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Chris B has it just right when he says " ... no one can take it away from us" ... you can take the person (as we now have female Bandies) out of the Royal Marines .. but you can't take the Royal Marines out of the person ... because most of us have carried over into civilian life,all the good things & decent standards which the Corps taught us ... which is what IMHO makes us,as a "family",whether still serving or not,totally unique.

Someone posted that pride in the Corps can't be inherited ... I disagree,just look at the same surnames which keep cropping up,generation after generation .. for example the "Hammond" dynasty .. it would seem that pride & a desire to be the best,can be passed on between Brothers & Forefather to Son,as in my own case, .... long may it continue !

Is that the great Yank Lino Hammond that you refer to gave as good a beasting as anyone i recall

Terry,

Unfortunately not,don't think I ever crossed his path ... thank Gawd ! ,
I was referring to the three,or was it four ? Hammond Brothers,of the 60's/70's era ... all PW's,all becoming SNCO's in the Branch .. but they're just one example,there are many more.

Having recently made a "pilgrimage" to Eastney & having spent a while looking through the Medal collection,I was struck by the sheer number of "Family" groups of Medals ... must be summat that gets into the blood of some families ! ... but "inherited" pride of Corps sums it up nicely.

Unfortunately this country of ours has never looked after it's service people very well, no veterans administration, university grants or the like. Only last week a government application to strike out the case brought by 2500 ex service personnel whose service has seen them robbed of pension, was successful. This refers to all those serving beween 1949 and 1975 who didn't serve 22 years or more, yes I am one of them and now find that by virtue of time spent in the Corps I cannot possibly put in the 40 years I need to qualify for a full company pension. Some of the affected were forced out before their 22, some of us left after 9, 12 or 14 years of our own volition but not serving 22 doesn't seem like sufficient reason to deprive us of time counting towards a pension. Now we hear of young men (and possibly women) being forced out again to suit the numbers game, at least their time will count for pension but that is little comfort if they can't find jobs and are unhappy to boot. We above all know how strange civvy street is, how difficult it is to settle and how little are sense of humour is appreciated. How much has the country, as opposed to private organisations, done to help people hurt physically or mentally in past conflicts, ....not a lot I'll be bound.

Despite all this we take with us into civvy street standards rarely found there, we probably bring up our children with those same standards in mind (ask my daughters) and are generally bl**dy worthy citizens of this sceptred isle. My work mates look at my orderly desk, daily shaven face, shiny shoes and mutter, "Well it's your background isn't it", YES it bl**dy well is and I'm proud of it.

AH well, of my bed and into my soap box, or something.

Barry

WELL SAID BARRY C IT IS A SHAME THAT THIS SITE ISNT COMPULSARY READING FOR ALL POLITICIANS THEN THE ARSEHOLES WOULD START TO THINK ABOUT THE DECENT PEOPLE WHO STRIVE NOT ONLY IN THEIR MILITARY CAREER BUT IN CIVILIAN LIVE TO BETTER THE STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR COMMON DECENCY PERHAPS THEN WE MIGHT GET SOME RESPECT INSTEAD OF THOSE WHO HAVE NO REGARD OR RESPECT FOR ANYTHING SORRY TO GET ON MY SOAP BOX BUT SHIT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH BRING BACK NATIONAL SERVICE

JIM

Sea Soldier i was refering to the 60/70s Wally was a WO2 pw Yank was also a PW i believe one of them was demoted at some stage in thier time in the Corps

An old PW once said to me” Once in, you can’t get out"
Please forgive Owdun. His memory ain`t wot it was.
He meant to say” King George 111, His Heirs and Successors"
Black Rat, they don`t like it up`em,aledgedly
Aye,

I was chatting to my step brother about the RM and we started talking about the Armed Forces in general. He told me about how Simon Weston is trying to make the government create some sort of trust fund or charity for wounded British veterans. I was shocked when he told me that there was NONE!!!
forgive me if my facts are wrong, my stepbrother read it in a tabloid a few months ago and he couldnt remember the details but I wouldnt be surprised if our Government would let this go on.
I had a quick look on the internet but came up with nothing, if anyone knows about this please tell me its not true, its disgusting!

Terry,

Apologies mate .. you threw me with the "Lino" ... never heard any of them called that.
Wally was indeed a WO2 & was NCO Training Wing Sgt Maj @ CTC,when I did my Juniors in '70 ... when the famous "Mansards" were still standing ... didn't hear of any of 'em getting busted though ... but then,you don't always hear everything.

One of the other Brothers was my PW Cpl @ Deal in '66 ... but I can't remember which one (age is a terrible thing)
Cheers,

The following is an extract from an article written by Major General Julian Thompson and published in the local paper today:

'To me, everyone who wears a Commando Green Beret is a member of my family, and the Royal Marines are like my closest relations.'
'The bonds that bind all Royal Marines together are tight and enduring, forged in training and strengthened by common experience and facing shared dangers.'

Good old "JT" ... straight to the heart of the matter .. as usual !

Sea Soldier he got that name because after most sentences he said lino short for like you know we used to try and count how many times he said it and it was also highlighted at a sods opera we had to do

What a family we belong to , as stated earlier there is no end to our oath of allegience or our love for the CORP Very best wishes to our boys and girls where ever they are and safe home
Allan ex 40 Have a couple for us on getting home

On the subject of nonserving Royal Marines...

Last year I helped with a visit by some SAS veterans that were here during the 2ndWW. It was the first time all of them had been back since.
We visited various museums and places they remembered, on the last day 17-05 (Norwegian national day) we attended a big parade (for children etc, not military) in a barracks. For the first time since leaving active service I dug out my Beret and shiny capbadge, aswell as my corps tie.
They all had their sand Berets with the dagger, but id I feel proud to put my green lid on again...

I think my waist shrunk 2 inches followed by my shest growing just as much

Nolonger serving Royal Marine Commando, the most exclusive club in the world.

I have not yet made it into the corps (YET!) however nothing can take away from the pride and admiration i feel for our lads they are doing our nation proud ! Also on the subject of politicians "we didnt mind dying for Queen and Country , but we certinaly didnt contemplate dying for politicians " RM Brigg post Falklands .We dont do it for the politicians we do it for each other ! "Saepe expertus , semper fidelis , fratres aeterni " , "often tested , always faithful , brothers forever ." a fitting tribute to all our fallen brothers .