Piper discusses D-Day Invasion

[Jack Daw]

I have seen a depiction of a Commando on the St Nazaire raid (Operation Chariot) wearing a kilt, complete with kilt apron:

http://books.google.com/books?id=UyJ...esult&resnum=4

Remember, Commandos were very unconventional in terms of the British Army regimental system -- in fact, many former Commandos who returned to their old regiments were socially shunned for being "disloyal".

T.

That's an illustration. Is there a photo?

[macwilkin]

That's an illustration. Is there a photo?

I never claimed it was a photo...please note that I said depiction in my post, sir.

The "illustration" in question is by a very credible author/illustrator, ex-RSM Mike Chappell:

Mike Chappell comes from an Aldershot family with British Army connections stretching back several generations. He enlisted as a teenage private in the Royal Hampshire Regiment in 1952 and retired in 1974, as RSM of the 1st Battalion The Wessex Regiment (Rifle Volunteers), after seeing service in Malaya, Cyprus, Swaziland, Libya, Germany, Ulster and home garrisons. He began painting military subjects in 1968 and has gained worldwide popularity as a military illustrator. Mike has written and illustrated many books for Osprey. Mike currently lives in France.

-- http://www.ospreypublishing.com/authors/mike_chappell/

The majority of illustrations in Osprey books are based on photos and/or written descriptions. I don't have my copy handy, but I will look when I get home to see what the source is. Chappell is generally very good when it comes to researching his illustrations and his books in general.

Todd

[macwilkin]

In his text, RSM Chappell states that the basis of his illustration of a member of No. 5 Commando wearing a kilt on the St. Nazaire Raid comes from photos and from the officer commanding the Commando force, Lt. Col. A.C. (Augustus Charles) Newman, Essex Regiment and No. 2 Commando. (pp. 55-56) Chappell mentions photos of the survivors of the raid who were taken prisoner by the Germans, and a number of No. 5 Commando were wearing kilts.

Further information about the raid may be found here:

http://www.stnazairesociety.org/Sect...rmyforces.html

http://www.combinedops.com/St%20Nazaire.htm

http://www.jamesgdorrian.com/Army%20Commandos.html

Note that the aforementioned Lt. Col Newmen received the Victoria Cross.

Regards,

Todd

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

Can't be sure of the veracity of the story, but someplace I read that Bill Millin went ashore on D Day in the kilt his father wore in the first world war.

[wvpiper]

He says he wore the kilt at the invasion. How'd he get away with that? That wasn't a part of the uniform at the time.

He wasn't supposed to have his pipes,either.....
Anyone understand French? I think Lord Lovat is in this video, discussing it in French
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2t...illin_politics

[macwilkin]

He wasn't supposed to have his pipes,either.....

See my earlier post about the unconventional nature of Commando units.

Perhaps its time for a query to the Imperial War Museum...

T.

[wvpiper]

See my earlier post about the unconventional nature of Commando units.

Perhaps its time for a query to the Imperial War Museum...

T.

I saw it; my point was, if he wasn't supposed to have his pipes, but did, there's no reason why he wouldn't also have a kilt on, even though he wasn't supposed to.

I wonder if ol Lovat may have been jealous of the attention 'his' piper received. He was quoted saying Millin wasn't in the movie b/c , and I'm paraphrasing; "i think my old piper is a bartender in glasgow and too fat for the role"

[wvpiper]

The Longest Day will be on American Movie Classics Monday at 12pm

[Jack Daw]

In his text, RSM Chappell states that the basis of his illustration of a member of No. 5 Commando wearing a kilt on the St. Nazaire Raid comes from photos and from the officer commanding the Commando force, Lt. Col. A.C. (Augustus Charles) Newman, Essex Regiment and No. 2 Commando. (pp. 55-56) Chappell mentions photos of the survivors of the raid who were taken prisoner by the Germans, and a number of No. 5 Commando were wearing kilts.

Further information about the raid may be found here:

http://www.stnazairesociety.org/Sect...rmyforces.html

http://www.combinedops.com/St%20Nazaire.htm

http://www.jamesgdorrian.com/Army%20Commandos.html

Note that the aforementioned Lt. Col Newmen received the Victoria Cross.

Regards,

Todd

That's acceptable. Questioning information is not the same as disputing it. I'm a believer.

[macwilkin]

That's acceptable. Questioning information is not the same as disputing it. I'm a believer.

I'm sure both RSM Chappell and Lt. Col. Newman will be pleased to know you find this "acceptable".

Jack, you should know me far better than that the post something unreliable in terms of sources -- historical research is my vocation, after all.

T.