Hi, from the New Forest. I'm researching a book about the Royal Marines

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by Kellard, Mar 15, 2017.

  1. Kellard

    Kellard Active Member

    I'm an ex Serviceman and former MOD Historian with an interest in the Royal Marines between 1939 and 1960 when it became an all Commando force.
    Unlike most of the books I have read on the corps the focus will not just be on the commando units but also the plethora of other units including the RM band Service in their military/naval role.

    Some information is difficult to obtain now, the war diaries of both 116 and 117 RM Infantry Brigades are either incomplete or missing all together, as they are for some of the landing craft flotillas and most of the Royal Marine Engineers.

    The book that I'm researching will have a chapter on the RM ships detachments at sea and the landings made by them. This will include the RM Band Service and the raids carried out by detachments during the Dutch East Indies Korean war and the supporting role "Sea Service Marines" in Suez.. Another chapter will deal with operations that the corps was involved in on land Norway, Holland, Calais and Boulonge, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, Crete and the Middle East, Madagascar the defence of Hong Kong, Malaya and Singapore among many others.

    There will be a dedicated chapter on training and the establishments occupied by the Royal Marines and others dealing with units, their ORBATs and the uniforms, weapons and equipment used by them. Two publishers have expressed an interest but progress has been painfully slow at times.

    I hope this sounds interesting, as questions pop up during my research I'd welcome any information that you might have.

    Kind Regards James Kellard
     
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  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Good luck with the book :)
     
  3. Kellard

    Kellard Active Member

    Thanks.
     
  4. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    Hello and welcome.
     
  5. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Sounds like a worthy addition to Royal marines history and will certainly fill a gap, good luck and welcome.
     
  6. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Do not forget the Royal Marines who were at Salerno as part of Layforce.

    Frank
     
  7. Kellard

    Kellard Active Member

    Thanks everyone. Hopefully I won't forget anyone but since the Commandos have had so much coverage and the rest of the corps comparatively little that is the main focus of the book. There were some remarkable actions fought by the men in the blue beret with red tombstone
     
  8. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    The Battle of Piegolelle at Salerno is simply awesome.

    F
     
  9. Kellard

    Kellard Active Member

    Indeed but also rather too commando orientated for my book. I'm trying to write about all the Royal Marines rather than the relative few in the green beret


     
  10. smdarby

    smdarby Well-Known Member

    Good luck with the book. My old man joined the RMs in 1959, right at the end of the period you are interested in. I have a photo of his training squad posing with Lee Enfield's. I believe they were amongst the last to be issued with them?
     
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  11. Kellard

    Kellard Active Member

    Did he do the commando course as part of his training or did he go sea service first and become a commando afterwards?

     
  12. smdarby

    smdarby Well-Known Member

    Started training Jan 59 and joined 40 Cdo Dec 59. He entered as a regular, but I believe at the same time some of the last National Service conscripts were still beng trained. Early part of record says Depot RM 20/1/59 - 28/5/59; ITC RM 29/5/59 - 3/10/59; RMB Eastney 4/10/59 - 6/12/59; 40 CDO 7/12/59. Would ITC RM be commando training? Would he have received basic training before commando training? Here's the photo (RM M.H.Darby is back row third from right):

    IMG_0743.JPG
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2017
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  13. Kellard

    Kellard Active Member

    Infantry Training Centre was Lympstone in 1959 (before that it was Dalitch) The Commando Training Centre at that time was Bickleigh near Plymouth. The first part of his training would have been at the RM Depot Deal, then ITC Lympstone and then CTC Bickleigh. As you can see his instructor corporal with war medals was not a commando even at this late stage (you can see by the Tombstone on his beret). Would it be possible for me to use this photograph? it illustrates a point I'd like to make in the book perfectly.
     
  14. Kellard

    Kellard Active Member

    ITC Infantry Training Centre was Lympstone in 1959 (before that it was Dalitch) The CTC Commando Training Centre at that time was Bickleigh near Plymouth. The first part of his training would have been at the RM Depot Deal, then ITC Lympstone and then CTC Bickleigh. As you can see his instructor corporal with war medals was not a commando even at this late stage (you can see by the Tombstone on his beret). Would it be possible for me to use this photograph? it illustrates a point I'd like to make in the book perfectly.

     
  15. bern28x

    bern28x Member

    Hello James, I have read your thread with interest, I am ex RN and hold our "bootneck" colleagues in high esteem, good luck with the book.
    I have a photo of a Kings Troop passing out from training at Plymouth( Stonehouse Barracks I think) dated January 1938. Just a bit before your focus period. Also I have a rather moth-eaten uniform tunic and trousers as worn up until 1952ish. My father in law is in the photo 19 years old, and his uniform of a sergeant Drill Instructor (I think), from when he left the service complete with a good set of campaign ribbons as he was shipborne for the majority of the war ending up in the pacific and Japan.
    If you would like copies of these I would be happy to post on here for you.
    Bern
     
  16. Kellard

    Kellard Active Member

    Thanks, that would be much appreciated and very kind of you. Although the main focus of the book is 39-45 the pre war, 1923 onward, period is important for background as it sets the scene. Similarly the 1945-60 is also going to be covered as that is when the last non commando "Blue Marines" left the corps.

     
  17. TijgerB

    TijgerB Member

    Sounds as an interesting project. I am eager to hear of any actions in the Dutch east indies. The RM played an active role in the rescue of RAPWI at Ambarawa.
     
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  18. bern28x

    bern28x Member

    Hi Kellard I am sorry for the delay but here are the photos as promised. If you want a different view of the tunic I would be happy to do it for you.
     

    Attached Files:

  19. bern28x

    bern28x Member

    Hi Kellard again another photo for you, I have a close up of the medal ribbons but the system wont let me upload it.
    regards bern
    The medals are as follows
    War medal
    Italy Star
    Africa Star & N.Africa 1942-1943 Bar
    Burma Star & Pacific Bar
    Atlantic Star
    39-45 Star
    Recently awarded Arctic Star
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: May 21, 2017
    Kellard likes this.
  20. Kellard

    Kellard Active Member

    Thanks for this, it's much appreciated.

     

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