Ch/X William O'Sullivan RM

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for a little help if possible. I've recently received my FiL service record and have been trying to piece together the story. I've spent a solid week engrossed reading about the MNBDO and Naval defence units, it's been very rewarding. The main issue I'm having is pinning my FiL down to a unit(s). The service record is the usual general brush with no detail and the dates simply don't add up to the main narrative found on the internet.

Would anyone be able to take a look at the service record and offer any ideas?

Would anyone know why he has two service numbers and what the "G" stands for under Division and Register?

I can see on the record he passed his Signalman (2nd Class) qualifications 5/4/41 shortly before joining MNBDO but MNBDO 1 or 2? He is too late to be shipped out for Crete however I know he was in Egypt at El Alamein (family story) but MNBDO 2 weren't in Egypt for El Alamein? Then he served with MNBDO2 in Italy!

We have Bills medals (Africa, Italy and Europe).

It's all a bit of a muddle, well to me at least! Hopefully someone will be able to shed a little light on things.

Div and Register Number by AlanOb posted Jan 27, 2025 at 10:28 PM

Service Cert ww2 by AlanOb posted Jan 27, 2025 at 10:23 PM

 

Hello AlanOb,

I might guess that your father-in-law served with the M.N.B.D.O. II, based on the clues in the Service Record. I haven't (yet) research the M.N.B.D.O. II in any depth yet but here is a summary as might relate to your father-in-law.

The second Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation (M.N.B.D.O. II) was formed from 1st January 1941. To give the formation its full title, the 2nd Royal Marine Group, M.N.B.D.O. II. The first such formation, M.N.B.D.O. I sailed for the Middle East on 8th February 1941.

You say that your father-in-law passed his signals qualifications on 5th April 1941, so we might guess that he was posted to one of the two R.M. Signal Companies serving with the M.N.B.D.O. II.

The M.N.B.D.O. II remained in the United Kingdom until early 1943 when it embarked for overseas service.

The M.N.B.D.O. II arrived in Egypt in June(?) 1943. Under the plans made for the invasion of Sicily, known as Operation ‘Husky’, the M.N.B.D.O. II was allotted to the anti-aircraft, coast and ground defence and internal security of Augusta port. In addition, Marine coast defence gunners were tasked with manning captured Italian guns at Syracuse. In this role, the formation came under the command of the Eight Army. Prior to the invasion, elements were deployed in the anti-aircraft defence of Malta between 16th June and 9th July 1943. Elements of the M.N.B.D.O. II began landing on Sicily on 9th July 1943. The balance of the M.N.B.D.O. II landed in the days which followed. Orders were received in December 1943 for the return to the United Kingdom.

The above would explain why he qualified for the Africa Star and the Italy Star.

The family story regarding el Alamein may be just that – a story. Memories are not always accurate and sometimes families link information on one aspect of service with famous events that they know of. I don’t know, just a suggestion.

You father-in-law likely returned to the U.K. with the M.N.B.D.O. II when the formation left Sicily in January 1944 to arrive in February. The Headquarters, 2nd R.M. Group, was disbanded in May 1944 and all but those of the anti-aircraft regiments forming 5th R.M. A.A. Regiment, were sent to North Wales for selection as landing craft crews, commandos and other roles.

You father-in-law spent time with the R.M.T.G. (Royal Marines Training Group). Upon return to the United Kingdom, the Royal Marines of the M.N.B.D.O. II were assessed for suitability to serve as Commandos or landing craft crews. The R.M.T.G. (Wales) was responsible for training Marines re-posted as landing craft crews (and later used for Commando training). Several camps formed the Group.

He then became administered by COPRA (Combined Operations Pay Records and Accounts). This was a Royal Navy shore base that handled pay and records for Royal Marines serving in Combined Operations during World War II. The name COPRA is an acronym for Combined Operations Pay Records and Accounts. Royal Marines who served in Combined Operations as commando personnel, Landing Craft personnel (not commandos), or in some other capacity, He returned to the R.M.T.G. in January 1945.

