 
### Royal Marines Historical Time Line

© Copyright 2012 by Terry Aspinall

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying) recording, or otherwise without prior permission in writing from the author.

ISBN: 9781370340576

Published by Terry Aspinall

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Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to all Royal Marines both past and present.

We are all members of one big family and treat each other with great respect.

We are always ready to help each other, no matter what.

We have all helped shape the Corps into what it is today.

Having all contributed to our glorious 354 year history.

Terry Aspinall 2018.

...............................................

"As I enter my twilight years I remember my modest service with the Royal Marines with great affection. As they say; Once a Marine always a Marine. (RMV 202910 - 20/06/1956-Mne.)

In our compulsive, consumer - oriented society, which is fast losing its direction, the Green Beret of the Royal Marines Commandos stands alone as being a rare pearl of great price. It is a true symbol of excellence, dedication and professionalism; an accolade for those who push themselves beyond the limits of human endurance. In an age when standards are crumbling, the Green Beret is as British as the Union Jack, for it represents true grit and dogged individual determination. The Green Beret is not for sale -though some may have been won by more sweat and assiduity than others. Thousands have sought to attain it, but along the way many have wilted and failed. It is a classless symbol of fortitude and achievement."

Charles Lovelace RM 2018.

### Acknowledgement

I would like to thank all who have sent material for me to add to this Time Line.

Cover photo from 'rpdefence.over.blog.com'

Anderson. (Andy) Edward

Edward. John

Archer. Dan

Bentinck. Mark

Burstow. Roger

Donald Alistair

Eaves. Jack

Forster. George

Gilbert. John

Gitsham. Sid

Goodwin. Graham

kaisercross.com

Leaney Roy

Little M.G

Pennell Ritchie

Rawlinson. John

Reece. Michael

Seed. Roger

Spiers. Bridget

Stevenson. Matt

Swales. Roy

Taylor. Mike

Tompitt.

Westwood Ann

Whitworth. Cleve
Introduction

Upon explaining to a fellow Royal Marine that my latest project was to try and put together an article about the Royal Marines history. His first response was to tell me that it's been done many many times before. His reply caught me off guard and made me even more determined to carry on with my project. I went on to explain that I believe I have something a little different. I then went on to explain that I was trying to record every single day of our 354 year history. As the Royal Marines have served in all parts of the world, something was happening every single day. While some Royal Marines were serving in Europe, others were serving in the Far East. I wanted to bring it all together on an enlarged 'Historical Time Line'. Although I do realise that this is a mammoth task and will probably take several years to complete. If in fact it can be completed. Here is the first Edition. I hope to publish up dated editions whenever possible, or at least on a yearly basis.

My first attempt was to build a website to start gathering as much information as possible. I will try and keep it running as long as possible. Although my long term idea was to try and hand it over to a Royal Marine organisation, which I still hope is possible?

www.royal-marines.net

www.terryaspinall.com

It's a possibility that some of the early dates might be wrong owing to the changes made during the 1600's and early1700's.

The Old Style (O.S.) way of dating events and documents known as the Julian Year was changed in most Catholic countries in 1582. It was replaced with a New Style (NS) known as the Gregorian Year that was adjusted to start on the 1st January. This change was also implemented in Protestant and Orthodox countries some time later. In England, Wales, Ireland and the British colonies, the change of the start of the year and the changeover from the Julian calendar occurred in 1752 under the Calendar (New Style) Act of 1750. In Scotland, the legal start of the year had already been moved to 1st January (in 1600), although Scotland continued to use the Julian calendar until 1752. Many cultures and countries now using the Gregorian calendar have different old styles of dating, depending on the type of calendar they used before the change.

During the first couple of hundred years the use of the English Language was different from today. As most of our early history is gained from books and letters of the time, I have used quotes, please allow for that.

sic; The Latin word meaning "thus," "so," "as such," or "in such a manner." It is used when writing quoted material to indicate that an incorrect or unusual spelling, phrase, punctuation, or meaning in the quote has been reproduced verbatim from the original and is not a transcription error (that is, it appeared thus in the original). It is normally placed within the quoted material, in square brackets and often italicised [sic]. Alternatively, it can appear after the quote in parentheses (round brackets) (sic). Where the quoted material is a known error, and the correct word or phrase is known, it may be included, preceded by recte, Latin for "rightly"; this is common in palaeography.

Where possible I will use the (sic) at the end of a quote to show it's an original quote. Although it might not happen overnight as I have already added over 250,000 words, and it will take time going through the complete article.
Reference Material

Bibliography of the Royal Marines.

A list of Reference books used in the making of this Time Line.

Having been a historic researcher for several years, I would just like to explain how hard it is to find the truth. About ten years ago I was honoured to be a member of a small group of five aviation historians from around the world. Our challenge was to try and prove that John Dickenson an Australian was the person who invented the modern day Hang Glider. The biggest problem we had was that every single book that had been wrote on the subject had all got it wrong. As with all researchers we rely on books to help us. However, when ever the early books were published with wrongful information. Other researchers use that wrongful information, and so all the readers of later books believe what they read. Although I can report that our little group were very lucky and were able to contact the actual people who helped the sport of Hang Gliding grow worldwide. We were also very lucky that most of them were still alive. The book on the subject is called 'Correcting History'.

Likewise, with the Royal Marines very early history, from the 1600's to the middle 1900's. All we have are several books on the subject, and we have to believe them as we have no other source of information? I have a lot more information and data on the Royal Marines that is sadly not dated. However, I do hope to add it to the Time Line at some time.

.....................................................

Front cover photo from 'rpdefence.over.blog.com'

A History of the Island of St. Helena by T. H. Brooke Esq Published in 1824.

An Historic Review of the Royal Marine Corps: from its original institution down to the present era, by Alexander Gillespie. Printed and Sold by M. Swinney Birmingham 15th November 1803.

A Heroic Record of the British Navy by Archibald Hurd and H. H. Bashford. A Short History of the Naval War during 1914-1918. Garden City New York Doubleday, Page and Company 1919.

A List of the Officers of the Army and of the Corps of Royal Marines. From the War office January 1826.

British Battles Volume I. by James Grant. Published by Cassell Petter & Galpin. London 1891.

Britain's Sea Soldiers: (Volume 1) A history of the Royal Marines and their predecessors and of their services in action, ashore and afloat, and upon sundry other occasions of moment, by Cyril Field RMLI, Foreword by Admiral of the fleet, Earl Beaty G.C.B. The Lyceum Press, Handover Street Liverpool 1924.

Britain's Sea Soldiers: (Volume 2) A history of the Royal Marines and their predecessors and of their services in action, ashore and afloat, and upon sundry other occasions of moment, by Cyril Field RMLI, Foreword by Admiral of the fleet, Earl Beaty G.C.B. The Lyceum Press, Handover Street Liverpool 1924.

Britain's Sea Soldiers: A record of the Royal Marines during the War 1914-1919, compiled by General Sir H.E. Blumberg K.C.B. Royal Marines. Devonport, Swiss & Co. Naval and Military Printers and Publishers. 111 and 112Fore Street. [1927).

Brother Surgeons by Garet Rogers, Transworld Publications 1957.

By Sea and Land, Some Naval Doings. By E. Hilton Young, MP, Lieutenant Commander R.N.V.R.T. C. & E.C. Jack Ltd. 25 &36 Paternoster Row, London, E.C. and Edinburgh.

Captain R.G.S. Lang's Report, Plymouth Argyll box and Peter Dunstan's documentation of both Royal Marine Detachments can be viewed by appointment at the Royal Marines Museum Archive, Southsea.

CLARET Operations and Confrontation, 1964-1966 by Raffi Gregorian.

Cleve Whitworth (RMAQ President) personal Royal Marine library.

Commando 1942 - 45, Britain's Secret Commando by Osprey Publishing.

Cyprus Crisis - 1955-56. The Story of 'B' Troop 45 Commando Royal Marines by Charles Hart. The Royal Marine Historical Society. Printed by Holbrook printers Norway Road Portsmouth Hants, PO3 5HX.

Dictionary of Battles by Thomas Benfield Harbottle. Published by Swan Sonnenschein & Co Ltd, London 1904.

Echoes of Old Wars. The personal and unofficial letters and accounts bygone Battles, both by land and on sea: by those that were there. 1513 – 1854. A Marine Anthology. Compiled and annotated by Colonel C. Field, R.M.L.I. Herbert Jenkins Ltd 2 York Street St. James's London S.W.1.

'Globe & Laurel' the Royal Marines magazine.

'Grey Funnel Line' Face Book Page.

History of the Royal Marines 1837-1914. by H.E. Blumberg, with Minor Editing by Alaster Donald.

Historical Record of the Marine Corps. An account of their formation and service from 1664 to 1748. Cannon Richard 1779 – 1865.

Historical Records of the Royal Marine Forces; Volume 1 (1755 to 1805). By Paul Harris Nicolas Lieutenant Royal Marine. Published by Thomas and William Boone 29 New Bond Street London 1845.

Historical Record of the Royal Marine Forces by Nicolas Paul Harris Lieutenant Royal Marines Volume 1. London: Thomas and William Boone. 29 New Bond Street.

Historical Record of the Royal Marine Forces by Nicolas Paul Harris Lieutenant Royal Marines Volume 2. London: Thomas and William Boone. 29 New Bond Street.

Historical Record of the Thirty First or the Huntingdonshire Regiment of Foot. by Richard Cannon Esq,

In Many Parts Memoirs of a Marine. By Lieutenant Colonel W. P. Drury, C.B.E. Royal Marines. Joint author of 'The Flag Lieutenant', Author of the Peradventures of Private Pagett. By Fisher Unwin Ltd London: Adelphi Terrace, First Published in 1926.

Inside the Commandos by James D. Ladd.

Jack Wardle, formerly HMS Repulse, has produced a nominal roll of the HMS Repulse RM Detachment.

John Nicol, 'Memoirs of John Nicol Mariner' (1822).

The Last Coleraine Militia www.ecohcoy.tripod.com

Malaya and Borneo, Counter Insurgency Operations:1 by E.D. Smith.

Memoirs. The Late Major General Andrew Burn, The Royal Marines, a collection from his journals. Second Edition. London Printed and sold by Messer's W. Winchester and Son, 61 the Strand 1861.

Memorial Bunker Hill. By Oliver Wexdell Holmes (Grandmother's Story of Bunker-Hill Battle.) Copyright, 1775 by James R. Osgood & Co. 'No Picnic' (The Falklands War) By Julian Thompson. Published in the UK in 1985 by Leo Cooper in Association with Secker and Warburg Ltd. ISBN: 0-436-5202-4.

Moon Over Malaya: A Tale of the Argyll's and Marines by Jonathan Moffatt and Audrey Holmes McCormick (revised edition published by Tempus Publications of Stroud October 2001).

'Nelson's Marines at Malta' – RMHS 1995. by Brian N. Tarpey.

Nothing Impossible. General Editor Lieutenant Colonel Ewen Southby-Tailyour OBE RM Publication: October 2010, ISBN: 978 1 906507 237.

On Four Fronts with the Royal Navy: By Geoffrey Sparrow MC and J N MacBean Ross MC. (Surgeons RN). Published by Hodder and Stoughton, London, New York and Toronto 1918.

Per mare Per Terram, Reminiscences. Thirty two years military, Naval, and constabulary service. By Major W. H. Poyntz. Late Royal Marine Light Infantry. Chief Constable of Nottingham and County of Essex. The Economic Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd. 30 Bouverie Street. 1802.

Researchers on the 2nd Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders will find a wealth of material in the Regimental Museum and Archive, Stirling Castle. Particularly interesting is the Battalion Record Book of QMS Aitken.

Royal Marine Commando, the History of Britain's elite fighting force by James D. Ladd.

Royal Marine Commando 1950 - 83. From Korea to the Falklands by Will FowlerI. Published by Osprey 2009 SBN: 978-184603-372-8.

Royal Marines Historical Society. Royal Marines Museum.

Royal Marines History & Traditional Facts. Alpha Company Royal Marines Cadets website.

Royal Navy Exhibition 1891. The Official Catalogue and Guide. W.P. Griffith & Sons, Limited. Official Printers Prujean Square Old Bailey E, C,

Rupert Brooke, 'The Soldier', The Complete Poems of Rupert Brooke, London, 1933, p.148

S.B.S. The Invisible Raiders by James D. Ladd.

Telegraph Newspaper UK. Thursday 5th July 2016.

The British Commandos in the Second World War. In Defeat Defiance! By Alex Williams B.A.

The British Raid on Essex 1814. By Jerry Roberts, Executive Director, Connecticut River Museum.

The Leicester Chronicle Saturday 18th January 1812.

The Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser.

The Maidstone Gazette and the Kentish Courier.

'The Royal Marines 1919-2000' by J.D. Ladd.

The Thin Red Line: 2nd Argyll's in Malaya by Brigadier I. M. Stewart (Thomas Nelson 1947).

The Filibusters, The Story of the Special Boat Service. By John Lodwick.

The Green Beret. The Story of the Commandos 1940 – 1945 by Hilary St. George Saunders.

The Historical Records of the Royal Marines. Compiled and edited by Major L. Edye RMLI Barrister at law. Middle Temple. Volume 1 1664 – 1701. London: Harrison and Sons 50 Pall Mall Book sellers to her Majesty and the Prince of Wales. 1892.

The Knife Man by Wendy Moore, Published by Broadway Books 2006.

The Leicester Chronicle Saturday 18th January 1812.

The Lobsters Are Entirely Unfit...... The Life of the Royal Marines Detachment of Somerset, Cape York Australia. By Cleve Whitworth 1996.

The London Gazette first report published of the Raid on the Medway16th June1667.

The London Gazette re Captain Halliday No. 27262. p. 3. 1st January 1901.

The London Gazette re Major Francis Hardy published September 1915.

The London Gazette re L/C Parker published on 22nd June 1917.

The London Gazette re Major Lumsden No30122 published September 1915.

The London Gazette re Captain Bamford published 23 July 1918.

The Marine Corps: An historical record of the Marine Corps, an account of their formation and services from 1664 to 1748. Compiled by Richard Cannon, Esq. (1779-1865).

The New Zealand Wars: A history of the Maori campaigns and the pioneering period by Cowan, James (1922). Volume I 1845–1864.

The Papers of Major C.D. Aylwin RM can be viewed at the Imperial War Museum Reading room by appointment. This includes a nominal roll of the Prince of Wales RM Detachment and a detailed captivity diary.

The Royal Marines 1956 \- 84 (Osprey Men-At-Arms series) by William Fowler.

The Royal Marine Artillery 1804 – 1923 Volume 1 1804 – 1859. By Edwart Fraser and Charles L. G. Carr-Laughton. London the Royal United Service Institution Whitehall, S. W. 1930.

The Royal Marine Artillery 1804 – 1923 Volume 2 1859 – 1923. By Edwart Fraser and Charles L. G. Carr-Laughton. London the Royal United Service Institution Whitehall, S. W. 1930.

The Royal Marines Chronology 1664 - 2010.

The Royal Naval Catalogue for 1891.

The Royal Marines Band Service by John Ambler.

The Royal Marines by Sea by Land by John S. Murray. South African Military History Society.

The Royal Navy: A history from the earliest times to the present. Markham Clements R. (Clements Robert).

The SBS, The Full Story by Philip Warner.

The Skepton Mallett Home Words. January 1876 'Reminiscence of the Crimea Campaign' from S.G. Blacker.

'Who Dies Fighting' by Angus Rose (Jonathan Cape, London 1944).

Websites

www.anzacportal.dva.gov.au/history/conflicts/gallipoli-and-anzacs/events/bravery-awards-gallipoli/lance-corporal-walter-parker

www.archive.org/stream/cihm_48353/cihm_48353_djvu.txt

www.axfordsabode.org.uk/spirit.htm

www.axfordsabode.org.uk/spirit.htm

www.britishbattles.com

www.commandoveterans.org

www.devonheritage.org

www.ecohcoy.tripod.com

www.eliteukforces.info/special-boat-service/history/

www.en.wikipedia.org

www.exeterflotilla.org/history

www.flyingmarines.com

www.gmic.co.uk/topic/37275-the-royal-marines

www.history.com/news/what-was-operation-mincemeat

www.hmsrichmond.org/avast/customs.htm

www.maltaramc.com/regmltgar/roymarine.html

www.maritimemuseum.com

www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk

www.minotaur.org/chronolgy.htm

www.myweb.tiscali.co.uk

www.naval-history.net/WW1Battle1605Jutland2htm

www.pepysdiary.com

www.rm-badges.com

www.royalmarinesassociation.org.uk

www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk

www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk/royal-marines-historical-society

www.royalnavy.mod.uk/ctcrm

www.royalnavy.mod.uk

www.southwoldmuseum.org/war_battleofsolebay.htm

www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-1070,00.html

www.telegraph.co.uk/news

www.victoriacross.co.uk/zebrugge

www.web.archive.org

www.webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk

www.47commando.org.uk
TABLE OF CONTENT

Copyright

Dedication

Introduction

Reference

Chapter 1 – 1664 t0 1674.

Chapter 2 – 1675 to 1699.

Chapter 3 – 1700 to 1724.

Chapter 4 – 1725 to 1749.

Chapter 5 – 1750 to 1774.

Chapter 6 – 1775 to 1799.

Chapter 7 – 1800 to 1824.

Chapter 8 – 1825 to 1849.

Other books by this Author

www.terryaspinall.com

Chapter 1

1664 - 1674

The Royal Marines were formed in 1755 as the Royal Navy's infantry troops. However, the Marines can trace their origins back to the formation of 'the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot' at the grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company on 28th October 1664.

1664. 11.58am Tuesday 28th October

The formation of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot by Order at which King Charles all was present, also known as the Lord High Admirals Regiment or, simply The Admiral's Regiment. The King directed at The Court of Whitehall on 28th October 1664: That twelve hundred Land Soldiers be forthwith raised, to be in readiness, to be distributed into His Majesties Fleets prepared for Sea Service which said twelve hundred Men are to be put into One Regiment under One Colonel, One Lieutenant Colonel and One Sergeant Major and to be divided into Six Companies. Each Company to consist of Two Hundred Soldiers, and to have One Captain, One Lieutenant, One Ensign, One Drummer, Four Sergeants and Four Corporals, and all the Soldiers aforesaid to be armed with good Firelocks. All which Arms, Drums and Colours are forthwith to be prepared and furnished out of His Majesty's stores? The care of all was recommended to the Duke of Albermarle his Grace Lord of His Majesty's Forces.

Attending the court at Whitehall on Tuesday 28th of October 1664 was the Kings most excellent Majesty. His Royal Highness the Duke of York. Lord Chancellor. Lord Treasurer. Duke of Albemarle. Duke of Ormond. Lord Chamberlain. Earl of Anglesey. Earl of Lauderdale. Earl of Middleton. Lord Bishop of London. Lord Ashely. Mr. Vice-Chamberlain. Mr. Secretary Morice. Mr Secretary Bennet. Mr. Chancellor of the Dutchy. Sir Edward Nicholas. It was this day ordered (His Majesty present in Council) that his Majesties declaration, for encouragement of sea men and mariners employed in the present service, be forthwith printed by his Majesties printer, &. Richard Browne. His Majesties declaration for encouragement of Seamen and Mariners employed in the present service.

As the Duke of York was the Lord High Admiral, they soon became known as the Admiral's Regiment, and were paid by the Admiralty. They and their successors being the only long service troops in the Navy during the 17th and 18th century. They were therefore not only soldiers but also seamen, who were part of the complement on board all warships. The Honourable Artillery Company had earlier been formed by Royal Charter under King Henry Vlll on Wednesday 25th August 1537. The second oldest military organisation in the world.

Recruitment was from the 'London Trained Bands', the City of London's militia, composed of house holders who fulfilled their statutory obligation to maintain arms and serve in the defence of their City. They were under the jurisdiction of the Lord Mayor and were commanded by officers appointed by him and the Aldermen. Members of the Trained Bands met regularly at the Artillery Garden in Bishopsgate and the Military Garden in St Martin's in the Field to practice weapon handling, drilling and other military activities under the guidance of officers from the Honourable Artillery Company. These officers made the Trained Bands an effective force, providing professional training for its part time members.

They were the fourth European Marine unit formed, being preceded by the Spanish Marines who were formed on Saturday 27th February 1537, the Portuguese Marines in 1610, and the French Marines who were formed in 1622.

The Admiral's Regiment consisted of six 200 man companies and was initially commanded by Colonel Sir William Killigrew with Sir Charles Lyttleton as Lieutenant-Colonel. Killigrew had commanded an English Regiment in Dutch service and many of the Regiment's initial complement of officers had served there as well.

Until the year 1664 the British Navy was manned by means of the system of impress, or by enlisting landsmen; but the commerce of England at that period was so limited, that those measures were found inadequate to procure sufficient seamen for the public service, and this difficulty suggested the formation of an establishment of Marines. The men were raised with the object of forming a nursery to man the fleet and being quartered in or near the principal sea-ports, their great utility in the equipment of squadrons soon made it desirable to augment their strength.

Initially all Marine field officers were taken from the Royal Navy, not liking that the Marine field officer was nearly all honorary. This meant that until then Marine officers could only advance up to the rank of Captain, or possibly a Major. A situating that continued into the1800s.

During King William III rein, each company of Infantry (except the Fusiliers and Grenadiers) consisted of 14 Pikemen and 46 Musketeers, the Captains carried Pikes, Lieutenants and Partisans, Half-Pikes, while Sergeants carried Halberds.

Marines served on board all Royal Navy ships and have been involved in all of the sea battles that have taken place around the world right up to the modern day. (sic)

1664. Wednesday 5th November. "Colonel Killigrew was duly appointed to the command of the Regiment, His Majesty; reposing special trust and confidence in your loyalty, & have thought fit to constitute and appoint you to be Colonel of the Admirals Regiment of Foot now forthwith to be raised for our service consisting of six companies, receiving also, as was the custom at that period, a second commission of the same date to command a company in his own Regiment."

As will be seen in Colonel Killigrew's commission no mention is made that the Regiment is raised for sea service, but merely "for our service". The remaining officers appointed on the same day were Sir Chichester Rey a Lieutenant Colonel, Sir Charles Littleton a Major, John Griffin a Captain, John Legge a Captain, Nath Dorrell a Captain, Thomas Bennet a Lieutenant, and Richard Dennis a Lieutenant. And all ye commissions were styled by ye Adms Regt. 1664. Sunday 61th November. The first muster was as follows:

Colonel - Sir William Killigrew, Vice Chamberlain to the Queen

Lieutenant Col - Sir Chichester Wrey

Major - Sir Charles Littleton

Captains.

Sir William Killigrew. Sir Chichester Wrey. Sir Charles Littleton. John Griffith. John Legge. Nathaniel Dorrell.

Lieutenants.

Thomas Bennet. Martin Gardiner. Edward Talbot. Godfrey Dennis. Charley Cole. Henry Steward.

2nd/Lieutenants.

Phillip Bickerstaff 1. Francis Hoblin. John Snelling. Arthur Ingram 2. David Hume. Robert Thompson.

Quartermaster John Symonds.

Chirugeon Simon Boninga.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplain Rev John Evans.

1 Clerk for all the particular offices. 2 Supernumerary Groom of the Privy Chamber.

The Regiment consisted of twelve companies, without any grenadiers, had yellow coats lined with red, and their colours were a red cross, with rays of the sun issuing from each of its angles. It stood the third in seniority in the line of that day, and it may be presumed, from its subsequent reduction that a step was obtained in it by the 4th, then the Regiment of Holland, Commanded by John, the second Lord Mulgrave, and now entitled The Old Buffs. (sic)

1664. Wednesday 19th December. The attack on the Dutch Smyrna fleet in the straights bt allin.

1664. Wednesday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Colonel - Sir William Killigrew, Knt. and Bart.

Lieutenant Col - Sir Chichester Wrey, Knt.

Major - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Adjutant - Mat Locke.

Captains.

Sir William Killigrew 5th November 1664. Sir Chichester Rey 5th November 1664. Sir Charles Littleton 5th November 1664. John Griffiths 5th November 1664. John Legge (Colonel) 5th November 1664. Nathaniel Dorrell 5th November 1664.

Lieutenants.

Thomas Bennet. 5th November 1664. Martin Gardiner 11th November 1664. Edward Talbot 11th November 1664. Godfrey Dennis 11th November 1664. Charles Cole 11th November 1664. Henry Steward 11th November 1664.

2nd/Lieutenants.

Phillip Bickerstaffe 11th November 1664. Francis Hoblin 11th November 1664. John Snelling 11th November 1664. Arthur Ingram 11th November 1664. David Hume 11th November 1664. Robert Thompson 11th November 1664.

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Simon Boninga (11th November 1664).

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

Note - an officer of the name of Collins appears to have been appointed as a Lieutenant to Captain Dorrell, dated 11th November, but not to have joined the Regiment.

1664. Equipment. "A difference was also made in the equipment of the force, and it stands out pre-eminently as the first Regiment under the crown which was armed throughout with firelocks and not, as was the rule of the service at this period, with a considerable proportion of pikes. Instructions were accordingly issued for delivering "to our trusty and well beloved Sir William Killigrew, Knt, Colonel of the Admirals Regiment of Foote now to be raised for our service Twelve Hundred Good Firelocks, with the like number of good Bandoleers, Twenty Fower Halberts and six Drumes being for the use of the said Regiment". A footnote to this Warrant adds that 1200 Snaphaunch Musquettes were "Delivered by virtue of the Warrant above written".

There is however no note stating at what station or port, or to whom these stores were to be delivered, although by a Warrant of a similar nature bearing the same date and completing the armament of the Regiment, we find that there is to be forthwith issued out "of our Tower of London for the Admirals Regiment, 1200 Swords and Belts, thirty barrels of bullets, and two Hogsheads of flints which together with the arms formerly by us directed to be delivered for your use of your Regiment you are with all diligence to cause to be conveyed by such way as you shall find most convenient on board our fleet to be there delivered to Sir Charles Littleton, Knt, Major of the Admirals Regt being for your use thereof." (sic)

1664. Friday 19th December. Sir Thomas Allin, 1st Baronet (1612 - 1685) attacks the Dutch Smyrna fleet in the Straits of Gibraltar. Allin had been nominated to succeed Sir John Lawson as the commander in the Mediterranean. On Thursday 26th June 1664 he sailed to take up his command aboard HMS Plymouth in company with HMS Crown. Upon their arrival they initially operated out of Tangiers, and while operating in the Straits of Gibraltar he and his fleet intercepted and engaged the Dutch Smyrna fleet, capturing and sinking several of the Dutch ships. He was born and grew up in the Lowestoft area, becoming a merchant and ship owner. Upon the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, Allin sided with the Royalists, in common with most of his fellow town's folk. On Saturday 13th June 1665 he took part in the sea battle off Lowestoft. (sic)

1664 \- 1689. The Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot the Lord High Admirals Regiment Crest. (taken from 'History of the Royal Marine Forces 1664 - 1701' by Major l. Edye 1893.)

Officers and Soldiers Uniforms of the 1600's. (taken from 'History of the Royal Marine Forces 1664 - 1701' by Major l. Edye 1893.)

Officer and Soldier

1665. Monday 16th February. Shortly after the return of the fleet to England, the Regiment was moved from Southampton, the several companies being stationed as follows: Sir William Killigrew's Company at Southampton except 50 men of which are at Winchester and 150 at Ramsey.

Sir Chichester Wray's Company at Southwarke.

Sir Charles Littleton's Company at Dover and Canterbury.

Sir John Griffith's Company at Rochester and Gravesend.

Colonel John Legg's at Harwiche, although by the 3rd April they were at Ipswich.

Captain Dorrel's Company on the Isle of Wight.

The change of Commanding Officer, the actual date of the death of the first Commanding officer of the Admirals Regiment, Sir William Killigrew, is not known, but he was buried in the north aisle of Westminster Abbey on 17th July 1665. On the following day (18th July 1665) Sir Chichester Wrey was appointed to the command of the Regiment. (sic)

1665. Wednesday 4th March - Friday 31st July 1667. Owing to the commercial rivalry between the English and Dutch the Second Anglo-Dutch War took place after hostilities had begun earlier the previous year after the English had captured New Amsterdam (New York).

1665. April. The Black Death struck London, killing at least 68,596 people as some two-thirds of the 460,000 inhabitants fled to the country side. One of the last outbreaks in England, which also contributed to Britain's problems and manpower in Europe.

1665. Wednesday 3rd June (OS). Defeat of Obdam van Wassenaer by the Duke of York. The Admiral's Regiment first saw action at sea against the Dutch in the Battle of Lowestoft (Suffolk). Both fleets are reported to have been about 100 strong. However, the English claimed to have won a victory over the Dutch. So fierce was the engagement that both fleets were incapable of further operations. Unlike some land Regiments equipped with pikes and matchlocks, the Admiral's Regiment fought with better flintlock muskets. The Dutch paid a heavy price in its large loss of ships, and of officers and men totalling 4000 killed and 2000 captured. While the British losses were 250 men killed, about 340 wounded, and about 200 taken prisoner. (sic)

1665. Saturday 11th July. The Holland Regiment (later the Buffs) was also raised to serve at sea and both of these two Naval Regiments were paid for by the Treasurer of the Navy by Order of Council of 11th July. They were also different in that they had no pike men every man being issued a musket. The Holland Regiment remained on the naval establishments until May 1667. The name 'Marines' first appeared in official records in 1672. (sic)

1665. Wednesday 3rd September. Lord Sandwich captures the Dutch East India Fleet.

1665. During the Battle of Lowestoft one of England's ally's the small principality of Munster sent some of its troops into Dutch territory to assist the English.

1665. Just after the Battle of Lowestoft the Dutch were so impressed by the performance of the British Marines that they formed their own Royal Netherlands Marine Corps.

1665. Thursday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates. Colonel - Sir Chichester Wrey, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Major - Colonel Sir John Legge.

Captains.

Sir Chichester Wrey 18th July 1665. Sir Charles Littleton 18th July 1665. John Legge (Colonel) 18th July 1665. Sir John Griffiths 18th July 1665. Nathaniel Dorrell 18th July 1665. Thomas Bennet 18th July 1665.

Lieutenants.

Martin Gardener 18th July 1665. Edward Talbot 18th July 1665. Charles Cole 18th July 1665. Henry Steward 18th July 1665. Francis Hoblin 2nd December 1665. Phillip Bickerstaffe 18th July 1665.

2nd/Lieutenants.

Arthur Ingram 2nd December 1665. John Snelling 18th July 1665. David Hume 18th July 1665. Robert Thompson 18th July 1665. John Griffith 2nd December 1665. Robert Carvey 18th July 1665.

Adjutant - Mat Locke (11th November 1664).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11 November 1664).

Chirugeon - Simon Boninga (11th November 1664).

Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1666. January. The principality of Munster was forced out of the war by France, who eventually took the Dutch side.

1666. Most Battles during 1666 were won by the Dutch.

1666. Tuesday 1st June - Friday 4th June (OS). The Four Days Fight off North Foreland. The English commanded by George Monk and the Dutch Commanded by Michael de Ruyter were involved in a four day battle near North Foreland off the English coast. In which the Dutch were the victors. It remains one of the longest naval engagements in history. The English casualties were 1,500 killed, 1,400 wounded, 1,800 captured and 10 ships lost. While the Dutch suffered 1,500 killed, 1,300 wounded and 4 ships lost. (sic)

1666. Sunday 25th July (OS). An engagement with the Dutch known as the 'St. James Fight'. Prince Rupert of the Rhine and George Monck 1st Duke of Albemarle won a victory over the Dutch Commanded by Michael de Ruyter during the St James's day Battle off the coast of North Foreness, (later to be known as Orfordness). It is also known as the Second Battle of North Foreness. The Battle altered the balance of power at sea in favour of the English. The Dutch fleet lost 2 ships and around 800 men were killed or injured. The English suffered 300 killed and the loss of one ship the 'Resolution' However, it demonstrated its new dominance in the area. (sic)

1666. Sunday 8th August (OS). Sir Robert Holmes and his English fleet destroyed more than 160 Dutch merchantmen vessels on the Vile River in the Nederland's. It became known as Sir Robert Holmes Bonfire.

1666. Thursday 2nd September - Sunday 5th September: The Great Fire of London destroyed four-fifths of the city within the walls and sixty-three acres outside. Including the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Paul's, eighty-six other churches, the Guildhall, the Custom House, the Royal Exchange, and many other buildings, including more than thirteen thousand houses. The fire also destroyed many files, documents, books and other historical information including that of the Marines. It also contributed to England's problems within Europe.

