Royal Naval Commando Graduation Ceremonies
HMS Armadillo
Ardentinny, Scotland
August 1, 1942
Darwin opened his eyes at the sound of the
clanging alarm clock. It was five o’clock in the morning on
Saturday, the first day of August, 1942. He squinted, then sat up
on his rack while his shipmates slept. He opened his Bible. This
morning he read through the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians
on charity and love. What a coincidence that his morning study
would fall on this beloved chapter at a time when he felt he was
beginning to better understand what true Christian love was all
about.
He closed the Bible, closed his eyes, and silently prayed.
Lord, thank you for your blessings upon my life. May my time here in the Commandos and my time in Ardentinny be used for Your glory alone. Thank you for bringing Sally into my life, and I pray that you would lead me by your Holy Spirit, this day and every day for the rest of my life.
Darwin opened his eyes, and when he did he felt a great love for his mother tugging his heart. He stood, reached in his locker, and took out a pen and paper and began to write a letter.
August 1, 1942
Dearest Mother,
I arise this Saturday morning facing, not the rigorous demands which have characterized my training these past three months, but rather as the sun crests the eastern sky, I find myself preparing for the pomp and pageantry associated with the celebration of a crowning achievement.
Today is graduation day. And this morning at 10:00 a.m. I am to report to the parade grounds here at HMS Armadillo, where along with my surviving classmates, I shall receive the designation of Royal Naval Commando. I wish you could be here today. I also wish Father knew. Please tell him, if you see him, what I am doing for the Crown. Also tell him that I love him.
You were right, Mother. I made it as you predicted. I give credit to God Who helped me complete the training when most here thought at first that I would never make it. I am now the smallest RNC in the Navy. Perhaps that entitles me to some distinction. If so, perhaps I will find out in a couple of hours.
I had hoped to return to England to visit you after graduation, but I am afraid circumstances will not permit that now. Instead, I will remain here in Scotland a while to receive my orders. Pray that I will fulfill God’s will in my life.
Whatever His will may be, I would not argue if He would have me return to Scotland after the war to settle here. I had forgotten how lovely and charming this place is. Over the past three months, I have fallen in love with this proud land of clans and lakes and green highlands.
You should know, however, that my affinity for England’s northern neighbor is not totally generated by the beauty of the terrain. I speak, rather, of beauty of another sort.
You see, Mother, I have met someone.
I met this person on weekend liberty while attending First Presbyterian Church of Ardentinny. This person is wonderful and fulfills me in ways no one ever could.
I know you, Mother. You’re probably worried that my new friend is like Reece.
Hardly.
What is this person’s name?
Oh, how I love teasing you, Mother. You will definitely approve.
Her name is Sally Cameron. She’s twenty years old, an inch taller than me, and has the prettiest auburn hair I’ve ever seen. We’ve been spending a lot of time together, at least all my free time—what little of it there has been. She’s wonderful, and I’ve told her all about you. She can’t wait to meet you.
I suppose I should stop here and leave the rest to your imagination.
Take care of yourself until we meet again.
All my love,
Your son
At 9:50 a.m., having dropped the letter at the post office, Darwin reported to the parade grounds at HMS Armadillo and fell into the end of the growing line of newly-minted commandos. He arrived a few minutes early, hoping to soak up every vestige of this moment. Already, the blustery summer breeze was whipping off the loch, scattering some paper programs across the parade grounds. The grass was a deep, lush green—the color of the Scotland he now loved.
A few yards in front of the single line of commandos, a small wooden platform and podium had been erected for the occasion. To the left of the platform, a military band and bagpiping unit were warming up. Within a few seconds, the big chap from Manchester fell into the line just to Darwin’s left. Richardson greeted Darwin with a friendly and affectionate pat on the back.
“Morning, McCloud,” Richardson whispered.
“Morning to you too, Richardson,” Darwin replied. He half expected Richardson to say something else, but the big guy fell silent.
