CS22 Veteran Expeditions CIC

As we move into the final few months before our Pebble Island expedition launches, it would be great if we could hit our target of £2500 from all you lovely people which will cover the cost of one of our Falklands veterans to complete the expedition.

Help us to get one of these heroes down south to complete what will be a once in a lifetime expedition for them

Link below ⬇️ 🫡

Help raise £2500 to support CS22 Veteran Expeditions CIC to deliver overseas expeditions to the armed forces community Iʼm raising money to support CS22 Veteran Expeditions CIC to deliver overseas expeditions to the armed forces community. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

To celebrate the end of the film shoot for Commando, the Galaxie Presse team invited CS22 to Aix en Provence 🇫🇷 for a few days of sea kayaking, climbing and being French (eating). Fingers crossed this becomes a regular event for more of the team including all those yet to join us 😀

Incredible evening at with the cockleshell22 family. Over 50 friends, family and supporters came down to attend the Ceremony of the Keys hosted by our very own Yeoman Warder, Lisa Garland

We also had our first showing of the Commando TV series in the Keys Bar and we think it went down a storm 🫡😀❤️

Very proud to be announcing our first ‘Commando Experience’ expedition to Norway in early 2025.

So how does it work??

Well, we realised that our team is made up of a lot of ex-military with a lot of experience and that some others out there, who perhaps had chosen a different path in life to ours would like to have a taste of what we do. So we’re offering expeditions that are build around commando raids and give a chance for people to buddy up one on one with a former service person who will guide, mentor and give them a once in a lifetime experience.

Fancy it? We’ve got Bordeaux summer 2025 and then into 2026 available.

Heroes of Telemark Commando Experience - Home Stay Once in a lifetime trip to follow in the footsteps of the Heroes of Telemark with real-life former Commandos

Our new Nite Watches Hawk with CS22 Veteran Expeditions CIC branding are shipping.

Stunning and very robust functional designs with 10% going to our expeditions.

Don’t delay ⬇️

https://www.nitewatches.com/products/cockleshell22

We’re really excited to be joining Sue at Linghams Booksellers on 9 September to hear Al Murray talk about his new book. Hope you can join us and book a ticket at the following link

https://linghams.co.uk/event/al-murray-9th-september-7pm-chester-racecourse/

Thank you to Nite Watches for designing this limited edition Cockleshell22 watch which you can buy below ⬇️

Make sure you are exped ready with 10% going towards our upcoming Pebble Island expedition 🫡

HAWK COCKLESHELL 22 | T25GREEN NITE Watches x Cockleshell 22 Pre-Order This special edition Hawk features custom Cockleshell22 branding on the dial of the watch and custom Cockleshell22 etching on the case back. 10% OF ALL SALES OF THIS PRODUCT ARE BEING DONATED TO THE COCKLESHELL CHARITY. This new generation Hawk has a super lig...

This week the Pebble Island Expedition team has been provided with an immensely valuable training package including VHF Comms, Water Safety and Open water safety.

They also had chance to visit the memorial of Welsh Guardsman David Richard Williams along with his family members. Guardsman Williams sadly lost his life on Sir Galahad on 8 June 1982.

This occasion truly brought to the fore the poignant nature of the expedition which will see a group of Falklands veterans return to the Islands to complete an arduous expedition by kayak and on foot.

Please support them here ⬇️

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/CS22?utm_term=8MMmrq3nV

For our team of Falklands Veterans; to return to the islands next year will be poignant, painful and cathartic. The memories are still vivid and often traumatic. We ask for your support by reading the memories and if you can, donating to their expedition at the bottom of the post.

Recollections of the attack on Two Sisters - 11 June 1982

‘The 11th June started very calmly, although everyone was still in a state of shock and disbelief about the blue on blue and losses the previous evening. Lots of quiet packing and prep getting ready to move out to the forming up positions for the coming battle, and quiet determination to get stuck into the task and get closer to going home.

We moved out of Bluff Cove Peak in small groups in the afternoon, moving around the northern slopes of Mount Kent and making for a concentration area just off the track that led to the Murrell bridge and then onwards to Stanley. The Argies were laying down artillery fire into the valley that the track lay in although it was falling away from our location. saying that I was hit by a spent piece of shrapnel which thumped into my jacket arm, not breaking the surface but burning my fingers when I foolishly went to pick it up!!!

We remained snuggled down in a massive rock run for most of the day until it got dark and Zulu and Yankee companies moved out towards the bridge and then turned right to approach Two Sisters, our unit objective. The HQ element moved up onto a higher flat area on the north side of Mount Kent that provided an overview of the unit objective and also most importantly good Comms for everyone. The HQ BV vehicles had made a very circuitous journey from the back of Mount Kent to get to the new location as the rock runs prevented even their fantastic cross country abilities from working.