1666. Saturday 18th September. The capture of the French Ruby by Sir Thomas Allin.

1666. December. Captain Herbert and HMS Pembroke engaged a Dutch Frigate.

1666. December. A British Squadron defeated the Dutch in the North Sea.

1666. Friday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates:

Colonel - Sir Chichester Wrey, Knt and Bart.

Lieutenant Colonel – Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Major - Colonel Sir John Legge.

Captains.

Sir Chichester Wrey 18th July 1665. Sir Charles Littleton 18th July 1665. John Legge (Colonel) 18th July 1665. Sir John Griffiths 18th July 1665. Nathanial Dorrell, 18th July 1665. Thomas Bennet 18th July 1665. Sylas Titus 2nd July 1666. George Cartwright 3rd July 1666. Sir Edward Carleton 4th July 1666. Edmund Molroyen 5th July 1666. Hercues Lee 6th July 1666. Thomas Bromley 7th July 1666.

Lieutenants.

Martin Gardiner 18th July 1665. Edward Talbot 18th July 1665. William Legge 22nd March 1666. Francis Hoblin 2nd December 1665. John Snelling 21st March 1666. Phillip Bickerstaffe 18th July 1665. Moyal 2nd July 1666. William Morice 3rd July 1666. John Wise 4th July 1666. Francis Izod 8th July 1666. Bourchier Wrey 6th July 1666. John Grove 7th July 1666.

2nd/Lieutenants.

Richard Baggott 24th March 1666. David Hume 18th July 1665. John Griffith 2nd December 1665. Robert Thompson 18th July 1665.

Robert Carey 18th July 1665. Francis Vincent 2nd July 1666. Edward Harris 3rd July 1666. Richard Sheldon 4 Jul 1666. William Heydon 5th July 1666. James Webb 6th July 1666. Percy Kirk 7th July 1666. Adjutant - William Pierson (June 1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666). Lieutenant.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1667. Monday 17th January. An order was given to Sir Chichester Wrey to direct 'the officers of the Admirals Regiment to collect and send to the stores in the tower their supernumerary Armes the Regiment now consisting of 12 companies 100 men in each instead of 6 companies, 350 men in each as formerly'. (sic)

1667. Tuesday 3rd May. Mention is made of two companies of the Regiment changing their quarters. One paper, dated, Yarmouth 3rd May, says that, Capt. Thomas Brumbly RN is paying his sowagers quorters and as soon as they can (will) march to Langley fort. A second dated West Cowes, 4th May, say that at "about 3 or 4 o clock afternoon departed from hence to Guernze the Deptford catch with Sir Edward Charleton and 100 brave soldier's yellow coats, of HRH Regiment who were one night here on shore for refreshment and I hope are now safely landed at Guernze" _(Note all spelling correctly copied)_.

The ship in which these men took passage appears to have been HMS Paradox and not the Deptford Catch, although the latter vessel accompanied them, for in a letter of Mr John Lyle to Mr Secretary Williamson, dated also from West Cowes, it is said "The Paradox, carrying over a company of the Duke of York's yellow coats to Guernsey, had a hot dispute with a French fly boat of 14 guns, and drove her on the French coast", and another letter of the 12th May declares that "The Paradox which ye Ketch that carried soldiers for the islands of Jersey and Guernsey are returned, the first had an encounter with a doger French of warre but the wind blew so hard and the sea was some high could not board her, the _Paradox_ had 100 soldiers besides their owne company and they plyed their small shot lustily , one of them was killed and six more wounded". This is the first occasion on record of any of the men of the Regiment having been specifically mentioned either as killed or as wounded. _(Note all spelling copied correctly)_

Whilst Sir Charles Littleton's company was quartered at Harwich, a misfortune occurred to his "Ensigne". Of this Sir Charles himself gives the following quaint account, "My ensigne went to London with my leave, about a weeke after I came hither, for 8 days, and is not yet returned. The last post I had a letter to excuse it, because he was sick; but since, I am well informed, hee has married a dirty tapstresse, and, this being knowne, have an opinion he is ashamed to return among us. For other reasons I am not much in love with his companie, and would be glad to bee ridde of him; yet am not resolved to add to his misfortune by turning him out against his will" The young officer referred to was Ensign David Hume, who was, on 28th August superseded in Sir Charles company by Ensign Charles Palmer so that the Colonel had not long to wait "to bee ridde of him" (sic)

1667. Thursday 24th May - 2nd May 1668. War of Devolution. Came about after Louis XlV's French army over run the Habsburgh controlled Spanish Netherlands and French Comte but were forced to give most of it back by the triple alliance of England, Sweden and the Dutch Republic. Although the alliance never engaged in combat against France, but it was enough of a threat to force Louis XlV to halt his offensive and sign the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle with Spain on Wednesday 2nd May 1668 in Aachen North Rhine-Westphalia Germany.

1667. It was directed that men absenting themselves from vessels that were fitting, should have 2 shillings and 6 pence for each day of absence deducted from their pay, and that the fines should be given to the men who remained on duty.

1667. Wednesday 11th May. Uniform. A letter from John Lyle to Mr Secretary Williamson, we find HMS Paradox carrying over a company of the Duke of York's yellow coat had a hot dispute with a French fly boat."

1667. Thursday 9th - 14th June (OS). The destruction of the English fleet while docked in Chatham by the Dutch, sometimes miss known as a Battle of the Medway. Two years earlier during 1665, the Dutch fleet under the command of the same Dutch Admiral de Ruyter, had almost completely destroyed the English navy in a murderous four day long battle that neither would break off the action. Now, almost two years to the day, on 7th June, De Ruyter was back and this time there was no British Navy to face him, for England was almost bankrupt and there was no money to pay for a navy. Instead King Charles II had gambled on an early peace that was not to be. For three days the 70 Dutch ships of the line prowled the English coast as if taunting their foe. For the first and only time since Britain had been a world power, an enemy appeared inside within country's borders. On both sides of the river Thames, scratch forces brought up to fight could only stand and watch as the Dutch sailed past. Muskets could not even reach the jeering Dutchmen on board, and the English land cannons were silent after their small stock of powder had run out. Having humbled British sea pride and proved the English Channel was a Dutch controlled waterway, De Ruyter turned his attention to the toothless English fleet. His men had already stormed and captured Sheerness, then a castle on the isle of Sheppey. Twenty Dutch ships sailed into the Medway, and when they left, five great English ships of the line were in flames and HMS Royal Charles, the British flagship was towed away captive. De Ruyter withdrew having accomplished what he had set out to do, and that was to prove that Holland was still capable of fighting and a country not to be messed with. (sic)

1667. Thursday 16th June (O.S.) The London Gazette, this is the first report published of the Raid on the Medway.

"The Dutch fleet having the tenth instant in the evening made themselves master of Sheerness. On the eleventh they advanced up the river of Medway, and though with much difficulty, passed by several vessels which had been sunk about Muselebank, which was the narrowest part of it, the better to put some stop to them in their passings and with 22 sail came up towards the chain, where the Lord General was in person with considerable force to oppose them; but the enemy taking advantage of an Easterly wind and the tide, which both served them, pressed upon; and though their first ship stuck upon the chain, the second broke through it; and notwithstanding a stout resistance, in which our men showed infinite courage, with considerable loss to the enemy, yet they clasped their fire ships aboard the Matthias and the Unity, that lay at an anchor, as a guard to the chain, and then upon the Charles the fifth, all three of them Dutch ships, that had been formerly taken from them. The same day they possessed themselves of the Royal Charles, which was twice fired by our men, and as often quenched by the enemy.

On Thursday the 13th instant, about one o'clock, taking their advantage of the wind and tide, they advanced with six men of war, and five fire ships, and came up towards Upnor Castle, but were so warmly entertained by Major Scot, who commanded there, and on the other side by Sir Edward Spragg, from the battery at the shore, that after very much damage received by them in the shattering of their ships, in sinking several of their long boats manned out by them, in the great number of their men killed, and some prisoners taken, they were at the last forced to retire, having in this attempt spent in vain two of their fire ships, which attempted HMS Royall Oake, but were forced off, and burned down with effect; but a third had its effect, the two others coming also aboard HMS Royall James, and HMS Loyal London, which are much injured by the fire, but in probability may be again made serviceable, having been sunk before their coming up, and the greater part of the laid under water.

Since this they have not made any considerable attempt, and by some prisoners we have taken, we find that the loss we have received, has been hitherto so fully returned upon them, that they can have but little reason to brag of their success, and less encouragement to make any further attempts on these parts.

Part of the enemy's fleet had since this action continued about Musele-Bank, where on Friday were seen 24 sail, on Saturday only 14, which 'tis believed stay there only to get off HMS Royall Charles which is on shore. (sic)

1667. Friday 17th June (O.S.). About 30 more of their fleet were discovered between the Buoy of the Nore, and on Saturday only 12 in the Buoy of the Nore, the rest being fallen down, and it is thought will attempt no farther this way. However, our batteries are all in the necessary places, both in the Thames and Medway, very well perfected and furnished with cannon.

This day we are confidently told by a person arriving here from Chatham, that yesterday two Dutch men of war, whereof one of 80 guns, endeavouring to pass up towards Upnor Castle, ran ashore and were by a fire ship of their own party burnt, to prevent their falling into our hands. He says further, that eight of their man of war were yesterday endeavouring to tow off HMS Royal Charles from the Musele-Bank, and are their run aground; upon which news twenty of their men of war are returning to lie in the river, to prevent out fire ships, till they can find some way to bring them off, or otherwise to dispose of them." (sic)

1667. Wednesday 20th June. Uniform. It was stated: "Yesterday the enemy was in sight off the North Foreland. Colonel Titus and the commander Captain John Poole are very active. In less than two hours, the townsmen, both seamen and landsmen appeared in the field in arms, 160 in all, besides Colonel Titus' yellow company." Colonel Titus was a Captain in the Admirals Regiment.

1667. Saturday 25th June. Burning of a French Squadron at Martinique by Harman.

1667. The Defeat of the Franco-Dutch by Captain Berry on board the HMS Nevis.

1667. Friday 1st July. The Dutch Admiral de Ruyter having withdrew from his recent success at Chatham, appeared during the evening along with the bulk of a Dutch invasion fleet anchored of the Aldeburgh coast (Suffolk UK).

1667. In the military town and port of Harwich (county of Essex) were garrisoned four companies Commanded by Cardinal Legge, Sir Chichester Wrey, Charles Lyttelton, and Captain Edward Roscarrock, while on the other side of the river entrance was Landguard Fort that was occupied by Captain Nathaniel Darrell and Captain Cartwright along with their companies of Marines. It had been pre-planned that the entrance to Harwich harbour was to be blocked by seven colliers and a ship of 20 guns, all disguised as men of war, while displaying Jack Ensigns and Pendants, which were moored between Landguard Fort and Harwich. Holes had been pre-cut in their hulls, ready to be scuttled and sunk in case the enemy attempted to sail up the river and approach the port of Harwich. Unbeknown to the English, the Dutch had decided to Capture Landguard Fort thus enabling them to bombard Harwich from across the river.

1667. Saturday 2nd July. At dawn the Dutch fleet raised anchor and headed south passing Orfordness at 7am. Its intention was to attack the military base at Harwich. By 1pm the major part of the force which consisted of forty seven ships and tenders, drew within half gunshot of the shore near Flistow Cliffs (Felixstowe), but out of reach of Landguard Fort. The ships took up their positions to bombard the Fort from all sides. Some of them were placed exactly to wind ward, so that the smoke of their guns swept along the beach and in doing so covered the landing of their troops from the sight of the Marines in the Fort. Once in position they lowered their boats and threw ashore about three thousand men. They wasted no time in delivering two successive assaults on Landguard Fort, in which 300 to 400 men took part. The first was repulsed after three quarters of an hour's fighting. The second after only about a quarter of an hour. Finally, the Dutch, after losing about one hundred and fifty men, left their scaling ladders behind them in their haste to escape the fighting. In the meantime, the thousand to twelve hundred men who had been left near the place of landing were attacked by the trained bands under the command of the Earl of Suffolk. The struggle with them was continued in a desultory manner, when the routed Dutch returned from the attack on the Fort. They then managed, after considerable loss, to re-embark. Just after a detachment of five hundred foot soldiers, under command of Major Legge arrived from Harwich. However, the fight was already over. It was reported at the time that neither Legge nor the Earl of Suffolk could be credited with the honour of having saved Landguard Fort. That credit had to go to Captain Nathaniel Darrell of the Duke of York and Albany's Regiment of Foot, and to his gallant Marines. Darrell the Governor of Landguard Fort, had only one month earlier received the post. However, he was slightly wounded during the attack. While the family of Darrell-Blount captured one of the painted ladders abandoned by the Dutch on the beach. The Dutch landing had been commanded by Colonel Dolman, an English man who had changed sides to assist the Dutch. The same person who had earlier helped the Dutch capture the Fort of Sheerness. It was later reported by a local newspaper that the Dutch losses were 150 killed wounded or captured, while the British suffered only about 4 killed and as many wounded. This invasion by the Dutch was also the first time the Admiral's Regiment of Foot saw action on land. It was also the last time an invasion force set foot on British soil. (sic)

1667. Sunday 31st July. The Second Dutch War ended (1665 - 1667) after the signing of the Treaty of Breda. The signing took place in the Dutch city of Breda, by England, the United Provinces (Netherlands), France, Denmark and Norway. It brought a hasty end to the hostility's in favour of the Dutch.

1667. Saturday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Colonel - Sir Chichester Wrey, Knt and Bart

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Major - Sir John Griffiths, Knt.

Captains.

Sir Chichester Wrey 18th July 1665. Sir Charles Littleton 18th July 1665. Sir John Griffiths. 26th September 1667. Nathaniel Dorrell 18th July 1665. Thomas Bennet 18th July 1665. Sylas Titus 2nd July 1666. George Cartwright 3rd July 1666. Sir Edward Carleton 4th July 1666. Thomas Bromley 7th July 1666. Edward Roscarrock 8th January 1667. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Roger Vaughan21st September 1667.

Lieutenants.

Martin Gardiner 18th July 1665. George Littleton 22nd February 1667. William Legge 22nd March 1666. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Phillip Bickerstaffe 18th July 1665. John Titus. 22nd November 1666. William Morice 3rd July 1666. John Wise 4th July 1666. John Grove 7th July 1666. Richard Baggott 26th August 1667. Francis Izod 8th July 1666. Wise 21st September 1667.

2nd/Lieutenants.

Edward Harris 26th August 1667. Charles Palmer 26th August 1667. John Griffith 2nd December 1665. Alexander Frazier 28th August 1667. John Trevanyen 26th September 1667. Francis Vincent 2nd July 1666. Robert Kilver 8th May 1667. Richard Sheldon 4th July 1666. Percy Kirk 7th July 1666. Edward Chichester 26 Sep 1667. William Heydon 5th July 1666. Roger Vincent 21st September 1667.

Adjutant - William Pierson (June 1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1668. Sunday 1st April. A subsequent Order in Council, authorised the drawing of such numbers of soldiers from the Foot Guards, for His Majesty's service at sea, during the summer, as the Lord High Admiral might require.

1668. Monday 14th May. Within 3 years of the death of Sir William Killigrew the regiment lost its second commanding officer, who died on 14th May (1668) in London "of a long ague and fever contracted at Sheerensse". The document from which this quotation is taken says further that "the regiment is bestowed on Sir Charles Littleton his Lieut Collon" (Note spelling copied correctly) (sic)

1668. Wednesday 26th September. A new establishment was sanctioned, to take effect on the 26th of that month. In connection with it here was published the strength of the "addicons since the dutch warre" from which we find that the two maritime regiments consisting of 26 companies contained 256 officers and 2,600 soldiers. The extraordinary disproportion of officers is accounted for by the fact that the non-commissioned officers of the two regiments were included. The 26 companies were composed of 12 companies of the Admirals' Regiment and 10 of the Holland Regiment, and the two companies _(No record exists of anyone being appointed to these new companies)_ added to each under the authority dated 13th June 1667, the total cost of them being set forth as £33,855. 18s. 8d.

The new establishment provided that the Lord High Admiral's Regiment of Foot was to consist as before of 12 companies but did not refer in any way to the strength. Another document, however, remedies this defect, and tells us that it was "seaven hundred and sixty soldiers in 12 companies of sixty in each, and the other company (being quartered in Guernsey) to consist of one hundred". For the first time provision was made amongst the "Fielde and Staffe officers" for an adjutant with pay of 4s per diem. _(Note spelling copied correctly)_. (sic)

1668. Monday 31st December. Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates. 1668. Monday 31st December. Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir John Griffiths, Knt.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. Sir John Griffiths 15th February 1668. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Thomas Bennet 18th July 1665. Sylas Titus 2nd July 1666. George Cartwright 3rd July 1666. George Cartwright 3rd July 1666. Sir Edward Carleton 4th July 1666. Thomas Bromley 7th July 1666. Edward Roscarrock 8th January 1667. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Roger Vaughan. 21st September 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey. 15th May 1668.

Lieutenants.

George Littleton 10th June 1668. William Legge 24th March 1666. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Phillip Bickerstaffe 18th July 1665. John Titus 22nd November 1666. William Morice 3rd July 1666. John Wise 4th July 1666. John Grove 7th July 1666. Richard Baggott 26th August 1667. Francis Izod. 8th July 1666. Roger Wise. 7th July 1667. Martin Gardiner. 18th July 1665.

2nd/Lieutenants.

Charles Palmer 26th August 1667. John Griffith 2nd December 1665. Alexander Frazier 28th August 1667. John Trevanyen 26th September 1667. Francis Vincent 2nd July 1666. Robert Kilvert 8th May 1667. Richard Sheldon 4th July 1666. Percy Kirk 7th July 1666.

Edward Chichester 26th September 1667. Robert Markham. 25th March 1668. Thomas Cutler 17th August 1668. Edward Harriss 21st August 1667.

Adjutant - William Pierson (June 1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

Quarters of the forces, the garrisons at which several of the Companies were stationed in1669.

Colonel Sir Charles Littleton. Harwich.

Captain Anthony Buller. Harwich.

Lt Col Sir John Griffith. Hull.

Captain Bennet. Hull.

Captain Middleton. Hull.

Major Nathan Dorrell. Landguard Fort.

Captain Titus. Deal Walmer.

Captain Vaughan. Chepstow Castle.

Captain Herbert. Guersey.

Captain Sir Bouchier Wrey. Sheerness.

1669. Uniform. The Grand Duke of Tuscany, who visited England during 1669, and landed at Plymouth, gives the following account of what he saw and mentions the uniforms then worn: "The Governor is my Lord John Granville, Earl of Bath and Sir [John] Skelton is his Lieutenant. Five companies of about seventy men each, officers and soldiers are on duty there, one of these belongs to the Duke's Regiment. These men are very handsome and in excellent order, four companies wearing red jackets lined with yellow, and that of the Duke's, yellow with red lining." (sic)

1669. 8th December. The defeat of Algerine men of War, off Cadiz.

1669. Wednesday 18th - Thursday 19th December. A battle took place near Cadiz between the English frigate HMS Mary Rose under the command of Rear-Admiral John Kempthorne, escorting several merchantmen. When he was attacked by seven pirate ships operating out of Algiers (North Africa). The outcome was an English victory. Although 1 English ship was captured, 12 killed and 18 wounded. (sic)

1669. 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates:

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir John Griffith, Knt.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. Sir John Griffiths 15th February 1668. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Thomas Bennet 18th July 1665. Sulas Titus 2nd July 1666. George Cartwright 3rd July 1666. Thomas Bromley 7th July 1666. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Roger Vaughan 21st September 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey 15th May 1668. Charles Middleton 1669. Colonel Anthony Buller 1669.

Lieutenants.

George Littleton 10th June 1668. John Griffith 10th December 1669. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Phillip Bickerstaffe 18th July 1665. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. John Grove 7th July 1666. Francis Izod 8th July 1666. William Morice 10th December 1669. William Edward Harris 125th May 1669. John Wise 4th July August 1667. Richard Baggott 26th August 1667.

2nd/Lieutenants.

Charles Palmer 26th August 1667. John Thorne 9th December 1669. Alexander Frazier 28th August 1667. John Trevanyen 26th September 1667. Francis Vincent 2nd July 1666.3. Robert Kilvert 8th May 1667. Percy Kirk 8th July 1666. Robert Markham 25th March 1668. Thomas Cutler 17th August 1668. Broughton 12th May 1669. Richard Sheldon 4th July 1666. Edward Chichester 26th September 1667.

Adjutant - William Pireson (June 1966).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

Tatham (14th September 1666).

Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1670. Wednesday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir John Griffiths, Knt.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. Sir John Griffiths 15th February 1668. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Thomas Bennet 18th July 1665. George Cartwright 3rd July 1666. Thomas Bromley 7th July 1666. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Roger Vaughan 21st September 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey 15th May 1668. Charles Middleton 1669. Colonel Anthony Buller 1669. Charles Middleton 1669. Francis Digby 16th January 1671.

Lieutenants.

George Littleton 10th June 1668. John Griffith 10th December 1669. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Phillip Bickerstaffe 18th July 1665. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. John Grove 7th July 1666. Francis Izod 8th July 1666. William Morice 10th December 1669.

William Edward Harris 125th May 1669. John Wise 4th July August 1667. Richard Baggott 26th August 1667.

2nd/Lieutenants.

Charles Palmer 26th August 1667. John Thorne 9th December 1669. Alexander Frazier 28th August 1667. John Trevanyen 26th September 1667. Francis Vincent 2nd July 1666. Robert Kilvert 8th May 1667. Edmund Willson 9th September 1670. Edward Harriss 20th May 1670. Thomas Cutler 17th August 1668. Broughton 12th May 1669. Richard Sheldon 4th July 1666. Edward Chichester 26th September 1667.

Adjutant - William Pierson (June 1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1671. Friday 16th January. The appointment of Captain Francis Digby (16th January 1671) to a commission in the Admirals Regiment is the first instance, of many to follow, of officers of the Navy having held commissions in the Marines. The practice did not become common during the command of Sir Charles Littleton, but, at the raising of the two marine regiments in 1690, a very large number of officers who held commissions in the Navy also held commissions as officers of Marines, and, as such, actually performed the regimental duties of their ranks.

With the retirement of Captain Silus Titus the regiment lost an officer who had played a not inconsiderable part in the history of his country. He had, in a very great measure, conduced to the restoration of his royal master, and with equal determination had voted for the exclusion of the Duke of York on account of his leaning towards the Church of Rome. He was a great supporter of Titus Oates and the Popish plot, had sat in parliament for close on 26 years, representing at various times Ludgershall, Lostwithiel, Herts, Hunts, and Ludlow and was afterwards sworn on the Privy Council (6th July 1688) by James II and retired upon the abdication of that monarch. He married Catherine, second daughter of James Winstanley and died at Bushey in 1704 aged 82 years. (sic)

1671. Thursday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir John Griffiths, Knt.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. Sir John Griffiths 15th February 1668. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Thomas Bennet 18th July 1665. George Cartwright 3rd July 1666. Thomas Bromley 7th July 1666. Henry Herbert 15th September 1667. Roger Vaughan 21st September 1667. Sir Bouch Wrey15th May 1668. Charles Middleton 1669. Colonel Anthony Buller 1669. Francis Digby 16th January 1671.

Lieutenants.

George Littleton 10th June 1668. John Griffith 10th December 1669. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Phillip Bickerstaffe 18th July 1665. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. John Grove 7th July 1666. Francis Izod 8th July 1666. William Morice 10th May 1669. Edward Harris 12th May 1669. John Wise 4th July. Richard Baggott 26th August 1667. John Titus 22nd November 1666.

Adjutant - William Pierson (June1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplin - Rev John Evans (11th November 1664).

1672. March. The English captured three Dutch ships.

1672. Saturday 12th - 13th March. Holmes action with the Dutch Smyrna Fleet.

1672. Sunday 13th March. Third Anglo Dutch War was a military conflict between England and the Dutch Republic that took place from 1672 - 1674. It was part of the much larger Franco Dutch War. England's Royal Navy joined France in its attack on the Republic but was frustrated in its attempts to blockade the Dutch coast by four strategic victories of Lieutenant Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. An attempt to make the province of Holland an English protectorate failed. The English Parliament fearful that the alliance with France was part of a plot to make England a Roman Catholic country, forced the king to abandon the costly and fruitless war. It also formed part of the general European War of 1672 - 1678. Although England and the Dutch Republic had been allied for a century, once again they went to war against each other. (sic)

1672. May. Sir Charles Littleton's company was ordered to be increased, the Master General of the Ordnance receiving instructions that the company was to be armed "to make them upp nynety eight soldiers besides officers". Early in May, Captains Cartwright and Middleton were each directed "to raise so many Voluntiers as he thinks convenient for the recruiting of his company to the Established number threrof, requiring him, if he beats his Drumms in London to Shew this order to the Major of the Citty; as the men are raised they are to be quartered."

This is the first reference extant that connects the Admiral's Regiment with the city of London, and by this it would seem that authority existed, or had been recently granted, to recruit within the city, provided that the order in question was shown to "the Major of the said Citty" ( _This comment made in 1893 by the original author_ ) (sic)

Similar instructions were given to Sir Charles Littleton, who was directed to observe the said orders "if he should recruit in London"

Whether the privileges which the present corps of Royal Marines now enjoys in connection with the City of London date from the period, as has been already suggested, there is no evidence to show, but it is apparent that some sort of restriction existed within the city precincts, and that the "Major of the Citty" was in a position to relax it. ( _This comment made in 1893 by the original author_ ) (sic)

1672. 2.30am Saturday 28th May. A French Frigate sailed into Southwold Bay in Suffolk (Sole Bay). Where the English fleet had also assembled earlier for a refit. Many seamen and soldiers had been sent from London to join the fleet, and most of the crews were enjoying shore leave with a battle the last thing on their mind. There was an urgent call to arms and at 5.30am when the English ships at anchor on the lee shore put to sea. The Anglo French fleet was commanded by James, Duke of York, later to become James II, and the Earl of Sandwich, both of whom had spent the night at their headquarters in Sutherland House in Southwold's High Street. The fleet had 71 ships each with over 40 guns, plus frigates and fire ships, totalling 90 in all. It amounted to over 5,500 guns and 24,000 men. However, the French fleet, whether through accident or design, steered south and left the area of the intended battle. This left the Dutch fleet of 61 warships to fight it out with the English, and the battle raged for much of the day. The Duke of York had to transfer ships twice, as his flagships HMS Prince Royal and HMS St Michael were both taken out of action. The flagship of Lord Sandwich HMS Royal James, the biggest and newest ship in the English fleet was set on fire. Sandwich drowned trying to escape and his body was washed ashore further down the coast and was only recognisable by the Star and Garter on his clothing. Losses were heavy on both sides. The Dutch lost two ships and about 1800 men. While the English also lost two ships and some 2000 men. The battle ended inconclusively at sunset. Predictably, both sides claimed victory. While the locals were left to deal with around 800 injured sailors, and many bodies that were washed up along the shoreline for many weeks after the battle. Later Captain Silas wrote of the Marines that they had behaved themselves.

Captain Carleton who served on board the HMS London during the Battle of Sole Bay wrote in his memoirs: of an incident that a cured on board the HMS Katherine when one of the crew received a considerable wound that could not be attended during the fighting. So he was carried out of the way and disposed of in the hold. They had some pigs on board under the care of a sailors who neglected to feed them. They were so hungry they wasted no time in eating the wounded seaman. After the battle all that was found of him was his skull. It's believed that it was Captain (Hodge) Roger Vaughan of the Admirals Regiment. (sic)

1672. Saturday 28th May. The Battle of Sole bay. The losses sustained on this occasion by the Admiral's Regiment in officers alone was very heavy, no less than four captains being killed, namely Captain Digby, then in command of HMS Henry, "was shot with small shot in the breast", Captain Thomas Bennet, Captain Roger Vaugham (of His Royal Highness's Bedchamber), and Captain Thomas Bromely. Lieutenants John Grove and John Titus, and Ensign John Trevanion (His Royal Highness's Gentleman Usher) were also killed.

1672. 30th May. The name Marines first appeared in official records. A letter from Captain Sylas Taylor, addressed to Lord Arlington's secretary, and referring to the Battle of Sole bay, the writer concludes by saying "Those marines of whom I have wrote to you behaved themselves stoutly". This is the first mention that can be traced of the word 'Marines' in connection with any armed force of the country, and the Corps, at present day cannot fail to feel proud of the fact that the first use of the name was associated with words of praise and respect for the regiments. (sic)

1672. August. The Admiral's Regiment sustained another loss by the death, at Tinmouth of Captain George Cartwright.

1672. Saturday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir John Griffiths, Knt.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. Sir John Griffiths 15th February 1668. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Henty Herbert 15th January 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey 15th January 1667. Charles Middleton 1669. Colonel Anthony Buller 1669. Richard Baggot 10th June 1672. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Humphry Cornwall 10th June 1672. John Churchill 10th June 1672. Phillip Bickerstaffe August 1672.

Lieutenants.

Francis Izod August 1672. John Griffith 10th December 1669. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Edward Harris 12th May 1669. John Wise 4th July 1666. Edward Chichester 10th June 1672. Charles Palmer 10th June 1672. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672. William Morrice 10th December 1669. Thomas Cutler 10th June 1672. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669.

Ensigns.

George Palmer 10th June 1672. John Thorne 9th December 1669. Alexander Frazier 28th August 1667. Bruce 12th May 1669. Broughton 12th May 1669. Richard Sheldon 4th July 1666. Oliver Nicholas 10th June 1672. Fitzsimmons 10th June 1672. Windwood 10th June 1672. Samuel Scudamore 16th January 1671. Henry Cornwall 10th June 1672. Robert Kilvert 8th May 1667.

Adjutant - William Pierson (June1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplin - Rev John Evans (11th November 1664).

John Churchill listed in the nominal above went on to become the Duke of Marlborough and is the distant direct ancestor of Sir Winston Churchill the noted British WW2 Prime Minister.

1672. A dispute arose on the subject of naval precedence, and other causes gave rise to another war with the Dutch. The formation of additional Corps of Marines took place upon renewal of hostilities. These companies were engaged in a sharp fight with the Dutch fleet on the Saturday 28th May 1672, in which upwards of two thousand men were killed. They were also engaged in several other actions during the war which ended in February 1674. The conflict became known as the third Anglo Dutch War, and also formed part of the general European War of 1672 - 1678. (sic)

1672. Tuesday 20th December. Four Dutch ships, led by Jacob de Gens, arrived off St. Helena from the Cape. A landing party came ashore at Lemon Valley but was repelled by English planters hurling rocks from the top of cliffs above. Returning after dark, a light was seen near another landing place, Bennetts Point close to Swanley Valley on the western side of the Island. A traitor named William Coxe, accompanied by his slave, had lit a fire and was waiting to guide the Dutch invasion force onto the island. Five hundred men came ashore and were led up the precipitous cliffs by Coxe and his slave, who was then murdered to keep the treacherous story secret. The Dutch met no opposition until they reached High Peak where they overpowered a small detachment of English troops stationed at the fort. The Dutch continued unchallenged to Ladder Hill where they looked down on James Fort, knowing that if they took James Fort, they took the Island. A detachment of Dutch troops made repeated advances towards James Fort but were driven back each time. However, the small group in the fort were trapped, the Dutch were above them and also attacking them from the sea. Governor Anthony Beale realised the Dutch had the strategic advantage, being in possession of Ladder Hill Fort, and that he could not defend his weak position indefinitely. The governor spiked his guns, spoiled the gun powder and retreated with his entourage and their possessions to HMS Humphrey and HMS Elizabeth that were anchored in James Bay. They set sail for Brazil. According to Dutch records they gained little in monetary terms from their new possession, the most valuable items being an English slave ship, 220 slaves and 551 tusks of ivory. They repaired the fort and set a garrison of 100 men to defend the island. (sic)

1673. Monday 15th May. The re-capture of St. Helena in the South Atlantic. After reaching Brazil, Governor Beale hired a sloop and a crew, giving them orders to sail him back to St. Helena so he could warn English ships approaching the Island. By May 1673 he was back in St. Helena waters. Almost immediately he came upon Richard Munden's English East India squadron. After being briefed by Beale, Munden immediately made plans to re-take the Island. Four hundred English troops sailed into Prosperous Bay. With them was Black Oliver, a slave who had sailed with Beale's party to Brazil and back again. Black Oliver was chosen to guide the troops to James Fort. Captain Richard Keigwin commanded the English troops, among them was a sailor named Tom who was the first to climb a 1,000 foot cliff and drop ropes for the rest of the troops to follow. The plan was for Keigwin to attack from inland while Munden fired an off shore bombardment. Munden first bombarded James Fort as sailor Tom led the troops up the cliff, intending to continue the assault the following morning when Keigwin's force should be in position to attack. Keigwin reached his position above James Fort as planned but found it was already in English hands the Dutch had surrendered after the first bombardment. At sunset on 15th May 1673, the English re-took possession of James Fort. Along with three Dutch East Indiamen vessels richly laden, that were anchored in the bay. (sic)

1673. Sunday 28th May. The first (of three) Naval Battles of Schoonveldt that were part of the Franco Dutch War. They were fought off the coast of the Nederland's against the Dutch, between an allied Anglo French fleet Commanded by Prince Rupert of the Rhine, and the fleet of the United Provinces Commanded by Michiel de Ruyer, in which the Dutch were the victors.

