Some 10 IA Commando 4th Belgian troop related items

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 07/08/2021 13:37:59

Thanks for sharing these items really cracking items.

I am collector as well of ww2 army commando and have a beret from 2 Dutch troop. Is the battle dress in your avatar also yours?

I have a similar 1O commando title serif style with the "No" cut off.

What is the lanyard on the BD it looks like a black/white from No 2 commando?

Cheers,
JB

Very Nice you are very lucky to have such rare items with provenance.

I look forward to seeing more pics!

Attached is my 10 commando serif style.

Happy New Year!

JB

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 07/08/2021 13:38:24

Thanks a lot for these images. This is an outstanding item in your collection. I did not know the 1st Special Service Brigade also wore a black/white lanyard. These are usually associated to No 2 Commando.

Fantastic to have a complete set with beret and commando trousers altered to carry the FS knife.

The US war aid battle dress was also worn a lot by the SAS in 1944 and 1945 and in Italy and Agean.

Cheers,
JB

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/08/2021 13:38:39

I wonder if Joseph Guevorts was not attached to No 2 commando in Italy or Yougouslavia. This could explain the 2 commando lanyard.

What is the significance of the black loops on the epaulettes of the BD?

I saw a pic of Sergeant Major Joners in Italy also wearing a lanyard but a different colour.

Cheers,
JB

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/08/2021 13:38:58

Thanks for sharing all these wonderful images, you have an outstanding collection.

The lanyard remains a bit of a mystery as it is a No 2 commando one and I do not believe the 1st Special Service Brigade had one. No 2 commando was active though in Italy and Yougoslavia as well.

Cheers,
JB

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/08/2021 13:39:11

What a great collection you have there.

Nice to see it cherished and kept safe.

regards

John M

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/08/2021 13:39:27

Another nice collection and group.

Thanks for sharing this.

regards

john M

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/08/2021 13:39:39

Lovely items.

Are you advise on what Belgian medals were instituted during WW2?
I've seen conflicting institution dates on some medals, i.e. Commemorative Medal of the War and the Volunteer Medal 1940-1945. Some websites state they were instituted on 16 February 1945 and some state on 16 February 1946. Granted the internet is not the best place for evidence based facts!

Thanks
Paul

Hi all.

(obvious) noob here. I stumbled across this thread while Googling for something else.

My father was in 4 troop 10 Commando, but unfortunately he is long dead and there is very little in the way of memorabilia still around.

I did, however, remember where his knife was - photo attached hopefully.

I think the technical term is "rusty as heck"

It may be "wrong" e.g. not standard issue, but it certainly belonged to him.

He trained on the border between Worcestershire and Herefordshire (where I'm from) and at Achnacarry. He was at Walcheren.

Regards,

Guy

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 27/10/2020 12:33:15

I've also found an album of photos from around that time. A couple of examples attached.

The one with the flag is almost certainly signals training on Malvern Common in Worcestershire.

The one with the natty little moustache and the stripes I think must be considerably later, possibly post-war?

edit: He's also in this photo. I have a copy of it here too.

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/Belgian/belgian+tp/Eastbourne+Juin+1944b+copy.jpg.html

Also found what appear to be medal certificates - "Oorlogsvrijwilliger - Strijder" etc.

Hi Guy,

Great photos - thanks for sharing.
I am no expert on the subject but your FS Fighting Knife looks very good to me - I may be wrong but just going on that photo it may be a 1st Pattern...
There are a few experts - but they would want to see photos of every mark, stamp, number and engraving and even the pinch marks on the little nut on the top of the handle...

The photo of the dapper Sgt on he phone shows him wearing the Commando formation patch - which, for Commandos, replaced the Combined Ops patch after a request by Major General Sturges to the Chief of Combined Ops in November 1944.
He is also wearing the Commando shoulder titles - which would have been removed when the Commandos were disbanded in 1946.

Just for the record, what was your father's name please? I would like to ensure that it's on my master copy of 4 Troop, No10(IA) Commando' Nominal Roll

I will contact a couple of recognised FS Fighting Knife experts and send them a link to this thread...

Nick

Hi Nick.

Thank you for getting back to me.

Yes, I figured that the seated photo was quite late because he was very much the green bean at the beginning of the war but eventually reached the giddy heights of WO 2 or 1 (sorry, I can't remember - but you can probably tell from the stripes!) later on.

He's number 15 on this photo

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/Belgian/belgian+tp/Eastbourne+Juin+1944b+copy.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

I can see that he's already on the nominal roll here

http://www.commandoveterans.org/book/export/html/7629

however his rank of "later Capt" might be a bit confusing. He was a merchant seaman (hence signals with the Commando - he already knew morse code) and later went back to sea eventually becoming a master mariner. So he was indeed a Captain, but of a ship

One more photo. I'm sufficiently old as to have forgotten what the original source of this file was - I think it might have been a framed photo. It's a reunion of No 10 (just 4 troop?) at some point in the 60s. He's middle row, far right hand side. The whole "you can wave your camera around all you like but I'm not putting my cigarette down" is him to a tee.

Hi Guy,

Thanks for your reply.
One of the FS Knife experts has had a look at your photo of your father's FS Fighting Knife and his first impression was, "Wow, What a beauty"
So I think you've got a special memento there...

I've attached three clippings from the Commando Association's Newsletters, Issue 30, March 1960; Issue 56, March 1973 and, sadly, in Issue 105, September 1997.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 29/10/2020 08:45:17

Thank you once again Nick.

I can hear him saying "Stanvac Mariner" even now - he had a particularly impenetrable Belgian - meets - Worcestershire accent

To be honest the knife doesn't mean a great deal to me, and I'm the last of my line so when I go it will probably end up in the recycling.

Do you know of anyone who could rehome it in context? I'm not looking for any money for it, but I wouldn't want to see it pop up on eBay the next day. I would have thought the OP would have been interested but it looks like he's not been around for a while.

Sorry if asking is a bit of an imposition.

Regards,

Guy

Oh PLEASE don't throw that knife away! It/they mean so much to so many people.

I remember dad saying he wished he'd kept his knife but they were always checked to make sure they were returned. How he didn't find a way, as so many did, to hold onto one I don't know.

Please make sure it goes to someone who will treasure it.