CCF
The Marines had an eventful
year, as alongside the regular
Monday training there were
several memorable occasions.
One of the highpoints of the year for the
Marines is The Pringle Trophy. This is the
annual competition between all Royal
Marine CCF Detachments from schools
throughout the UK. Held over a weekend
in October at the Commando Training
Centre in Devon, it is a gruelling 48-hour
event that pushes to the limit the physical
stamina, determination and teamwork of
the Cadet teams.
The competition is named after Lt General
Sir Steuart Pringle, a former Lieutenant
General and Commandant General of
the Royal Marines. On 17 October 1981,
he was the victim of a booby-trap carbomb blast and suffered severe injuries,
including the loss of a leg.
Led by Major Peter Belfield and Captain
Steve King, the King's College Cadets
were assessed in a number of different
disciplines, including map reading,
observation, first aid and drill. After two
days of competition and 13 separate tests,
King's College Cadets were declared the
winners.
This was the fourth time in five years that
King's has lifted this prestigious award.
London Ceremonies
To mark their 350th anniversary, the Royal
Navy's elite amphibious infantry were on
full public duty in the capital, providing
sentries at Buckingham Palace, St James's
Palace,Windsor Castle and the Tower of
London.
As part of the celebrations, eight of our
Royal Marines Cadets were invited to Buckingham Palace on the 20th June by
Major Barry Lewis RM (OA) to watch K
Company, 42 Commando RM undertake
these ceremonial duties. The Cadets
themselves were in half-lovat uniform and
stood in the forecourt of the Palace. This
was the first time since 1986 that the Royal
Marines had undertaken such duties, which
drew crowds in excess of ten thousand
spectators each day.
Afterwards the Cadets visited the Tower
of London and watched the 'Ceremony of
the Dues', led by Cadet Sebastian Manger's
Father, Colonel Garth Manger RM. The
event can be traced back to the 14th century
and is related to the Crown's authority over
the City of London. This tradition is upheld
today in the Ceremony of the Constable's
Dues: when the Royal Navy berths one of its
ships in London, the Captain of that vessel
delivers a barrel of port to the Constable as
a symbol of these ancient rights.
Royal Marines
By Steve King
The Marines march past Horseguards before turning into The Mall
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