Sergeant Daniel 'Digger' Claridge RM

Chief Clerk HQBS and Military Training Instructor

Sergeant Digger Claridge was born in 1974 to a family of 2 sisters.  Digger joined the Royal Marines at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) in October 1991 with Troop 626. On completion of training he joined L Company 42 Commando Royal Marines (42CdoRM) in Plymouth Devon where he traveled widely with the Unit including two Norway deployments, Exercise Curry Trail in Brunei, a deployment to Northern Ireland, two trips on Exercise Dragon Hammer in the Mediterranean and a deployment to the Caribbean on Exercise Tradewinds.  In 1995 he was drafted to RM Poole for six months and carried out security duties before being drafted again to CTCRM for a Signals course.  Unfortunately 3 weeks into the course Digger was involved in a serious road traffic accident, resulting in multiple fractures to the spine, neck, ribs and head.  The resulting injuries required him to specialise in the Clerks branch, on completion of which he moved to 40 Commando Royal Marines in Taunton Somerset.

In 1997 Digger was promoted to Lance Corporal and deployed on Ocean Wave for a nine month tour to the Far East, visiting many countries along the way finally culminating in the handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese after over 150 years of British control.  On return to the UK, he returned to CTCRM and successfully completed his Junior Command Course and was promoted to Corporal.

In 1999 Digger was drafted to the Headquarters Royal Marines in Portsmouth, working within the Personnel Department, dealing with all staffing issues.  After two years he was again moved, this time to London, which involved traveling to many Operational theatres around the world including Sierra Leone, Iraq and Bosnia.  On completion of this busy appointment, Digger was placed on his Senior Command Course at CTCRM, which he successfully completed and was then drafted back to Portsmouth as a Sergeant within the newly formed Fleet Headquarters, a job which required him overseeing the welfare of all Royal Marines and Naval personnel deployed around the world on both exercises and operational deployments.  After three years in this role, he was moved into his current role within the Headquarters Band Service as the Chief Clerk and Military Training Instructor.  His appointment was interrupted last year, as he undertook a six month deployment to Afghanistan, returning just before Christmas.

Digger is a keen sportsman, with a passion for football and Arsenal, he currently lives in Portsmouth with his partner Emily, he is also a very good kisser.

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