It Had To Be Tough...

I can't think of a better caption to describe this photo of 2 (Dutch) Troop, No10 (IA) Cdo training during a Scottish blizzard...

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/Cdo+Training+in+Scotland.jpg.html

The photo was kindly provided by Martien van Barneveld whose father, Cpl Martien van Barneveld, is the tall figure with a beret in the centre of the photo.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 27/11/2012 22:53:36

Looks cold ! What an assortment of clothing -including Gas capes - and hats they are wearing too.

P 68 of the excellent "The Commando pocket manual" by Conway http://www.conwaypublishing.com/?page_id=5803 has a section on "Resistance to Exposure" by Surgeon Commander George Murray Levick RN

As a result of living indoors under civilised conditions, the resistance of men to natural climates is subnormal. If a man, used to an indoor life, even if only to the extent of sleeping indoors, is transferred into a severe natural out-of-doors environment, which involves sleeping exposed to low temperatures and possibly rain, the results will be as unsatisfactory as from trying too suddenly to harden a plant.

Indeed !

And what did George Murray know about cold climates ? Turns out he was with none other than the ill-fated Captain Robert Scott of the Antarctic, and in better times later published a book about penguins. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Murray_Levick

See also http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/3646.page

Some Notes on the Hardening of Men for Warfare and other Details of Fieldcraft. A Summary of Lectures given at S.T.C. Lochailort, 1941, by Surgeon Commander G. Murray Levick, R.N.

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/Notes-Hardening-Men-Warfare-Details-Fieldcraft/7408090921/bd

Any idea when/where exactly the picture was taken ?

The house was requisitioned by the War Office at the end of May 1940 for use in the training of irregular forces as the Special Training Centre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lochailort

Jack Bakker and the Dutch Commando Museum have kindly sent us additional photos of the Training Course for the First Reinforcement of 2 (Dutch) troop No. 10(IA) Commando during which the above photo was taken. The course was at the CBTC Achnacarry 7 November 1944 until 21 January 1945. Here is the link to those photos which I have now placed in their gallery:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/Dutch/Reinforcements/