Messages posted by: Steve George

See the attached for Achnacarry Training dates 1942 - 44 including US Army, Marines & Rangers.
Steve :)

NIC wrote:Hi Steve,

I'm upset now! )
Don't you read the files that I post?
That's the same document as I posted earlier in the Thread: Commando August 1943.pdf

Feeling redundant! :-(

Nick

Ooops! Apols Nick, usually I embrace your posts with the utmost vigour.
As a punishemnt I'm running 10 circuits of the parade ground with rifle aloft - as I type!;0)

For info, my grandfather was the Headquarters Troop Transport Sarjeant listed in the table.

Hi Beerie69,
Here's how 46 (RM) Cdo was structured on formation in 1943. Obviously once in theatre the structure of the commando could change due to casualty numbers and availability of necessary equipment. Hope it helps.
Steve

Is there evidence of only one calibre?

Is there any indication of trajectory?

Could they have been firing along fixed lines left to right, right to left over the gap ensuring all who were exiting the walled area had to do so in a crouched/prone position?

tonyrod wrote:hi I am researching the HMS PRINS ALBERT LSI,(small) 435 and the commando's who sailed on her for my family web site,
RODAWAY'S OF WW1-2, any information on commando's who sailed on her, who would like to add to my website would be greatly
appreciated , have a look in, http://tonyrod.webs.com/ only just joined this great site and finding my way around , tonyrod

Hi Tony,
My Grandfather sailed on the Prinz Albert with 46 (RM) Cdo. See below...

1st June 1944

Place: Shanklin

P.M. - Assault unit (less Admn Section) left SHANKLIN by rail and embarked at EGYPT POINT, COWES, in LSsI H.M.S. PRINS ALBERT and SS Princess Margaret with full equipment for alternative operations - DEER (HOULGATE C.D. Bty) or FROG (BENERVILLE C.D. Bty) which were to be carried out on the night of D/D + 1.

6th June 1944

Place: Cowes Roads

1230 - LSsI sailed in company with H.M.S. ISIS (Destroyer escort).

Place: At Sea

1830 - Arrived at anchorage JUNO (off ST. AUBIN-SUR-MER) proceeding one hour later to anchorage SWORD (off OUISTREHAM) to report to Flag Officer, Force S.

2200 - The order was received that both operations were postponed as neither of the Btys was harassing our shipping and also because the weather was not altogether favourable for the operations. The LSsI returned to anchorage JUNO for the night.

7th June 1944

Place: At Sea

0600 - Signal received that the unit was to come under command 1 Corp and to be landed on NAN WHITE Beach as early as possible. Hasty re-adjustments and improvisations were made to equipment.

Place: Hernieres 002853

0900 - The unit was landed by the ships flotillas on NAN WHITE Beach. Orders were received that the unit was to capture strongpoint PETIT ENFER area 048833 - 052830 - 051829 - 047832 with u/c one troop RMAS Gp.

Hope this is of interest to you. Also, am I right in thinking I work alongside a relative yours at MRCC Portland. :)

Hello all,
I've just received some information regarding my paternal Grandfather's wartime service. As I might have mentioned before :wink: my maternal Grandfather served with 46 (RM) Cdo and having read this recent information I'm wondering if my paternal Grandfather served with an RAF Servicing Commando unit. There is very little information but after badgering relatives I have collated the following...

He trained at RAF Cranwell, must be 1940/41 and eventually became a Corporal/Sgt? in Chemical Warfare but if asked what he did the reply in his words would be.. ?lighting flares to mark runways.. and peeing on them to put them out!?.

By the end of the war he'd seen some of Italy having gone in through Salerno, Austria, Yugoslavia, and the South of France following the landings there. His Primary function apparently was with a team establishing forward operating bases for the RAF...searching out ground, buildings and supplies locally. I remember photos of Partisan mass graves, hangings, trains stood on end and and major havoc reaped by the Germans but he was most annoyed because having found a German Riding School staffed by Russian Prisoners they wouldn?t let him bring me his favourite pony home.

