Woo - epic post, personal history is always interesting especially with technical detail 
Plenty of clowns on this forum so you will feel right at home! Have a great game at Carentan.
I am very sad at being told by some airsoft sites that I can not wear my fathers beret badge.
Was this site owners that told you this or players? I have yet to meet anyone who has actually served or is still serving that is the slightest bit bothered about what grown up kids wear at an airsoft game. I was once approached at a game by a kid who asked if I was in the RM as that was my kit at the time.
No I replied.
Oh, you shouldn't be wearing that badge as you haven't earned it.
Bog off oik, you haven't even earned the right to live yet, get a life!
(And he wasn't in the services but he had a mate that was 
)
dave , these are the same people who never wear a poppy...............................
Heh... welcome Fred! I'm not going to Carentan myself, but I do hope we meet up at another airsoft event somewhere soon!
A very interesting post and yes I've also worn modern RMC insignia and uniform despite having no service experience at all. I also got asked by a kid if I was a real commando... lol. As to the site owner, what an "oik"... I was actually told to wear the RMC stuff for a themed game and as team uniform by the site owner of the site I played at at the time!
This sort of thing is one of the reasons we chose Staffords rather than Paras when doing PBI, we've had similar issues with ex-paras, scaleyback being the exception. If you'd been around then Nige we might have chose Paras (though it would have been a battle between you and Gadge over it!)... lol! But it is very cool doing glider troops since its a type of airborne that doesn't exist at all these days.
Welcome officially, Fred. 
Wear the badge and if anybody asks, just say "Yes, I do have the right to wear it." 
(Although you might want to keep the raspberry inside your head!)
Different people have different takes on it - me, I think we're trying for an accurate representation of combat troops, so wear it. My friend Tug also does reenacting, and when he heard they were going to be meeting some real veterans, he decided to remove all his medals - only to have a vet ask him, "Hey buddy, where are all your medals?!" Yes, we do this for fun and escapism, but inside, many of us have profound respect for those we portray.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Welcome Fred to CiA - very interesting post - hope to meet you at a game soon.
As for your Father's insignia - wear it with pride, you have earned the right through your father's dedication.
Croeso Fred and have fun, this place is full of inutters and I think I may qualify
Is it coz I is Welsh
Welsh and proud
Your all fekin bonkers
BTW hello fred
Its okay... you can say the name of the shop... I assume its SoF? A lot of their stuff is nonsense... The catalogue is mostly a fantasy publication.
They do get some stuff right though... occasionally...
We did a unit of modern RM commandos in desert dpm, green berets and all the insignia including rank for a big game back in 2005 ish.
For photos...
1) get the images into jpg or gif format.
2) start posting
3) click on the browse next to the 2Filename" prompt below the main edit box.
4) select your file in the dialog and click "ok"
5) Click "Add the file".
6) repeat 3 to 5 for all the files you want to add
7) click "Submit"
Welcome Fred. Great post, very interesting stories, bet you have a ton more. I'll be at Longmoor, but will be sniping for the darkside so appologies in advance for any .43's I may send your way 
Hope to see you there, I'll keep an eye out for an RM commando with Juggling clubs sticking out his 37 pat pouches!
“I wanted to come to the Volga at a specific location at a specific city. By chance it carries the name of Stalin himself. So don’t think I marched there for this reason – it could carry another name – but because there is a very important goal... this goal I wanted to take – and you know – we are very modest, we have it already."
Adolf Hitler, November 1942
"Comrades, Red Army men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerrillas! It is on your perseverance, staunchness, fighting skill and readiness to discharge your duty to the country that the defeat of the German-fascist army and the liberation of the Soviet land from the Hitlerite invaders depend! We can and must clear the Soviet land of Hitlerite vermin."
Joseph Stalin, November 1942
Hi Fred, good to have more Brit's on board
great pics on your website - the kids look like they are having fun
Heh... spot the circus man in pea dot camo....! 
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Fred that has to be one of the best first posts I have seen on any forum glad you have joined our ever expanding group
I think most of us on here like guns and most are not ashamed to say it so you are in good company!
Free speech is expensive these days!
fred,,,,, i get airborne tee shirts for friends and stuff from my mate who are still serving, they have never said "no, they cant have them, they havent earned them, " wear your dads gear with pride, you are allowed to wear his medals and decorations on the right, wear his stuff with pride, anyone asks, tell them why then say " why? what did your dad do in the war?" that should shut them up.and if all else fails, i find a fast jab of an index finger to the eye does the trick.
Willkommen. 
______________
welcome
theres nowt so Permanent as temporary
Welcome to the forum Fred!
In response to a site "ordering" you to remove your RM insignia, I'd a)tell them to b******s and then b)take my business elsewhere! I'm an ex squaddie and I'm not at all offended by anyone who portrays and unit, so how dare a site get all high and mighty by someone doing a respectful "impression" of a unit he actually has a link to, when most sites are overrun by Delta/SEAL/SAS walter mitties! You'll find no such attitude in CiA mate.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
welcome fred
