Page 54 - Cormorant Issue 20 2017

PAGE 52
Commando Dinner Night – 16th March 2017
Lt Col Ed Cartwright
IN A TRIUMPH OF joint planning, a bunch
of Royal, a few Army Commandos, a Navy Commando, a rubber dagger and a trio of paratroopers succeeded in convening the 2017 Commando Dinner on 16 March.
The traditional Commando avour of the evening was enriched by an uncharacteristically diverse committee from across the Services, including the Civil Service. Rumours that the Paras had been drafted in to provide a little airborne panache proved unfounded when their only contribution to the decorations was a malformed parachutesuspendedabovetheforum.Fortunately, the canopy succeeded in distracting attention from the barely in ated Zodiac and poorly constructed Klepper canoe that also welcomed the guests. Boat building that would have taken a few marines or sailors a matter of minutes consumed an entire afternoon of our illustrious committee of top 20% of cers.
Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lamb KBE, CMG, DSO
“
The theme of the evening was ‘raiding’ with a particular emphasis on the adventures of the Royal Marines’ cockleshell heroes on Operation Frankton; 2 Para on Operation Biting to capture the Wurzburg Radar in Bruneval; and Operation Claymore, the commando raid on the Lofoten Islands in Norway. Each operation signi ed the commando spirit that still unites today’s commando and airborne raiding forces.
There was plenty of spirit on display throughout
the evening, not least from the Commando Display Team who delighted the guests with their unique take on choreographed pub ghting. On conclusion of their uniformed brawl many of our now somewhat confused guests were reassured by the arrival of the Royal Marines band. In a demonstration of remarkable musical versatility, the band provided
a rich mix of music throughout the evening. The
marching music, musical accompaniment, trumpet- off and black light drum display were good but the musical pièce de la résistance was undoubtedly a porcelain bugler who serenaded the dining room through a toilet bowl.
The musical janitor was followed by a short speech from our guest of honour, Lieutenant General
Sir Graeme Lamb. General Lamb was never a Commando but his career and character personify the commando spirit. The General’s speech was a rabble rousing celebration of the joy of service. He played upon Field Marshal Montgomery’s tribute
to the airborne forces of World War Two to remind the audience that those in uniform are ‘men and women apart’ whose shared warrior spirit binds them together. In the realisation that the warrior spirit can be a little dulled by the continual assessment
of ACSC, he used the words of the SAS’s favoured poet, James Elroy Flecker, to remind the audience that:
“t’would be an ill world for weaponless dreamers
if evil men were not now and then slain. However cleverly people may talk or write, there is nothing to set against self-sacri ce that is not pale, insipid and miserable.”
With General Lamb’s inspiring if indulgent words ringing in our ears, the guests descended on the Henderson Bar full of ghting spirit. Somewhat miraculously, the punch ball that awaited us in the bar only resulted in one casualty, a Royal Marine whose direct (head rst) approach met the wall instead of the ball. He was unconscious for less than a minute so
all was well and the 2017 Commando Dinner was a ‘hoo ng’ success.
There was
plenty of spirit on display
throughout the evening ◆◆◆
The Royal Marines’ very own porcelain bugler delights the Commando Dinner Night guests