Messages posted by: mike beckett

Bill

You will see the IWM give a presentation date of 1st November 1944, this does not tie in with your date of 11 August 1845. The actual assault of Flushing was made on 1st November 1944, (see Jimmy Dunning 'The Fighting Fourth' - page 184 etc) Jimmy Dunning recalls Civic parades in Flushing and Dieppe during August 1945 (ibid p.198) after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (6 and 9 August respectively) - it is likely the presentation took part then.

On 31 May 1952 - a large party of No4 Commando veterans attended the unveiling of a striking monument at Flushing - no doubt there are images on our CVA Site.

A further 'Souvenir' flag made locally (after VE Day 8 May 1945) in Recklinghausen, Germany is pictured on page 196 of Jimmy's book - bearing Free French, Combined Operations and Commando trained Soldier insignia, with battle honours awarded to No.4 Commando.

Regards
Mike Beckett

Hello Bill

The actual flag is held in the archive of the Imperial War Museum (IWM), and is the flag of the City of Flushing

There is no image but the IWM description is as follows

Item/Catalogue Reference: FLA 186

Historical Note: Presented by the City of Flushing to No. 4 Commando on liberation of that City, 1st November 1944.

General Length: 321cm
General Width: 244cm

The following link relates:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30016419

I hope this is useful

Regards
Mike Beckett

Geoff
A very nice badge
Also known as 'The Pregnant Prawn'
Regard
Mike

Hello Iris
I am pleased the RMA / Royal Marines Historical Society were able to help. Mark is a grand chap. It is always rewarding to piece together service histories of relatives (or any veteran). I wish you every success in completing your research.
Regards
Mike

Jotting some notes in a rush - recalling Dakar Operation
The following bullet points come from 'By Sea By Land' by James Ladd - Appendix 4 Page 477 and pages 61-63

5 Bn RM - formed 2/4/1940 at Cowshot Camp (Brookwood) Hampshire - CO - Lt Col HE Reading
Part of 101 RM Bde
Advance party to Hayling Island for Boat Training but Bn began to move to Tenby S. Wales on 19 June.
In August - embarked in the transport 'Karanja' for the Dakar Operation and sailed to Freetown
Returned to Scotland in late Oct - where carried out exercises until June 1942.
In Feb 1942 Lt Col S G Cutler became CO
Bn moved to Ystrad in S. Wales on 8-9 June
2 Sept Lt Col K Hunt became CO
Some companies returned to Scotland for amphibious training in Nov/Dec
These Companies, and those in S. Wales were assembled at Hursley (Hampshire) from 12 Dec 1942
Aptil 1943 moved to Ryde Isle of Wight
29 May moved to Burley (Hampshire)
Disbanded ealy Aug 1943 - HQ and most personnel were reformed as 45 (RM) Cdo

The Dakar Operation - see Arthur J Marder 'Operation Menace'. In summary an abandoned expedition against Vichy French.

See also earlier proposed use should Germans invade Ireland and also readiness for Operation 'Accordion' and Operation 'Sackbut' against Azores and Cape Verde Islands i.e. planned prior to 'Menace' should Spain join the Axis

This provides an outline for further research, no doubt further links can be found on the internet.

Regards and hoping this helps
Mike Beckett

For completeness - here is a link to the Police Intakes thread referred to in my posting above, of just a few minutes ago

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/0/3615.page#12886

Regards
Mike

Further to my posting above of 25 October - the article about Stanley Bissell has been reproduced on our CVA website - the link below should find it

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/3663.page;jsessionid=2F6896F6B8CF0326B68EAD3194E62E57

Regards
Mike

Thanks for gaining permission to reproduce the Globe and Laurel Article about Stanley Bissell - you will see I have already referred to it in the thread on Police Intakes, but can now introduce a link to this item that shows the article in full - Regards Mike.

