oak Posted 6 August , 2005 Share Posted 6 August , 2005 Several books on Gallipoli refer to Beach Masters and Beach Parties, without explaining exactly what they were. I'd be very grateful if any Pal could explain please Regards, Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 6 August , 2005 Share Posted 6 August , 2005 Beachmasters - the officers (usually naval) who co-ordinate landings on beaches. Sort of head traffic warden for beach control. Beach parties - his troops (or sailors etc) for use in the overall role. Des Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernardmcilwaine Posted 6 August , 2005 Share Posted 6 August , 2005 he has complete control over everything that lands on the particular beach hes in charge of,he can give orders to everything from a FM to a pte till they are off the beach,ask denis healey,he was beachmaster at anzio in ww2,bernard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oak Posted 9 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 9 August , 2005 Many thanks Des and Bernard, Regards, Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat McLachlan Posted 29 August , 2005 Share Posted 29 August , 2005 In the Anzac sector the terms Beach Master and Beach Party obviously had different meanings. According to a Gallipoli veteran's letter dated April 1, 1925, after the troops were relieved from front-line duty they were encouraged to congregate by the water's edge at Anzac Cove, lighting bonfires on the beach, drinking, telling ghost stories and playing guitars. Apparantly these spontaneous 'beach parties' were one of highlights of a tour of duty in the Dardenelles. Every so often the partygoers would organise a casual game of beach volleyball or cricket, with the eventual champion of these competitions being dubbed the 'beach master' for the day. I wonder which usage of the two terms was more common. Cheers, Mat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 29 August , 2005 Share Posted 29 August , 2005 Kenneth Moore's character, Colin Maud, in the Longest Day was a Beachmaster. He was the guy with the big bushy beard and pet bulldog who denied the War Journos use of his radio and bashed the bren-gun carrier with his stick to get it moving... Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
healdav Posted 29 August , 2005 Share Posted 29 August , 2005 And Ken Moore was playing a real character. Apparently he simply terrified internal combustion engines into working! Beachmasters were pretty powerful people and were utterly indispensible. Any general daft enough to stop his jeep or whatever on the beach to inspect the troops would be told to move on sharpish. The beach party would be responsible for signalling to ships about sending in the next wave, holding back, where to landetc - following the orders of the beachmaster and also laying telephone lines, maintaining the radio, marking the exit routes, and making sure that the entry routes on to the beach i.e. the sea lanes, were properly marked - no good having landing craft running out of swept channels - etc, etc. No doubt making the tea as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oak Posted 30 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 30 August , 2005 Excellent. Many thanks gentlemen. Regards, Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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