Guys, I've just read an excellent book called AMONGST THE MARINES by a guy called Steven Preece. I got it from www.randomhouse.com.au in good old Oz. I've been following this after its release in the UK. It appears that the old boy network condone it and the majority of people who served with him or around his time love it. These are a couple of comments that were written:
Regarding quotes of bullying and cries of "not in my Corps" and "no, it never happened" when I joined in the mid eighties (Not RM, I'm of the maroon persuasion), bullying was rife and beatings and kickings for even slight misdemeanours were commonplace. I can remember it clearly as I was on receiving end a few times. Thank god it's been all but eliminated nowadays but it DID happen back then and was more commonplace than most of you care to remember.
and this one:
I knew the author at HMS Warrior. The instance's that took place are true.
He may have put in urban myth's ie; pace stick incident but it is a book,
and this makes good reading. The fights, drinking contests and shit bits all
happened. The author, was a good marine very capable in his job, and someone
I would want in my section, when the shit hit the fan. I left 45 for a JCC
immediately after serving on op corporate. At my time of joining 45,
beasting's of new marines straight out of training was common, much the same
as my initiation into 41 cdo as a young 17 year old. This is a worrying time
for a sprog after the high of finishing training, but was part of the
character building that many of us underwent. I find it strange that many
people on this forum find this unusual, maybe a lot of members here are
national service men. Did you go to a unit together, after finishing
training and stay together? If you did, that may explain why these
instance's did not happen. Who didn't enjoy a fight with the matlos when
ever possible or a good grunge contest? The author's book is a condensed
series of run's ashore, that happened over a 7 year period, how about all
the unmentioned run's ashore that were peaceful. If the exbootneck that
live's in Truro doesn't believe this book, or the author's authenticity I
will be happy to visit him on my way to Falmouth to prove that it is true,
and the author is a bootneck. I enjoyed this book as it brought back
memories of youth, good times with little pressures of life, just a sense of
belonging.
I personally related it to a lot of my experiences during my service and thoroughly enjoyed it. WHAT DO YOU THINK!
Regarding quotes of bullying and cries of "not in my Corps" and "no, it never happened" when I joined in the mid eighties (Not RM, I'm of the maroon persuasion), bullying was rife and beatings and kickings for even slight misdemeanours were commonplace. I can remember it clearly as I was on receiving end a few times. Thank god it's been all but eliminated nowadays but it DID happen back then and was more commonplace than most of you care to remember.
and this one:
I knew the author at HMS Warrior. The instance's that took place are true.
He may have put in urban myth's ie; pace stick incident but it is a book,
and this makes good reading. The fights, drinking contests and shit bits all
happened. The author, was a good marine very capable in his job, and someone
I would want in my section, when the shit hit the fan. I left 45 for a JCC
immediately after serving on op corporate. At my time of joining 45,
beasting's of new marines straight out of training was common, much the same
as my initiation into 41 cdo as a young 17 year old. This is a worrying time
for a sprog after the high of finishing training, but was part of the
character building that many of us underwent. I find it strange that many
people on this forum find this unusual, maybe a lot of members here are
national service men. Did you go to a unit together, after finishing
training and stay together? If you did, that may explain why these
instance's did not happen. Who didn't enjoy a fight with the matlos when
ever possible or a good grunge contest? The author's book is a condensed
series of run's ashore, that happened over a 7 year period, how about all
the unmentioned run's ashore that were peaceful. If the exbootneck that
live's in Truro doesn't believe this book, or the author's authenticity I
will be happy to visit him on my way to Falmouth to prove that it is true,
and the author is a bootneck. I enjoyed this book as it brought back
memories of youth, good times with little pressures of life, just a sense of
belonging.
I personally related it to a lot of my experiences during my service and thoroughly enjoyed it. WHAT DO YOU THINK!