brother was also in the Corps at that time, another ex-coal miner.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 18:10:15 BST
In those days every Marine had a dhobi bucket, pussers scrubbing brush and dhobi powder in brown Trip Flare tin, it kept the powder dry, my tin is in the garage now!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 18:08:46 BST
On patrol we would routinely see large groups of these Baboons scampering across a Country, there would be hundreds!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 18:04:55 BST
Over the years the bogs disappeared but at one time there were two, this is the first then it was through the small copse and away to the left where the second bog awaited, this was very long and slightly uphill, one hell of a drag. In my day we started on the old brick road (built with bricks carted up from bomb damaged Exeter when there was a big RM Camp at that location. This was the original 600 Yard Rifle and Machine Gun Range). We ran down and straight across to the Butts, through both bogs to the start line then made a second circuit the same way. There were no Water obstacles or Tunnels. The run back to Camp was the same but at the bottom of Red Barn Lane we ran down to Pink House Corner onto the Exmouth Road then back up to the Main Gate.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 17:59:39 BST
Recruit on Endurance Course.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 17:47:46 BST
This Recruit is just through the Water Tunnel on the ‘new’ route Endurance Course. He wears ‘58:Pattern Fighting Order his Personal Weapon is the 7.62mm Self Loading Rifle (SLR)
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 17:46:44 BST
Coming out of the Water Tank.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 17:42:01 BST
Recruit ‘on the ropes’ over water tank at CTCRM. He is NOT admiring the view! I was showing a USMC Officer around the Camp on his Acquaint Week (which was all any got in those days - no long ‘beat-up’ at RM Chivenor). They were then thrown in with a Recruit Squad and it was sink or swim, fail and pack your bags. He stood at the bottom of the main Drag looked out across the Exe Estuary and said, “This is a most beautiful place to put a Commando Training Centre.” Not commonly known is that if a US Marine fails the Course he flies home and is sacked!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 17:28:57 BST
The building to their right was the Trained Ranks Galley, to the immediate rear the old NAAFI , Corporals Club and the “Blue Pig” Bar where local Scrumpy cost a tanner (sixpence about 2 1/2 pence), Happy days and nights. Out of sight to the left was the Recruits “Galley where they would rush, yaffling spanners grasped firmly anxious to top up on loads of scran and gophers!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 17:12:11 BST
Back in easier times the Infantry Training Centre RM, now CTCRM, would hold Open Days to which the Public were invited and to which they would flock in big numbers. These were known as “Meet the Marines” and where they could enjoy all the fun of the fair. There was no RM Band stationed at the Camp but one would arrive. There would be all kinds of displays, including Drill, Judo, Tarzan Course with the Cliff Leaders giving demos etc. It would be hot-dogs, ice-cream and all that kind of jollification. The Main Gate Sentry routine was part and parcel of this. It was an extremely popular event, with everyone on Camp entering into the spirit of the day and all kinds of Stalls at which simple Prizes could be easily won and carried off as a nice souvenir! Happy Days!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 16:54:23 BST
Cpl Prichard posing! Photo taken on my JCC (Junior Command Course) I was a Lance Corporal and am wearing my Course Number 39. That is my ‘Kuwait ‘ Dennison Smock courtesy of a lax Para Sentry!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 16:41:02 BST
RM JCC Course final parade before results! I was given a ‘B’ Pass and promoted a week later, we had one ‘A’ Pass, this was Jack Ashman (Kings Badge) later Lt/Colonel RMR Newcastle, a Good Egg! He was promoted day Course ended.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 13:16:57 BST
To the left of the 30 foot ropes are 20 foot ‘starter’ ropes.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 13:11:50 BST
This more-or-less where the Sergeants Mess is now.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 13:07:43 BST
