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For Lt Col Ed Hall MBE, it is a return to the base at RM Condor in the new role, as he formerly served as the unit’s Operations Officer and as a company commander.

On his departure from the Unit before summer leave, former CO Lt Col Innes Catton said: “I will forever look back on my time as Commanding Officer of 45 Commando with great pride, the Unit will always occupy a special place in my memory.

"Returning to RM Condor to assume Command, without doubt, has been the highlight of my career.

"Ed takes charge of a highly capable team of hard-working men and women and I wish them all the very best for the future.”

The Unit recently returned from Lithuania where it participated in a multinational exercise, the 50th anniversary of BALTOPS, designed to strengthen the bonds of international partnership.

The exercise is the largest of its type to be conducted in the Baltic Sea area.

Lt Col Hall said: “Taking Command of 45 Commando is a landmark moment in my career and is a truly exciting prospect.

"I am now responsible for getting the best out of the outstanding people we have based here in Arbroath, so that we can continue to deliver as a Commando Unit for the nation.”

Lt Col Hall joined the Royal Marines in 2003 and subsequently completed several tours of Afghanistan as well as deployments to Norway and Belize.

He also served as part of a Special Task Group for North African Contingency Operations.

Following a role with the Ministry of Defence Operations Directorate, Lt Col Hall was awarded an MBE in the 2018 New Years Honours List.

Lt Col Ed Hall is married and has three young children, his interests include mountaineering, skiing, and field sports.

The unit is the UK’s Lead Commando Unit, which is held at permanent high readiness to deploy at short-notice to operations around the world.

Specialising in mountain warfare, the members of 45 Commando conduct an annual three-month winter Deployment to Norway to hone the skills required for its role.