1673. Sunday 4th June. Witnessed the 2nd Battle of Schoonveldt again involving the English and the Dutch in which they also won.

1673. Monday 21st August. The Naval Battle of Texel took place between the Dutch and the combined English and French fleets and was the last major battle of the third Anglo Dutch War, which was itself part of the Franco Dutch War (1672 - 1678), during which Louis XIV of France invaded the Republic and sought to establish control over the Spanish Netherlands. The English involvement came about because of the Treaty of Dover, secretly concluded by Charles II of England, and which was highly unpopular with the English Parliament. The Battle of Texel and its win by the Dutch also saved their country from an Anglo French invasion.

1673. Sunday 26th March. The King had been compelled by Parliament to withdraw the Declaration of Indulgence, and on the 26th March the Test Act, by which all professing the Roman Catholic faith were prohibited from holding office under the crown, was passed. In consequence of the passing of this statute, the Duke of York, against whom the act was practically directed, resigned his office of Lord High Admiral of England, as well as all other appointments, with the exception of the command of the Admiral's Regiment, which, for some reason, he was allowed to retain.

This fact is gathered form a letter of Sir Charles Littleton's dated 1st July, addressed to Mr Bridgman. In this Sir Charles says:- _"_ There being a Commission to be drawn for a Chaplain for the Dukes Regiment the Duke being no longer Admiral, I thought it convenient to ask His Royal Highness the last night how the Regiment should be styled, & his Highness was pleased to go to the King about it, & his Majesty did then order the Commissions for the future should be with the name of the Dukes or His Royal Highnesses Regiment".

It will be thus seen, that the passing of the Test Act virtually changed the name by which the Regiment had been commonly known. It had hitherto been, both officially and otherwise, designated the Lord High Admiral's Regiment, although its distinctive title was that of HRH The Duke of York and Albany's Regiment of Foot. It was now, however, to be styled" with _the name of the Dukes, or his Royal Highnesses Regiment"._ (sic)

1673. 4th June. The Second (of three) Naval Battles of Schoonveldt that were part of the Franco Dutch War. They were fought off the coast of the Nederland's against the Dutch, between an allied Anglo French fleet Commanded by Prince Rupert of the Rhine, and the fleet of the United Provinces Commanded by Michiel de Ruyer, in which the Dutch were the victors.

1673. 11th August. The third (of three) Naval Battles of Schoonveldt that were part of the Franco Dutch War. They were fought off the coast of the Nederland's against the Dutch, between an allied Anglo French fleet Commanded by Prince Rupert of the Rhine, and the fleet of the United Provinces Commanded by Michiel de Ruyer, in which the Dutch were the victors.

1673. 16th December. Orders were issued to Sir Charles Littleton that the "ten Companies of the Duke of York's Regiment Quartered in and about the Counties of Middlesex and Surrey pay off the Quarters of their Companies and have them in readiness to relieve the Duke of Albermarle's Regiment at Rochester and adjacent places".

1673. Saturday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with Commission Dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir John Griffiths, Knt.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. Sir John Griffiths 15th February 1668. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey 15th January 1667. Charles Middleton 1669. Colonel Anthony Buller 1669. Richard Baggot 10th June 1672. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Humphry Cornwall 10th June 1672. John Churchill 10th June 1672. Phillip Bickerstaffe August 1672.

Lieutenants

Francis Izod August 1672. Charles Palmer 23rd December 1673. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Samuel Scudamore 7th September 1673. Edward Harriss 12th May 1669. John Wise 4th July 1666. Edward Chichester 10th June 1672. Robert Crauford 16th September 1673. William Morrice 10th December 1669. Thomas Cutler 10th June 1672. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669.

Ensigns.

Frederick Walker 16th December 1673. John Thorne 9th December 1669. Alexander Frazie 28th August 1667. Bruce 20th May 1670.

Broughton 12th May 1669. Richard Sheldon 4th July 1666. George Butler 5th April 1673. Fitzsimmons 10th June 1672. Windwood 10th June 1672. Henry Horner 7th September 1673. Henry Cornwall 10th June 1672. Robert Kilvert 8th May 1667. Adjutant - William Pierson (June1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplin - Rev John Evans (11th November 1664).

1673. A complete redistribution of the companies of the Duke's Regiment was ordered.

As follows:

Colonel Littleton. Landguard Fort.

Colonel Buller & Captain Bickerstaff. Berwick on Tweed.

Captains Bouchier Wrey & Cornwall. Plymouth.

Lt Col Griffith, Captain Herbert & Captain Lyttleton. Portsmouth.

Captains Middleton & Baggot. Hull.

1673. It cannot be otherwise than with pride that the corps looks back and sees amongst the ranks of its officers two such distinguished men as John Churchill and George Rooke serving for a time side by side in its roll, for although the great victories of Marlborough do not reflect any lustre on the corps, except by indirect association, such is not the case as regards George Rooke, who, by his own distinguished gallantry, assisted by the personal valour of the Marines of his fleet, gained for the Empire one of its proudest jewels, and left emblazoned in after years on the colours of his old Regiment the word "Gibraltar". (sic)

1674. January. The stations at which the companies of the Regiment were "quartered in our counties of Middlesex, Surrey and thereabouts is set forth in a list as follows: 10 Companies of his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Regiment of Foot under command of Sir Charles Littleton at Kingston, Richmond, Brentford, Fulham, Parsons Green, Wandsworth, Putney, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Kensington & Hammersmith. I Company (being Major Dorrell's) at Sheerness, and 1 Company in Flanders".

1674. Friday 9th February. The Treaty of Westminster ends the war between England and Holland, and the Dutch return New York and Delaware to England. Two days later the King gave notice for the disbandment of all existing forces with the exception of the Horse & Foot Guards, The Duke of York's and the Holland Regiment, and the 39 garrison companies which had existed before the war.

1674. April. John Churchill was appointed Colonel of a Marine Regiment. He then served with and learnt from Marshal Turenne.

1674. Saturday 16th June. Battle of Sinzheim in France, assisting the French Viscount of Turenne against the Imperialists. The enemy's cavalry had driven Turenne's first line back upon his second, the British Infantry poured in such a furious fire on the enemy that they were unable to stand against it and begun to retire. Undercover of this fire the French Cavalry rallied and were able to advance against the enemy. Later the French first line was again broken in several places, but the British fire was so effective as to prevent the enemy's Cuirassiers from passing through the gaps which had been made. It's believed that John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough was present during the battle. Although Charles II's anti-French Parliament had forced England to withdraw from the Franco-Dutch War in 1674, some English Regiments remained in French service. In April Churchill was appointed the colonelcy of one such Regiment, thereafter serving with, and learning from, the great Marshal Turenne. Churchill was present at the hard-fought battles of Sinsheim in June 1674, and Enzheim in October; Turckheim in January 1675. He was also present at Sasbach in July 1675, where Turenne was killed. (sic)

1674. Thursday 4th October. The Battle of Entzheim near Strasburg in France. It's reported that the steadiness and accuracy of the Marines fire saved their French allies. It is also the first account of a land engagement in which a large number of Marines participated.

1674. After a peace with Holland was signed about 500 Marines of the Duke of York's Regiment remained in France.

1674. Monday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir John Griffiths, Knt.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. Sir John Griffiths 15th February 1668. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey 15th January 1667. Charles Middleton 1669. Colonel Anthony Buller 1669. Richard Baggot 10th June 1672. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Humphry Cornwall 10th June 1672. John Churchill 10th June 1672. Phillip Bickerstaffe August 1672.

Lieutenants.

Francis Izod August 1672. Charles Palmer 23rd December 1673. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Samuel Scudamore 7th September 1673. Edward Harris 12th May 1669. John Wise 4th July 1666. Edward Chichester 10th June 1672. Robert Crauford 16th September 1673. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672. William Morrice 10th December 1669. Thomas Cutler 10th June 1672. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669.

Ensigns.

Frederick Walker 16th December 1673. John Thorne 9th December 1669. Alexander Frazier 28th August 1667. Bruce 20th May 1670.

Broughton 12th May 1669. Richard Sheldon 4th July 1666. George Butler 5th April 1673. Fitzsimmons 10th June 1672. George Rooke 1674. Henry Horner 7th September 1673. Charles Churchill 1674. Robert Kilvert 8th May 1667.

Adjutant - William Pierson (June1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Colonel Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).
Chapter 2

### 1675 - 1699

1675. During the autumn of the previous year Sir John Griffith had tendered his resignation. He was succeeded on the 5th January as Lieutenant Colonel by Captain John Churchill, who thus superseded Major Darrell.

1675. Saturday 5th January. The Battle of Turckheim in Alsace France. A confrontation during the Franco Dutch War fought between the towns of Colmar and Turckheim in Alsace. The French army commanded by the Viscount of Turenne fought against the armies of Austria and Brandenburg, led by Frederick William Elector of Brandenburg. The enemy held a strong position with their left on Colmar and their right on the river Fecht, opposite the village of Turckheim. With their front covered by the Canal de Loeglbach. Turenne having deployed the whole of his cavalry moved away to the left under cover of his deployment and screened by the winter mists and the forests of beer Vineyard poles on the hillsides, across the Fecht with the infantry, and storm a strong entrenchment held by the enemy in the cemetery of St Siphornienat the junction of the river and canal. After heavy fighting he threw in the British Battalions and the Gardes Francaises who poured in such a terrible fire that the enemy began to give way, and with the fire being more intense the Allied infantry could stand it no longer and fled. (sic)

1675. June. The Battle of Sasbach. John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough was present and witnessed his friend Marshall Turenne being killed.

1675. Thursday 20th June - Sunday Tuesday 12th April 1678. King Philip's War against North America involved an armed conflict between the Native American inhabitants of present-day New England and the English colonists and their Native American allies.

1675. December. The question of precedence of regiments was again under consideration by the King. Previously all regiments, with the exception of the Guards and the Admiral's Regiment, took precedence according to the date of the commission of their Colonels, and thus the precedence of a regiment was virtually rearranged at the death of its Colonel. The King, at a court held at Whitehall on the 1st December directed that: -

"First, as to the Foot the Regiments of Guards to take place of all other regiments, and the Colonel to be always reckoned, and take place as the first foot Colonel. The Coldstream Regiment of Guards to take place next. Our most dear and most entirely beloved James Duke of York's regiment immediately after, and all other Colonels to take place according to the dates of their commission. 2nd That the several regiments that are not of our Guards, take place according to their respective seniority from the time they were raised, so as that no regiment is to lose its precedency by the death of their Colonel". (sic)

1675. Tuesday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - John Churchill.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. John Churchill 6th January 1675. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey 15th January 1667. Charles Middleton 1669. Colonel Anthony Buller 1669. Richard Baggot 10th June 1672. George Littleton 10th June 1672, Phillip Bickerstaffe August 1672. James Graham 6th January 1675. Thomas Cutler 29th October 1675.

Lieutenants.

Francis Izod August 1672. Edmund Yarbrough 31st December 1675. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Samuel Scudamore 7th September 1673. Edward Harris 12th May 1669. John Wise 4th July 1666. Edward Chichester 10th June 1672. Robert Crauford 16th September 1673. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672. William Morrice 10th December 1669. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. Charles Churchill 29th October 1675.

Ensigns

Frederick Walke 16th December 1673. John Thorne 9th December 1669. Alexander Frazier 28th August 1667. Bruce 20th May 1669.

Broughton 12th May 1669. Edward Brett 27th December 1675. George Butler 5th April 1673. Fitsimmons 10th June 1672. Theoph Blechingden 27th December 1675. Henry Horner 7th September 1673. Robert Kilvert 8th May 1667. Alexander Nowell 30th October 1675.

Adjutant - William Pierson (June 1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666)

Lieutenant Col – Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1676. The Virginia Rebellion, sometimes referred to as Bacon's Rebellion, was an armed rebellion by Virginia settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley. The News of problems in the colony, led to a company of 1000 men of the Dukes Regiment being sent to assist with law and order. However, after two years of normality all but twenty men returned to England. After a further year they were also returned.

1676. The Colours carried by Captain Charles Middleton's Company of the Lord High Admiral's Regiment in the Viggina Expedition. (taken from 'History of the Royal Marines Forces 1664 - 1701' by major I. Edye 1893.)

1676. Thursday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - John Churchill.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. John Churchill 6th January 1675. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey 15th January 1667. Colonel Anthony Buller 1669. Richard Baggot 10th June 1672. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Humphry Cornwall 10th June 1672. Phillip Bickerstaffe August 1672. Thomas Cutler 29th October 1675. Charles Middleton 1669.

Lieutenants.

Francis Izod August 1672. Edmund Yarbrough 31st December 1675. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Samuel Scudamore 7th September 1673. Edward Harris 12th May 1669. Edward Chichester 10th June 1672. Robert Crauford 16th September 1673. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672. Henry Cornwall 1676. John Wise 4th July 1666. Charles Churchill 29th October 1675. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. George Rooke 1st January 1676.

Ensigns.

Frederick Walker 16th December 1673. George Churchill 1st January 1676. Alexander Frazier 28th August 1667. Bruce 20th May 1670.

Broughton 12th May 1669. George Butler 12th June 1672. Fitsimmons 7th September 1673. Theoph Blechingden 27th December 1675.

Henry Horner 7th September 1673. Robert Kilvert 8th May 1667. Alexander Nowell 30th October 1675. John Thorne 9th December 1669.

Adjutant - William Pierson (June 1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Col – Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1677. Wednesday 19th January. The Guernsey engaged an Algerine Corsair.

1677. Friday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - John Churchill.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. John Churchill 6th January 1675. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey 15th January 1667. Colonel Anthony Buller 1669. Richard Baggot 10th June 1672. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Humphry Cornwall 10th June 1672. Phillip Bickerstaffe August 1672. Thomas Cutler 29th October 1675. Charles Middleton 1669.

Lieutenants

Francis Izod August 1672. Edmund Yarbrough 31st December 1675. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Samuel Scudamore 7th September 1673. Edward Harris 12th May 1669. Edward Chichester 10th June 1672. Robert Crauford 16th September 1673. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672. George Butler10 Jan 1677. John Wise 4th July 1666. Charles Churchill 29th October 1675. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. George Rooke 1st January 1676.

Ensigns.

Edward Knott 14th June 1677. George Churchill 1st January 1676. George Littleton 11th December 1677. Bruce 20th May 1670. Broughton 12th May 1669. George Butler 5th August 1673. Fitsimmons 7th September 1673. Theoph Blechingden 27th December 1675.

Henry Horner 7th September 1673. Robert Kilvert 8th May 1667. Alexander Nowell 30th October 1675. John Thorne 9th December 1669.

John Jeffreys 11th October 1676. Adjutant - William Pierson (June 1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1677. Wednesday 19th January. The Guernsey engaged an Agerine Corsair.

1677. Friday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with Commission.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - John Churchill.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. John Churchill 6th January 1675. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey 15th January 1667. Colonel Anthony Buller 1669. Richard Baggot 10th June 1672. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Humphry Cornwall 10th June 1672. Phillip Bickerstaffe August 1672. Thomas Cutler 29th October 1675. Charles Middleton 1669.

Lieutenants.

Francis Izod August 1672. Edmund Yarbrough 31st December 1675. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Samuel Scudamore 7th September 1673. Edward Harris 13th May 1669. Edward Chichester 10th June 1672. Robert Crauford 16th September 1672. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672. George Butler 10th January 1677. John Wise 4th July 1666. Charles Churchill 29th October 1675. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. George Rooke 1st January 1676.

Ensigns.

Edward Knott 14th June 1677. George Churchill. George Littleton. Bruce 20th May 1670. Broughton 12th May 1669. George Littleton 11th December 1677. Bruce. 20th May 1670. Broughton 16th January 1678. George Butler 5th August 1673. Fitzsimons 7th September 1673. Theoph Blechingden 27th December 1675. Henry Horner 7th October 1675. Alexander Nowell 30th October 1675. John Hill 16th January 1678. John Thorne 9th December 1675. John Jeffreys 11th October 1676.

Adjutant - William Pierson (June 1666).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Col - Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1678. April. Orders were given to form eighty men of the Dukes Regiment, who had just returned from Virginia (America), into a Grenadier company.

1678. Two Marine Battalions were sent to Flanders to assist the Dutch fight against the French.

1678. Each Company of 100 men usually consisted of 30 Pike men, 60 Musketeers, and 10 men armed with light firelocks. This same year the King also added a company of men armed with hand grenades to each of the old British Regiments, which was designated the Grenadier Company. Daggers were so contrived as to fit in the muzzles of the muskets, and bayonets similar to those at present in use, were adopted about twenty years later.

1678. Saturday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - John Churchill.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. John Churchill 6th January 1675. Nathaniel Dorrell 6th January 1668. Henry Herbert 15th January 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey 31st January 1680. Colonel Anthony Buller 1669. Richard Baggot 10th June 1672. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Phillip Bickerstaffe August 1672. Thomas Cutler 1672. David Legros 30th April 1678. Edward Smith 2nd May 1678.

Lieutenants.

Robert Crauford 1680. Edmund Yarbrough 31st December 1675. Robert Thompson 20th April 1678. Fitzgerald 16th January 1678.

Theoph Blechingden 16th January 1678. Edward Chichester 10th June 1672. William Bassett 16th January 1678. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672. John Wise 4th July. George Churchill 16th January 1678. John Jeffreys 1st March 1678. George Rooke 1st January 1676.

Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669.

Ensigns.

Edward Knott. 14th June 1677. Townsend. 16th January 1678. George Littleton 11th December 1677. Man 16th January 1678. Broughton 16th January 1678. George Buttler. 5th January 1678. John Hill. 16th January 1678. Richard Fowler 16th January 1678. Alexander Erwin 21st March 1678. William Fitz. 1st May 1678. William B. Morrice. 1st March 1678. Simons. 13th April 1678. Philemon Powell 1st May 1678. Jasper Churchill 16th January 1678.

Adjutant - Richard Beauvoir (14th March 1678).

Quartermaster and Marshall - John Symonds (11th November 1664).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1679. In consequence of the of the return of the Regiment to England (from Flanders) several changes took place at the quartering of the companies, which were shortly after posted as follows: -

Lieutenant Colonel John Churchill. Isle of Wight.

Sir Bouchier Wrey. Hull.

Captain Baggot. Hull.

Captain Churchill. Hull.

Captain Bickerstaffe. Tynemouth.

Captain Buller. Portsmouth.

Captain Smith. Portsmouth.

Lord Herbert. Plymouth.

Captain Cutler. Plymouth.

1679. Sir Charles Littleton was then issued orders that as soon as he was relieved to move to Sheerness with his company and to take over command of the fort there. Note: there was no mention of him becoming governor of the fort and replacing Major Dorrell.

1679. October. The Revenge engaged the Selvageee's Armanda.

1679. Sunday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - John Churchill.

Major - Nathaniel Dorrell.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. John Churchill 6th January 1675. Nathaniel Dorrell 15th February 1668. Henry Lord Herbert 15th January 1667. Sir Boucher Wrey 15th January 1667. Richard Baggot 10th June 1672. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Thomas Cutler 29th October 1675. David Legros 30th April 1678. Edward Smith 2nd May 1678. Charles Churchill 1st September 1679.

Edward Nott 24th September 1679.

Lieutenants.

Francis Izod August 1672. Edmund Yarbrough 31st December 1675. Robert Thompson 30th April 1667. Samuel Scudamore 1st September 1673. Edward Harris 12th May 1669. Robert Crauford 19th September 1673. Edmund Wilson 10 Jun 1672. Thomas Whaley 1st September 1679. John Jeffreys 1st March 1678. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. Edward Chichester 10th June 1672. John Wise 4th July 1666. George Rooke 1st January 1676.

Ensigns.

Marmaduke Greenham 25th October 1679. George Churchill 1st January 1677. George Littleton 11th December 1677. Thomas Man 1st September 1679. Broughton 12th May 1669. William Pierson 1678. Theoph Blechingden 27th December 1675. Alexander Nowell 3rd October 1675. Philemon Powell 1st July 1678. Jasper Churchill 16th January 1678. George Butler 5th August 1673. Alexander Erwin 21st March 1678. William Paxton 21st March 1678.

Adjutant - Richard Beauvoir (14th March 1678).

Quartermaster and Marshall - Henry Dereham (20th February 1679).

Chirueon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Colonel Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1679. October. The 'Revenge' engaged Selvagee's Armada.

1680. Wednesday 31st January. Sir Charles Lyttleton wrote: Major Dorrill died this morning; Sr Bowcher Wrey is now the Major, and Harris has the company. I am Governor of Sheerness.

1680. Friday 20th September. The Battle of Tangiers in Morocco North Africa. The Moors were threatening the British possessions in Tangiers. A Marine Battalion was formed and sent out to help the locals. Upon their arrival the Battalion was augmented by extra Marines recruited from the fleet.

1680. Tuesday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates:

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - John Churchill.

Major - Sir Boucher Wrey.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. John Churchill 6th January 1675. Sir Boucher Wrey 31st January 1680. Richard Baggot 10th June 1672. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Thomas Cutler 1672. David Legros 30th April 1678. Charles Churchill 1st September 1679.

Edward Nott 1st September 1679. Edward Smith 2nd May 1678. Francis Izod 1st January 1680. James Fortrey 15th March 1680.

Lieutenants.

Robert Crauford 1680. Edmund Yarbrough 31st December 1675. Charles Herbert 31st January 1679. John Packer 1680. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672. Robert Lloyd 1680. George Rooke 1st March 1677. Thomas Whaley 1st September 1679. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. Samuel Scudamore 1st September 1673. John Thorne 1680. George Butler 1680.

Ensigns.

Philemon Powell 12th October 1680. George Churchill 1st January 1677. George Littleton 11th December 1677. William Pierson 1678.

Theoph Blechingden 27th December 1675. John Hill 23rd April 1670. Gilbert Simons 1680. Francis Izod 1680. Alexander Erwin 21st March 1678. Thomas Man 1st September 1679. William Summers 1st March 1680. Jasper Churchill 16th January 1678.

Adjutant - Richard Beauvoir (14th March 1678).

Quartermaster and Marshall - Henry Dereham (20th February 1679).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Col – Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1881. The quarters for His Majesties forces was given as follows:

Colonel Sir Charles Littleton. Sheerness.

Captain Charles Churchill. Isle of Wight.

Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Nicholl. Portsmouth.

Captain James Fortrey. Portsmouth.

Captain Edmund Harris. Portsmouth.

Captain Francis Izod. Plymouth.

Captain Thomas Cutler. Plymouth.

Capt. David Le Gross. Plymouth.

Major Bouchier Wrey. Hull.

Captain Richard Baggott. Hull.

Captain Edward Nott. Tynemouth.

Captain George Littleton. Guernsey.

The changes for the year were few, but important in one instance, for after a service of close on nine years, Lieutenant Colonel John Churchill left the regiment to commence a care,

"Second son of Sir Winston Churchill; born at Ashe, Devon 24th May 1650. Page of honour to the Duke of York, Ensign, King's Regiment of Guards, 14th September 1667. Served at Tangiers against the Moors, promoted to Captain in the Admiral's Regiment for this service. Served in Flanders, present at the sieges of Nimeguen and Maastricht, promoted Lieutenant Colonel Duke of York's Regiment 17th February 1678, from which he retired early in 1681. Created Baron Churchill of Ayemouth, Co Berwick on 21st December 1682. Appointed Colonel of the 1st Royal Dragoons 19th November 1683. Sworn of the Bedchamber 25th April 1685 and raised on 14th May following the English peerage as Baron Churchill of Sandridge. Appointed to a command in the Royalist Army during Monmouth's insurrection, and promoted Major General 3rd July and given the Colonelcy of 3rd Troop of Horse Guards for these services. Promoted Lieutenant General 7th November 1688, and sworn a member of the Privvy Council 14th February 1689, after which he was made a Gentleman of the Bedchamber on 1st March 1689. Raised to the Earldom of Marlborough on 9th April 1689. Appointed in June 1689 to command a Brigade of English troops on the continent under the Prince of Waldeck. Commanded jointly with the Duke of Wertemberg in the expedition to Ireland in 1690, and present at the taking of Cork and Kinsale. Commander in Chief of the Allied Forces in Holland 1701 - 1701, and at the reduction of Venloo, Stevenswaert, Roermond and Liege, for which he was, on 14th December 1702 created Marquis of Blandford and Duke of Marlborough. Appointed Colonel of the 1st Guards 1704. Subsequently gained the battles of Blenheim (13th August 1704), Ramillies (23rd May 1706), Oudenparde (11th July 1708) and Malplaquet (11th September 1709). Created Prince of Mindelheim 1704. Married Sarah, daughter and co-heiress of Richard Jennings of Sandbridge near St Albans in 1678. Died 16th June 1722". (sic)

Note: this man is the early ancestor of Sir Winston Churchill the noted WW2 Prime Minister.

1681. Tuesday 8th April. Capture of the Algerine Corsair Golden Horse.

1681. Thursday 22nd May. The HMS Kingfisher engaged seven Algerine pirates.

1681. Wednesday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates:

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Nicholas.

Major - Sir Boucher Wrey.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. Oliver Nicholas 23rd February 1681. Sir Boucher Wrey 31st January 1680. Richard Baggot 10th June 1672. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Sir Thomas Cutter August 1672. Charles Churchill 1st September 1679. Edward Nott 1st September 1679. Francis Izod 1st January 1680. Edward Harris 31st January 1680. James Fortrey 15th March 1680.

Lieutenants.

Robert Crauford 1680. Edmund Yarbrough 31st December 1675. Chichester Wrey 21st July 1681. Thomas Crowther 3rd 1681. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672. Robert Lloyd 1680. George Rooke. 1st March 1677. Thomas Whaley 1st September 1679. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. Samuel Scudamore 1st September 1673. John Thorne 1680. George Butler 1680. William Cooke 25th July 1681.

Ensigns.

Philemon Powell 12th October 1680. George Churchill 1st January 1677. George Littleton 11th December 1677. William Pierson 1678.

Theoph Blechingden 27th December 1675. John Hill 23rd April 1670. Gilbert Simons. 1680. Francis Izod 1680. Alexander Erwin 21st March 1678. Thomas Man 1st September 1679. William Summers 1st March 1680. Jasper Churchill 16th January 1678.

Adjutant - Richard Beauvoir (14th March 1678).

Quartermaster and Marshall - Henry Dereham (20th February 1679).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Col – Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1682. Thursday 31st December. Thye Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Kent.

Lieutenant Colonel - Oliver Nicholas.

Major - Sir Boucher Wrey.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. Oliver Nicholas 23rd February 1681. Sir Boucher Wrey 31st January 1680.

Richard Baggot 1st May 1675. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Sir Thomas Cutler August 1672. Charles Churchill 1st September 1679. Edward Nott 1st September 1679. Francis Izod 1st January 1680. Edward Harris31st January 1680. James Fortrey 15th March 1680. Samuel Scudamore 24th July 1682.

Lieutenants.

Robert Crauford 1680. Edmund Yarbrough 31st December 1675. Chichester Wrey 21st July 1681. William Cooke 25th July 1681. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672. Robert Lloyd 1680. Thomas Whaley 1st September 1679. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. Richard Butler 11th August 1682. John Thorne 1680. George Butler 1680. George Rooke1st March 1677.

Ensigns

Philemon Powell 12th October 1680. George Churchill 1st January 1677. George Littleton 11th December 1677. William Pierson 1678.

Theoph Blechingden27th December 1675. John Hill 23rd April 1670. Francis Izod 1680. Alexander Erwin 21st March 1678. Thomas Man 1st September 1679. William Summers 1st March 1680. John Whaley 1st May 1682. Gilbert Simmons 1st May 1682.

Adjutant - Richard Beauvoir (14th March 1678).

Quartermaster and Marshall - Henry Dereham (20th February 1679).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1683. Friday 31st December. The Normal State of Officers of the Admirals regiment with commission dates:

Lieutenant Colonel - Sid Charles Littleton, Knt.

lieutenant Colonel - Oliver Nicholas.

Major - Tichard Baggot.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. Oliver Nicholas 23rd February 1681. Richard Baggot 1st May 1683. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Sir Thomas Cutler August 1672. Edward Nott 1st September 1679. Francis Izod 1st January 1680. Edward Harris 31st January 1680. Samuel Scudamore 24th July 1682. James Fortrey. 15th March 1680. Sir Chichester Wrey 1st May 1683. Charles Herbert 31st August 1683.

Lieutenant.

Robert Crauford 1680. Edmund Yarbrough 31st December 1675. Theoph Blechingden 30th July 1683. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672.

Robert Lloyd 1680. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. Richard Butler 11th August 1682. John Thorne 1680. George Rooke 1st March 1677. George Butler. 1680. Henry Hughes 1st May 1683. Thomas Whaley 1st September 1679.

Ensigns.

Philemon Powell 12th October 1680. George Churchill 1st January 1677. William Pierson 1678. Montarges. 30th July 1683. John Hill 23rd April 1670. Alexander Erwin 21st March 1678. Thomas Man 1st September 1679. William Summers 1st March 1680. Gilbert Simmons 1st May 1682. John Whaley 1st May 1682. George Littleton 11th December 1677. Francis Izod 1680.

Adjutant - Richard Beauvoir (14th March 1678).

Quartermaster and Marshall - Tobias le Grosse (30th June 1983).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1684. The third Regiment of the line was called the Maritime Regiment and also the Admiral's Regiment. However, the system of having soldiers exclusively for sea service does not appear to have been carried into effect until the year 1698, when a draft of an establishment for two Marine Regiments was presented to William lll, who by his order of council, authorised their formation, subject to certain regulations.

1684. 5th - 8th January. Uniform. In the London Gazette, the uniform of the Regiment is described as "coats yellow, lined red, stockings red", whilst in the London Gazette 9/13 April 1684/5 it is stated to be "coats yellow, breaches red, belt shoulder for sword." (sic)

1684. Sunday 1st October. Uniform. Nathan Brooks describing the Regiment on Putney Heath at the Grand Review of the 1st October 1684 says, "The Admirals Regiment consists of twelve companies, without grenadiers, coated yellow, lined red" but this was twenty years after the first formation of the Regiment. There is, however, little doubt that yellow was the chosen colour for the uniform at the Corp's formation. It was the favourite colour of its Colonel in Chief, the Duke of York, and it was the same as was worn by the Duke of York's Horse, and by the Duchess of York's Regiment of Foot.

1684. Sunday 31st December. The Nominal State of Officers of the Admirals Regiment with commission dates.

Lieutenant Colonel - Sir Charles Littleton, Knt.

Lieutenant Colonel - Oliver Nicholas.

Major – Richard Baggot.

Captains.

Sir Charles Littleton 15th February 1668. Oliver Nicholas 23rd February 1681. Richard Baggot 1st May 1683. George Littleton 10th June 1672. Sir Thomas Cutler August 1672. Edward Nott 1st September 1679. Francis Izod 1st January 1680. Edward Harris 31st January 1680. Samuel Scudamore 24th July 1682. Edward Plowden. 1st May 1683. Sir Chichester Wrey 1st May 1683. Charles Herbert 31st August 1683.

Lieutenants.

Robert Crauford 1680. Edmund Yarbrough 31st December 1675. Theoph Blechingden 30th July 1683. Edmund Wilson 10th June 1672.

Robert Lloyd 1680. Francis Hoblin 10th December 1669. Richard Butler 11th August 1682. John Thorne 1680. George Rooke 1st March 1677. William Oglethorpe. 1st March 1684. George Rooke.1st March 1677. Henry Hughes 1st May 1683. Thomas Whaley 1st September 1679.

Ensigns.

Philemon Powell 12th October 1680. George Churchill 1st January 1677. William Pierson 1678. Brounell. 4th January 1684. John Hill 23rd April 1670. Alexander Erwin 21st March 1678. Thomas Man 1st September 1679. William Summers 1st March 1680. Gilbert Simmons 1st May 1682. John Whaley 1st May 1682. George Littleton 11th December 1677. Francis Izod 1680. James Man 1st May 1684.

Adjutant - Richard Beauvoir (14th March 1678).

Quartermaster and Marshall - Tobias le Grosse (30th June 1983).

