My Latest Pick Up ....and Im Delighted

[Paul B]

RN/ Combined Ops

Can't believe I've just stumbled upon this thread....!!

Firstly, it's an amazing grouping....

Secondly, the Normandy componant of the story is almost certainly completely true. There were several ways in which a para qualified RN rating may have taken part:

Napier Crookenden's book "Drop Zone Normandy" actually includes a photograph of a RN Forward Observer who jumped with 9/PARA on their mission to take the Merville Battery. If memory serves he's wearing a maroon beret with Para Regt capbadge, but his BD is showing the following insignia -ROYAL NAVY shoulder title (not RN COMMANDO) and standard para qualification wings.

RN personnel were also present in the form of COBU or Combined Operations Bombardment Units, again jump trained, photos show them wearing maroon lids with Para Regt capbadges, together with BD showing jump wings and ROYAL NAVY shoulder titles with Combined Ops flashes.

As well as the RN Commando beach parties in Normandy, there was also the RN Troop in 30 Assault Unit, some of whom were para qualified (a famous photo of one of their officers, Patrick Dalziel-Job, shows him wearing a navy blue beret with bullion insignia, ROYAL NAVY shoulder titles, para wings and the units distinctive flash of a white 30 on a blue background. 30 AU, like the RN Beach Parties, landed by assault boat, so my money is on the owner of his rig either being attached to 6 Airborne Div, or being part of a COBU.

Interestingly, although RN personnel completing commando training were presented with the green beret (and a surviving one, worn by a RN Beachmaster, can be seen in the museum at Edinburgh Castle) RN Beach Commandos retained either the navy cap, the knitted cap comforter or the steel helmet.

Also, it seems that only RN personnel in the beach parties wore the RN COMMANDO title, and that other commando trained RNs serving elsewhere wore the ROYAL NAVY title instead (for example, the ratings in 30 AU were all commando qualified, but wore the ROYAL NAVY title, as did some commando trained RN personnel who served on LSTs and assault boats)

All in all a very rare and desirable piece of history to what some have called the forgotten commandos of WWII.

All the best

Paul.

[seebee1]

Truly outstanding Mike, great score, no wonder you are delighted Regards, Clive.

[NKOMO]

WOW! I don't collect WW2 items, but even I can tell this is a very rare piece. Very nice find, sir.

[force136]

Naval Para

I am surprised you guys have never heard of, or seen pictures of CO FOU's? There are a few well known photos of them with 6th Airborne in Normandy. Obviously they are not wearing the navy jumper but smocks. They wear the standard badge ( not the blue backed as some suggest ). The photo of one guy he wears the Royal Navy title and a maroon beret. I can't make out what badge he is wearing? Anyway they had these guys in Italy, Southern France and in Normandy. It also has to be stated that the "COMMANDO" title without unit designation meant they underwent a commando course, they were not commandos as part of a commando unit. This man may have simply been para trained as a FOU as part of a CO scheme. I can't say that the wing is italian made, however it does not appear British made. As for the ribbons, perfectly normal. The first ribbons issued ( does not mean medals were issued ) were the star ribbons. I have seen Africa Star, 39-45, F&G and Italy being worn at the end of the war. I have a ribbon off the BD of the CO of the Algonuin Regt he wore in NW Europe and it has the DSO and 39-45 and CVSM ribbon. ANyway a real nice uniform - never turn anything down. I recall most people do not find artillery interesting being a large corps. A guy had a nice named service dress at a show once. Turns out the guy was in a SP unit and distinguished himself during the fighting to push up to the Rhine.

Ken

I got a phone call of a long term collector friend asking me if i wanted a british sailors uniform , having told him
` not really ,not my area , not my thing `
some what confused by his reply " trust me Mick ...you will want it " i went over and bought it ..... i have had nightmares ever since that my own stupidity might have lost this lot ,see what you think ?

[yellow]

It is possible to find the F&G star to those men who served on RN tubs anchored just off the coast of Normandy during the invasion.

Nice find.

[JedburghDanny]

Nice uniform set!

X Troop of 30 AU was parachute trained Would have expected to find the cloth "30" arm badges on it though if this jacket was associated with them.

He is also wearing the para wing in the higher army position when most Naval and RM regulations state that quailification insignia should be worn on the right or left cuff. This is possibilty a post war regualtion change.

Cheers
Danny