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I can confirm I'm going nuts - or my alcohol ravaged brain cells have resulted in radical memory loss.

The association with Corps Colours in the RM Diary is given as:
Yellow - 1664 coat colour
Green - RMLI
Red - Tunic colour until 1876
Blue - Connection with the RN

I could have sworn black was white we were told it was:

Yellow - 1664 coat colour [The Jollies}
Green - RMLI
Red - RMA
Blue - commemorates 1802, when the Corps became 'Blue'.

Ah, well. I think I'll have a large Woods' and not worry about it.

Here'tis Rocky.I like Tony's cartoons.

http://www.onceamarinealwaysamarine.co. ... _flags.htm

Or this
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explor ... ID=UNI0014

thanks Wholley

I've got the unit plaques [except 45] so know the associated colours. I meant the colours as used on, say, a Stable Belt or in a Corps Tie.

do you mean the corps colours on the Belt?

Yes those are right (according to what I've been taught), just two quick details for you:

- The red is "Drummer red"
- The yellow is actually called "Old Gold", which is what the colour of the original uniform was called.

isnt green to signify the link the with army?

Brett B wrote:do you mean the corps colours on the Belt?

Yes, Brett. 'The Belt' is (used to be) called a stable belt.

Don't ask why!

Still is called that. Well that & rainbow belt

isnt green to signify the link the with army?

No.

And I'm 99% sure the blue is Navy rather than Royal. I vaguely remember being taught the red was from the RMA rather than the tunic colour as well, but hey ho, I've been wrong before

druadan wrote:I vaguely remember being taught the red was from the RMA rather than the tunic colour as well, but hey ho, I've been wrong before

Well, I'll be wrong with you, druadan!

But my memory's not so vague. I was certain we were told red for RMA.

There again, I've been wrong before, too!

I think the green signify's the Royal Marines Artillery.
But have a skeg through all of this.

http://www.jackclegg.com/

All a bit of a puzzle. Our DI/Squad Instructor was Sgt (Jock) Fulton. (Funny. I never knew we were all racist in those days - or why he wasn't bothered. )

If he's still around and reading this forum: pse get in touch and put us all right!

No other D.I.s out there with the definitive answer?

Or any young recruits who can tell us what the latest is?

Right, I'm more than a little confused now.

1664 - 1685 Old Gold.

From 1685 I'm assuming they adopted the infantry red of other foot regiments from pictures etc.

1804 RMA was raised, but did not become a separate entity until 1859. It appears that it was 1855 when the tunic colours changed - RMA wore the blue tunics of the other artillery regiments, whilst the RMLI took infantry red again. Prior to this split the RMLI were unusual in being the only regiment of foot to NOT wear red during the Victorian era (both RMA and RMLI wore dark blue tunics). I haven't found a distinct answer as to when they switched from the early red to the blue, but would hazard a guess at 1755 when the Marines were reformed after disbanding for the last time (I believe mess dress was still red at this time).

Wholley, I'm certain the green is Light Infantry green - prior to 1914, all light infantry units were denoted by their dark green cloth helmets (although I can't find anything confirming this to be applicable to RMLI). But the drummer red is a mystery - I remembered RMA being red tunics, but apparently not!! It now seems to make more sense for the red to in fact refer back to the infantry red worn by all Marines prior to RMA/RMLI - I'm still sticking with Sisyphus on being taught red = RMA, even if it doesn't seem to make sense at the moment! I've had a look through that Jack Clegg site - very interesting it has to be said, but focussing on WW1 so not much help here (unless I've missed something).

So that was from a look around the web - far easier to look at official websites! From the RM Band webby, blue is Navy link and the colour of the facings for over 100 years (no dates given, but I'd guess at the run-up to RMLI taking red - incidentally, 'Drummer red' was worn by all infantry units (hence also 'infantry red') up until 1876 when it became scarlet). LI green from the shakos (caps) and bugle strings of RMLI. Old gold we know. So it does look like red being linked to the RMA is a red herring Someone better tell the DLs

Dave G (Hayrick on OAMAAM) was my DL in training. His explanation to us 'nods' was much more colourful.

For the sea you've never sailed! - Blue.
For the land you've never fought on! - Green.
For the blood you've never spilt! - Red.
The reason why? - Yellow!

I think he might have been joking.

Navy Blue
Drummer Red
Light Infantry Green
Old Gold.