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For the Royal Marines – who remain the UK ’ s specialist in amphibious operations – 6 June 1944 and the subsequent campaign in Normandy remain one of the proudest chapters in the Corps ’ 360-year history . More than 17,600 Royal Marines were assigned to D-Day , and one in 40 Marines – more than 430 men – made the ultimate sacrifice as the Allies sought to liberate north-western Europe from Nazi tyranny . Eighty years later , a smaller force of 19 serving and veteran Marines from the RMA Paddle Group embarked on an 87.5-nautical mile paddle across the English Channel to mark the anniversary and raise awareness of the vital work with veterans carried out by the RMA – The Royal Marines Charity .
The RMA Paddle Group is formed of veteran and serving Commandos from across the Royal Navy , the Army , and the Royal Air Force , including veterans rehabilitated by the Hasler Naval Service Recovery Centre , and on this expedition was joined by civilian Keith Breslauer , who is Vice Patron of the RMA – The Royal Marines charity . The group was founded by veteran Marines and brothers Chris and Joe Maynard , along with Lee Waters , a former colour sergeant who is now ISKGA Advanced Guide and BC ( PUK ) Advanced Sea Leader .
This is not the first feat of endurance undertaken by the Paddle Group , however , which was first formed 10 years ago to participate in The Royal Marines 1664 Challenge ( marking the 350th anniversary of the corps ) through a 120 nautical mile cross-Channel kayaking challenge – this time from France to England . Multiple expeditions and training sessions have followed – while in 2017 , they recreated Operation Frankton – the heroic ‘ Cockleshell Heroes ’ raid - on its 75th anniversary , involving an 85-mile paddle up the Gironde estuary in France followed by a 100-mile yomp ( slow run ) to Ruffec .
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