https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/laterday/RM+Commandos/Deering/ In Memory of RM 20642 Mark Anthony Deering
40 Commando, Royal Marines,
who died on active service 30 October 1964 aged 22.
Remembered with honour.]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 07:27:45 +0100 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/101406-2/Deering.png https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/laterday/RM+Commandos/Deering/ https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/laterday/RM+Commandos/Deering/Mark+Deering+40+Cdo.png.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/laterday/RM+Commandos/Deering/Mark+Deering+40+Cdo.png.html
Marine Mark Deering drowned whilst crossing a river near the Sabah / Indonesian border.
763 Squad (1961).
Obituary in the Globe and Laurel, December 1964.
"RM 20642 Marine M.A. Deering
Marine Deering was drowned when crossing a river near the Sabah / Indonesian border, on Friday 30th October, when making his way back to his Troop jungle base from a border patrol.
Mark Anthony Deering joined the Corps in July, 1961. After completing his recruit training he joined 45 Commando and, after his tour in Aden, returned to UK and joined 43 Commando from July, 1963 to September, 1964.
He joined 40 Commando in Sabah in the same month and was posted to No.2 Troop, 'A' Company, where he very quickly became a popular figure who always seemed to have an apt and amusing remark ready for any situation.
Deering had a distinguished sporting record and had played Rugby for the Corps, Devonport Services, and had been an Irish Schoolboy International. He had also played for London Irish and was offered an Irish trial.
His tragic death, so soon after joining the Commando, has been a great blow to us all, and a very promising career has been very suddenly cut short.
To his parents, brothers and sisters in Ireland we offer our deepest sympathy on their great loss."

Sources
AFM ROH.
Obituary with the permission of the Globe Laurel, the Journal of the Royal Marines.
[Image] Collection of Mne. Anthony Dennis, RM 20611, (763 Squad - 1961).
In album Marine Mark Anthony Deering, 40 Commando RM died 30/10/1964 Borneo]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Tue, 03 Jun 2025 19:16:28 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/laterday/RM+Commandos/Deering/newspaper_Mark_Deering.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/laterday/RM+Commandos/Deering/newspaper_Mark_Deering.jpg.html
Newspaper extract from the Sunday Mirror published 26 January 1964.

Obituary in the Globe and Laurel, December 1964.
"RM 20642 Marine M.A. Deering
Marine Deering was drowned when crossing a river near the Sabah / Indonesian border, on Friday 30th October, when making his way back to his Troop jungle base from a border patrol.
Mark Anthony Deering joined the Corps in July, 1961. After completing his recruit training he joined 45 Commando and, after his tour in Aden, returned to UK and joined 43 Commando from July, 1963 to September, 1964.
He joined 40 Commando in Sabah in the same month and was posted to No.2 Troop, 'A' Company, where he very quickly became a popular figure who always seemed to have an apt and amusing remark ready for any situation.
Deering had a distinguished sporting record and had played Rugby for the Corps, Devonport Services, and had been an Irish Schoolboy International. He had also played for London Irish and was offered an Irish trial.
His tragic death, so soon after joining the Commando, has been a great blow to us all, and a very promising career has been very suddenly cut short.
To his parents, brothers and sisters in Ireland we offer our deepest sympathy on their great loss."

Additional Sources
AFM ROH.
Obituary with the permission of the Globe Laurel, the Journal of the Royal Marines.
In album Marine Mark Anthony Deering, 40 Commando RM died 30/10/1964 Borneo]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Tue, 03 Jun 2025 19:18:23 +0100