Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Jan 2015 11:36:16 EST
Photo updated
Details of award added
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Jan 2015 11:35:44 EST
Photo updated
Forename of Pte JG Nixon added
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Jan 2015 11:34:12 EST
Photo updated
Details of award added
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Jan 2015 11:32:56 EST
Query on surname spelling
Note spelling on the surname on the London Gazettes entry differs to the CWGC entry in that it ends with double T rather than single.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Jan 2015 11:28:05 EST
Photo updated
CWGC details and forenames added
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Jan 2015 11:20:12 EST
Photo updated
First name added
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Jan 2015 11:16:51 EST
Photo updated
Link and first name added
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Jan 2015 11:15:49 EST
Photo updated re Lt Bisset
CWGC details added
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Jan 2015 10:13:39 EST
Photo updated re Capt Kither
CWGC details added, with link to the forum and his grave. Both the CWGC and originator of photo have his first name as Harry, whilst London Gazettes show Henry
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 11 Jan 2015 09:51:21 EST
The Strymon Ferry, new Drama - November 1944
This picture was taken on the banks of the Strymon River near Drama in November 1944 when 9 Commando detached two Troops to help quell some unrest in the Drama area. To get there they need to cross the Strymon River whose bridge had been blown up by the retreating Germans. The Commandos had to improvise a ferry to get its vehicle and stores across. In this picture are, l-r, Lt Francis, the British interpreter and guide, who looks as if he has a 9 Commando black hackle behind his cap badge; an ELAS soldier (it was the tension between ELAS and the Greek royalists that had precipitated 9 Commando's presence at Drama), Lt Harry Kither, and Lt Angus Ferguson.
Posted by Gregor Ferguson on Sat 10 Jan 2015 19:18:36 EST
More information
This was indeed the Liberation Day parade in Drama, 12 November 1944. This photo shows and 2 Troops of 9 Commando in Review Order. The officer in front isCaptain WW (Bill) Carrie, OC 2 Troop and 2i/c of the force; the other officers standing to attention are, l-r, Lt GD Bisset, RE of 1 Troop (also force adjutant); Lt DWD Peel, RA of 1 Troop, and Lt MD Kennedy of 2 Troop.
Posted by Gregor Ferguson on Sat 10 Jan 2015 19:06:28 EST
Interesting detail
If you look closely you'll see that both my father and the sergeant sitting to his right have parachute wings on their right fore-arms. Normally, the wings worn by parachute-trained personnel in non-airborne units consisted of the 'lightbulb' - a simple parachute on a circular patch. In airborne units the full wings were worn on the right shoulder, two fingers'-widths down from the seam.
Posted by Gregor Ferguson on Sat 10 Jan 2015 19:01:41 EST
Identified!
The officer in the middle of the front row in this picture is my late father, Lt Angus Ferguson, who was commissioned into The Black Watch (RHR) before volunteering for the Commandos. He spent most of his war with 9 Cdo in Italy, Greece and the Adriatic and spent a short period with 3 Cdo after 9 Cdo was disbanded. Angus died in 1997 but he left some photos of his wartime service and I shall get these scanned and uploaded to share the with other veterans and their families.
Posted by Gregor Ferguson on Sat 26 Apr 2014 22:40:13 EDT
