BBC report
Rumours on various sites that it may have been suicide
Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
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Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
Ricardian, Stronsay, Orkney UK
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Karearea
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
^ very saddening to read about that.
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TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
He had recently been moved sideways (effectively pushed out of his job) in the new "political enlightenment" and had split up with his wife. A tough time for him for sure, and whatever the ultimate cause, the tragic loss of a good man!
- The Times.Major General Matthew Holmes, 54, was removed as commandant general Royal Marines, the professional head of the force, in April as part of a restructuring of the Royal Navy, despite only serving 20 months of a three-year position.
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
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Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
Very tragic. Not very well managed by the authorities. Why couldn't they wait until the end of his tour to combine the two jobs.
Just awaiting comments from California. Mental health issues and all that.
Just awaiting comments from California. Mental health issues and all that.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
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TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
I know it's the Wail, but what is written here certainly points to a chap who needed some mental support, or even just a beer with a mate!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... rines.html
Senior military folk are often very hard on themselves and cannot show how they feel, despite their underlying humanity and feelings, just like the rest of us.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... rines.html
Senior military folk are often very hard on themselves and cannot show how they feel, despite their underlying humanity and feelings, just like the rest of us.
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
The First Sea Lord Radakin appears to be taking a lot of incoming fire over the policies he wanted to implement, which led to CGRM's departure. I've left the photos out for the sake of space and no one wants to see another photo of Eeyore and MeMe. To borrow a phrase, this man was the 'right stuff'. This gets around the paywall:
Major General Matthew Holmes, Marine who led a daring assault in Afghanistan but stepped down as Commandant General Royal Marines after resisting a plan to double-hat his role – obituary
Holmes clashed with the First Sea Lord, who, among other things, wanted much closer integration of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines
By Telegraph Obituaries 5 October 2021 • 3:32pm
Major General Matthew Holmes, who has died aged 54, was a Royal Marines officer whose career typified the post-Cold War era, but whose appointment as Commandant General was terminated prematurely.
In 2006-07, Matt Holmes commanded 42 Commando, Royal Marines, on Operation Herrick 5 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. There in April 2007 Holmes led a battle group into Sangin, which he characterised as the Taliban’s “heart of darkness”.
Intelligence warned of up to 350 Taliban armed with advanced Soviet munitions and of approaching enemy reinforcements, when Holmes launched an assault in a 33-vehicle armoured convoy travelling at 35 mph down the main highway. “It was a risk, on a route we had never travelled before,” Holmes admitted. “They wouldn’t expect us to jump straight in on the road from the north, [but] it was an opportunity to go for it, and fortune favours the brave.”
“This is one ballsy shout from the CO, to go up the highway and start smashing heads together,” said Sgt Richard St Louis, warning his men that suicide bombers might be in the town. But in the early hours of the morning a missile from an Apache helicopter destroyed a Taliban checkpoint as the convoy roared into the dense and confusing confines of Sangeen, enabling the Marines to move forward so quickly that some vehicles almost collided when they braked.
Twenty minutes after they arrived, and in the first light of dawn, the Marines began a sweep to secure the area. They were backed up by Apache helicopters and by naval Harriers, while artillery support was available from outside the town.
Assault engineers used “mouse-hole” charges to blast holes in thick mud walls, and mines to collapse tunnel systems, while the air was filled with the thump of explosives and sprays of machine-gun fire as the marines advanced through a warren of buildings.
By noon they had achieved their objectives, and began preparing to hand the territory over to Afghan forces, though one of Holmes’s officers warned: “The Taliban are not stupid. They know we have massive combat power here now. They just melt into the background; they know we can’t sustain this. Then they can move back in, and things will be as they were.”
Nevertheless, for leading his marines against more than 300 contacts with the enemy, some for up to 12 hours, for his inability to brook anything other than the highest standards, his assiduous attention to detail, his dedication to duty and his bond with his men – which gave his group cohesion and unity – Holmes was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
In addition, during a fiercely contested tour the Navy was awarded one Royal Red Cross medal, a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, 12 Military Crosses and several mentions in despatches.
Matthew John Holmes was born on June 29 1967 at Chalfont St Giles, and was educated at Desborough comprehensive school in Maidenhead before reading Economics at Exeter, and, in 1988, joining the Royal Marines.
His service was typical of the post-Cold War period: Norway; Northern Ireland during the Troubles, 1993-94; the Far East; Zimbabwe with 45 Commando; and Northern Ireland again in command of K company, 42 Commando, at the height of dissident activity in South Armagh.
