Photographs

My mother has recently passed away, my father was Hayden V. Morgan 46 Commando (passed away 23.06.2002) I have only recently found this site and I have so many questions to ask, but will take it slowly 1 question at a time. While clearing out my parents house I have come across lots of photographs taken at reunions in France, Spean Bridge plus more, I was wondering if they would be of any interest to the group, they are not professional photographs but are of good quality and are a record of said reunions (some with No 9 Commando.)

Hi Jennifer,

Welcome to the CVA Website and Forums and thank you for contacting us. I'm so sorry to hear of you recent bereavement - I know this must be a difficult time for you especially the sorting out of family artifacts and the memories they hold.
Fire away with any questions you may have - we will try and answer as many as we can or, failing that, hopefully steer you in the direction of those who can...

We would welcome any photos - especially those taken by your father and/or his friends and colleagues as the less formal, relaxed photos tell a far better story than some of the stiff formal, professionally photographed groups (although we always welcome them as well).

If you can scan the photos and send them electronically (email, DropBox etc.) that would be great, if that isn't possible, you could send them by mail and I can scan and return them.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Nick

I have tried to send photographs but I am not having much luck, I keep getting an error code "entity too large". Even though I am only sending 1 photo at a time. I am not sure where to go from here.

Regards
Jennifer

Hi Jenny,

You could resize your photos but an easier option may be to email the photos to me and I will post them in this thread...

Nick

I will have a chat with my husband regarding resizing the very old ones (I'm not very good with techy things) other than that I will post them to you, especially the reunion photographs as I have many duplicates, so you can use them as you wish and I do not need them returned to me. Where do I send them? I will get them off to you next week as we go away on 9th to see our son in Singapore for several weeks.

Jenny

Jenny,

I have sent you a Private Message

Nick

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 03/02/2019 15:10:51

Hi Jenny,

Here are your first two photos.
The large group I think is when they were on basic RM training.

The smaller group, I believe was when they'd finished training to be Royal Marines and were probably in 9th Battalion RM - they were not commandos at this stage...
9th Battalion RM were converted to become 46 RM Commando.

Nick

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 03/02/2019 15:06:02

Hi Jenny,
so the second pair of photos.
The larger group is when your father was in 46 RM Commando - the size of this group (61) would suggest this is a Troop within the Commando.

An RM Commando Unit was organised along War Establishment lines, conforming to those Commandos already raised by the Army.
This consisted of Cdo HQ, Signal Section, Admin Section, five fighting troops [A, B, X, Y and Z] - named after the big gun turrets on capital ships - plus a Heavy Weapons Troop [S Troop].
The nominal strength of a fighting troop was three officers and sixty five other ranks.
Each troop contained two sections, each further divided into two sub-sections.
The Heavy Weapons Troop had two officers and forty other ranks, armed with two Vickers machine-guns and two 3-inch mortars.

Nick

Hi Jennifer

Can I add my own condolences to those of Nick on hearing of the sad news about your Mother's recent passing.

As Nick says the two photos where they are wearing forage caps are before they were Commandos. The group photo of them in uniform wearing berets is of those who passed out as Commandos. It is actually a photo of 'X Troop of 46RM Commando and we already have a good copy of this photo with many names included in our 46 RM Commando gallery. The link below takes you to it. One or two names are missing. Is your Father in this photo ?

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/46/46RM+Cdo+X+troop+copy.jpg.html

Your Father is also listed in our 46RM Cdo. Nominal Roll and Obituaries - PLY/X 111432 Mne. H.V. Morgan.

You may wish to browse our 46RM Commando gallery as there are many photos with individuals yet to be identified. It can be viewed here:

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/46/46RM+Cdo+X+troop+copy.jpg.html

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 02/02/2019 10:45:51

Additionally your Father is on the Casualty list of those who were wounded at Troarn on the 17th August 1944 when clearing booby traps that had been laid by the enemy.

Thank you so much for the information you were able to give me on the photographs, I have the original telegrams sent when Dad had his "bump" (he always called it that) and lots more which I will forward to you if you are interested. More photos will follow

Jenny

Cpl George Kimber, listed as one of the wounded at Troarn on the 17th August 1944 is shown next to Hayden Morgan on the Veterans Reunion photo.
Jenny tells us that both George & Hayden lost a leg on the same day...

Nick

Jenny
Please don't forget to give me a call.
I'm the UK lead contact for 46 RMC Famiky and Friends Group.
We both have so much information we need to share with each other.
My number is 01869 356082