Si Biggs

There are some places where history doesn’t just sit quietly behind glass cases it jumps out at you, tangible and immediate, a visit to the Castletown D-Day Centre on Portland is exactly that kind of experience, and made me both smile and shed a quiet tear. In June 1944 Portland was one of the key embarkation points along with Weymouth for Allied forces, in particular US Troops, heading to Normandy. Thousands of American and British troops along with tonnes of equipment passed through, formed...

Unit/ Formation : 41 Cdo RM Location : Korea Period/ Conflict : Korean War Year : 1951 Date/s : 7 April 1951 THE SORYE DONG RAID 41 Independent Commando moved into Ebisu Camp in the suburbs of Tokyo in January 1951 and all ranks enjoyed a period of R&R. Later, the Unit was transferred to HMAS Commonwealth at the Naval Base at Kure to re-equip, train and absorb reinforcements. Unfortunately, the arrival of key specialists was delayed and the CO became concerned that morale would suffer through...

Unit/ Formation : Royal Marines Location : Burma Period/ Conflict : Second Anglo-Burmese War Year : 1852 Date/s : 5th April 1852 HMS Fox at the very start, 10 January 1852, of the Second Anglo-Burmese War at the mouth of the Yangon River. Burmese Stockades. View towards Rangoon, with the interpreters boat in tow , War steamer Hermes, Burm ese King's ship Yathunah-gee-mhon (King Pagan's royal ship), H.M.S. Fox. The Illustrated London News, 27 March 1852 Fox frigate at Rangoon, at the mouth of...