'Royal Marines' 350 Years

By Terry Aspinall

'Royal Marines' 350 Years, is a brief history of the Royal Marines that were formed way back at 11.58 am on Tuesday 28th October 1664 by King Charles II. It describes some of its history up to the present day. Along with its traditions that have moulded Royal Marines into what has always been one of the finest fighting military forces in the world. Those that they fought in battle were so impressed with their courage and skill that their countries formed their own version of the Marines. To copy is the best form of flattery, a way to acknowledge just how great the Royal Marines were respected. Once A Marine Always A Marine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terry Aspinall
• Release date: Dec 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310877742

Terry Aspinall

I was born during the Second World War while my father was chasing Rommel out of North Africa and Italy, for this reason I never saw him until late 1946. I grew up in the sleepy little Suffolk country side town of Stowmarket, and underwent an education that to me seemed an absolute waste of time. Although with that wonderful tool known as hindsight, my reading and writing skills would have served me well in the writing of this book. I should have taken the trouble and given the teachers my full undivided attention and not the girls sitting next to me, while behind me was always the wall. Yes I was a back of class type of guy who was always getting into trouble and talking during class. Upon leaving school I became what was known as a Teddy boy and hung around with the Ipswich town local gangs. Once the novelty began to wear off, and I realised that if I carried on along the path I had chosen, it would only lead me into trouble with the law, so I decided on a complete life style change and joined the Royal Marines. My growing up during this period of time can certainly be attributed to my Royal Marine training, something that is still part of my life to this day. I tell of my service years and of being on active service in Borneo. Upon my release I became very interested and involved in the Rock n Roll music of the day, and helped form a local band in the town of Leiston in Suffolk. I also became involved in the then new sport of hang gliding. Which later lead me to strapping an engine on to my glider, and being amongst the first in the UK to pioneer the sport of Microlighting, and to set a record that still stands to this day. Eventually while working for Bernard Matthews I upped my family and immigrated to New Zealand, to help build a new factory in a small county town of Waipukurau on the North Island. Where I experienced a complete new style of living that my family and I all enjoyed, and took to it like ducks to water. It was a taste of what was to come when after three years I once again up rooted my family and move over the ditch as they say to Australia, but that’s another story?

Book preview

Royal Marines

350 Years

© Copyright 2014 by Terry Aspinall

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying) recording, or otherwise without prior permission in writing from the author.

ISBN: 9781310877742

Published by Terry Aspinall

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First Edition 1st December 2014

Second Edition 4th January 2015

Dedication

Once A Marine Always A Marine

I would like to dedicate this book to all Marines Past and Present.

I'm proud to be a member of the family.

Acknowledgement

As a historian I'm aware that when we go in search of information on any subject. The most common research method is to look it up in earlier books. However, when earlier books have the story incorrect, then that wrongful information can and does get easily passed on. With this in mind I've had to make sure that the information I'm using in this book is correct to the best of my knowledge. The Royal Marines created and later taught me their history, so what better place to start my research than the owners of that history.

When I joined the 779 Squad Royal Marines on the 16th April 1962, a major part of my training was to learn the Corps History. Something that was forced upon us at all times by our instructors. At first it was all a little alien to me, but gradually I began to understand and wanted to learn more, and it became 'hopefully' embedded in my memory. However, it's now 2014 and although a vast majority of that information is still in my head, in order that I do not make a fool of myself by getting some of the finer detail and facts wrong, I have had to turn to the computer and online searching of places, names, and fellow Marines to check that my facts and details are correct. Where I have been wrong, I have corrected myself with information from the sources below. Therefore, I would like to acknowledge and thank the following websites, and newspapers for their help in jogging my memory. Without the information gained and refreshed, this free E-book would not have been possible: I sincerely thank you all.

