For the young recruits at the Commando Training Centre in Devon, passing out as Royal Marines is the proudest moment of their lives. But this time, the ceremony had an extra layer of history woven into it, because watching them from the sidelines was a man who had worn the same Green Beret over 80 years ago.
John Eskdale, a 100-year-old World War Two commando from Lydney, Gloucestershire, returned to Lympstone to witness the next generation of Marines, 366 Troop, complete their gruelling training.
And for the recruits, meeting him was just as significant as receiving their coveted Green Berets.
“An Unbelievable Gentleman”
Recruit Sean Brennen described the veteran as “an unbelievable gentleman, so inspiring, and a real honour to chat with.”
“The stories about his service in the Far East just kept on coming and were very funny. Hearing first-hand accounts of his generation’s experience is so important to us, we stand on the shoulders of these men who are real heroes.”
Mr Eskdale didn’t just share his stories; he offered the recruits wisdom forged through decades of experience.
“You’ll have good times and awful times,” he told them. “Take it as it comes.”
But perhaps his most poignant message was this: “The Royal Marines are a family. Whilst you are serving, and more so afterwards, it can go on forever.”
A Life of Courage and Resilience
Mr Eskdale’s own journey to becoming a commando began in 1940 when, still too young to enlist, he volunteered with the fire service in bomb-ravaged Bristol. Two years later, he earned his Green Beret at the height of the war.
He saw intense action aboard HMS Charybdis, a Royal Navy cruiser involved in the Mediterranean’s fierce Malta Convoys in 1942. The following year, he was part of the Allied invasion of Sicily before facing one of his greatest tests, surviving the sinking of Charybdis in late 1943.
Torpedoed off the Channel Islands, the ship went down with 533 crew members. Only 107 survived. Mr Eskdale was one of them, spending five harrowing hours in the water on a Carley float before a Royal Navy destroyer rescued him and returned him to Plymouth.
Instead of stepping away from danger, he leaned into it. He volunteered for hazardous service and, after Commando training at Dalditch Camp on Woodbury Common, was drafted into the elite 30 Assault Unit, a covert unit specialising in intelligence-gathering missions.
From there, he saw further action in Normandy and the Far East, helping to clear Japanese forces from Hong Kong and taking part in vital post-war peacekeeping operations.
Honouring a Legend
During his visit to Lympstone, Mr Eskdale presented the prestigious Commando Medal to James Barback, awarded to the Marine who demonstrates unselfishness, cheerfulness under adversity, courage, and determination throughout training.
For those who met him, his presence was a reminder that the title Commando is more than just a rank, it’s a legacy.
“He’s quite remarkable,” Recruit Brennen said. “We’re lucky to have men like him to look up to.”
And as the next generation of Royal Marines stepped forward, ready to write their own chapters, they knew they carried the spirit of those who came before them.
Because once a Royal Marine, always a Royal Marine.