The 33rd R.M. Battalion formed part of the 117th R.M. Brigade. The Battalion was flown to Germany in 1945 to reinforces the 116th R.M. Brigade and suffered some casualties. Having been joined by the 31st and 32nd Battalion, the 33rd returned to the U.K. with them in July 1945.

The above explains the award of what I assume is the France and Germany Star.

He was transferred from and enlistment status of “General Service” to “Hostilities Only Engagement” at some point. The ‘G’ might reflect his “General Service” status. I don’t know.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

To supplement Rothy's post if you search online with: "MNBDO 2" site:ww2talk.com there are five threads and more are id'd using: "MNBDO 2" site:ww2talk.com

I think a search with "M.N.B.D.O. II" site:ww2talk.com returns the same threads at a glance.

Would his Service Number be CH/XG3492 ? Can you please clarify. The number is how others search for records.

 

The service number was CH/X3492 - the 'G' is not part of his service number and I suspect Rothy is correct and it is a note to state the change to General Service. Was he in the service prior to the war with number X118286? (number on top right in pencil) as the record begins 1940?

Looking at the record it only begins in 1940 so It doesn't make sense to me to change from General Service to 'Hostilities Only' in the 'HO' period unless he had been in before the outbreak of hostilities or am I missing something?

Regards
Hugh

 

The way I would read this is:
He joined on a General Service engagement in 1940 with Service No. CHX 3492. This was retrospectively changed to a HO engagement in 1946 with new Service No. CHX 118286, possibly to allow his release and time with Reserves.
The Authority for the change ends /46 which is usually the year of the Authority reference. The Authority notation is also just after the entry for Chatham Divn in 1946, which, to me, would indicate it was not made until 1946.

Tim

 

Yes, I agree Tim - looking again - the CH/X 118286 is the 'HO' number [they were six digits] applied retrospectively. It just seemed odd to me the way it was written and I wondered if there was any prior service not shown.
Cheers
Hugh

 

Thank you everyone.

I agree it looks most likely he was part of MNBDO2, still a few things niggling at me so I will keep reading. I did read in: The Royal Marines: From Sea Soldiers to a Special Force
Book by Julian Thompson that a detachment from MNBDO1 left late for Durban S.A but were turned away by South African authorities who didn't want them taking over services on their port so this is something I'd like to tie up just to make sure (if a wider explanation exists).

I'm wondering if the family story about Bill passing his brother (was a Royal Fusilier) was Italy based rather than Egypt. Certainly his brother was in Italy and was a POW from 1944 but I don't have his service record.

The '3492' is an odd thing as it also shows on other Marines details aboard ships (that sadly were sunk). I do agree though it looks as though it was changed retrospectively as I had noticed the 46 part of the authority.

Still much to try and piece together! Spent a good hour or so reading about the defence plans for invasion in Chatham last night! Just because 'Chatham Division' got me interested...

 

If it helps Bill was RNR from 54-58 (Korea?) time period, I have another sheet somewhere...

 

AlanOb,

Post 8 unlikely to be related to the Korean War, which was between 25 Jun 1950 – 27 Jul 1953 and I expect some UK presence did remain after the ceasefire, though unknown till when.

 

Ah! Very unlikely

 

Ok a bit more digging. Bills brother Thomas was in 9th Bn (C.o.L) Royal Fusiliers who were part of Operation Husky. This would confirm the family story of them passing each other (on the beach I think it was). Also Makes it 99% sure (I can be) that Bill was part of MNBDO2. Phew!

 

Would anyone be able to explain the term 'General Service' for me please. I assume it's just a catch all for infantryman/Royal Marines. Oi you dig that ditch as opposed to specialist roles such as explosives or signals?

 

"General Service" refers to the terms of service or enlistment and not role. In more modern terms, his contract. It would determine (I think) duration of service and whether a soldier or Marine could be deployed overseas. Can anyone else expand?

Whereas "Hostilities Only" means a serviceman serves until the war is over and is then released unless he signs up for peacetime 'general service'.

Remember that your father-in-law's records indicate that he was a Royal Marine signaller.

 

Brilliantly explained thank you. Making sense of all these little parts really helps to make the picture a little clearer.

