LEST WE FORGET

Our last morning was spent at the Woodlands Garden Memorial, a poignant place of contemplation whose upkeep is one of the reasons for the introduction of the sniper course. The old walled garden for the estate on which RM Condor now sits, it is a place where men of the Corps, and their families, can come and remember fallen colleagues.

Now over seven years old, its upkeep is maintained by Gav the gardener. Its centrepiece is an eighttonne slab of red-tinged Aberdonian granite which bears the names of all the Marines from 45 Commando who have fallen in the service of the unit since it moved to Arbroath in 1971. The rest of the garden is designed to replicate the Corps’ globe and laurel emblem, and contains large rocks brought from each of the theatres of war where Marines have died.

The garden is a reminder of the losses suffered by the Marines, who have usually been in the thick of the battle. The Marines make up 4% of the UK fighting force, but provide 49% of its special forces, won 25% of all gallantry medals in Afghanistan, and suffered 13% of the casualties. With 60 fatalities, 155 disabled (including 30 amputees), and 256 Marines with life-changing injuries, the Corps has suffered disproportionately.

Which is where the Royal Marines Charity comes in. The total grants for 2017 were £1.85m, but the charity need to raise £2.5m each year if it is to minister to the needs of former Marines, including maintaining the Woodlands Garden Memorial. Anybody that has been inspired by this article who would also be interested in participating in the next event is encouraged to contact the RM Charity’s Scotland Manager Nick Holloway on: n.holloway@rma-trmc.org.

For more information see: www.theroyalmarinescharity.org.uk