Making History since 1664

The story of this illustrious Corps goes back to its origins in 1664, through to the twenty-first century.  Marines had over 2,800 men afloat at Trafalgar, won VCs in the Crimea, provided the British garrison during the Boxer rebellion, fought in the Maori Wars, the China Wars, and in Africa against the Zulus and the Boers.  There were more than 3,700 Marines at the Battle of Jutland, they fought at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.  In World War II over 74,000 Royal Marines fought at sea and in Commando actions.  They manned landing craft, provided frogmen, drove tanks and flew with the Fleet Air Arm.

In the past seventy years the Corps has been involved in peace-keeping, colonial and anti-terrorist wars from Malaya to Korea, to Aden and Borneo, to the Falklands, to Kosovo, Iraq, and Libya, and more recently in Afghanistan and Syria. It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that in January 2019, a Minister of State for Defence declared that “today the Royal Marines are the UK’s specialised commando force—an elite unit held at very high readiness and trained for worldwide rapid response. They can deal with a wide spectrum of threats and security challenges, and operate in often dangerous and extremely difficult circumstances, including amphibious operations, littoral strikes and humanitarian relief as well as specialist mountain and cold weather warfare and jungle counter-insurgency. When diplomacy fails, the Royal Marines provide Government with an impressive spectrum of hard-power options with which we can respond”.

The Royal Marines remember their history through memorable dates:

23 APRIL  – THE  RAID  ON  ZEEBRUGGE  IN  1918

Towards the end of the First World War, the 4th Royal Marine Battalion 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 Battalion and no other battalion has since been numbered ‘4th’.  

28 APRIL – GALLIPOLI  IN 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.  

6 JUNE – THE LANDINGS  IN NORMANDY  IN 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 minor landing craft, manned the guns in the supporting capital ships and provided an Armoured Support Group, beach clearance and control parties and engineers. Five Royal Marine Commandos landed during the assault phase.  

7 JUNE – THE BATTLE  OF BELLE ISLE IN 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.  

14 JUNE – RECAPTURE OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS IN 1982

The Royal Marines were involved in virtually every significant aspect of this successful campaign. The main landing was planned and executed by 3 Commando Brigade, with RM detachments in many ships of the Task Force and with all landing craft manned by Royal Marines.  

17 JUNE  – THE  BATTLE  OF  BUNKER  HILL IN  1775

During the American War of Independence, after two unsuccessful assaults up the steep hill, which failed to dislodge the rebels, the 1st Marines and the 47th Regiment were committed to the battle. They took the position, after which it was reported that the Marines’ ‘unshaken steadiness was conspicuous’.  

24 JULY – THE CAPTURE  OF GIBRALTAR  IN 1704

In the War of the Spanish Succession, was carried out by a brigade of British and Dutch Marines, who after the surrender successfully held the fortress against repeated attacks. Granted for the capture and defence of the Rock, this is the only battle honour borne on the Colours.  

21 OCTOBER  – THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR  IN 1805

The most decisive sea fight in British history and in which 2,867 Royal Marines took part. In their traditional stations on the upper decks, they bore a brave and important part in Lord Nelson’s success.  

28 OCTOBER  – THE BIRTH OF THE CORPS IN 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 stripe in the Corps colours. The Corps Birthday is regarded as the Corps Day and is marked appropriately to celebrate the birth of the Corps, to pay tribute to the Corps Family and to commemorate former comrades

1 NOVEMBER   – THE ASSAULT ON WALCHEREN  IN  1944

Royal Marines Commandos and support craft guns’ crews successfully played a gallant and leading part, resulted 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 The Second World War.

Unit Memorable Dates

HQ 3 Commando Brigade RM

21 MAY  – THE  LANDINGS  AT  SAN  CARLOS  WATER, 1982. 3 Commando Brigade was the landing element of the amphibious task group ordered to recapture the Falkland Islands. Sound planning during the voyage south culminated in a successful Brigade night landing in the San Carlos region. The choice of this remote sheltered landing area enabled the landing force to withstand the constant air attack of the Argentine Air Force, and played a major part in ensuring the successful recapture of the islands.

