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 things 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 Sgt. Eric Harrison of Bristol has just cut a large snow block and proceeds to build up the walls of a tent to keep out the blast

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

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