Darwin’s eyes rolled to the right of the podium toward the grandstand section reserved for members of Parliament, VIPs, and guests. With his head pointed to the podium but his eyes looking so far to the right that he felt like his eyeballs were about to pop out of their sockets, he strained to see who was in the stands. He couldn’t care less about the MPs. They had been commonplace during his childhood. Rather, he hoped to see the one special guest in possession of the only ticket he was allotted for the ceremony. Three months ago, only one person in the world who would have gotten his ticket. But today Juliana’s slot had been reserved for Sally Cameron.
Darwin hoped Sally would come. But he wasn’t sure that she would. She had grown emotional as graduation day approached, facing the reality that Darwin’s military obligations would separate them at least for a time.
From this vantage point, everyone in the full grandstand looked the same. Darwin was tempted to turn his head to look for Sally, but he knew better than to break his military bearing.
“McCloud,” Richardson whispered again.
“Awfully talkative today, are we?” Darwin replied.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for what, Richardson?”
Richardson paused, as if trying to get up the nerve to say something. “I never would have made it if it weren’t for you.”
Darwin was stunned. Richardson had changed for the better since the embarrassing incident on the cliff. He seemed mellowed and wasn’t trying to bully others. But Darwin never imagined ninety days ago that the bullish giant would ever bring himself to utter the words he had just spoken.
“Shut up, you big brute, before you make us both start crying.”
Commander Graham Reynolds, executive officer of HMS Armadillo, led a small group of dignitaries onto the platform. Clad in full dress blue uniform, Reynolds approached the podium and surveyed his smart-looking line of commando candidates standing at parade rest before him. Satisfied that everyone was in place and ready to proceed, Reynolds barked into the microphone. “Company. Attention on deck!”
Darwin and his classmates snapped to tight attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and members of Parliament, I am Commander Graham Reynolds, Executive Officer of HMS Armadillo. On behalf of His Majesty King George the Sixth, our Prime Minister Mr. Churchill, and our Commanding Officer, Captain Al Rudy, I welcome you to HMS Armadillo for the graduation of RNC Class Number Three. Please rise and come to attention for the playing of our national anthem.”
A long drum roll commenced as the guests and dignitaries rose to their feet. Just behind the podium, Darwin watched the Union Jack and the Royal Naval Ensign flapping in the wind. The cold, deep waters of Long Loch, glistening one moment and gray the next as the wispy clouds played a game of peek-a-boo with the sun, served as a panoramic backdrop to the ceremonies.
The color guard commander broke the momentary silence, his sharp command echoing across the parade grounds.
“Pree-zent Arms!”
The color guard snapped their rifles into position as the drum roll ceased. A reverent and patriotic silence pervaded, except for the gusty breeze and the waves washing up on the shore of the loch about a hundred yards from the parade ground. The clouds parted as the water turned again from gray to blue. The band broke into a slow, melodic introduction to the most beloved tune in all of Britain.
Darwin could hear singing from the grandstands. The voices were untrained, yet no cathedral choir had ever sounded more majestic to his ear.
God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.
“Order, Arms!”
As the color guard pivoted and marched out of view, Commander Reynolds again approached the podium.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to present the commanding officer of HMS Armadillo, Captain Al Rudy.”
Reynolds sat as Al Rudy, a short, ruddy-faced man, approached the podium. Darwin knew Rudy by reputation. The salty naval veteran was Edward McCloud’s contemporary, and the two had been shipmates early in their careers. Despite the connection, Darwin never made his presence known to Rudy. The last thing he needed was an accusation that he had passed the training only because of his father’s connections with the commanding officer.
The weather-worn seadog stepped up to the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished graduates Royal Naval Commando Class Number Three, my words today will be short, for our duty is long. We are at war. You, our new shipmates, have been trained in the most sophisticated battle techniques the world has known. You conquered your rigorous training with distinction. You have earned the right to be called Royal Naval Commandos.”
A burst of applause.
Rudy continued. “As you know, the motto of the Royal Naval Commandos is ‘Imprimo Exulto’—first in, last out. And in many cases, you will be the first ones in and the last ones out. Britain shall depend upon you. For some of you, your call shall come sooner rather than later. Some shall pay the ultimate sacrifice. There’s a bloody good chance the man to your left or the man to your right will not make it. But you were aware of the risk before you volunteered.