Promoted to major, he attended staff college, completing a Master’s in Defence Studies in 2000, before returning to 3 Commando Brigade as brigade operations officer, participating in Operation Agricola in Kosovo, followed in 2002 by Operation Jacana, codename for a series of operations carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan which included 45 Commando Royal Marines, US, Australian and Norwegian special forces.
Promoted to lieutenant-colonel, he briefly held desk jobs in the Ministry of Defence before moving to the Permanent Joint Headquarters as an operations team leader, when he oversaw the first autonomous EU operation, Operation Coral, a French-led multinational peacekeeping mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Second Congo War in 2003, and the emergency deployment of the Spearhead battalion to Kosovo in 2004. Next, he deployed to Iraq on Operation Telic in the headquarters of the multinational division in Basra.
In 2008 Holmes invested his operational experience in officer and senior NCO training at the Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines. After brief appointments in the MoD and at the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ, the tri-service centre of operations), he served as military assistant to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff during the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, and in 2012 he completed the higher command and staff course, a postgraduate, combined, joint and interagency defence and security course at the Defence Academy, Shrivenham – regarded as the pinnacle of staff training in the UK.
In 2013 Holmes was promoted to brigadier and while at the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre (the MoD’s think tank) he delivered two far-sighted studies: the widely acclaimed “Global Strategic Trends 2045”, which looked at the strategic context of long-term plans, future strategies, policies and capabilities; and “Future Operating Environment 2035” which examined the slightly nearer term.
In 2015 he was loaned to the “floods minister”, Rory Stewart, to write a review of national flood preparedness, before being selected as the first chief of staff of the Standing Joint Force, a high-readiness, expeditionary command and control headquarters which he supervised from its formation to full operating capability in just two years.
Promoted to major general in early 2018, Holmes became an adviser to the Ministry of Interior Affairs, and later senior British military representative, in Afghanistan. Returning from Kabul in 2019, he was appointed CBE for his outstanding contribution to the Royal Marines and to the United Kingdom’s defence and security interests.
Appointed Commandant General Royal Marines that year, Holmes began developing a new concept of littoral strike for the Future Commando Force, working closely with the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin. In March 2020, he welcomed Prince Harry, in his capacity then as Captain General of the Royal Marines, and Meghan Markle, to the Royal Albert Hall for the Mountbatten Festival of Music, hosting the prince for what would be one of his last public engagements in Britain.
Meanwhile, Radakin and Holmes, who had known each other for 20 years, clashed: Holmes’s approach was characterised by his usual no-nonsense tenacity and attention to detail, while Radakin wanted much closer integration of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, as indicated by the wearing of the White Ensign on updated uniforms and even the adoption, by Royal Marine officers, of naval ranks.
The last straw came when Radakin proposed to “kick the CGRM upstairs”, as one observer commented, making him dual-hatted with another role in the MoD, divorcing him from close daily involvement with the Marines, and risking the maintenance of important links to the US Marine Corps.
Holmes became concerned that the profile of his corps would be reduced just when he needed to see through his vision of the future, and the day-to-day management of the Royal Marines would be relegated to a less senior officer.
As The Daily Telegraph reported in March this year, Holmes “resisted vigorously”, and this led to a “significant falling out” between him and Radakin. In April Holmes was superseded after only 20 months as CGRM, instead of serving the usual three-year term.
Matt Holmes was mentally and physically energetic, could be fiery, was much tougher than his small (5 ft 2 in) stature would suggest, and was rather more serious than his contemporaries; he was much liked and admired by his Marines, and not averse to a good run ashore or party in the mess.
He married, in 2002, Lea Brocklebank, a solicitor, who survives him with their two children.
Major General Matthew Holmes, born June 29 1967, died October 2 2021
He was the real deal.
Major General Matthew Holmes, Marine who led a daring assault in Afghanistan but stepped down as Commandant General Royal Marines after resisting a plan to double-hat his role – obituary
Holmes clashed with the First Sea Lord, who, among other things, wanted much closer integration of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines
By Telegraph Obituaries 5 October 2021 • 3:32pm
Major General Matthew Holmes, who has died aged 54, was a Royal Marines officer whose career typified the post-Cold War era, but whose appointment as Commandant General was terminated prematurely.
