New Medal,

Subject: Re: New Medal, Wed Apr 23, 2014 11:59 am

I see CTSG has been searching on the military forum again to find something witty to post on this forum. Suspect

The term 'Bootneck' comes from the leather collars (stocks), worn around the neck by the army and the marines to keep their heads up and erect, the navy did not wear these so they called the marines bootnecks because of the leather collar round their necks, the name seems to have stuck.

Subject: Re: New Medal, Wed Apr 23, 2014 9:59 pm

Thanks for setting the record straight.
At least I am now wiser as to how the Royal Marines achieved the nickname.

Cheers
Paul

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 44

That's an old wife's tale Martin.

"Royal Marine (British Special Forces). Known to each other as "Royal" but the rest of the British Forces know them as bootnecks. This nickname is derived from them cutting the top from a leather boot and wearing it like a modern neckbrace to stop sailors cutting their throat while they guarded officers on board British sailing ships in the days of old.
"Don't anoy those Bootnecks over there unless you want to wake up with a crowd round you!"

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