John Markey - Combined Operations in the early 1950s. Here's a photo of my dad who served in Combined Ops about 1953. It was taken at Fremington. I  took him back there today, to look round before its bulldozed.
 
Cheers. Mike Markey, Ebbw Vale  South Wales

Ronald H Barnwell was conscripted into the Royal Navy as a Wireman Sailor. He was responsible for maintaining electrics at sea. He trained in Portsmouth for Leading Rating Rank and further trained at HMS Quebec the RN part of the No 1 Combined Training Centre on Loch Fyne in Scotland. He was assigned to HMS LCH 101 in 1944 and travelled to Bombay by troopship and then overland through Madras and on to Cochin where he joined LCH 101.

HMS LCH 101 was an American Troop Landing ship which had been converted as a Control for Invasion Duties. It was equipped with radio transmitters and receivers echo sounding equipment and distant reading compass. In operation the Commanding Officers of Ghurkas, Royal Marines and Naval Commanders were on board. For the full story visit the BBC's Peoples War website.

No3 Commando taken at the 'MONTGOMERY CLUB' Brussels on Wednesday March 15th 1945. Commandos on a two day respite from the snow covered Holland countryside.

Canadian Army in England 1942-43. Sgt L G (Les) Ellis DCM, front left, was an instructor at the 2nd Division Sniper School. Sgt Ellis was at the time with the Royal Regiment of Canada. The CO patch is clearly visible on his left arm. There is a 2nd CO patch (just visible) on the left arm of the servicemen in the back row 3rd from the left.

Extract from official WW2 records held at the Public Records Office, Kew, London. 19th Sept 1942 - US Army are now wearing their own version of the Combined Operations Badge, which is very similar to ours. These were worn by members of the Engineer Amphibian Corp. These badges were produced with the American Eagle replacing the original; embroidered in yellow on a light blue backing. Photo shows provisions being delivered on Omaha Beach on D-Day + 2 or 3. The Combined Operations insignia are on the left upper arms and on helmets.

Leading Seaman, Harry ‘Dusty’ Millar, was a Gunnery Instructor at HMS Armadillo between 1943 &1945.  Harry's son Robert said, I've been living in Australia for the past 33 years and hope that somebody might remember him from those days. Sadly my father died in December 1988 and seldom spoke about the war. If you have any information likely to be of interest to Robert you can contact him at deburgh@bigpond.com. (Photo; Harry taken outside his parent's home in Bannockburn c 1943).

This photo, taken sometime during 43/44, of Henry John Clifford Elcome, known as Cliff to his friends. He joined the RAF in 1942 as a 'Volunteer Reserve,' later volunteering for the RAF Servicing Commandos. He was posted as a Leading Air Craftsman (LAC) to 3204 Unit where he took part in the Sicily/Italy invasions. When the unit was disbanded in February 1944 he returned to the UK to serve in the 2nd-Tactical Air Force at various UK bases.

Telegraphist H .Ware. Photo taken July 1944 whilst serving with No.16 Royal Navy beach signals section. (Photo and information  courtesy of Michael Whittaker).

Petty Officer Richard Hamer. Unit Unknown. (Photo and information courtesy of Michael Whittaker).

Harold R. Smith, Leading Seaman, RCNVR had this photo taken in the spring of 1944. He was about 23 years old. He had been wounded during the landing at Reggio [Italy] and was back in Canada at the time of this photo. He volunteered for the RN Commandos in 1942 and was assigned to LCI(L)115. He was one of two Canadians (the other being the Captain) on the ship. He had been in action in North Africa, Sicily and Italy before being wounded while his ship was reloading for a return trip to the landing beaches at Reggio. He now lives on Vancouver Island in Courtenay, B.C., Canada with his wife who he married in 1944.

Bill Newell was a member of a small Canadian Commando Unit designated 'W' Commando. This is his battle dress tunic with the round CO badge which was worn by all ranks.

Memorial at Petiville, France. Under the command of Lt Col Peter Young, No3 Commando, 1st Special Service Brigade, liberated Petiville on August 17th 1944.  The Combined Operations insignia can be seen centre of the memorial. (Photo courtesy of  Bernard & Fay Robins).

I'm a tattoo artist in Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham.  Recently I tattooed the Combined Operations Insignia on the right forearm of 78 year old Mr `Dicky` Bird. He took part in  'Normandy June 6th 1944' and 'Walcheren November 1st 1944.'  I was so taken by this extraordinary character that I did a search for the best insignia I could find, and, obviously, landed upon your site. It was his first ever tattoo and he said he most definitely plans to have another on his left forearm. May I commend you on a most informative & enjoyable website. Thanks. Jon Davis.

This locally prepared festive poster from Christmas 1945 celebrates the successful conclusion to WW2. If you'd like to read about RAF Dundonald, which was part of the Combined Training Centre, read about 516 Squadron.