Christmas Photo

[Lofty]

Can't quite see the required three buttons on sleeves, but the cap badges looks like a one for a CPO. They don't appear to have any Non-Substantive rating badges on their collars as Seaman and other branch CPOs did , so I guess two ERA's and they are  in the uniform of a CPO . Though they could be EAs , but as your dad was a stoker, it is more likely any pic' he had was of engine room people-- so ERAs.

But I am sure others will have a close look and check if I am right.

Lofty

[Fingers]

Thanks Fingers , In all the other stuff about the Pacific it got forgotten .
Tell me , do think the gun is finished ? I don't expect the big shield as in the few later T boats, but from this angle the gun doesn't seem to have any of the lower  shielding? The gun seems to be pointing ahead and the breech looks different from other pics, not that I remember from my time on TIPTOE.

If I'm right , this could be a set-up photograph for an occasion such as the presentation of the original totem. Not an unusual occurrence --the set-up I mean, not the totem !

And isn't that soldier or marine in khaki to the left without a hat??

Not a big deal , just curious.
Lofty

I cannot offer an opinion on the gun questions Lofty as this was before my time in boats.
The occasion of the photo (bigmuckymuck) appears as if the boat is moving trots as the rating in the wooly pully is wearing binoculars and the officer is leaning out of the tower looking for'd as though he is watching the casing party.Perhaps they took a few local dignitories along for the ride.The Pongo? Anyones guess.

[hmstotem]

thank you all for your time and patience.with your permission the attached is an enlargement from bigmuckymuck..of the marine or soldier..Lofty noted..is it possible to indentify his status properly.. i mean rank and service...?..etc..
best wishes
dermot

[Merlin]

No distinguishing features to give anyting away other than he seems to be wearing a white belt. Could he be a MP?. Did the RN use MP's as sentries?

[Lofty]

We never had anybody from the Army or Marines other than taking SBS  people and their boats to do whatever they did . I believe they would never lounge about like this fellow --- they were hard smart men, who never smiled and I suspect though our crew were an oily rabble.

Its obviously some sort of formal occasion and no skipper I ever had would have anybody on the bridge unless needed and properly dressed, but its WWII

I don't recall a Marine at Dolphin, but maybe there were some on the big depot ships, doing normal big ship duties, but nothing connected with the boats.

We had some sabotage problems in Pompey dockyard in about 1953, but we provided more direct security for the boat ourselves while the general security was provided by the Dockyard police. The TOTEM appears to be in the Dockyard  in the pic'.

As far I am concerned this fellow is certainly an odd one out !
Lofty

[Talent]

He could be a Piper, before or after doing his bit and wanting a memento pic. The white belt looks high up.

[hmstotem]

i think Dad said if you had time too ask you where not doing your job..and he`d tell you..or worse..with your permission i would like some more help if i may..thank you in advance...i see the totem in the attached with her tender the Adamant in Sydney(circa45)..and have been wonderning of the other boats...the conditions of the boats back then must not have been nice at all...
best wishes
dermot