Royal Marines Association

1. Royal Marines Association New Zealand Branch

2. Formation of the Royal Marines 1664 • King Charles II authorised the raising of an infantry regiment for services at sea • Charles’ brother, James, Duke of York, was appointed commander of the regiment • Regiment was named the Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot (the Lord High Admirals Regiment)

3. The Duke of York & Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot 1664

4. Gibraltar 1704 • Marines were prominent in the assault, capture and defence of the Spanish fortress of Gibraltar • Led 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.

5. Marines 1704 – Gibraltar

6. Battle of Trafalgar 1805 • In 1802 the Marines received the honour of ‘Royal’ • The Royal Marines were present at the Battle of Trafalgar • Royal Marine marksmen were positioned on the decks and in the rigging • A Royal Marine sergeant helped carry Nelson below decks after being wounded

7. Battle of Trafalgar 1805

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

9. Artillery & Infantry 1855

10. Egypt & the Sudan 1884 • British interest in the Suez Canal led to an intervention by the British Military • Warships of the Mediterranean fleet bombarded and destroyed rebel held forts • A force of fleet Marines and sailors secured the port and restored order

11. Royal Marine Light Infantry 1884

12. The Great War 1914 • Royal Marine’s 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)

13. Light Infantry Belgium 1914

14. Public Duties • A fact not commonly known, is that the Royal Marine’s have performed public duties at Buckingham Palace • Royal Marine band service serve on the Royal Yacht Brittannia for overseas state occasions

15. Public Duties Buckingham Palace 1935

16. Second World War • Formation of the Commando units • Royal Marine’s had over 250 years of amphibious warfare • Commando units made up of 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 • Numbers rose to 78,000

17. 43 Commando - Italy 1945

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

19. 40 Commando – Brunei 1963

20. Falklands 1982 • 68 Royal Marine’s defended the islands against 4,500 Argentinean soldiers • Special units of SAS and SBS recaptured South Georgia • Royal Marine’s yomp across East Falkland to Port Stanley • Argentinean’s surrender to Major General Jeremy Moore RM

21. Falkland Islands - 1982

22. Commando Training • Commando Training Centre Royal Marine’s in Devon • Harsh training carried out on Dartmore • Longest training of all combat troops in the UK (8 months) before coveted ‘green beret’ is earned • 85% fail rate – 15% elite

23. Commando Training

24. Royal Marines – 1996 - Present • Northern Ireland • Kosovo • Bosnia – all around Yugoslavia • Iraq x 2 wars • Afghanistan last 8 years or so

25. Royal Marines – 1996 - Present

26. The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marine’s • Ceremonial dress • Royal Marine Band renowned as one of the finest military bands in the world • Royal Marine Band used in Britain and overseas for state occasions • Royal Marine Band has its own corp of drums who perform the ceremony of ‘beat retreat’

27. Drum Major & Bugler - Present

28. NZ History • In 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 Seas • The Royal Marines Detachments of the Resolution and Discovery did their duty in New Zealand waters, and later in the New Zealand Wars

29. 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.

30. NZ History cont. • The last detachment of Royal Marine’s (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 1970’s the Royal Marine NZ Association formed their own Corps of drums • A 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.

31. 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, Portsmouth

32. Royal Marine Assn NZ Corp of Drums