British Commandos and US Rangers after Dieppe
Update from Pete R. 24/5/10 : This photo which is well publicised is also in the book by Will Fowler called The Commandos at Dieppe. I have seen it referred to as being US Ranger Sgt Alex Szima accepting a light for his cigarette apparently from a Sgt A. "Bunny" Austin. The tall man behind is Cpl William Brady. Also in the photo but partially hidden is Staff Sgt Kenneth Stempson. Alex Szima died on 13th September 2006. Certainly Szima who was from Florida , Brady who was from Texas, and Stempson from Minnesota, were all in the 1st Battallion of the US Rangers with No.4 Commando at Dieppe. However the A. Austin is not mentioned on the US Rangers website. In the book The Fighting Fourth by James Dunning he refers to A.B. Austen as "a War Correspondent who had landed with us and was in the beachhead on Orange One".
Update 3/11/11 by Pete R.
Photo, taken by Lt Spender, War Office Official Photographer, © IWM (H 22580) reproduced here under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. The IWM desc of the photo is "An American soldier receives a light for his cigarette from a compatriot at Newhaven on his return from Dieppe. This was the first time that American troops had seen action in Europe during the Second World War."
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(view all 4 comments)When a bullet is fired whatever it hits First is called ‘the first catch’ and is not necessarily a human target. What most people call a bullet is actually a ‘round’ made up as follows in Military terms: (A) The actual bullet which is copper coated and ...
When a bullet is fired whatever it hits First is called ‘the first catch’ and is not necessarily a human target. What most people call a bullet is actually a ‘round’ made up as follows in Military terms: (A) The actual bullet which is copper coated and lead filled; (B) A brass cylinder ejected after firing; (C) The Cordite explosive which looks similar to broken graphite lead from a propelling pencil; (D) The Fulminate of Mercury cap at the base of the cylinder which is struck by the firing pin when trigger is squeezed (not pulled), this then detonates thru small ports, the cordite explodes and the bullet is fired.
We would demonstrate this to Commando Recruits by opening the round, pouring the cordite onto a safe place and igniting it with a match. The cylinder was then fed into the chamber of the rifle, the trigger squeezed so they would hear the cap ‘go off’
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 29 Aug 2020 10:25:54 EDT
The US style rifle sling was issued to Royal Marines Snipers during my time with their Sniper Rifle having an additional fastening in front of the magazine.
Posted by David Prichard on Tue 25 Aug 2020 09:52:05 EDT
This a cracking photo in which the .303” Bren Gun can be clearly see with the conical flash eliminator and folded down bipod. This was a superb Rifle Section Light Machine Gun (LMG ), beautiful design from a Czech Munitions Factory, if it had a fault it...
This a cracking photo in which the .303” Bren Gun can be clearly see with the conical flash eliminator and folded down bipod. This was a superb Rifle Section Light Machine Gun (LMG ), beautiful design from a Czech Munitions Factory, if it had a fault it was too accurate with a tight ‘beaten’ zone, ie. there is a narrow catchment area. A broad ‘beaten’ zone increases the possibility of hits when a long burst is fired. It could fire single rounds or automatc. A good Gunner could get this off in short burst of 2/3 rounds, rearming after each. The US Ranger is armed with a US M1 .30-06 Garand semi-automatic rifle the standard US Infantry weapon still being used in Vietnam! The Ranger is carrying 2/3 Bandoliers of rounds in clips of 10 so has at least 200 rounds, he may have done this because the British standard rimmed round would be of no use. The Official caption says that he is getting a light for his cigarette from a compatriot. The man holding the match is a British Commando. He is wearing British denims (called fatigues), boots, and he has his ‘37 Pattern small pack slung from the waist so may have had that filled with No: 36 HE grenades. He is carrying British rifle as the Butt is visible with a webbing rifle sling held in place with 2 clips. He is also wearing a life-belt around his chest with the mouth-piece in view. In contrast US Forces were issued as standard brown leather rifle slings with all brass fittings which is seen on the Garand. I have read that some of these rifles were issued to Commandos in the Rifle Group of Rifle Section who would be called on to give covering fire when the Gun Group we’re moving during “Fire and Movement” keeping one foot on the ground was the term used. That style of life-belt was still in use in the Royal Marines in 1960 during my Commando Training and the “Rocky Landings and life Assault” phase in Plymouth Sound.
Posted by David Prichard on Tue 25 Aug 2020 09:48:17 EDT