Combined ops 1944

I have a photograph, which came to us through my wife?s family. From whom I don?t know.
The photo subject is of a Lt in a Scottish regiment uniform, can?t make out the tartan . Photo taken by VANDYKE Buckingham palace road London. Negative number110928B
Written on back is ?Lt Alistair R Denholm, No 1 bombardment unit, Combined Operations.
Dated 28 Feb 1944.
Anyone have any ideas on the subject.
Allan Batin(ex RN)

Hi Allan,
Welcome aboard the CVA Website & Forum.

I don't have any information regarding Lt Alistair Denholm other than he wasn't a commando - not all who served in Combined Operations were in the Commandos - but I can give you a little information about the Combined Operations Bombardment Units (of which there were five).

On D-Day, No.1 COBU was commanded by Lt Col Lionel Sidney Seccombe, RA.

The COBU [Combined Operations Bombardment Unit] was formed in 1941 to provide an organisation that could replace the support of the field artillery with the support of naval guns. The organisation was part of Combined Operations and came under the command of a Colonel, who was an adviser to CCO [Commander Combined Operations].
Each COBU was commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel who was on the staff of the Naval Commander of a Task Force and assisted the Senior Artillery Officer with fireplanning.

Naval bombardment was controlled through the COBU. The unit was commanded by the CBLO [Chief Bombardment Liaison Officer] - a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Artillery - and consisted of a small HQ and three Bombardment Troops.
Each troop was designed to provide observation of fire on a divisional front, and consisted of 1x Major, 15x Captains, 7x NCOs and 21x RN Signals Ratings attached.

A Bombardment Troop was responsible for the shore observation of naval gunfire, normally on a front of one division.
It is commanded by a Major RA as SBLO [Senior Bombardment Liaison Officer] and includes 1x SOB [Staff Officer Bombardment], 7x FOBs [Forward Observers Bombardment], 7x BLOs [Bombardment Liaison Officers], together with NCOs and RN communications ratings.

The SBLO was on the staff of the Naval Force Commander on the Divisional Commander's level. He would embark with the Naval and Military Commanders in the LSH [Landing Ship Headquarters]. He assisted the CRA [Commander Royal Artillery] in the coordination of the fire plan as affecting the ships and craft detailed to support the division.
The SBLO was responsible for:
1. Commanding and administering his troop.
2. Organising initial attachment of FOB to assaulting battalions and ensuring that BLOs are embarked in their allotted ships.
3.Assisting the commander, Royal Artillery, while he is afloat, and the Naval Force Gunnery Officer, in co-ordinating the divisional fire plan.
4.Working in the Combined Support Control Room of the LSH(L) during the assault and maintaining close liaison with Divisional HQ after it has landed,through his second in command, the SOB.

The SOB (Captain, RA) was the second in command of the Bombardment Troop.In an operation he was embarked in the LSH(L) as Assistant to the SBLO. When the division goes ashore he was attached to the Commander, Royal Artillery, as his adviser on the suitability of targets for the various types of ships available to give supporting fire. He also controls all FOBs on the divisional front by means of their spotting frequencies, issuing fresh orders for attachment or detachment according to the situation.

The BLO (Captain, RA) was embarked in each bombarding ship or attached to groups of bombarding craft. He was responsible for interpreting the orders and observations received from the FOB [Forward Observer Bombardment]and advising the Naval Gunnery Officer on all military matters including the safety of friendly troops,

The FOB was specially trained to observe naval gunfire on shore targets. He asks BCHQ [Bombardment Control Headquarters] for the allocation of a bombarding ship, calls for fire to meet the needs of the army formation or unit to which he is attached, and observes the fall of shot. He also reports frequently the tactical situation ashore, particularly the positions of friendly forward troops.

The Vandyke Photographic Studios was a very well known London photographic studio at 37 Buckingham Palace Road, founded by Carl Vandyke a studio photographer associated with 640 portraits including many of Royalty, most of which can be seen in the National Portrait Gallery. Carl was succeeded by his eldest son Herbert Vandyke (circa 1880-1943). In 1964 the company became 'Bassano and Vandyck Studio'. In 1965 it incorporated 'Elliott and Fry'. In 1977 it became Industrial Photographic.

Nick

Hi,
Below is some information on Captain Denholm.

Any chance you could put the photo on the forum please.

Regards

Danny

1 COBU.
Captain A.R. Denholm.
Taken on Strength : 28/4/44
Appointment Held : FOB
Parent Regiment : R.A. (Field)
"B" Troop
On D Day "B" Troop was attached to Force "G" - 30 Corps.
Captain Denholn was in command of FOB 52 attached 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment (1 Dorsets). Lands at H + 20 mins. on 6th June

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 08/01/2018 20:34:51

DENHOLM Alistair Robert Captain 224002 Royal Artillery (Field)
Born : 1922 Birkenhead, Cheshire
Enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1940 as a Gunner 1103764
Posted to the 12th Field Training Regiment
Commissioned 17th January 1942 (London Gazette 6.2.1942 p. 603)