Three Badgers/Corps Characters of the Past

[Artist]

Far to many keen young chaps on here all fretting about pressups n stuff!

Many moon ago a gentleman called Percy Sedge who could best be described as a Corps character was plodding back from the athetics stadium dragging his Throwing hammer behind on the deck towards his grot (Barracks room).

Keen young 2nd Lt aspies our Percy lumbering along (Percy must have weighed in at around 19/20 stone, he was built along the lines of a brickshithouse!). Keen young Officer shouts out at Percy;

"Marine Sedge! Why are you dragging that throwing hammer along the ground?"

"Cos I'm to fecking tired to push it sir!"

Cue a senior officer walking along with the keen young officer desparately trying to keep a straight face and failing totally.

Percy was in the same ward as I was in at RNH Stonehouse in 1974. His back was knackered, my knee was knackered. Percy decides to have a bath and play his clarinet whilst lying in said bath. A Naval Nurse Birmingham being a right nasty bit of work walked into the bathroom and ordered Perce to stop playing....Muted words were heard then a scream, then a splash.......NN Birmingham comes running out of the bathroom pissed wet though. Perce had got out of the bath and heaved her in it.

A few seconds later this man mountain lumbered out into the ward and told everyone that he "Don't like bints who hate music" and with that returned to the bathroom where after a few seconds the clarinet was once more heard by the ward. Christ but he was terrible at playing it but who in their right mind would tell him that then?

One day in the Seaton Barracks galley a straight out of the box young Marine sat at the same table as our Perce and without saying a word reached over and procurred the Heinz Tomato Ketchup and poured it over his breakfast...........Big Mistake that was. Perce had paid out his own dosh for the bottle as he hated the NAAFI tomato ketchup that was normally put on all the tables. Up gets Perce looking at the young Marine with daggers in his eyes, young Marine starts to shit himself, Perce leaned over the table, placed both his hands on either side of the young Marines cheeks and then planted a big wet kiss on the poor bugger lips, sat back in his seat, smiled and sayeth "Next time just ask Skin"

First time I ever met Perce was when I was at RMB Deal where I joined up. Perce was one of the storeman who issued us with our interim kit. The bugger gave me a pair of Owd Parade Boots instead of the standard DMS boots. The poxy things nearly killed me as they had no grip whatsoever and I later found out that Perce always did this to one member of a new recruit troop just to see the poor sod sliding all over the place.

Some bright spark thought it would be a good idea to put Perce in charge of the POL point (the place where you filled up with petrol, Deisel and oil) at Seaton Barracks where 40CDORM were at that time based. Now Perce was a creature of habit, as in he would open when he was ready and not before he had had a wet of char and started the Sun crossword puzzle. Along came an Army Land Rover with a Major driving it. Major Honks Horn and demands that Perce filled up his tanks. Perce looks up and says "Do it yerself, I'm busy" The Major went apeshit at this mere Marine telling him to do it himself and demands that Perce shifts his arse and does as he's told.........Oooops!

Perce walked up to the Land Rover sticks his head though the window and spoke to this Pongo Major. Pongo Major is off like shit from a shiney shovel in the direction of Dartmoor. The MT Tp Sgt Major plucked up the courage and asks Perce just what had he said to the Pongo Major. Perce it seems offered to do a complete MOT on the Major starting with Perce lubricating said Majors arsewhole with the first thing that came to hand, to wit a grease gun. A few days later Perce lost his job after various phonecalls from Irate Army officers. He wasn't charged but instead was sent to the QM's where he landed the cushiest job going, Bedding Storeman! The Three Badge Marines dream job!!

The last time I saw Perce was on his leaving the Corps runashore down Union Street in Plymouth. With him he had an accordion which he insisted on playing regardless off the location. You should have seen the Bouncers at Cascades trying to ask him to stop playing it as it was drowning out the Disco!! At the end of the runashore Perce bimbled over to me, looked at me long and hard and then handed over the accordion to me saying "Here you go Steve, treasure it Oppo" And I did right up until I myself left the Corps and in the time honoured tradition handed it over to another young Bootneck. For all I know it's still doing the rounds of the units to this day. Nice if it was.

Perce was one of many Corps Characters that I had the pleasure and honour of meeting during my time. They are now rare as hens teeth these days as the Three Badge Marine is a rarity within the Corps now. But back then there were still a fair few around and they were the mainstay of the Corps. All had seen action in various places and all were respected by the youngest marine right up to the CGRM.



Artist

[davidemmerson]

Artist

Is a three badged Marine a Marine who has remained at the rank of Marine, with the 3 good conduct stripes? A couple years ago I was told that the RN/RM is the only service in which yu can 'refuse' promotion, is this correct? If there is a shortage of 3 badgers do you think they are moving away from the above mentioned policy?

Confused? Me too, sorry

Great stories, what a character!

What unit were you at when you knackered your knee in 1974?

David

[Artist]

The Badgers served at least 12 years and were still Marines. Many were always a sections 2 i/c and were the number two on the GPMG as it was felt they had the experience to handle the job. They did.

