CORPS HISTORY (and related reading)
Posted: Fri 20 Jul, 2007 4:22 pm
This thread is for lads that want to join the Royal Marines as Corps history is an important part of your career.
CORPS MEMORABLE DATES
23rd April - Raid on Zeebrugge 1918 - Towards the end of WW1 the 4th Royal Marine Batallion landed on the mole to enable the blocking of the entrance to the canal, which was being used by the Germans as a base for their submarines. Two victoria crosses were awarded to the Batallion and no other Battalion has since been numbered 4th.
28th April - Gallipoli 1915 The Royal Marine brigade landed on the peninsula as part of the expedition to drive up towards Constantinople during the First World War. Together with 1 RN Brigade they bore the brunt of the Turkish attacks and displayed great resolution in this major amphibious operation.
6th June - Normandy landings 1944. During the second world war, over 17,500 Royal Marines took part in the largest amphibious operation in history. They crewed most of the the minor landing craft, manned the guns in the supporting capital ships and provided an armoured support group, beach clearance and control parties and engineers.
7th June - The Battle of Belle Isle 1761. On this island off the coast of France, two battalions of Marines served with great distinction at this siege during the Seven Years War. The laurel wreath in the Corps insignia is believed to have been awarded in honour of this distinguished service.
17th June - the Battle of Bunker Hill 1775.
During the American War of Independence, after two succesful assaults up the steep hill failed to dislodge the rebels, the 1st Marines and the 47th Regiment were commited to the battle. They took the position, after which it was reported that the Marines' "unshaken steadiness was conspicous".
24th July - The capture of Gibralter 1704.
In the War of the Spanish Succession, the assault was carried out by a brigade of British and Dutch Marines, who after the surrender of the enemy succesfully held the fortress against repeated attacks. This is the only battle honour borne on the colours.
21st October - The Battle of Trafalger 1805
Was the most decisive sea fight in history, in which over 3,500 Royal Marines took part. In their traditional stations on the upper decks, they played a brave and important part in Lord Nelson's success.
28th October - The birth of the Corps 1664.
King Charles II sanctioned the formation of the first regiment formed specifically for service at sea. The yellow uniform of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot is commemorated by the yellow ('old gold') stripe in the corps colours.
1st November - The Assault on Walcheren 1944
Royal Marines Commandos and support craft gun crews success played a gallant and leading part in clearing the entrance to the River Scheldt, thereby re-opening the port of Antwerp to allied shipping after the invasion of the continent during World War II.
14th June - The Recapture of the Falkland Islands 1982
The Royal Marines were involved in virtually every significant aspect of this successful campaign. The main landing was planned and executed by 3 Cdo Brigade, with RM detachments in many ships of the task force and with all landing craft manned by Royal Marines.
THE VICTORIA CROSS
The following Royal Marines have been awarded the highest British honour for gallantry:
Cpl John Prettyjohn RMLI - 5th Nov 1854
The Battle of Inkerman. Successfully led a section which dislodged Russian marksmen from caves.
Bombardier Thomas Wilkinson RMA - 7th Jun 1855
The Siege of Sevastopol. Repaired damage to the advanced battery's revetments under heavy fire.
Lt G D Dowell RMA - 13th Jul 1855
The Baltic. Rescued the crew of a rocket boat under intense grape and musketry fire.
Capt L S Halliday RMLI - 24th Jun 1900
The Siege of Peking. Despite being seriously wounded, led the way into burning legation buildings under heavy small arms fire.
L/Cpl W R Parker RMLI - 30th Apr 1915
Gallipoli. Displayed conspicious bravery in rescuing wounded in daylight under heavy fire.
Maj F J W Harvey RMLI (posthumous) - 31st May 1916
The Battle of Jutland. Ordered the flooding of his turrets magazines although mortally wounded, thereby saving his ship.
Maj F W Lumsden DSO RMA - 3rd Apr 1917
France. Led a party to recover six enemy guns under heavy fire.
Capt E Bamford DSO RMLI - 23rd Apr 1918
Zeebrugge. Led his company with initiative and daring in the face of great difficulties (by ballot).