 

AlanOb
I posted this in another thread a couple of weeks ago. It is a transcript of the War Diary of 117th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines, in which your PiL served when he was in 33rd Bn. (31st and 32nd Bns were the other two units in the Bde). It covers the Bde from its formation in Jan '45 to disbandment in Jun that year:

33 Battalion | The National Archives​

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117th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines 1945
The HQ of 117 Bde commenced to form at Deal on 15 Jan 1945 with the arrival there of Bde Command and DAA and QMG. All remaining Officers, apart from Bde IO, joined in the course of the next few days, and Army ORs also arrived as intended with the exception of the RASC clerk. These latter were not in accordance with the WE and the absence of a proper clerical staff handicapped work in the early stages. Early in February the Bde HQ moved to Birchington and occupied there a series of requisitioned properties. Work at this stage consisted of getting the HQ to function and to assist units in preparing to receive their draft personnel and G1098 equipment. Embarkation leave was given during this period and all personnel prepared to move overseas.

In the middle of March, the Bde moved to Ulverston, all vehicles proceeded by road either independently or in convoy, the remaining personnel and stores by rail. On arrival at Ulverston they were accommodated in Stonecross House and a series of smaller properties. This location was about five miles from the nearest unit. Training of Bde HQ commenced at Ulverston and exercises to practise the movement of Bde HQ took place. A series of exercises were also arranged to practice the functions of the Bde in the field, culminating in an exercise in which Bns took part to paint a realistic picture. Training at this stage was handicapped by the loss of the BM (Major AA Duncan WG), who was posted to Europe, and three officers were posted in turn before a final relief was obtained. In early May, orders were received for the Bde to prepare to move overseas.

First to depart was 33 RM whilst 31 RM and 32 RM with Bde left a week later, arriving in the Kiel area between 16 and 18 May. Temporary Bde HQ was set up at 33 RM's location, but was later moved into an HQ vacated by 46 Bde. The exact role of the formation not yet clear at this time but it was decided that one battalion (31 RM) was to be reserved to meet commitments of FOIC Kiel, one Bn (32 RM) to supply guards for naval stores with NOIC Kiel, and the third Bn (33 RM) to supply guards for merchant ships sailing to the UK on instructions of NOIC Kiel.

It was learned however at the end of May that the Bde was likely to return to UK within a few weeks, which necessitated the role of 33 RM to be amended, whereby the guards were relieved at Brunsbuttel and returned to Kiel. GOCRM visited 117 Bde and inspected various detachments on a tour lasting three days from 4th to 6th of June.

The men throughout the Bde were obviously disappointed that they were not to be used in an operational role, and the fact that they were to return so quickly was a further disappointment. Investigations show however that the men of Bde HQ appreciated the remarks made in GOC RMs talk which helped them to realise the need for the formation's disbandment.

The personnel of HQ 117 Inf Bde were drawn from the RM Beach Bde Signals Company. Prior to joining with Bde HQ the Sig Sec had two weeks at RM Signal Holding Company, Trecwn (near Fishguard, Pembrokeshire) in which to complete kits, and reform in the new organisation. On 5th February the Bde Sig Sec reported to Bde he-atorganisation.Birchington (near Margate, Kent). The succeeding month was spent in administration arrangements and organising and receiving G1098 equipment. No signal training was carried out but the Bde HQ SDO and SDS were staffed

On 16 March 1945 the signal section moved to Ulverston (Lake District) to commence signals training. The first two weeks was spent in familiarising all signalmen with all possible instruments they would be likely to encounter. At this stage no effort was made to select men for specialist tasks within the section. Daily reads in VS, Semaphore and Wireless Transmissions were carried out

Having completed the preliminary training, the section was organised to function in its operational role, and ranks were selected for their specialist tasks. Signalling exercises within the section were carried out and flexibility and mobility were stressed under all conditions. All officers were taught RT procedure and the use of SLIDER and MAPLAY.

Three Bn Signal exercises helped a great deal in smoothing out troubles over the link up from Bde Signals to Bn Sig Platoon. A four-day Bde exercise based on battalion relief in the line, fully deployed the Bde Sig Sec and provided valuable information with regard to staff requirements of signals at the Bde HQ. During this training period the HQ SDS and SDO were manned continually.

