WW2 ANZAC troops - Operation Mercury

Started by Sunray, 24 May 2019, 08:45:13 AM

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Sunray

Quote from: fsn on 26 May 2019, 05:27:42 PM
28th Maori Bttn fought in Greece and Crete

https://28maoribattalion.org.nz/story-of-the-28th/greece-and-crete

Quite right Nobby ! Two comments if I may:

First -the only Ghurkhas in the theatre (1940/41)were the 2/7th - captured at Tobruk.  Those attached to the Indian Army  2/3 and 2/4 were not deployed to Greece with the 4th Indian Division until 1944.

Secondly - the second soldier is the front file has classic Maori features and he (or his twin!) pop up in a montage of 28th (Maori) Battalion images.  The Battalion fought with great gallantry in covering the withdrawal from Crete.  You also find "Maoris" of mixed race.

Several accounts quote Rommel as an admirer of the Maori élan and fighting spirit.   

paulr

27 May 2019, 01:24:57 AM #16 Last Edit: 27 May 2019, 01:30:30 AM by paulr
The majority of the guys in the queue certainly look Maori to me
Number 5 looks to have acquired a thousand yard stare which is not surprising given what they went through X_X
The pockets in those trousers would certainly help when 'foraging'
Number 4 has an 'acquired' weapon which was a common occurrence with the Maoris  ;)
Lord Lensman of Wellington
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Sunray

The officer (?) to the right of the file is in the Lemon squeezer.  The practice with distinctive headgear in elite/distinctive  units is to wear it when there is no danger of mortars/HE.

1.  Helmets (ww2) are heavy, hot and uncomfortable.  They won't stop a full bore rifle round.

2. The beret or campaign hat carries its own mojo.

paulr

Quote from: Sunray on 27 May 2019, 09:43:58 AM
The officer (?) to the right of the file is in the Lemon squeezer.  The practice with distinctive headgear in elite/distinctive  units is to wear it when there is no danger of mortars/HE.

Quote from: fsn on 26 May 2019, 03:29:04 PM
The caption said Maori.

"Maori troops line up on the quayside at Alexandria in Egypt following their evacuation from Crete"

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-was-the-battle-of-crete


Well spotted Sunray, he's probably a 'base type' up from Maadi Camp
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Orcs

I want some floppy hatted infantry to do 14th army in Burma.  The suggested range would be suitable.

The cynics are right nine times out of ten. -Mencken, H. L.

Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well. - Robert Louis Stevenson

Sunray

Quote from: Orcs on 28 May 2019, 12:52:22 PM
I want some floppy hatted infantry to do 14th army in Burma.  The suggested range would be suitable.



All votes added.  A long way to go before we hit a viable sculpt quota. 

The only thing in our favour is that it will stimulate the sale of a heap of existing Pendraken figures and AFVs. BEF & Desert Brits,  German paras, ACT13 (assault glider ) plus carriers, mortars, 25pdrs, Mark V light tanks .....and two Tillies (now those could be game changers....no pun intended.  :)

Lord Kermit of Birkenhead

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Dr Dave

Isn't it the case that a different command pack would suffice, just of officers?

Aussie in bush hat
NZ in lemon squeezer
Scots in tam o'shanter
Others?


Sunray

Quote from: Dr Dave on 28 May 2019, 06:00:58 PM
Isn't it the case that a different command pack would suffice, just of officers?

Aussie in bush hat
NZ in lemon squeezer
Scots in tam o'shanter
Others?



Interesting idea.  We did that in the Korean range with one solitary French officer with his beret pulled the wrong way. Makes a great proxy for an FFL merc like Steiner.  :)

As to a broken down Matilda -  throw a six to fix ?

Lord Kermit of Birkenhead

No spares for them, not certain how they got there, as no infantry tank rgts were detailed for Greece.

IanS
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Sunray

29 May 2019, 11:46:07 AM #25 Last Edit: 29 May 2019, 11:47:47 AM by Sunray
Quote from: ianrs54 on 29 May 2019, 07:56:31 AM
No spares for them, not certain how they got there, as no infantry tank rgts were detailed for Greece.

IanS

Interesting.

My only secondary source is After the Battle (Nos 47 & 175) authors Plowman, Grieve and Watson, who "with dogged research" , established the fate of the NINE Matildas of B Squadron the 7th Royal Tank Regiment.

You can get downloads at £6 from www.afterthebattle.com  Let us know if you unearth anything  :)

John Cook

This has lots of useful stuff.

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a491531.pdf

Many of the RA batteries were equipped with captured Italian guns.

Sunray

A good academic study John.  Thanks for sharing.  :) 

I have downloaded to read at leisure on the train.