In 2006-07, Matt Holmes commanded 42 Commando, Royal Marines, on Operation Herrick 5 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. There in April 2007 Holmes led a battle group into Sangin, which he characterised as the Taliban’s “heart of darkness”.
Intelligence warned of up to 350 Taliban armed with advanced Soviet munitions and of approaching enemy reinforcements, when Holmes launched an assault in a 33-vehicle armoured convoy travelling at 35 mph down the main highway. “It was a risk, on a route we had never travelled before,” Holmes admitted. “They wouldn’t expect us to jump straight in on the road from the north, [but] it was an opportunity to go for it, and fortune favours the brave.”
“This is one ballsy shout from the CO, to go up the highway and start smashing heads together,” said Sgt Richard St Louis, warning his men that suicide bombers might be in the town. But in the early hours of the morning a missile from an Apache helicopter destroyed a Taliban checkpoint as the convoy roared into the dense and confusing confines of Sangeen, enabling the Marines to move forward so quickly that some vehicles almost collided when they braked.
Twenty minutes after they arrived, and in the first light of dawn, the Marines began a sweep to secure the area. They were backed up by Apache helicopters and by naval Harriers, while artillery support was available from outside the town.
Assault engineers used “mouse-hole” charges to blast holes in thick mud walls, and mines to collapse tunnel systems, while the air was filled with the thump of explosives and sprays of machine-gun fire as the marines advanced through a warren of buildings.
By noon they had achieved their objectives, and began preparing to hand the territory over to Afghan forces, though one of Holmes’s officers warned: “The Taliban are not stupid. They know we have massive combat power here now. They just melt into the background; they know we can’t sustain this. Then they can move back in, and things will be as they were.”
Nevertheless, for leading his marines against more than 300 contacts with the enemy, some for up to 12 hours, for his inability to brook anything other than the highest standards, his assiduous attention to detail, his dedication to duty and his bond with his men – which gave his group cohesion and unity – Holmes was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
In addition, during a fiercely contested tour the Navy was awarded one Royal Red Cross medal, a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, 12 Military Crosses and several mentions in despatches.
Matthew John Holmes was born on June 29 1967 at Chalfont St Giles, and was educated at Desborough comprehensive school in Maidenhead before reading Economics at Exeter, and, in 1988, joining the Royal Marines.
His service was typical of the post-Cold War period: Norway; Northern Ireland during the Troubles, 1993-94; the Far East; Zimbabwe with 45 Commando; and Northern Ireland again in command of K company, 42 Commando, at the height of dissident activity in South Armagh.
Promoted to major, he attended staff college, completing a Master’s in Defence Studies in 2000, before returning to 3 Commando Brigade as brigade operations officer, participating in Operation Agricola in Kosovo, followed in 2002 by Operation Jacana, codename for a series of operations carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan which included 45 Commando Royal Marines, US, Australian and Norwegian special forces.
Promoted to lieutenant-colonel, he briefly held desk jobs in the Ministry of Defence before moving to the Permanent Joint Headquarters as an operations team leader, when he oversaw the first autonomous EU operation, Operation Coral, a French-led multinational peacekeeping mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Second Congo War in 2003, and the emergency deployment of the Spearhead battalion to Kosovo in 2004. Next, he deployed to Iraq on Operation Telic in the headquarters of the multinational division in Basra.
In 2008 Holmes invested his operational experience in officer and senior NCO training at the Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines. After brief appointments in the MoD and at the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ, the tri-service centre of operations), he served as military assistant to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff during the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, and in 2012 he completed the higher command and staff course, a postgraduate, combined, joint and interagency defence and security course at the Defence Academy, Shrivenham – regarded as the pinnacle of staff training in the UK.
In 2013 Holmes was promoted to brigadier and while at the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre (the MoD’s think tank) he delivered two far-sighted studies: the widely acclaimed “Global Strategic Trends 2045”, which looked at the strategic context of long-term plans, future strategies, policies and capabilities; and “Future Operating Environment 2035” which examined the slightly nearer term.
In 2015 he was loaned to the “floods minister”, Rory Stewart, to write a review of national flood preparedness, before being selected as the first chief of staff of the Standing Joint Force, a high-readiness, expeditionary command and control headquarters which he supervised from its formation to full operating capability in just two years.
Promoted to major general in early 2018, Holmes became an adviser to the Ministry of Interior Affairs, and later senior British military representative, in Afghanistan. Returning from Kabul in 2019, he was appointed CBE for his outstanding contribution to the Royal Marines and to the United Kingdom’s defence and security interests.
