King & Country
Captain
- Joined
- May 23, 2005
- Messages
- 5,001
Hi Guys,
Many thanks for all the kind and supportive comments about the new K&C Commandos…If I may let me share with you a wee story…
Back in 1962 I was a 13 year old Boy Scout who attended our annual Scout camp just outside Fort William in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. On one day our scout leaders took us on a seven-mile hike to the nearby village of “Spean Bridge” . About a mile outside the village on a gentle rise overlooking the Spean River valley stood an impressive bronze statue of three WW2 soldiers…”The Commando Memorial” . I found out later that the site was chosen because it was on the route from Spean Bridge railway station to “Achnacarry Castle” , the site of the Commando Training Centre during the Second World War.
Commando recruits would de-train after a 14 hour journey, shoulder their kit and weapons and speed-march the 8 miles to Achnacarry…Anyone failing to complete this initial task within 60 minutes was immediately RTU’d (Returned to Unit) .
While we were there at the monument we met a small group of older men (they must have been in their 40’s), three were British and two were French – all were former Commandos. All of us small boys were fascinated by these real-life heroes and asked them all kinds of questions about their training and exploits during the war. For over an hour they patiently answered each and every question with lots of laughs and good humour.
I remember asking one of the guys “Why he had joined the Commandos? ” His answer was straight forward… “I was going to join the Paras but it seemed daft to jump out of a plane if it was perfectly OK! The Commandos were reckoned to be the best trained and led in the British Army…I wanted to be with a lot of other soldiers who knew what they were doing and could do it better than anyone else! ”
Interestingly the two former French commandos had both taken part in the real attack on the German – held casino at Ouisterham featured in the movie “The Longest Day” .
Many years later I was fortunate enough to join the Royal Marines myself and experience at least some of what the original Commandos did during their training. I have nothing but admiration and respect for what these men achieved during the war and am proud and humbled to be able to reproduce in miniature a tribute to them… Look out for more Commandos in the future!
Best wishes and happy collecting,
P.S. See some of the pix of the memorial attached.
Many thanks for all the kind and supportive comments about the new K&C Commandos…If I may let me share with you a wee story…
Back in 1962 I was a 13 year old Boy Scout who attended our annual Scout camp just outside Fort William in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. On one day our scout leaders took us on a seven-mile hike to the nearby village of “Spean Bridge” . About a mile outside the village on a gentle rise overlooking the Spean River valley stood an impressive bronze statue of three WW2 soldiers…”The Commando Memorial” . I found out later that the site was chosen because it was on the route from Spean Bridge railway station to “Achnacarry Castle” , the site of the Commando Training Centre during the Second World War.
Commando recruits would de-train after a 14 hour journey, shoulder their kit and weapons and speed-march the 8 miles to Achnacarry…Anyone failing to complete this initial task within 60 minutes was immediately RTU’d (Returned to Unit) .
While we were there at the monument we met a small group of older men (they must have been in their 40’s), three were British and two were French – all were former Commandos. All of us small boys were fascinated by these real-life heroes and asked them all kinds of questions about their training and exploits during the war. For over an hour they patiently answered each and every question with lots of laughs and good humour.
I remember asking one of the guys “Why he had joined the Commandos? ” His answer was straight forward… “I was going to join the Paras but it seemed daft to jump out of a plane if it was perfectly OK! The Commandos were reckoned to be the best trained and led in the British Army…I wanted to be with a lot of other soldiers who knew what they were doing and could do it better than anyone else! ”
Interestingly the two former French commandos had both taken part in the real attack on the German – held casino at Ouisterham featured in the movie “The Longest Day” .
Many years later I was fortunate enough to join the Royal Marines myself and experience at least some of what the original Commandos did during their training. I have nothing but admiration and respect for what these men achieved during the war and am proud and humbled to be able to reproduce in miniature a tribute to them… Look out for more Commandos in the future!
Best wishes and happy collecting,
Andy C.
P.S. See some of the pix of the memorial attached.
