Question about beret colouring on old ww2 footage?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 03/11/2018 05:22:18

Hi just wondering if anyone can shed some light on this ?

https://youtu.be/koIOoZDH808

I've just found this video on YouTube and at 1.45 it looks like a royal marine badge ? Unless I'm mistaken. So going off this that guys out of either 42 or 44 commando.

So my question is if I am right about the badge can anyone explain why he's wearing a beret with a patch (I presume black with red patch like they use during training now.) Rather than the standard green one ?

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 03/11/2018 07:19:07

Hi Nick,

I'm at work so am unable to view the You Tube footage but without seeing it and from what you've described, I think I can give you the answer...

Despite a popular misconception, up to 1942, there was no such thing as a Royal Marine Commando!

The Royal Marines can trace their origins back to 1664 but not in a Commando role - they had Infantry, Artillery, Engineers etc. but they were all Royal Marines.

In 1942, Churchill decided that the RMs were not being used to their full potential and from then it was decided to train & convert nine RM Infantry battalions to become RM Commandos to serve alongside the Army Commandos (who had been formed in 1940).

With the introduction of berets into HM Armed Forces, those RM who didn't become RM Cdos wore the Navy Blue beret (with scarlet tombstone behind their Globe & Laurel cap badge) whilst the Army Cdos & RM Cdos were issued Green Berets.

After the War, it was decreed that the Army Commandos would be disbanded and the Royal Marines would take on the Commando role - it wasn't until 1964 that the whole RM Corps was eventually converted to RM Cdos and from that date, with the exception of basic recruits & officer cadets, all RMs wore the Green Beret.

Below a transcript of two instructions regarding RM berets...

Nick

Oh right sorry the footage is of a beach landing in Burma and troops walking through a village. Footage is dated as December 1944 in the title. But there's a mention of kangaw which I though was January 1945 ? I might wrong as the footage is black and white old news reel but the guy at 1.45 definitely appears to have a royal marine badge on his beret. But also a patch.

So are we saying he could of been a engineer or medic or something like that attached to the commando units ?

RM beret - the one in the video has the badge attached.

Very interesting video - thank you.