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As a valued supporter, we are pleased to bring you up-to-speed with a weekly round-up of activities from RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and the wider Corps Family.
This week we take time to pause and honour all those in the Royal Marines Family who have lost their lives in conflicts around the globe over the past 359 years
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. We will remember them.
It is a stark reminder, too, of those who each day put their lives on the line in the service and defence of our country – and of their families back home – and why they are so deserving of the lifelong support offered by our Charity.
Thank you for being a valued part of that support.
With many of the following fundraisers themselves having been a Royal Marines Commando, we would like to recognise those who, to date this year, have raised much-needed funds for our Charity in their own personal remembrance of Royal Marines who have now sadly passed:
- Jason Cole’s Edinburgh Marathon for best mate Jonny Nelson ; Ray Holloway’s Lincoln Half for his son, James; Connor Walton’s Great North Run for Mark Swinburne, and the Magnificent 7 Team’s annual yomp in remembrance of the seven Royal Marines of 42Cdo who lost their lives in Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 14 in 2011.
- Graham Dorman and nephew’s Long Walk from London to Langrune in France (to honour his D Day uncle from 48Cdo)
- John Holley Marathon des Sables (for his grandfather)
- The US’ ‘Rucking Rev’ Andreas Heke’s ‘Operation Purple Yomp’ (for his great grandfather)
- Lee Wingate – Unsupported JOGLE (for his grandfather)
- Nicola Harrison – ‘Since 1664’ yomp (for father and serving Parachute Regiment partner, both COVID victims
- Simon Bowden for donations from book sales (for his father)
- Matt Welch – Middlesbrough 10K ‘Run for All’ in memory of his grandad, Syd Aitkins
- Amanda Lang In memory of Brigadier Tom Lang
- Paul Lawton’s ‘Walk and Talk’ (in memory of best mate Lee ‘Revs’ Revell)
- Steven Sanderson and Nick Constable who took part in the epic 2023 Telemark Challenge honouring the WW2 ‘Real Heroes of Telemark’; and Keiron Prosser’s ‘On the Hoof’ team who walked Le Chemin de la Liberté (Freedom Trail) one of the hardest wartime escape routes.
- Ian Clarkson and family, survivor of the 1989 bombing of the Royal Marines Barracks in Deal, for running the Yorkshire Three Peaks.
- And Danny Ensor, currently planning a 2024 cycle challenge in Japan in memory of his uncle, Chris Dooley.
To the bottom of the world
On Armistice Day (November 11th ), former Royal Marines Alan Chambers and David Thomas will be leaving the UK to head ‘down south’ for the start of yet another major adventure together.
Mission Spiritus Antarctica is a multi-purpose ski/trek polar expedition from Hercules Inlet to the Geographic South Pole, a 1,150-km sled haul across the Antarctic. Their aim is to be standing at the South Pole no later than the 14th January 2024, flying RMA – The Royal Marines Charity flag at the bottom of the Earth after 50 + days’ hauling all their supplies with them.
We were absolutely thrilled to learn that they will be raising funds and awareness for our own ‘Mission Critical’ campaign, especially as this is first and foremost a multi-faceted expedition involving global collaboration with eminent scientific and educational establishments around the world.
Alan says: “ Nearly 30 years ago we were both part of the first team to ski / haul across Iceland raising vital funds for spinal research as one of our Bootneck mates from 40 Commando RM had a C5 break and became quadriplegic. Rick Bell RM was then wheelchair-bound until he very sadly passed away, one of the bravest men I have ever met.
His legacy created a 20-year passion of polar expeditions and fundraising by walking to the North and South Poles and a few hills in the middle.
Dave and I met in the Corps 30 years’ ago to ski across Iceland and now we head off to ski to the South Pole together – friendships, humour and like-mindedness purpose has always been one of the golden strands in the Corps. That hasn’t changed….”
We wish them both every success and will keep you updated with their progress.
Photo: Mission Spiritus Antarctica
Another plaque for heritage trail
The completion of the ‘Scott Sutherland Commando Heritage Trail’ has become one stop closer following the unveiling in Cheltenham of a sixth commemorative plaque.