On arrival in the British Liberation Area the requirement for a mobile Signal Section had ceased. The Kiel auto telephone system was in operation and all line maintenance carried out by German POWs. The Kiel Bde Area Signals Office and SDS were entirely staffed by personnel of 117 Inf Bde RM Sig Sec, and the amount of traffic handled necessitated a considerable increase in Sig Office staff. All WS in Naval Patrol Craft were manned by Signalmen from the Bde Sec, and for this requirement one corporal and 15 Other Ranks were detached under NOIC Kiel. The remaining signals personnel were employed in miscellaneous commitments from day to day, but which seldom fully extended them.

Reinforcements were initially trained separately at RM Sig Holding Coy, and joined the main body just before leaving Birchington. While with the section their training was devoted to learning as much as possible about every duty within the section, so that in case of reinforcements being required each man could fill any vacancy. The personnel of Sig Sec were obviously disappointed at not being employed in the active role for which they have been trained, except for the Sig Office ranks and DRs who were fully extended throughout. It is felt however that valuable experience has been gained and that the ranks of the Section have had sound signal training for any future role for which they may be required.

The 31st Battalion RM began to form at Deal on 21 January 1945 with a small cadre of officers and NCOs. Early in February the Battalion moved to Birchington, and during the month enough officers and Other Ranks arrived to complete to WE plus 1st reinforcements. 'The officers came largely from Landing Craft, though a few were formerly in Naval Port Parties. A fair proportion served in the RM Division before being transferred to Landing Craft in 1945. The 2 IC and the Adjutant were the only two CS officers appointed. The ORs were almost without exception from Landing Craft. They were transferred as individuals, and not by flotillas. Reaction was in general not favourable to the transfer; apart from the breaking up of units, many NCOs had lost acting ranks, and all other ranks had lost Combined Ops pay and customs privileges. The average age was very young, about 24 years, and many men had not served in RM units other than Landing Craft. Mobilisation of the Battalion, less Sp Coy, was completed on 20 Feb 1945.

A certain amount of individual training was carried out at Birchington, but extensive training began at Birchington with at Birchington the at Birchington move of the Battalion to Barrow- in-Furness in the middle of March. The men had been impressed with the importance and urgency of the task and with the need for them to co-operate fully in their training in order to produce an efficient infantry unit. The response exceeded all expectations and with good training facilities and good weather progress was rapid

Several officers and NCOs were sent on courses at various Army Schools. Some men of Spa Coy were given specialist training in Northern Ireland, the Sp Coy itself completing mobilisation in the middle of April. Course results were generally good. By the beginning of May training was well advanced, but it was becoming obvious that the fighting in Europe was coming to an end. On 7 May, the day before VE Day, orders arrived for the move of the battalion overseas. Disappointment that the unit had had no opportunity of going into action was genuine. Most of the VE holiday was spent in working hard to prepare for the move, but morale was maintained. There were no absentees during this period.

The battalion landed at Ostend on 13 May, and arrived at Kiel on 18 May, after a tiring road journey. Two companies were deployed on various tasks the - following day. There had been little incident worthy of particular notice, but the whole battalion has been fully employed on a variety of duties of a Naval character, providing guards for important areas and buildings, boarding parties to disarm and collect POWs and strenshipping, and escorts on German ships for local trips. "C" Coy on the beompatrol for the first four days were kept particularly busy and had the pleasure of handling several truculent SS troops in addition to preventing a large ocean going U-Boat from being scuttled.

The battalion was now widely scattered, companies being located at Flensburg and Travemunde, some hundred miles apart. Officers and NCOs in charge of detached sub-units have a considerable measure of responsibility to shoulder and had generally acquitted themselves well. A high standard of discipline and bearing was aimed at and the men realised the necessity for this, though the conditions are sometimes trying, especially at Kiel.

It is obvious that the continual employment on routine guard duties and the absence of facilities for the men to enjoy the normal off duty amusements imposed a severe strain. Nevertheless morale has been maintained at a high level, and although the unit would have preferred to have arrived in time to take part in operations, it is evident that the opportunity of doing something in Germany was welcomed.

