Black Country commando veterans hit out over Government cuts to Royal Marines

Two former marines from the Black Country and a D-Day veteran who landed on the beaches of Normandy alongside commandos today spoke of their outrage after it was announced 42 Commando will lose 200 men and be withdrawn from frontline land duties

The unit – repeatedly decorated for its heroics in Afghanistan and Iraq – will instead be turned into a maritime force to protect ships and hunt pirates under the move by Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon.

Larry Southall, 94, was one of the original Royal Marine Commandos who served as part of the voluntary 'A' Commando unit that later became 40RM Commando during the Second World War.

He was part of the Allied invasion of Sicily and served at Anzio and Yugoslavia amongst other places. It saw Mr Southall fight alongside the SAS and the Army behind enemy lines. He also spent 24 days as a Prisoner of War.

Speaking from his home in Wednesfield, he said: "I think the Armed Forces have been cut enough.

"The Royal Marines are a special force and on a par with the SAS. I would have thought with the situation the world is in with Russia and Syria that it was not the time to be talking about scaling back what they do.

"I am in touch with the Royal Marines and get to know what is going on and what they do. For me it would be a disaster if they are cut any further."

Len Freeman, 91, served with 42 Commando – the unit now under threat – and was involved in D-Day and securing Hong Kong from the Japanese.

He is a recipient of the Legion D'Honneur – the highest French declaration for military merit – for his role in the Normandy Landings.

The Smethwick-born Marine, who now lives in Short Heath, Willenhall, said: "I think it is awful. They are a good unit. They are a striking force and do very important and brave work.

"They are the best of the best and we should not be cutting them or disbanding what they do."

Former sub-lieutenant Geoffrey Ensor, 93, is a D-Day veteran of Merry Hill, Wolverhampton, who also was awarded the Legion D'Honneur.

He was in the Royal Navy but served alongside marines as a Boat Officer on 602 Landing Craft Mechanised Flotilla which landed at Sword Beach on D-Day.

He said: "It is disgusting. It is shoddy for the Government to treat the marines in this way. They are true professionals and a recruiting ground for the SAS. We should not be doing this to them."

Warley Labour MP John Spellar said: "The Royal Marines are one of our elite forces and their numbers are vital for our national security.

"The country depends on these highly-trained and courageous men who demonstrate esprit de corps."

The outfit's axing comes during a funding crisis for the Royal Navy, with its two new aircraft carriers – named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales – coming in well over budget.

There would be no redundancies as the marines are cut, the MoD insisted.

The restructuring leaves only 40 Commando and 45 Commando able to be deployed on battle fighting operations of the future.