Appointed Commandant General Royal Marines that year, Holmes began developing a new concept of littoral strike for the Future Commando Force, working closely with the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin. In March 2020, he welcomed Prince Harry, in his capacity then as Captain General of the Royal Marines, and Meghan Markle, to the Royal Albert Hall for the Mountbatten Festival of Music, hosting the prince for what would be one of his last public engagements in Britain.
Meanwhile, Radakin and Holmes, who had known each other for 20 years, clashed: Holmes’s approach was characterised by his usual no-nonsense tenacity and attention to detail, while Radakin wanted much closer integration of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, as indicated by the wearing of the White Ensign on updated uniforms and even the adoption, by Royal Marine officers, of naval ranks.
The last straw came when Radakin proposed to “kick the CGRM upstairs”, as one observer commented, making him dual-hatted with another role in the MoD, divorcing him from close daily involvement with the Marines, and risking the maintenance of important links to the US Marine Corps.
Holmes became concerned that the profile of his corps would be reduced just when he needed to see through his vision of the future, and the day-to-day management of the Royal Marines would be relegated to a less senior officer.
As The Daily Telegraph reported in March this year, Holmes “resisted vigorously”, and this led to a “significant falling out” between him and Radakin. In April Holmes was superseded after only 20 months as CGRM, instead of serving the usual three-year term.
Matt Holmes was mentally and physically energetic, could be fiery, was much tougher than his small (5 ft 2 in) stature would suggest, and was rather more serious than his contemporaries; he was much liked and admired by his Marines, and not averse to a good run ashore or party in the mess.
He married, in 2002, Lea Brocklebank, a solicitor, who survives him with their two children.
Major General Matthew Holmes, born June 29 1967, died October 2 2021
He was the real deal.
Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
- Major General Matthew Holmes, Royal Marine with his men.png (790.84 KiB) Viewed 1185 times
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TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Radakin
A lawyer and a political operator.
Who would you prefer to have next to you in a bar fight?
A lawyer and a political operator.
Who would you prefer to have next to you in a bar fight?
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
Reading that Radikin bio I was amazed to see that he was born after I joined the Navy! Now I feel really old. 
There was an obsession, which started back about the 1970s, for officers in all the branches of the UK armed forces to have a degree of some sort - not just the technical specialisations. I don't think it mattered whether it was in Law or Horticulture but it was thought to be essential to produce the sort of trained and trainable brains the Forces needed. I don't know how they managed to accomplish anything before then! Two mediocre 'A' Levels was all I brought to the table so that may prove their point!
There was an obsession, which started back about the 1970s, for officers in all the branches of the UK armed forces to have a degree of some sort - not just the technical specialisations. I don't think it mattered whether it was in Law or Horticulture but it was thought to be essential to produce the sort of trained and trainable brains the Forces needed. I don't know how they managed to accomplish anything before then! Two mediocre 'A' Levels was all I brought to the table so that may prove their point!
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ian16th
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
oImagine how I felt when I saw that he was born 2 years after I was demobbed!
I served 13 years.
Cynicism improves with age
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
An incredible officer, such a waste. My obituary would run to three lines,
I presented the Royal Air Force with 3 very weak A levels and half a degree. I did achieve a MBA later on. Just a slow learner!
I presented the Royal Air Force with 3 very weak A levels and half a degree. I did achieve a MBA later on. Just a slow learner!
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
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Undried Plum
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
My son, a retired Marine, describes him rather less flatteringly: "a prototype politician" and "a skilled licker of arse".
Perhaps significantly, my son retired with the comparatively feeble rank of Major, whereas the prototype politician left with the impressive rank of Major General.
Isn't Prince Andrew a Major General in the Marines? Or is that Harry? Just askin'.
Perhaps significantly, my son retired with the comparatively feeble rank of Major, whereas the prototype politician left with the impressive rank of Major General.
Isn't Prince Andrew a Major General in the Marines? Or is that Harry? Just askin'.
Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
He doesn't seem to have licked Radakin's arse hard enough does he? Time to email a few old friends to shed light on their respective personalities I think. Just suggestin'
I think you secretly know that donkey Harry used to be the honorary head of the Royal Marines don't you? Remember that Philip handed the position over to him, or did you just happened to forget, being the father of an ex-RMO? 
Hopefully they wouldn't touch a wanker like Andrew. 
