'Owdun' Just a Thought

[JR]

Owdun,do you realise its fifty three years ago today we sailed from Hong Kong to Malaya aboard HMS Jamaica 26th May 1950,there were 'Bootnecks' everywhere,Gun sponsons, port and starboard Waist's,and the holy of holys quarterdeck,Foc'sle and 6inch turrets who said Royal could Kip anywhere?.Happy Days Frank.They were certainly in a hurry to get 40 cdo into the flesh spots of Pennang.Aye JR

[El Prez]

Must have been magic, your first commish in years and it's on a coal burner, no more heaving in sail, holystoning the deck, larding the bum bosun, ............ what?
Wasn't that Franks 63rd draft, and your 72nd Jim?

[JR]

Magic it was 'Bloody'Hilarious all that fun and running around Big Game hunting all on 45p per day including LOA and KUA.Looking at my old pay book S43a part2 N.H.I.was two and sixpence per week and income tax was tuppence in the pound,they certainly had their moneys worth out of Royal in those days,well they always have done have'nt they.Aye JR

[Sticky Blue]

Having seen some photos of real battleships, the detachments onboard them and the conditions of service I often wonder WHY? Then I think about the dits I have sat and listened to from some of the old boys and it doesn't take Sherlock to work it out! They must have been great times.

[owdun]

They were great times, Sticks. To see the Med. Fleet in Grand harbour,hear the bugle calls and the saluting guns as they left harbour, ships dressed overall on special occasions, yes, great times, we were a proud nation in those day's, with an Empire to guard, but it was all given away by a bunch of political shite that thought we owed everyone a living.
We now have a bastard lawyer who fancies himself as president of europe (and yes, I know I'm using lower case Prez ), who is prepared to give the whole bloody country away to further his ambition. Its time for the revolution, lads, but it aint going to happen, the country is sleep walking to oblivion.

End of rant.Aye Owdun.

[El Prez]

ships dressed overall on special occasions, yes, great times

You should see my mum going to a wedding! Like a galleon in full sail. Heave on that lump of lard floating by, get a line on it smartish. Now anchor it away from the bar, no not the sand bar the bar bar; at which point Archie will enter the conversation.

[JR]

Sprightly as a Galleon she glides across the floor doing the Military two-step as in days of yore.Aye JR

[harry hackedoff]

That was when the Corps was a Corps
Won`t bother getting in a piss-take about Nelson.
Oh go on then, what did the grog taste like, after his body was removed from that barrrel? I`m sure it wasn`t wasted.
Any one know, what was the maximum strenght of the Corps, ever? Any takers?
Aye

[JR]

Yus Harry? The Corps wartime strength 74.000 Men and by 1947 had shrunk to a little over 13.000 including the Commando Brigade.Aye JR

[harry hackedoff]

JR, I thought it was more than that ,just after the First World War, when RM amalgamated, Light infantry and Artilllery. Can`t remember the number, but I`m certain it was above 150,000. Ask Frank, he was a head-counter while you were on that long weekend
Seriously, does anyone know what the maximum strenght of the Corps was, ever?
Can you imagine serving in that Corps?
What would they think of today`s Corps?
Regular Corps, strenght of what?
Less than five thousand.
Tell me if I`m wrong.
Aye,
Steady yer Gibsail and prepare to drop yer t`galllants,ready to come about? Watch yer mizzen top sail, Mr Christian, Aye.
Didn`t waste me time on the Mersey ferries, either, Jim
Aye,

[JR]

Harry Ive just asked me Dad?,RM strength was reduced in 1919 to 15.000 and after the RMA and RMLI almagamation 1923 the strength fell to about 10.000 1920-1930 strength remained at 10.000,1936-38 five KGV class battle waggons were laid down and each would require a detachment of 250 Marines or more,Further plans for Lion Class Battle waggons to follow the KGVs,The Admiralty therefore expected a addition of 2.500 Marines for sea service in capital ships,Cruisers added to the fleet would require some 1.500 Marines,the Corps strength was raised in 1938 on the onset of war.Aye JR

[El Prez]

Jim, I remember your mum, but which one was Dad? Are we related?

[JR]

El prez,So it was you,you crafty B*****d the one with the pedal bike?Aye JR

[JR]

Extra, For the Corps an expansion to more than 78.000 in a multitude of roles was only possible because the Long Service Marines,the regulars,provided many competant and able NCOs,Many of the young regular Marines themselves later became NCOs in their turn,enabling Hostilities only officers to create disiplined units that would include Commandos,artillery,landing craft crews and Marine gunners in support craft to name a few Marine roles of WW2,thus was created a force of such quality that its chief asset,The Marine,was able to train flexible and diverse forces and willing to lead them through many a difficult operation. And I might add a few of us on this site were fotunate to be trained by such Men.Aye JR

[owdun]

Jim,the strength at 15 Nov 1918, was 55,603, Dropping to15,000 by the end of 1919, so the 78,000 figure looks to be the biggest ever.



Aye Owdun.