42 Commando Royal Marines in The Falklands War: A Story of Good Eggs and Dodgy Oppos

The British Military of the Cold war era trained to counteract the real threat of Russian invasion into any vulnerable Country of NATO. The Royal Marines enthusiastically took on the role of Arctic Warfare troops in the Northern Flank of Norway becoming experts in this field. The idea was to deny the Russia submarine fleet the Norwegian fjords which would have prevented USA reinforcement of Northern Europe. How did NATO and the British Military implement this? Well they sent The Royal Marines downhill skiing in Norway for three months each year, military skills were further enhanced with sailing all over the world and any sporting activity encouraged. Occasional bouts of slightly active service in Northern Ireland kept internal security skills alive but the big one was the Falklands Islands invasion by Argentine forces in April 1982. Royal Marines easily adapted Commando and Arctic warfare skills to not only survive the elements of a harsh South Atlantic winter but to excel and overcome a vastly numerically superior army 8000 miles from the UK. 42 Commando Royal Marines played a significant part in the conflict and perhaps pulled off one of the most successful Battalion sized attacks since World War two on Mount Harriet.

About the Author :
Mark joined the Royal Marines aged 16 and 3 weeks in 1978 after the premature death of his Father who was also a career Royal Marine. He completed one of the toughest military training courses in the world still aged 16 and found himself thrown into the grown-up world of 45 Commando Royal Marines in Scotland. Mark had ambitions to become a member of Reconnaissance Troop and maybe even Special Forces, but a surprise handful of O Levels gained from a Comprehensive education meant that he was detailed off for a Clerks course from training and his military career was sent in a different direction. After Arctic Warfare training in Norway and deployments to The Mediterranean Mark found himself in 42 Commando Royal Marines at 19 heading to The Falkland Islands War with the most superb and timelessly humorous bunch of Royal Marines of that generation. Mark remained in the Royal Marines for 11 years after which he joined the police for 23 years. This held up the publication of any material Mark had written as his Chief Constable would not have approved and the Complaints Department may have come calling. After his career in the police service Mark became a RYA Yacht Sailing Instructor and has run a sailing school for the past 14 years. He still attends Falkland reunions and laughs with old mates for most of the weekend.