Commando prayer/collect

Ladies & Gents,

I've just (literally) been tasked to put together a simple service to commemorate the 14 Commandoes lost in the heli crash on Telic 1 in '03. Can anyone point me in the right direction for the Commando collect/prayer?

It would be very much more appropriate than the RM prayer since those on board were from all 3 services.

Yours Aye,

SPB

sp there is a wonderfu; poem you can definately adapt for your purposes. don't stand by my grave and weep for i am not there. you could sub we for i. its a powerful poem and has been sung the last few years for remembrance. it your interested or type the line in on line and you will find the poem no fan fare just this wonderful caring poem, they are no dead . jackie mcginnis-schulze each time i stand by my family graves i always think of this they are not dear but in my hear forever.

my goodness should have read before i sent they are not dead is the sentence not dear even with my mispellings its a beautiful poem and has been adapted for song.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 16/11/2008 15:40:39

SPB wrote:Ladies & Gents,

I've just (literally) been tasked to put together a simple service to commemorate the 14 Commandoes lost in the heli crash on Telic 1 in '03. Can anyone point me in the right direction for the Commando collect/prayer?

It would be very much more appropriate than the RM prayer since those on board were from all 3 services.

Yours Aye,

SPB

Hi SPB,

The Commando Prayer:

(Prayer of Saint Ignatius of Loyola)

Teach us, Good Lord,
To Serve Thee as Thou deservest;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil and not seek for rest;
To labour and not to ask any reward,
Save that of knowing that we do Thy Holy Will
and are bearing our part in Thine Eternal purpose.
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord,
Amen.

We will remember them.

Yours Aye,
Nick

Jackie, Nick,

Thanks very much for your help. Neither are quite what I'm after but lacking anything else both will serve well. I knew it was a tall order at such short notice, it was always a long shot.

I'll be leaving for the service shortly so time's up I'm afraid. Never-the-less, your time and care is appreciated.

Rgds,

SPB

SPD

We had a short service of Remberance with our local primary school attending about 60 pupils. The children lay crosses for the fallen and I put one in for my Dad but this year I put one cross in for the Commandos Telic 1 2003.

We will remember them.

Bill Harvey

Hi SPB,

I hope the Remembrance Service goes well.

The prayer that I posted is, as you requested, The Commando Prayer and so I do hope that you were able to use it as part of the service.

Regards,

Nick

I have only just seen this message and I realise it is past the hour when this may be have been required. I found this poem some while back written by an American called Archibald MacLeish and found the words quite profound:
THE YOUNG DEAD SOLDIERS DO NOT SPEAK
Nevertheless they are heard in the still houses: who has not heard them?
They have a silence that speaks for them at night and when the clock counts.
They say, We were young. We have died. Remember us.
They say, We have done what we could but until it is finished it is not done.
They say, We have given our lives but until it is finished no one can know what our lives gave.
They say, Our deaths are not ours: they are yours: they will mean what you make them.
They say, Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say: it is you who must say this.
They say, We leave you our deaths: give them their meaning: give them an end to the war and a true peace: give them a victory that ends the war and a peace afterwards: give them their meaning.
We were young, they say. We have died. Remember us.

Thanks for all the replies and help. Our service went well. Eleven Royal Marines were able to fly to the crash site in Kuwait where we spent 30 minutes on the ground paying our respects. The RAF even managed to get us there in time for 1100hrs local!

All round, it was time well spent and a successful remembrance service. The cairn built at the crash site by Royal is still intact, although the brass plaque surmounting it has been stolen.

Thanks again for your help,

Best Regards,

SPB

SPB wrote: The RAF even managed to get us there in time for 1100hrs local!

SPB

Hey! Be careful, I'm ex-RAF ) .

Pleased that the service went well.

Regards,
Nick

A very good friend of mine was killed on this crash, Sgt Les Hehir, I was only 500m away when it happened. I have just added a number of memorial pavers to the Commando Memorial at Alrewas for Les and others.

SPB: Really warming to know that you and the lads got out to Kuwait to remember them. Nice one.

May they rest in peace.

Geoff

Ladies & Gents,

Just to close the loop on this one, I now have the WW2 prayer.

Almighty God, whose command is overall and whose love never fails;
let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless in facing them;
let me not beg for the stilling of pain but for the heart to conquer it;
let me not avoid my share of responsibilities but embrace them with a strong heart and cheerful mind;
let me not always seek my own ends but be mindful of the needs of others;
let me not fail them who have placed their trust in me but let my green beret remind me daily of the highest traditions of commando service;
and if I fail, give me the courage and faith to try again.
Guide me with the light of your truth and keep before me the example of Jesus Christ in whose name I pray.
Amen.

Thanks to all for their help.

Si