British SAS Just Back From a Three Month Patrol

Image size: 1600 x 1426 pixel. 493 KB
Date: Monday, 18 January 1943
Place: North Africa
Photographer: Captain Keating from No.1 Army Film & Photography Unit

A close-up of a heavily-armed patrol of 'L' Detachment SAS in their jeeps with their twin-mounted Vickers K machine guns, just back from a three month patrol, 18 January 1943. Lieutenant Edward MacDonald sits in the wheel (foreground) with Corporal Bill Kennedy, while the driver in the second jeep is Private Malcolm Mackinnon. The crews of the jeeps are all wearing 'Arab-style' headdress (kafiyeh), as copied from the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG). The officer at the wheel of the nearest jeep has a Sykes-Fairbairn commando knife on his left hip, and insignia on his shoulder and left breast, including the operational 'SAS' wings. The jeeps all have modified radiator/condenser systems rigged, and many jerrycans of water and petrol mounted on the bonnet, sides, and in the rear of the body. The patrol leader's jeep mounts twin Vickers K .303 guns; the central jeep, twin and single Vickers guns at front and rear; and the furthest one, a .50cal. Browning - apparently an aircraft weapon - at the front and twin Vickers at the rear. Note: They are using the American-built Willys Jeeps, instead of the far less-reliable British Land Rover! The famed Special Air Service (SAS) of the British Army was formed in July 1941 by David Stirling. It was a commando force designed to operate deep behind enemy lines,something it did very successfully. Specially adapted vehicles were used in North Africa, including the famous 4×4 1/4-ton Truck, though heavily modified for its behind-the-lines role. The vehicle began appearing in July 1942. They were generally stripped down to save weight and, for operations in the hot climate,the grill was removed and a water condenser fitted. Weapons such as Lewis and Vickers K machine guns were mounted for use against ground or aerial targets.

Source:

Photograph E 21337 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (collection no. 4700-32)

http://www.afv-news.com/2013/05/sas-14-ton-4x4-patrol-car/

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205196152

British Paratroopers with German Prisoner at Arnhem

Image size: 1600 x 1203 pixel. 414 KB
Date: Monday, 18 September 1944
Place: Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherland
Photographer: Sam Presser

An eight-man patrol of mixed units, led by Captain John Killick of the 89th Field Security Section, edging westwards from the bridge in an attempt to locate the 1st Para Brigade moving into Arnhem. In the event the patrol made little ground before they realised they were in danger of being cut off and so withdrew to the bridge, having suffered no casualties and collected several stragglers and a prisoner (seen standing in the centre). They reported that there were no sounds of battle to the west of Arnhem and so it was correctly assumed that the 1st and 3rd Battalions were some distance away. Captain Killick can be seen partially obscured on the extreme left. Standing beside him with the butt of his rifle resting on the ground is Private Bernard Salt, and in the foreground, third from the right carrying a Sten gun, is Sergeant Larry Ansell, both men are of No.6 Platoon, B Company, the 2nd Battalion. Bernard Salt enlisted into The Gloucestershire Regiment and later volunteered for airborne forces in World War II. He qualified as a military parachutist on Course 101 which ran at RAF Ringway from 31 January to 13 February 1944. The course instructors' notes record that Bernard was "very confident and a good stick jumper." By September 1944, he was serving as a Bren Gun No 1 in Larry Ansell's No 8 Section in 6 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion. He jumped with the Battalion as part of the 1st Airborne Division's assault to capture the Rhine Crossings at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden on 17 September 1944. Bernard was photographed by Sam Presser, a press cameraman, on the Monday after they had landed, having just captured a German soldier. The image later became well known and features prominently in the exhibition at the Hartenstein Museum. Bernard was shot through both legs while fighting at the bridge and was later held as a POW in Germany. Larry Ansell enlisted into The Royal Berkshire Regiment and later volunteered for airborne forces in World War II while he was a corporal. He qualified as a military parachutist on Course 63 which ran at RAF Ringway from 4 to 17 May 1943. The course instructors' notes record that Larry was "conscientious and a hard worker. An excellent performer." Larry was later promoted to sergeant and by September 1944 was serving as commander of No 8 Section in 6 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion. He jumped with the Battalion as part of the 1st Airborne Division's assault to capture the Rhine Crossings at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden on 17 September 1944. Larry was photographed by Sem Presser, a press cameraman, on the Monday after they had landed, having just captured a German soldier. The image later became well known and features prominently in the exhibition at the Hartenstein Museum. After days of fighting at the bridge, Larry was eventually captured and  later held as a POW in Germany. Sir John Killick served as an officer in the Intelligence Corps during World War II, most notably as Officer Commanding 89th Parachute Field Security Section at the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. John Killick had joined airborne forces in 1943 and qualified as a military parachutist on Course 93 which ran at RAF Ringway from 29 November to 13 December. He was appointed as Officer Commanding 89 Field Security Section in early 1944. Some members of 89 FSS, including John Killick, accompanied elements of the 2nd Parachute Battalion into Arnhem and his patrol was photographed by Sem Presser, a press cameraman, in a sequence of shots which subsequently became very well known images of the battle. After the war he rose to become a senior diplomat in the Foreign Office, culminating in his appointment as UK Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, a post which he held until he retired. As a last resort, please note the unidentified para third from the left, holding a Sten gun with bayonette. His face is what we call today: Schwarzenegger!

Source:

http://www.arrse.co.uk/weapons-equipment-rations/46615-search-*ally*-star-454.html