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
Hi, do you know where this photo was taken?
Posted by Jackie Birtles on Mon 22 Jan 2024 13:28:58 EST
My mother informs me that this photo was taken on his return from Korea.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 11:36:46 EDT
Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 11:25:09 EDT
I think this photo was taken possibly in Lymestone in Devon, rather than Eastney in Portsmouth.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 11:21:11 EDT
I think this photo was taken possibly in Lymestone in Devon, rather than Eastney in Portsmouth.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 11:20:24 EDT
The photo could show my father with his friend Jack Collington.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 11:13:57 EDT
Royal Marine Party in Malta mid 1950’s
I assume 3 Commando Brigade friends as this was who my Dad was attached to.
Posted by Glenn Eves on Sun 03 Oct 2021 11:10:26 EDT
43 Commando RM
To the best of my knowledge, 43 Commando didn't serve in the Far East at that time.
40 and 42 Commandos (42 at RNAS Sembawang and 40 at Burma Camp in Malaya) did alternate 5 month tours in Borneo.
Additionally, almost all the buildings at RNAS Sembawang (commissioned as HMS Simbang) were of concrete construction, not wood.
Finally, the rig (uniform) doesn't look right.
My attempts to discover what 43 Commando were doing in the period 1964/5 have borne little of substance. However, The Imperial War Museum site has a piece regarding another Royal Marine: (his name I choose not to disclose) ......
served as a signaller with 42 Commando RM in Borneo, served with 43 Commando RM in GB 1964 - 1965, served with Naval Beach Unit in Bahrain 1965 - 1966........
So where in the UK was it?
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Mon 05 Jul 2021 05:59:50 EDT
The officer in front of the three ranks of men is Lieutenant Peter "Soapy" Waters, who was wounded during the Limbang raid. He was 2i/c of Lima Company.
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Thu 04 Mar 2021 11:51:22 EST
Photo update
See our Archive page for more about Maj Gen. A.P. Willasey-Wilsey CB, MBE, MC, MiD.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Wed 07 Oct 2020 16:22:56 EDT
Every Royal Marine had his own dhobi bucket!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 02 Oct 2020 11:24:49 EDT
Unform
These are pre Lovat uniform days, so the Royal Marines in the photo are still wearing Battledress (BD) and what appears to be the '44 pattern webbing belt, blackened. It's hard to be certain, but the RM Recruits appear to still have the Cash's name tape bearing the words "Royal Marines". This rule was maintained until a controversial Royal Marines Routine Order (RMRO) declared that from 1960 all trained ranks would wear the "Royal Marines Commando" flash and wear the green beret. This meant that RMs that had never completed commando training, or even attempted it, fell into this category, including members of the Royal Marines Band attached to 3 Commando Brigade RM in the Far East. The RM recruits also appear to be still wearing the blue beret with a red patch, having not yet earned the right to wear the green "lid" - but, again, I cannot be certain of this.
Cpl. Jack French is still a PW2 at this stage.
Posted by Victor Balsdon on Fri 02 Oct 2020 05:18:51 EDT
You will note the A/WO1 Langdale MBE(Mil) RM has a large First Field Dressing (FFD) strapped to his webbing on the right shoulder. Given his Service he is probably a RM Mountain Leader as Brigade Reconnaissance
Force is drawn from that group of Specialists (now Special Forces).
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 01 Oct 2020 06:44:37 EDT