At Deal, on January 25th, Captain Ramsden arrived at RM Depot to carry out preliminary liaison with HQ 117 Infantry Bde as Adjutant, 32 Battalion RM. During the next week he was joined by the Battalion Commander, the Quarter Master and the Motor Transport Officer and later by a cadre of SNCOs and tradesmen who formed the nucleus upon which the battalion was built. During the initial stages at Deal, parties were sent to Margate to prepare accommodation with view to housing the complete battalion. The weather was extremely cold and due to heavy falls of snow, the accommodation, which consisted of semi-detached houses and hotels in the centre of the town was in very bad condition.

On 5th February, the battalion, now consisting of about 80 men paraded in North Barracks, Deal, and together with the other two battalions of the Brigade, marched out of barracks through the streets of Deal to entrain for Margate. The Salute was taken by the Commandant. Between 8th and 17th February, three main intakes arrived by train from Lympstone. They consisted of about 200 men in each draft and were mainly former landing craft personnel, the majority of whom did not take too kindly to the exchange of the 'groundsheet' for the 'duffel coat. However, on learning the reason for the formation of the Brigade, they soon buckled to’ and worked hard at their new job. On 8th February, 24 Officers joined from various units, chiefly Landing Craft Flotillas, most of them being sent off almost immediately on courses to fit them for their pre-selected jobs in the battalion. During the period at Margate, there were many teething troubles, not the least being the job of fitting the right men into the right place. Due to everyone being granted a week's Embarkation Leave and to the numerous courses which were being undertaken, the battalion was never more than at half strength. The early stages found the Companies engaged in kitting up and other domestic problems and it was only during the last fortnight when it became known that it would train in England and not on the Continent that any infantry training on a large scale was commenced. Two Army officers and 80 Instructors had been loaned to the battalion and with their help the initial stages of weapon training and fieldcraft were started the built-up area of Margate and surrounding districts proved a disadvantage for this, but the range facilities and helpfulness of HMSROBERTSON was invaluable. Physical exercise on the sands and route marches were carried out in excellent weather and consequently good health and morale were maintained on a high level. When it became known we were to complete Corps training in Westmorland, an advance party was sent by rail to prepare the new camp and view the training areas. A fortnight later, on the 16th March, the main body of the battalion entrained during the night and arrived early the next morning at Dalton-in-Furness- the battalion transport having been sent ahead in a Brigade convoy three days earlier.

The camp, which had been built to house bombed-out civilians of Barrow and had lately been occupied by the 5th Inniskillings was well laid out in good condition and consisted of prefabricated huts with adequate concrete roadways. It was set on high ground overlooking Dalton and the Lake District to the north. There was the barest pause before training was again in full swing - as at Margate it was based on a six-day week with 24 hours stand-off. The areas themselves were good and suitable for all types of training, the only disadvantage being that they were rather too far away and necessitated on occasion, the use of transport. Within a short time, the stages of weapon training and fieldcraft were completed and consequently the services of the Army Instructors who had been mostly drawn from Searchlight and AA Batteries and so possessed only a comparatively limited knowledge of Infantry work themselves, were no longer really required. By this time Platoons and Sections were properly organised and working as formed units. The local Council offered such sports and entertainment facilities as they possessed and, as far as limited leisure allowed, these were taken advantage of to arrange inter-battalion and Brigade football and Rugby matches. The weather experienced during our stay at Dalton was certainly typical of the Lake District and the groundsheets previously scorned were now regarded as prized possessions. There were, however, fine days and on one of the hottest, the battalion moved out on its first 24-hour exercise-, involving an overall march of 16 miles, preparing a defensive position and setting up bivouacs under operational conditions. More than one Company completed the last seven miles of the return march in well under two hours
Then followed a period of more advanced training, interspersed with battalion and Brigade exercises. Valuable experience was gained from these exercises and it was felt for the first time that the battalion as an operational unit was gaining strength. Platoon and other inter unit competitions were organised, which imbued the men with further keenness and spirit. It was evident that the war in Europe was drawing to its close, but it was firmly hoped that the battalion might still be used and be able to deal at least one blow before the fighting ceased. 'This hope continued almost unabated until VE Day and training was maintained as hard as ever to this end it was perhaps ironic that the order to move overseas coincided almost exactly with VE Day. The administrative headaches involved rather damped the celebrations, but nearly everyone had 24 hours off. The transport moved under Brigade arrangements on 10th May to the transit camp at Purfleet being joined later by the remainder of the battalion who travelled by train, leaving Dalton on Saturday, 12th May.

