The right hand man is ready to fire his Thompson Sub-Machine Gun known as a “Tommy Gun” or Chicago Piano.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 18:15:29 EDT
The gun referred to and mounted on the US made a Jeep is a .303 Vickers Machine a Gun (MMG) so fair chance prisoners will behave! The gun is loaded you can see a pale coloured stripe down side of gun that is a belt of ‘live’ ammunition!
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 18:07:50 EDT
The man on the right is a despatch rider dressed for riding motor cycle. These men are grouped around the ubiquitous Bren Gun Carrier.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 18:00:34 EDT
The right hand man has a pussers Revolver in holster which might mean he is in Support Troop and carries this for personal protection. “Pussers” means issue.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 17:52:30 EDT
This Royal Marine has a .303” Lee Enfield rifle slung over his right shoulder the standard British Infantry weapon. It appears to be “Cocked” which might be standard practice so he is ready to fire the round in the breech if he comes under attack.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 17:41:39 EDT
Photo updated
You are correct David. Ralph Bazeley was the 43RM Commando M.O. and I have now updated the photo accordingly.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 16 Aug 2020 14:27:52 EDT
MOA means Marines Officers Attendant which was the Corps term for a Batman. He would move close to ‘his’ Officer in a Battle usually carrying the inter-Unit radio.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 11:59:31 EDT
Some of these men are wearing Brown Leather Jerkins which might mean they were Drivers (MT) but these were so good if you could ‘proff’ one you did as they had a blanket lining and as they would frequently live very basic and rough these were magic!
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 11:29:56 EDT
The fourth Officer from left is not a Royal Marine but may be a Royal Army Medical Corps (different Cap Badge).
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 11:17:27 EDT
Another sign this is old style BD is the small pocket on the right front of their trousers which would hold a First Field Dressing in action (FFD). It should only be used on the man himself if wounded, that is what the Rule Book states but who can say?
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 11:14:56 EDT
Although these officers are wearing battledress and white web belts which would normally be that of “ other ranks” they are wearing collar and tie, but the giveaway is the ‘Split’ Cap Badge Which has a silver Globe with gold a Kings Crown and gold Wreath.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 11:08:42 EDT
These Royal Marines are wearing early style Battledress. The right hand man is a Quarter Master Sergeant he is wearing his badge of rank on lower left sleeve which is a Crown surrounded by a wreath. He would have been addressed as, “ QMS “ or perhaps more informally as, “ Q “. He would be the most senior NCO in a Commando Rifle Troop. This rank was changed in the late 1970s to Warrant Officer 2nd Class who are addressed as,“ Sir.”
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 16 Aug 2020 10:58:13 EDT
RM Commandos showing captured German items. The left hand man, rear rank, is holding a Panzerfaust hollow charge anti tank Infantry weapon.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 18:05:33 EDT
These Royal Marines Commandos are showing captured souvenirs, the fact that both men on each side of the flag are wearing SS Daggers may mean they had been fighting this type of a German formation.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 12 Aug 2020 17:58:39 EDT
