During 1972-74 I was part of the Royal Marine Detachment aboard HMS Sirius. The Detachment consisted of a Lt., OCRM, a Sgt, DL1, 2 Cpls., PWI and PTI and 20 Marines. A Marine S3 and Marine K3 were attached to the communications and catering departments respectively. The majority of the turret and gun-bay crew was also provided by the Detachment, as was the diving team.

The Sirius, (a Leander class frigate, and named after the Dog Star, the brightest star in the Northern sky), was designated West Indies Guard Ship and patrolled between Bermuda and Venezuela via Florida and the Caribbean islands. Occasionally, a boarding or landing party was despatched to intercept smugglers or drug traffickers in such places as Andros Island, (part of the Bahamas group), to name but one. Cross training between local defence and police forces also took place, with plenty of 'social gatherings' in many of the ports of call. It was mainly a peaceful commission, although one tends to forget the down side, chipping and painting!

In early 73 we arrived in Bermuda for a period of maintenance at the Royal Navy base HMS Malabar. It was during this time that the Governor of Bermuda, Sir Richard Sharples, and his ADC were assassinated, as they strolled in the gardens of the Governor's residence one evening after dinner (they even killed his Great Dane Horsa). As a consequence, it was feared that the Senior Naval Officer West Indies, (with the acronym of SNOWI), and his family could be at risk. So Sirius was 'requested' to provide a guard for the commodore's residence on Ireland Island, (Bermuda is a series of islands linked by bridges and causeways). Unfortunately, only three 'Royals' remained on board that particular evening, I being one of them. We were issued with our rifles, (SLRs), and twenty rounds a piece and told to muster on the jetty and await instructions.

After a short while a RN Land Rover screeched to a halt beside us. The OCRM's head appeared from the driver's window and we were told to get aboard. As we drove at break-neck speed to the commodore's residence, he informed us we were going to SNOWI's house. This was a bit confusing at first, as the only 'Snowy' I knew was Tin-Tin's dog, you know of the cartoon fame! On arrival at the entrance to the white colonial building, surrounded by a high wall, breached only by two large wooden gates, we were given our final instructions, "Defend it!" and with that the OCRM drove off. We were a bit bemused at first, however, I suppose he was somewhat busy that evening, and in hindsight it was a bit of a compliment to be trusted; so we got on with it.

We reported to SNOWI, who seemed unperturbed, and were told by his charming wife to help ourselves to 'makings' and whatever we needed from the larder. That was the first mistake.

What was the risk? How much of a threat was there? How many 'enemy' were there? What weapons did they have, etc. We did not know, and no one could advise us. The three of us decided to split into two groups, (if you can split three two ways). One of us would stay inside the building as a 'last ditch' so to speak. We would use one nominated door to enter and leave, while all other doors and windows were to be locked. Anyone entering via any other means would probably be an intruder and therefore liable to be shot! We agreed a password for use when entering the designated entrance and because we had no radios elected for 'the old string and can' as a means of alerting the person inside. This was fashioned out of two empty larger cans and a washing line, the latter of which was passed through a louver in one of the windows. The other two, which included myself, would form a wandering patrol in the grounds, 'laying up' occasionally to 'listen in'. So that was our plan. SNOWI was informed and he seemed happy with the arrangement. "Cracked it", we thought. That was the second mistake!