Ribble Valley ex-Marine takes on the Somalian pirates

1:13pm Monday 24th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Catherine Pye, Health reporter

Ribble Valley ex-Marine takes on the Somalian pirates Ribble Valley ex-Marine takes on the Somalian pirates

AN ‘adventure mad’ former Royal Marine has swapped life on the front line in Afghanistan for a new role — defending merchant vessels from pirates off Somalia.

James Twigg, 27, originally of Knowle Green, Ribble Valley, was unsure what career path to follow after leaving 40 Commando 18 months ago.

Through Marine contacts he got the chance of providing protection for merchant vessels in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden from a spate of hijackings by pirates.

The former Blackburn Cathedral chorister, who has a first class degree in electronic and electrical engineering, said: “It was with some trepidation that I started to venture into this world of private security, knowing that the support a soldier enjoys in the Royal Marines is often lacking in this profession.

“To be in the middle of an ocean in a very small team surrounded by pirates and cut off from any help was a situation that sounded somewhat precarious.

“However, deciding that it could not possibly be worse than what I faced on a daily basis in Afghanistan, I completed the necessary courses and signed myself up to a Private Maritime Security Company.”

James’ first transit was from Colombo in Sri Lanka to Suez in Egypt. After travelling on a small boat to board the merchant vessel, he was given his supplies — a rifle and ammunition, a trauma medical kit and a box of gadgets including night vision sights and personal radios.

His team soon got to work assessing the ship’s defences and improved them where they could with razor wire and by blocking off entrances.

James lives in Preston with his girlfriend, Rose.

His father, James Twigg senior, of Knowle Green, said: “As a parent bringing children up, you have to give them the opportunity to have their own mind.

“I wouldn’t have chosen for James to go to Afghanistan or to work for the security company.

“I am a chorister at Blackburn Cathedral and not that long ago we held the funeral for a Blackburn Royal Marine who was killed in Afghanistan. There for the grace of God go we.”

Comments (8)

1:59pm Mon 24 Sep 12

jackmetickler says...

yes him and almost every ex marine I know.... and the point of the story is?
or is this an advert for the ex-forces employment agency?
yes him and almost every ex marine I know.... and the point of the story is? or is this an advert for the ex-forces employment agency? jackmetickler

2:13pm Mon 24 Sep 12

eastlancslad says...

Jack, it is a story about a young man who having left one job, found himself another. It's a story about someone who gets off his backside and does something good for himself. it's a story about someone who does not think the world owes him something.
Good for you James, may you have plenty of adventure stories to inspire your kids and grandkids.
Jack, it is a story about a young man who having left one job, found himself another. It's a story about someone who gets off his backside and does something good for himself. it's a story about someone who does not think the world owes him something. Good for you James, may you have plenty of adventure stories to inspire your kids and grandkids. eastlancslad

5:23pm Mon 24 Sep 12

2 for 5p says...

eastlancslad wrote:
Jack, it is a story about a young man who having left one job, found himself another. It's a story about someone who gets off his backside and does something good for himself. it's a story about someone who does not think the world owes him something.
Good for you James, may you have plenty of adventure stories to inspire your kids and grandkids.
what a load of Tosh all that's happened is he was in the marines he's left and the only job he could get was that slightly strange job fighting pirates.

There's a guy on our street who's just got a job in a local factory why has the LT not reported on that.
[quote][p][bold]eastlancslad[/bold] wrote: Jack, it is a story about a young man who having left one job, found himself another. It's a story about someone who gets off his backside and does something good for himself. it's a story about someone who does not think the world owes him something. Good for you James, may you have plenty of adventure stories to inspire your kids and grandkids.[/p][/quote]what a load of Tosh all that's happened is he was in the marines he's left and the only job he could get was that slightly strange job fighting pirates. There's a guy on our street who's just got a job in a local factory why has the LT not reported on that. 2 for 5p

6:24pm Mon 24 Sep 12

sen c ble says...

Probably couldn't handle the mad men Taliban and now has decided to chill!
Probably couldn't handle the mad men Taliban and now has decided to chill! sen c ble

6:26am Tue 25 Sep 12

Falconer24 says...

Bloody hell u lot. He left to go fight pirates for between 2 and 3grand aweek! Only problem is every other man and ex marine and paratrooper are doing it so in 2 months the srap heap for him! Left the marines cause it to hard more like!! Easy money every couple of months travel round africa! Oh and trust me they do nothing including never fire a gun!
Bloody hell u lot. He left to go fight pirates for between 2 and 3grand aweek! Only problem is every other man and ex marine and paratrooper are doing it so in 2 months the srap heap for him! Left the marines cause it to hard more like!! Easy money every couple of months travel round africa! Oh and trust me they do nothing including never fire a gun! Falconer24

8:03am Tue 25 Sep 12

eastlancslad says...

2 for 5p -15.
Eastlancslad + 6.
Says it all really.
2 for 5p -15. Eastlancslad + 6. Says it all really. eastlancslad

11:16am Tue 25 Sep 12

sen c ble says...

Falconer24 wrote:
Bloody hell u lot. He left to go fight pirates for between 2 and 3grand aweek! Only problem is every other man and ex marine and paratrooper are doing it so in 2 months the srap heap for him! Left the marines cause it to hard more like!! Easy money every couple of months travel round africa! Oh and trust me they do nothing including never fire a gun!
You know Falconer the madmen Taliban cannot be compared to the idiot somalis. You know why? Beacuse unlike somali pirates who are 'visible enemy' the madmen Talibans are normal civilians in traditional clothing and undetectable, until they decide to expose their fire arms. That is my point and not for the soldier to chill in a sense meaning otherwise. The Japs were very similar in tactics and rarely would enage in head on combat.
So good luck to the Marine and may he continue to make sea life safe and protect the merchant vessels.
[quote][p][bold]Falconer24[/bold] wrote: Bloody hell u lot. He left to go fight pirates for between 2 and 3grand aweek! Only problem is every other man and ex marine and paratrooper are doing it so in 2 months the srap heap for him! Left the marines cause it to hard more like!! Easy money every couple of months travel round africa! Oh and trust me they do nothing including never fire a gun![/p][/quote]You know Falconer the madmen Taliban cannot be compared to the idiot somalis. You know why? Beacuse unlike somali pirates who are 'visible enemy' the madmen Talibans are normal civilians in traditional clothing and undetectable, until they decide to expose their fire arms. That is my point and not for the soldier to chill in a sense meaning otherwise. The Japs were very similar in tactics and rarely would enage in head on combat. So good luck to the Marine and may he continue to make sea life safe and protect the merchant vessels. sen c ble

5:53pm Wed 26 Sep 12

rover95 says...

I got a new job 3 years ago. Why was I not in the LT. More rubbish from LT.
I got a new job 3 years ago. Why was I not in the LT. More rubbish from LT. rover95

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