ROYAL MARINES 350 l The First Marine Regiments 1664-1748. From left, Grenadier, Duke of York & Albany’s Maritime Regiment 1678; Ensign, Duke of York & Albany’s Lord High Admiral’s Regiment 1664; Prince George of Denmark’s Regiment of Foot 1686; Earl of Torrington’s Marines 1691; Grenadier, Holt’s Regiment of Marines 1702; Centinel, Earl of Donegal’s Regiment for Sea Service 1702; Drummer, Fox’s Marines 1704; Sgt, Villiers’s Marines 1712; Officer, Saunderson’s Marines 1710; Ensign, 1st Marines 1740; Drummer, 4th Marines 1742; Sgt, 2nd Marines 1748; Private, 6th Marines 1743; Private, Invalids 1740
l Marine Corps to Royal
Marines 1755-1807: Sgt, The Marine Corps 1755; Drummer, 1758; Officer (with Colour) 1760; Officer (Grenadier Company), 1773; Grenadier, 1775; Sgt (Grenadier Company), 1780; Surg, 1773; Private, 1775; Grenadier, 1789; Sgt, 1790; Officer, 1795; Officer, (in Great Coat) 1798; Sgt, Royal Marines 1805; Drummer, Royal Marines 1807
l Ops and the Corps Family 1972-2014; C/Sgt Bugler 1972; Sgt 42 Operation Granby 1991; Lt, 45 Cdo, Op Haven Southern Turkey 1991; RMACB; SBS, Cpl 2014; Cadet; Mne, multi terrain pattern uniform,
Yellow, red,
THIS fascinating series of paintings shows the great changes to Royal Marines uniforms over the past 350 years, writes John Rawlinson, Honorary Secretary of the Royal Marines Historical Society.
l Artillery Companies and Royal Marines 1807-1854: Private, RM Artillery (Blue Undress) 1807; RM Artillery (Full Dress) 1807; RM (Frock Uniform) 1815; RM Artillery (Full Dress). 1817; RM (Full Dress) 1823; RM (Drill Order) 1830; Trumpeter, RM Artillery (Full Dress)1830; Drummer, RM (Full Dress) 1829; Officer, RM (Undress Frock) 1833; Officer, RM (Serving Afloat) 1838; Bandsman, RM (Full Dress) 1825; Officer, RM Artillery (Full Dress) 1848; Private, RM (Marching Order) 1854; Bombardier, RM Artillery (Undress, Crimea) 1854 l Light Infantry and Artillery 1854-1900: Private, RM (Crimea) 1854; Private, RM (China)1859; Officer, RM Artillery (Mess Dress) 1860; Officer, RM Artillery (Full Dress) 1870; Private, RM Light Infantry (Ashanti War) 1873; Private, RM Light Infantry (Marching Order) 1876; Officer, RM Light Infantry (Service Dress Egypt) 1882; Cpl, RM (Camel Regt Sudan) 1885; Private, RM (Boats Crew) 1890; Gunner, RM Artillery (Drill Order) 1894; Drummer, RM Artillery (Undress) 1896; Private, RM Light Infantry (Greatcoat) 1895; Adjutant, RM Artillery (Undress) 1894; Bugler, RM Artillery (Marching Order) 1900 l Towards Amalgamation 1900-1923: Gunner RM Artillery (Working Dress) 1916; Cpl RM Light Infantry, Marching Order 1900; Private RM Light Infantry Khaki Marching Order 1917; Officer RM Light Infantry (Mess Dress) 1900; Officer RM Light Infantry (Review Order) 1908; Musn RM Artillery (Review Order Lap) 1910; Officer RM Artillery (Review Order) 1900; Officer RM Artillery (Undress) 1922; Officer RM Artillery Mess Dress) 1900; Drummer RM Light Infantry Review Order 1922; Officer RM Light Infantry Drill Order) 1904; Field Officer RM Artillery Drill Order) 1914; Gunner RM Artillery SW Africa) 1917; SNCO RM Light Infantry Tropical Dress 1900
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Uniforms define how we see ourselves and how others see us. Nowhere is this truer than in the Royal Marines. Courage, Determination, Unselfishness and Cheerfulness – the Commando ethos that is demonstrated by the Green Beret is renowned the world over. The Royal Marines’ cap badge is well known, the globe and laurel surmounted by a lion and crown. However behind this simple description lies 350 years of history and a great deal of change. ‘Battle Dress,’ the signs that help distinguish friend from foe are as old as conflict; the earliest distinctions for Marines were the colour of their coats and the flags they carried. Today the ways to recognise Marines are complex and varied. No longer does uniform and insignia just indicate unit; it also indicates rank, status and experience, skill at arms and proficiency, tasking, specialisation and additional qualifications. In the earliest days the wealth and status of the senior officers was reflected in the men’s uniforms. The yellow coats of the Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot were said to be yellow because it was the Duke’s favourite colour. The red uniforms of the Georgian period were claimed to be red as it did not show blood. Financial efficiency is not new; they were red because that was the cheapest colour cloth at the time. ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ Marines – the light infantry and artillery were nicknamed because of the colour of their uniforms. The blue was adopted for the artillery in 1805 because of the ‘great injury which the uniform clothing of the companies suffered from the powder when at gun and mortar practice’; it was easier to maintain in the dirty environment of working the ships’ guns – the first real step towards a practical working uniform. However, it was to be almost a century before the dusty khaki of
Comprehensive C Personal Distinctions, 350 Years of Royal Marines Uniforms and Insignia This is a long-overdue comprehensive catalogue of uniforms and insignia worn by Marines and Royal Marines since 1664 to the present day. More than 1,000 highquality photographs and clear descriptions make this a volume that will be sought after by aficionados and collectors of Marine memorabilia. The book ranges from uniforms worn by the earliest Marine regiments through the Napoleonic era and the period of the RMLI and RMA via the Sea Service and commando uniforms worn in WW2 to those of today. John Rawlinson is the Honorary Secretary of the Royal Marines Historical Society, a Trustee of the Royal Marines Museum and Project Director for Collections and Relocation at the National Museum of the Royal Navy. Personal Distinctions, 350 Years of Royal Marines Uniforms and Insignia was the Victorian age, the camouflage of the day, was introduced. Its importance was learnt the hard way, campaigning against a modern, well-equipped and wellarmed enemy in South Africa. The mud of World War 1’s trenches saw gigantic steps forward in personal load carrying and the Mk1 shrapnel helmet. Introduced after two years of trench warfare, these first ‘tin hats’ saved so many lives in the brutal turmoil of that war. Next came camouflage properly in World War 2, initially the Denison smocks, often associated with the paras but also worn by commandos long into the 1960s. As the Corps became commandos, so the need for better equipment and new pattern camouflages have changed how a Royal looks. In 1964, to mark 300 years of the Corps, lovat uniform was introduced, the distinctive semiformal uniform worn only by Marines. The recent integration of combat uniforms, load-carrying equipment and personalwww.navynews.co.uk