Share This Page:
King's Badgeman Gurney
-
Rotary Booty
- Member
- Posts: 1772
- Joined: Sun 06 Jan, 2002 12:00 am
- Location: Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire
King's Badgeman Gurney
Has anyone come across a guy called Gurney with the King's Badge during their careers? He was an ex-pongo with 3 WW II medals who was backsquaded to 645 Squad round about March 1956. 6 of our Squad met up at the RMA weekend at Lympstone this month, and apart from his attendance with me on the JNCO 2/56 Part I at Stonehouse in July /Aug 1956, no one has seen or heard of him since! Any sightings and any details could help our search. Cheers.
-
Rotary Booty
- Member
- Posts: 1772
- Joined: Sun 06 Jan, 2002 12:00 am
- Location: Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Rotary Booty,
You asked for it and here it is. From memory Gurney was smallish.
The commando unit was based at M'Tarfa Barrack in Malta, near to Rabat. The men were getting used to the heat. There was quite a bit of suburban warefare training, for things to come.
One day the troop of about 50 men were assembled for a lecture. The topic was 'Booby Traps'. The idea seemed to be, to warn you about the dangers of 'acquiring' interesting things like binoculars, that you might see lying around. This was of interest as it might give ideas on how to get them anyway, but with less risk.
The lecture was given by a Captain, who gave a good presentation. At one stage he passed around an object. The instructions were quite clear. "Examine it carefully, then pass it on to the next man". When it reached me, I had a carefull look at it. The main part was a metal cylindrical object, roughly the size of a .303 cartridge. There was a short thin cord attached to one end. At the other end a length of detonating cord with a few knots tied in it. I assumed that it was some sort of spring operated detonator.
It had been passed about 3/4 of the way round the troop, when there was a big bang. I looked across and saw a L/Cpl, an ex-pongo with a surprised look on his face. Smoke was pouring from his lap. I wondered if his fly buttons had been blown off. If I had been able to lay a bet that day, on who would fiddle with it, I would have won a fortune.
I had a quick shufti at your squad photo. I think the only one I remember is Dave, and who could forget Morgan of course.
Chameleon.
You asked for it and here it is. From memory Gurney was smallish.
The commando unit was based at M'Tarfa Barrack in Malta, near to Rabat. The men were getting used to the heat. There was quite a bit of suburban warefare training, for things to come.
One day the troop of about 50 men were assembled for a lecture. The topic was 'Booby Traps'. The idea seemed to be, to warn you about the dangers of 'acquiring' interesting things like binoculars, that you might see lying around. This was of interest as it might give ideas on how to get them anyway, but with less risk.
The lecture was given by a Captain, who gave a good presentation. At one stage he passed around an object. The instructions were quite clear. "Examine it carefully, then pass it on to the next man". When it reached me, I had a carefull look at it. The main part was a metal cylindrical object, roughly the size of a .303 cartridge. There was a short thin cord attached to one end. At the other end a length of detonating cord with a few knots tied in it. I assumed that it was some sort of spring operated detonator.
It had been passed about 3/4 of the way round the troop, when there was a big bang. I looked across and saw a L/Cpl, an ex-pongo with a surprised look on his face. Smoke was pouring from his lap. I wondered if his fly buttons had been blown off. If I had been able to lay a bet that day, on who would fiddle with it, I would have won a fortune.
I had a quick shufti at your squad photo. I think the only one I remember is Dave, and who could forget Morgan of course.
Chameleon.
-
Rotary Booty
- Member
- Posts: 1772
- Joined: Sun 06 Jan, 2002 12:00 am
- Location: Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Chameleon
Thanks, sounds like him! That would put him in 45 Commando for the Suez landings if he wasn't already in hospital! I joined 45 at M'tarfa in late November 1956, and he wasn't there then! E-mail on the way, but here is a King's Squad photo of Gurney taken in June 1956 at Eastney Barracks. It may jog other guys memories whose paths he may have crossed, including the penis regrafting surgeon in Malta!
Thanks, sounds like him! That would put him in 45 Commando for the Suez landings if he wasn't already in hospital! I joined 45 at M'tarfa in late November 1956, and he wasn't there then! E-mail on the way, but here is a King's Squad photo of Gurney taken in June 1956 at Eastney Barracks. It may jog other guys memories whose paths he may have crossed, including the penis regrafting surgeon in Malta!
Rotary Booty,
Your almost there, but in Oct 56 M'tarfa was occupied by 42. After boarding their LST to sail East, they never returned to m'tarfa. It was therefore empty.
So the last siting of your man was in 42. If he was able to keep up with them, he would have been in the Assault on Port Said. After the scrapping and a bit of maintaining law and order, 42 boarded HMS Ocean to return to UK. They made a brief stop in Malta on the way, for a run ashore. The Ocean docked at Plymouth, and they returned to Bickleigh their Base.
On the other hand he may still be wandering around the LST, wondering where every one is.
Your almost there, but in Oct 56 M'tarfa was occupied by 42. After boarding their LST to sail East, they never returned to m'tarfa. It was therefore empty.
So the last siting of your man was in 42. If he was able to keep up with them, he would have been in the Assault on Port Said. After the scrapping and a bit of maintaining law and order, 42 boarded HMS Ocean to return to UK. They made a brief stop in Malta on the way, for a run ashore. The Ocean docked at Plymouth, and they returned to Bickleigh their Base.
On the other hand he may still be wandering around the LST, wondering where every one is.