Just reading through this interesting 'thread' again

I believe the total intake of Police over the three courses was 425 according to the course listing on our site (rather than 414 noted by Graham):

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/courses/CBTC+1942+1944+spean+copy.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

A search on the word 'Police' also uncovers another potential police man who may be of interest, I think he is missing from the listing above

Tpr A Marron of 4 Cdo CTp -
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/main.php
I notice he is mentioned alongside Duncan McCubbin who I think is already noted above

"L/Cpl Duncan McCubbin was one of a number of the police intake in C Troop, survived the war and ultimately became a chief superintendent with Liverpool Police.
Tpr Marron, another former policeman, earned the nickname "Mirror" in house-to-house fighting in Flushing when he discharged a whole magazine from his TSG into a wardrobe mirror, having caught site of his reflection in it."

I hope these links work - Regards Mike

I understand that any badge worn by British personnel on the breast pocket of battledress would be unofficial. It begs the question whether it may be some form of 'good luck' charm worn only for the purpose of the photograph (not officially accepted in the unit) - though this explanation may appear a little limp. Yes in deed, certain members of No10 Cdo did wear nationality related insignia on their breast pocket, the French in particular (including during secondment etc to other Commandos). Regards Mike

I am sure you will be aware of Sergeant Stanley Bissell, who so impressed Lt Col Vaughan by his smart appearance on arrival at Achnacarry that he was soon made an instructor. I believe his parent Reg was APTC. My understanding is that he had a championship wrestling career with the Police and was a self defence instructor at Peel House before volunteering for the Commandos. He earned a black belt in judo, I think while at Peel House. A recent article by David L Kentner, published in the Royal Marines Journal 'Globe and Laurel' (Sept/Oct 2012) credits Stanley Bissell with reviewing and simplifying the Unarmed Combat and Close Combat training techniques taught at Achnacarry - an excellent example of the outstanding standard of recruits from Police Intakes.
Regards Mike (Beckett)
Any further information would be appreciated
if preferred email: [email protected]

Guy - very interesting in deed - PM Sent. Thanks Paul for drawing my attention to this - quite a mystery! - Mike

Thanks for drawing attention to this book

Having looked on the sites mentioned above, I hope I am permitted to cut and paste an extract of the Synopsis of this book (as published on the Waterstone's Site) to provide further background for anyone interested:

"This pocket-book draws on authentic training manuals, lecture notes, course literature and other material from the commando schools to give a real insight into this highly specialized fighting unit - demonstrating how commandos were taught to live, fight and move on offensive operations, initially as raiding parties, and later as skilled assault infantry. Sections of the book cover survival and fieldcraft skills; night operations; assaulting obstacles; use of equipment - such as the COPPS canoe for beach reconnaissance and sabotage; and weapons training, including the Thompson submachine gun, the Bren gun, and the famous emblem of the commandos - the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife."

Thee book will be 128 pages by the looks and is due for release on 27/9/2012 I think

The following link should take you to the Watersone's entry - if it works!

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/christopher+westhorp/the+commando+pocket+book/9215376/

Mike

This reproduction may at first appear a rather similar design to the No2 Commando officer badge. Possibly made at this size, in these materials for wear as a blazer badge - though not just for officers, and not necessarily just for veterans of No2 Commando. We have all see similar brass or white metal versions with COMMANDO across the top - which have sometimes been used (by those of all ranks, and from various Commandos) purely as 'Commando Association' badges. It may explain its existence. I believe it is a modern fabrication having only seen similar images of bullion wire badge recently, and rather think it is pure fantasy. Regards Mike

Really just as a footnote - some Royal Marines enrolled into Army Commandos. I was in touch with one veteran (Sgt (PTI) Tom Sharpley) who joined No3 Cdo in May 1942, just after the first RM 'A' Commando was formed (Feb 1942). He was on security duties in Liverpool at Gladstone Dock, from Jan 1941 to Jan 1942, then being posted to 5th Bn RM. This timing is interesting, and COULD mean he did not see the earlier request for RM Volunteers to form an RM Commando (possibly sent at the time prior to posting to 5th RM Bn.) - certainly, questioned by me afterwards, Tom said he had never seen such a request.
Obviously Other Royal Marines served in Army Commandos prior to formation of distinct RM Commandos. Tom served most of the war at Holding Operational Commando as a PTI. However, he did take part in the Normandy Landings - attached (as part of a composite group) to No.41 (RM) Commando. Sadly, Tom passed away quite recently.