Eastbourne billets prior to D-day

I have found amongst a number of items I inherited from my father (PO/X 109774 Reginald Victor Barrett, 45 Commando) a 1944 contemporary postcard of Amfreville and written on the reverse "Miss M Trangmar, 63 Willoughby Crescent, Eastbourne. I understand that private billets were peculiar to commandos and like to think that this is where dad stayed prior to the off. I was wondering if anyone has any information on how soldier and billet came together. Was it local advertising or a central point of reference?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 15/11/2024 17:48:58

Hi Mick

45RM Commando moved to Eastbourne around the middle of January 1944 and stayed until the 26th May when they moved to the Staging Camp at Southampton in preparation for DDay. I have attached an extract which mentions billets. Its taken from a little book about the history of 45RM Cdo from its formation in August 1943 until June 1945 called appropriately 'The Story of 45 Royal Marine Commando'. To answer your question about billets I have quoted below a paragraph from a book written by the late Major James Dunning called "It had to be Tough" which was later re-printed in America as "The British Commandos - The Origins and Special Training of an Elite Unit". Jimmy Dunning was in No.4 Commando during the war and after being commissioned also served as an Instructor at the Commando Basic Training Centre at Achnacarry.

"How and where each Commando soldier organized his accommodation was his own responsibility. There was just one proviso, every soldier had to be on parade in good order and fully prepared for the task in hand at the right place and at the right time as detailed. Failure to comply with this fundamental requirement usually had only one recourse - Return to Unit (RTU)."

In the book he devotes a whole chapter to Setting Up - Billets and Organization". OR's in the Commandos were given a daily allowance of 6 shillings and 8 pence and a Ration Card. We do not seem to have an entry for your Father in the archive as yet so could you please contact me by email (below) and send any information you have on his commando service. This can be anything from an extract of his service record where commando service is mentioned, photo where commando insignia is visible, letters or documents referencing commando service, etc. I will then be able to update the archive.

Pete