David Murray Irvine

Hi Nick,
3rd photo at higher resolution.
I have a few more photographs which I will download later.
Nina

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 01/09/2018 15:54:04

Hi Nina,

Thank you so much for the higher resolution photos - they are much better!
I have enhanced one of the group shots a bit and discovered what I think is an interesting photo...

As far as I can see from the rank badges that are visible, the group consists of a WO I, a WO II, 3 Sgts and one L/Cpl ( your father).
I believe that it's possible that 3 of the cap badges are the 'Jimmy' of the Royal Signals...

Thanks
Nick

Hi Nick,

I make you right with "Jimmy"

I took one of the photos of my Dad's original modified Royal Corps of Signals cap badge, cut it out, scaled to the original photo with some filters and it certainly fits like a glove with respect to the size and shapes. Obviously not fool proof but looks that way to me. Your eyes must be better than mine.. good spot.

Regards Vic

Hi Nina,
Your father was recorded as a Police Constable residing at Police Section House, 53 Judd Street, St.Pancras, London in 1939.

The Commando sat behind your father is L/Cpl. Ken Phillott, he was also Intelligence Section, 1st S.S. Brigade H.Q.

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/IMG_0033+copy.jpg.html

Guy

Hi,
I found this photograph which I think may be of the police intake when my father joined the commandos as it's similar to a photograph already on the Gallery.

Nina

Nina,

Thanks to the input of DannyL and Guy, I think it is fair to say that your father served within the Intelligence Section of 1 Special Service Brigade HQ.
A number of commandos who can be seen in the group photo with your father, can also be seen in other photos - which we believe to be of 1 Special Service Brigade HQ.

For comparison I have numbered the commandos in the group photo and include the links to the photos with some of them in...

#1 & #2 are in this photo
http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/Emmerson+photos/misc+je+photo+4.jpg.html

#6 is on the far left of this photo:
http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/Emmerson+photos/scan0092.jpg.html

With a bit more time and with closer scrutiny I'm sure we'll find more...

Nick

Many thanks for all your hard work Nick, Danny and Guy.
I attach three photos of a memorial service which must have been important to my father as he didn't keep a lot of photographs.
I don't know anything about it so would be very interested if anyone knows where or what it is,
Nina

Memorial Service 2

Memorial Service 3

Hi Nina,

Once again, thank you for the photos - we know exactly what the memorial is! It's the 1 Commando Brigade Monument, Amfreville, Normandy. And as we do have some photos of it already, your father's photos will compliment them very nicely...

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+War+Graves+Memorials+and+Plaques/Normandy/

Just to clear up any confusion, there were four Special Service Brigades but, because the names were abbreviated to S.S. Brigades, it was decided to change them to Commando Brigades...

http://www.commandoveterans.org/SpecialServiceBde

Nick

Hi Nick,
I have received my fathers records from the Army Personnel Centre and attach the three I feel are most relevant.
It appears my father had two tours of duty in Europe, from 6 June to 8 Sept '44 and from 14 Jan to 12 June '45.
Best wishes,
Nina

Hi Nick,
2nd record
Nina

Final downloaded record.
Nina

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 09/01/2019 22:21:03

Hi Nina,

His records are quite interesting - He enlisted to the GSC (General Service Corps) the role of the corps was to provide specialists - recruits were enlisted in the corps for their first six weeks so that their subsequent posting could take account of their skills and the Army's needs.
From here he was transferred to the Seaforths - it is now obvious that the cap badge he is wearing on his beret is that of the Seaforths...
From here he was posted to The Commando Depot (which has erroneously been entered as Fort George) then attached and, later, posted to HQ No.1 SS Brigade. [In 1943 the name SS (Special Service) was changed to Commando]
After his second trip to NWE (North West Europe) he was posted to the HOC (Holding Operational Commando) at Wrexham and temporary attached to HQ No.1 Commando Brigade.
He was then posted to HQ No.2 Commando Brigade.

Nick