My father describes a vague memory of "being woken up in the early hours and there being some bloke there with sweets (very rare beast ?cos of rationing) and a large flat leather football with a perished inner bladder".....he was three and the strange bloke was his Dad coming home after demob in 1945.

I have his original medals group consisting of (LtoR) 39-45 STAR, ITALY STAR, F&G STAR, DEFENCE MEDAL, 39-45 MEDAL.

To me it sounds plausible, but then I am biased! The next step will be to sort out his service records. In the meantime any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Steve. :-)

I am looking for information regarding the marshalling/embarkation, or 'sausage' camps used prior to the Normandy landings. I wish to find more detailed information about individual camps, including plans, photographs, etc. Can anyone help or point me in the direction of a good source?
Thanks.

Hi John,
That's really interesting, I've never seen that style of insignia unused and 'as it was produced'. As you can see I have the 'No46s' in simillar style. Although an original set they differ in shape, I now understand why. Thanks. :)

I've always thought the mock graves to be a 'training aid' and have not come across any other information to suggest different, this is why I found Lt Keiffer's explanation quite interesting.

Lt Keiffer also gives information regarding the number of fatalities at Achnacarry;
'Approximately forty men lost their lives at Achnacarry, that is two in every thousand was killed'.

Even if these numbers are correct I would not expect there to have been 40 mock graves as there would have been a number of incidents occurring due to similar circumstances.

I was well aware of the mock graves that were situated at the entrance to the camp and the various warnings written on the markers. Recently while reading Commandos In Exile (Nick van der Bijl) part of a passage written by Lt Kieffer (1st French Marine Rifle Company) states

'Each time a commando candidate was killed, a ficticious grave was dug at the entrance of the camp briefly explaining the circumstances of his death and how it could of been avoided'.

Is it correct that each grave was a reminder of a genuine incident?
How many graves were there and does the number correspond with actual fatalities?

Steve

Fletch,

A veteran friend from A Troop, 46 (RM) Cdo knidly gave me a list of the weapons used by the unit.

'Weapons, I suppose standard infantry. 303 rifle, Bren gun, ?American Tommy Gun?, .45 pistol (perhaps to some units). I don?t think we were issued with the Sten gun. PIAT (anti-tank) weapon, 2? mortar, hand grenades. Also, we tried out the K gun (on active service), a light machine gun, but I don?t know if it was a general issue.'

Is there anything there to add to your 'wish list'? )

Hi Fletch,
There's a pic of a marine with an M1 / M1A1 in the 46 (RM) Cdo gallery. Picture was taken in Germany "45.

Follow this link.

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/46/IMG_0011_001.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

Steve :)

This information from John Harrison with regard to A Troop, 46 (RM) Cdo.

In the field the troop wore the unit numeral on either woven cloth or 'Cash's Tape' at the top of the sleeve. Under that would be 'Royal Marines' on straight 'Cash's Tape' or on woven cloth. And under that would be 'Commando' on a 'Cash's Tape'. These were either sewn together or sewn with a small space in between, either way was acceptable. The larger 'all in one' badge was generally worn on your best 'walking out' BD's.

Interestingly, he mentioned beret badges were not worn in the field and at some point all insignia was removed in order to make unit identification more difficult.

I have a 1991 edition - no index.

I recently received a letter from John H. He mentioned when the 9th Btn (RM) was broken up they had a choice to either 'be transferred for boat training or volunteer for the commandos'. Some of those who volunteered then moved from Southampton to Piddlehinton Camp prior to the formation of the unit 'proper' at Poundbury Barracks, Dorchester.

Interestingly he also mentions the unit were awarded their 'Green Berets' on the formation at Dorchester 'about three months before we got to Achnacarry'. Another question answerred!

I must mention this. Regarding commando training all John writes is 'Achnacarry, sometime in Oct 1943, in tents, had my 22nd birthday - did not celebrate.'. This did bring smile to my face.