I think you secretly know that donkey Harry used to be the honorary head of the Royal Marines don't you?
Remember that Philip handed the position over to him, or did you just happened to forget, being the father of an ex-RMO? Hopefully they wouldn't touch a wanker like Andrew. -
CharlieOneSix
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
On a similar note to this thread, is this a removal from post of a senior Royal Navy officer - or am I reading too much into this press release? There is no mention to which post Jerry Kyd (54) moves. The next step upwards from Fleet Commander I believe would be Second Sea Lord but there is no change in that position - held by Vice Admiral Nick Hine (55). The First Sea Lord, Admiral Radakin is 56 next month. At what age do these senior officers leave active service? Maybe FD2 knows - I'm decades out of touch.
Burns (L), Kyd (R)
Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander
Published: 03 Oct 2021
There’s been a change at the top of the Royal Navy as Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd CBE handed over the reins of Fleet Commander to Vice Admiral Andy Burns CB OBE.
Watched by First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Tony Radakin KCB, ADC, a ceremony took place at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth – which the outgoing Fleet Commander once commanded - to formally transfer the second most senior Command post in the Royal Navy.
The Fleet Commander is responsible for commanding all operational elements of the Royal Navy – ships, submarines, Fleet Air Arm, Royal Marines, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary – and acts as Joint Commander for the North Atlantic Operating areas.
VAdm Burns assumes the role of Fleet Commander with a rich operational background and was a previous Director Develop, ready to command the Navy of the future which is Global, Modern and Ready. He previously commanded the Amphibious Task Group and was Commander United Kingdom Strike Force, and Rear Admiral Surface Ships. He is also the Royal Navy’s Chief Naval Warfare Officer and Gender Advocate.
Adm Kyd joined in 1985 as a seaman officer and, after fleet training, his early years were spent at sea with operational deployments to the Gulf, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Caribbean, Baltic, Indian Ocean and wider Atlantic.
Commands at various ranks have included HMS Monmouth, Ark Royal and Illustrious. He has served as captain of BRNC and upon promotion to Rear Admiral in November 2018, he was appointed Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces and Rear Admiral Surface Ships.
Appointed Fleet Commander in March 2019, VAdm Kyd said: “It has been a distinct privilege being the Fleet Commander and I now hand over the watch with pride at what is being achieved by the Fleet across the world.”
VAdm Kyd has been at the centre of the Royal Navy’s return to carrier strike operations, first as Commander of United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group in 2015 and then as the first Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth the following year.
His shore-based appointments centred on the Ministry of Defence in London, including two years as the Military Assistant and Deputy Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Deputy Head of the Directorate of Operational Capability and as a desk officer for the Future Surface Combatant project (now Type 26 frigate). He has also instructed at the Maritime Warfare School, HMS Collingwood.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said: “Thank you Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd for everything you have done as the Royal Navy’s Fleet Commander."
VAdm Kyd added: “None of this is possible without the officers, ratings, marines and civil servants, whose dedication, resilience and leadership I have been so fortunate to work with and command. As ever, the greatest lesson is that you need to take your people with you, command them well and treat them with courtesy and respect. I am indebted to every Jack one of them."
- KydBurns.JPG (38.12 KiB) Viewed 1099 times
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
Prince Harry was Captain General of The Royal Marines entitled to wear the rank of Major General. An honourary rank appointed by HMQ.
It is thought that HRH The Princess Royal may be appointed next. If you think about it who else could it be. HRH The Duke of Wessex banged out, although he was doing fine. HRH Prince Andrew just banged, HRH Prince William has enough on his plate. Hey, what about HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, that would go down well with the boys.
Interesting what you say UP.
It is thought that HRH The Princess Royal may be appointed next. If you think about it who else could it be. HRH The Duke of Wessex banged out, although he was doing fine. HRH Prince Andrew just banged, HRH Prince William has enough on his plate. Hey, what about HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, that would go down well with the boys.
Interesting what you say UP.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
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Undried Plum
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
I vaguely remembered that one of those wankers was a high heidyin in the RM, but wouldn't ask my son for fear of admitting that I'm pig ignorant about Royal Marines matters. I attended his passing out parade. A very close relative, who must not be mentioned here specifically, cried. She cried again when he was posted to a notoriously 'difficult' subset of the RM, and again when he was promoted to command one of their most difficult squadrons, and finally again, this time with relief, when he retired last year.FD2 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 06, 2021 10:21 amI think you secretly know that donkey Harry used to be the honorary head of the Royal Marines don't you?
