Herbert [Harry] John Victor Coote

Operation Infatuate II was the amphibious landing at Westkapelle, also conducted on the morning of 1 November 1944[/quote]

From page 2 of Certificate of Service we see at the time of Westkapelle Herbert was with

Odyssey (NP1570) 16/4/1944 to 31/3/1945

I did a search and found a site asking about Odyssey

ODYSSEY was the name given to the Collingwood Hotel at Ilfracombe when it was taken over by the Royal Navy in WW2. I doubt that your man would have actually served there as it was actually only an "accounting base" - i.e. it was the pay and administration centre for personnel on detached duties; in this case it was for those assigned to Naval Parties.

A Naval Party (NP) is a group of officers and ratings formed to fulfil a specific task in a location or during an operation, and may well be mobile; they are given a number (i.e. "NP.1730").

http://www.eboards4all.com/683387/messages/138.html

So it could mean HMS Odssey and NP mean Naval Party 1570

To tie in with Herbert being a signaler

I have just acquired my late father's Naval Service record, which
indicates that he served in HMS Odyssey as a Signalman, between 1st
November 1943 & 31st May 1945.

http://www.eboards4all.com/683387/messages/963.html

1500's Normandy and Northwest Europe

http://www.eboards4all.com/683387/messages/894.html

So NP 1570 is in the right theatre for Walchern. We need to find out what NP 1570 was...

Here are a list of Naval parties

1570 *Earls Court/FOBAA Norfolk Ho 25.05.44/SOUTHERN PRINCE D Day/Courseilles ? 15.09.45/Rouen-Clinique-Tombereau/FOBAA lapse 01.01.45 ? most of NP to UK* FOBAA and Staff (FO British Assault Area) ? Rouen 10.44- title lapsed 01.01.45.
(REDOUBTABLE COMMISSIONED 24.06.44 ? PAID OFF 01.01.45 Courseilles ? 15-09.44, then Clinique Tombereau, Mont Aignan, Rouen)

http://www.naval-history.net/xBW-RNNavalParties.htm

All the places seem to be in France. NP 1571

Of course this doesn't mean that Herbert wasn't in Walcheren, maybe he was attached, or records are incomplete.

I've had a look and it says that 41 Commando was in Scicily and I know my Grandad was there. It also says they were in Walcheren so could this tie in with NP1570?

Ian

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 29/12/2012 13:07:32

The occupation of Iceland 1940

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 29/12/2012 13:34:35

Battle of Norway

HMS Adventure

HMS Vindictive

HMT Mashobra

Not sure if this one is from Norway or Iceland. It's possibly while on Mashobra.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 29/12/2012 13:39:41

Group Photos. If anyone can help with identifying any of the people or locations in this and the previous two posts i would be extremely grateful,

Regards,

Ian

Hi Ian, are these photos from your granddad's albums ? Can you point him out ?

They certainly show WW2 era Royal Marines. I would guess the large barracks buildings are Portsmouth or Plymouth. Have a google for photos of Chatham, portsmouth and see if you could match up the buildings.

On some of the pictures of marines wearing Battle dress, I see what looks like signaller badges on their left sleeves, which fits in with your Herbert being a signaler
eg http://www.ecsnaith.com/corps-regiment/royal-signals/signaller-badges.html

Here you go Mark,

regards,

Ian

Link to thread which also mentions HMS Odyssey
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/0/3786.page#13643

Thanks Mark,

Ian