Green Beret - Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines (RM), are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the UK and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service.
They are also the UK's specialists in amphibious warfare, including the operation of landing craft, mountain and Arctic warfare. A core component of the country's Rapid Deployment Force, the Corps's 3 Commando Brigade is capable of operating independently and is highly trained as a commando force. It is trained to deploy quickly and fight in any terrain. The Royal Marines have one of the longest basic infantry training courses in the world.
WWII Green Beret, Royal Marines
As far as the green beret is concerned, it is claimed that 41 (RM) Commando was the first to wear the beret. Lieutenant Colonel B J D Bertiell Lumsden was visiting SS Brigade’s HQ and saw one of the first green berets. Taking an immediate liking to it, he was allowed to take one away with him. He decided to put his full dress collar badge into it in place of a normal cap badge, a custom adopted only by the officers of 41(RM) Commando. This beret is on display in the Royal Marines Museum, along with the Commando fighting knife (and you can get your own green beret lapel pin here).
The beret shown with the Combined Operations and Commando patch sewn inside is not a Royal Marines beret. It is the beret of Stan Scott who served in No. 3 Army Commando during the Normandy invasion in 1944.
ReplyDeleteGlad you pointed that out. You can see part of his regimental cap badge. There was no specific cap badge for Army Commandoes(unlike the RM Commandoes) as they were recruited from all regiments in the British Army so they wore the cap badge of their previous regiment on their green beret. I would imagine when the army commando units were disbanded after the war ended they returned to their parent regiments to finish their service.
ReplyDeleteAdam Guthrie is correct. The photo of the beret has been taken (but sadly not credited out of respect by the poster) from our website gallery. http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/3/Stan+Scott/
ReplyDeleteAdditionally No.2 Commando (Army) did adopt their own cap badge which was unique to them.