Chirugeon - Samuel Tatham (14th September 1666).

Lieutenant Col -Sir Chaplin - Rev. John Evans (11th November 1664).

1685 \- 1687. Uniform. The yellow coat gave way to red as in the London Gazette 30th January / 2nd February 1687 which gives details of a deserter from the Regiment who was wearing a "red coat lined with yellow". (sic)

1685. Tuesday 6th February. The Monmouth Rebellion (civil war) was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England, Scotland and Ireland upon the death of his elder brother Charles II. James II was a Roman Catholic, and some Protestants under his rule opposed his Kingship. James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, an illegitimate son of Charles II, claimed to be the rightful heir to the throne and attempted to over throw him.

1685. Tuesday 6th February. James II ascended the throne of England. The Regiment was given to Prince George of Denmark the King's son-in-law. It was during this time that the uniform colour changed to red coats with white stockings. Renamed Prince George of Denmark's Regiment but later they were disbanded.

1685. An Ordnance Regiment was raised by order of King James II, to guard the artillery, and was designated the Royal Fusiliers (later the 7th Foot). This Corps, and the Companies of Grenadiers, did not carry pikes.

1685. It was customary at this time to call regiments by the names of their Commanding Officers. A practice which has always been a thorn in the side of historians. In accordance with this custom, it went on that the Duke of York upon becoming King James II in 1685, his Marine Regiment was handed over to Prince George, Hereditary Prince of Denmark, it then became known by his name. In the following year possibly because of the Princes taste in fancy waistcoats did not coincide with that of his predecessors in command. The men of the Marine Regiment were clad in redcoats, with yellow facings, dark grey breeches, and white stockings.

1687 \- 1698. There were several Maritime Regiments raised Commanded by Colonels Mordaunt, Colt, Seymour, and Brudenell, also Sir Cloudesley Shovel's, Lord Torrington, and the Marquis of Carmarthen's, all of which were disbanded during 1697 and 1698. The expenses incurred by the maintenance of the maritime troops were classed with the estimates of the navy, and money was issued from time to time, by warrant from the Lord High Treasurer to the Treasurer of the Navy, who placed it in the hands of a person especially appointed to receive and pay it. Under this system, the Admiralty and Navy Boards were subjected too much trouble, in forming and directing its different arrangements.

1687 \- 1698. A total of seven Marine Regiments were raised and subsequently disbanded.

1688 \- 1697. The Nine Year War between the England, Spain, Germany, Portugal and Holland against King Louis XIV of France.

1688 \- 1697. King William's War was the first of six North American colonial wars.

1688 \- 1691. The Williamite War in Ireland was a conflict between the Jacobites (supporters of the English Catholic King James II) and Williamites (supporters of the Dutch Protestant Prince William of Orange) over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland. It is also known as the Jacobite War in Ireland.

1688 \- 1746. The Jacobite Rebellions were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in England and Ireland. The uprisings had the aim of returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the English throne.

1689. Officers commanding his Majesty's ships were ordered to deposit perfect copies of their journals with the secretary of the admiralty.

1689. King William III incorporated the Admirals Regiment which was then considered the third Regiment of Infantry, into the Second, now the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards. Two Marine Regiments were about the same time, established for service on board the fleet, which were later disbanded in 1698.

1689. May. The Railleuse and Serpente were captured by Nonsuch.

1689 – 1697. England and France declared war against each other.

1689. Wednesday 11th May. The Battle of Bantry Bay was a naval engagement fought during the Nine Years' War. The English fleet was commanded by Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington, the French fleet by François Louis de Rousselet, Marquis de Château Renault. Apart from the inshore operations at La Rochelle in 1627 - 1628, the Battle of Bantry Bay was the first time English and French navies had met in a fleet action since 1545. The battle near the southern Irish coast was inconclusive but the French, endeavouring to supply King James II in his attempt to re-establish his throne, had managed to unload their supplies for James's Irish campaign. However, the French failed to follow up their tactical success with a strategic gain, Château Renault had inflicted considerable damage on the English fleet. During the wars with France, Marine Battalions and ships detachments were seldom away from the fighting.

1689. Monday 28th July. Relief of Londonderry.

1690. Britain was at war with France and two Regiments of Marines were raised under the command of the Earl of Torrington and Pembroke, later Lord Berkeley's. Each had twelve companies (948 men) and a Grenadier company (237 men) and again there were no pike men, each man carrying a Dutch snaphance musket. In addition, each Marine carried a bayonet, which was unusual at that time. Their main role was for service with the Fleet in which they succeeded in participating in all major sea battles of that time. (Both Regiments were later disbanded in 1696).

The Marine Regiment which according to another account published in 1691, was a detachment of the frigates, numbering 400 strong, would seem to be what we should now call a Naval Brigade, but on the other hand, one would hardly expect the men to be called Marines. Probably both seamen and Marines acted together as they had constantly done on other occasions. Captain Keigwin though here called a sea commander, had a commission in a Marine Regiment. However, in those days it would not have debarred him from a Naval Command, it was rather a reason for giving it to him. He took part in the capture of St. Helena as a Commander of our Land Forces.

1690. Wednesday 21st June. The capture of St. Christopher's in the West Indies, by a 400 strong Battalion of Marines, formed from the detachments of a number of frigates in the area. During this action 130 men were killed and wounded, including Captain Keigwin a sea Commander, who was appointed Colonel of the Marines Regiment consisting of about 230 seamen was shot through the thigh, of which he died before he could be carried on board. Captain Brisbane who acted as 1st Captain of the Marines also received a shot through the body and died the next morning on board HMS Bristol.

1690. Friday 30th June. The French were sighted off the Lizard making their way eastwards up the Channel. Lord Torrington, commanding the combined fleets, was reluctant to commit to battle in the face of superior French numbers, but was given the order for battle from HMS Queen Mary on Sunday 9th July off Beachy Head. With the wind from NE three divisions of the combined Anglo-Dutch fleet bore down upon three divisions of the French fleet to the westward, with both sides arranged in a line of battle formation.

1690. Monday 10th July. The Battle at Beachy Head along the Sussex coast was a naval engagement fought during the Nine Years War, approximately 12 or more miles off Beachy Head, between a combined Anglo-Dutch fleet and the French fleet. The battle raged from around 8am until nightfall. It took place in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution when William and Mary of Orange replaced James II on the throne, and French involvement at this battle was intended to support the return of James II, as well as being part of the wider war known as the War of the Grand Alliance.

The battle was the greatest French tactical naval victory over their English and Dutch opponents during the war. The English and Dutch lost around 11 ships in total, whereas the French did not lose a single vessel, but although control of the English Channel temporarily fell into French hands, Admiral Tourville failed to pursue the Allied fleet allowing it to escape to the river Thames. Tourville was heavily criticised for not following up his victory and was relieved of his command. English Admiral Torrington who had advised against engaging the superior French fleet was overruled by Queen Mary, and her minister was court-martialled for his performance during the battle. Although he was later acquitted, when King William dismissed him from the service.

1690. Tuesday 11th July. The Battle of Boyne took place in Ireland, between the Catholic James II of England and VII of Scotland and the Protestant William III of England and II of Scotland, who, with his wife, Mary II (who was his cousin and James's daughter), had overthrown James in England in 1688. The battle took place across the river Boyne near the town of Droghedaon on the east coast of Ireland and resulted in a victory for William. This turned the tide in James's failed attempt to regain the British crown and ultimately aided in ensuring the continued Protestant ascendancy in Ireland. William's forces defeated James's army, which consisted mostly of raw recruits. The symbolic importance of this battle has made it one of the best known battles in the history of the British Isles and a key part of the folklore of the Orange Order. Marines were at one time involved in the fighting. It was also the last battle between two rival claimants for the throne.

1690. James II of England (James VII of Scotland) and Ireland departed for France from Kinsale, following his defeat at the battle of the Boyne by William III of England also William III of the House of Orange.

1690. Prince George of Denmark's Maritime Regiment (1984 - 1689) proposed uniform for the 1st and 2nd Marines. (taken from 'Britain's Sea Soldiers: Vol 1 by Cyril Field RMLI).

1690. Wednesday 12th July. The Siege and Capture of Jacobite controlled Cork in Ireland, was taken by the same two Marine Regiments led by John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough, who had fought at Beach Head earlier in the year. Marlborough reached Cork by sea on Thursday 21st September. His English forces were 5,000 strong and he also had at his disposal a fleet which blockaded the port of Cork. While entering Queens Town Harbour the British fleet was fired upon by an eight gun battery near the entrance, and after a few broadsides went on to capture Cork. He landed his troops at Passage West on Sunday 24th September and set up his base at Red Abbey, to the south of the walled city. Approaching from the northern landward, side were 4,000 Danish troops under the Duke of Württemberg.

The Williamites took the forts (such as Elizabeth Fort) which commanded the hills around Cork and commenced a bombardment of the city from the heights. When a breach was opened in the city walls, the towns garrisoned opened surrender negotiations, asking to be allowed to leave Cork and join the main Jacobite army at Limerick. Marlborough refused the request, although Württemberg was in favour of granting the terms. A few days later, the Williamites mounted a joint English-Danish assault of the breach from the south. When the Williamites reached the walls, the Governor of Cork, McElliot, opened new surrender talks and agreed that the garrison would become prisoners and would surrender their arms and stores. Marlborough accepted, and the town surrendered. In spite of this, the Williamite troops, sacked the city, and carried out a great deal of damage looting property and abusing the Catholic inhabitants. Many civilians were killed before Württemberg and Marlborough could restore order.

1690. Sunday 15th October. The Capture of Skinsdale along the South East Coast of Ireland. The Williamites went on to take nearby Kinsale which was strongly defended by two forts, the Old Fort, also known as James Fort, and the New Fort or Charles Fort. Marlborough assaulted these fortifications but was unable to take them by storm. The Old Fort, defended by the Governor Colonel Cornelius O'Driscoll, fell after an assault was made possible by an accidental explosion in its gunpowder magazine, which killed 40 of his men. After some 200 others were slain in the following assault including Colonel O'Driscoll, the rest surrendered. However, Charles Fort held out for a further ten days and surrendered only after receiving guarantees that its 1,200 strong garrison could march away to Limerick. It was defended by the elderly and experienced Governor Sir Edward Scott, and his Deputy Governor Colonel Daniel O'Donovan.

1691. Wednesday 21st February. Commodore Wrenn engaged M. de Blenac.

1691. Thursday 12th July. The Battle of Ashram on the East Coast of Ireland.

1691. Sunday 22nd July. The Battle of Aughrim was the decisive battle of the Williamite War in Ireland. It was fought between the Jacobites and the forces of William III near the village of Aughrim in County Galway. The battle was one of the more bloodyed recorded fought on Irish soil. With over 7,000 people killed. It meant the effective end of Jacobitism in Ireland, although the city of Limerick held out until the autumn.

1691. The Marine Regiment which according to another account published in 1691, was a detachment of the frigates, 400 strong, would seem to be what we should now call a Naval Brigade, but on the other hand, one would hardly expect the men to be called Marines. Probably both seamen and Marines acted together as they had constantly done on other occasions. Captain Keigwin though here called a sea commander, had a commission in a Marine Regiment. However, in those days would not have debarred him from a Naval Command, it was rather a reason for giving it to him. He went on to take part in the capture of St. Helena as a Commander of our Land Forces.

1692. Two Foot Regiments were raised Comanded by General John Mordaunt and Brigadier-General William Seymour.

1692. May. The French fleet of 44 ships of the line under the command of Admiral Anne Hilarion de Costentin, Comte de Tourville, was preparing to transport an invading army of Franco Irish troops to restore James II to the English throne. Despite Tourville being in command of the fleet, strategic decisions were to be taken by James II, François d'Usson de Bonrepaus and Bernardin Gigault de Bellefonds. The French victory at the Battle of Beachy Head two years earlier, in June 1690, had opened up the possibility of destroying the allied fleet and landing an invading army. Tourville boldly engaged the 82 vessel Anglo-Dutch fleet at Barfleur. After a fierce but indecisive clash that left many ships on both sides damaged, Tourville disengaged. He slipped off into light fog and for several days tried to escape the superior forces. The French fleet scattered, and fifteen were lost, three at Cherbourg and a further twelve at La Hougue. The threat of invasion of England was lifted.

1692. Monday 19th to Wednesday 4th June. The Marines played a major role in the related naval battles of Barfleur and La Hogue off the Coast of France. When the Anglo Dutch fleet defeated the French. Forcing its ships into La Hogue where four days later, two hundred boats manned by Marines and seamen continued the rout, in which the French lost 15 ships.

1692. September. Detachments were drawn out of the two Marine Regiments to go with Colonel Faringdon's Regiment to Jamaica.

1692. November. Colonel's Lillington and Norcutts were sent to Jamaica each with 100 Marines. While a further 500 Marines were sent to Admiral Russell in Jamaica for duty's afloat.

1693. Saturday 27th June. The Battle of Lagos was a sea battle that took place during the Nine Years' War off the Coast of Portugal during the Nine Years' War. When a French fleet under Anne Hilarion de Tourville defeated an Anglo-Dutch fleet under George Rooke. Rooke's squadron was protecting the 'Smyrna Convoy', and it is by this name that the action is sometimes known. During the spring of 1693, a large convoy was organised to transport English and Dutch merchant ships which were bound for Spain and the Mediterranean.

1693. Thursday 29th June. The Battle of Landen in Belgium, took place during the Nine Years' War, fought in present-day Belgium between the French Army of Marshal Luxembourg and the Allied Army of King William III of England. The French assaulted the allied position three times before the French cavalry finally penetrated the allied defences and drove William's army from the field in a rout. The battle was costly on both sides, with the French losing 9,000 men and the Allies 19,000. The French failed to follow up on their victory, allowing William to escape.

1693. Thursday 26th November. The attack on St. Malmo south of Jersey off the coast of France. 6 Officers, 25 Sergeants and 250 Marines embarked for this service, including the Grenadier Company.

A fleet of 30 English and Dutch ships appeared off Cap Frehel. They cannonaded Fort-la-Latte and Ébihens Island, and then sailed towards Saint Malo. Three days later, the Anglo Dutch force captured Fort de la Conchée and Cézembre Island. For their attack on Saint Malo the English had brought a vessel packed with gunpowder to use as a floating mine against the city's defences, but it ran aground short of its target. The crew of the vessel were able to set off their bomb, but it was too far from its target to do any harm.

1693. Monday 29th June. Throwing the dice for Execution. This custom seems to have been the usual procedure for executions in the 16-1700's. Luttrell records (29th June 1693) that, "Yesterday three soldiers of Prince Hesse's regiment were bought to St George's Fields being condemned by court-martial for deserting their colours. The three of them were required to throw the dice on to the drum. The one throwing the lowest number was shot to death." Again "Barclay (in his `Icon Animarum' tells the story of an Englishman on the Spanish side in Flanders, taken prisoner amongst other soldiers. Dice was given them to throw for their lives. The Englishman took the dice before all the others and threw high thereby escaping death. He saw one of the Spanish prisoners shaking from fear and offered to throw his dice for him for twelvepence and he threw high again thus surviving."

An earlier instance can be quoted from Strada, who is speaking of the strict discipline enforced by the Duke of Alva in the Spanish Army. In a march from Italy to the Low Countries the one and only crime committed against civilians was the stealing of three sheep in Lorraine. The three culprits concerned were ordered to be hanged, but on intercession of a Lorraine officer " the three were compelled to throw dice upon the drum head to decide which should die. As fortune would have it the lot to be hanged fell on the one who had enticed the other two to commit the crime. (Sic)

1694. Sunday 3rd - 4th January. The Capture of the Nonsuch and the Falcon by the Francois.

1694. Wednesday 27th January. The Capture of the Content and the Trident by an English Squadron.

1694. Thursday 14th February. An order was issued to all officers commanding Marine Regiments: "You are also required to cause your men to be frequently exercised at the Great gun for the better instructing them in that matter. "(sic)

1694. Sunday 2nd May. Capture of the Diligente by an English Squadron.

1694. Tuesday 8th June. An English squadron under Lord Berkeley, was defeated in its attack on Brest on the French coast. As soon as the Monk came within range of the enemies mortars, the enemy began to fling their bombs at her from the Point des Fillette, and the Western Point of Camaret Bay, in so much that when she came within three quarters of a mile of the latter one of the bombs broke just above her, with a large piece of it striking through the poop and two lower decks, before flying out of the side and into the water near one of the stern ports, near one of the standard ports, and killed two of the Marines Company and wounded a third, who stood closed by him on the Poop.

1694. Friday 18th June. The Battle of Camaret was an amphibious landing at Camaret Bay by the English and Dutch in an attempt to seize the French port of Brest and destroy part of the French fleet stationed there, during the Nine Years' War. It was successfully opposed by Vauban (in his only ever field command.

1694. Tuesday 15th June. The Bombardment of Havre de Grace.

1694. Monday 12th July. The Bombardment of Dieppe off the coast of France. The castle Château de Dieppe.

1694. Sunday 18th July. The capture of the HMS Scarborough by the Comte de Revel.

1694. Sunday 12th to Monday 13th September. The Bombardment of Dunkirk on the coast of France.

1694. Tuesday 27th July. The Bank of England is chartered after its founders lent the government £1.2 million to help cover its soaring war debts.

1695. A Brass boxed compass was first supplied to most ships of the Royal Navy.

1695. The Battle of Sardinia in which HMS Plymouth Commanded by Captain James Killigrew, who was also a Captain in the first Marines helped defeat two French ships.

1695. Thursday 27th January. The Battle off Messina in Sicily. Captain James Killigrew a Captain in the 1st Marines then in command of the HMS Plymouth carrying 60 guns, defeated the French ships Content with 60 guns and the Trident with 52 Guns. He was killed during the action and buried in Messina with full military honours.

1695. Saturday 16th April. The Capture of the Hope by Duguay-Trouin.

1695. Sunday 3rd July. The Battle off Jamaica in the West Indies.

1695. Monday 4th - 5th July. The Bombardment of St. Malo.

1695. Monday 1st August. The Bombardment of Dunkirk.

1695. Wednesday 17th August. The Bombardment of Calais.

1696. Tuesday 3rd July. The Landing on Isle of Groy to the North of France. 700 Soldiers and Marines were landed and burnt twenty villagers. It was intended to attempt a landing on Belle-Isle at the time, but the Admiral abandoned the idea as he only had 240 men lead by Colonel Norcutt. Knowing that the enemy had 25 Companies of the Regiments of Picardy and 3000 armed islanders.

1696. Thursday 12th July. The Battle of Aughrim in Galway Ireland.

1697. Tuesday 28th May. HMS Nevell engaged De Pointis off Cartagena.

1697. Half pay was first granted to the Officers of Marines.

1697. Friday 20th September. With The peace agreement with France two foot Regiments raised in 1692, Mordaunt's Regiment and Seymour's Regiment were converted into Marines.

1698. Friday 18th July. An order was issued for the two Regiments of Marines that must have been considerably reduced in numbers, were combined in to one, and placed under the command of Colonel Thomas Brudenall. At the same time the three Regiments commanded by Colonel Edward Dutton Colt, William Seymour, and Henry Mordaunt, were turned into Marine Regiments and placed upon the naval establishment. These Regiments had a strength of 754 Officers, N.C.O.S. and men, so that the whole tour of them together were barely stronger than the one of the original Regiments whose place they had taken. Like the previous Marine Regiments, the new establishment was made the subject of various attacks by the pamphleteers of the day, and the transference of three of them from the line gave one of their most virulent assailants the pretext for alleging that "Their Land Methods have mightily interfere with the Navy Rules, and introduced pernicious notions into the Fleet Officers, such as Misratings, false musters, and other Abuses which Sea Officers formally were ignorant of, had all of them entered the service since the year 1668, when that monarch who "never said a foolish thing but never did a wise one," remarked to the Duke of York: If ever you intend to man the fleet without being cheated by the Captains and Pursers, you may go to bed and resolve never to have it maned." (sic)

1698. The advantages arising from the Corps being trained to the use of arms on board of ship, as well as on the land, were found when the British navy acquired superiority over that of other nations of Europe, and as the safety of Great Britain, from its insular position, chiefly depended on the efficiency and excellence of her fleets, the importance and value of Marine Forces have consequently been at all times acknowledged and appreciated by the Sovereign, as well as by the Nation at large.

1699. Four Regiments of Marines were recruited. However, because of the peace of Ryswick they were later ordered to be disbanded.
Chapter 3

### 1700 - 1724

By the early 18th century the role of the Marines had been resolved.

They were totally under the control of the Admiralty.

Their roles consisted of:

1. Guard and sentry duties.

2. The maintenance of discipline and enforcement of regulations aboard ship.

3. Marines quarters aboard ship were kept separate from the seamen.

4. They stood guard when punishment was being carried out.

5. At friendly ports they performed guard duties, maintained order and ensured that sailors did not desert their ship.

6. To Guard Garrison captured fortresses until relieved by the infantry.

7. To act as sharpshooters and gunners on board ship.

8. To act as boarding parties to seize ships and assist in sailing captured ships to friendly ports.

9. When occasion arose to fight in land battles.

1702. Wednesday 8th March. With the death of King William III. His policy was adopted by his successor Queen Anne, who entered into treaties of alliance with the Emperor of Germany, the State's General of the United Provinces, and other Princes and Potentates, for preserving the liberty and balance of power in Europe, and for defeating the ambitious views of France. The measures for increasing the efficiency of the fleet had occasioned the suggestion of raising Corps of Marines, capable of acting on land as well as at sea. Several Regiments of the regular army were appointed to serve as Marines, and six additional Regiments were especially raised for that service.

1702. Tuesday 14th March. A Royal Warrant was issued, authorising Colonel George Villiers to raise a Regiment of Marines, which was to consist of twelve companies, of two Sergeants, three Corporals, two Drummers, and fifty-nine private soldiers each, with an additional Sergeant to the Grenadier Company.

1702. Thursday 4th of May. The declaration of hostilities against Spain and France was announced. The 'War of the Spanish Succession' as it became known with England, Scotland, Germany, Portugal and Holland all fighting against Spain and France. Triggered by the death of the last Habsburg King of Spain, the infirmed and childless Charles ll. The War of the Spanish Succession was primarily fought in Europe. and was to continue until 1713. Six Regiments of Marines was raised.

1702. Thursday 1st June. Upon the declaration of war with France and Spain, of which both nations possessed powerful fleets as well as numerous armies. The British Parliament felt the expediency of enabling the Queen to increase the efficiency of her navy, by forming Corps of Marines, which could act at sea as well as on land. Six Regiments were accordingly added to the regular Army as Marine Corps, and six others of the regular Regiments of Infantry were appointed for sea service The Regiments of Marines were commanded by Colonel Thomas Saunderson's, now thirtieth foot. Colonel George Villiers's, now thirty first foot. Colonel Edward Fox's, now thirty-second foot. And Colonel Harry Mordaunt's. They were to fight in Spain, France and in North America alongside Dutch Marines. The six Regiments of Foot for sea-service were, Commanded Colonel Ventria Columbine's, now sixth foot. Colonel Thomas Erie's, now nineteenth foot. Colonel Gustavns Hamilton's, now twentieth foot. Colonel Lord Lucas's, now thirty-fourth foot. Colonel Earl of Donegal's, now thirty-fifth foot. Colonel Lord Charlemont's, now thirty-sixth foot. Her Majesty's Order for levying this body of men was contained in the following Royal Warrant, dated Thursday 1st of June 1702: Anne R. "Our pleasure is, that this establishment of six Regiments of Marines, and six other Regiments for Sea-Service, do commence and take place from the respective times of raising". "And our further pleasure is, that the order given by our dearest brother the late King, deceased, and such orders as are, or shall be, given by us, touching the pay or entertainment of our said forces, or any of them, or any charges thereunto belonging, shall be duly complied with, and that no new charge be added to this establishment without being communicated to our High Treasurer, or Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being. Given at our Court at St. James's, on the first day of June in the first year of our reign." By Her Majesty's Command.

Its interesting to note that the Marine Regiments had 2nd Lieutenants whilst those Regiments designated for sea service had ensigns.

1702 \- 1713. 'Queen Anne's War' was fought mainly in North America was the second in a series of French and Indian Wars fought between France and England, for the control of the Americas. The war also involved numerous Native American tribes allied with each nation. At that time Spain was also allied with France.

1702. The 30th Regiment the 31st Regiment, and the 32nd Regiments were formed as Marine Corps, and were employed as such during the wars of the reign of Queen Anne.

1702. Saturday 1st July. Rules and Instructions for the better government of the Marine Regiments were issued by the authority of Her Majesty Queen Anne, in which it was directed, "That when on shore they were to be quartered in the vicinity of the dock yards, in order to guard them from embezzlement, or from any attempt that might be made on them by an enemy. Full instructions were also given as to their pay, subsistence, and clothing, which directed that the same deductions should be made for clothing as was usual in the land forces. Also, that one day's pay in every year be deducted from officers and soldiers for the Hospital. When on board ship they were to have an equal proportion of provisions with the seamen, without any deductions from their pay, the soldiers receiving short allowance money like the seamen. In order to render such portions of the Marine regiments as might be on shore, useful on all occasions when their services might be required, Her Majesty directed, that it should rest with herself, or with the Lord High Admiral, the Prince George of Denmark, to dispose of them at such places nearest to the several dock-yards as might be judged most convenient, and as there might be occasion for labourers to despatch necessary public works. Her Majesty empowered the High Admiral, or the Commissioners for executing that office, to cause to be employed in the dock yards so many of the Marine soldiers as might be judged fitting, and to make them such daily allowance for their labour, besides their ordinary pay, as should seem reasonable. The Marine forces being thus placed under the control of the Lord High Admiral, His Royal Highness was pleased to nominate Colonel William Seymour (of the fourth Regiment of Foot) to superintend the whole, with the rank of Brigadier General, whose peculiar duties were to observe, that the men were comfortably quartered, that the officers were attentive in their respective departments, and that the Marine soldiers, when embarked on board of ship, were supplied with proper sea-clothes and other suitable necessaries. When the Marines were serving afloat, they were to be under the command of the Naval Officers of the ships." (sic)

1702. The uniform of the Marines at that time consisted of high crowned leather caps, covered with cloth of the same colour as the facings of the Regiment, and ornamented with devices, the same as the caps worn by the grenadier's scarlet frock coat, buff waist belt, black pouch carried in front, with bayonet belt attached and buff gaiters.

1702. July. Colonel Villiers's Corps of Marines, now the Thirty First Regiment, soon after its formation was called upon to supply five Companies for embarkation for active service on board the fleet destined against Spain, these Companies embarked in the latter part of May from Plymouth, and proceeded to join the fleet at Portsmouth, from whence the expedition sailed to Cadiz during the month of July. The heavily armed fleet arrived off Cadiz on Saturday 12th August, and the Duke summoned the place, but his terms being refused, he landed on the Tuesday 15th at the Bay of Bulls, between Rota and Fort St. Catherine under great disadvantages and a well conducted opposition. He then marched upon Rota, where the horses and stores were disembarked. Two days later he advanced towards the town of St. Mary. Rota was retaken by a coup and the British garrison of 300 men were captured. However, the attempt on Cadiz eventually failed, and the troops were re-embarked, and sailed from Cadiz on the Saturday 30th September. In alluding to this expedition, Bishop Burnet remarks, "It is certain our Court had false accounts of the state the place was in, both with relation to the garrison, and to the fortifications, the garrison was much stronger. While the fortifications were in a better state, than was represented." 10,000 Marines and Foot Soldiers had been unsuccessfully in an attempt to capture Cadiz. (sic)

1702. Wednesday 16th August. The Battle off Portobello took place in the West Indies.

1702. Saturday 19th August (OS). The Action took place between an English squadron under the command of Vice Admiral John Benbow and a French under command of Admiral Jean du Casse, off Cape Santa Marta on the coast of present-day Colombia South America, a little to the east of the mouth of the Rio Magdalena, during the 'War of the Spanish Succession'. Benbow vigorously attacked the French squadron, but the refusal of most of his captains to support the action allowed du Casse to escape. Benbow lost a leg during the engagement and died of illness about two months later. While two of the captains were convicted of cowardice and shot. Benbow's determination to pursue the French, in what proved to be his last fight, proved irresistible to the public imagination. The events of the fight inspired a number of ballads, usually entitled Admiral Benbow or Brave Benbow, which were still favourites among British sailors more than a century later.

1702. Wednesday 11th - 12th October. The Attack on the Treasure ships at Virgo, during the War of the Spanish Succession. The English and Dutch forces surprised and captured the Spanish defended harbour and shared part of the silver from a treasure fleet that was being unloaded. However, the Spanish sailors had already unloaded most of its cargo.

1703. Saturday 6th January. Seven companies of the Regiment were stationed at Plymouth, and on the Saturday 27th four companies were ordered for embarkation on board of the ships Suffolk and Grafton, which proceeded on service to the coast of Spain, to join the fleet under the command of Admiral Sir George Rooke, During December Colonel Villiers, who was in command of the Regiment on board of the fleet drowned. On Saturday 6th December he was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Lutterell.

1703. February. Hovenden Walker at Guadaloupe.

1703. Wednesday 7th March. The Battle and Siege of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean was a failed attempt by English forces led by Christopher Codrington to capture the French controlled isle, during the 'War of the Spanish Succession'. The English struggled to gain a foot hold owing to a shortage of supplies, while Guadeloupe's Governor Charles Auger received reinforcements from Martinique which contributed to the English eventually lifted the siege.

Colonel Codrington, Governor off H.M. Leeward Islands, came with the Land Force, under his command, on board a squadron of H.M. Ships, with divers Privateers, and other vessels, receiving several shots from the shore without doing any other mischief other than killing one man, and a boy. The Colonel stood off till the 10th March, waiting for the Maidstone and the other small vessels that carried the provisions and ammunition. On the 12th March, Colonel Byam with his own Regiment, and 200 of Coronel Whethan's men, landed at the break of day at a place called Les Petite. About nine in the morning Coronel Whetham landed in a bay to the Northwest of the town called Les Bailiff, where he met with a vigorous resistance from all the enemy forces in very good and advantageous fortifications. Yet not withstanding all their fire, the English marched up to their entrenchments, with their muskets shouldered, not firing a shot at them until they could lay the muzzles of the guns upon the enemy's breast works. The English had three Captains killed before they could make themselves masters of the enemy's entrenchments, which they did around noon, and an hour later of La Bayliffe, and of the Jacobine Church, which the enemy had fortified, with 10 of their Cannon.

About 2 pm the English took a platform with three of their Canon, and the Marines Regiment attacked the Jacobine plantation and Breast Work all along the Jacobine River, which the enemy quit upon the firing of two volleys off small arms upon them. The following day the English pressed on to the town of Basse Terre, where they sent parties ahead to burn and destroy the enemy's houses, works, Sugar Canes, and provisions, lying Siege to the Fort and Castle of the same place. However, after all their endeavours they had not been able to master the main Fort, which was both naturally and artificially very strong, they were forced to quit the whole island.

1703. Sunday 18th March. Montague engaged a french Squadron.

1703. Friday 27th July. Dilkes destroyed French ships off Graville.

1703. Friday 31th August. The Landing at Althea. The whole fleet came inside to Althaea in search of fresh water. HMS Flamborough was sent close to the shore to cover the descent of their Regiments of Marines, who landed without any manner of confusion, and were actually drawn up in Battalia on the shore, before half the fleet had come to anchor. Brigadier General Seymour landed with the first detachment and gave such orders that a more orderly descent could not have been made in an enemy country. This done they set up a camp, and the Spaniards upon seeing this brought plenty of provisions for them, for which they paid them. The fleet left without anybody on both sites being injured.

1703. Friday 16th November. The Great Storm, 13 men of war ships lost.

1703. Monday 26th November. HMS Oxford. HMS Warspite and HMS Lichfield captured the Hauardeux.

1704. A second attempt to Capture Cadiz was abandoned in favour of all Marines and Foot Soldiers being diverted and used to take the grand prize that of Gibraltar.

1704. February. The Thirty First Regiment at that time was a Marine Corps serving under Admiral Sir George Rooke. During February the fleet headed towards Lisbon, and from there it proceeded on to Barcelona, where the troops were landed under the Command of Major General the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt, on the Monday 19th May. However, the force being inadequate for the purpose intended, was re-embarked the following day.

1704. February. During the reign of Queen Anne (Friday 6th February 1665 - Wednesday 1st August 1714) certain Independent Companies of Marines were raised for the soul purpose of aiding in the defence of the British possessions in the West Indies. The first important service on which the Marine Corps were employed during her reign was on board the fleet Commanded by Admiral Sir Cloudesly Shovel. He was instructed to make every possible arrangement by conciliation or by conquest, among the dependencies of the French and Spanish monarchies. In order to ensure a cordial reception of the Archduke Charles of Austria in opposition to Philip, Duke of Anjou of France, to the throne of Spain. After some delays, the Archduke finally arrived at Lisbon under Admiral Sir George Rooke on the Monday 25th February in order devise a plan of future operations with his ally the King of Portugal.

