THE most senior Royal Marine in the country returned home to honour 40 Commando with an unprecedented award.
General Sir Gordon Messenger, vice chief of the Defence Staff, presented the troops based at Norton Manor Camp with their fourth Firmin Sword of Peace.
The accolade, formerly the Wilkinson Sword of Peace, was in recognition of the Commandos' humanitarian relief support during Operation Ruman following the devastating hurricane in the Caribbean in September 2017.
The Firmin Sword of Peace is awarded for activities above and beyond the unit's normal role that improve relations with the community, either within the UK or overseas.
It was a proud moment for Gen Sir Gordon Messenger, who was Commanding Officer of 40 Commando between 2002 and 2003, when the Commando had been involved with the assault on the Al Faw Peninsular in Iraq.
The unit is the first ever to receive fourth Firmin Swords.
40 Commando CO Lieut Col Paul Maynard, on his last day in the role, said: "On three previous occasions - in Borneo in 1966, Belfast in 1972 and Cyprus in 1984, 40 Commando’s operational exploits have been recognised by the award of the prestigious Sword of Peace.
"It's recognition of a valuable contribution to humanitarian activities and the development of positive relations with vulnerable and threatened communities.
“I am incredibly proud that today the unit will once again be recognised for such efforts, this time for its significant contribution to Operation Ruman, the UK Government’s crisis response to the Caribbean disaster in 2017.”
Proud to attend the presentation of the Firmin Sword of Peace to the remarkable @40Commando earlier today. Recognising their incredible work after the hurricane in the Carribean in 2017. Many congratulations. @CountyGazette @itvwestcountry @BBCBristol pic.twitter.com/iwZZ65Qgm2
— Rebecca Pow (@pow_rebecca) April 1, 2019
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