Achnacarry March

A few of us from The English Warbow Society are going to do the march from Spean Bridge to Achnacarry for charity. It started out because I wanted to visit anyway as my Grandad had trained there with (as far as I can assess) 48 Commando.
Then a close friend in the society died from cancer last year as did my Grandad, so a few mates asked if they could come along and we'd do it for charity. Therefore we are going to do it for the Not Forgotten charity and a few of us are doing it for other personal beneficiaries such as MacMillan nurses, but I digress.
My friend Mark who makes medieval Rondel and Bollock Daggers, has made a 1st Pattern Fairbairn Sykes fighting knife for me in exchange for a new bow, so I thought I'd post the photos up.

Regards,
Ian

Good luck with the march! When is it taking place? Keep us informed, please.

Love the knife!

Three weeks away. We're doing it with bergens and the weight, although the hour deadline is a bit optimistic. If anyone's interested I will keep this updated and post some pics from along the way?
I've managed to pick up a couple of genuine WWII Commando bergens and others have got some modern ones. As we are not Commandos but longbow archers in our 30's and 40's, we've decided not to wear berets or insignia apart from our version of a combined arms patch which only those going will get. One of us is taking his fathers old beret rolled up in his epaulette as he was also an RM Commando and spookily enough was in the same unit as my Grandad just after the war.
We're doing it from the station to the castle and hopefully getting a look round the museum when we get there.

hello Ian

A valiant effort. The War Bow Society has rung a bell with me.

Do you know Mark Stretton? I think you probably will have heard of him.

I coached Mark in Judo some years ago....a great character.

Regards

John Mewett

Hiya John,

Yeah, I know Mark well. It was him who made the knife and who the bow that I made is for.

I remember him saying he used to Judo, so I'll pass on your regards if you like?

I've added a photo of us all at a display we did a couple of years back in Brittany. Obviously you'll recognise Mark and I am in the red in the back row, with Scott who passed away to my right. It was Scott who passed away almost exactly a year away that sort of started things rolling and why I am raising money for Macmillan Nurses alongside Not Forgotten as both he and my Grandad died from lung cancer.
At the end of the day it started out as just an excuse for me to go to Achnacarry and it's sort of snowballed from there. I'm just looking forward to it as I've wanted to go for years.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 11/04/2014 16:44:39

hello Ian

I thought you would know Mark.......Him and Dave his Dad are very talented guys.

Dave's silver smithing and his metal work are legendary around here.

Mark seems to have grown a bit of a beard..........suits him.

His effort on the FS knife is great......the Spean Bridge run will a for a good cause .

Remember me to Mark ......and I wish you the best of luck in your challenge.

Regards

John Mewett

Hiya John,

I've just spoke to Mark and he says hello.

While we were speaking, he also asked me to post this up as it's the knife he used for reference as well as some dimensions we downloaded. He asked if you recognised it, as its the one you bought him from a surplus store when he was after one, seeing as it was the time of the Falklands War etc and the shop wouldn't sell him one.
He also mentioned that you put it alongside your father's Fairbairn Sykes for a comparison, but that he couldn't remember whether it was a 1st or 2nd pattern?

Small world indeed.
Ian

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 11/04/2014 18:00:52

Yes
I remember it well.

My fathers knife is a 1st Pattern .........and its the actual image you see at the top right of this page.

No wonder he did a good job.

You've made my day Ian..........

Thanks a lot

Best regards

John Mewett

Hello Again Ian

The march and the knife are a fantastic tribute to your late Grandads Commandos.

We will remember them.

John M

Thanks John,

I'll keep you informed, you've made my day as well.

Ian