I was Alfa Company 40 CDORM when I knackered me knee, Got pulled up Jennycliffe by roller haulage with me SLR, full fighting order, large pack and an A41 radio.

Artist

[davidemmerson]

Ow! Sounds painful!

Ah right, reason I asked was because my dad's first posting was at 40 CDO in '74, you can prbably tell from my username what his surname was, did you know him?

David

[Artist]

Ow! Sounds painful!

Ah right, reason I asked was because my dad's first posting was at 40 CDO in '74, you can prbably tell from my username what his surname was, did you know him?

David

Only Emmerson I knew was called Gary, who was a Sigs rating but I don't think he joined the Corps before 74.

Artist

[davidemmerson]

Ow! Sounds painful!

Ah right, reason I asked was because my dad's first posting was at 40 CDO in '74, you can prbably tell from my username what his surname was, did you know him?

David

Only Emmerson I knew was called Gary, who was a Sigs rating but I don't think he joined the Corps before 74.

Artist

Yeah that was him, Garry. He either joined in 1974 or passed out in 1974, one of the two. He stayed in Sigs for his whole career and whilst when he was in 40 CDO, he was in the Signal Troop.

Small World!

David

[Artist]

I was on the same S2's as your Pop David.

Artist

[davidemmerson]

Really? It is a small world! All those years ago I bet you didn't think you would be talking to Emmerson Jnr!

Next thing I know, I'll come across that accordion...

Didn't they knock Seaton down eventually?

David

[Artist]

David

Hers one for you. I was at the table in the Galley at CTCRM when your Dad and your Mum first met (1980). I could be wrong off course! I dare say your dad would disagree (but thats him......noughty little bit off skin so he is!)

By the By he failed the S2's course we were both on!

It didn't help when he came into our 9x9 during the final ex clutching a mug of tea and being a Corps Charater as he always was telling us that he reckoned that the training team had pissed off! The entire training team were all sat there as we passed messages between stations!¬

Then he went on to become a Y of Sigs!?!?!? I became a C/Sgt in the Print Branch.

Heres one for you David. Ask him what we did when his car ran out of petrol just before CTCRM.

Tell him this as well please.Jimmy Thorner died 18th Oct. Your Dad will know who I mean. 30 Oct at Tavistock Church. Should be well attended.

Artist

[davidemmerson]

Ok, Thanks Artist, I'll pass the info on, see if it brings back any memories...

By the way, is there a name I could give see if he does remember you? I don't know if you would post it here or by PM?

Running out of petrol.... hmmmmm.... interesting!

David

[Ali3]

Seeing this gave me the impulse to ask you artist if you knew my uncle, Capt John Robinson?
He passed out of YO training in 1968 and served until 1985.
If this means anything to you-he was the one who tried to build a boat whilst at 42 to sail to New Zealand - he was sadly asked to cease his building as the hangar was needed to store heavy weapons kit! He says this was his claim to fame in the Corps.

Best

Ali

[Artist]

Sorry Ali. Don't think I ever met him.

Artist

[surfingdream]

Artist, my old man knew Jimmy Thorner. He went to his funeral at Tavi last Tuesday were you there?

My dad's name is Lawrence Church he's a bit younger than you but he goes to the Sigs reunion in Plymouth each year. Just wondered if you knew him?

[Ste Preece]

Good Post Artist. I recall a lot of three badgers back in the 80's. One of them lives near me now. You knew him too.

He served in Aden in the 60's and after leaving the Corps in the late 1980's he went on to be a body guard for Asil Nadir (A greek cypriot who owned polypec).

When he first went to Aden as a young sprog, the majority of his troop were old sweats and 3 badged marines. He said they were very hard experienced men, who had high kill ratios and enjoyed their livlihood.

After a short while he had the option of going for promotion himself, but declined it because he just couldn't see himself taking charge of these men whom he respected and at times feared so much. Consequently, he choose to stay as a marine right through his career for 22 years. He was undoubtedly a highly respected man, by his colleagues and superiors alike.

He like many others, were as Artist has said, the Backbone of the Corps. Literally, highly experienced men who knew their sh*t.


Cheers

Steve

[Artist]

As Steve Preece has said the three badgers were to many young Marines, Gods. Been there, done that, et al.

I joined just as they were going out of fashion. As in respect was getting less for the guy who never went for the stripes. But I still loved them.

They would be your "Sea Daddy" and took you under thier wing and sometimes would sell you to the highest bidder! I was once sold to a Poof for £20 down the Baribican in Guz (Plymouth). Went back to his gaff, had a wet, waited whilst he got himself ready, then punched his lights out, went though his wallet, took the dosh and then returned to the Bar where we all got ratarsed on his dosh.

In them days the average Whoofter would not dare to drip about it as most were Royal Naval Officers!?!?! They were the Corps ATM's!!

Surfingdream not sure if I ever served with your Pop, no bells are ringing, sorry.

Artist