After remaining in the transit Camp overnight, the road and rail Parties again rail Parties separated, separated. the separated former embarking in Landing Ships Tanks and was uneventful, the latter in Landing Ship Infantry. The crossing to Ostendand during the afternoon on Monday, 14th May, the battalion made their long sought for footing on the Continent. They then learned that their eventual destination was Kiel and that evening was spent in preparing for the four-day road journey billeted in the transit camp in the centre of Ostend. In the early morning, the battalion transport supplemented by 64 Troop Carrying Vehicles of a Dutch transport unit were drawn up and divided into four echelons. The troops embussed and the first group moved off at 0830 hours

From its start the journey was most interesting, and having traversed Belgium, the first night was spent just short of the German frontier, two miles outside Venlo in Holland. The next two days took the unit through North Germany; the road we followed had been the axis of advance of the 2nd Army, traced day by day on the map in the Officers’ Mess and Information Room at Dalton. From Venlo, the CO, Adjutant and Signals Officer went ahead to arrive at Kiel 24 hours ahead of the main body. They found that the unit was due to relieve 28 Battalion RM in our present location, but not for several days. Thus, the main convoy, when it arrived was stopped several miles short of Kiel on the Neumunster road and Companies were allocated village areas, where they stayed for 48 hours until it was possible to relieve 28 RM. The roads through Holland and Germany, scarred by battle, made the journey uncomfortable and trying to the vehicles which, nevertheless, stood the strain well. One or two trucks fell out and minor repairs were necessary, but all eventually caught up with the main body.

The outstanding event of the whole move was that of the lone carrier which was stranded at Derby in England due to its war flat (railway truck) having developed trouble and not being allowed to proceed. This carrier, with its complement of two Marines, PO/X 118323 Marine R E Bennett and PLY /X 113888 Marine S Pearson, drove into the battalion car park at Kiel only four hours after the last vehicles had arrived, having completed the entire journey as a separate entity and relying entirely on their own initiative. They had no previous knowledge of the Battalion's destination on the Continent, At Kiel, the battalion was employed roughly as follows:
(i) "A" Company providing guards, sentries and escorts for NavalOfficers in Charge (NOIC) and their respective ships
(ii) "B" Company organising Boat Patrols and the Boat Pool for NOIC
(iii) "C" Company control and unloading of Prisoners of War from the Boom and supervising their landing from German Landing Craft. In addition, one Platoon guarded the German destroyers which have been de-militarised
(iv) "D" Company guard the Prisoners of War, anything from eight to eleven thousand in Wik Barracks.
(v) Support Company guarding small, outlying, vital Naval installations, etc, with the Carrier Platoon held as a mobile reserve.

On arrival from Landing Craft at Margate, the men seemed disappointed and dispirited over their change of role, but after training commenced in earnest and it was realised fully that the unit was intended for operations, the spirit and enthusiasm became very great and the training, increased standard of the men, both in bearing and proportionately. There is no doubt that all the personnel gained considerable advantage as Royal Marines, due to the training, even though the battalion did not see any action.

On 29th January 1945, the nucleus of 33 Royal Marines assembled at Deal and a week later moved to Margate. The men arrived in drafts of 250 and by 28th February, HQ and the Rifle Companies were mobilised. nearly all the men having had 7 days embarkation leave. Also, by this time 2 Captains and 79 NCOs had arrived from various regiments as weapon training instructors. In the third week of March, the battalion less those details of Support Company who were training in Northern Ireland and Warwickshire, moved to Anty Cross Camp, Dalton-in-Furness. Corps training here proceeded at very high pressure and included much night training. There were many exercises for battalion HQ in the field and one battalion exercise on Relief in the Line. During this period 33 RM was visited by Commander in Chief Home Forces, General Officer Commanding Western Command and General Officer Commanding 38 Division. In the afternoon of Friday 27th April, orders were received to prepare to move overseas and at 1500 hours the following day, all the wheeled vehicles left by road for Tilbury. The 1 remainder of the battalion went to Tilbury by train and both parties arrived at Ostend by sea on May 2nd, After spending a night there in a transit camp, the unit moved to a Naval concentration camp at Bourg Leopold, where the living conditions were far from pleasant. All the vehicles left by road the following day and there was no breakdown in the journey to Kiel with the exception of the carriers whose tracks suffered from the continuous bad roads.

