A six-strong team of Royal Marines’ covered a distance of 1,664 km in each discipline as part of the 1664 Challenge across Europe in aid of the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

As part of the event the 1664 Challenge Baton travelled around the UK, culminating in a 35-mile Speed March to Greenwich, London, on July 24.

For the past few weeks the baton was carried around Scotland by the six Marines, who were constantly flanked by a cadre of willing colleagues.

Marines from 45 Commando in Arbroath put the miles in first, before colleagues from Royal Marines Reserve (Scotland) brought the Baton to Glasgow and handed it over to 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group, who are based at HMNB Clyde.

But the Challenge didn’t end there for 43 Commando. Having sped the Baton down the River Clyde to their headquarters at Faslane, the real hard work began.

Around 70 service personnel from the Marines helped the original six carry the baton to the top of Scotland’s three highest peaks, Braeriach, Ben Macdui and Ben Nevis – more than 10,000 feet of ascent across three days – before speed marching from Nevis up the A82 to Spean Bridge on July 13 for the Corps’ annual Remembrance Service.

There, the Scottish involvement ended at the iconic Spean Bridge Commando Memorial – the spiritual home of Royal Marines Commandos, when, alongside members of the Royal Marines Association, the six Challenge Marines plus support runners were drummed past the finish line by their colleagues from the Royal Marines Band Scotland.

At that point, the baton was handed over by the youngest member of 43 Commando, Marine Cameron Callaghan to a colleague from RMR London, who then headed off on the trip south. It’s hoped that the Challenge will amass over £500,000 for the RMCTF.

One of the super six who completed each punishing leg of the Challenge is Faslane-based Lance Corporal Matt Robb of 43 Commando.

His Commanding Officer at 43 Commando, Colonel Matt Pierson, said: “The challenge has showcased what it is that the Royal Marines stand for. On coming down from the three highest mountains in Scotland, the six-man Corps team, it’s worth reflecting, had first set off back in early February, high above the Arctic circle in the Finmark Plateau. They have used all means, from skis to klepper canoes to leg power, over an incredible distance to prove every one of our values, and show the sheer endurance required to go the extra mile through the harsh environments in which Royal Marines operate and succeed, by sea and by land.

“More than 3,000 Royal Marines have accompanied and supported the challenge already and more will do so in the coming days.

“That is a significant number of our personnel, but the true credit belongs to the six men, commandos of all ranks, who have formed the core team throughout this extraordinary event. Their commitment, determination, courage and stamina are simply exemplary.

“However, the challenge has been hugely supported by the Royal Marines Association, in publicity and in collections.

“The work of the RMA goes on largely behind the scenes, quietly and continuously. So I would like to publicly record my thanks to those in the RMA, for their support, generosity of time and energy.”