1704. Friday 12 March. Rear-Admiral Dilkes captured three Spanish ships.

1704. April. Sir George Hooke, after cruising with his fleet along the coast of Portugal, returned to Lisbon and welcomed the Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt on board. Later on Sunday 20th April they sailed towards Barcelona. Upon the arrival of the fleet, the Prince of Hesse sent a letter to Don Vclasco the Governor of Bar, requiring him to surrender the town, but he declined. Sixteen hundred Marines were landed under the command, of Major General the Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt, on Monday 19th May. This force, was found to be inadequate for the purpose, and was re-embarked the following day. The next object of attack was to be the Rock of Gibraltar where the Prince of Hesse landed during the afternoon of the Monday 21st July with 1800 British and Dutch Marines. Acting upon the decision of a council of war. His Highness proceeded to cut off all communication with the mainland, to bombard the place, and to reduce it to the obedience of Charles III King of Spain. The governor, on being summoned, refused to surrender, alleging that all the garrison had taken an oath of allegiance to King Philip V.

Admiral Sir George Rooke having directed a strong force to proceed against the South Mole, had driven the enemy from their guns, several boats manned and armed, were then detached under the command of Captain Whitaker, of the Navy, who soon obtained possession of the great platform. About one hundred of the besiegers, whose impetuous bravery had carried them within the effects of a mine connected with the fort, were killed or wounded by the explosion. The rest advancing rapidly, gained a redoubt half way between the mole and the town. The Governor at the urgent insistence of the inhabitants, was induced to capitulate, and the Prince of Hesse took possession of the garrison on the evening of Thursday 24th July. The loss in effecting the capture of this important fortress was Sixty one killed, and two hundred and six wounded. The attack of the seamen was one of the boldest and most difficult ever made, with them being obliged to climb up rocks and precipices. Thus, it was taken in three days, a fortress since made impregnable to all assaults. The loss of Gibraltar disconcerted the measures of Philip V, and of his grandfather Louis XIV. Eight thousand men, under the Marquis dc Villadarias, were immediately detached from the Spanish army to retake the fortress, and the French Admiral received orders to engage the British and Dutch fleets, and to cooperate in the recapture of Gibraltar. The hostile fleets engaged on the Sunday 24th August, about eleven leagues south of Malaga, after each had suffered severely, they were separated in the night. The enemy retired to Toulon, and Sir George Rooke sailed to Gibraltar. Once there and after having held a Council of War, it was determined to return home, and the confederate fleet sailed for England, arriving at Spithead on the Thursday 25th September. Sir John Leake and Admiral Vander-dussen were left at Lisbon to protect the coast of Portugal, and relieve Gibraltar, if it should be besieged as was anticipated.

The Marquis de Villadarias commenced the siege of Gibraltar on the Wednesday 22nd October, and the garrison, composed of Marines under the command of the Prince of Hesse, sustained a siege by seven thousand men. The purpose of the enemy was to have stormed from the South Mole, united with the desperate attempt of a Spanish forlorn hope climbing the rock, and a general attack from the mainland. The fortress was maintained against very superior numbers, and the fire power of the enemy's batteries having caused a lot of damaged. A body of men was landed from the fleet to assist in the defence. Brigadier Fox and several other officers and men, having been killed on the Friday 5th December, while aid was solicited from the army in Portugal. Admiral Sir John Leake accordingly sailed from Lisbon on the Wednesday 10th of December, with a fleet, having on board a battalion of the first and second foot guards, Barrymore's Regiment, now thirteenth foot, Donegal's Regiment, now thirty-fifth foot, the Dutch Regiment of Waes, and a Portuguese Regiment, amounting in all to upwards of three thousand men. On their passage they fell in with the enemy's squadron under Monsieur de Pointi, but they succeeded in arriving at Gibraltar, although some of the transports had separated. These Corps were safely landed on the Thursday 18th December, and the Prince, strengthened by this reinforcement, made a sortie on the Tuesday 23rd, and destroyed the lines, that had been erected within a hundred and sixty paces of the palisade.

1704. Sunday 24th August. The Battle of Malaga Southern Spain, was the largest naval battle during the 'War of the Spanish Succession'.

1704. Wednesday 29th October. Leake captured six French ships at Gibraltar.

1705. Monday 2nd February. Having received considerable reinforcements, placed at his disposal the Marquis de Villadarias made an attempt to storm the Bound Tower, to ascertain what might be effective by a larger force. Where upon on Saturday 7th February the enemy attacked with five hundred chosen Grenadiers, French and Walloons, Commanded by Lieut. General Thouy, supported by one thousand Spanish troops. They ascended the hill in perfect silence at daybreak, and again attempted to storm the Bound Tower, which was defended by Colonel Borr of the now thirty second Regiment. The assailants were throwing from above great stones and grenades on his men, at last obliged him to retire into that part of the works where the foot guards were posted. Flushed with success, they advanced too far, when they were gallantly charged by Colonel Moncall, of Barrymore's thirteenth Regiment, and driven from the Bound Tower. Colonel Rivett, of the Coldstream guards, having got up the rock on the right of the covered way with twenty grenadiers, favoured very much Colonel Moncalfs success. The garrison by this time had assembled and kept up so destructive a fire that although the enemy was obliged to make a precipitate retreat, losing seventy men killed on the spot, upwards of two hundred wounded, and one Captain, four Lieutenants, and forty men taken. The loss on the part of the garrison was twenty seven men killed, and one hundred and twenty wounded.

Marshal de Tcsse arrived with additional troops to carry on the siege, the garrison also received fresh reinforcements from Portugal, besides supplies of every description. Admiral Sir John Leake sailed from the Tagus on the Friday 6th March, and his arrival in the Bay of Gibraltar on the Tuesday 10th, was again so sudden, that he completely surprised the Baron de Pointi, together with the whole of his squadron, consisting of five ships of the line, three of which were captured, and two were driven on shore, and burnt by the enemy. After a siege of seven months the enemy retired, in April, giving up all hopes of being able to make any impression on the fortress, his efforts were then confined to a very feeble blockade. The fortress of Gibraltar, seated upon the territory of Spain, was thus rendered subject to the British. 1,900 British and 400 Dutch Marines prevented Spanish reinforcements from reaching the fortress. Later, British ships bombarded the city while Marines and seamen stormed the defences. After which they later withstood a nine month siege. Today the Royal Marines display only the battle honour Gibraltar on their badge, while their close relationship with the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps who fought alongside them continues to this day. (sic)

1705. Tuesday 10th March. Leake destoyed or took five French line-of-battle ships.

1705. Sunday 12th July. The Surrender and Capture of Carthagena, having been garrisoned by 600 Marines under Major Hedge, the town and castle of Alicant had also fallen.

1705. Wednesday 29th July. The Capture of Alicant.

1705. Wednesday 23rd September. Barcelona capitulated.

1706. Tuesday 23rd March – 30th April. The Defence of Barcelona.

1706. Tuesday 20th April. The Resolution burnt in the presence ot the French squadron.

1706. Monday 26th April. The relief of Barcelona.

1706. Friday 25th June. The capitulation of Ostend.

1706. Thursday 12th August. The Siege of Barcelona and its capitulation to.

1706. Tuesday 14th September. The Capture of Majorca.

1706. September. Leake at the Balearic Isles.

1706. December. HMS Romney cut out a French Ship at Malaga.

1706. Sunday 26th December. HMS Romney and consort destroyed Content.

1707. January. HMS Romney captured the Mercure.

1707. Saturday 15th January. The Battle off St. Estevan. The Marines had a considerable share in the Victory of St. Estevan. Colonel Wills and his Regiment and other English and Dutch troops, was attacked with a great superior force by the advanced guard of the French Army. Wills who was posted on high ground, repulsed his assailants, who were driven to the plain below in great confusion. The following day reinforcements came up under Lieutenant General Conyngham, who assumed command. The same day the French, who were commanded by the Chevalier D'Asfeldt, returned to the attack in still greater strength, having been also reinforced. However, again they suffered a most signal defeat, though the British had to mourn the loss of General Conyngham, who fell mortally wounded. St. Estevan was perhaps the most complete British Victory in the War.

1707. Saturday 15th January. Marines Caps and the Grenadiers March. An extract from the record of "George the First's Army," giving the official account of the battle of St. Estevan, in 1707, when Colonel Sir Charles Wills was in command of his Marine regiment, the First, states "Six companies of Marines were ordered to march up the hill in six columns, and to beat the Grenadiers' March, when in sight of the enemy. These orders were so well executed that at the same moment as our Dragoons entered the plain, killing the enemy's advanced sentinel, our infantry showed themselves and beat the 'Grenadiers, March' upon the hills. The enemy being unused to the uniforms of the Marines, mistook the six companies of Will's Marines for six companies of the Grenadiers, as the marines wore Grenadiers caps, and knowing there was only one company of Grenadiers in each British foot regiment, they naturally thought that there was a regiment of foot to every company of Grenadiers, and that we had six regiments in the background ready to attack them. Brigadier Wills had laid his trap for them." Referring to "The Grenadiers' March" it is stated in a curious old book called "Granger's Wonderful Museum," published in 1808, that "Thomas Marshall, aged 106 years, of Plymouth, a Drummer," died in 1755, and that he "had been ninety years in the Service, and was the first man to beat 'The Grenadiers' March." This famous March, by the way, was for many years the air to which the Royal Marines marched past. In a letter from the late Captain Portlock Dadson, R.M.L.I., he speaks of the Corps as he knew it as a young man, "when 'The British Grenadiers' was our Quick Step on all occasions." (Author Unknown)

1707. Sunday 1st May. The Scottish Parliament and the English Parliament each passed an Act of Parliament to simultaneously dissolve and form the new combined Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The new Parliament would sit at the Palace of Westminster, the home of the old English Parliament. Previous attempts at union had been made, but this was the first time there was sufficient support on both sides to make it happen. Put simply, Scotland needed financial support from England, and the English wanted to ensure that Scotland would not choose a different monarch. It was not, however, a universal popular move and many teething troubles had to be overcome as the two different sets of traditions and practice were merged into one parliament. The few ships belonging to the Scottish Navy became British and the already blended national ensigns of the two counties were by proclamation of Friday 8th July ordered to be worn by the ships of all British subjects in the form of a cannon on a red flag, the Jack its self being reserved as the peculiar distinction of Queens ships. The union with Scotland revived an arrangement which had already existed for a short time under the Commonwealth but had ceased during Restoration.

1707. Monday 2nd May. A Portuguese convoy was defeated by Claude de Forbin.

1707. Tuesday 28th June. The Var. "The enemy had entrenched themselves very strongly on the other side of the Var, a river that was a league distant from Nice, by extending their Works above Four Miles from the shore, and these Intrenchments were guarded by 6 Battalions of Foot, and 800 horses, while Lieutenant General Dillion, an Irish man, was marching with all expedition to re-inforce them with 12 Fresh Battalions." "Sir Cloudsley Shovel commanded 4 British Men of War, and one Dutch, to sail into the Mouth of the Var, attended by 600 Seamen and Marines in open boats, under the conduct of Sir John Norris. The men of War came within Musket shot of the enemy's works, which lay so exposed to our fire, that their Cavalry and many of their Foot gave way. The Admiral himself followed Sir John Norris to the place of action, and observing the disorder of the enemy, commanded him to put to land, and flank them in their intrenchments. His men advanced in such an undaunted manner, and seemed so intrepid and fearless, by tossing up their hats in the air, and their loud Halloo's that the enemy had not courage enough to stay for them, but fearing to be surrounded, fled from their works and retired with great Precipitation." (sic)

1707. Friday July 29th - 21th August. The Battle of Toulon took place in France during the 'War of the Spanish Succession'. In which a French and Spanish force defeated one from Austria, the Dutch Republic, Savoy and Britain. Prince Eugene tried to take the French naval port of Toulon. Eugene had crossed the river Var although hampered by the negligence and inefficiency of Victor Amadeus II of Savoy, had reached Frejus. He was in touch with the British fleet under Admiral Shovell. However, Victor Amadeus' procrastination caused further delays, and gave time for the troops which the Duke of Berwick was sending home from Spain to reinforce Marshal René de Froulay de Tessé at Toulon before the arrival of the Allies. Tessé retook the crucial heights of Santa Catarina, which the Allies had stormed a week earlier; and Eugene, finding his retreat menaced and little chance of taking Toulon, had to abandon his attempt of Monday 22nd August, and fall back across the Var, having lost 10,000 men in this ill-fated attempt. Before Shovell evacuated he bombarded the French harbour and was able to sink two French ships of the line and severely damage two others. The campaign's only success was that, in order to prevent their ships falling into the enemy's hands, the French had sunk their whole squadron of more than forty six ships of between fifty and 110 guns in the harbour. King Louis XIV gave orders that they be sunk and later be re-floated. He was concerned that the Royal Navy would burn the ships, the three deckers would lie with only their upper decks showing above the water. However, much of the damage sustained was irreparable. It's believed that the French Navy lost 15 ships of the line during this operation.

1707. July. Part of a convoy from Baltic captured by Claude de Forbin.

1707. August. Four French ships captured off Newfoundland.

1707. Monday 10th October. The Cumberland, Ruby and Chester captured by Claude de Forbin.

1707. Sunday 23rd October. The loss of the Association, Eagle, Romney and Firebrand.

1708. Saturday 12th May. Leake's Fleet took a French frigate and convoy.

1708. Monday 28th May. Wager's action off Cartagena.

1708. Thursday 2nd August. The Capture of Cagliari the capital of Sardinia. Marines participated in the capture and occupation of Caliari in Sardinia, which surrendered after a night time bombardment.

1708. Friday 14th September. The Capture of Port Mahon. An Anglo-Dutch naval force under the command of Lieut. General James Stanhope landed on the island of Minorca and laid siege to the town of Mahon. Which was taken after a short investment, capitulating on the Tuesday 18th September.

1708. Tuesday 30th October. The surrender of fort Mahon.

1709. Thursday 24th January. Sir George Rooke, one of Portsmouth's most famous Freemen, before he was made an Admiral, had served as Captain of Marines, and being quartered upon the coast of Essex, the ague made great havoc amongst his men; the Minister of the village where he lay was so harassed with his duty that he refused to bury any more of them without being paid his accustomed fees. The Captain made no words; but the next that died, he ordered the body to be conveyed to the Minister's house and laid upon the table in his great hall; this greatly embarrassed the poor clergyman, who in the fullness of his heart, sent the Captain word; "That if he would cause the dead man to be taken away, he would never more dispute it with him, but would readily bury him and his whole company for nothing."

1709. Saturday 2nd March. The Assurance and consorts engaged Duguay-Trouin.

1709. Monday 8th April. The Bristol captured by Duguay-Trouin.

1709. Tuesday 9th April. Lord Dursley defeated Duguay-Trouin and re-took the Bristol.

1709. Monday 6th May. HMS Portland re-captured HMS Coventry.

1709. Saturday 18th May. HMS Falmouth defended a convoy against 4 French vessels.

1709. June. The Fowey taken by two French Frigates.

1709. Monday 23rd September. HMS Plymouth captured the Adriadne.

1709. A plan was formed to attack Port Royal in the province of Nova Scotia, at that time in possession of the French. For this purpose, a body of 400 Marines was embarked, and the expedition was entrusted to the joint conduct of Colonel Nicholson of the land-forces, and Captain Martin of the navy. The squadron proceeded to Boston, where they were to be reinforced by some ships, and such provincial auxiliaries, as might be ready, or were necessary for this intended conquest. Here a Council of War was held, which arranged the future operations of a body, now consisting of 2000 men. They reached their destination upon the 24th of September, and the proper ground for landing having been reconnoitred, the debarkation took place on the following day. The enemy opened a heavy fire upon the boats from their guns and mortars, but with little effect. A bomb vessel drifting up with the tide of flood within reach of the Fort, rendered important service during the two first days, which was spiritedly aided by the military exertions on shore. Upon the first day of October, the Governor of the Fortress having expressed an inclination to surrender upon terms, they were taken into consideration and agreed to. Here a Garrison of Marines was left. Having thus reduced the place, it was now named Annapolis Royal, in honour of her Majesty, under whose auspices it was conquered.

1709. October. HMS Gloucester captured by Duguay-Trouin.

1709. December – Monday 7th April 1710. The Defence of Alicant.

1710. Saturday 3rd May. HMS Suffolk captured the Gaillard.

1710. Medals were very sparingly distributed, and there seem to have been no instance whatsoever of their having been officially given to sea men. For Rear Admiral Dilkes's destruction of the French shipping near Grandville in 1703 the Queen ordered gold medals to be struck for presentation to the Admiral and Officers, but this is almost the sole example of the kind.

1710. Sunday 13th July. An expedition was planned and executed against the Isle of Crete in the province of Languedoc and troops and Marines were landed. The enemy put up a feeble resistance and the fort upon which was mounted eighteen Cannons, surrendered the same day. The Regiment of Stanhope, and three hundred Marines later advanced against Adge, and the town surrender without resistance. The Isle of Crete was later recovered by the French Army under the Duke of Roquetaine, after the British troops had previously left.

1710. Tuesday 29th July. HMS Kent captured the Superbe.

1710. August. HMS Seven and HMS Portland destroyed French settlements in Newfoundland.

1710. Sunday 5th - Monday 13th October. The Siege of Port Royal also became known as the Conquest of Acadia. During the early part of the year a plan had been hatched to attack Port Royal in the province of Nova Scotia, at that time in possession of the French. Under the command of Daniel d'Auger de Subercase. For this purpose, a body of six hundred Marines were embarked, and the expedition was entrusted to the joint conduct of Colonel Nicholson of the Marine forces, and Captain Martin of the Navy. The squadron proceeded to Boston, where they were reinforced by some more ships, and provincial auxiliaries. For this intended conquest a council of war was held, and arrangements were made for the debarkation of a body consisting of two thousand five hundred men which took place on the Wednesday 24th September. There followed a siege that lasted nine days, before the Governor finally surrendered the fortress, and a garrison of Marines took possession on the Sunday 13th October. The fortress was also re-named Annapolis Royal, in honour of Queen Anne in whose reign it was conquered. The siege was the third British attempt during 'Queen Anne's War' to capture the Acadian capital.

1710. Monday 29th December. HMS Pembroke and HMS Falcon taken by French Squadron.

1711. In the early part of the year it was agreed to make an attack on the town of Quebec, the capital of the French possessions in Canada, for which service Admiral Sir Hovenden Walker and Major General John Hill were appointed Commanders in Chief, a large fleet of ships of war formed part of the armament, which was to be further strengthened by troops from the American colonies, they were directed to proceed to Boston in New England, and to make arrangements for this undertaking. They reached Naerlaskel near Boston on the Wednesday 24th June, and having collected the provincial Corps, and withdrawn the Marines from Annapolis Royal, which had been occupied by these Corps since its surrender during 1709, they eventually sailed after many delays on Thursday 30th July. The expedition did not reach the St. Lawrence river until Friday 21st August, when it encountered storms, and being furnished with pilots who were unacquainted with the navigation of that river, eight transports, a store ship, and a sloop were lost by shipwreck, and upwards of eighty persons, including officers, soldiers, and women, principally belonging to Colonel Kane's fourth Regiment, and Colonel Clayton's thirty-seventh Regiment, perished in this fatal service. A scarcity of provisions had arisen, and it was then determined by a council of war that further operations should be abandoned. Some of the Corps proceeded to Annapolis Royal, and the squadron returned to England during October.

1711. Friday 20th March. Sir John Jennings arrived at Barcelona in order to assume the command of the British Fleet. To watch the enemys ports, to distress their trade, and to keep open the communication of intelligence and supplies for the detached forces and Allies, were all that he could now attempt in the tottering cause of King Charles. About this time Joseph Emperor of Germany died whose bequeath of all his dominions to the Royal Competitor compensated for past struggles and averted that blow to his pride which must soon have ensued from the desperate state of his affairs, by a total dereliction of his object. That event called upon him to fill the throne of his country; to obey which, his Majesty soon after embarked on board the English fleet, and was escorted to Italy, His Royal Consort still remained behind, with a view to inspire a motive for farther efforts, but the suspension of arms between Great Britain and France put a period to every active co-operation. The Empress, with her retinue, embarked at Barcelona, early in 1712, and landed at Genoa upon the 26th March, from where she pursued her journey towards the destined seat of her power.

After a tedious negotiation, the stages, and detailed terms, of peace was restored by the Treaty of Utrecht, on the 3lst March 1713. Britain retained possession of Gibraltar, Minorca, and Nova Scotia, each conquered during the war, and in effecting all of which the Marine forces, established during the reign of Queen Anne, very essentially contributed. The extraordinary expenses of this long war, notwithstanding its duration, did not exceed forty-four million which considering the immense forces kept on foot, and the subsidies granted to so many of the Continental Powers, appear but a small sum.

1711. Friday 27th March. HMS Exeter and HMS Lion re-captured HMS Pembroke.

1711. HMS Hampton Court captured the Toulouse.

1711. June. HMS Advice captured by privateers.

1711. Monday 27th July. Commodore Littleton captured a Spanish Galleon.

1711. Thursday 15th October. HMS Edgar blown up at Spithead.

1713. The Marines were reduced to three Regiments who were transferred to the line to become the 30th of Foot (a predecessor of the Royal Anglian Regiment), and the 32nd Foot. Only four Companies of Marine Invalids remained.

1713. Wednesday 1st March. Peace was restored between Britain and France after signing the treaty of Utrecht. By this treaty it was settled that Britain should retain possession of Gibraltar, Minorca, and Nova Scotia. However, the Marines which had been formed during the Reign of Queen Anne, were ordered to be disbanded. They were considered to be part of a war establishment, and a spirit of public economy was needed after the termination of hostilities. However, the consequence was that the whole of the Marine Regiments was disbanded by the end of the year.

1713 \- 1739. It must be noted that during this time all sea, and land battles involved Marines.

1714. Saw the formation of four invalid companies under the establishment of the Army. Apart from these four Company's there was no Corps until the outbreak of hostility with Spain during 1739.

1715 \- 1719. The first Jacobite Rebellion was a political movement in Britain and Ireland that aimed to restore the Roman Catholic Stuart King James II of England and his heirs to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland.

1715. HMS August and HMS Garland were wrecked in the Baltic.

1716. Operations against the Barary Corsairs.

1718 \- 1720. The War of the Quadruple Alliance was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife Elisabeth Farnese, and their chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake lost territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria, and the Dutch Republic. Savoy later joined the coalition as the fifth ally. Although fighting began as early as 1717, war was not publicly declared until December 1718. It was brought to an end by the Treaty of the Hague during 1720.

1718. Thursday 11th August. Byng's Victory off Cape Passaro.

1719. October. The Seizure of Vigo.

1720's -1830's. Long Land Pattern Musket was standard issue for the British Empire's land forces.

1722. April. HMS Swallow destroyed Roberts Piratical vessels.
Chapter 4

### 1725 - 1749

1726. Hosier in the West Indies.

1727. Wager's Relief of Gibraltar.

1729. The Dursley Galley took Guarda- Costa.

1731. The Episode of Jenkins Ear.

1733. Operations against the Barary Corsnirs.

1739 \- 1748. England declared war on Spain that became known as the War of Jenkins' Ear. A conflict between Britain and Spain that grew out of the commercial rivalry of the two powers and led to involvement in the larger War of the Austrian Succession. Its unusual name, is thought to have been coined by Thomas Carlyle 1858, and refers to an ear severed from Robert Jenkins Captain of a British merchant ship. The severed ear was subsequently exhibited before the British Parliament. The tale of the ear's separation from Jenkins following the boarding of his vessel by Spanish coast guards during 1731. Provided the impetus to war against the Spanish Empire, ostensibly to encourage the Spanish not to renege on the lucrative Asiento contract (permission to sell slaves in Spanish America).

1739. Marine Commissions were purchased and sold, although they always bore an inferior value to those of the Army. A perquisite arose to the Colonels from the disposal of the appointments of second Lieutenants, when their recommendations were approved of by his Majesty, and such commissions usually produced to those officers from £250 to £280, while ensigncies in the line sometimes yielded as much as £400. The great expense which had accrued in the maintenance of the land forces and Marines, led to the appointment of a committee of inquiry. In this investigation it appeared that the Colonel of a Marine Regiment had a greater emolument than an officer commanding a Regiment of the line, arising from the comparative superiority in their numbers, and the articles of clothing being of an inferior quality.

1739. Sunday 4th October. Marines landed on the peninsula of Quiberon and took possession of a fort mounting eighteen cannons. After destroying all the forts and guns, as well as those on the islands of Houat and Hedic, the army re-embarked, and the expedition sailed for Ireland. In the gradual increase of the army during the present war, the Marines became incorporated with the line, and the 44th Regiment was styled the 1st Marines.

1739. Tuesday 6th October. A French fleet of merchant men under Commodore Letendeur sailed from the Isle of Aix for the West Indies, under convoy of nine ships of the line and several frigates. On the 14th while off Cape Finisterre, they came upon a British squadron Commanded by Rear Admiral Hawke, of thirteen ships of the line, including two of fifty guns. The Commodore, finding it impossible to avoid an action, directed a sixty gun ship and the frigates to proceed with the convoy, and then formed his squadron in order of battle. The action commenced at noon, and was continued until night fall, by which time six sail of the line ships had surrendered. The Commodore on board HMS Tonnant of 80 guns, and HMS Intrepid of 74, made their escape. The British had 154 killed, and 558 wounded. The enemy's loss amounted to 800 killed and wounded. The order of the Bath was conferred on Rear Admiral Hawke, and the thanks of Parliament voted to the officers, seamen, and Marines of the squadron.

1739. Tuesday 17th November - Sunday 22nd November. Six Marine Regiments (1st to 6th Marines, 44th to 49th Foot) were raised for the War of Jenkins' Ear, with four more being raised later. One large Marine Regiment (Spotswood's Regiment later Gooch's Marines, the 61st Foot) was formed of American colonists and served alongside British Marines at the Battle of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia and Guantanamo, Cuba in the War of Jenkins' Ear (1741). Among its officers was Lawrence Washington, the half-brother of George Washington. In 1747, the remaining Regiments were transferred to the Admiralty and then disbanded in 1748. Many of the disbanded men were offered transportation to Nova Scotia and helped form the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

1739. Saturday 21st November. Vernon's capture of Porto Bello.

1739. Saturday12th December. After the declaration of war with Spain Council Orders were issued for augmenting the land forces, and also for forming six Regiments of Marines, each to consist of ten companies of seventy privates in each company, and to be commanded by 1st Colonel Edward Wolfe from the 3rd Foot Guards, 2nd Colonel W. Robinson from Handasyd's 22nd Regiment, 3rd Colonel Andrew Lowther from the 2nd Foot Guards, 4th, Colonel John Wynyard, from Tyrrell's Regiment; 5th Colonel Charles Douglas from Howard's Regiment, 6th Colonel Lucius Ducic Moreton, from the 3rd Foot Guards. In order to facilitate the speedy formation of these Corps, and to render them effective, five men from each company of the Regiments of foot-guards were appointed Sergeants and Corporals, and further that they might be rapidly completed, a bounty of thirty shillings per man was allowed to 1800 men who volunteered from the Regiments of Infantry to the Marine Corps by these energies, the whole of the Marine Regiments were soon raised and disciplined. On the prospect of the commencement of hostilities Admiral Vernon had sailed for Jamaica, where he arrived in October 1739, with a fleet of five ships, having 200 Marines on board, and proceeded to Porto Bello, the destined object of his attack, which was at that time the greater part for the wealthy commerce of Chili and Peru, the attempt was fraught with many difficulties.

1739 \- 1740. The largest number of Marine Regiments was formed, when ten Regiments were raised for service. They ranked as the 44th to 53rd in seniority with the regular army regiments. They were all disbanded after the peace settlement in 1748.

1739. Upon the repetition of Spanish cruelties and aggression towards the industrious and defenceless subjects of Britain, that the system of Marine Regiments was renewed. The sword was again drawn upon the 19th October of that year, and an Order of Council of the 12th December, determined upon the immediate levy of six of this description. The Colonels who were nominated to command them was, 1. Edward Wolfe esq. from the 3rd Foot Guards. 2. William Robinson esq. Lieutenant Colonel from Handyside's Regiment of Foot. 3. Anthony Lowther esq. from 2nd. Foot Guards. 4. John Wynyard esq. from Colonel Tyrrel's Regiment of Foot. 5. Charles Douglas esq. from Colonel Howard's Regiment of Foot. 6. Lewis Ducie Morton esq. from the 3rd Foot Guards.

1740. January. The six Regiments raised in late 1739 received an effective augmentation of 2,640 men.

1740. An additional Regiment, of four Battalions, was authorised to be raised in America, and the Royal Standard was erected at New York. The field officers and subalterns were appointed by the King, and the captains of companies were nominated by the American provinces. Colonel Spotswood of Virginia, was appointed over all Colonel Commandant. It was believed that the natives of that continent, knowing the area and climate were better for service than Europeans. Their uniform was cumblet coats, brown linen waistcoats, and canvas trousers. This regiment, which was afterwards commanded by Colonel Gooche, was considered as the forty-third Regiment of infantry of the line.

1740. February. The town of Carthagena being the capital of an extensive and wealthy province in Terra Firma in South America was bombarded, and an attack was made upon a fort situate upon the mouth of a river of that name a little to the north-west of the Gulf of Darien. The latter surrendered, after a sharp contest, on Thursday 24th March, when the castle, situated on a rock, and the custom-house under its protection, were demolished and burnt to the ground.

1740. Sunday 6th - 9th March. Vernon bombarded Cartagena.

1740. Monday 18th April. HMS Lennox and consorts capture Princesa.

1740. June. Unsuccessful attempt on St. Augustine.

1740. Sunday 18th September. The departure of HMS Anson on voyage of circumnavigation.

1740. October. A large number of ships of war assembled at Spithead under the Command of Rear Admiral Sir Chalaoner Ogle, along with a large land force consisting of Harrison's 15th Regiment. Wentworth's 24th Regiment and part of Cavendish's 34th Regiment was collected in the Isle of White and held in readiness with six Regiments of Marines to be embarked for service under the orders of General Lord Cathcart, a nobleman of approved courage and experience. The fleet with a British armament consisting of one hundred and seventy ships sailed from St. Helen's heading for Jamaica. However, its progress was badly affected by server bad weather in the Bay of Biscay, the fleet was dispersed. The greater part of the vessels sort refuge by anchoring at the neutral island of Dominica, in order to obtain a supply of wood and water.

1740. Friday 16th December - 18th October 1748. The War of the Austrian Succession involved most of the European countries over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg. The war included King George's War in North America, the War of Jenkins' Ear, the First Carnatic War in India, and the First and Second Silesian Wars. It was fought between Britain, Austria and the Dutch Republic against. France and Germany. The war ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle signed in 1748.

1740 - 1748. The Ten Regiments of Marines uniforms of the day. (taken from 'Britain's Sea Soldiers: Vol 1 by Cyril Field RMLI.)

1740. While Commander in chief of the West Indies squadron, Admiral Vernon ordered his captains and surgeons to make recommendations regarding the rum issue. The resulting mixture is called grog after the nickname of the admiral, 'Old Grog'. In 1850 the ration was once again reduced to half gill.

1740 \- 1748. Ten Regiments of the line were detailed for Marine service as the 1st and 10th Regiments of Marines.

1741. January. Admiral Sir Chalaoner Ogle's fleet eventually arrived in Jamaica and joined a force under Vice Admiral Vernon who was placed at the head of the most formidable fleet and army which were employed in the Caribbean. The fleet now consisted of twenty nine ships of the line, with nearly an equal number of Frigates, Fire Ships, and Bomb Ketches, well manned and with a plentifully supply of provisions, stores. The number of seamen amounted to 15,000. Plus, a land force that included the American Regiment of four battalions belonging to Colonel Spotswood and a body of Negroes enlisted at Jamaica, making a grand total of around 12,000 men. The whole force sailed from Irish Bay in Hispaniola and anchored on the evening of the Saturday 4th March in the Grande Playa, to the windward side of the town of Carthagena, the intending objective.

