Messages posted by: mickbarrett

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?

My father's service record reads as follows:- Depot R.M. Lympstone 9/12/41 to 26/1/42, HBL RM Division 27/1/42 to 1/8/43, HBL RM 47 Commando 2/8/43 to 1/9/43, HBL RM Division 2/9/43 to 15/9/43 HBL RM Commando 16/9/43 to 15/2/46 and Portsmouth Division 16/2 46 to 4/5/46. I understand that his qualifying service for the 1939-45 Star was service in 45 Commando Royal Marines between June 1944 and May 1945. Am I right in believing that his first action was on D-Day as part of Lord Lovat's Special Services Brigade in relieving the forces at Pegasus Bridge? Was his service prior to this all training?