THE ROYAL MARINES Memorable Corps Dates

JANUARY.
11. Formation Commando Logistic Regt. 1972.
23. The Attack on Montforterbeek. (45 Royal Marine Commando ) 1945.
30. Royal Marines granted the title "Light Infantry" 1855.
31. The Battle of Kangaw, (42 & 44 Royal Marine Commando) 1945.

FEBRUARY.
14. Formation of first Royal Marine Commando at Deal. 1942.
~ Royal Marines received Freedom of Deal, 1945
22. First recruits joined Lympstone, 1940.

MARCH.
7 . Kings badge and Kings Squad instituted by King George V at Deal , 1918.
17. Woolwich Division (Court) Royal Marines disbanded, 1869.
31. Royal Marine Barracks at Deal closed. 1996

APRIL.
1. 539 Assault Squadron formed. 1984.
2. Battle of Comacchio. 1945 (43 Commando RM & Com GP RM )
3. Major F.W. Lumsden , DSO, Royal Marine Artillery awarded the Victoria Cross, France 1917
~ Corporal T. P. Hunter, 43 Commando Royal Marines awarded the Victoria Cross, Italy. 1943.
5. 50 Independent Companies of Marines raised, 1755.
23. The raid on Zeebrugge. 1918.
~ Captain E. Bamford, Royal Marine Light Infantry awarded the Victoria Cross, 1918.
~ Sergeant N. A. Finch Royal Marine Artillery awarded the Victoria Cross, 1918.
26. Royal Marines receive the Freedom of the Borough of Wirral, 1998.
28. Galipoli. 1915.
29. The Corps granted the title "ROYAL" 1802.

MAY.
1. Royal Marines received the freedom of Medway 1955.
~ Comacchio Group Royal Marines formed, 1980.
7. Royal Marines received the Freedom of Plymouth. 1955.
8. Victory Europe Day, (VE Day) 1945.
11. Royal Marines affiliated to Exmouth, 1968.
14. Royal Marines received the freedom of Portsmouth, 1959.
20. Formation of Royal Naval School of Music ( Royal Marine Band Service ), 1903.
21. Landing in San Carlos Water, Falkland Islands, ( 3 Commando Bde HQ & Sig Sqd RM,
& Op LC Squadrons), 1982.
22. Landing at Ajax Bay, Falkland Islands, ( Commando Logistics Regiment Royal Marines) 1982.
31. Major F.J.W. Harvey, Royal Marine Infantry, awarded the Victoria Cross, at the Battle of
Jutland, 1916.

JUNE.
1. Battle of the Glorious 1st of June, 1794 (PWRR).
6. Landings at Normandy France, ( Operational Landing Craft Squadrons and 48 Commando)
1944.
7. Battle of Belle Isle, 1761.
~ Bombardier T. Wilkinson, Royal Marine Artillery, awarded the Victoria Cross, Sebastopol,
1855.
~ Capture of Port-en- Bessin, (47 Royal Marine Commando), 1944.
10. The Captain Generals Birthday ( HRH Duke of Edinburgh)
11. Capture of Le Hamel & Rots, (46 Royal Marine Commando), 1944.
12. Attack on Two Sisters, Falkland Islands, ( 45 Royal Marine Commando) 1982.
~ Attack on Mount Harriet, Falkland Islands, ( 42 Royal Marine Commando) 1982.
14. The recapture of the Falkland Islands, 1982
15. Formal surrender by General Menendez to Major-General Jeremy Moore, of all Argentine Forces on East and West Falklands.1982.
17. Battle of Bunker Hill, 1775.
24. Captain L.S.T. Halliday, Royal Marine Light Infantry, awarded the Victoria Cross, Peking,
1900.

JULY.
13. Lieutenant G.D.Dowell. Royal Marine Artillery, awarded the Victoria Cross, Baltic, 1855.
24. Capture of Gibraltar, 1704.

AUGUST.
1. Royal Marine Commando formed from 1st Royal Marine Battalion, 1943.
~ Forton Barracks ( Royal Marine Light Infantry) closed, 1923.
7. 45 Royal Marine Commando formed from the 5th Royal Marine Battalion, 1943
12. 847 Naval Air Squadron formed as 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron Royal Marines, 1968
15. Victory Japan Day (VJ Day) 1945.
31. Chatham Group (1st Grand Division ) disbanded, 1950.

