ROYAL MARINERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 716, 16 July 1929, Page 9

ROYAL MARINERS

HISTORIC SEA REGIMENT OBSCURITY OF ORIGIN Of the various detachments on parade in the 'city streets, none looked smarter than the “Blue” Marines, or, to give them their official title, the Royal Mai'iue Artillery, drawn from the British ships Dunedin and Diomede, comprising the New "Zealand squadron, says the Sydney “Morning Herald,” of July 2. In the Royal Australian Navy, Marines are nonexistent, but in the Royal Navy they have figured aboard ship for nearly 300 years. Their origin is obscure, but tradition has it that the first Marines were recruited from the ranks of Thames watermen, whose guild at one period of London’s history played a not unimportant part in civic affairs. The Marines are mentioned in an Order in Council dated 1664, which constituted a regiment of infantry for service on board his Majesty’s (Charles ll.’s) ships at sea. Frequently Disbanded As a regiment, the Marines have had a chequered career. Frequently disbanded, they seem to have been indispensable to the Royal Navy, for no sooner did they disappear than they were re-elnbodied, though apparently destined to be the first to fall whenever it pleased the politician to wield the axe of economy, just as they were the first In order for resurrection in time of national need. One regiment of Marines seems to have been withdrawn from the navy and absorbed into the Coldstream Guards, and in the lower-numbered regiments of the British Army there are numerous instances of detachments being withdrawn from land fob sea work, perhaps, more strictly speaking, from service at home for service abroad, so as to leave the sailors free to work their ships. In the settlement of New South Wales, that is, of Australia, the Marines played no unimportant part, for a strong detachment was aboard each of the ships comprising the First Fleet, and for several years after the colony was constituted, its safety was entrusted to the keeping of the sea soldiery. Many who were not absorbed into the New South Wales Corps received grants of land when their time of service had expired. From all accounts, they made excellent citizens and settlers, and today there are not a few families of substance whose founder at one time wore the red coat, white breeches, gaiters, shako, and pig-tail which formed part of the uniform of the Royal Marines, well over a oentury ago, when Sydney was but a city in embryo. Present Constitution The present constitution of the “Sea Regiment” dates from the time of the Crimean War, and, though even in recent years there have been numerous attempts to absorb the corps into the Royal Navy, public objections have proved too strong for the reforming zeal of Pariamentarians, who at present seem content to allow the “Jollies” to remain as they are. There are two branches of the Marine arm, the “Blue” Marines and the “Red” Marines, the latter the Royal Marine Light Infantry, whose scarlet uniform was a familiar sight on Sydney’s streets some years ago, before Australia had a navy of her own. The King is the colonel of the Marines, who, during 300 years of their existence, have amply justified their proud motto, “Per Mare per Terrain.”