“We are at war against the most evil enemy in the world’s history, an enemy that tried bombing us into submission. He bombed our streets. He attacked not military targets, but residential neighborhoods, killing not soldiers and sailors, but innocent women and children. Like a coward, he hid high in the sky, seeking safety within the confines of his airplanes. But how wrong he was. This enemy got a taste of the Royal Air Force, and he could not break the backs of the British people. And it was a taste he did not like!”
Another round of applause broke the speech.
“This enemy has also gotten a taste of the Royal Navy! As we stand here this day, the two most powerful German battleships ever commissioned, the Graf Spree and now the Bismark, rest on the bottom of the Atlantic thanks to your Royal Navy. Let that be a lesson to Mr. Hitler, that when he tangles with Britain’s finest, he will have a price to pay!”
Rudy stopped for another round of applause.
“Ours is a grave duty. And in contemplating that duty, I leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul to his adopted son Timothy. Let us fight the good fight! Let us finish the race! Let us keep the faith!”
Rudy stopped, looking up and down the line of his newly-minted commandos.
“Go now, gentlemen, and do your duty.”
Rudy sat down as Reynolds concluded the ceremonies.
“Ladies and gentlemen, at the conclusion of the ceremonies there will be an opportunity for you to meet with and congratulate our commandos in the reception area of the old hangar just about one hundred yards north of the parade grounds. Thank you for your attendance.”
Reynolds signaled the class company commander to take charge of the troops. The company commander saluted the executive officer, then pivoted and faced the line of newly-graduated commandos.
“Company. Ah-ten-chun on deck!
“Left face!
“Forward, march!”
The company pivoted left and began marching in step to the sharp cadence of the snare drum as Reynolds and Rudy whipped open-handed salutes. The bagpipers joined in, filling the air with shrill tones of “Scotland the Brave.”
At this moment, nothing seemed so soothing to Darwin’s soul as the sound of the bagpipes. If the world were really a stage, and if we are but actors upon it as Shakespeare said, this was a role Darwin was relishing more than any other he had played. Never was he so proud to be British.
Marching toward the reception area with chills running down his spine, Darwin thought of Captain Edward McCloud.
If only Father could witness this moment, to see his son transformed from a fledgling actor with no real ambition to a Royal Naval commando with a beautiful female companion.
They marched into the reception area, where champagne flowed everywhere and thousands of strawberry crepes sat on a hundred silver trays. Breaking ranks, Darwin and his new comrades mingled among the well wishers. Juliana had invited friends in Parliament to say hello to Darwin, and they happily obliged, calling him aside while the other commandos chatted amongst themselves.
Darwin smiled, nodded, and looked for a gracious exit as William Fox and Trent Archer, the two MPs from the districts adjoining Kensington, regaled one another with jolly ol’ stories about Edward and Juliana.
“Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse us for a moment.”
The familiar voice from behind him shocked Darwin.
“By all means, Captain,” Archer replied.
Darwin pivoted and saw the uniform of a Royal Navy captain. Surprised at the sight before him, the loud cackling and hobnobbing of the MPs faded into the background.
“It appeared, at least from my vantage point, that you needed some relief, son.”
Darwin stood speechless.
“It’s all right. You can speak. I know firsthand that you are familiar with the uniform of a Royal Navy captain.”
“My apologies, Captain. Perhaps I should introduce myself. I’m Darwin McCloud.”
“Yes, I know,” Captain Rudy responded. “You’re Edward and Juliana’s son. Your father and I go back a long way. I’ve had my eye on you since you reported for training.”
“You have, sir?”
“Certainly. Your mother called three months ago. It was good to hear from her, although I was sorry to hear about the divorce.”
“Mother called you, Captain?”
“Yes. But don’t get the wrong idea. She wasn’t asking for any special favors to advance your military career.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Darwin, your mother was convinced that you would be physically unable to pass the training. She was afraid you would irreparably injure yourself. And I must say that as we initially reviewed your charts, I had doubts myself. She made me promise that, for your own good, I would expel you from the program at the first sign of weakness.”
