40 Commando Royal Marines is based at Norton Manor Camp, just North of Taunton, Somerset. The Unit was formed on the 14th February 1942 during the Second World War and moved to its present location in May 1983.
L/Cpl Matt Croucher, 24, a member of 40 Commando RM, had been searching a compound south of Sangin which was suspected as being used for making bombs to attack British and Afghan troops.
A Taliban booby-trap grenade was tripped, Matt jumped onto the device to absorb the force of the explosion to save his oppo's, using his backpack to take the force of the explosion, whilst his oppo's dived for cover. The blast blew his rucksack more than 30ft away but he remarkably suffered only severe shock and a bloodied nose in the incident.
Homecoming parade for 40 Commando Royal Marines on July 31st 2008 in Taunton,