Nods Beret

[John_D]

I,m Sorry to disagree Colin, but the cap comforter is as much commando
as the Green Beret, take another look at the commando Memorial,at
Spean Bridge. we wore tham in training,as did Marines before and after,
As for the Blue Beret,the way the corps is changing,the Blue Beret will
become a collectors piece,

Aye

John_D

[ratso]

I agree with all you say John, and that is why I think the loss of the beret on pass out day is wrong. It means the loss of another piece of RM history and pride.
I never during training knew the significance of the blue beret, it was when watching old war films that I came across the fact this was the RM beret, in fact it was the Cockleshell Heros, so I think this is a very important part of tradition and more time should be spent ensuring that the ties remain.
Plus the lovat and cap comforter just looks so damn bad.

[John_D]

Colin
I know we are agreeing with each other as to what is changing,
and that most of our methods are going out of the window, but we must
remember that we are the 3 rd Commando, there was a 1 st
commando, and off the top of my head I think it finished at 12 th.
The Cap comforter was here before the Green Beret. I have a distinct
Feeling that the next thing to change will be the Title "Royal Marine"
In the old days the Royal Marines were noted for their smartness in
Ceremonial Duties, and for our Bands,this day and age there is very little
use for this type of work. The corps was disband once, and came close
again in the early 80,s,It was the Falklands that made people sit up and
realise that this country could not manage without its amphibious force,
and that is the main roll the corps is playing,
The structure of the whole British Forces is changing,so that all
commands will come from one department to one big force,what the
name of this force will be I dont know,

Enough for now

Aye

John_D

[John_D]

Sticky
I did not imply the the corps is not still Smart,or that The band still dont play music,what I did imply is that there are not the Ceremonial Duties as there used to be,and as you stated bands men are used in a medical
capacity,but so are all the other regiments,so IF and WHEN there is an
amalamation of of regiments WHO will stay ? and WHO will go?.

Let us be realistic and look at the future from a fincial point of view,
{at the end of the day that is what it is all about} I think that one of the first reiments that could be effected is the Parra,s.When was the last time that there was a mass drop of trrops,by air,? most regiments are Jungle Warfare trained,the Parra,s do the equivelent to us,so this could be one
of the first steps as to "Rapid response" There are a number of Guards regiments that could amalgimate into one unit, all these different regiments cost money to run run and support,and withthe joint forces of Nato,and America,there would be no need for all these regiments,

I Could go on,but I will stop,

Aye

John_D

[John_D]

Hi Sticky
We are in agreement on all subjects,and as you have stated our bands
and musicians are second to none,but at the end of the day the decision
is not ours to make,but I feel sure that commando Brigade will be in the
forefront,in fact I think it will be built around them,but the question as to
the name "Royal Marine" remaining,that is the big question,

Aye
John_D

[ratso]

Sorry John but I have a view point which unshakable and that is that the wearing of what I class as field headwear with parade uniform, something we were always taught to take pride in, is an afront to all who have gone before.
I remember my pass out and the pride at going from blue to green, sorry if they had made me wear a bloody green sock with my lovats I would have felt that I had not made the change. Now they are handed the green and march off to put it on, taking off the blue we put on the green and made our first salute wearing the beret a moment of true pride. We are taught history throughout well this is history and should not be belittled by assuming that minor detail does not count.
Yes the head sock has its place though I can't believe it has a place in a ceremonial parade. Lets face it, it was introduced as something to wear when the need for the tin hat was not there. General issue and adopted by many as a comfortable form of head dress. The fact the commandos used it was the fact that tin hats were not practical so they got left behind, the beret was not practical because of the brass cap badge.
So it got adopted due to ease of use and the commandos thinking that he had no use for his tin hat, as usual bullet proof. Nothing changes.
Pride is the word we use to descibe RM's who win their green lid, well sorry where is the Pride in being improperly dressed.
The best thing was giving back the blue beret, pretty much your first item of kit from the stores.

[John_D]

Hi Frank
Your right in what you say,but the same as I was saying to Sticky Blue,
The decision is not ours to make, Plus the fact I am only saying what
I think is going to happen,[I may be wrong,I hope so].
You where at the reunion when the new boss thanked all the old
soldiers and said how you have laid down the foundations for the
future of the corps,well its from then that I have been looking into how
the corps is reforming,reading how the government is having trouble
funding the military, It has got to happen for this country to be in the
forefront of any future developments,
As you know the powers that be were on about disbanding us again in
the early 80,s. then the Falklands happened.and this is what changed
their minds. Even now in the RMA it is felt in some quarters that the
corps is trying to distance us from what is going on within the corps.
I dont think it will happen over night, you could be talking the
21st century.

Thats enough for now
LONG LIVE THE CORPS

Aye
John_D

[John_D]

Colin
I have known old timers who completed their training and never served
in brigade,every time they were sent to a new posting it was to another ship,this does not make me or any one else who served in brigade a
better Marine than they were, It is this attitude that is splitting the RMA,
where the Blue Berets will not march with the Greens and visa sersa.

Aye

John_D

[JR]

If politicians attempt to demolish the Regimental System they would do well to remember that there is so much that the UK could learn today from the spirit of this great Corps.Alertness and enthusiasm,perfectionism and disipline in the performance of duty,consideration of others and restraint,heroism and self-sacrifice are virtues which are derided in many sections of society and have been temporarily discarded in favour of conceptions which are failing in practice to prove their worth.Here is a history of those who faithfully upheld the values on which this great Corps stood for, and may the Royal Marines go from strengh to strengh blue Beret or Green we all belong to the Family of the greatest Corps in the World I for one count myself lucky to have worn both Blue and Green.Aye JR

[dave barrett]

What a good discussion about three different titfers.

Like most, I was proud to be allowed to wear my blue beret on joining the corps. I was proud to be allowed to wear my cap comforter during Commando training, and I was proud to be presented with my green beret on successful completion of same.

To add another dimension to the discussion, I was also proud to drop my chinstay and wear a white lanyard when I made King's Squad.

You may notice the common thread running through this message.... Pride.

I know it doesn't make me a good christian, but I am proud to have been a Royal Marine, no matter what I was wearing.

My sin of pride doesn't diminish with age. I served in the best armed force in the world. I held my predecessors in awe (and still do), and I believe and trust that my successors will continue to display the same attitude and professionalism that has become the bootneck trade mark, even if they have to wear those silly helmet thingies now adays.

As an aside I love the remark Lord Lovat made about the tin-hat:
"An antiquated piece of military impedimenta with no place in modern warfare"

Regards,
Dave B
P.S. Yes I do know that Shimmy Lovat was wounded in the head in Normandy!!!