Old Comrades

CORPORAL K V COLEMAN

It is with great sadness that RMR Bristol announces the passing of one of the Unit’s biggest characters; Cpl Kevin Coleman passed away on 21 July 2025 following complications linked to pancreatic cancer.

Born in 1970, Kev followed in the footsteps of his father, Ray, who served in the Royal Marines from 1976 to 1981 and joined RMR Bristol in 1992, with his brother Nigel following in 2001. Kev was one of 70 recruits who commenced reservist training in his intake and one of only two who passed out. Summing up his mantra to his oppo, he said ‘All you got to do is keep running...you know what I mean?’

The first five years of Kev’s reserve service ran alongside his civilian career as an electrician, but keen to add value, he volunteered for a period of Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS), followed by what was then known as a Short Special Service Engagement, or ‘Triple S’.

He first served with 847 Naval Air Squadron and then with 40 Cdo RM with whom he deployed on Ex Saif Sareea in Oman, Ex Black Hawk in California and on Op Banner in Northern Ireland, where his infectious humour was described by an oppo as critical to the morale of HMG Tp during long spells in overt OPs overlooking West Belfast.

Returning to RMR Bristol in 2002 after four years’ continuous service, he again balanced life in the reserves with being an electrician. Kev was already excelling in managing a zig-zag reservist career, years before the term was more widely known.

At that time, RMR Bristol held the Heavy Weapons specialism for the RMR and the final exercise of Kev’s course involved an overnight insertion with full kit in preparation for a dawn attack. At some point in the yomp in, Kev went over on his ankle. Helped to his feet, he cracked on, not only during the insertion, but all through the final attack without complaint or fuss. Unfortunately, this was a significant injury that troubled Kev for years afterwards.

The determination shown that night is but one example of his Commando Spirit; despite his small frame, he had the heart of a lion. In 2006, Kev not only passed his Junior Command Course, but also qualified as an instructor for both the Heavy Machine Gun and Javelin Anti-Tank missile; roles that led to him delivering training and spreading the legend of Kev ‘The Colemanator’ Coleman across all RMR Units.

He later agreed to attend the Royal Marines Chefs Course (often commenting that he has a history in catering, having been a silver service waiter in London prior to becoming an electrician). Kev threw himself into the role with all his usual gusto, taking it so seriously that on the run-up to catering for the Unit’s preparations for November Ceremonies, he set aside an entire working day to carry out the Costco shopping run.

He was fastidious, if not rapid, in all tasks! Kev mobilised for duties during the Olympic Games in 2012 and also for ceremonial duties for Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral in 2022, but few will have seen him in any TV footage as, due to his height, Kev was a natural-born ‘Hissing Sid.’

For the last seven years, Kev was employed at RMR Bristol as the MT JNCO. Although generally meticulous, he was known to drop the ball on the odd occasion. On arrival at Heathrow, one officer found the hire car he asked Kev to arrange for him was not present. Nor was there any record of a booking. He rang Kev, who cheerily informed him there were no issues and the car was booked and was waiting for him at Gatwick!

Such instances were the exception rather than the rule, however and when the RAF cancelled the scheduled flight due to return exercising reservists back from Cyprus, it was Kev who booked flights for scores of reservists back to the UK on time and avoided breaking vital contracts with employers.

It was for this and a multitude of other acts that Kev was awarded a 2-Star Commendation for Consistent and Dependable Service an award preceded several years earlier with a Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate for Meritorious Service for similarly fastidious work.

The wide variety of courses Kev undertook was testament to his determination to always be able to add value. Second only to his family, he absolutely lived for the Royal Marines and his love for his home unit, RMR Bristol, and all who served there, was second to none. It was a love that was reciprocated.

Kev’s achievements in the RMR were worthy of the commendations he received, but they were not exceptional; but that is because it’s hard to stand out as exceptional when your peers are all Royal Marines.

What was genuinely exceptional, even amongst his peers, was Kev’s Commando Spirit; he epitomised all the characteristics Royal Marines hold dear: Courage, Determination, Unselfishness and above all, Cheerfulness in the face of adversity.

Kev refused to be intimidated by cancer, he underwent months of treatment and lived life to the limit of his abilities throughout. When I last visited him in hospital, he greeted me with a smile and said ‘I reckon I’m going to beat this, Boss. I’m going to beat this and get back to the Unit.’ He passed away less than a week later.

Kev’s determination, his consideration for others, his courage and his cheerfulness in the face of very real adversity shone brightly to the very end.

Kev’s spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew him, but there will also be a physical memorial; from this point, the RMR Recruit in each intake who is judged by their peers to have best demonstrated Commando Spirit throughout training, will receive The Cpl Kev Coleman Award. Along with the presentation of a framed Commando Dagger, recipients’ names will be recorded on a lasting physical feature bearing Kev’s name in RMR Bristol’s HQ. This will commence with the first award being presented when 124 Troop Pass Out in November this year. I can think of no more fitting legacy than that.