I would also like to say a very special thank you to my wife Emily, to fellow Marines Roger Burstow, and Edward 'Andy' Anderson, who I served with in 40 Commando during the Borneo campaign (1962-66). Both friendships continue to this day. Fellow Marine Cleve Whitworth President of the RMAQ in Brisbane, for helping me with the research. To all the websites listed below, who are keeping the Royal Marine history alive, I give them a big thank you. Please keep up the good work for future generations to enjoy.

www.royalmarinesassociation.org.uk/

www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk/

www.devonheritage.org

www.myweb.tiscali.co.uk

www.en.wikipedia.org

www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk

www.royalnavy.mod.uk

www.webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk

www.eliteukforces.info/royal-marines

www.web.archive.org

www.britishbattles.com

www.axfordsabode.org.uk/spirit.htm

www.exeterflotilla.org/history

www.landguard.com/

Royal Marines History & Traditional Facts

'The Royal Marines by Sea by Land' by John S. Murray

'Nothing Impossible' General Editor Lt Col Ewen Southby-Tailyour OBE RM

Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of 'Britain's Sea Soldiers': 'A History of the - FIELD' by Cyril, Colonel Blumberg, H. E. - 1924. A History of the Royal Marines their Predecessors and of their Services in Action, Ashore and Afloat.

'British Battles' Vol I. by James Grant published by Cassell Petter & Galpin. London 1891.

'Dictionary of Battles' by Thomas Benfield Harbottle published by Swan Sonnenschein & Co Ltd, London 1904.

The History of Languard Fort by Major J H. Leslie.

The London Gazette. re Capt. Halliday No. 27262. p. 3. 1st January 1901.

The London Gazette re Major Francis Hardy published September 1915.

The London Gazette re L/C Parker published on 22nd June 1917.

The London Gazette re Major Lumsden No.30122 published September 1915.

The London Gazette re Capt. Bamford published 23 July 1918.

I have not linked all of the addresses because as time goes by sites come and go. The first couple, I'm sure will be around for a long time to come. However, if you would like to link them yourself, I'm sure you will find a lot of very interesting information.

If any readers and Marines wish to add to some of the lists in this E-book, I would welcome your help. However, please add where you have found the information so that I can give full credit to its source. Being an E-book allows me to keep updating.

The following is my Royal Marine Association membership card and booklet that was handed to me, on 16th April 1962, upon my arrival at the New Intake Block at the Royal Marines Depot based at Deal in Kent. It was simply titled 'The Royal Marines', and at the bottom in small print 'Instructions to Recruits'. It describes what a recruit can expect from the Corps, along with a brief history, but most of all what the Corps expect from him.

My RMA membership card issued the day I started training in 1962

The Royal Marines booklet Instructions to Recruits

This E-Book is FREE.

A donation to support our wounded Royal Marines would be much appreciated.

www.helpourwounded.co.uk

Table of Content

Copyright

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1 Royal Marine Badge

Chapter 2 Royal Marine Flag

Chapter 3 Colours

Chapter 4 Cap Badge

Chapter 5 Royal Marine Prayer

Chapter 6 Royal Marine Oath

Chapter 7 Memorable Dates

Chapter 8 Battle Honours

Chapter 9 Victoria Cross

Chapter 10 RM History

Chapter 11 Genealogical Tree

Chapter 12 Lympstone

Chapter 13 Green Beret

Chapter 14 Pusser's Rum

Chapter 15 Marine Talk

Chapter 16 Nick-Surnames

RMA Website

Other Titles by this Author

Authors Website

Chapter 1

Royal Marine Badge

Per Mare Per Terram 'By Sea By Land'

Per Mare Per Terram: Signifies the Corps' service both by sea and land. It is not known exactly when this motto was adopted, but it was worn on their caps by Marines at the Battle of Bunkers Hill in 1775.

The Lion and Crown: The original badge of the Marines. The Crown also denotes that the Marines are a Royal Corps, an honour which King George III bestowed upon them in 1802, in token of their many gallant actions against the French. (This applies also to the Crown above the Foul Anchor at the bottom.)

The Globe: Awarded by King George IV in 1827. Owing to the impossibility of inscribing on the Colours all of the 109 Battle Honours to which the Royal Marines are entitled the King personally chose 'The Great Globe itself' as a fitting emblem to describe the Corps' worldwide service. (The Globe displays the continents of the Eastern Hemisphere.)

The Laurel: Awarded in commemoration of gallantry displayed by the Royal Marines at the Battle of Belle Isle in 1761.

Gibraltar: The Battle Honour carried on the Royal Marines' Colours. This was awarded to commemorate the outstanding services performed by the Corps in the capture and siege of Gibraltar in 1704.

The Foul Anchor: