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
A couple of months after this was taken I popped down the Sick Bay get my ears syringed because of persistent ringing, Diagnosis: Tinnitis (Stereo) and Perceptive Traumatic Deafness, end of a promising Career. I could have gone (T) but I was getting Married so I thought time to move on , I was accepted by a number of Police Forces (Pusser helped) but chose my Home City Cardiff and that is all she wrote. I was going bonkers so applied to join RMR Bristol and that was where I spent 19 years getting some good “Runs” in usually back with the Corps as I could pick my own Training, This was ‘Dawn Patrol’ with 41 “Clockwork” twice with 42, Mountain Training at
Kinlocleven and even a trip to Nantes in France when HMS “Cardiff” made a Courtesy Visit and Captain wanted RM Guards for VIP Visits. Took some of my Lads over and we had a cracking time, doing the business and ashore........
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Tue 29 Sep 2020 13:27:17 EDT
Corporal Jack French RM went on to become RSM (WO1) firstly with 40 Commando RM and then at CTCRM. One of the finest Marines I had the privilege of serving with and true Corps Legend.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Sun 27 Sep 2020 16:38:32 EDT
If any Royal Marine is looking at this photo and wondering why there are Gunners pictured with the Squad, it is because the original plan to train Army guys to get their Green Beret and then train them as Commando Instructors went for a ball of chalk when only 8 passed out of a Cadre of 30 Officers and NCOs so they introduced trickle drafting to start getting Gunners thru. It worked very well as the Squads adopted these guys and helped if they struggled so they also bonded. Those joining Squads got a simple one week Acquaint and were then thrown in the deep end, sink or swim. The basic problem arose from the fact they had always traveled by vehicle so did not have a Bergen Mentality so the requirement to, “Yomp” had not been asked of them, there was also a problem with what the Corps calls, “Personal Administration” also resolved. The All-Arms Commando Course is the current solution, lasting 14 weeks at RM Chivenor.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Mon 21 Sep 2020 05:30:40 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