Mne. Donald MacDonald - How to find unit number

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 01/11/2020 22:54:57

Hi, new to this forum and looking in advice to research my grandad service history in the Royal Marines during ww2. I have his certificate of service and register number. I also have a list of ships he was assigned to although other than Orion I?m struggling to make out the names. Any pointers to get me started would be greatly appreciated!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 31/10/2020 16:45:39

Hi. Unlike today not all Royal Marines were Commandos in WW2. Could you post what you have already discovered including your Grandads full name as well as rank number if these are known. If you have a copy of his postings I assume this is from his record of service perhaps you could scan that entire section of postings. Try not to crop anything out from either side of the posting itself so the full timeline is clear.

I did wonder if it was the same thing (marines and commandos). I?ve attached what I have just now. Thanks for you help.

Reading the service document your relative was a Plymouth division Royal Marine.

It reads like this

Trained at Lympstone then a reserve depot.
Posted to Plymouth Div
Orion (ship)
Plymouth div
Daedalus (ship)
Not sure on next entry

Then demobbed at Plymouth as were all hostilities only marines in the war, back at their division.

I would assume he was a ships marine/ gunner although I could be wrong any photos would help.

Daedulus was a fleet air arm base, also an accommodation and release centre, google it.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 01/11/2020 18:18:40

I?ve attached some photos. Not sure of the ships.
The group photo has Exmouth 8th June 1940 written on the back.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 01/11/2020 19:36:35

Photos of ships we believe he served on.

My next question is whether it is worth me applying for his record of service or will it not tell me any more than I already have?

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 01/11/2020 22:56:31

What you have posted is his certificate/record of service, and from what is there it would appear he was as Craig indicated, a Royal Marine on sea service. Some very detailed information on HMS Orion can be found on the link below and from that you will see your Grandad saw a lot of action including one incident where the crew suffered many casualties after a bombing attack on her on the 29th May 1941. Later actions included Malta, Sicily, Salerno, and Normandy. In 1945 you will see they had some VIP guests on board prior to the Yalta conference. Quite a read as you will find. I have updated the title of this message thread to include your Grandads name.

https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Orion.htm

The group photo would be his kings squad pass out photo or intake photo. This is the RM reserve depot which is now the commando training centre or known as CTCRM. A history to be proud of there as life on a ship was tough.

Thanks for that, I have done a bit of research into the Orion and found some good information.
I spoke to my parents today who were sure he was royal marine special forces. They had story?s of his unit landing on islands prior to invasion to take out key points and he was involved in the Sicily landings. Unfortunately he died in 1974 and details have been forgotten. My mum, as a toddler, also binned his medals while playing a game🙈. Would his record of service have more detail?

Thanks

If you apply for copies you would get a medal card of awards. Plus other attestation documents. He may well have gone ashore as a marine detachment or part of a battalion.

Thanks for that. I have the forms filled in, so will get them sent away this week.

Received his records today so he was a Marine in the Royal Marines. Medal award card shows medals for Africa (R) , Atlantic, Italy F. And C and obviously the war medal.
Not much other information other than his Conduct sheets. The front sheet that came with it did give some recommended reading though.

You might wish to consider contact the RM Historical Society with all the detail you have found.

https://www.rmhistoricalsociety.org/