EXTRACT FROM : panorama.gi in support of Royal Marines 350th Birthday Celebrations: Two-ton chunk of Gibraltar Rock to be flown to UK for Royal Marines anniversary celebrations by JOE GARCIA A 2-ton chunk of Rock will cement further the strong ties between Gibraltar and the Royal Marines at celebrations in the UK. The lump of Rock will be loaded on to an RAF C130 aircraft tomorrow and will be flown to the UK. It will create a sculpted memorial to bring to the fore the close links of the Royal Marines with Gibraltar. The rock will be placed in Woodbury Common which is an area frequently used by Royal Marine recruits from nearby Royal Marine Training Centre Lympstone. The Governor - a Royal Marine - had the pleasure of sourcing a suitable piece of genuine Rock, with the help of the Gibraltar Government. The Royal Marines celebrate their 350th anniversary this year. And Gibraltar has been more than pleased to allow a chunk of our precious Rock to be flown over to the UK - but people here will not be too pleased if the important celebrations are not properly marked in Gibraltar itself. We already have the Big Rock here, which the marines helped make British over three centuries ago - but we need the Royal Marines to celebrate in their Gibraltar, especially now that we have a Governor and Commander in Chief who himself is a distinguished Royal Marine. We know that there will be a historic Rock Run in October, so much part and parcel of Britains armed forces, but Gibraltar - civilian Gibraltar - wants more! SPECIAL Said the Governor Lt General James Dutton about the Rock Run: “I am delighted to be able to endorse this event, which in raising funds for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund underpins the status, history, and importance of Gibraltar’s unique relationship with the Royal Marines. To hold the event on the 350th anniversary of the birth of the Royal Marine Corps, which carries Gibraltar as its principal battle honour is indeed special. It was on the 28th October 1664 when an Order-in-Council was issued calling for 1200 soldiers to be recruited for service in the Fleet, to be known as the Duke of York and Albanys Maritime Regiment of Foot. As the Duke of York was The Lord High Admiral, it became known as the Admirals Regiment. They were not only soldiers but also seamen, who were part of the complement of all warships. In 1704, 1,900 British and 400 Dutch marines landed on the Rock and prevented Spanish reinforcements reaching the fortress. These later withstood nine months of siege. Today the Royal Marines display only the battle honour Gibraltar, and their close relationship with the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps continues. So what can we expect in Gibraltar come October? As part of the 350th Anniversary celebrations of the formation of the Royal Marines the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund, the Governor of Gibraltar, the Government of Gibraltar and Commander British Forces in Gibraltar have given permission to stage the historic ROCK RUN in October. The Gibraltar Minister for Culture is also supporting this fantastic fundraising opportunity which will help injured and wounded Royal Marines. The Rock Run will start from Casemates. There will also be a 350th anniversary birthday party as well as what is being described as a small memorial parade. GIB WANTS MORE! But Gibraltar expects more. The Royal Marines are one of the Worlds most elite military units. With combat experience all over the world and huge pride in the commando spirit: courage, determination, unselfishness, and cheerfulness in the face of adversity they are an integral part of the Allied Joint Rapid Reaction Force, on permanent readiness to deploy anywhere, in any conditions. That needs to be celebrated in a manner that will make it a truly memorable occasion.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:09:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015