The plaque is positioned on the external wall of the old boardroom of HH Martyn & Co, which company cast the iconic Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge in 1951/52.
The creation of the Heritage Trail is an ongoing project led by Steve Nicol to keep Sutherland’s name alive and ensure that the contribution made by this remarkable sculptor to the enduring memory of the public and all Commando ranks is commemorated with gratitude.
Steve reported: “The service was attended by over 50 representatives from across the Commando constituency, including three generations of the Scott Sutherland family with the great grandson of Scott Sutherland, Frank, who supervised the Commanding Officer of RMR Bristol, Lt Col Jim Fuller RM.”
The best laid plans…
Special thoughts go out to brothers Paul (pictured right) and David Adey – both former Royal Marine Commandos and veterans of the Falklands Conflict – who, having been planning for several years to return together for the first time to the Islands, have this morning been told that the designated flight they were due to take tomorrow from Brize Norton has been cancelled because of a technical issue with the aircraft.
It was to be no ‘ordinary’ visit. They had not only planned to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in the capital, Stanley, on Remembrance Sunday on behalf of the RMA – The Royal Marines Charity, but also re-live one special personal moment: when, in 1982, they saw one another again during the formal Union Flag raising ceremony at Government House and were overwhelmed at being reunited, having gone their separate ways during the landing and not knowing one another’s fate.
David is in the well-known photo (pictured above top left 4th right of flag pole). He was a Royal Marine Driver and part of the incoming NP (Naval Party) 8901 and although captured and repatriated as a PoW, went back down for a few weeks as a Rifleman in J Coy 42 Commando RM.
Paul, who was just out of frame for the photo, was at Government House, too, in his capacity as a then Corporal RM Signaller in the Divisional HQ. He had landed as part of HQ 3 Commando Brigade HQ & Signal Squadron RM, before quickly moving to provide a communications base station for the Mountain & Artic Warfare Cadre RM.
By a quirk of fate, the brothers had briefly met up on SS Canberra at the Ascension Islands before going their separate ways on landing at San Carlos. Unaware of each other’s fate, they did not meet up again until the various members of NP 8901 came together for the formal Union Flag raising ceremony at Government House….
So, in yet another twist of fate, it seems they might have to wait a little longer to relive that very special moment – but we can still hope that this might somehow change.
Poppy post box goes green for Royal Marines
Bryony Crump, a member of Exmouth Yarn-Bombers, has been working on a unique Remembrance Day post box topper since July. Hours of work and skill have been dedicated to producing her work of art that has appeared on a post box on The Strand in the centre of the Devon seaside town this week.
The topper features a Royal Marines Commando famous ‘Green Lid’ beret, poppies and a band around the edge striped in Corps colours with the words ‘Per Mare, Per Terram’.
To make sure that all the details were absolutely spot-on, Bryony consulted former Royal Marine Phil Gilby, another local resident and Membership Operations Director (West) with RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
He said: “The Bootneck topper is in the perfect spot overlooking the Memorial in time for Remembrance. We are incredibly thankful to Bryony for all her hard work.”
“I was so grateful for all Phil’s advice – it was invaluable to make sure it was all exactly right,” added Bryony. “When we moved to Exmouth 20 years’ ago, I really picked up on the links between the town and the Corps. The work the Charity does makes such a difference to the Royal Marines family.”
Marine snipers in action
Forces.Net has reported: ‘A Royal Marines sniper team has brought a Caribbean drug-runners’ power boat to a “juddering halt” after shooting out its engines.
US Coast Guard personnel, working alongside the sailors and marines on board Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dauntless, were then able to seize £60m worth of cocaine, which the smugglers had been attempting to throw overboard.
The Portsmouth-based destroyer has now taken her tally to more than £200m worth of illegal narcotics intercepted after hunting down the 35ft vessel.’
Photo: Royal Navy
Shopping Corner
Stay warm in cold weather with this regular-fit, quality zip-through navy fleece jacket printed with the Globe & Laurel – plus there is much, much more specialised RM merchandise available online exclusively from the Royal Marines Shop.
The Royal Marines Shop, located in Plymouth, is wholly owned by RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and all profits come back to the Charity to help support the Corps Family.