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POPSUS Marines facing reality
They ought to read this blog, they and their inept and idiotic political masters. I had a US former Marine Sgt work for me in Namibia. He could not understand that his two year enlistment did nowhere equate to that of a 15 year regular soldier. Very few of the lessons in soldiering can be gained from the library of military literature. They are gained in the field, from those who have experienced all that service has to offer. The British made an enormous mistake when, after the Falklands, the major slice of experienced senior nco's were forcibly retired. That single instrument allowed second class senior officers to kowtow to their political masters, with disastrous procurement of everything essential from personal weapons to food, through footwear to transport. When General Jackson and his cronies were feathering their pension pots, the skills and loyalty of the squaddie were evaporating on a maelstrom of political correctness and Health & Safety. I heard not a beep out of th
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POPSBlackpool Veteran Major speaks -but never for me. What is Houldsworth a veteran of? Choir services? Bad singing? Idiotic parades? Ignoring the real vets? Self promotion? As a former Gunner, a veteran and a professional soldier, the further the likes of Bell and Houldsworth are away from any organisation for me and my fellow former injured regulars, the better. If you think my ire is not well founded, then perhaps you ought to read the letter sent by Houldsworth to Bell that had a former regular Royal Marine disciplined for telling the truth about Houldsworth and the inept Ex-Services Liaison Committee of Blackpool. Both Bell and Houldsworth should stick to their choirs and leave soldiering to soldiers.
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POPSA U.S. Marine The train was quite crowded, and a U. S. Marine walked the entire length looking for a seat, but the only seat left was taken by a well dressed, middle-aged, French woman's poodle. The war-weary Marine asked, "Ma'am, may I have that seat?" The French woman just sniffed and said to no one in particular "Americans are so rude. My little Fifi is using that seat." The Marine walked the entire train again, but the only seat left was under that dog. "Please, ma'am. May I sit down? I'm very tired." She snorted, "Not only are you Americans rude, you are also arrogant!" This time the Marine didn't say a word; he just picked up the little dog, tossed it out the train window, and sat down. The woman shrieked, "Someone must defend my honor! This American should be put in his place!" An English gentleman sitting nearby spoke up, "Sir, you Americans seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong thing. You hold the fork in the wrong hand. You drive your cars on the wrong side of the road. And n
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POPSBlackpool Conservatives choice 3. Finally, our elected representatives should demonstrate leadership and refuse to travel First Class. Not only would this result in significant savings it would more importantly acknowledge that they understand the concerns of the electorate regarding public spending and the need to “tighten our belts” something that they seem well able to preach yet unable to practice. At the end of the day what all elected representatives, and I obviously count myself in this number, must acknowledge is that we exist to serve the people that voted for us, they are our true bosses and they are most certainly not here to serve us. Unfortunately, I sometimes feel that this important fact is often forgotten or worse conveniently ignored. I bet he never cleared this piece with Councillor Ian Fowler. And there is a whole group of former regular Royal Marines who would dispute the last statement. As both a Bootneck and a devout Conservative, I find this choice of candidate worrying. Needless to say I
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POPSBrave, young British widow She may not have said so by name, but the non-mention of Ssafa and RBL told me and reinforced all my prejudices at soulless, two top heavy institutions they have evolved into. Listening to a Court judge succinctly inform the powers of the mighty Soldiers, Sailor and Air Force Families Association gave me and other witnesses no succour. The simple truth is they have become defunct especially in Lancashire. The communication gap between the all important caseworker and the mandarins in Central Office is wider than that between the electorate and the thieving mongrels at Westminster. What is worse, there is nothing, no viable instrument in place to hold the hierarchy of Ssafa to account. So when I am told by former Royal Marines how proud they are of the leadership of Ssafa I ask if they have ever volunteered. Until they have they should stay stum and listen to those who did.
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POPSRoyal Marine Dies in Selly Oak I apologise to friends and family alike for having to put this brave man amongst the dross of British politics. My sincerest condolensces to his family from a former Bootneck.
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POPSRoyal Marine Dies Like the four heroes who died last week, this story has been sidelined by the expenses debacle. My sincerest sympathies to all the families of the fallen.
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POPSPriority for injured soldiers? I will believe this when I see it. Seven years ago I was the sole voice screaming at the inequities of council decisions made in Blackpool. The Council had issued an edict which placed former servicemen in 17th place on page two of their discussion paper on housing. When I raised this issue with the Ex Servicemen’s Association and the Royal Marines Association I was told I was out of order and out of line. Now sense has prevailed and these worthless bodies realised that it is the serving man (and woman) who is always the priority and not their self indulgent selves, I would like to say I told you. The facts are that the majority of former service associations are not worth a fart in moral and ethical standards- in my opinion- says it all. When political association takes priority over the camaraderie of old pals it shows the depths that society has sunk. Well done Help for Heroes. The tragedy is that you have to exist at all.
