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PeterMacD

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Posts posted by PeterMacD

  1. 1943: British and Australian commando forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Lyons, Gordon Highlanders, mounted Operation Jaywick, a canoe attack on Japanese shipping in Singapore harbour. Their limpet mines sank three ships and left several others damaged. The assault team escaped in their fishing boat, HMAS Krait, which has been preserved as part of the Australian War Memorial Collection.

     

    A group photo of the men of Operation Jaywick taken in Brisbane after returning from the raid on Singapore Harbour. (From row: left to right) Lieutenant H E Carse, Lieutenant D M N Davidson, Major I Lyon, Major H A Campbell (involved in planning but did not accompany the operation), Lieutenant R C Page; (Centre row) Corporal A A Crilly, Leading Seaman K P Cain, Leading Stoker J P McDowell, Leading Telegraphist H S Young, Able Seaman W G Falls, Corporal R G Morris; (Back row) Able Seamen M Berryman, F W L Marsh, A W Jones and A W G Huston.

    AWM 045424

     

  2. in my 58 webbing days ( 1980's) it was rare for the Land Army to be issued pistols - they went to Northern Ireland - most officers were issued SMGs as they were required to direct the battle and not take part! ;-)

     

    The Royal Military Police did wear them on occasions, but again, I seem to remember them carrying SMGs in the field.

  3. the structure has a pit with an external entrance so I am guessing that it is a maintenance shed of some kind. The inlet pipes could be for drainage out that gets rid of any water build up or from a wash-down. The corrugated shelter is just a cover to the entrance.

     

    How am I doing?

  4. AlienFTM - those chevrons usually turned brown after a good few washes. Do you remember how odd nigs used to look in their new combats compared to the old sweats who had been wearing them for years?

     

    We had a company photo taken in Germany and I refused to get one as we looked like a bunch of paintballers as not one of the uniforms matched. Even working dress was the same. The funniest thing was those who only ever ironed one side of their denims leaving a different shade of green either side of the crease! :roll:

  5. Tony B,

     

    agree to a certain extent, but a big problem in the Sandpit is the cover available to insurgents - we should have a similar arrangement that tank squadrons had during WW2 when each troop had a Firefly to counter Panthers and Tigers - maybe we should have a 20mm armed Bulldog per company? Then the up-gunned Bulldog could make a hole for the Jimpy to be able to engage more clearly.

  6. Having just read Les Howard's interesting Q&A session with HMVF and the very good review of his book, Winter Warriors, by Mark Barnes, I thought I would add my two penneth.

     

    Firstly, Winter Warriors is a breath of fresh air. It is a classic in the literary sense as it is probably the best written account from a ranker that I have ever read. The authors way of describing events leaves you with a feeling that you are sharing the experience with him, whereas other books make you feel like a long distance spectator or the bloke in a pub who overhears another group's conversation.

     

    I also liked the fact that it wasn't a Special Forces tell all exposé where you can't draw the line between fact and fiction, where outrageous claims can never be verified. Les was a bog standard infantry soldier doing his best - just like 99% of the army. His exploits and experiences are just what you would expect on a peace keeping mission. He tells it like it was with an eye for detail and writing style that kept me hooked until the end.

     

    WW also has the best glossary I have ever seen in a squaddie book, and the 30 odd colour photos and maps add another dimension to the story. When he describes his 432 next to a building, the photo is there. When he tells of white outs on convoy runs to Sarajevo - the photo is there. (My favourite is a shot of a recce deep in snow in the forests where they knew mines were scattered all around. You can sense the tension as they crept forward in their vehicles never knowing what was hidden from view)

     

     

  7. apparently the lads in the Rifles are raving about them. There is more space inside than a Warrior or Saxon, the new engine and transmission means it is very nippy, and the add on armour has saved countless lives.

     

    Actually, if you Look at the original concept that was marketed and the one on the streets of Basra you might be able to see how the MoD saved a few bob when procuring them.

     

     

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