Royal Marines Association

Royal Marines AssociationNew Zealand Branch

Formation of the Royal Marines 1664King Charles II authorised the raising of an infantry regiment for services at seaCharles brother, James, Duke of York, was appointed commander of the regimentRegiment was named the Duke of York and Albanys Maritime Regiment of Foot (the Lord High Admirals Regiment)The Duke of York & Albanys Maritime Regiment of Foot 1664

Gibraltar 1704Marines were prominent in the assault, capture and defence of the Spanish fortress of GibraltarLed by Prince of Hese, they landed on the narrow isthmus connecting the rock with Spain to cut off communications.Spanish garrison surrendered on 24 July and marched out of Gibraltar with honours of war, drums beating and Spanish flag flying.Marines 1704 Gibraltar

Battle of Trafalgar 1805In 1802 the Marines received the honour of RoyalThe Royal Marines were present at the Battle of Trafalgar Royal Marine marksmen were positioned on the decks and in the riggingA Royal Marine sergeant helped carry Nelson below decks after being woundedBattle of Trafalgar 1805

Artillery & Infantry 1855The Corp of Royal Marines re-designated a light Corp and the Light Infantry and the Royal Marine Artillery were established as separate divisionsThis changed the look of the uniforms, and established the Red Marines and the Blue MarinesArtillery & Infantry 1855

Egypt & the Sudan 1884British interest in the Suez Canal led to an intervention by the British MilitaryWarships of the Mediterranean fleet bombarded and destroyed rebel held forts A force of fleet Marines and sailors secured the port and restored orderRoyal Marine Light Infantry 1884

The Great War 1914Royal Marines were employed in every theatre of war and took part in major conflicts such as Gallipoli (where a member of the Corp won a VC), Belgium and Zeebrugge (VC)

Light Infantry Belgium 1914

Public DutiesA fact not commonly known, is that the Royal Marines have performed public duties at Buckingham PalaceRoyal Marine band service serve on the Royal Yacht Brittannia for overseas state occasions

Public Duties Buckingham Palace 1935

Second World WarFormation of the Commando unitsRoyal Marines had over 250 years of amphibious warfareCommando units made up of 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48Numbers rose to 78,000

Royal Marines 250 years amphibious warfare These units were backed by Winston Churchill in 1940.Lord Louis Mountbatten was appointed Chief of Combined Operations1643 Commando - Italy 1945

Korea, Suez and BruneiRoyal Marines played a prominent part in all these conflicts Fought alongside the first US Marine division in KoreaRoyal Marines re-hoisted the white ensign outside Navy House Port Said, SuezAmphibious landings on Limbang were one of the many actions Royal Marines took part in the Brunei revolt

40 Commando Brunei 1963

Falklands 198268 Royal Marines defended the islands against 4,500 Argentinean soldiersSpecial units of SAS and SBS recaptured South GeorgiaRoyal Marines yomp across East Falkland to Port StanleyArgentineans surrender to Major General Jeremy Moore RMExplain Yomp20Falkland Islands - 1982

Commando TrainingCommando Training Centre Royal Marines in DevonHarsh training carried out on Dartmore Longest training of all combat troops in the UK (8 months) before coveted green beret is earned85% fail rate 15% elite

Commando Training

Royal Marines 1996 - PresentNorthern IrelandKosovoBosnia all around YugoslaviaIraq x 2 warsAfghanistan last 8 years or so

Royal Marines 1996 - Present

The Band of Her Majestys Royal Marines Ceremonial dress Royal Marine Band renowned as one of the finest military bands in the worldRoyal Marine Band used in Britain and overseas for state occasionsRoyal Marine Band has its own corp of drums who perform the ceremony of beat retreatDrum Major & Bugler - Present

NZ HistoryIn 1768, a small R.M. detachment of 9 Marines, 1 Drummer and 1 Corporal, under the command of Sgt. John Edgecombe R.M joined H.M.S. Endeavour under Capt. Cook to sail for the South SeasThe Royal Marines Detachments of the Resolution and Discovery did their duty in New Zealand waters, and later in the New Zealand Wars

NZ History cont.In 1920 with the formation of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, Light Cruisers came onto the New Zealand Station. These ships carried detachments of Royal Marines, both the Light Cruisers H.M.S. Dunedin and H.M.S. Diomede and five detachments, H.M.S. Achilles three detachments, H.M.N.Z.S. Gambia one detachment; and H.M.N.Z.S. Bellona with two detachments.

NZ History cont.The last detachment of Royal Marines (1949 to 1951) carried out their duties in the traditional manner of the Corps; in 1951 they bade farewell to New Zealand by Beating Retreat; their bearing and drill were the delight to thousands who watched them at the Royal Easter Showgrounds. In the mid 1970s the Royal Marine NZ Association formed their own Corps of drumsA further link with New Zealand is that of the Royal Marine Light Infantry Colours. These were one of the first colours of an Imperial force to be laid up in New Zealand; at St. Mary's church, New Plymouth.

NZ History cont.The grave of Col Dare-Dowell, one of the Corps VC (Crimean War) holders, was discovered in Remuera, Auckland, and his award which was thought to have been lost, was personally presented to the Royal Marine Museum in Eastney, PortsmouthRoyal Marine Assn NZ Corp of Drums