Sgt N A Finch RMA - 23rd Apr 1918
Zeebrugge. Maintained continuous covering fire from the exposed foretop, although severly wounded (by ballot).
Cpl T P Hunter RM (posthumous) - 3rd Apr 1945
The Battle of Commachio. Advanced alone over open ground to save his troop by offering himself as a target.
Both the Gym and the remedial Hunter Coy at CTCRM are named after Cpl Hunter
THE CORPS COLOURS
Yellow (Old Gold) - The colour of the original tunics of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regt of Foot - One part.
Green (Light Infantry Green) - Perpetuates light infantry title - One part.
Red (Drummer Red) - The infantry tunic colour until 1876 - Two parts.
Blue (Navy Blue) - The connection with the royal navy - Eight parts (four above and four below the other stripes)
THE GREEN BERET
During the early days of the Commandos, ranks continued to wear their own regimental headdress and cap badge. There were 79 different badges being worn in No. 1 Commando alone! In 1942, the officers of this commando decided that matters should be regularised and that a beret would be most practicable. The Royal Tank Regiment had worn a black beret for many years and the recently formed Parachute Regiment had chosen a maroon beret. No. 1 Commando wore a flash on their arm depiciting a green salamander going through fire, which gave a choice between green, red and yellow. Green was deemed to be most suitable. Their submission to the Chief of Combined Operations was forwarded by Lord Mountbatten to the Under-Secretary of Commandos was made in October that year. A local firm of tam-o-shanter makers in Irvine (Ayrshire) produced a beret made from some green cloth of the colour still worn today.
UNIT LANYARDS
Coloured lanyards are worn on the right shoulder of lovat/half-lovat dress by all ranks serving in the units below. These lanyards are not worn with Blues.
Maroon - Headquarters UK Amphibious Force and the Royal Marines Direcorate.
Green - Headquarters 3 Commando Brigade and the UK Landing Force Combat Support Group (UK LFCSG)
Light Blue - 40 Cdo RM
White - 42 Cdo RM
Red - 45 Cdo RM
Navy Blue -Commando logs
Old Gold and Rifle Green - 539 Assault SQ
Old Gold and Scarlet - Fleet Protection Group (FPGRM)
CORPS MEMORABLE DATES
23rd April - Raid on Zeebrugge 1918 - Towards the end of WW1 the 4th Royal Marine Batallion landed on the mole to enable the blocking of the entrance to the canal, which was being used by the Germans as a base for their submarines. Two victoria crosses were awarded to the Batallion and no other Battalion has since been numbered 4th.
28th April - Gallipoli 1915 The Royal Marine brigade landed on the peninsula as part of the expedition to drive up towards Constantinople during the First World War. Together with 1 RN Brigade they bore the brunt of the Turkish attacks and displayed great resolution in this major amphibious operation.
6th June - Normandy landings 1944. During the second world war, over 17,500 Royal Marines took part in the largest amphibious operation in history. They crewed most of the the minor landing craft, manned the guns in the supporting capital ships and provided an armoured support group, beach clearance and control parties and engineers.
7th June - The Battle of Belle Isle 1761. On this island off the coast of France, two battalions of Marines served with great distinction at this siege during the Seven Years War. The laurel wreath in the Corps insignia is believed to have been awarded in honour of this distinguished service.
17th June - the Battle of Bunker Hill 1775.
During the American War of Independence, after two succesful assaults up the steep hill failed to dislodge the rebels, the 1st Marines and the 47th Regiment were commited to the battle. They took the position, after which it was reported that the Marines' "unshaken steadiness was conspicous".
24th July - The capture of Gibralter 1704.
In the War of the Spanish Succession, the assault was carried out by a brigade of British and Dutch Marines, who after the surrender of the enemy succesfully held the fortress against repeated attacks. This is the only battle honour borne on the colours.
21st October - The Battle of Trafalger 1805
Was the most decisive sea fight in history, in which over 3,500 Royal Marines took part. In their traditional stations on the upper decks, they played a brave and important part in Lord Nelson's success.
28th October - The birth of the Corps 1664.
King Charles II sanctioned the formation of the first regiment formed specifically for service at sea. The yellow uniform of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot is commemorated by the yellow ('old gold') stripe in the corps colours.