SEPTEMBER.
1. Headquarter 3 Special Service Brigade formed from HQ 102 Royal Marine Brigade, 1943.
~ All Royal Marine Bands integrated into the Royal Marine Band Service, 1950.
3. World War 2 declared. 1939.
5. Royal Marines received the freedom of Poole, 1973.
9. Landing at Salerno, ( 41 Royal Marine Commando). 1943.
22. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) attacked and bombed the Royal Marine School of Music, Deal, a number of bandsmen killed. 1989.
24. Royal Marines Granted the badge of the "Globe" in place of Battle Honours by King George IV. 1827.

OCTOBER.
8. The title of Colonel-in-Chief changed to Captain General, 1948.
21. The Battle of Trafalgar, 1805.
25. The Battle of Balaclava, 1854.
28. The Birth of the Corps, 1664.
~ Royal Marines received the freedom of Gibraltar, 1996.

NOVEMBER.
1. The assualt on Walcheren, 1944.
~ Recruiting opened for the Royal Marine Volunteer Reserve (RMR) 1948.
5. The Battle of Inkerman, Corporal J. Prettyjohn, Royal Marine Light Infantry, awarded the Victoria Cross, 1855.
6. The assualt on Port Said, 1956.
10. United States Marines formed 1775.
11. Armistice signed, 1918.
25. Royal Marines received the freedom of Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1989.
29. The Battle of Chosin, Korea, ( 41 Independent Commando Royal Marines) 1950.

DECEMBER.
8. Royal Marines received the freedom of Chatham, 1949.
~ Royal Marines received the freedom of Stanley, 1976.
12. The assualt on Limbang, Sarawak. (L Company 42 Royal Marine Commando) 1962.


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

Quote:

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10. United States Marines formed 1755.

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Is our Corps Birthday one of your Corps memorable dates?

NOVEMBER.
1. The assualt on Walcheren, 1944. - Canadians were are part of that little assault also.

We had to make up for the bloody mess at Dieppe! 3 Commando were the only one that knew what they were doing! Well at least the planners learned their lesson and Normandy went a bit better.

I know some of y'all have been out for a while. but it's November 10 1775 not 1755, you should change it before someone who matters sees this atrocity.

The original post is correct. The numbers "turned" in the ether.

The Birth of the Corps - 28 October 1664

King Charles II sanctioned the formation of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot - the first Regiment to be formed specially for service afloat. The Regiment was raised mainly from the Trained Bands of the City of London from which the RM derive the privilege of marching through the City of London with Colours flying, drums beating and bayonets fixed. The yellow stripe in our present-day Regimental flash commemorates the yellow uniforms of the Duke of York and Albany's Regiment.

The Capture of Gibraltar - 24 July 1704

The famous attack upon Gibraltar, which led to its surrender to the British, on 24 July 1704 was carried out by a brigade of British and Dutch Marines, 1800 strong, under the command of Prince George of Hese-Darmstadt. In the following October, Gibraltar was besieged by the French and Spanish. The Marines from the British Fleet, held the fortress against repeated attacks until the siege was raised on 9 March 1705. In one incident in this fighting, Captain Fisher of the Marines with 17 of his men, successfully defended the Round Tower against the continued assaults of 500 French Grenadiers. A contemporary report of this noted defence says,
"Encouraged by the Prince of Hesse, the garrison did more than could humanly be expected, and the English Marines gained an immortal glory."

The Battle of Belleisle - 7 June 1761

Two battalions of Marines, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John McKenzie, served with great distinction at the siege of Belleisle, and island off the north-west coast of France near St Nazaire in Quiberon Bay. With the 19th Regiment, these two units effected their first successful seabourne landing in the face of stiff opposition. They took part in all subsequent fighting on the island. The Marine battalions gained great fame at the final storming of the redoubts in June. Of their conduct on this occasion the Annual Register for 1761 said:
"No action of greater spirit and gallantry has been performed during the whole war".
The laurel wreath borne on the Colours and appointments of the RM is believed to have been adopted in honour of the distinguished service of the Corps during this operation.

The Battle of Bunker Hill - 17 June 1775

On the night of 16 June 1775 a rebel American force occupied dominating high ground to the north of the town of Boston where a British garrison was based. On the following morning General Sir William Howe launched an attack to dislodge the Americans which was repulsed with heavy losses. A second attack was also unsuccessful but the third, after Howe had been reinforced by a Marine Force and the 47th Regiment, finally took the position. The Marine Force under Major John Pitcairn consisted of the First and Second Marine Battalions. It suffered casualties of 29 killed and 87 wounded in storming the heights. A contemporary report said:
"The reputation of the Marines was never more nobly sustained. Their unshaken steadiness was conspicuous and their valour in closing with the enemy when part of the attacking column wavered gained them not only the admiration of their comrades but the commendation of their distinguished chief."