So we then settled down to wait for the battle to commence way out to our front, and the temperature dropped to unbearably cold levels. Without bivvies or sleeping bags the only way to keep warm was to keep moving which was ok for us hidden in amongst the rocks but impossible for the rifle companies who had to lay out on the open slopes of Two Sisters waiting for the order to attack. It was freezing, and this was made worse by the troubles experienced by X Company who were attacking from the southern side of Mount Kent and crossing horrendous rock runs in the dark while carrying extra equipment like Milan missiles for the battle to come.

In all they were two hours late getting to their start position, while the others lay in the open waiting. The CO was an understatement of calm under such pressing conditions and was an inspiration in his handling of his unit while the plan started to unravel. However, when everyone was finally in position he gave the word to go and the world seemed to erupt.

Initially the Argies seemed unaware of the marines closing in on them, but just as Zulu got close to their first objective a flare went up from the Argies and a firestorm of tracer began. From my position the pitch darkness erupted into a fantastic fireworks display, and the whole mountainside was bathed in flickering white light from the multiple para illumination flares that were being fired. Argy tracer could be seen firing downwards in various colours, with the marines firing upwards, the tracer hitting rocks and careering upwards into the sky like an electric hosepipe, it was everywhere. Amongst the machine gun duels that were plain to see, there was also the mortar explosions that burst in small groups of orange,yellow, purple flashes, and the 66mm and 84mm rocket launchers which were very distinctive with a bright yellow flash and then a laser like streak of light towards the target and an explosion at the end. The last of the fireworks were the Milan missiles that seemed to float serenely to their target as a white dot and then pow!!

All this light show going on with the backdrop bangs, rattled and thumps of the impacts. It was amazing to watch but also frightful knowing that your oppos were in the middle of it and it was lethal stuff. It all seemed to go on for ages, but eventually started to die off and the HQ moved forward and over the Murrell bridge to a position below Two Sister and on the track to Port Stanley.

Everyone was anxious to know about casualties, and the info came in dribs and drabs, but eventually we learned of 4 KIA and sadly more friends lost. As is the way with war we did not have time to dwell as there were lots of tasks to do, it was light and we needed to get ammo up and casualties and prisoners out of the area, so the new day started on a blur of activity. We had taken our objective, but what was next?’

Thank you. If you are able to support the expedition, please donate below

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/CS22?utm_term=8MMmrq3nV

Recollections of Op Corporate - 7-9th June 1982

‘The 8th was a dark day for me, on the 7th myself on F1 were tied along F4 at Fitzroy on West Falkland we were seconded to assist 5 infantry brigade with their move towards Stanley on the southern flank.

I remember having egg banjos with our mates on F4 for breakfast. We were tasked with unloading the Landing Ship Logistics (LSL) Sir Tristram with ammo and rations for the final assault on Stanley. We then were given another task to return to Darwin to pick up 5 Brigade’s comms Landrovers and take them to 5 Bde’s new forward HQ. F4 was the outside craft so they said they'd do that task and we (F1) would remain at Fitzroy to unload Sir Tritstram.

Early morning on the 8th, Sir Galahad appeared unexpected with 2 Companies of Welsh Guards. Quickly we were given a change of task to unload the Welsh Guards tied up alongside the Galahad. It was a bit of a hectic and confused morning and then in the early afternoon the we heard the sound of jets flying over.

Boom💥 pandemonium!

Trying to get injured soldiers down a rope ladder was a nightmare. I can still remember the sights smells and and sounds of that day 42 years on. We still had a full deck of ammunition but managed to rescue about 100 soldiers and take them back to shore then return to collect life rafts. A few hours later we learned F4 had been hit and our oppos had been killed. A s**t day!

On the 8th June 1982, Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram were hit by bombs in Port Pleasant; LCU Foxtrot Four was sunk by Argentine aircraft in Choiseul Sound and Plymouth was damaged by unexploded bomb. 56 men were killed and over 150 were injured in the greatest single incident loss of life since WW2.

Our team of Falklands veterans will never forget those days and will be going back in Spring 2025 to complete their memorial expedition. Support them today ⬇️

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/CS22?utm_term=8MMmrq3nV

The first picture shows a RM Commando beret. It was last worn on 6th June 1944… D Day.

The wearer of the beret was in 48 RM Commando. The unit was created specifically for D Day, to land on Juno beach as part of 4th Special Service Brigade. Juno is rightly known as the ‘Canadian’ beach, as 48 RM Commando were in support, on the left flank, ‘Nan Red’ Sector.

For many, D Day would be their first amphibious landing and for some their first battle. For the wearer of this beret, it would be their third; having previously landed in N Africa and more recently Sicily.
I believe, of the Commandos that landed on Juno, 60% were either killed or wounded by the end of the first day.