1st November - The Assault on Walcheren 1944
Royal Marines Commandos and support craft gun crews success played a gallant and leading part in clearing the entrance to the River Scheldt, thereby re-opening the port of Antwerp to allied shipping after the invasion of the continent during World War II.
14th June - The Recapture of the Falkland Islands 1982
The Royal Marines were involved in virtually every significant aspect of this successful campaign. The main landing was planned and executed by 3 Cdo Brigade, with RM detachments in many ships of the task force and with all landing craft manned by Royal Marines.
THE VICTORIA CROSS
The following Royal Marines have been awarded the highest British honour for gallantry:
Cpl John Prettyjohn RMLI - 5th Nov 1854
The Battle of Inkerman. Successfully led a section which dislodged Russian marksmen from caves.
Bombardier Thomas Wilkinson RMA - 7th Jun 1855
The Siege of Sevastopol. Repaired damage to the advanced battery's revetments under heavy fire.
Lt G D Dowell RMA - 13th Jul 1855
The Baltic. Rescued the crew of a rocket boat under intense grape and musketry fire.
Capt L S Halliday RMLI - 24th Jun 1900
The Siege of Peking. Despite being seriously wounded, led the way into burning legation buildings under heavy small arms fire.
L/Cpl W R Parker RMLI - 30th Apr 1915
Gallipoli. Displayed conspicious bravery in rescuing wounded in daylight under heavy fire.
Maj F J W Harvey RMLI (posthumous) - 31st May 1916
The Battle of Jutland. Ordered the flooding of his turrets magazines although mortally wounded, thereby saving his ship.
Maj F W Lumsden DSO RMA - 3rd Apr 1917
France. Led a party to recover six enemy guns under heavy fire.
Capt E Bamford DSO RMLI - 23rd Apr 1918
Zeebrugge. Led his company with initiative and daring in the face of great difficulties (by ballot).
Sgt N A Finch RMA - 23rd Apr 1918
Zeebrugge. Maintained continuous covering fire from the exposed foretop, although severly wounded (by ballot).
Cpl T P Hunter RM (posthumous) - 3rd Apr 1945
The Battle of Commachio. Advanced alone over open ground to save his troop by offering himself as a target.
Both the Gym and the remedial Hunter Coy at CTCRM are named after Cpl Hunter
THE CORPS COLOURS
Yellow (Old Gold) - The colour of the original tunics of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regt of Foot - One part.
Green (Light Infantry Green) - Perpetuates light infantry title - One part.
Red (Drummer Red) - The infantry tunic colour until 1876 - Two parts.
Blue (Navy Blue) - The connection with the royal navy - Eight parts (four above and four below the other stripes)
THE GREEN BERET
During the early days of the Commandos, ranks continued to wear their own regimental headdress and cap badge. There were 79 different badges being worn in No. 1 Commando alone! In 1942, the officers of this commando decided that matters should be regularised and that a beret would be most practicable. The Royal Tank Regiment had worn a black beret for many years and the recently formed Parachute Regiment had chosen a maroon beret. No. 1 Commando wore a flash on their arm depiciting a green salamander going through fire, which gave a choice between green, red and yellow. Green was deemed to be most suitable. Their submission to the Chief of Combined Operations was forwarded by Lord Mountbatten to the Under-Secretary of Commandos was made in October that year. A local firm of tam-o-shanter makers in Irvine (Ayrshire) produced a beret made from some green cloth of the colour still worn today.
UNIT LANYARDS
Coloured lanyards are worn on the right shoulder of lovat/half-lovat dress by all ranks serving in the units below. These lanyards are not worn with Blues.
Maroon - Headquarters UK Amphibious Force and the Royal Marines Direcorate.
Green - Headquarters 3 Commando Brigade and the UK Landing Force Combat Support Group (UK LFCSG)
Light Blue - 40 Cdo RM
White - 42 Cdo RM
Red - 45 Cdo RM
Navy Blue -Commando logs
Old Gold and Rifle Green - 539 Assault SQ
Old Gold and Scarlet - Fleet Protection Group (FPGRM)