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I get more than a little pissed off when people make derogatory remarks about the Blue Beret. This head gear was worn with pride by thousands of Marines, and that included men who served in the Brigade.To my knowledge,when a man left the Brigade in the 50s,he took off his Commando flashes and his Green Beret,and reverted to Blue and Royal Marines Flashes.This happened to me onthree or four occasions,and I never felt demeaned by it,so think on lads before you talk of the Nods Beret, it has a proud history.


Aye Owdun.

Ahoy there Owdun!
Here, here!
Many don't seem to realise or remember that the Corps was around for nearly 300 years before Commando training and all the trappings were introduced.

You are right Owdun. In those days when one was drafted from a commando unit to another establishment, one removed the commando beret and replaced it with a Royal Marines beret. The days when Royal Marines referred to those serving in commando units as cabbage heads.

Aye - Andy

Gents

It was not meant as a flipant remark in my other post. As an ex DL, I am aware of the traditions of both berets.
Since the introduction of Commando service in the 40`s, the Green beret, for 95% of the outside world has become the trade mark of the Royal Marine.....they (the outside world) are fairly oblivious to the "Commando" designation.
Indeed when I was going through training, I was happy in the knowledge that if I failed, I could say that I was once a Royal Marine, but not Commando.
No offence meant.

It was however a dig at Mr Plater. Having worked alongside him for a number of years, I believe he has recently applied for a transfer to the WABC. Womens Auxillary Baloon Corps, but he failed the medical.

Ahoy there Si!
I still think your profile pic makes you look slimmer and fitter than when you were at 40 Cdo!

So I shouldn't be too upset about the fact I'm stuck wearing it ?

Not at all Kev, be pround.

This has always interested me. I have wrongly referred to the Royal Marines beret as the 'recruits beret' in a previous post. I am know corrected on this. So does this mean all recruits who pass PRMC but fail the overall course were still once a Royal Marine?(but not a Royal Marine Commando)

Prepare to get my head shot at by older and balder!
My understanding, bearing in mind the Adjutants commands at the end of the King's Squad Parade (Royal Marines, to your duties Quick March), is that you are not a Royal Marine until passed the Commando course and in receipt of the Green hat. Until then you are a Royal Marine Recruit under training.
Fire away lads, I never liked me anyway!

When I finished recruit training, which included the six weeks commando course, in the early fifties I was drafted to Eastney Barracks to do a gunnery course. The first ten years of my service was sea service and it wasn't until I was drafted to Singapore in 1963 that I was issued with a green beret. So, even though I, and many others like me, passed the commando course during recruit training we weren't issued with the green beret unless we were drafted to commando unit.

I was told that from the moment you swear the oath of allegiance to the Queen, on the very first day of training, you are a Royal Marine. Says so in my training manual... Then Pass Out is to signify the end of your Commando training and entrance into general duties. Sound right anyone??

I believe that the routine for the wearing of the different berets changed in 1960. It was so ordered that those having passed the commando course would wear their green beret regardless of what establishment they were serving in.

During this time there were many ships Royal Marines still serving, therefore, they wore a Royal Marines beret. I believe that the compulsory commando course was starting to be introduced in the mid 50's, to where we are now, where all Royal Marines must pass the commando course.

Dan, I believe when you sign up it is as a Royal Marines recruit. I could be wrong.

I would refer to Tom Kendal and Alan Nicholson who were mid 50's recruits as to the training routine at that time.

Aye - Andy.

Rogue Chef wrote: I still think your profile pic makes you look slimmer and fitter than when you were at 40 Cdo!

I`m desperatly trying to find a pic of you from Brunei.
Can`t seem to find one though. Was that because when you took you`re shirt off you were reported as AWOL??
I`m flattered you remember me Steve, I was a lithe, slender, keen young marine when you were an old haggered, smelly JWT instructor.
The debate about the beret will rage on I`m sure, a bit like the press up technique in the “joining” forum.
In my personal opinion, once you get through the gates on the first day of training, and you do the attestation, you`re in!! It just depends what level you reach before you leave. Be it recruit, marine, Corporal etc etc.

Same here Wully...I spent all my twelve years in Sea Service, and it wasn't until the early sixties, when the order came out that all Royal Marines (except recruits under training) were to wear green berets, that I wore mine permanently... However, I believe I would be right in saying that my squad (625) were unique in as much that we were presented with our green beret before we passed out of commando training. A BBC team (radio) were following us during training, and they wanted to record the ceremony of the green beret presentation, and so, as they had to leave before our actual pass out, we went through the ceremony especially for them.
We actually wore our green berets during our 30 miler, by orders of the CO, who said, that seeing as we were presented with them we could wear them during the march, however, we were to take them off when we got back to Bickleigh.

Ahoy there Si!
I take exception to your description of me.
Old? I may have aged slightly, anyone would have if they had swallowed the same amount of puritabs and paludrin.
Haggered? A little frayed around the edges, it was hard work out there..
Smelly? Well it was very hot.
But no one ever referred to me as a Jungle Warfare Instructor!