They had travelled from the south of England by landing craft. Noting the weather, (D Day was postponed 24 hours due to weather), many were seasick on the journey. Very debilitating at the best of times, but when you’re about to go in to battle…
The landing craft did not have the ramp opening you tend to see in films. The Commandos had to walk down a ladder, in full kit. Many were picked off by snipers.

In the first wave in, they decided to bail out over the sides. However, they were still in deeper water and unfortunately many drowned, weighed down by their equipment.
The wearer of the beret, found himself with his back on the seabed with the landing craft on top of him, luckily it went into reverse and he managed to scramble to the surface, having shrugged off his pack.

All this time they were under fire, in particular from a well-placed bunker which was able to sweep the beach with continual fire. On gaining his feet, he was hit in the upper arm, which crippled his right hand. He managed to scramble towards the sea wall where he sat between two Canadian soldiers.

48 RM Commando went on to distinguish themselves in the following days and later in a further amphibious landing in Walcheren, just off Holland. For the wearer of the beret, this would be his last campaign. He was eventually evacuated back to Wrexham for treatment. Unfortunately, he never gained the full use of his right hand.

He had been in various battles and like many, didn’t often talk about it. One of his favourite stories came from the invasion of Sicily. At the end of a busy day with a lull in the fighting, the unit decided to ‘have a brew’ and some rations. As they did so, local Italian children appeared from the ruins of the buildings, obviously starving. To a man, they gave their rations to the starving children. His point? Even in times of conflict, basic humanity will always win out.

To his friends, the wearer of the beret was known as Bill, to his colleagues he was known as ‘Sarge’. To myself and my sisters, he was known as Dad.

From a friend of CS22 🫡

https://cockleshell22.com

After the retreat from Dunkirk in 1940, Churchill stated that a new combined fighting force was needed, taking the best of the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force but being independent of the single services. It had two primary tasks;

1. To plan, train and execute offensive small scale raids throughout enemy held territory - Commando Raids

2. To plan for large scale amphibious landings onto unproven beaches in enemy territory - Torch and D-Day Landings

As the Commandos ‘set Europe ablaze’ with some of the most inventive and brave raids ever seen, the Command was also extensively training in the use of landing crafts in Scotland and the south coast of England.

Combined Operations was responsible for the training for and ex*****on of the D-Day landings including the development of the Mulberry Harbours, the PLUTO oil pipeline laid to the Normandy beaches as well as the tank adaptations known as ‘Hobart’s Funnies’

80 years ago today; their greatest achievement was successfully executed paving the way for the subsequent defeat of the N***s, the use of special forces and tri-service operations to this day.

Today Help For Heroes has launched The Veterans Pledge, backed by The Sun to urge whoever comes into power at the General Election to ensure that the progress which has been made by us all collectively is retained and enhanced.

Tomorrow as a nation we will honour our heroes of D-Day and must ensure they and those that have followed remain in the minds of our government.

The pledge simply asks

1) Keep the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, led by a Cabinet attending minister.

2) Commission an independent review of the medical discharge process.

3) Ensure veterans get the benefits and compensations they deserve.

We can do the rest ourselves but ⬆️ is what we expect from our leadership.

Please read more and show your support here ⬇️

https://act.helpforheroes.org.uk/call-party-leaders-sign-veterans-pledge

Call on party leaders to sign the Veterans Pledge! Add your name to support veterans.

By this point 80 years ago, Britain had been at war against the N***s for 5 long years, 2 of them stood alone before the US declared war on Germany and Japan in 1941.

Britain had been forced from Europe in 1940 and then took a battering from the Luftwaffe, seemingly destined to fall next.

But different plans were afoot, supported by Churchill who intended to ‘Set Europe ablaze’ through clandestine commando operations under Combined Operations and SOE.

Tomorrow the balance shifted as the allies launched the largest Armada the world has ever seen landing on the beaches of Normandy.

At this time the French resistance network with Commando support went into overdrive to support the invasion.

Congratulations to the RMA Paddlesports team on crossing the English Channel as part of their commemorations for

There are so many examples incredible feats of bravery from Commando units throughout history.

When young men and women, against overwhelming odds and facing incomprehensible adversity, succeeded. They were prepared to give the ultimate sacrifice and faced torture or ex*****on in order to deliver a strategic blow to the enemy.

It is these people and their motivations that we honour through our organisation. So, we ask, which examples can you give us which we can create into our next major expedition in 2026? 🫡

Great effort from the RMA Paddlesports group as they prepare to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. BZ 🫡

42 years ago today, the men of 3 Commando Brigade successfully landed in San Carlos Bay. The landings were not opposed but the fleet in the bay was continuously attacked by Argentine aircraft.

Next year we will take a group of veterans of the campaign back to the Islands to complete an arduous expedition - Pebble Island 25.