Early on the morning of VE Day, the remainder of the battalion moved to Brussels and from there flew to an airstrip near Liamburg; then on by road to Lübeck where the battalion transport joined up. After a night just South of Kiel, the battalion moved into its billets in the Wilhelmplatz and in under eight hours after arrival, "A" Company went down to the docks to remove the crews of a flotilla of Narvik class destroyers. By the end of the following day, 11 destroyers were cleared, most of the work having been done after dark. The actual surrenders of two destroyers were made to Major C M Buckett, RM and 2Lt C Rutherford, RM. “A” Company was responsible for the guarding of these ships until relieved by 28 RM six days later.

Two more companies were also out on jobs within 24 hours. “B” moved complete to the victualling yard on the much-bombed East side of the harbour to guard valuable German Naval stores. They continued on their job until relieved 31 RM on 19th May, having experienced trouble between the Russian slave workers and the Germans. “C” Company were called out to receive and guard approximately 14,000 Wehrmacht were being landed that night. They were, however, relieved the following day. For the rest of the week, “C” and “D” Companies, and also Support Company, after a few days maintenance, were continually carrying out various guard commitments on medical stores at Hagen, the Boom Defence Vessel; Frederiscort, as boarding parties, and on small boats etc. On the 16th May, 15 Platoon of “C” Company moved to a German torpedo factory at Eckenforde and “D” Company to Travemunde for guards and boarding parties. The following day, 13 and 14 platoons of “C” Company went to Flensburg where, on the 23rd May, a composite platoon under command of Lt CJ Elliott, RM participated in OP BLACKOUT which was the final round up of Admiral Doenitz and the Reichgovernment.

Admiral General Friedeburg returned to the Naval HQ that the RM Platoon was surrounding and committed suicide. The following day, “C” Company was relieved by 31 RM. On 20th May, the battalion assumed the commitment of guarding merchant ships destined to sail to the UK and one Platoon of “A” Company proceeded afloat to guard four merchant ships. Two days later the remainder of the Company proceeded to embark on 2 further eight merchant ships and the following day B Company embarked in 12 merchant ships. On 22 May, Platoon Support Company took over the control and guarding of all landing craft in Kiel harbour and, on the same day, 3 Platoon and 40 men from 117 Infantry Bde HQ under command of Captain ES Poole RM executed a raid on a German Officers Club. Two days after this, “D” Company was relieved by 31 RM at Travemunde and on 29th May embarked on twelve merchant ships. “C” Company meanwhile was providing the battalion guard and preparing for the King's Birthday Parade on 2nd June, two sections however, embarking on 30th May for guard duties in merchant ships. On 2nd June, six ships guarded by “A” Company proceeded through the Kiel Canal prior to sailing to the UK. The battalion provided a Company of 3 Officers and 75 Other Ranks on HM the King's Birthday Parade.
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For what it's worth, the War Diary of 33rd Bn is held at The National Archives in Kew. Sadly it has not (yet) been converted to soft copy, and therefore you'd have to organise a visit to Kew read/ photograph it. The same applies to the War Diary of the MNBDO.

