Major Tom Quiz | Military Matters

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When you meet Major Tom he is wearing the famous beret of the Royal Marines. He speaks with pride, remembering when he completed and passed his training and was finally allowed to wear it, but what colour is this famous beret?

Answer: Green

The green beret was introduced during World War Two as a uniform headdress for soldiers in commando units who had previously kept the headdress of their former regiment. The colour green was chosen as it was a colour featured in No. 1 Commando's insignia. To be allowed to wear the green beret soldiers must pass either the Royal Marines recruit/officer training, for those wishing to serve in the Royal Marines, or the All Arms Commando Course for other service personnel attached to the Royal Marines.

2. As well as the famous beret you notice that Major Tom is wearing a uniform that is a different colour to those of the rest of the British military. When you ask him about it he tells you it is unique to the Royal Marines and is known by what name?

Answer: Lovat dress

The Lovat uniform was introduced by the Royal Marines in 1964 on the occasion of their 300 anniversary. The name Lovat dress or Lovats derives from the distinctive shade of green of the uniform which is known as Lovat green. This is a much greener shade than the green brown colour khaki which is the more usual colour of soldiers' uniforms in Britain. Full Lovats are normally only worn on parades or ceremonial occasions. For general duties Half-Lovats are worn, these are mostly the same as Full Lovats but with a sweater rather than a jacket.

3. Accompanying Major Tom to his office you pass a sign telling you that you are at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines. The sign features a large version of the Royal Marines' crest which includes their motto 'per mare, per terram'. Knowing a little Latin you deduce that this motto means?

Answer: By Sea, By Land

The motto 'per mare, per terram' is believed to have first been used by the Royal Marines in 1775. The choice of this motto relates to the Royal Marines' role as amphibious troops, capable of fighting both on land and on ships at sea.

4. You are also curious about the word 'Commando' itself and ask Major Tom why the Royal Marines are known as 'Commandos'. In his answer he tells you that the term was first used of British units during which war?

Answer: World War II

The word 'Commando' has its origins in an Afrikaans word 'kommando' which means 'mobile infantry regiment'. This was used to refer to the mounted Dutch infantry regiments who fought against the British during the Boer War. During World War II the British military put together units to be used for 'combined operations', operations involving more than one branch of the armed forces.

The units' primary function was to carry out specialist raids and use guerilla tactics in German occupied Europe. Lieutenant-Colonel D. W. Clarke first suggested they be known as 'commando' troops after the tactics of the 'Kommando' units in the Boer War. Today the term is used to describe a soldier of an elite light infantry force.

5. Major Tom tells you of a campaign he took part in which involved a lot of "yomping" for him and the men under his command. Not being familiar with Royal Marines' slang you ask what "yomping" is. What is Major Tom's reply?

Answer: Walking

A "yomp" in Royal Marines slang is a long walk or hike carrying heavy kit. The origins of the term are unknown although one theory is that it is an acronym of 'your own marching pace'. The term became quite well known in Britain during the Falklands War in the early 1980s when Royal Marines "yomped" 56 miles in three days and the word was used frequently in media reports of the conflict.

6. Major Tom tells you that as a Captain he served in a unit known as '43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines'. As a member of this unit what would he have helped to protect?

Answer: The UK's nuclear weapons

43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is known as 43 Cdo FP Gp RM for short and the '43' is pronounced 'four three' rather than 'forty three'. The unit has its home base at Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde located at Faslane on the West coast of Scotland which is the home port of the UK's nuclear submarines.

Some personnel are stationed elsewhere in Scotland at Royal Naval Armaments Depot (RNAD) Coulport, a storage depot for nuclear weapons.

7. You decide to ask Major Tom a question. Unfortunately you make the mistake of asking about his life in 'the army'. He tells you that the Royal Marines are not part of the army but are instead part of which service?

Answer: HM Naval Service

The Royal Marines started in 1755 as soldiers who were based on the Royal Navy's ships they were responsible for assisting with fighting on the ships as well as being involved in shore parties to fight against enemy position on land. These days they have a much wider role to play as Britain's amphibious rapid deployment troops. They are still part of the UK's Naval Service though and as such are controlled by the Admiralty. Her Majesty's Naval Service is made up of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines who are separate branches of this service.

8. You notice that Major Tom has a picture of a women in uniform on his desk. He tells you that it is his wife who is also a Major! Would it be possible for her to serve in the Royal Marines like her husband?

Answer: Yes

In 2016 the UK government removed its ban on women serving in frontline combat roles which means they are now eligible to serve in all sections of the Royal Marines. Prior to this they could still serve in the Royal Marines as members of the Royal Marines Band Service - the division that provides military bands to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Although they were not eligible to serve with the Royal Marines some women serving in other branches of the armed forces did complete the commando training course meaning they were entitled to the famous Royal Marines' beret.

9. Your visit to Major Tom is nearly over. As he is accompanying you to the exit you see some new recruits practising marching to music. You are surprised at the choice of music as you recognise it as a famous song about the sea. Major Tom informs you that the piece of music has been adapted as a March and is the quick march of the Royal Marines. What is the title of this piece of music?

Answer: A Life on the Ocean Wave

The song 'A Life on the Ocean Wave' dates from 1838 and consists of a poem by the American Epes Sergeant set to music by the English composer Henry Russell while he was living in America. Sergeant was inspired to write the poem while watching ships sail in and out of New York City harbour.

The song was adapted as a march in 1882 by the Bandmaster of the Chatham band of the Royal Marines and has been the quick march of the Royal Marines ever since.

10. Although you drove to the base, had you wished to visit Major Tom by train you could have caught one to the base's own railway station called Lympstone Commando. True or false?

Answer: True

Lympstone Commando is a station on the Avocet Line which runs between Exeter St Davids and Exmouth in Devon. The station is a request stop meaning trains only stop if asked to by passengers, either by them asking the conductor (if on the train) or by making a signal to the driver (if they are on the platform).

The station only provides access to the Royal Marines base and as such there are signs on the platform stating that "persons who alight here must only have business with the camp".

Source: Author The_Cyclist

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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Major Tom Trivia Quiz

Meet (the fictional) Major Tom RM and learn all about the Royal Marines!

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