“Sir, I know Mother meant well. But I must apologize for her actions. I also want to apologize for not having introduced myself earlier. I didn’t want to create the perception that I was receiving a special favor by virtue of Father’s connections.”
“So I speculated. And I admire you for that. And I just wanted to let you know that your actions on the cliff that day, the way you were the first over the side and the way you showed compassion for Richardson when he probably didn’t deserve it, constituted a remarkable display of courage and leadership.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“From that day forward you have been considered to be the leader of this class, not only by me, but by all the senior officers and trainers. That night I telephoned your mother and told her of your heroics.”
“You called Mother?”
“Yes, I did. I told her not to worry about you and that I expected you to pass this program with utmost distinction. I’m not sure those were the words she wanted to hear. I sensed she would have been happier if I’d told her we were sending you home. But I told her the truth.”
Darwin struggled for words. “Sir, I am humbled by your encouragement. And I apologize for what I am about to say, but with the captain’s permission, I should like to make one small request of you.”
“By all means. What is it?”
“Captain, I know that our mission is highly dangerous. And as you said in your speech today, I sense that we shall be called into action sooner rather than later. I know there’s at least a good chance I will never see my father again. And sir, if I don’t see him again and you do, would you tell him about my time here, so that his last memories of me will be proud memories?”
Rudy hesitated. “Of course I will tell your father. But I’m betting you will be able to tell him yourself. Now if you’ll come with me, there’s a special guest in the administrative offices waiting to see you.”
Rudy turned and led Darwin into the crowd. This was a scene Darwin had witnessed many times—a Royal Navy captain parting a military crowd down the middle quicker than Moses had parted the Red Sea.
Darwin looked down as his shipmates and other dignitaries stepped aside and made way for Captain Rudy with Darwin in tow. First it was the members of Parliament, and now the commanding officer was paying him an inordinate amount of attention. Darwin dreaded the ribbing he would get tonight from his shipmates. But he was even more curious as to the identity of the special guest in the admin offices.
Stopping outside the door of the offices on the other side of the old hangar, Rudy spoke to Darwin.
“Darwin, there’s not a lot of time.” Rudy looked at his watch. “We’ve got about thirty minutes before the briefing. Please stop by and see me later today.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
Darwin opened the door and stepped into the small and Spartan office. Inside was a battered desk, a well-worn chair, a clock, and a few gray cabinets. As he closed the door behind him, he felt the familiar arms wrapping around him from behind.
“Sally! You’re here!”
“Of course I’m here. I was just in the water closet trying to fix my hair. You didn’t think I would blow my chance to say good-bye, did you?”
The moisture in her eyes revealed she had been crying. Her hair was still a mess from the wind. He took her and gave her a long embrace.
“I looked for you in the grandstands, but all the faces blurred together.”
“I was right in the middle of the crowd. Unfortunately, the crowd couldn’t block all that wind. I know I look like a wreck.”
Darwin smiled and playfully ran his hands through her hair. “You look fabulous, Sally Cameron. Redheads are supposed to have a little bit of a wind-blown look, you know. I’m so happy to see you. I didn’t know if you were coming.”
“You look so handsome in your dress uniform. And I love that green beret.” She smiled, flirtatiously caressing the beret.
“Here, try it on.” He put the symbol of the commandos on her head. “Actually, it looks pretty good on you. Red on green. Or should I say green on red? You remind me of Christmas in August.”
“You always know the right thing to say. Christmas is such a happy time of year. I pray we can spend Christmas together some day.”
He hugged her again as the tears streamed down her face.
“Someday, some way, we will be together again. I promise you that.”
“How long do we have right now?”
“Not long. They’re calling a military briefing in about twenty minutes. And I’m under orders to stop by the C.O.’s office.”
“Does that mean you’re leaving me now?”
He looked deep into her eyes. If God allowed him to survive this war, he would propose. Scotland would be their home. “Just for now. But we will be together again.” He paused. It was time to go.
“I love you, Sally Cameron.”
“I love you, Darwin.”