42 Commando Royal Marines
in the Falklands War
A Story of Good Eggs and Dodgy Oppos
Apart from a few really bad days in training, I think I laughed out loud just about every day of my 11 years in The Royal Marines.
At first, it was at the other older Marines’ jokes and japes, but I quickly caught on and before long I too was joining in with the humour which had the power to turn almost any adversity into a unique bonding of comrades.
They call this ‘Commando Spirit’.
It gets you through every hardship and makes you and the Royal Marines you are surrounded by even stronger.
~ Mark Lewis
But how do you capture these feelings and experiences 40+ years later, and engage people with your stories?
Well, perhaps you take a few mates sailing on a small yacht and pass the time by talking to each other about life’s experiences.
Of course, you enhance the funny bits and perhaps miss out the really dodgy bits, but soon you discover the ancient art of storytelling and knowledge sharing.
“You should write a book about these stories, Mark. I would buy it”.
I replied that I had, and was just getting around to finishing it off and crafting it into a polished version.
The outcome is ‘42 Commando Royal Marines in The Falklands War’.
~ Mark Lewis
P.S.
You can still go sailing with me. Check out my sailing school: Shearwater Sailing School
‘42 Commando Royal Marines in The Falklands War’ is the coming-of-age story of a Royal Marine Commando in the 1980s.
Follow Mark as he is thrust into a world of action and adventure: commando courses, skiing and arctic warfare are all just a part of becoming an expert with infantry weapons and military tactics, and all but lethal with a typewriter and wood chisel from about 2 feet away.
The Royal Marines instilled in Mark a unique sense of humour and comradeship that puts them head and shoulders above just about every other military organisation in the world.
Experience the roller coaster highlights of the best of human endeavours and friendship in war, and the terrifying moments of near vapourisation by enemy action.
The close scrapes of a ‘Run Ashore’ with Dodgy Oppos in various bars and clubs wherever shore leave was given by Officers and Senior NCOs who, in hindsight, must have crossed their fingers or just looked on in envy.
The reflection of reunions and missing 21-year-old friends who should now be 60-something.