Here team member Steve reflects on that day in 1982

‘ I was part of 45 CDO HQ, one of the signallers. We climbed into our landing craft in the dark from our ship the RFA Stromness, the Enemy positions up on Fanning Head above us ashore were being bombarded which was an awesome sound and light show.

We started towards our objective at Ajax Bay but because of delays earlier in the offload we were now in bright sunshine, which was a beautiful Scottish hillside like scenery, but also feeling very vulnerable to any enemy. We came ashore right in front of the abandoned mutton processing plant at Ajax Bay, but instead of sprinting ashore we plodded onto the beach laden down with equipment, weapons, ammunition and then even more ammunition.

The unit then dispersed up the hillside above Ajax Bay to start to dig in in the sunshine. It was not long before we started to hear about the first casualties with two Gazelle helicopters being shot down with three crew killed, a very sobering moment. Later in the day began the Argie air attacks, mad moments of firing at fast jets and watching them jink around while flying at incredibly low heights between the many warships in the sound below us.

With darkness came a respite from the air attacks, and we continued to dig in and finalise our defensive positions, wondering what was to come.’

Please help Steve and his team-mates to complete this expedition by donating today 🇬🇧

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/CS22?utm_term=8MMmrq3nV

42 years ago today, Jez took part in the San Carlos landings as part of 3 Commando Brigade. Next year his team will be heading back down south to take part in the Pebble Island expedition 🇬🇧

‘San Carlos Landings - I was HMS Fearless landing craft Foxtrot 1. After loading up elements of 40 cdo and a Blues and Royals Scimiter tank, we sailed from Falkland sound into San Carlos water. As we turned into San Carlos, I saw the tracer from naval gunfire pounding Faning head then bouncing of the rocks an awesome sight. A tad uneasy as to whether the Landings would be opposed, but confident 2 GPMGs and the 30 mil cannon of the Scimiter would be sufficient to put some fire power down. Luckily the Landings weren't opposed and then returned for phase 2 landing 45 cdo at Ajax Bay. As daybreak came the first of many air raids and the cacophony of GPMGs and small arms fire at the Jets flying over us bombing ships.’

Help them complete this mission by donating today

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/CS22?utm_term=8MMmrq3nV

Over the last 2 years we have been able to raise over £40,000 for three major veteran charities, which we are entirely grateful to you for doing.

We have also been industrious in generating revenue to provide places on our expeditions for members of the armed forces community but after a number of our followers asked if they could donate directly to Cockleshell22, we have set up a donations page for that purpose.

As such, we will now be raising funds directly for CS22 which will only go on costs of the expeditions so no salaries, frills or wastage.

Link here

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/CS22

Listening to our followers, we’ve released a training tee-shirt for sale on our website ⬇️

https://cockleshell22.com/product/cs22-team-cool-tee

CS22 Team Cool-Tee - Cockleshell Join the Cockleshell22 team with our branded neo-teric tee-shirts for all your adventures.

All set up to support 🫡 Make sure you pop over to say hello 👋

We’re very proud to be releasing this branded watch in collaboration with Nite Watches now available for pre-purchase.

This special edition Hawk features custom Cockleshell22 branding on the dial of the watch and custom Cockleshell22 etching on the case back.

10% OF ALL SALES OF THIS PRODUCT ARE BEING DONATED TO THE COCKLESHELL CHARITY.

This new generation Hawk has a super lightweight but incredibly strong case constructed of a mix of carbon and polycarbonate. It features an ultra-scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with triple anti-reflective coating, and as with all our models, it has a Swiss-made movement and tritium illumination. In this updated version we have also introduced a screw-down crown to provide an extra level of security and protection against water and dust.

Buy yours today ⬇️

https://www.nitewatches.com/products/cockleshell22?variant=41985030095057

As part of the ongoing training for Pebble Island, CS22 funded places on this fantastic multi-activity event put on by former Royal Marine Ian Woolridge this week. Hoofing effort 🫡

Ex Quarryman Royal Marines Commando Reserves Merseyside, annual Ole Boys get together in Snowdonia.

We’re supporting Team Rollocks as they prepare for their transatlantic row this winter so send down a batch of our morale pouches (post training of course 😉)

With 4 to collect, profits from the sales go entirely to funding places on our expeditions for members of the military community 🫡

Thank you Resilient Nutrition for making this possible ❤️

Shop today ⬇️

https://cockleshell22.com/shop/

****PRE-RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENT****

We’ve been working behind the scenes on a number of collaborative projects, one of which is this stunning watch from Nite Watches which we’ll be taking orders for in the very near future.

Based on the Hawk watch, Nite have produced this unique limited edition watch for our community.

Featuring tritium illumination, this rugged watch will be a perfect addition to any adventure ❤️

Watch out for further details 🫡