1741. Thursday 9th March - 16th May. The Battle of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia. Was an amphibious military engagement between the forces of Britain under Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon and those of Spain under Admiral Blas de Lezo. It took place at the city of Cartagena de Indias, in present day Colombia. The battle was the most significant of the War of Jenkins' Ear and one of the largest naval campaigns in British history. The battle resulted in a major defeat for the British Navy and Army. The battle marked a turning point in South American history, as Spain preserved her military supremacy in that continent until the nineteenth century. The defeat caused heavy losses for the British, that included 50 ships lost, badly damaged or abandoned, and losses of 18,000 soldiers and sailors, mostly due to disease that also took a heavy toll among the Spanish forces, especially yellow fever.

According to Gillespie the casualties among the officers of the Marine Regiments at Cartagena amounted to 61, of whom 13 were killed in action, the remainder dying of wounds or disease. However, he does not apparently include Colonel Moore, Grant and Daniels, which brings the total up to 64. Who Colonel Moore was is not clear, unless it means Colonel Moreton, but Grant and Daniels were successively appointed to the 5th Marine from Cavendish's and Harrison's. No exact details are forth coming as to the casualties among the rank and file. However, of six Marines Regiments with an original strength of 1,000 apiece, must have landed at least landed 5,000 men, and yet only re-embarked 3,382, of whom 1,103 were sick or wounded, it is evident that they must have had a very heavy Butchers Bill.

1741. Sunday 9th April. The Repulse at St. Lazar. At 4am in the morning a body of men consisting of 500 Grenadiers, supported by1,000 European Marines and Jamaican soldiers march towards the Enemy's lines by the Fort St. Lazar, and were followed at considerable distance by a large body of American, laden with wool packs, scaling ladders, and hand grenades. The enemy had entrenched themselves breast high under the walls of the fort, observing their advance, and fired upon them with great fury as soon as they came within reach of their small arms. Which was returned by brave Grenadiers with equal smartness, but as the Spanish had the advantage of cover, it was impossible for the advancing force to be as accurate. Therefore, it was resolved to push forwards up to the mouths of their pieces and storm their entrenchments, in doing so they suffered extremely. The assault failed with a loss of 600 casualties. The attack had been planned to help isolate Cartagena from the land side by an assault of Fort St. Lazar. The assault failed with a loss of 600 casualties.

1741. Tuesday 18th July. In consequence of the heavy losses sustained by Admiral Sir Chalaoner Ogle's fleet at Cartagena, and the mortality which continued to prevail after the troops returned to Jamaica, it was not until the beginning of July that the fleet and army were in a condition to renew their operations. It had always been the objective to proceed against the Island of Cuba, where they anchored on the 18th July in Waltenham Bay, about eighteen leagues to windward of St. Jago, the first object of their intended attack. The troops were landed on the Monday 24th consisting of nearly 4000 men, including1000 Negroes raised by the Island of Jamaica. They did not try to establish a foot hold on the country, although there were several treks to find food and water. After establishing a position on the side of a river nearly three leagues from the mouth of the harbour, the General pushed some detachments into the country, which beat back the out posts of the enemy, and in a few days returned back to the camp with plentiful provisions. Eventually the fleet returned to Jamaica. Upon which it was revealed that they had sustained a total loss of officer amounting to One Commander in Chief, five Colonels, ten Lieutenant Colonels, seven Majors, fifty five Captains and one hundred and sixteen Subalterns and fourteen staff officers. The heavy casualties in the Marine Regiments are shown when it is stated that these six Regiments consisted of more than one thousand men each and that only 2654 survived.

1741. December. During 1741 the total loss of Officers, amounted to one Commander in Chief, five Colonels, ten Lieutenant Colonels, seven Majors, fifty five Captains, one hundred and sixteen Subalterns, and fourteen Staff Officers.

1741. Spotswood's Regiment was re-named Gooch's Marines, later becoming the 61st Foot (a predecessor of the Rifles) was raised from North American colonists.

1741. HMS Rupert captures four large Privateers.

1741. HMS Superb captured a galleon worth £200,000.

1741. The number of Marine Regiments was augmented to ten, and the sums voted to maintain them were £201,752 13s 0d. If the same force had been established before the peace of Utrecht, they would not have exceeded the estimate of £186,666 Is 8d, as the following indigenise were granted, and annual allowances made subsequent to that period. For servants allowed to Officers, £7,786 13s 4d. Allowance to the Widows of Officers £2,433 6s 8d. To Colonels, for clothing lost by deserters £2,129 3s 4d. To Captains, for recruiting their Companies £1,825 0s 0d. To Agents of different Regiments £912 10s to £l5,086 13s 4d.

At this time the whole Half pay Establishment of Great Britain, including Horse, Dragoons, Foot, Invalids, and Marines, consisted of only five hundred and fifty one Officers, and the annual expenditure upon the whole was £34,492 10s, being at the rate of £94 10s per day, and so considerate and economical were the public measures, that the House of Commons addressed his Majesty, praying, that those upon this list, if fit for service, might be appointed to the first vacant commissions which occurred in the different Regiment?. But an ill judged parsimony, as to the number of Officers attached to Corps, seemed also to exist, and the same spirit was constantly urging the conversion of the Land (Forces into bodies of Marines. The regulations for this establishment were nearly similar in their principles to those framed for the line. The Colonels of Marine Regiments clothed their respective Corps and had the liberty of recommending for commissions. Excepting that the whole battalion was destined for a particular service, none of the Field Officers were embarked. The greatest number of men on board the largest ships did not exceed one hundred under a Captain, three Subalterns, and the smallest was not less than twenty under an Officer. The Commanders of Marine detachments were enjoined to forward effective returns of them every two months to the Commissary General of Marines, attested by the Captains and Pursers of each. This was necessary, in order to conduct the musters of the Regimental Companies, and to guide the recruiting service on shore. The same deductions were made from them as the Army, for clothing and the Chelsea Hospital, whether embarked or not. When attached to any ship, their indigence's were equal to those of the Seamen, as to the receiving provisions without any deductions from their pay on that account, they had short allowance money, and the benefit of Naval Hospitals. When sent there, either sick or wounded, they were deemed effective in the musters ashore, if producing a certificate from the Surgeon of the Ship to which they belonged, and another from the Commanding Officer at head-quarters, when in Great Britain. The Paymaster General of Marines issued the pay, upon receiving it, to the Colonels of Regiments, or their Agents, and the Pay master of each settled all their accounts agreeably to the muster rolls they had from the Commissary General. These muster rolls, with the receipts of the different Colonels or their Agents, were esteemed sufficient vouchers for passing the Pay master's accounts, and for making out warrants or debentures for clearings, which terms shall undergo a more particular discussion, under the head of Examples. When brigaded abroad, they were paid exactly in the same manner as the Army, but the arrears of Marine Officers were much longer withheld, and the Captains of Companies were exposed to very peculiar hardships, which will be explained more at length in a subsequent stage of the narrative. It is enough at present to remark, that the Officers of these Regiments, when abroad, were often obliged to assign that branch of their pay, at fifty per cent discount, in order to answer their temporary exigencies. What a contrast does this sytem present to the reforms, which have been recently established, in favour of this class of men.

1742. Friday 5th January. Nearly 3000 men that included 2000 Marines arrived in Jamaica to replace the fleet's losses.

1742. Thursday 12th April. HMS Eltham and HMS Lively engaged three Spanish ships.

1742. June. HMS Kingston and consorts destroyed five Spanish ships.

1743. Tuesday 15th January. HMS Sapphire sank two Spanish Privateers and destroyed three.

1743. Monday 18th February. The attack upon La Guira a town in the area of Catacas was a second attempt by the British trying to capture some of the Spanish controlled parts of South America, along its east coast. Captain Knowles lead a squadron that included 1400 of Dalzels 34th Regiment and 100 Marines. Owing to a heavy swell, the ships could not approach the shore. Therefore, a heavy cannonade bombarded the town took place and was only ended by the onset of night. Eventually the British ships were forced to withdraw from the combat. While the town suffered extremely, with many breaches being made in their fortifications, and a loss of more than 700 men. The British squadron also suffered considerable damage to its ships and a loss of around 400 men killed and wounded.

1743. Monday 15th - 16th April. After a refit Captain Knowles ships set sail and anchored to the east-ward side of the town of Porto Brava. Two ships commenced a flanking fire and after the shore batteries were silenced, it was decided to land the troops in order to take possession, and to turn the guns towards the castle, their retreat being secured by a ship of war within a pistol shot of the shore. By sunset the ships had accomplished their objective, and by dusk a force of 1200 sailors, soldiers, and Dutch volunteers, was disembarked under the command of Major Lucas. About eleven at night they had gained one of the fascine batteries but the garrison having been pre-warned and prepared for the attack managed to push the British back to their boats.

1743. Wednesday 20th March. Unable to restrain her views, France declared war, which was answered by a similar proclamation of the 31st March, on the part of England. Followed by the destruction of many of the French transports and troops at Dunkirk, while at sea they chased their covering fleet from the English coast.

1743. Saturday 20th April. HMS Centurion took the N.S. de Covadonga worth £4000.000.

1743. April. Knowle's unsuccessful attack on Porto Cavallo.

1743. Friday 23rd August. The occupation of the Island of Rattan.

1743. Wednesday 27th November. The Parliament met and granted a vote of £206,253-15s. to support an establishment of eleven thousand five hundred and fifty Marines during the ensuing twelve months.

1743. HMS Revenge and the Anne Gallery destroyed the San Yeidro.

1743. During the following three years the strength of the Marine Regiments was maintained at 11,550 men.

1743. Daily pay rates, which included a food and clothing allowance, ranged from £1.6.6 for a Major to 1/2d for a Marine private.

1744. Impressed men were allotted to each Regiment, and to those who entered voluntarily were given £4. Along with the power to claim their discharge at the end of three years.

1744. Tuesday 11th February. Mathew's engagement off Toulon.

1744. Saturday 22nd February. The third Naval Battle of Toulon took place in the Mediterranean off the coast of Toulon France. A combined Franco Spanish fleet fought off Britain's Mediterranean fleet. The French fleet, not officially at war with Britain, only joined the fighting late, when it was clear that the greatly outnumbered Spanish fleet had gained the advantage over its foe. With the French intervention, the British fleet was forced to withdraw. In Britain the battle was regarded as the most mortifying defeat. The Franco-Spanish fleet successfully ended the British blockade and inflicted considerably more damage to the British than they received, causing the British to withdraw to Minorca in need of heavy repairs.

1744. Thursday 9th - 11th April. Villefranche. Detachments of the 3rd, 4th, 7th and 9th Marines were landed to assist the Sardinians to defend their lines against the French and Spanish. Detachments were also landed from the 2nd, 7th, 10th, 29th and the 45th of the line who were serving as Marines on board the fleet. The detachments of the Royal Artillery from bomb vessels had been landed some days previously but had all been captured during the early hours of the 9th April.

1744. Wednesday 29th April. HMS Dreadnought and HMS Grampus captured the Medle.

1744. Friday 8th May. HMS Northumberland captured by a French Squadron.

1744. Sunday 4th October. The Loss of HMS Victory, along with Admiral Balchen and 1,100 men.

1744. Tuesday 20th October. Eight men- of-war wrecked off Jamaica.

1744. HMS Seaford, HMS Sole Bay and HMS Grampus captured by De Rochambcau.

1744. January. Hector Vaughan and his Forty Marines. The British 6th Regiment of Marines (49th Foot) Charleston. South Carolina in the USA. The first Marines to serve in South Carolina were the forerunners of the present Royal Marines of Great Britain. They formed a ship's detachment of the 6th Regiment of Marines (also known as the 49th Regiment of the line) under the command of Lieutenant Hector Vaughan.

Within one year, (1774), this detachment of Marines was shipwrecked, embattled, and ultimately enriched (monetarily). Lieutenant Vaughan and his detachment were stationed aboard the Royal Navy frigate, HMS Looe, which struck a reef in the Florida Keys on Saturday 5th February 1774. The ship could not be 'gotten off' the reef and the crew were ordered to abandon ship. Most of the crew were taken off on a French ship which had been captured a few days before. This ship reached Charleston, S.C. before the end of the month. The remainder of the crew were forced to trust to the Looe's barge and yawl. The two boats became separated, the barge being picked up by the sloop Providence and brought into Charleston soon after the captured French ship. The yawl, however, ran out of water and provisions and was forced to sail for the enemy port of Havanna. In the nick of time they were rescued, not far off the Cuban coast, by another British frigate, IINS Rose under the command of Captain Thomas Frankland. Some of these men were in poor condition from their ordeal and on arrival in Charleston, were put under the care of church parish authorities until they recovered.

On the Monday 21st of February, soon after his arrival, Lieutenant Vaughan presented himself before the Governor of the Province, James Glen, and the Council, to enquire how his men were to be provided for while in the province. The Governor proposed that they be added to the garrison of the city and sent Lieutenant Vaughan to Fort Johnson to find quarters for his detachment. In addition, Glen proposed allowing the Marines additional pay for their support while in South Carolina. Two days later, Lieutenant Vaughan reported to the Council that Fort Johnson did not have accommodations suitable for his 44 marines but a place at Craven's Bastion at the Northeast corner of the city was lacking only a few boards and "necessaries" to make it a convenient place for his men to stay. The Council duly ordered them to go there and directed Lieutenant Hunter, the gunner of Craven's Bastion, to receive them. The Council Journal entry for Monday 2nd March 1744 contains the only written document from Lieutenant Hector Vaughan himself. Faced with a problem familiar to anyone stranded in a strange city, he wrote the Council as follows:

"As I have had the misfortune to be easy away in His Majesty's Ship the Looe, stationed for the service of this province, I am now obliged to continue here till such time as I receive orders how to dispose of the Marines under my command, and as my pay is too small to subsist me ashore, without the benefit of free quarters, as are allowed in Great Britain, I beg leave therefore to recommend myself to your excellency's favour for an allowance of quarters that I may thereby be enabled to subsist myself, till I am ordered for service. I am, Hector Vaughan". (sic)

The fate of the Looe, her importance to the defense of the colony, and the future employment of Vaughan and his stranded Marines were becoming entwined. Britain and her colonies had been at war with Spain in a rather desultory manner. But in the middle of 1744, France entered the conflict as an ally of Spain. French entry had been expected, especially when the French ship captured by the Looe before her wreck, had been found to be a spy ship, carrying both French and Spanish papers. The Looe under her Captain, Ashby Utting, late in the previous year, had crossed the bar into Port Royal Sound and shown that the passage was practicable for a large warship. Threats of a Spanish invasion, French belligerency, the loss of the only large frigate on station, the Looe, and an insufficiency of arms and men all coalesced into a full-scale panic among the colonists. As the invasion threats grew more ominous, in June of 1744, Governor Glen sent a letter to Colonel Wigg in command of the provincial forces at Port Royal in response to an appeal for assistance and reinforcement. The letter detailed what munitions were to be sent and, as the only extra troops available, he offered to send Vaughan's detachment as follows:

"We have here 40 Marines, very good men which belonged to the Looe, which I shall immediately send down". (sic)

Lieutenant Vaughan and his Marines are not mentioned again in the Council Journals. It has not been shown that they ever actually went to Port Royal. If they did go there, however, the incident makes a nice play on History that they would have been sent to a place so familiar to modern Marines, the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island.

The invasion panic gradually evaporated and possibly in September of 1744, Vaughan's detachment was taken aboard another ship of the Royal Navy, the frigate HMS Rose, the same that had rescued part of the Looe's crew from the yawl. The Captain of the Rose, Thomas Frankland, was already something of a naval hero for his capture of a Spanish Guarda Costs, the Juan de Bautista, and its infamous (to the British) Captain. Don Juan de Leon Fandino. Fandino was notorious for having instigated the War of Jenkin's Ear by removing the said extremity from the head of one Robert Jenkins, and English merchant captain, in 1731.

Captain Frankland had been so successful in his pursuit of French and Spanish ships during his five years on station, that he felt it necessary to purchase a wharf at Charleston on which to store the prize goods from his captures. Frankland was apparently a very lucky man, an excellent commander, or more probably both. The fall cruise of the Rose was to prove financially fortuitous for Frankland and Lieutenant Vaughan's Marines.

Off the coast of Cuba, on December 1, 1744, the Rose fell in with a French treasure ship, the Conception, bound from Cartagena to Havanna. The Conception carried only 20 guns like the Rose, but had an oversized crew of soldiers and sailors, numbering 326 men. The chase began at 0500 and lasted two hours before the Rose closed with the Conception and the battle began in earnest.

The details of the fight are lost but the accounts mention that the action was carried on at times at less than pistol-shot range and at other times the bows and quarters of the two ships were so close that the guns were touching.

The presence of the extra Marines aboard the Rose may have gone some way to even the odds with the Conception. The small arms fire from the Rose was particularly mentioned in the accounts. " uninterrupted volleys; fore and aft" from the tops as well as the fire of swivel guns and hand grenades created carnage on the decks of the Conception. The fifty Marines firing small arms expended 900 rounds of ammunition, some of them firing 27 or 28 times during the five, and a half hour battle. The Conception struck her colors only after suffering heavy casualties including her captain, 116 men killed and 45 wounded according to the account. The Roseon the other hand lost but five men killed and seven wounded. The reason for the uneven distribution of casualties is not recorded, but it can be surmised that the small arms fire from the Rose's Marine detachment had a decided effect on the outcome. The South Carolina Gazette ran perhaps the longest feature article to date on the battle and had the following to say:

"Lieutenant Hector Vaughan, the Marines under his command, lately belonging to His Majesty's Ship Looe, and every man aboard the Rose behaved with undaunted bravery, worthy of the great example set with them by bravery and valiant commander". (sic)

A Mention in Dispatches was not be their sole reward, however. The prize-money awarded for the capture of the Conception was in such large amounts and sufficiently heavy to necessitate its distribution in two separate payments and these paid out by weight to save the difficulty of counting it. The riches taken from the prize included: 800 bars of gold hidden in "serons" or bales of cacao, 68 chests of silver coins containing 310,000 pieces of Eight, church plate, gold buckles and snuff boxes, a curious two-wheeled chaised of silver with wheels and axle of the same metal, a large quantity of diamonds, pearls, and other precious stones. It was impossible to give an exact accounting of the treasure aboard the Conception, since gold had been secreted in the knees, barricades, and other structural parts of the ship. The heels of the prisoner's shoes were found to be hollowed out and also filled with gold. In the face of such wealth, we should not be surprised to read that the officers and crew of the Rose, "unanimously resolved to present to Captain Frankland's Lady (the William Rhett) the silver chaise as a testimony of gratitude to that brave commander". (sic)

When her tour of duty on the Southern station ended, the Rose sailed from Charleston for the last time on Tuesday 1st June 1745, carrying 80,000 pounds sterling in gold and silver - and presumably, the now, very much enriched detachment of the 6th Marines under Lt. Hector Vaughan.

Notes:

The Sixth Regiment of Marines (49th Foot) was raised Sunday 22nd November 1739 by Colonel Lewis Ducie Moreton lately of the 3rd Foot Guards. The cadre for the regiment came from men of the Foot Guard regiments, appointed sergeants and corporals in the new unit. Colonel Moreton died during the Cartagena expedition during April 1741 and command of the Sixth went to Colonel John Cottrell, who Hector Vaughan identified as being his Colonel in his presentation before the S.C. Provincial Council in February 1744. Hector Vaughan appears in the pen and ink additions to the entry for the Sixth Marines on the 1740 Army List as a Second Lieutenant commissioned Tuesday 10th May 1740.

HMS Looe was the fourth British frigate so named. She was a fifth rate 44. 124 feet in length and 36 feet in the beam, built by Snelgrove at Limehouse in 1741 and commanded by Captain Ashby (Ashley?) Utting RN. TINS Rose sailed from Charleston Thursday 17th September 1744; she was a sixth rate 24. 448 bm. 106 feet long and 31 feet in the beam, built by Brid at Rotherhithe.

There is no account of the uniform worn by Lieutenant Vaughan's detachment, but it can be surmised that they would have worn one similar to that depicted in the 1742 'Clothing Book', as worn by the grenadiers of the period. From George S. Saussy. (sic)

1744. Parliament granted that the establishment of Marines be increased to 11,550 men.

1745. Two Regiments were formed for service at Cape Breton, by Colonel William Shirley and Sir William Pepperell, each consisting of ten companies of 100 men per company. These were numbered the 50th and 58th Regiments of infantry of the line.

1745. Saturday 20th February. HMS Chester and HMS Sutherland captured the Elephant.

1745. Monday 5th April. Seven years after the last Marine Regiment had been disbanded, it was determined to raise a Marine force on a permanent basis. The order to raise the force was issued. With this in mind, fifty companies of Marines were authorised divided into three divisions based at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. The companies were known as Marine Forces. A Colonel Commandant commanded each division. The main staff officer was the Adjutant General.

1745. Friday 26th March. Admiral Martin captured the Panther and convoy of five sails.

1745. Thursday 22nd April. The Anglesea captured by the Apollen.

1745. Wednesday 19th May. Commodore Warren captured the Vigilante.

1745. Tuesday 1st June. The British Marines and American provincials succeeded in gaining an entrance into the harbour of Louisburg and they eventual capitulated, and with it the whole of Cape Breton. The British loss was about 100 men.

1745. Monday 28th June. The Capitulation of Louisbourg.

1745. Friday 9th July. Action between HMS Lion and the HMS Elizabeth.

1745. Sunday 31st October. Admiral Townsend took a great part of a large French convoy.

1745. HMS Rose captured Concepciogt. (spelling?)

1745. Sunday 19th December. The Clifton Moor Skirmish took place between forces of the British Hanoverian Government and Jacobite rebels. The Commander of the British forces, the Duke of Cumberland, was aware of the Jacobite presence in Derby. The Jacobite leader Prince Charles Edward Stuart decided to retreat north back towards Scotland.

1745. The men of the battalion companies of infantry ceased to carry swords.

1745. The following was the list and effective strength of the Marine Regiments.

Regiments. Number of effective men and Wanting to complete.

Churchill's 878 and 122.

Frazer's 864 snd 136.

Lowthers 884 and 152.Byng's 797 and 203.

Cochran's 945 and 55.

Cotterell's 843 and 157.

Cornwall's 845 and 155.

Duncombs 784 and 216.

Powlett's 916 and 84.

Jeffrey's 882 and 118.

Total's 860 and 1398.

Besides 1,550 Commissioned and Non-commissioned Officers.

At this time, and indeed since their institution in 1739, Commissions were purchased and sold in the Regiments of Marines, although they always bore an inferior value to these in Old Corps. A perquisite frequently arose to the Colonels from the disposal of Second Lieutenancies, when his Majesty was pleased to accept of their recommendation. Such usually produced from £250 to £280, while Ensigncies in the Line sometimes yielded £400.

1746. Wednesday 9th February. HMS Portland captured the Auguste.

1746. Saturday 16th April. The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the Jacobite Rising. The Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart fought loyalist troops commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The Hanoverian victory at Culloden decisively halted the Jacobite intent to overthrow the House of Hanover and restore the House of Stuart to the British throne, Charles Stuart never mounted any further attempts to challenge Hanoverian power in Great Britain.

1746. Friday 20th May - 3rd September. The Orkney Islands. Captain Benjamin Moodie sent with a detachment to Orkneys by Admiral Smith. S.N.O. Coast of Scotland "in search of rebels, and to secure those Islands, pursuant, to H.R.H. the Duke's orders." (sic)

1746. Saturday 25th June. Peyton engaged La Bourdonnais in East indies.

1746. Thursday 4th August. HMS Pembroke captured the Ferme.

1746. Tuesday 20th - 30th September. The Expedition against L'Orient. One hundred Marines landed at Quimperle bay. While the remainder that included three 3 pounder guns under Colonel Holmes marched with the rest of the army on to L'Orient. Seamen and Marines afterwards brought up two 12 pounders and furnace for red hot shot. 7 Marines drown during re-embarkation.

1746. Saturday 1st October. HMS Exeter and consorts captured and burnt the Ardent.

1746. Saturday 8th October. HMS Weazel Captured the Feantic and the Fortune.

1746. Tuesday 11th October. HMS Nottingham captured the Mars.

1746. October. The Distruction of Forts in Quiberon Bay.

1746. Friday 11th November. HMS Portland Captured the Subtile.

1746. Very serious complaints were made of the neglect and delay which had occurred in the settlement of the accounts of the Marine Corps, and a committee was appointed to investigate the grievances which had been represented. The cause of the delay was alleged to arise. In the first instance from the absence of regular and periodical muster rolls, according to the practice in Regiments of the regular Army. This system, it was stated, could not easily be acted upon in the Corps of Marines, who were employed by detachments in the several ships of war. However, the investigation produced, the effect of a large balance in the hands of the Pay Master General being repaid into the Bank of England, for the benefit of those who were justly entitled to it. The privations and inconveniences which this meritorious body of troops had continued to endure for several years, did not affect their loyalty and steady allegiance, and they still remained the useful Corps, in periods of emergency, they had always proved in former years.

I746. A Committee was appointed to investigate the state and grievances of the Land Forces and Marines. A considerable increase of expense had accrued in the maintenance of both, which was one of the objects of this inquiry. Such as affected the Marine Regiments already detailed and assigned the causes of the additional charges in this establishment since the peace of Utrecht. The same are applicable to the Army at large, in the allowance which was made to Commission Officers in lieu of servants, in 1713, in a similar indulgence granted to the Quarter masters in marching Regiments in 1718, and the annuities to Officers Widows, to Colonels for clothing lost by deserters, to Captains for recruiting, and to the Agents of Corps, which were all the newly adopted establishments of the latter year. These additional grants, while they meliorated the situation of the Officer, cost the nation but little. It appears, in the course of this inquiry, that the perquisites of a Colonel, in clothing a Marine Regiment, exceeded those of the Foot, from the comparative superiority in their numbers, and the articles being of an inferior quality.

1746. The Marines gained the privilege of marching through the City of London with drums beating, Colours flying, and bayonets fixed, this privilege, shared with other certain regiments, stems from the formation of the first Maritime Regiments in 1664 from the Trained Bands of the City of London (from whom the Marines derive the nickname of Jollies).

1746. For their service nearly 12,000 Marines were included in the parliamentary vote of the military establishment.

1746. HMS Defence captured the Ambuscade.

1746. HMS Namur captured the Mercure.

1746. HMS Albany captured by the Caster.

1746. HMS Seven captured by M. de Conflane

1747. At that time the Marines strength was at 11,160, and the establishment for each ship fixed at the following numbers. Ships of 100 and of 90 guns, to have 100 Marines, of 80 guns to have 80 Marines, of 70 guns, to have 70 Marines, of 60 guns to have 60 Marines, of 40 guns to have 50 Marines, of 20 guns 30 Marines, and Sloops to have 20 Marines. It was proposed that the Marines Regiments should be placed altogether under the orders of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Although this arrangement was not finally adopted until the year 1763.

1747. Hannah Snell (1723 - 1792) was a British woman who served in the Royal Marines as a man. Snell was born in Worcester, married in her late teens and gave birth to a daughter. While still an infant her daughter died, and her husband absconded, Snell borrowed some men's clothing and on Monday 23rd October 1747 enlisted in the Marines using the name James Gray. In 1748 Snell was deployed to India and later fought in the battle of Devicotta during June 1749. Where she saw heavy combat and received twelve wounds, to her arms and legs and one to her groin area. She either managed to treat her groin wound without revealing her sex or she may have used the services of a sympathetic local Indian nurse. Although legend has it that she extracted the ball herself, in order to prevent her sex being discovered. Snell's gender concealment is even more remarkable considering that she was flogged twice during her three years in the Marines and both times was stripped to the waist. In 1748 Snell was charged with dereliction of duty and publicly whipped in Carlisle. Snell later told biographers she avoided detection because her "breasts were but small". "Her arms were drawn up, the protuberance of her breasts was inconsiderable, and they were hiden by her standing close to the gate upon which she was flogged." Snell received a second whipping on board a Royal Navy ship, where she prevented the discovery of her sex by tying a handkerchief around her neck and spreading it over her breasts. It's reported that during this second flogging Snell's breasts were spotted by the ship's bossun, who said "they were the most like a woman's he ever saw". However, he was not concerned enough to raise the alarm. Although with the use of hind sight this may have been added to the story at a later date, some somebody wanting to cash in on the story. On her return to England during 1750 and leaving the Marines Snell confessed her true gender. She was given an honourable discharge and, later, a military pension and went on to run a pub. During 1791 she developed a mental condition and was admitted to Bethlem Hospital on Saturday 20th August. She passed away on Wednesday 8th February 1792.

1747. An expedition that included 880 Marines, under the command of Admiral Boscawen attacked French controlled positions in the Indian Ocean. At Mauritius the French were too well emplaced so the British fleet moved to the Coromandel coast of India in preparation of laying a siege at Pondicherry.

1747. HMS Surprise and HMS Jamaica capture the Superbe.

1747. HMS Enterprise captured the Vestale, worth £15.000.

1747. Rear-Admiral Griffin destroyed the Neptune.

1747. Tuesday 28th of February. His Majesty King George II. directed, that the several Regiments of Marines, which were then existing, should be placed under the entire Command of the Lords Commissioners for executing the office of High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland.

1747. Wednesday 3th May. Admiral George Anson commanding 14 British ships of the line attacks a French 30 ship convoy commanded by Admiral de la Jonquière in what became known as the First Battle of Cape Finisterre, during the War of the Austrian Succession. The British captured 4 ships of the line, 2 frigates and 7 merchantmen, in a five hour battle in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Finisterre in northwest Spain. However, 1 French frigate, 1 French East India Company warship and the other merchantmen escaped. The British suffered 520 killed or wounded. While the French losses were 4 ships of the line, 4 frigates, 4 corvettes, 6 merchantmen captured, 800 killed or wounded, and 3000 captured.

1747. Friday 2nd June. HMS Fortune captured the Charon.

1747. Wednesday 21st June. Sir William Warren destroyed the L'Etoile.

1747. Wednesday 21st June. Captain Fox took 48 sail of a French Convoy.

1747. June. HMS Viper and HMS Hunter burnt 28 sail in to Sodiere Bay.

1747. Friday 14th July. HMS Warwick engaged the Glorioso.

1747. Wednesday 13th September. HMS Dover captured the Renommbe.

1747. Tuesday 8th August. An officer and 20 Marines were ordered from Maidstone to Goudhurst to protect it from a threatened attack by smugglers.

1747. Tuesday 8th August - October. The Siege of Pondicherry took place in India against the French East India Company garrison under the Command of Governor General Joseph François Dupleix at the Indian port of Pondicherry. It was the last major action of the First Carnatic War. The siege was lifted with the arrival of the monsoon rains. A sizable British army and fleet fail to capture the main French stronghold in southern India.

1747. Sunday 8th October. HMS Dartmouth blown up in action with the Glorioso.

1747. Monday 9th October. HMS Russell captured off Finisterre.

1747. Saturday 14th October. Rear Admiral Sir Edward Hawkes Victory over the French off Finisterre (the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre). A British fleet of fourteen ships of the line intercepted a French convoy protected by eight French ships of the line commanded by Admiral Desherbiers de l'Etenduère. The battle took place in the eastern Atlantic, roughly halfway between Ireland and Cape Finisterre in northwest Spain. It was a decisive British victory that has been described as 'the most brilliant naval action of the war'. It put an end to French naval operations for the remainder of the war, eliminating any threat of an invasion of Britain and threatening the very existence of France's empire overseas. The British captured 6 ships of the line, and 7 ships of the convoy, along with 4000 seamen while 800 were killed. Their own losses were 154 killed and 558 wounded.

1747. The fouled anchor, incorporated into the emblem during 1747, is the badge of the Lord High Admiral and shows that the Corps is part of the Naval Service.

1747. December. The following is the details of the Field Officers and Agents of each Corps, all of which were quartered in Great Britain, and in the vicinity of the principal sea ports, at the close of the year.

44th Regiment or First Marines.

Colonel George Churchill.

Lieutenant Colonel N. Mitchell.

Major James Macdonald.

J. Winter, Dartmouth-street Westminster, Agent.

45th Regiment or Second Marines.

Colonel Robert Frazer.

Lieutenant Colonel J. Leighton.

Major T. Mathews.

T. Paterson Conduit-street, Agent.

46th Regiment or Third Marines.

C. H. Holmes.

Colonel. P. Damar.

Lieutenant Colonel. W. Brown.

Major. T. Fisher.

Privy-gardens, Whitehall, Agent.

47th Regiment or Fourth Marines.

Coronel C. George Byng.

Lieutenant Colonel B. Hutchison.

Major J. Read.

T. Paterson, Conduit-street, Agent.

48th Regiment or Fifth Marines.

Colonel C. James Cochran.

Lieutenant Colonel C. Whiteford.

Major J. Stuart.

Maynard Guering, St. James's-park, Agent.

49th Regiment or Sixth Marines.

Colonel ?

Lieutenant Colonel C. Gordon.

Major C. Leighton.

William Adair, Pall-mall, Agent.

