Posted on 07/01/2009 5:21:08 AM PDT by naturalman1975
A homecoming march by Royal Marines returning after a bloody tour of Afghanistan was hijacked yesterday by anti-war protesters.
Five militants waving Iraqi flags screamed 'genocide' and 'not in my name' at soldiers from 3 Commando as they marched from Buckingham Palace to Parliament.
Some of the protesters also tried to use a megaphone to drown out the Royal Marines band but were beaten when onlookers began to clap and cheer to overcome them.
One of the militants had to be restrained by police until the 120 servicemen and women had gone into the House of Commons, where they were met by Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell and other dignitaries.
However, it proved the only slight on what was a special day for 3 Commando, which has suffered more fatalities than any other brigade on their last tour. Some 33 of the 3,500 elite unit died, and hundreds more were injured on the gruelling six-month winter tour in southern Helmand province.
Despite the demonstrations, the soldiers were cheered on by dozens of well-wishers and tourists who gathered outside Wellington barracks in London.
Lance Corporal Frank Wyatt, 25, from Oxford, said: 'People are increasingly appreciating what we do and it's a real boost to know the country is behind you.'
Police said the five protesters maintain a constant presence in Parliament Square.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' 'Tommy, wait outside';
But it's 'Special train for Atkins' when the trooper's on the tide -
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
Oh, it's 'Special train for Atkins' when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' 'Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?'
But it's 'Thin red line of 'eroes' when the drums begin to roll -
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
Oh, it's 'Thin red line of 'eroes when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that , an' 'Tommy, fall be'ind,'
But it's 'Please to walk in front, sir,' when there's trouble in the wind -
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
Oh, it's 'Please to walk in front, sir,' when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' 'Chuck him out, the brute!'
But it's 'Saviour of 'is country' when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!
Were any of the “militants” named Muhammad?
Everyone should have just turned around and let the Marines talk to these jerks about their views.
War protesters can get very nervous, often falling down and causing themselves grave bodily injury, when they are face to face with an angry, shouting Marine.
Should have been disappeared by the crowd.
I’d love to see the Royal Marines handle the protesters.
Heh!
Thank you to all of our Vets.
Have a Glorious 4th of July.
Protesters, stay in your ‘rat holes.
Just 10 minutes of dungaree liberty, please sarge?
“One of the militants had to be restrained by police until the 120 servicemen and women had gone into the House of Commons.........”
“Had to be restrained.......” What was he gonna do? Take on 120 Royal Marines? Somehow I suspect he didn’t have to be restrained at all.
“Some of the protesters also tried to use a megaphone to drown out the Royal Marines band but were beaten when onlookers began to clap and cheer to overcome them. “
oh, darn. Their noisiness was beaten by louder clapping. For a moment there I was thinking the crowd actually gave them a physical beating.
Why didn’t they let the lads have a go? Five ‘militants’ stomped into the ground would have been a great opening number.
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