The Battle of Trafalgar - 21 October 1805

The Corps was present at Lord Nelson's victory over the combined fleets at Trafalgar, the most decisive sea fight in British history. Ninety-three officers and 2610 other ranks of the royal Marines at their traditional stations on the upper decks of the British ships bore a brave and important part in the success of the day. The losses were particularly heavy on board the leading ships; in Lord Nelson's flagship, the Victory, the detachment suffered one officer and 18 other ranks killed with 3 officers and 9 other ranks wounded. The total RM casualties during the battle were 4 officers and 117 other ranks killed with 14 officers and 226 other ranks wounded.

Gallipoli - 28 April 1915

During February and March 1915 elements of the 3rd Royal Marines Brigade (Brigadier C N Trotman RMLI), landed largely unopposed on the Gallipoli peninsula to dismantle Turkish defensive positions. After the unsuccessful naval attempts to force the Narrows in March, the Turkish Army reinforced the peninsula in strength. Thereafter a major amphibious operation was required. The Plymouth Battalion RMLI took part in the initial landing on 25 April but the Brigade did not land until the night of 28/29 April when it went ashore at Anzac Cove to relieve 1 and 3 Australian Brigades. On 30 April it was joined in the line by 1 Royal Navy Brigade (Brigadier D Mercer RMLI) which contained the Deal RMLI Battalion. For the next 13 days both brigades were engaged in continuous heavy fighting, bearing the brunt of the Turkish attacks and displaying great resolution. After a counter-attack in the Monash Valley by Chatham and Portsmouth Battalions on 3 May 1915 the Turks were driven back with heavy losses. Major Quinn, a great Australian VC, said to Major Jerram of the RM Brigade:
"The bravest thing I've seen so far was the charge of your two Battalions up that hill on Bloody Sunday".
In another incident Lance Corporal W R Parker (Portsmouth Battalion RMLI) was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in evacuating a party of wounded men under fire. The RM Brigade's casualties during this period were 21 officers and 217 men killed, 29 officers and 764 men wounded and 122 men missing. On 12 May both brigades were deployed to Cape Helles to rejoin the RN Division for the remainder of the campaign.

The Raid on Zeebrugge - 23 April 1918

The 4th Battalion RM under the command of Lieutenant Colonel B N Elliot DSO took a leading part in the gallant enterprise against the German naval base at Zeebrugge, on St George's Day, 1918. The RMLI companies landed on the Mole in the face of determined opposition and held their positions while the entrance to the canal was successfully blocked and the Mole destroyed. Lieutenant Colonel Elliot, the last of a family who had served in the Corps from father to son since 1755, Major Cordner, his second-in-command, 9 other officers and 109 NCOs and men lost their lives in this gallant affair, while 233 all ranks were wounded and 13 taken prisoner. Two Victoria Crosses were awarded to the RM for their conduct during the operation.

The Landings in Normandy - 6 June 1944

Over 16,000 Royal Marines took part in the largest amphibious operation in history. Most of the minor landing craft were manned by Royal Marines, as also were the guns of the support craft, and all capital ships carried an RM detachment. five RM Commandos (41,45,46,47 and 48) landed during the assault phase, grouped with three Army Commandos into two Special Service Brigades. In addition the Corps provided a number of specialist units including an Armoured Support Group, beach clearance and control parties and engineers. The first 48 hours of the operation were the most critical, involving a seaborne assault against a heavily protected and strongly held coastline. Most of the RM Commando were ashore by 0900 hours on 6 June and had achieved their initial objectives by early on 7 June. The Corps thus played a leading role in the establishment of secure beach-heads from which subsequent operations to defeat the German Army in the west were developed. Nine officers and 85 men were killed in action on 6 June. The number of wounded is not known. The following gallantry awards were conferred upon Royal Marines during the Normandy campaign, most of them for actions on 6 June: 5 DSOs, 3 OBEs, 13 DSCs, 10 MCs, 1 CGM, 26 DSMs and 13 MMs.

