THOUSANDS of Royal Marines veterans gathered at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone for their annual Royal Marines Association reunion event.
The event was particularly poignant as it also marked the 350th anniversary of the Corps, the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War and the 25th anniversary of the IRA bombing of the Royal Marines barracks at Deal in Kent.
During the weekend Royal Marines Association members gathered from around the country to reunite with old comrades, remember fallen comrades old and new, and see displays of modern equipment.
The weekend event included the association's AGM, a Royal Marines Band concert and a firework display.
The veterans also had the opportunity to fire modern assault rifles and have demonstrations from staff at the training base.
Over 400 veterans, alongside recruits and young officers paraded before the Commandant General, Major General Martin Smith, MBE, and the association president, Major General David Wilson, CB CBE.
The parade included a Drumhead service and included a number of serving ranks dressed in historical marines uniforms dating back to the inception of the Corps in 1664.
The association plays a hugely important role in the training of young recruits – each recruit troop that enters training has association mentors who join the recruits at key stages of training and are available to provide fatherly or grandfatherly advice to the recruits.
Two former comrades who met up at the reunion included Bob Legg from Cullompton and John Robinson from Portsmouth who joined up together with 822 Squad in 1965.
"We look forward to coming every year and we have a squad reunion every other year," saidJohn.
"It means a lot to me to be in the Association because every time I go to a reunion I meet up with people I haven't seen in a long time because the message gets around how good the reunions are."
Referring to modern day recruit training, Bob added: "Now they're turning out even better guys than we did before.
"You look at these guys and they're tall and fit but not quite as good looking as us!" he joked.