50th Regiment or Seventh Marines.

Colonel H. Cornwall.

Lieutenant Colonel J. Paterson.

Major R. Bendish.

T. Fisher, Privy-gardens, Whitehall, Agent.

51st Regiment or Eighth Marines.

Colonel J. Duncombe.

Lieutenant Colonel J. Cunningham.

Major J. Brewse.

Maynard Guering, St. James's-park, Agent.

52d Regiment or Ninth Marines.

Colonel C. Pawlett.

Lieutenant Colonel G. Walsh.

Major vacant??

Mr. Guering, Agent.

53d Regiment or Tenth Marines.

Colonel Sir Andrew Agnew.

Lieutenant Colonel C. Pawlett.

Major C. Durand.

Mr. Guering, Agent.

These Regiments, when complete, were supposed to consist of one thousand Rank and File each, and every battalion of ten Companies. At this period the whole forces upon the British Establishment amounted to eighty five thousand six hundred and eleven men.

1747. The deployment aboard ship was usually at a ratio of one Marine per gun with officers. This ratio was maintained when the Marine Forces were re-raised. The Marines were present in every notable, and not so notable, fleet and ship-to-ship action between 1793-1815. For example, they were at 1st June, St Vincent, Camperdown, the Nile, Copenhagen, Trafalgar, the Dardenelles, Cape Lissa and Aix Roads.

They always formed part of any cutting out excursion 'seizing an enemy ship by using ships' boats and taking it from its anchorage). But the Marines also distinguished themselves on land either serving with the army or serving as part of a naval brigade (a force made up of both seamen and marines) such as at Tenerife in 1797 or Santa Maura in 1810.

Other examples are 1799 in the Helder where they helped garrison the forts or in 1812, where the Royal Marine Battalions served aboard Commodore Home Popham's squadron off the north coast of Spain. Together with Spanish forces, they disrupted coastal traffic, captured several towns and ports and tied up the French Army of the North not allowing it to reinforce the Army of Portugal, which was subsequently defeated at Salamanca.

Most Marine battalions were ad hoc formations temporarily made up from the Marines serving in the fleet or squadron. There were Royal Marine battalions formed by the fleets for locations such as South Africa 1795, Acre 1799, Naples 1799, Malta 1800, Egypt 1801, Elba 1801, South Africa 1806, South America 1806-1807, Portugal 1808, Walcheren 1809, Anholt 1811, Java 1811, Netherlands 1813, North America 1814-1815 and Marseilles 1815.

There were, however, three more permanent battalions formed in Britain for service overseas: The 1st Battalion at Chatham, formed 30 September 1810 for service in Lisbon as the Royal Marine Battalion (numbered when the 2nd Battalion was raised). It left Lisbon in early 1812 to reorganize in Britain and returned to the north coast of Spain in 1812. Left for Britain again in December 1812 and arrived in Chesapeake Bay in June 1813 taking part in all of the operations there. In October 1813, the 1st Battalion left for British North America where it served until July 1814 when it was ordered to be distributed in the Great Lakes squadrons. A cadre reformed the battalion in Bermuda and it went to the Georgia coast, where it last saw action at St. Mary's River, Georgia in January and February 1815. It was finally disbanded in Britain July 1815. It had an artillery company and a small rocket corps attached.

The 2nd Battalion at Chatham, formed in July 1812 for service in the Peninsula. The 2nd Battalion arrived on the north coast of Spain in August 1812. In company with the 1st Battalion, it left for Britain December 1812. It arrived in the Chesapeake Bay in June 1813 taking part in all of the operations there. The 2nd Battalion was sent to British North America in September 1813. By order of the Admiralty in May 1814, the 2nd Battalion was broken up and dispersed among the Great Lakes squadrons. A cadre went to Chesapeake Bay where in August 1814, the 3rd Marine Battalion was now re-designated the 2nd Marine Battalion. It saw service at Bladensburg. In December 1814, the 2nd Battalion, with the 3rd Battalion, went to join the 1st Battalion at St. Mary's River, Georgia. The 2nd Battalion was disbanded in Britain July 1815. It had an artillery company attached.

Each battalion organized for service in North America originally contained:

1 Major Commanding; 1 Major; 8 Captains; 16 Lieutenants; 1 Paymaster; 1 Adjutant; 1 Quartermaster; 1 Surgeon; 1 Assistant-Surgeon; 2 Staff-Sergeants, 40 Sergeants; 40 Corporals; 16 Drummers and 672 Privates.

Each battalion also included one company of Royal Marine Artillery:

1 Captain; 4 Lieutenants; 4 Sergeants; 4 Corporals; 6 Bombardiers; 2 Drummers and 60 Gunners.

Artillery consisted of:

Four light 6 pounders; two light 5 ½ inch howitzers; two 10 inch mortars and two 8 inch brass howitzers.

The 3rd Marine Battalion at Portsmouth, formed in January 1814, by detachments there and by Royal Marine detachments withdrawn from serving in the Netherlands. It consisted of:

1 Major, 4 Captains, 21 Lieutenants 1 Adjutant, 1 Quartermaster and 10 Companies of 100 men each. Attached was one company of Royal Marine Artillery.

It arrived in Chesapeake Bay in July 1814. In August 1814, the 3rd Battalion was re-designated the 2nd Battalion and in September Vice Admiral Cochrane ordered the formation of a new 3rd Battalion using three companies of Royal Marines from the old 2nd Battalion and three companies of Colonial Marines. The Colonial Marines had been formed in Maryland, in May 1814, from escaped slaves and had been serving on the Atlantic coast. They saw service at Bladensburg and North Point.

The 3rd Battalion, with the 2nd Battalion, left Chesapeake Bay in December 1814 and rendezvoused with the 1st Battalion at St. Mary's River, Georgia. In April 1815 the Royal Marine companies were separated from the Colonial Marine companies of the 3rd Battalion. The Colonial Marines were joined by three new companies recruited from escaped slaves in Georgia, continued to be known as the 3rd Battalion, and finally disbanded in August 1815 in Trinidad.

1815. The Royal Marines once more went on a war footing. Officers just recently placed upon half-pay were brought back on full pay. The establishment was to be raised to two-thirds of its former war strength. The naval squadrons were reinforced by marine forces including detachments of the Royal Marine Artillery. One RMA company served in Wellington's army where it was stationed at Ostend. Commanded by Captain Charles Burton, it consisted of 124 officers and men. Its original armament was to be of four 6 pounders and two 5½ inch howitzers. These guns were left behind when the company sailed for Ostend in the first week of June. It remained in garrison at Ostend and the company was recalled home at the end of September.

For their services the Royal Marines received medal awards as diverse as the Portuguese Cayenne Medal 1809 awarded to the Marines of HMS Confiance and the Spanish Medals for Bagur and Palamos 1810. They were also eligible for the Naval General Service Medal (awarded in 1849) with clasps for specific fleet and ship-to-ship actions and as well as for boat service (e. g. cutting out excursions by using a ship's boats). Royal Marines were also eligible for the Army General Service Medal (awarded 1848) with clasps for Martinique 1809, Guadeloupe 1810 and Java 1811.

1748. Cape Breton was restored to the French after the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle was settled. However, it was retaken in 1758 by Admiral Boscawen and General Sir Jeffery Amherst, and finally given back to Great Britain at the peace deal of 1763.

1748. Captain Pocock took 25 sail of Martinique.

1748. Unsuccessful attack on Pondicherry.

1748. Wednesday 31st January. HMS Nottingham and HMS Portland captured the Magnanime.

1748. Thursday 7th March. Captain Cotes captured 5 sail of a Spanish Convoy.

1748. Wednesday 8th May. Admiral Knowles reduced Port Louis.

1748. Tuesday 1st October. Admiral Knowles' Victory off Havana.

1748. Thursday 10th - 12th October. Mutinary re-captured HMS Chesterfield.

1748. Friday 18th October. After the signing of the Peace Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle by Great Britian, France, and the Dutch republic. Two follow up implementation treaties were also signed at Nice on Wednesday 4th December 1748 and Tuesday 21st January 1749 by Austria, Spain, Sardinia, Modena, and Genoa. After the signing all ten Marine Regiments were eventually disbanded.

1749. Friday 12th April. Wreck of Namur and Pembroke.
Chapter 5

### 1750 - 1774

1750. Up to the 19th century. A Punishment of twelve lashes on board all naval ships was the maximum authorised for any one offence. However, for two offences the punishment was 24 lashes.

1750. The Rum Ration was once again reduced to half gill.

1754 \- 1763. The French and Indian War took place in North American. The war was fought between the colonies of Britain, America and New France, with both European sides supported by military units from their parent countries, as well as their Native American allies. At the start of the war, the French North American colonies had a population of roughly 60,000 European settlers, compared to 2 million in the British North American colonies. The war was also part of the world wide Seven Years' War that saw Great Britain, Hanover, Portugal, and Prussia fighting against Austria, France, Russia, Sweden, and Spain.

1755. Saturday 5th April. The Marines underwent another name change that of the Corps of Marines. At that time there were fifty Independent Companies divided into three Marine Divisions. With their headquartered at the major naval bases of Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. An arrangement that became permanent for the Corps. This is also the first date of Marine Commissions not being purchased, and of the officers rising in regular rotation only. On its establishment, the Corps consisted of 3 Lieutenant Colonels, 3 Majors, 50 Captains, 50 first Lieutenants, and 100 second Lieutenants, who were taken from the line and former Marine Regiments. The field officers were, Major Generals Patterson and Drury, and Colonel Gordon, to be Lieutenant Colonels, and Lieutenant Colonel Bendyshe, with Majors Leighton and Burleigh, to be Majors. The intercourse by exchange to the army was open to the officers of Marines, and in the course of a few years twelve of the first appointed Captains returned to the line, eight of whom were Lieutenant Colonels, and four of them were Majors. Amongst that number were Sir Robert Abercrombie, Alexander Leslie, William Picton, Henry Orame, Charles Grey, and John Johnstone exemplary."

1755. Wednesday 19th April. The Pistol Which Fired "The Shot Heard Round the Wold".

Early in the morning of April 19, 1775, 800 British soldiers and marines hove into the sight of 70 or 80 Minute Men assembled on the Green in Lexington. The early morning sun was in the eyes of the militia men as they watched the lines of smartly dressed regulars march out of the east on the Boston road.

The British were out to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams and to destroy the military stores of the Minute Men in Concord twelve miles away. Thanks to Paul Revere and William Dawes, Hancock and Adams had been alerted and had made their way into the countryside. The Minute Men, although outnumbered ten to one, momentarily barred the way to Concord.

This was the moment o6 confrontation. Captain John Parker had placed his command of Minute Men so that they blocked the road that the British must take to get to Concord. The fearful and outnumbered Minute Men were admonished by Parker with the words: "Stand your ground! Don't fire unless fired upon! But if they want to have war, let it begin here!"

Major Pitcairn, a Scot who headed the British force, galloped up to within 100 feet of Parker's front line and called out "Lay down your arms you damned rebels and disperse." Parker outnumbered ten to one and opposing untested militia against professional soldiers, took a reasonable course and ordered his men to disperse and not to fire on the regulars. The men slowly dispersed carrying their muskets and fowlers with them. This was not to Pitcairn's liking as he shouted again "Damn you, why don't you lay down your arms?" which they would have done had they been issued guns. They belonged to the farmers instead and were valued possessions. At this juncture, someone fired a shot. It was either the enraged Pitcairn or his adjutant. In any event, we have documentation that the shot was fired from a pistol.

"Amid the shouting and the rushing there came, suddenly a shot. Paul Revere heard it's He had just come from the Buckman Tavern, where he and Hancock's clerk had gone to fetch Hancock's trunk. From a tavern window Revere had seen the redcoats approach the green, and now, passing among the Minutemen and carrying the trunk, he heard the shot and saw smoke in front of the redcoats."

"The shot appeared," said Revere, "to be a pistol."

Pistol? The British officers were the only ones there who had pistols!

Others on the scene also thought it was a pistol. Minuteman Benjamin Tidd, back from carrying the alarm to Bedford, said it was a pistol. So, did three more spectators, Joseph Abbott, Levi Mead and Levi Harrington. Abbott and Harrington saw British officers fire "a pistol or two on the Lexington company". (Lexington Concord Alarm, pp 132, 133.)

None of the Minute Men were armed with pistols, nor were the British infantrymen, who carried Brown Bess muskets. Whoever pulled the trigger fired "THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD." The single pistol shot was returned by a ragged volley from the retreating Minute Men. At this juncture Pitcairn gave the order to fire. His men fired two volleys, broke ranks to pursue the fleeing farmers. Eight of the Minute Men were dead and nine more were wounded.

The British moved on unopposed to Concord while the American Minute Men continued to gather along the route that the British would follow to return to Boston. The shooting started again in Concord. This time it was the American farmers taking pot-shots at the marching lines of British. The sniping of the Americans began to harry the weary British who had marched 22 miles with 55 pound sacks and 13 pound muskets.

The Battle of Concord escalated into a running series of skirmishes along the twenty miles of road back to Boston. In one ambush, Major Pitcairn's horse was creased by a musket ball, bolted, unseating Major Pitcairn, and galloped into the provincial lines. The horse was seized and with it Pitcairn's pistol, still encased in its holster.

The deadly fire from behind trees, rocks and buildings killed 73 Regulars, wounded 174. Twenty six simply could not be accounted for. Some, probably wounded, remained in the farm country, cared for by the farmers and their families, who, after all, had been British subjects up to that very morning. The losses of the British would have been much greater had not Lord Hugh Percy with a thousand men marched to Lexington where he received the exhausted survivors of the retreat from Concord. The fresh troops from Boston fenced around the survivors in the form of a hollow square, stopped the pursuing Americans with two light cannon and cared for their wounded in the Munroe Tavern in Lexington before retiring to Boston in fair order. The opening engagement of the war had cost the Americans 40 killed, 39 wounded and 5 missing.

After the immediate threat of the British had been disposed of, the Yankees did what came naturally, they held an auction of captured British equipment, including Pitcairn's wounded horse, his saddle and saddle roll, and most Importantly, the beautiful mounted and engraved all-metal Scottish pistols which fired the shot heard 'round the world. Minuteman, Captain Nathan Barrett bought the pistols. Barrett gave them to General Israel Putnam, who was George Washington's second-in- command and the commander of the Connecticut Foot Guards, and other units which fought at Bunker Hill, Later, Aaron Bull, Adjutant to "Old Put" verified them as being the Pitcairn Pistols. ( By Merrill Lindsay)

1755. Sunday 8th June. HMS Boscawen took the Alcide and the Lys.

1755. Marines came under the Naval Discipline Act whilst at sea and to conform to the ships' hierarchy it was rare to have a Marine officer above the rank of Captain aboard (equivalent to a naval First Lieutenant). However, in larger operations a number of ships' Marine detachments would form into a Battalion to be landed, and on these occasions a Marine officer with the commission of Major or Colonel would assume command ashore. (RMHS)

1755. Whenever the Marines serve with the army, they took precedence in seniority after the 49th Regiment of Foot. The Marine seniority is only calculated from its formation in 1755, and not by any previous service of the disbanded Marine Regiments.

1755. Friday 14th November. The Espirance was captured by the Orford.

1755. His Majesty's Marine Forces raised. The oldest predecessor to which the Royal Marines can trace a direct lineage.

1755. Plymouth (Uniform). Coats ordered to be worn always hooked up and white stockings to be worn by both Officers and men. The former when under arms were to wear Stiff topped buff coloured gloves.

1755. HMS Mars lost off Halifax.

1755. HMS Blandford taken by the Duguay-Trouin.

1755 \- 1770. The Marines uniform of the day. (Taken from 'Britain's Sea Soldiers: Vol 1 by Cyril Field RMLI.)

1755. On reformation of the Corps twenty Marine companies were allocated to Portsmouth, eighteen to Plymouth and twelve to Chatham. These were known as the Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham divisions and it was these divisions that the New South Wales detachment would volunteer 32 years later.

1755 \- 1802. There were fifty independent companies of Marines permanently in service.

1756. The Marines strength grew to 9,138 men, adding thirty companies to the establishment of the previous year.

1756. Thursday 12th February. Watson and Pocock took Geriah.

1756. HMS Warwick taken by a French Squadron off Marinique.

1756. Saturday 8th May – Monday 28th June. The Defence of Port St. Phillip. Minorca. A French force under the Command of the Duke de Richelieu landed on the island and besieged the British garrison at St. Philip's Castle manned by 110 Officers and Marines, forcing them to surrender after a lengthy siege. A British relief force under the Command of Admiral John Byng sailed with the purpose of saving the island, but after the naval Battle of Minorca Byng withdrew to Gibraltar, and the resistance of the garrison finally collapsed. Byng was later blamed for the loss of Minorca and executed by firing squad.

1756. Monday 17th May. HMS Colchester and HMS Lyme engaged the Aquilon and the Fidle.

1756. HMS Dunkirk destroyed Forts at Chausey.

1756. HMS Tartar took the Cerf, Grand Guidom, Heros, and the Rose.

1756. HMS Dispatch engaged the Prince de Soubiser.

1756. HMS Adventure captured by a French privateer.

1756. Thursday 20th May. Byng's action of Minorca with La Gullissoniere.

1756. Fortunatus Wright in the St. George with a xebec. (?)

1756. Thursday 20th May. The following order was given that no man was to appear in the streets with his hat flapped, and that the Sergeants and Corporals of each Company to take care that the men all keep theirs.

1756. Thursday 20th May. Chatham (Uniform). Orders were given that No man was to appear in the streets with his hat Flapped, and that the Sergeants and Corporal of each Company were to take care that the men all keep their hats well cocked. Probably because the cloth Fusilier caps were not allowed to be worn when walking out.

1756. Monday 12th July. HMS Litchfield and HMS Warwick captured the Arc en Ciel.

1756. Tuesday 27th July. Holmes action off Louisbourg with De beauzier.

1756. Friday 3rd December. Plymouth (Uniform). The Corporals were ordered to wear Shoulder Knots.

1756. Thursday 23rd - 28th December. HMS Terrible, HMS Alexander and Vengrance.

1756. Autigallican captured the Due de Penthicure.

1756. Tuesday 28th December. Watson at Calcutta captured Forts.

1757. January _._ HMS Tartar captured the Mont Ozier.

1757. Sunday 2nd January. Watson at Calcutar.

1757. February. HMS Tartar captured the Vicloire.

1757. Friday 4th March. Chatham (Uniform). The complement of necessaries of each man of the Division is three shirts, two pair of shoes, and three pairs of stockings.

1757. Monday 14th March. During the Seven Years War, Admiral Byng was charged with 'failing to do his utmost'. He was executed on board the Monarch on March 14th, 1757.

'The Shooting of Admiral Byng on board the Monarque'; artist unknown A quiet, shy man, the unfortunate John Byng was no coward - he faced his death with cool courage - but he seems to have been too cautious, passive and defeatist for command in the British navy. He went to sea at thirteen and rose up the ladder to captain at twenty-three and rear admiral at forty.

Aged fifty in 1756 when the Seven Years' War broke out, Byng, now a full admiral, sailed with ten ships of the line to Gibraltar. His orders were to prevent the French in Toulon from capturing the British stronghold of Fort St Philip on the island of Minorca, and to this end he was to carry a detachment of 700 men from the Gibraltar garrison to Port Mahon.

When Byng reached Gibraltar, however, he discovered that the French had already landed a sizeable force on Minorca and were besieging the fort. He and his council of war decided against landing more troops and he wrote to the Admiralty to explain that carrying out his orders would not stop the French and would be a needless waste of manpower.

The letter, which arrived at the end of May, aroused consternation and fury in London. George II said flatly: 'This man will not fight!' Then came news of an inconclusive encounter in June between the British fleet under Byng and the French, from which the French had sailed away scot free, and late in June Fort St Philip surrendered. Byng was summoned home and put under arrest on arrival. Mobs went about chanting 'Swing, swing Admiral Byng' and the court martial, which convened at the end of December, was reported in detail in all the newspapers. Byng was charged with 'failing to do his utmost'. He defended himself, but the court found against him and with the utmost reluctance sentenced him to death.

The government ignored the court's unanimous recommendation to mercy and George II declined to use his prerogative to spare Byng. In a howling gale in Portsmouth harbour that March day a heavy coffin was hoisted on board the Monarch at 7am. It was already inscribed, 'The Hon. John Byng, Esqr. Died 14th March 1757' The admiral himself followed and by 11am boats were bringing officers from every warship in the harbour and numerous other vessels were heaving up and down filled with eager spectators.

At noon Byng came out on deck in a light grey coat, white breeches and a big white wig. He had been persuaded with difficulty to be blindfolded, on the grounds that it would not be fair to the firing party to have to see his face. He was escorted out onto the quarter deck, 'with a stately pace and a composed countenance' according to the Evening Post, to see nine marines in their scarlet uniforms lined up in three rows. The rear row was in reserve. In front of him was a cushion and a heap of sawdust, sodden from the rain.

He knelt on the cushion, tied the blindfold round his head and held up a neatly folded white handkerchief in his right hand. After a few agonizing moments he dropped the handkerchief, the six marines fired, and the admiral fell gently on his side. He was fifty-two.

The rights and wrongs of the matter have been disputed ever since, but Byng was not a political victim and Voltaire's comment that he was shot 'to encourage the others' probably hit the nail on the head. (By Richard Cavendish |Published in History Today Volume: 57 Issue: 32007)

1757. Friday 18th March. HMS Greenwich taken by a French Squadron off Domingo.

1757. Wednesday 23rd March. Watson at Chandernagore.

1757. Wednesday 30th March. Chatham (Uniform). The Officers are to observe the length of the mens shirts to be to the top of the knee pan.

1757. May. HMS Tartar took the Pentlope.

1757. Monday 25th July. HMS Southampton engaged five French Privateers.

1757. Thursday 22nd September. HMS Southampton captured the Emeraude.

1757. Friday 23rd September. Knowles attacked the Isle of Aix.

1757. Saturday 24th September. HMS Tilbury lost off Louisbourg.

1757. September. The Raid on the port of Rochefort (sometimes referred to as the Descent on Rochefort) was a British amphibious attempt to capture the French Atlantic port. An important but second rate military and naval base essential for the efficiency of Brest. The raid pioneered a new tactic of 'descents' on the French coast, championed by William Pitt 1st Earl of Chatham. Pitt is best known as the wartime political leader of Britain during the Seven Years War. Especially for his single minded devotion to victory over France, a victory which ultimately solidified Britain's dominance over world affairs. Although viewed as a failure positive lessons were learned about 'desents', notably by Wolfe, who two years later captured Quebec. Desents, refer to climbing of rocks and cliffs.

1757. Friday 21st October. HMS Forrest engaged De Kersaint off Cape Francois.

1757. October. HMS Tartar took the Gramont.

1757. Wednesday 23rd November. HMS Hassar and HMS Dolphin destroyed the Alcvon.

1757. November. HMS Tartar captured the Milampe.

1757. Friday 16th December. HMS Augusta captured nine armed merchantmen.

1757. Twenty companies were added to the Corps, making 110 companies, and the total number of men established at 11,419.

1757. The alleged scalping of British Soldiers by the Rebels (America). General Amherst forwarded the following intimidation to Montcalm the Governor of Canada: "No scouting party or others in the Army are to scalp women and children belonging to the enemy. They are, if possible to take them prisoners, but not to injure them on any account. The General being determined, should the enemy continue to murder and scalp women and children, who are the subjects of the King of Great Britain, to revenge it by death of two men of the enemy for every woman or child murdered by them. C. V. F. Townsend 7th Fusiliers and formally of the R.M.L.I. reports that: "Warfare in this part of the world between the English and French was carried on in a revolting cruel and bloody manner, but the French were the worst offenders. Scalps were taken even by regular soldiers on both sides following the example of their Indian allies." The Canadians threw in their lot with the French, sending in men and supplies, and scalping without mercy all the English stragglers who fell into their hands. General Wolf sent a letter to Montcalm to stop this, but he either could not, or would not, because it continued. Therefore, Wolf was obliged to retaliate, and accordingly the following order was issued to the troops: "The General strictly forbids the inhuman practice of scalping, except when the enemy are Indians, or Canadians dressed like Indians." (sic)

1757. HMS Unicorn took Invincible and Comtesse de Nosailles.

1757. HMS Unicorn took the Hermione.

1757. HMS Chichester took the Bien Acquis.

1757. HMS Eagle and HMS Medway took the Due d' Aquitaine.

1757. HMS Antelope destroyed the Aquilon.

1757. HMS Happy took the Infernal.

1757. HMS Defiance captured the Prlvst de Paris. ?

1757. HMS Ambuscade captured the Vainqueur.

1757. HMS Experiment captured the Telemagne.

1757. HMS Fortune captured a French ship.

1758. Sunday 1st January. HMS Adventure captured the Machault.

1758. Sunday 8th January. HMS Hussar captured the Vengeance.

1758. Sunday 19th February. HMS Invincible lost on the Owers.

1758. Tuesday 28th February. HMS Revenge captured the Orphce.

1758. Tuesday 28th February. HMS Monmouth captured the Foudroyant.

1758. Tuesday 28th February. HMS Monarque and HMS Monmouth destroyed the Oriflmme.

1758. Wednesday 5th April. Hawke at Isle of Aix.

1758. HMS Essex and HMS Pluto capture the Galathle.

1758. Thursday 13th April. The burning of HMS Prince George.

1758. HMS St, Albans and HMS Favorite took Loire.

1758. HMS Monmouth and HMS Lyme destroyed the Rose.

1758. The Boreas took the Diane.

1758. Friday 28th April. HMS Triton and HMS Bridgewater were destroyed by a French Squadon.

1758. Saturday 29th April. Pocock and D'Ache in the East Indies.

1758. Tuesday 2nd May. The Capture of Fort Louis in Senegal. A small British squadron under the Command of Captain Henry Marsh sailed from Plymouth, despatched against the French settlements in West Africa. On Sunday 30th April Marsh landed 700 Marines, and a detachment of 25 Artillerymen with 10 guns and 8 mortars under Captain Walker to attack Fort Louis. A French deputation soon surrendered the fort which was garrisoned by 232 French officers and soldiers. However, the actual handing over of the Fort was delayed, owing to the action of the local natives, who, not thinking that their interests had been sufficiently secured, blockaded the French. The expedition is reported to have cost roughly a million pounds.

1758. Friday 26th May. HMS Dolphin and HMS Solebay with Marechal de Belleisle.

1758. Monday 26th May. HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Achilles captured the Raisonnable.

1758. Tuesday 6th June. Howe at St. Malo.

1758. Sunday 25th June - 26th July. The Siege of Louisburg was a pivotal Battle of the 'Seven Years War that ended the French colonial era in Canada and led directly to the loss of Quebec in 1759. On Sunday 25th June 500 Marines landed and took up a position at Kennington Cove.

1758. Thursday 29th June. HMS Renown captured the Guirlande.

1758. Sunday 2nd July. 100 Marines sent ashore to join General Wolfe's Army.

1758. Wednesday. 5th July. General Orders. As soon as it is dark the Highlanders are to draw the 2 Light 6 pounders and place them in a battery prepare for them upon the right redan. One of the Artillery and some Marines are to serve those two pieces, and their ammunition is to be deposited the redan The Colhorn Mortars are not to play any more at the shipping, but the 5 Royals may be employed a day or two in the redoubt constructed by Anstruthers and Marines. The Marines are to do their duty with the Corps of Artillery, by that means they will be able to keep their own batteries in constant repair.

1758. Saturday 15th July. A Sergeant of Marines was taken prisoner by the Light Infantry, he was some distance from his post without arms.

1758. Tuesday 25th July. The Prudente was set on fire and the Bienfuissant towed off to the North East Harbour by the boats of the fleet which carried about 450 seamen and Marines, commanded by Captains Laforey and Balfour, boarded the ships without opposition from them, but from the town, who, having the services, fired Grape and Musketry, did not kill above seven and wounded as many. The Prudente being on ground they were obliged to set fire to her, eleven officers, mostly Marines and about 122 sailors out of the two were made prisoners.

1758. Thursday 3rd August. Pocock and D'Ache togther in their second action.

1758. Monday 7th August - Wednesday 16th August. A raid on Cherbourg took place during the 'Seven Years War' during which a British force was landed on the coast of France by the Royal Navy with the intention of attacking the town of Cherbourg as part of the British government's policy of 'Descents' on the French Coast.

1758. Tuseday 15th August. Howe destroyed the Cherbourg.

1758. Saturday 2nd September. HMS Shrewsbury destroyed the Calypso.

1758. Wednesday 27th September. Disaster at St. Malo.

1758. Monday 2nd October. HMS Lizard captured the Due d' Hanovre.

1758. HMS Torbay captured the Rostan.

1758. Tuesday 31st October. HMS Antelope captured the Belliqucnxr. (?)

1758. Friday 3rd November. Buckingham and Floristssant.

1758. Wednesday 24th November. Plymouth (Uniform). Brown linen Spatterdashes ordered for the Guard.

1758. Tuesday 28th November. HMS Lichfield was lost.

1758. Tuesday 12th December - 16th February 1759. The Siege and Defence of Madras was part of the 'Third Carnatic War' against the French. The British garrison was able to hold out until it was relieved. The British are reported to have fired 26,554 cannon balls and more than 200,000 cartridge rounds in defence of the town. The failure to take Madras was a huge disappointment for the French and a big setback to their campaign in India. The French also lost 1200 men.

1758. Wednesday 20th December. The Capture of Goree.

1758. The Corps was further increased to 140 companies, amounting to 14,845 men.

1758. A Battalion of 24 Officers, 1 Surgeon 21 Drummers and 540 Marines left Plymouth to assist in the Capture of Quebec in Canada.

1758 \- 1761. The 'Anglo Cherokee War' was a conflict between British forces in North America and Cherokee Indian tribes during the French and Indian War. The British and the Cherokee had been allies at the start of the war, but each party had suspected the other of betrayals. Tensions between British American settlers and the Cherokee increased during the 1750s, culminating in open hostilities during 1758.

1759. Monday 22nd January - May. The Capture of Guadalupe from the French. It was part of the 'Seven Years War'. A large British force had arrived in the West Indies, intending to seize French possessions. After a six-month long battle to capture Guadeloupe they finally received the formal surrender of the island, just days before a large French relief force arrived under Admiral Maximin de Bompart.

1759. Wednesday 21st February. HMS Vestal took the Bellone.

1759. Monday 19th March. Aiolus took Mignone.

1759. Thursday 27th March. HMS Winsor took the Due de Chartres.

1759. Friday 28th March. HMS Southampton and HMS Milampe captured the Danal.

1759. Wednesday 4th April. HMS Achilles captured the St. Florentine.

1759. Wednesday 15th April. HMS Favorite captured the Valeur.

1759. Tuseday 1st May. The Capture of Guadaloupe.

1759. Friday 18th May. HMS Thames and HMS Venus took the Arithuse.

1759. June - September. Sanders at Quebec.

1759. Wednesday 1st August. The Battle of Minden in North Germany. Anglo Hanoverian forces under the Command of Ferdinand of Brunswick defeat the French army lead by Duc de Broglie, but due to the disobedience of the English cavalry Commander Lord George Sackville, the French were able to withdraw unmolested.

1759. Monday 13th August. HMS Crescent took the Berkeley.

1759. HMS Dreadnought took the Hermione.

1759. Saturday 18th August - Sunday 19th August 1759. A Naval Battle off Lagos between Britain and France took place, during the 'Seven Years War' off the coasts of Spain and Portugal and is named after Lagos in Portugal. It ended in a victory for the British led by Sir Edward Boscawens While the he French lost 2 ships of the line that were destroyed and a further 3 were captured.

1759. Saturday 18th August. Boscawen and De la Clue.

1759. Sunday 2nd September. Pocock and D'Ache, third action.

1759. Thursday 13th September. The Capture of Quebec from the French. The British lead by General James Wolfe (1727 - 1759) achieved a dramatic victory when they scaled the cliffs overlooking the city of Quebec, defeating the French forces under the command of Louis Joseph de Montcalm. During the battle, which lasted less than an hour, Wolfe was fatally wounded. Montcalm was also wounded and died the next day. However, Wolfes Victory ensured British supremacy in Canada. During the operations the Marines were encamped at Point Levi on the south side of the St. Lawrence, but on the 26th July, two companies of them were sent over to General Wolf's camp, at Montmorenci, as a reinforcement. Later 600 men of the Marines and Major Hardy's Corps were sent over to defend the Island of Orleans in the middle of the river between Montmorenci and Point Levi. Some of those must have been sent from the ships as the Battalion was only 540 strong or was entirely a ships battalion. When the real attack on Quebec took place the line of battle ships which lay in the river below Quebec made a demonstration in front of the French lines to the north east of the city in order to divert attention from the landing at Sillery to the west of Quebec. They stood in as close to the shore as the depth of the water would allow. They then lowered the boats and filled them with Marines to deceive the enemy into expecting a landing at this point. The British lost 58 killed and 600 wounded. While the French had 116 killed and the same as the British 600 wounded. It's also worth noting that Wolf used what was known in those days as 'Descents' to approach the city from what was thought to be impregnatable cliffs. Something he had witnessed a few years earlier while a junior Officer at the Raid on Rochefort.