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POPSLabours' Soviet State Does Labour know how damaging this is? Did my fellow Royal Marines and other servicemen have to carry additional ID while serving Quenn and Country? If you have nothing to do, check on the thieving pigs in Westminster before you label the decent folk of the British Isles.
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POPSCorporal Liam Elms RM When you read about the celebs snorting the drugs that are financing this war, spare a moment for the real men who are fighting the tides of the West's insatiable addictions. When you see pictures of Kate Moss going into re-hab, financing the worthless shits she has sex with, remember real heroes. All thought are with the families of serving members of HM Forces and their families and friends.
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POPS42 Commando RM From a former member of 42 to the family and friends of Ben Whatley, thoughts and prayers.
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POPSMarines kill Pirates Must be by pure luck that it wasn't the Cornwall, otherwise, we would probably be sending representations to Mogadishu - a couple of fat female sailors, some stoker with a duff ipod and a music teacher to teach the Royals to do the Oo-kee-ko-kee or simple simon said..."put yer hands in the air...
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POPSSoldier kills his friend, gets two years. Almost 40 years ago, the Army, under pressure from the wholly civilian MoD, brought in a ludicrous charge into QR&R's of negligent(accidental) discharge of a weapon. At the time, here were sufficient protests to challenge this Rule, not only because...if you train a soldier to a sufficient level of competence, then this type of incident would never occur - a position the civilians in the MoD could never understand. With this charge came a mandatory 28 day Corrective training - cells to you and me - for anyone discharging a weapon unlawfully. What was never understood was that the intent or otherwise mens rea and actus rheus - of each incident could never be verified. At this period of time, especially in the Royal Marines, every incident of a negligent discharge was accompanied with a Board of Inquiry. Not until the Inquiry has sat could a Charge be made against the person discharging a weapon. Under no circumstances had the bright sparks realised that when a weapon is discharged
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POPSAnother veteran being ignored For all those who accept verbatim, the meaningless drivel from worthy charities, perhaps should take heed of what charity workers are saying. High powered executive with their enormous salaries and mammoth pensions, and comfortable offices in London, are completely out of touch with the realities of modern Britain and the strains on disabled veterans. Eddie Rawlinson is a honorary member of Blackpool Royal Marines Association and I can lay ever pfennig I ever had that not a single person from that Charity has been in touch with his family. So much for being a CHARITY. I bet their secretary does not miss a photo call on his way to becoming another toothless member of parliament.
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POPSRoyal Marine awarded George Cross What is remarkable about this tale is that it is only a George Cross. despite having taken the blast, refusing evacuation, he went onto confront the Taliban and killed his enemy in a subsequent action. What people do not realise about the Royal Marines is that they do not expect to get reward. Fair payment and a covenant to took after them in ill-health and old age is all a Royal asks for. But who cares? Well done, Royal.
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POPSWrist-band for your comrade. This has to be examined and commented on. I cannot imagine the Head of the Rhodesian Army issuing edicts to Selous Scouts over dress and getting away with it. Discipline is disciple, but common sense is common sense. If there is an overwhelming response from those doing the job that a matter has to be dealt with in a certain manner, then any reasonable senior rank would take that into consideration. I was told by an individual that I cannot wear my Rhodesian GSM on parade. My response..."Do you want that finger broken or do you want to clean your teeth from up your arse-hole?" Word of warning to the Marines. Collective dissent is Mutiny. There are arse-holes out there who would use QR&R's to pervert your desire to give homage to your comrades. You will not remember this, but these are the words scribed into history by our forefathers from the Great war... "Fuck 'em all. Fuck 'em all. The long and the short and the tall. Fuck all the sergeants and WO 1's. Fuck all the serg
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POPSIn the Heart of Darkest Africa... I hold no animosity to the proposed Conservative candidate and his brother, we all wish them well. The sentiments of notyeyavet I endorse. What is concerning is that if Mr R. Bell is such a concerned citizen, why is it that he demanded that one of his members of the Blackpool branch of the Royal Marine Association had to endure the time and cost of a 700 mile round journey, just to have access to the minutes of the Association meetings? If Mr Bell could not cope with the needs of 50 members, how will he cope, if he is elected, with the harrowing demands of 75,000 constituents? In the words of the Commando march ...In the heart of darkest Africa, Where no Yank has ever been, Lies... Well nothing changes!!!
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POPSForty Years too late It was way back in 1969 that the reality of using the useless Landrover in urban streets became a hindrance to the military. In those days the Military hierarchy was so subdued by the politicians that the cannon fodder was expected to accept every stupid dictate from Whitehall. Nothing could have been more demonstrative than when Support Company 41 Commando was ordered to stop the Ian Paisley march, after the opening of his new church. They were ordered to form a square and use conventional anti-riot formations, even though the Marines had discarded the ill-conceived practices in Aden, three years earlier. The MoD and the politicians still move at the same pace.
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