Large turnout for military funeral

The Royal Marine Falkland veterans line up and salute as the hearse passes by.

Mourners gathered in their hundreds earlier this month to say farewell to Michael Mechen whose funeral was held on December 9.

Mike, who was more commonly known as George (as he was a Geordie) was born in 1945, the eldest of seven children.

George left school to become a coalminer, but this turned out to be not a job he liked and so he joined The Royal Marines on April 4, 1962.

After basic training in Deal, he was sent to serve with 42 Commando in Singapore, where he saw service in Borneo and Malaya. Through the years he was promoted firstly to Corporal, then Provost Sergeant, Colour Sergeant then deployed to Arbroath serving with 45 Commando as WO2 Sgt Major of Yankee Company.

Michael Stanley Mechen. April 4,1945 - Nov 28, 2022.

Then, while back in Singapore in April 1982, the young Marines were out on the town when a telex came through from base saying get back to Arbroath asap as there was something happening in The Falkland Islands.

George said the lads were all over town in pubs and God knows where. A recall announcement was made on the local radio station, and police went around the pubs to gather up the lads.

After Yankee Coy` was all rounded up they were flown back to Leuchars Airfield where buses were laid on to take them to Condor were they grabbed their Winter kit and returned to Leuchars to fly on to Ascension island where they waited for the fleet to catch up. They joined the rest of 45 Commando and sailed down to The Falkland Islands for the 1982 conflict.

George continued to serve with 45 Commando until his retirement in 1985.

He married his long term partner Val in 2012. On retirement from The Royal Marines George enjoyed fishing and was a member of Arbroath angling club. He passed away on November 28 and will be sadly missed by his wife and family, The Corp and all who knew him.

The funeral service was at Parkgrove by Friockheim and conducted by Jenny Lyons. The coffin was draped over with the 45 Cdo Corp Standard and George`s green beret on top. Guests included current and former serving Royal Marines including the current 45 Cdo RSM Cowe and the former Col of 45 Cdo Andrew Whitehead now Major General Andrew Whitehead CB DSO.