Seaboots And Fashion: Royal Marines Talk Tartan

Royal Marines from Clyde-based 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group have launched their own tartan.

To mark the unit’s contribution to UK defence and their strong links with Scotland, prestigious company Kinloch Anderson has produced an official 43 Commando tartan.

Lt Col Peter Kemp RM, Unit Second in Command, said:

"We are proud to be a Scottish unit and it's only appropriate that we have a tartan that reflects that. (...) People were asking why we didn't have one, and it was a good question. So we thought 'maybe we should'!"

It has been registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans and features a number of key colours for the unit, including the distinctive scarlet and gold stripes replicating their unique lanyard.  

Col Jock Fraser MBE, Commanding Officer of 43 Commando, said:

"The 43 Commando tartan symbolises the Unit’s links to Scotland and its design reflects the illustrious history and achievements of those who serve now and in the past"

The 550-strong unit of green berets are based at HM Naval Base Clyde to protect the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

Unlike other marine units they rarely deploy anywhere outside of Scotland.

43 Commando is part of 3 Commando Brigade, the UK’s high readiness expeditionary amphibious force.