Although I know almost nothing about the RM, I do know a little bit about the quality of their officers and Marines. I see nothing, absolutely zero, in the character of Harry which qualifies him to be a Marine. Royal Marines are, by selection and by training and by real world experience, slightly above most of us. They are, very literally, 'special' forces. Harry is none of that.
I don't understand why so many of the German family are awarded ***** ranks in the military. It's so silly.
Andrew was a legit hossifer, albeit a rather low ranking one until just before he left when he was given a promotion just to boost his Gratuity and Pension rights. So was Harry, junior ranking, I mean. They earned their 'wings' (flying badges) and earned a working man's pay as pilots. Good on 'em, for that.
Wingnut wears a flying badge on the uniform of a ridiculously high rank (ReichsMarshall of the Royal Air Force, or somesuch nonsense) despite never having been a proper working pilot and despite having planted one of his mum's 146s in the putty on Islay at a place beyond the runway which is locally known as Holding Point Charlie. 50' high; 15kts too fast; tailwind landing waaay too long on a very wet runway. ****q. The chumps in the right-hand seat and the jump seat carried the can of course. Probably got jobs with Ryanair or Greasyjet. The chumps, I mean, not Wingnut. He's never flown professionally, unlike his half-brother and the junior son of his first wife and unlike his only son.
The royal Willy is doing well though. He's an exemplar of a proper pilot doing a proper job during and after his military service. He doesn't ponce about in absurdly senior ranked hossifer's uniforms. At least, not yet. I admire his choice of wife too. So opposite of his half-brother's choice. Other than both being legit pilots, those two guys couldn't be more different.
Back to the matter at hand. I'm saddened by the fact that a man of undoubted physical courage, and of great quality of fundament, lacked the moral fibre to face his own life and to look at it in the face. When tested to the max, he took the coward's route. That's a terrible end to a life which must have had so many good things in it which were made by him.
PS
I greatly wish that he'd had the benefit of having had my two wonderful godfathers: Donald and Hugh. Their tutorship, either one of them, would have seen him through whatever personal crisis it was was that broke through the membrane that he thought should protect him.
RIP: Donald Caskie and Hugh de Wet.
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Undried Plum
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
Appended to that:
I know that oor ain Rev Meenister Jim will know a lot more of what I speak on such a ghastly matter. In his pastoral duties he'll have dealt with so much of what he cannot speak.
I'm not a religious person myself, but I do recognise the intellectual power that so many of those people have.
I know that oor ain Rev Meenister Jim will know a lot more of what I speak on such a ghastly matter. In his pastoral duties he'll have dealt with so much of what he cannot speak.
I'm not a religious person myself, but I do recognise the intellectual power that so many of those people have.
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Undried Plum
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Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
Not at all doing the Froglet diskjockey thing, I'd like to introduce a musical version of a bit of the life story of a formative person in my life.
Donald taught me so much, though oddly in a non-religious way.
Donald would have saved this Marine, for sure. That is, to me, so sad.
Donald taught me so much, though oddly in a non-religious way.
Donald would have saved this Marine, for sure. That is, to me, so sad.
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Ex-Ascot
- Test Pilot
- Posts: 13129
- Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2015 7:16 am
- Location: Botswana but sometimes Greece
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- Age: 68
Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
UP:
It has never been published what happen that day but the Captain, at the last second, saved the aircraft from an even worse possible situation.
I hope that wasn't meant as derogatory UP. They didn't actually, they both retired at their normal retirement dates. The Nav in the jump seat is no longer with us. The Captain in the RHS was my mentor for Royal and VIP flying and saw me progress to being a Captain on the VC10 Royal and VIP flying. A brilliant guy and outstanding pilot.The chumps in the right-hand seat and the jump seat carried the can of course. Probably got jobs with Ryanair or Greasyjet.
It has never been published what happen that day but the Captain, at the last second, saved the aircraft from an even worse possible situation.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
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Undried Plum
- Chief Pilot
- Posts: 7308
- Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2018 8:45 pm
- Location: 56°N 4°W
Re: Death of senior Royal Marine officer (aged 54)
Why did the Captain wait until the last second to "save" the aircraft?
Did he feel outranked, in some way, when it was so abundantly clear for many tens of seconds that the aircraft was nothing like near to a stabilised approach on an approach to a rain-soaked runway with a known tailwind?
What is this ***** of awarding high rank to the German family?