30 Commando Information Exploitation Group RM

20 MARCH  – OPERATIONS   ON  THE  AL  FAW  PENINSULA,  2003. During 3 Commando Brigade operations to capture the Al Faw Peninsula in Iraq, the United Kingdom Landing Force Command Support Group (the previous name for the Unit) operations commenced some two weeks before the Brigade landings. It was tasked with achieving information dominance over the enemy through surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, the provision of communications and the protection of Headquarters. The bravery and ingenuity of its members helped ensure that the Brigade maintained dominance over the forces arrayed against it. It had a pivotal role in the success of the Al Faw landings and the subsequent break-out to Basra.

40 Commando RM

3 OCTOBER  – THE LANDING  AT TERMOLI  IN 1943. 40 Commando was part of a small force which landed at the seaport town under cover of darkness on the Adriatic Coast of Italy and behind the German lines. Complete surprise was achieved and by 0800 hours the town had been captured.

20 MARCH – THE CLEARANCE OF THE AL FAW PENINSULA, 2003. During the liberation of Iraq 40 Commando RM mounted an amphibious helicopter assault and seized key oil infrastructure on the Al Faw peninsula. As the first conventional troops to cross into Iraq, the strategic significance of the operation was immense. In a two-week period of intense operations, they cleared a large expanse of enemy held terrain, and defeated a major enemy stronghold on the periphery of Basra. Their role in the success of the coalition operation was crucial and profound.

42 Commando RM

31 JANUARY   – THE BATTLE OF KANGAW IN 1945. In Burma, after two days of hand-to-hand fighting 42 Commando captured Hill 70. The unit was immediately subjected to heavy artillery fire and then, after a lull of several days and in spite of heavy casualties, beat off repeated Japanese counter attacks to successfully hold the position.

11/12 JUNE – THE ATTACK ON MOUNT HARRIET IN 1982 during the Falklands War was part of 3 Commando Brigade’s main assault on the Argentine positions on the high ground overlooking Stanley. By moonlight and in freezing temperatures, the unit moved undetected through minefields to successfully surprise the enemy in their rear.

45 Commando RM

23 JANUARY   – THE ATTACK ON MONTFORTERBEEK IN 1945. After hard fighting in bitterly cold weather during the campaign in North West Europe, the leading troops of the unit captured German positions holding up the advance through Holland. In spite of determined counter-attack and fierce hand-to-hand fighting the positions were held. It was for his bravery during this action that Lance Corporal H E Harden RAMC was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

 11/12 JUNE – THE ATTACK ON TWO SISTERS IN 1982 DURING THE FALKLANDS WAR was part of 3 Commando Brigade’s main assault on the Argentine positions on the high ground overlooking Stanley. Bold reconnaissance by junior leaders had pin-pointed well equipped and dug-in Argentine positions. A silent night approach was made up the jagged, craggy rock formations, which after fierce hand-to-hand fighting culminated in the capture of the feature.

Commando Logistic Regiment RM

22 MAY – THE LANDING AT AJAX BAY IN 1982. The support provided for the three weeks of the campaign from this area where they had landed, in adverse weather conditions and often under heavy air attack, was a battle winning factor of the Falklands War. This was entirely due to the skill, dedication and exceptional devotion of the various elements of the unit.

47 Commando (Raiding Group) RM

6 JUNE  – THE  LANDINGS   IN  NORMANDY   IN  1944. In the assault on the German held French coast, Royal Marines manned the minor landing craft carrying the first and subsequent waves. For weeks after the initial assault they continued to ferry ashore men, vehicles and stores. Both afloat in landing craft and ashore in Naval beach parties, Royal Marines played a prominent and vital part in the invasion.

21 MAY – THE LANDINGS AT SAN CARLOS WATER IN 1982. At the start of the campaign in the Falklands, landing craft squadrons landed 3 Commando Brigade on to five separate beaches without loss. They continued to offload the logistics in deteriorating weather and under constant air attack. They later assisted in mine-sweeping duties, raiding and insertion tasks. The Task Force could not have achieved its objective without this invaluable contribution.

43 Commando Fleet Protection Group RM

2 APRIL  – THE  BATTLE  OF  COMACCHIO  IN  1945. In Italy, 43 Commando, to whom the modern unit owes its origin, successfully achieved its objectives during a brigade attack against strong opposition, in which it crossed a river in inflatable dinghies under fire. Next day, whilst moving across open country, the unit met intense fire and the leading troop was pinned down in the open. For his gallantry in drawing the enemy’s fire, thereby enabling his troop to move to cover, Corporal Tom Hunter was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.