Photo updated

Thank you Colin. Photo now updated with name.

Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 22 Nov 2020 14:02:56 EST

300 Tp (Plymouth) 131 Indep Cdo Sqn RE (V)

SSgt Simon Miller

Posted by Colin Cheesman on Fri 20 Nov 2020 06:41:12 EST

When a Royal Marines Squad is formally presented with Green Berets on the Parade Ground a dustbin is placed into which they throw their defunct dark blue berets for disposal. When the area was prepared for these men that dustbin was placed out as a norm. On changing Berets each man carefully placed his Maroon Airborne Beret inside his Dennison Smock! To them that Beret is Sacred! In an Airborne Unit any man who jumps at least twice with a Foreign Para Unit is awarded their “wings” which are stitched onto his Smock. I do not know if that practice was continued but as they were now Commando Forces they could still attend a Reserve Forces Para Course to earn the badge and to keep practising that skill.

Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 17 Sep 2020 13:18:44 EDT

I was a member of the RM /RMR Training Team when 131 Indep Commando Sdn RE(V) converted from Airborne Forces to the Commando role.This was my RMR Annual Training for that year. I carried out a variety of duties,

Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 14:39:33 EDT

This shows the construction of a ‘Brushwood Bivvie’ during Mountain and Arctic Training (MAW) I did two attachments with 42 Commando RM at Andalsnes in deep a Winter, hard going and hard soldiering.

Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 14:37:31 EDT

This is post -1985 as they are carrying the ‘new’ 5.65 mm SA80, not the best Infantry Rifle the SAS would not touch it!

Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 14:30:47 EDT

This is an early morning shot judging by the shadows and may be the lads First Acquaint imagine doing this in January when the ice had to be broken!

Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 14:25:47 EDT

The Staff Sergeant nearest camera wears the qualification ‘Wings’ of an Army Parachute Jumping Instructor (APJI)

Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 13:21:55 EDT

I was a Sgt RMR when 131 converted to the Commando Role having come from Airborne Forces. They did not enjoy giving up their beloved Red Berets so the Pass Out Parade was a mix of sadness and also looking forward to the Challenges of working with Commando Brigade and 59 their a Regular counter-parts.I had been called down to CTCRM to form up with the mixed Training Team of both Regular and RMR Instructors. A great fortnight with some great guys!

Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 13:15:58 EDT

This shows a Syndicate of three men going thru the Endurance Course Water Tunnel working as a team, one swimming, one shoving and one tugging.

Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 13:05:38 EDT

This is quite an early photo taken as Colin crosses a Peters’ Pool on the Woodbury Common Endurance Course. He is carrying his 7.62mm SLR (Self Loading Rifle) the standard British Military weapon, it had a magazine holding 20 Rounds of ammunition and he will be expected to fire 10 ‘live’ Rounds at ‘snap’ targets back at the Commando Training Centre as part of the Course, he has a way to go yet followed by a 4 and. half mile run back. This is against the clock, Time allowed 72 minutes!

Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 12:57:59 EDT