Assault on Walcheren - 1 November 1944

The leading troops in the successful seaborne attack on Walcheren in November 1944, were the 4th Special Service Brigade (Brigadier B W Leicester DSO) consisting of Numbers 41, 47, and 48 Commandos and Number 4 Army Commando. The three RM commandos attacked Westkapelle with little support, owing to the weather, other than that provided by the naval support craft, the guns of which were manned by RM crews. The success of the landing was in no small measure due to the self-sacrifice and gallantry of the naval support craft, and after some days' heavy fighting ashore, the batteries covering the mouth of the Scheldt were captured. The clearing of the entrance to the river, in which the RM thus performed a gallant and leading part, was of the greatest importance to the operations of the Allied Armies in Flanders.

Recapture of the Falklands - 14 June 1982

The Corps was involved in virtually every significant aspect of the South Atlantic campaign, starting on 2 April when Naval party 8901 opposed the Argentine assault on the Islands. A company group from 42 Commando RM recaptured South Georgia on 25 April. From 1 May, SB Squadron carried out intelligence-gathering patrols which were critical to the success of the main amphibious landing in San Carlos Water on 21 May. The main landing was planned and executed by 3 Commando Brigade RM (Brigadier J H A Thompson OBE) which had been reinforced by two parachute battalions and other Army subunits. RM detachments served in many ships of the Task Force, and manned all landing craft. On 30 May, Major General J J Moore OBE MC* arrived in San Carlos with his headquarters, based upon HQ Commando Forces RM, and assumed command of all land forces which by then included 5 Infantry Brigade, 3 Commando Brigade RM, however, bore the brunt of the fighting throughout the campaign, commanding most of the battles which led to the surrender of the Argentine forces on 14 June. The professionalism and resilience of the Marines who took part were major factors in the success of this unique amphibious operation conducted at a range of nearly 8000 miles from the UK mounting base. A total of 3520 Royal Marines, approximately 50 percent of the Corps, took part in the campaign. Two officers and 25 men of the Corps were killed in action during the campaign, and 67 were wounded. The following honours and awards were subsequently conferred upon Royal Marines: 1KCB, 1 CB, 2 DSOs, 6 OBEs, 3 MBEs, 2 DSCs, 5 MCs, 2 DFCs, 10 MMs, 1 DCM, 3 DSMs, 1 DFM and 1 QGM.

Copied from Royal Marines Instructions BR2118

Unit Memorable dates:
40 Commando RM - The Landing at Termoli - 3 October 1943
In the early hours of 3 October 1943, 40 RM Commando (Lieutenant Colonel J C Manners) with No 3 Commando and elements of the Special Raiding Squadron landed under cover of darkness at Termoli, a seaport town on the Adriatic coast, north of the River Bifurno and behind the German lines, 40 Commando penetrated well into the town before the enemy were alerted and brisk close-quarter fighting with German parachute troops ensued. By 0800 hours, 40 Commando had captured the town and controlled the approaches. So complete was the surprise that German vehicles and motor cyclists still drove into a Commando ambush position until noon. The Germans retaliated in strength and 40 Commando with 3 Commando, the Special Raiding Squadron and some reinforcements from the 78th Division, held off repeated and heavy infantry and armoured counter-attacks by the 26th Panzer Division until eventually the 8th Army linked up with them on 6 October. The operation was an outstanding success. They had overcome all attempts, by a force vastly superior in numbers an armament, to dislodge them and in so doing, won a valuable harbour; they caused the enemy to withdraw from the natural defence line on the Bifurno and denied them the use of the important lateral road from Naples, thereby forcing them to retreat further northwards.

40 Commando RM - The Assault on Port Said - 6 November 1956
In the summer of 1956 President Nasser of Egypt nationlized the Suez Canal. The British and French Governments subsequently decided to reoccupy the Canal zone and 3 Commando Brigade was nominated to spearhead the amphibious assault. At dawn on 6 November 1956, 40 Commando RM (Lieutenant Colonel D G Tweed MBE), together with 42 Commando on their right, supported by Naval bombardment and with close air support, landed across the beaches at Port Said. Its task was to recapture the main part of the town, the government offices and the docks area. Heavy street fighting followed all day down narrow alleys and through high tenement blocks, all under constant enemy sniping. With determination, military skill and superb junior leadership, all the Commando's objectives were seized before a cease-fire was ordered later that day. This was the first major seaborne assault since the Second World War and 40 Commando played a significant part in this entirely successful phase of the operation.

