Royal Marine Commandos training in Cairngorms

Feb. 12, 1954 - Royal Marine Commandos Undergo Arctic Training Course in the Scottish Highlands: London and Chatham Royal Marine Commandos are undergoing a survival training course under Zero temperatures on the top of the Cairngorm Mountains near Inverness. The men attending the special course are practising snow warfare high on the icy 4, 000 feet peaks in winds which can reach more than 70 miles an hour. They are spending nights on the mountains in snow holes in the ground and in tents, while learning mountain navigation. During they day they are taught such thing as step cutting and glissading (sliding down icy slopes). Before going to Scotland the men had a toughening-up course at the Commando School at Bickleigh near Plymouth. The object of the training is to supply a nucleus of personnel accustomed to operating tactically under snow conditions. During the course they learn to ski, use snow shoes etc. Photo shows First day in snowshoes - on left is Cpl. Arthur Hill of Durham with Col. David Thoreton of Salisbury - and they take some getting used to

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

4000 Accustomed Attending Bickleigh Cairngorm Cairngorms Chatham Commando Commandos Durham Highlands Holes Inverness Learn Nucleus Operating Peaks Plymouth Practising Reach Salisbury Snowshoes Spending Tactically Taught Temperatures Tents Undergo Undergoing Winds

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