42 Commando Royal Marines are based at Bickleigh Barracks just outside Plymouth, Devon.
The Unit was formed in August 1943 during the Second World War and moved to its present location on 16 September 1971.
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross - Cpl John Thompson RM, CGC
As the shrapnel and grenades rained down around him, Cpl John Thompson RM thought of only one thing - buying his men enough time to outflank the enemy. He held the heavily-armed insurgents at bay for four hours while his men manoeuvred into position. Cpl Thompson stood firm at the front of the 25-vehicle convoy, holding off the Taliban fighters with a machine-gun mounted on his Land Rover.
It was a remarkable display of courage under fire which was rewarded with Britain's second-highest award for bravery, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
Military Cross - Mne Matthew Bispham MC
Mne Matthew Bispham was awarded the Military Cross for taking on insurgents in hand-to-hand fighting after seeing his friend Tom Curry, 21, shot dead. The marines had sprinted across 50 yards of open ground under fire to clear an enemy compound
Mne Bispham siad 'I had no choice but to carry on, I ended up a metre or so away from the insurgents. I was just lucky. He died. I didn't.'
Paying tribute to his fallen friend, Mne Bispham said: "We used to fight as a pair and when I was with him he made me feel safe, he was so confident and good at his job. He would do anything for his mates."