I'm intrigued by the brevity of his first stint under HBL RMTG (Royal Marine Training Group) - 9 to 20 May 1944 - prior to his Pay and Records being transferred to Combined Operations. I'm just now finalising my Grandad's war history - he spent most of his war with RMTG, in Devon and Wales, before trooping off to Holland in 1945, with 116th Bde - and from this I know that:

On 1st April 1943 the RM took over (from the RN) the responsibility for providing crews for all 'smaller' Landng Craft (i.e. under 200 feet), and:

Within 9 months they generated sufficient trained manpower - much of it from the MNBDOs that began to disband in May '43 - to crew two-thirds of the huge fleet of Landing Craft that put troops ashore on D Day.
​

To achieve this RMTG (Wales) very rapidly established a 'sausage machine' which started at 'Matapan' camp (Towyn) with six days of kitting-up and rigorous selection, which - for most men - was followed by a series of 2-week courses, under RMTG(Wales) in seamanship & gunnery, or to prep them to be engine-room ratings.

But in May 1944 - by which time the series of major landing rehearsals for D Day were already well under way, and the demand for LC crewmen must have abated - your old boy was a latecomer to the party, and was only on RMTG books for 12 days so it doesn't look like he went through that 'sausage machine' with RMTG! . Anyone in the family got any idea what he was up to in the 8 months between 21 May '44 and 29 Jan '45?

As to his second period under HBL RMTG, I'd bet that time was spent with him being re-mustered into and trained by 33rd Bn, which was a very hasty process, conducted under the auspices of HQ RMTG until 117 Bde HQ officially took command of its Bns, and each was allocated its own HBL.
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You might want to search this online copy of By Sea By Land for more information about the units he served in, there's lots of references to MNBDO II (it's particularly informative about the wide range of Royal Marine skillsets in an MNBDO):

By Sea, by Land: The Authorised History of the Royal Marines - PDF Free Download​

 

That is superb, thank you. I'll have a good read.

 

It's as comprehensive a record as you're likely to find. I lifted it from the tail end of a book published by the RM Historical Society, that covers my Grandad's brigade (116th) in the same campaign, and the author tagged 117th on to their story because 117th's is so brief.

That said, it's an unusual Diary because it mentions the names and actions of so many Rank And File soldiers.

 

From memory, the stamp on my old boy's enlistment papers reads "For The Duration Of The Present Emergency", but "FTDOTPE" is an untidy abbreviation compared to "HO"

 

For clarity, because I'm still trying to find out how to correctly interpret service records I wonder if you could help my understanding of this mysteries of Royal Marines Register Numbers in WW2.

What I thnk I know so far, is that:

- Each Navy Division (and sometimes Depots?) issued numbers to men on enlistment, from blocks allocated to the Division by the Admiralty.
- There were several Divisions: from CWGC burials data for Royal Marines in WW2 I've tentatively identified the following:

Chatham (CH)
Plymouth (PL)
Portsmouth
RM Depot Exton(?) (EX) ​

. . although I found a solitary Royal Marine shown by CWGC as P/X 2952, which has me puzzled, and I was expecting to to find RM Depot (Deal), but didn't

- The /X after the Div identifier indicates a man enlisted after the introduction of new pay rates in 1930 (but CWGC lists no men with the prefix EX/X, which is a bit of a puzzle)

- 6 digits in a number identifies man as enlisted For The Duration Of The Current Emergency/ Hostilities Only (again the EX series seems anomalous, most its numbers comprising just 4 digits),

- I've also found a few individuals whose numbers are followed by (T) which I don't understand, and a solitary soul (again 'EX/' ) numbered "EX/SR8111". Again, puzzled.​

How much of the above is correct, and which bits have I got wrong?

I've a secondary question also, about HO enlistment, because (according to By Sea By Land) HO troops were debarred from service afloat, but I have found a small percentage in the CWGC data listed against one or another of His Majesty's Ships (proper ships, not granite frigates). More puzzles . . . .

Any and all good advice welcome.

Examples from CWGC Data
Chatham Div

CH/ 10917 (Interesting, this one: Age 64, Rank: Marine, serving at HMS Pembroke, A.K.A. Bletchley Park)
CH/X 1013
CH/X 01085
CH/X 100069
CH/X 100215(T)​

RM Depot Exton(?)

EX/ 568
EX/ 1010
EX/ 1157(T)
EX/ SR8111
​

Plymouth Div(?)

PLY/X 99
PLY/X 972
​

Portsmouth Div

PO/ 306
PO/ 210996
PO/ 21115
PO/ 211689(T)
P/X 2952 ?????????​

 

Stonker, have you seen this article?