42 Commando RM - The Battle of Kangaw - 31 January 1945
In Burma during January 1945, following the capture of the Myebon Peninsula, 3 Command Brigade was given the task of making a further landing near Kangaw, with the intention of cutting the Japanese lines of withdrawal down the coast. On 22 January 1945, 42 RM Commando (Lieutenant Colonel H H Dales) together with No 1 Commando landed and occupied positions in the mangrove swamp. Subsequently the Commando was ordered to capture a heavily wooded ridge known as Hill 170. Two days of hand-to-hand fighting were necessary before the Japanese could be driven from the ridge, and no sooner were they dislodged than they subjected it to heavy artillery fire. After a lull of several days, the Japanese counter-attacked at dawn on 31 January 1945. The enemy attacked repeatedly. In spite of heavy casualties to the Commando, the Japanese were finally beaten off, and withdrew, leaving their dead dying among forward Commando positions. In a Special Order of the Day to 3 Commando Brigade, Lieutenant General Sir Philip Christison, Commander of XV Corps, concluded "The Battle of Kangaw has been the decisive battle of the whole Arakan campaign, and that it was won was very largely due to your magnificent defence on Hill 170".

42 Command RM - The Attack on Mount Harriet - 11/12 June 1982
During the initial landings on the Falklands Islands on 21 May 1982, 42 Commando RM (Lieutenant Colonel N F Vaux) were brigade reserve at Port San Carlos before seizing Mount Kent in a night move by helicopter. By 4 June the unit had moved forward, mostly under cover of darkness, to positions west of the high ground overlooking Stanley and the last Argentine stronghold. After days of probing reconnaissance, a Brigade assault took place on the night 11/12 June in which the Commando's task was to secure Mount Harriet on the Brigade right flank. In the moonlight and freezing temperatures, 42 Commando moved undetected through enemy minefields in a 9 kilometre right-flanking movement to surprise the enemy in their rear. Consecutive assaults by K and L Companies followed up steep slopes on to company positions among the crags at either end of the feature. Careful planning, resolute leadership and the boldness and determination of Marines against initially strong resistance and continuous artillery bombardment eventually prevailed. By first light more than 30 enemy had been killed and over 300 prisoners taken as 42 Commando consolidated Mount Harriet.

45 Commando RM - The Attack on Monforterbeek - 23 January 1945
During their advance on Linne in Holland on 23 January 1945, 45 RM Commando (Lieutenant Colonel W N Gray) was held up by well-prepared positions behind the Montforterbeek dyke. After hard fighting in bitterly cold weather and over flat ground covered in snow, the leading Troops achieved their objectives. Meanwhile Command Headquarters and the remainder of the unit, lying in the snow and frozen with cold, were subjected to heavy shelling from self-propelled guns and suffered numerous casualties. It was during this action that Lance Corporal H E Harden, RAMC, the medical orderly attached to 'A' Troop, particularly distinguished himself. He crawled in the snow across 120 yards of flat open ground to dress the wounds of three casualties and then carried one man back under intense mortar and machine-gun fire before returning with a stretcher party for the other two. While bringing back the third man he was shot through the head and killed. Harden was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his fearless action. The Commander of the 7th Armoured Division passed the following message during the day, which was published as a Special Order:

"To all ranks, 45 Commando. The Divisional Commander congratulates 45 Royal Marine Command on their valuable work today, which has been of great importance in driving back the enemy on the Divisional front.
Well done Royal Marines! You put up a fine show today, and I am very proud of you".

In spite of a determined night counter-attack during which hand-to-hand fighting took place in front of the slit trenches, the captured German positions were held until the unit was relieved by No 6 Commando in the morning.

45 Commando RM - The Attack on Two Sisters - 11/12 June 1982
In the dawn assault on the Falklands Islands on 21 May 1982 45 Commando RM (Lieutenant Colonel A F Whitehead) landed at Ajex Bay on the Brigade's right flank. After securing the western side of the beach-head, and while ships were being unloaded under Argentine air attack, 45 Commando marched across more than 80 kilometres of rugged terrain in freezing weather and driving rain via Douglas Settlement and Teal Inlet to be in a position on Mount Kent for 3 Commando Brigade's main attack. The Commando's objective was the twin peaks of Two Sisters, the centre of the Brigade's three objectives. Bold reconnaissance between 4 and 9 June had pinpointed enemy positions and fighting patrols, while artillery harassing fire had caused some early casualties to the enemy. A silent approach and a two-pronged attack during the night of 11/12 June against well-equipped and dug-in opposition up the jagged, craggy rock formations culminated in fierce hand-to-hand fighting for the final enemy company positions. About 50 prisoners were captured and 20 enemy either killed or wounded; the remainder had retreated to the east. Thirty-six hours later the Commando advanced swiftly to Sapper Hill, again on foot, and thence into Port Stanley.

