Excellent photographs of men of 1 (French) and 8 (French) Troops of 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando, 1942-1945. (TOP RIGHT) Lord Louis Mountbatten awarding a medal to a member of the French Commandos. The FRANCE shoulder title can clearly be seen with the "tombstone" patch of Combine Operations. This patch was worn until the round oval replaced it by wear for all Commandos.
(TOP LEFT) A French Commando undergoing training at the Commando Training Centre, Achnacarry, Scotland. He is carrying what looks to be a bren LMG (?) and is wearing webbing consistent with a gunner / assistant gunner for such a weapon. Clearly seen is the Cross of Lorraine cap badge, worn until D-Day when it was replaced by the metal badge of 1er Fusiliers de Marine Commando.
(UPPER LEFT) A superb photograph showing battledress insignia, the P37 Battledress proper, showing open collar with shirt and tie, and the green beret and metal cap badge of the French Commandos. Notice how the beret is pulled to the right (British style) as opposed to the French style of being pulled to the left.
(LEFT) Another excellent photograph, this time late-war, showing a French Commando wearing the Denison smock with, interestingly, a Cross of Lorraine pocket badge (?) on the left breast. The beret, once again is worn pulled left (British style) with a another view of the metal cap badge. The French Commandos took the cassino at Ouistreham on D+1 under the command of Capitaine de Corvette Phillipe Keiffer during the Second World War.
Photos are all courtesy of www.6Juin1944.com.
