FAMED ROYAL MARINES.

Shannon News, 27 August 1929, Page 1

FAMED ROYAL MARINES.

"SOLDIER AND SAILOR, TOO." A RUMOURED REDUCTION HISTORY OF 265 YEARS. What is going to happen to the Royal Marines? In the interests of further economy, it is reported, 10,000 officers ami men may be disbanded from the Royal Navy, or alternatively reestablished ashore to protect fuel bases and provide a mobile force ready for embarkation in local waters, v At present various schemes are being considered, but nothing will be done until every channel has been surveyed. "If the "Jollies" are handed over to the War office they may become a scattered force, and that is probably the least of their desires. They have already been reduced in number by about S,OOO from pre-war establishment. During the war their numbers increased by about \40,000, or even more, if the various units such as the Royal Marine Brigades are taken into consideration. * In 1914 they were sent to Osteud for garrison duty. Thousands' joined the brigade to defend Antw'erp; they formed the nucleus of the 63rd. R.N. Division; the submarine miners, the R.M. Labour Corps for loading and unloading ships with war equipment, the Royal Marine Engineers and the Anti-aircraft Force. Two battalions of the Royal Marines landed at Kun Kale and Sedd el Bahr; the R.M.A. garrisoned Dunkirk, Cameroons, Persian Gulf, Egypt, Scapa, and undefended coast ports at home. They fought under General Botha in S. W. Africa, and General Smuts in 'East Africa; they landed at Zeebrugge; they protected St. Helena, Ascension; the West Indies, Falklands, and were in evidence in every part of the Empire where coast protection and the protection of war supplies were necessary/ and they finished up long after the Armistice was signed, in Northern Russia. Glorious Record. This mobile force has one of the most interesting records in history, and they have be&n disbanded and re-es-tablished upon so many occasions that it is difficult to determine the years and dates covering a period of 265 vears.

They were embarked as land soldiers for se°a service in 1665, when tliey were termed mariners. Subsequently they became known as'"the Admiral? Regiment," and in 1091 they were an established force, oiie regiment remaining ashore for protecting dock yards. During the reign of Queen Anne their numbers were considerably increased. They pressed men into sea service, whether sailors or farmers, and forced them on board fighting ships. When the peace of Utreck was declared in 1713 they were disbanded. In 1739 they reappeared as part of the army, and in 1747 they were transferred to the Admiralty. The year after the treaty of Aix-la-Chapellc was signed they were paid out of the service; some rejoined as sailors, while many officer* went to other regiments. In 1755 they reappeared as reserve? at Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Chatham At the mutiny of the Norc they re inained loyal. It is said that the discipline of the fleet rested on the bay onets of the Royal Marines. Lord St Vincent termed them "The sheet anchor of the nation." A Gallant Rescue. [ii ISO2 when they became a Rova ■orp.-, it was proposed to make servue; •float the duty of every regiment o< ihe line in rotation. At the Battle oi Trafalgar the corps numbered 30,000 officers and men, while the sailors to tf.lled 00,000. From that time onward they were reduced in numbers, disbanded and re-established. In 183.1 the Royal Marines were a small force of ship's police, but when war broke out in the Crimea they were increased and placed in charge of mortar boats and garrisons. They fought at Balaclava, Sebastopol, and along the shores of the Black Sea; they won laurels during the Indian Mutiny, the war in China, in the Baltic, and in practically every sea in the world. When the Royal Horse Artillery were exhausted at their guns in the Sudan the Royal Marines rescued them from a desperate situation and fought the guns valiantly and brilliantly. During the Boer War they took part in the Naval Brigade at the battle of EnsUn, where their losses were very severe. Their services during the last war were meritorious and übiquitous. Latterly the Royal Marine Artillery and the Royal Marine were merged, and the "Per Mare per Tcrram" force became a joint body.

It would appear that history is again to repoat itself, not alone on the

ground of expense, but because of the marked difference of naval routine and personnel. JiVrth the exception of a small myaber of marines ; in the United Statex'Navy, other sea .forces do not employ marines. ■'"-. . - . ,