Commando Logistic Regiment RM - Landing at Ajax Bay - 22 May 1982
The Falklands campaign was fought some 8,000 miles from 3 Commando Brigade's base in Plymouth. This stretched the logistic support to its utmost. The Commando Logistic Regiment RM (Lieutenant Colonel I J Hellberg RCT) was faced with the problem of supporting an enlarged Brigade spread over more than 30 warships, auxiliaries and merchant ships. The skill, dedication and exceptional devotion of the ordnance, transport, repair and medical elements of the Regiment in adverse weather conditions and often under heavy enemy air attack played a major part in the success of the landing in San Carols Water. During the following three weeks of the campaign, from the beach support area at Ajax Bay where it landed on 22 May, the Regiment supported a Divisional Headquarters and two brigades, treated 695 casualties, processed 2,000 prisoners of war and dealt with over 8,000 tons of stores, ammunition and equipment. The logistic support provided by the Commando Logistic Regiment RM was a battle-winning factor.

3 Commando Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron RM - The Landings in San Carlos Water - 21 May 1982
After Argentine forces had occupied the Falkland Islands in April 1982, 3 Commando Brigade RM was the landing element of the amphibious task force ordered to recapture them. The landing force consisting of 40, 42 and 45 Commandos RM, reinforced by 2nd and 3rd Battalions The Parachute Regiment, embarked in HMS FEARLESS and INTREPID, Landing Ships Logistic and in many ships taken up from trade and sailed 8,000 miles south via Ascension Island. The latter stages of the voyage were conducted in poor weather conditions and under threat of Argentine surface, subsurface and air attack. Sound planning in conjunction with the Naval Task Force Commanders, culminated in a successful unopposed Brigade night landing in the San Carlos region of East Falkland before dawn on 21 May 1982. For the next seven days the landing force was under constant attack as the Argentine Air Force attempted to dislodge it from the beachhead. The choice of this remote, sheltered landing force to withstand the air assault and played a major part in ensuring the successful recapture of the Falkland Islands during the ensuing weeks.

Operational Landing Craft Squadrons - The Landings in Normandy - 6 June 1944
On 6 June 1944, Allied forces based in the United Kingdom successfully assaulted the coast of Normandy as a first step to the defeat of the German Army in the west. Royal Marines manned the assault landing craft carrying the first and subsequent waves of the five leading infantry divisions. In addition they manned the guns of the support landing craft and men of the landing craft obstruction clearance units were among the first ashore in order to clear the defences on the beaches. For weeks after the initial assault, landing craft crews continued to ferry ashore men, vehicles and stores of the reinforcing divisions. Both afloat in landing craft and ashore in the naval beach parties, the Royal Marines played a prominent and vital part in the invasion.

Operational Landing Craft Squadrons - The Landings in San Carlos Water - 21 May 1982
After Argentine forces had occupied the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982, a British Task Force was formed and ordered to recapture them. Starting before dawn on 21 May 1982 in San Carlos Water, the RM landing craft squadrons from HMS FEARLESS and INTREPID, together with the 1st Raiding Squadron RM, landed 3 Commando Brigade on to 5 separate beaches without loss. After these initial landings the Squadrons continued to off-load the logistic shipping in deteriorating weather and under constant air attack. Later all raiding and landing craft were formed into the Task Force Landing Craft Squadron, which subsequently operated on both flanks supporting 3 Commando Brigade and 5 Infantry Brigade in dangerous and testing conditions. The new Squadron also assisted the Commodore Amphibious Warfare in minesweeping duties and Special Forces raiding and insertion tasks. Without this invaluable contribution, before, during and after the main landings, the Falkland Islands Task Force could not have achieved its objective in such a timely manner.

Sticky Blue you forgot one of our most famous dates, Dec 7th 1942 12 marines under the command of Major Blondie Hasler paddled up the River Gironde to Bordeaux in France and attacked German ships in the Harbour. Only two survived, Major Hasler and his number 2 Mne Bill Sparks, the others were either drowned or executed by the Germans. The operation was called "Operation Frankton" better known as "The Cockleshell Heroes"

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Originally Posted by Sticky blue

Is our Corps Birthday one of your Corps memorable dates?

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Certainly is. Have you ever forgotten one of your kids birthdays? :D:D

Inkummmmmmmmin!