No.4 Commando question

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 04/04/2009 17:40:34

I have seen this picture which states it is 8 Troop of No.4 Commando. I have seen pictures of troops of No.4 with letters attached such as A, B, C, etc., and even some with low nos such as 1, 2 etc. What was the difference? The picture is a bit blurred but they seem to have more badges on than normal or is it my eyesight ??

Regards

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 04/04/2009 18:11:12

Hi Pete

The only additions that I can see are that each soldier has actually got a number printed on his image in the photograph ie the first soldier back row on the left being No1 with the last soldier front row extreme right being I think 69. For some reason four soldiers in the third row from the front don't have any numbers printed on thier images, perhaps these are the officers? At first glance these no's seem to look like badges / insignia, is that what you mean when you say "they seem to have more badges on than normal...."?

Cheers Andy

Hi Andy ...thanks - it is my eyesight...I can see the numbers now. So that answers the badge element. Do you know why some troops were titled with letters and others numbered? I know there were some foreigners at some stage in No.4. Were they numbered?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 05/04/2009 12:55:12

Hi Pete

Have just been reading up on No4 and as you correctly state there were indeed French Marines attached to No4 (see attchment). Having just consulted a 3 Commando Brigade "Third Jungle Book" I notice that the two RM commando units that were part of this formation ie No's 42 and 44 RM Com also lettered their Troops rather than numbering them. So I wonder if this was also the case with the French Marines in No4, that might explain why Troops were Numbered and Lettered.

Cheers Andy