1759. Tuesday 20th November. The Battle of Quibecon Bay of the Coast of France near St. Nazaire. The British Admiral Sir Edward Hawke along with 24 ships of the line caught up with a French fleet with 21 ships of the line under the Command of Marshal de Conflans and, after some hard fighting, sank, captured, or forced aground six of them and dispersed the rest, giving the Royal Navy one of its greatest Victories to date.

1759. Friday 28th December. The Battle and Capture of Goree in West Africa. After having made a short stay at Santa Cruz, in the Canary Isles, a British squadron led by Augustus Keppel approached Goree, and at 3:00 pm anchored in about 18 fathoms of water just outside the bay. The transports containing the troops were sent into the bay between Point Goree and Point Barrabas. Early on 29th December the troops were disembarked in to boats in readiness to land on the island upon a signal being made by the Commodore. Most of the ships gradually took up their assigned positions to the west or leeward side of Goree and moored head and stern under a heavy fire: At 9:00 am, the attack was begun by the HMS Prince Edward. However, the cannonade was not general until about noon, while some of the vessels experiencing difficulty in taking up their stations. The bombardment was then rapidly effective. In a few hours, the British ships silenced the French batteries and created havoc within the garrison. At nightfall, M. de Saint Jean surrendered the fortress and the island. Keppel landed his Marines to take possession. The garrison consisting of about 300 men, many of them Africans became prisoners of war. 110 guns and mortars were captured, while British losses were very low.

1760. Friday 4th January – 15th January 1761. The Siege and Capture of Pondicherry, part of the 'Third Carnatic War'. British land and naval forces besieged and eventually compelled the French forces defending the French colonial outpost of Pondicherry to surrender. 422 Marines were involved.

1760. Wednesday 6th January. 422 Marines along with other Europeans and Native Troops finally Captured Pondicherry the largest French strong hold in India.

1760. Friday 15th February. The loss of HMS Ramillies.

1760. Thursday 28th February. Elliot and Thurot off the Isle of Man.

1760. Friday 28th March. HMS Penguin taken by the Malicieus and the Opale.

1760. Saturday 5th April. The Capture of Carical in the East Indies, involving Major Manson and 300 Marines.

1760. Friday 16th May. Swanton at Quebec.

1760. Destruction of Pontone and the Atalante.

1760. The loss of HMS Lowestoft.

1760. The Marines strength was 18,355 men, being more than one fourth of the naval force. In consequence of a representation from the Commandants of divisions, that more field officers were required for the better discipline of the service, three naval Captains were appointed Colonels of Marines, with forty shillings per day, and the only Marine Colonel General Patterson, was placed on retirement with £700 per annum, thus banishing all hopes of higher preferment than the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. This arrangement created such dissatisfaction in the Corps that a memorial, expressive of their deep sense of the injustice, in placing officers over them so perfectly incapable to command troops in the field, or conducting the details of military discipline on shore, was presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. In addition to this humiliating measure, the circumscribed establishment on the peace of 1763 produced so much discontent, that many officers, seeing their prospects thus destroyed, quit the Marines and entered the army, where some rose to a higher rank.

1760. Friday 4th July. Fire at Portsmouth Dockyard.

1760. Tuesday 8th July. HMS Byron in the Bay of Chaleur.

1760. Monday 8th September. The Capture of Montreal or the Fall of Montreal as it's sometimes known, took place when the British occupied Montreal the largest remaining centre of French Canada effectively completing their Conquest of Canada. Under the overall direction of Jeffrey Amherst British forces converged on the settlement from three separate directions closing in on the outnumbered French garrison. The French military commander Francis de Gaston, Chevalier de Levis was resolved to make a last stand at Montreal despite the apparently overwhelming odds. However, he was over ruled by Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil Cavagnal the French civilian Governor who persuaded Levis to surrender. Levis tried to negotiate a surrender with the Honours of War. Although the British refused to accept it, and the French were forced to make an unconditional surrender. As they had at Quebec, the British offered generous terms in regard to the French Canadians which were later to become enshrined by law in the Proclamation of 1763 and the Quebec Act.

1760. Thursday 16th October. HMS Borcas captured the Sirine.

1760. Saturday 18th October. HMS Lively captured the Valeur.

1760. December. The loss of HMS Cumberland.

1760 \- 1832. John Herbert. Born London. Served in the Marines as a private. Convicted at Exeter Lent Assizes on Saturday 14th March 1785.

Landed Sydney Cove on Monday 26th January 1788.

At Sydney Cove Wednesday 2nd April 1788 married Deborah Ellam.

Debrah Ellam - place and date of trial at the Session of Chester held at Chester in the County of Chester on Monday 30th August 1784 before Richard Pepper and David Barrington, Justices.

Debrah Ellam, single woman, stealing clothing to the value of one penny, and twelve shillings, the goods and chattels of one Elizabeth Jackson in the dwelling home of one Henry Byram. Guilty. Transferred beyond the seas for the term of seven years. Transport Prince of Wales.

On the Friday 5th December 1788 complained that John Herbert her husband had assaulted her - found that she had provoked him.

Complaint was considered trivial - she received 25 lashes and ordered to return to her husband. She had seven children. She died at Parramatta, Thursday 3rd June 1819 aged 52 years.

Herbert given a grant of 70 acres at Prospect Hill.

On the Thursday 21st October 1819 he married Ann Dudley, convict Transport Friendship.

Herbert owned several houses in Campbell Street, Parramatta.

Herbert died on Sunday 1st April 1832 - he was buried beside his first wife at St John's Parramatta.

For a man sentenced to death in 1765, Herbert prospered in the Colony of New South Wales.

Unfortunately, I am not in possession of Herbert's service in the Marines. So, this completes the picture of those four who were convicted of Highway robbery: (Sic)

Major J B Tiernan MBE AMM. United Service Institute Brisbane.

1761. Thursday 1st January. The loss of HMS Newcastle and HMS Queenborough in the East Indies.

1761. Thursday 8th January. HMS Unicorn captured the Vestale (re-named HMS Flora)

1761. Wednesday 14th January. The Capture of Pondicherry.

1761. Friday 23rd January. HMS Richmond captured the Felicite.

1761. Friday 23rd January. Minerva took Warwick.

1761. Friday 30th January. HMS Venus and HMS Juno captured the Brune.

1761. Tuseday 10th February. The Mahe surrendered.

1761. Friday 13th March. HMS Vengeance captured the Entreprenant.

1761. Wednesday 1st April. HMS Isis captured the Oriflamme.

1761. Tuseday 7th April - Monday 8th June. Marines were involved in an amphibious expedition to capture the French controlled Belle lsle off the Brittany Coast, during the 'Seven Years War'. After an initial British attack was repulsed, a second attempt lead by General Studholme Hodgson forced a beach head. A second landing was made, and after a six week siege the island's main citadel at Le Palais was stormed, consolidating British control over the island. A French relief effort from the nearby mainland was unable to succeed because of British control of the sea. Later the Marines were allowed the honour of featuring a 'Laurel Wreath' around their Badge.

1761. Tuseday 7th April - Monday 8th June. Among the surgeons attending the military wounded and dying at the Battle of Belle lsle was the soon to be famous John Hunter who made several medical discoveries including the treatment of battle shock by not attempting any treatment until the victim had been allowed some time to recover. He also attempted to instigate a system of non-treatment for minor bullet and shrapnel injuries and so laid the foundations for modern day treatments for such trauma injuries. Mentioned in 'Brother Surgeons' by Garet Rogers and 'The Knife Man' by Wendy Moore.

1761. Thursday 4th June. The Capture of Dominica.

1761. Friday 5th June. Holmes captured St. Anne.

1761. Monday 8th June. After more than a month's siege of Le Palais, Sainte Croix acknowledged he was unlikely to receive any rescue and he agreed to capitulate. Sainte Croix was allowed, through the British lines, to march his men out through the breach with the honours of war. His men were then repatriated to nearby Lorient. The British occupied the island for two years before returning it to France during 1763 following the Treaty of Paris.

1761. Monday 15th June. Chatham (Uniform). Captain Davidson, First Lieutenant Davis and 2nd Lieutenant Davidson to appear in their uniform Fuzees, Sashes, Corselets and Boots. The rest of the Officers in their Uniforms with White Stockings.

1761. July. Parker destroyed fortifications at Aix.

1761. Thursday 16th July. HMS Thunderer and HMS Thetis took Achelle and Bouffon.

1761. Friday 7th August. Lord Anson in Royal Charlotte yacht hoisted the Unicn flag.

1761. Thursday 13th August. HMS Bellona captured the Coutageux.

1761. Tuesday 20th October. Female Marines. Many believe that Hannah Snell was the only female to join our Corps, this was far from true.

According to the "Annual Register," October 20th, 1761- "A young woman dressed in men's clothes was impressed at Plymouth and sent to Captain Toby in this town. On arrival she was committed to prison, but not liking confinement, she disclosed her sex and was discharged. She gives the following account of herself that her name was Hannah Witney, that she was born in Ireland, had been a Marine on board different ships for upwards of five years, and would not have disclosed herself if she had been allowed her liberty."

Jane Meace, another lady who attempted to enlist as a Marine in 1762, was not so fortunate as Hannah Snell in evading discovery of her sex as will be seen by the following account published in "Lloyd's Evening Post and British Chronicle," of 1st December 1972 :- "Uttoxeter, Nov 25.- On Thursday 12th, in the evening, a young girl, in men's clothes came to a recruiting party of Marines at the 'Plume of Feathers' and enlisted; she wanted the whole bounty-money in hand, but being in want of clothing and other necessaries, they give her only one shilling till morning, but had the bowl of punch in, and the point of war beat; the party lay that night in one bed with her; and in the morning, one of the men laying hold of her coat over the breasts, to see how it fitted, her sex ws discovered. She enlisted by the name of John Meace, but her proper name is Jane Meace, and is well known in this country."

This lady may very well have heard of Hannah Snell and wished to emulate her military and naval performances, but from the fact that she was so anxious to get the bounty paid over to her at once, it is just as probable that she intended to make off with it at the first opportunity and had no intention of actually serving.

A still earlier case was the following taken from an old Liverpool record-May 20th, 1757:- "A young person, five feet high, aged about nineteen, who entered in January last on board the Resolution privateer, Captain Barber, under the name of Arthur Douglas, proceeded with the ship from London to this port, went aloft to furl the sails, etc., when called upon, was frequently mustered amongst the Marines at the time they exercised the small arms, and in short executed the office of a landsman in all shapes with alacrity, was on Saturday last discovered to be a woman by one of her mess-mates. 'Tis to be said that he found out her sex on the passage, and that she, to prevent a discovery, then promised to permit him to keep her company when they arrived here; but as soon as they came into port refused his addresses. The officers in general give her a very modest character and say by her behaviour that she must have had a genteel education. She has changed her clothes but will not satisfy any of them with her name or quality; only that she left home on account of a breach of promise of her lover. 'Tis remarkable that during their passage down, on the appearance of a sail, she was eager to be fighting, and no ways affected with fear of sea sickness." (Sic)

1761. Tuesday 20th October. According to the Annual Register. A young woman dressed in men's clothes was impressed at Plymouth and sent to Captain Toby in the town. On arrival she was committed to Prison, but not liking confinement, she disclosed her sex and was discharged. She gives the following account of herself. "That her name was Hanna Witney that she was born in Ireland, had been on board different ships upwards of five years, and would not have disclosed herself is she had been allowed her liberty.

Jane Meace, another lady who attempted to enlist as a Marine in 1762, was not so fortunate as Hannah Snell in evading discovery of her sex as will be seen by the following account published in "Lloyd's Evening Post and British Chronicle," of 1st December 1972 :- "Uttoxeter, Nov 25.- On Thursday 12th, in the evening, a young girl, in men's clothes came to a recruiting party of Marines at the 'Plume of Feathers' and enlisted; she wanted the whole bounty-money in hand, but being in want of clothing and other necessaries, they give her only one shilling till morning, but had the bowl of punch in, and the point of war beat; the party lay that night in one bed with her; and in the morning, one of the men laying hold of her coat over the breasts, to see how it fitted, her sex ws discovered. She enlisted by the name of John Meace, but her proper name is Jane Meace, and is well known in this country."

This lady may very well have heard of Hannah Snell and wished to emulate her military and naval performances, but from the fact that she was so anxious to get the bounty paid over to her at once, it is just as probable that she intended to make off with it at the first opportunity and had no intention of actually serving.

A still earlier case was the following taken from an old Liverpool record :-May 20th, 1757- "A young person, five feet high, aged about nineteen, who entered in January last on board the Resolution privateer, Captain Barber, under the name of Arthur Douglas, proceeded with the ship from London to this port, went aloft to furl the sails, etc., when called upon, was frequently mustered amongst the Marines at the time they exercised the small arms, and in short executed the office of a landsman in all shapes with alacrity, was on Saturday last discovered to be a woman by one of her mess-mates. 'Tis to be said that he found out her sex on the passage, and that she, to prevent a discovery, then promised to permit him to keep her company when they arrived here; but as soon as they came into port refused his addresses. The officers in general give her a very modest character and say by her behaviour that she must have had a genteel education. She has changed her clothes but will not satisfy any of them with her name or quality; only that she left home on account of a breach of promise of her lover. 'Tis remarkable that during their passage down, on the appearance of a sail, she was eager to be fighting, and no ways affected with fear of sea sickness."

1761. HMS Albany captured the Faisan.

1761. HMS Blonde took a large French ship.

1761. The coppering of ships bottoms was first introducrd.

1761. The Loss of Faisan (re-named Pheasant), along with all hands.

1762. Wednesday 6th January. HMS Venus captured the Boulogne.

1762. Tuesday 16th February. The Capture of the Redoubts on Morne Tortenson (Port Royal) Martinique, from the French. Britain captured the island during the 'Seven Years War', holding it from 1762 to 1763. The Marines of the expedition had previously landed and with the aid of a few seamen captured a fort at Grand Ance, and held it till relieved by a Line Battalion, landing again with the rest of the Army in Cas de Navires Bay. The Marines formed in two battalions of 450 men each, took part in three days of fighting which resulted in the capture of the Redoubts, on Morne Tortenson, Mone Garnier, and the attack on the Citadel of Port Royal. On the fall of this place the Marines of the fleet, with 500 seamen were landed, and the whole Island of Martinique submitted to the British Crown.

Following Britain's Victory in the war there was a strong possibility the island would be annexed by them. However, the sugar trade made the island so valuable to the Royal French Government that at the Treaty of Paris signed during 1763, which ended the 'Seven Years War', they gave up all of Canada in order to regain Martinique as well as the neighbouring island of Guadeloupe.

1762. Tuesday 7th March. HMS Milford captured the Gloire.

1762. May. The loss of HMS Hussar.

1762. Friday 21st May. HMS Active and HMS Favorite capture the Hermoine Spanish treasure ship was taken off Cadiz by the 28 gun frigate and 18 gun sloop Favourite. The ships net proceeds of its cargo were valued at £519,705 -1s - 6d, the prize to each Private Marine amounted to £484.

1762. Wednesday 2nd June. HMS Alarm and HMS Echo took the Thitis and the Phenix.

1762. Monday 7th June - 13th August. The Siege and Capture of Havana was a military action that took place during the 'Seven Years War'. When British forces besieged and captured the city. At the time it was an important Spanish naval base in the Caribbean. Its capture dealt a serious blow to the Spanish navy located in that area. Havana was subsequently returned to Spain under the 1763 Treaty of Paris that ended the war between them. The Marines were placed in the boats and made to look like they were going to land 4 miles to the westward of the city, while the remainder of the army effected its disembarkation without opposition between The Rivers Boca Nao and Coximar some way to the East. Being checked at the latter river by a castle at its mouth, the army halted while the Dragon stood in and silence its guns in about an hour, after which her Marines went on shore and took possession of it. On the evening of the 10th the Marines were in the boats again while the Belleisle, Cerberus, Bonetta, Mercury, and Lurcher bombarded the castle of Chorea at the entrance to the river of the name on the East side of the city. The Castle and adjoining batteries were taken on the 11th, and some of the Marines landed for its security.

During this time the Marines who were about 800 strong and were formed into two Battalions and placed under the Command of Majors Campbell and Collins. On the 15th June they were landed and encamped near Chorea under the command of Colonel the Hon. William Howe. The main attack was directed against the Morro Castle, the Citadel of Havannah which occupied a high and steep rock on the East side of the entrance to the harbour. For a long time, it defied all the effort of the besiegers while disease decimated the ranks. On the 5th and 6th July it was found necessary to draw on the Marines for reinforcements, and during these two days 400 of them were transferred in the front of Morro. A portion of them were employed in the mining operations which were very difficult to carry out on account of an immense ditch cut in the solid rock,80 feet deep and 40wide. However, on the 20th July the miners totally uncovered and managed to cross the ditch by a narrow ridge of rock which had been left to cover it towards the sea, and soon buried themselves in the wall. On the 30th the mines were sprung, breaching the wall and partially filling in the ditch, and the British stormers soon made themselves masters of the Citadel. Its fall was very shortly followed by that of Havannah itself, and the Marines, who it is reported, had proved very serviceable, were re-embarked. Much booty fell to the victors including a great deal of gold and silver pieces which arrival in London was conducted to the Tower in Eleven wagons, each guarded by 4 Marines and surmounted by a Union Jack flying above a Spanish Ensign. Each Private soldier's prize money amounted to £4 1s. 8d. while the total amount was valued at £368 11s. 6d.

1762. Saturday 24th July. The loss of HMS Chesterfield.

1762. Friday 13th August. Havana capitulated.

1762. Wednesday 1st September. HMS Lion captured the Zephyre.

1762. Sunday 2nd September. Aeolus destroyed the St. Joseph.

1762. Wednesday 15th September. The Battle of Signal Hill was the last battle of the North American theatre of the 'Seven Years War'. The British commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William Amherst forced the French to surrender St. John's, which they had seized earlier that year in a surprise attack. During 1762 France and Britain had been fighting for eight years, and both were now contemplating a peace agreement. Britain's long blockade of the French coast had forced the French economy into a decline and had prevented the French navy from going to the aid of France's colonies around the globe, leading to a large number being captured.

1762. September. Dianna and Chester with Dutch frigate.

1762. The Corps strength at that time was 19,061 men.

1762. Tuseday 5th October. The Capture Manila in the Philippines from the Spanish. A small Military expedition under the Command of Colonel Sir William Draper was transported in a squadron under Admiral Cornish that anchored in Malilla Bay on the 23rd September. The Admiral contributed 500 seamen and 270 (some say 300) Marines to the landing force. After sending in an ineffectual summons to the town, and reconnoitring the coast, no time was lost in commencing operations. The ideal spot, was located two miles to the south of Manilla. It having-been pre-selected, for the debarkation of the 79th Regiment of Marines and the Artillery. Along with a howitzer and a few fields' pieces that were placed in the boats which were formed in 3 divisions, under the sterns of 3 frigates which had been detailed to cover the landing. A number of Spanish Indians, had assembled on the shores to dispute our landing, the men of war opened fire, which compelled them to retire. In spite of a violent surf which dashed many of the boats to pieces, and wet and damaged the muskets, the troops effected their landing. During the night of the 24th they succeeded in establishing themselves in a village called Malata, little more than a mile from the enemy's works. The day following, they pushed forward to occupy Fort Polverista which had been abandoned by the enemy. While Major Monsoon along with the Marines advanced and took possession of the Hermita Church which was close to the city and of considerable strategical importance. Moreover, the rainy season having set in, it was necessary to get under protective cover. This point was further reinforced by the 79th Regiment. The Marines garrisoned Forts Polverista and that at Malata which protected the line of communications with the squadron and to guard the stores and heavy Artillery. The Port of Cavite with other dependencies of Manilla were included in the Capitulation, and Captain Champion with 100 Marines and a party of Sepoys were sent as garrison to the former. The total loss was 4 Officers, 2 Sergeant and 25 Privates killed, 1 Lieutenant drowned. 6 Officers, 3 Sergeants and 102 Rank and file were wounded. Among the first were 5 Marines, while Lieutenant Spearing and 6 Private Marines were wounded during these operations. Captain Richard Bishop of the Marines distinguished himself by his bravery and professionalism that Sir William Draper appointed him Governor of the Town of Cavite.

1762. Saturday 23rd October. The Brune took the Oiscau.

1762. Sunday 31st October. The Panther and Argo took the Saintissima Trinidada.

1762. Jane Mace was another lady who attempted to enlist for a Marine. However, she was not as fortunate as Hannah Snell in evading discovery of her sex. Its reported that a lady wearing men's clothes went to a recruiting party at the 'Plume and Feathers' public house and enlisted, she wanted the whole bounty money in hand, but being in want of clothing and other necessaries, they would give her only one shilling till morning, but had a few more drinks and they all ended up in bed. Awaking the next morning she was seen without wearing top clothes. Her correct name was Jane Meace and was well known in the area.

1762. Terpsichore took the Marquise de Marigny.

1762. The loss of HMS Raisonnable.

1762. The loss of HMS Temple and HMS Marlborough.

1762. Forvey took the Ventura.

1762. There were 135 companies of Marines, which were drastically reduced to 70 companies after the peace in 1763. Reaching 146 companies in 1782, by 1784 the establishment of the Marine force had again been quickly reduced. These companies served at sea and on land in the Seven Years War 1755-1763 and the American Revolution 1775-1783, sometimes as individual companies and sometimes as ad hoc battalions. In 1791 an invalid establishment was created, and officers allowed to retire from active service. Whenever the Royal Marines serve with the army, they take precedence in seniority after the 49th Regiment of Foot. Royal Marine seniority is only calculated from its formation in 1755 and not by any previous service of the disbanded Marine Regiments.

1763. Saturday 26th March. Lord Hood was appointed Commander of the Chatham division of Marines.

1763. April. Marine Soldiers obtained the right of following their trades in any town of Great Britain (except those having Universities) after their discharge from the service.

1763. Colonels of Marines received forty shillings per day.

1763. By this time all of France's allies in Europe had either made a separate peace deal with Prussia or had been defeated. In addition, Spanish attempts to aid France in the Americas had failed, and France also suffered defeats against British forces in India.

1763. Because of the peace the establishment the Marines were reduce to a force of 4,287 men.

1763. It is to be observed, for the guidance of legal heirs to prize-money, which may be due to any deceased Marine Soldier, that if they do not exhibit their claims within three years after notice has been given by the Agent or Agents, of its being in course of payment, such goes into the funds of Greenwich Hospital. This shews the absolute necessity of every family or kindred maintaining a constant correspondence with their distant military friends, and as the life of a Soldier is ever precarious, he should not fail to report, by letter, the circumstantial particulars of each fortunate capture at sea, in which he may have an interest, in order that his legal or designed heirs may meet with little difficulty in tracing out where his property lays, in the event of death.

1763. As the Country wisely permits the Marine, in common with all the subordinate servants of his Majesty, an economical communication with his dear and remote friends, by the abolition of every postage excepting the payment of one penny, no occasion should be lost of availing himself of this valuable privilege. From this item being lodged with each letter into the office from whence it is dispatched, I am afraid, however, it often happens, when on the eve of putting to sea, that those poor fellows, in the hurry of the occasion, entrust their money and their secrets to unprincipled watermen, who may be tempted to pocket the one, and destroy the other without a chance of detection. Were the receivers of each letter obliged to pay this little impost, correspondence might be more regular, such frauds prevented, and the revenue continue unaltered.

1763. All enquiries concerning the situation or destinies of distant relatives serving in the Royal Marines when embarked on board of ship, should be preferred to the Navy Board, Somerset Place, London, and through its present Secretary, (R. A. Nelson,) or whoever may succeed him, as the returns of ships are transmitted to that office, in which the Marines are included. In order to identify the Soldier, about whom an enquiry is made it is necessary to hand, at the same time, the number of his divisional company, as well as that of his allotment ticket, if he has granted one. Successful reference may also be had to the division, where he is attached, by addressing a letter, "On his Majesty's service," to the Adjutant of it; always remarking the number of his Company.

1763. Any Marine dying on board intestate upon information of his decease reaching his friends, he who is entitled to his effects must give in a petition to the Inspector of Wills, (J. Bedingfield, Esq.) Somerset Place, London, or whoever may be his successor, stating the name of such Marine, to what part of the King's dominions he belonged, the name of the ship or ships in which he served, the applicant's own name, at full length, his relation to, or connexion with the defunct, what other kindred the deceased may have alive to the best of the petitioner's knowledge, and where resident. This must be certified by two respectable housekeepers of the parish, town, or place where the applicant dwells, who must aver that they believe such account to be true, which is also to be attested by the Minister and Church Wardens, that those subscribing witnesses live in the parish, and are of honest repute. Upon a petition and a certificate, executed agreeable to such prescribed forms, being transmitted to the Inspector of Wills, he will enquire into the truth of all, and when satisfied that no will of the deceased remains with him, he will send or deliver to the claimants an abstract of his petition, with a note or ticket signed by himself and subjoined, marked by his stamp, representing that such statement of the claimant appears just, and that the person so petitioning may have letters of administration to the deceased, provided he is otherwise entitled by law, which will be addressed to a Proctor in Doctor's Commons, that letters may pass in favour of the applicant, while the original petition and certificate are preserved on the records of the Treasurer of the Navy and kept by him, and the letters of administration must be lodged and registered in the same manner as the probates of wills, with the Inspector, who must give a cheque signed and stamped by him, or his representative, to the Administrators or their Attorneys, which will be sufficient for either to demand payment of all sums due to them on account of the deceased. Proctors are liable to a penalty of 500l. if aiding to procure probates or letters of administration to empower any to receive pay, prize-money, &c. for service in the fleet, without having first obtained a certificate from the Inspector of Wills and powers of Attorney, and they will, moreover, be incapacitated from acting in any Ecclesiastical Court of Great Britain or Ireland.

1763. Non-Commissioned Officers and Private Marines should be cautious to execute latter wills and powers exactly conformable to the prescribed rules, for if not attended to, they will be of no effect, besides the testator or executor being subject to a penalty.

The stated fees of Proctors are as follow, and with them I shall close an Appendix, which, I humbly trust, will prove of general benefit. Every remark which it contains is alike applicable in pursuing the interests of the heirs of Seamen as well as of Marines.

1764. Tuesday 3rd July. HMS Dolphin and HMS Tamar sailed on a voyage of Distcovery.

1764. Tuesday 23rd October. The Battle of Buxar was fought between the forces under the command of the British East India Company led by Hector Munro, and the combined army of Mir Qasim the Nawab of Bengal: the Nawab of Awadh and the Mughal King Shah Alam II. The battle took place within the territory of Bengal, and the town of Buxar was located on the banks of the river Ganges, about 130km west of Patna. The British troops engaged in the fighting numbered 7,072 comprising of 857 British, 5,297 Indian Sepoys and 918 Indian Cavalry, and 30 cannons. The alliance army's numbers were estimated to be over 40,000men and 140 cannons. It was a decisive victory for the British East India Company that had a casualty list of 1,847 killed or wounded, while the enemy had 10,000 killed or wounded and 6,000 captured and taken prisoner.

1764. Monday 29th October. Plymouth (Uniform). Officers ordered to have Uniform Frocks lapelled with White Cloth with a Deaths Head Button. Waistcoats White with Plain Buttons. Frocks to have a stand up Cape (Collar). Breeches to be of leather and Hats plain with Gilt Buttons and Double Gold Loop. Officers were to agree on a Shoulder Knot.

1764. November. The Nabobs were defeated at Cutwa (Katwa) in West Bengal India.

1764. A Board of General Officers recommended that the Grenadiers should lay aside their swords, as that weapon had never been used during the 'Seven Years War'. Since that period the arms of the infantry soldier have been limited to the musket and bayonet.

1765. Friday 5th April. The Marines underwent another name change and their roll within the navy. Their new title was changed to His Majesty's Marine Forces and they became the Marine Infantry for the Royal Navy. The Corps was finally established as an integral part of the Royal Naval. After which the Marine force consisted of fifty companies that were split into three Divisions. Each division's headquarters were based in Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth, all under the Admiralty's control. In which they took part in many landings and battles all over the world.

1765. Thursday 29th August. Plymouth (Uniform). At an inspection by the Duke of Gloucester, Officers were ordered to wear their Laced Uniforms, Coats, Waistcoat and Hat, White Breeches and Boots. The men to have on Spatter-dashes and their Caps, Tops perfectly clean and well dressed.

1766 \- 1769. The First Anglo Mysore War was fought in India between the Sultanate of Mysore and the British East India Company.

1766. Thursday 27th March. RM Sergeants had the privilege of wearing scarlet sashes. While Corporals were awarded and allowed to wear chevrons on Wednesday 2nd September 1807 in lieu of the 'Knots' worn on their shoulders.

1766. Wednesday 9th July. HMS Dolphin and HMS Tamar returned from trip around the world.

1766. Sunday 20th July. Plymouth (Uniform). The men were ordered to wear White Stockings and Short Spatterdash tops.

1766. August. HMS Dolphin and HMS Swallow on a voyage of discovery.

1767. Twenty companies were added to the Corps, making 110 companies, and the total number of established at 11,419 men.

1767. Monday 12th January. The Royal Marines Band was formed at Plymouth (3rd Grand Division).

1767. Monday 25th May. Plymouth (Uniforms). The Officers to make Uniform Frocks with White Lapels, and Cuffs, the White of the lapels to be each a full three inches depth. The Cuff to be close and round, with four buttons and four button holes. The same number of holes to be on the Pocket of the Coat and Waistcoat. On the hip and Side Plates four Buttons. A White turned down Collar, the waistcoat and Breeches White Cloth. The lining of the Coat and waistcoat, White Shaloon. A plain double gilt Button of the same pattern as may be seen at the Adjutants Office. Each officer's Coat of the Battalion to have a Gold Fringe Epaulet on the right shoulder and the Grenadier Officers to have one on each shoulder.

1767. Friday 25th December. The Derby Mercury Newspaper. Wednesday Evening a barbarous murder was committed on a Marine belonging to the Squadron in this Garrison. Another Marine came to the Poor Man's Quarters about six in the evening and decoyed him out, telling him that he knew of some smuggled goods upon South-Sea Common, about a Mile from this Place, near the Sea Side, and that it would be worth his while to go with him to seize them.

The next morning the Man was found murdered in the above mentioned Place. His. head beat to pieces the Scalp almost tore off, stabbed in several parts of the Face and eyes, supposed with a Bayonet. The Man came home on the MONTREAL and had received Money due to him. He had a Silver Watch, Silver Buckles and five or six guineas in his Pocket, when he left his quarters; his Pockets

when he was found were turned inside out and the Marine that took him out had not been heard of since.

The Deceased was a lusty strong Man, and 'tis supposed the Murder was not committed by one Man, as there is appearance of the Deceased having made great resistance. A Publican and his wife are taken upon suspicion of the Murder. It is supposed the Body was thrown into the seas, which carried it to the Beach where it was found.

1768. Friday 1st January. The Derby Mercury, extract of a letter from Portsmouth Monday 21st December. The Coroner having sat on the body of the murdered Marine mentioned in my last, brought in their verdict "WILFUL MURDER", and supposed by the Grenadier that took him out of his quarters the evening the Murder was perpetrated. The Grenadier was taken the Evening following. He prevaricated greatly on his examination and denies the fact, but from the Strongest Circumstances everybody believes him to be the Murderer. A little time will discover, we hope, more of the. barbarous Affair.

1768. Friday 25th March. Portsmouth. Yesterday the battalion of Marines returned to this quarter from the neighbouring towns, where they were detached for a week on account of the election. From one or two instances of bad behaviour among them at Portsmouth, entirely owing to bad quarters, the country was much alarmed, and testified uneasy apprehensions on their arrival; but their anxiety and fears were soon removed by the steady and good behaviour of the men in every quarter. It is a pleasing circumstance, that among 500 soldiers, not one complaint was exhibited, during the time they were out, against a single man. No one can be surprised at any irregularity they may commit at Portsmouth, when two thirds of the houses they are quartered at are filled with bad women, whose way of life and principles may corrupt the unwary men. They have been useful people, yet there is not a corps in his Majesty's service on so bad an establishment as the marines; nor do any soldiers in the service undergo the hard duty they do in this time of peace. Extract taken from 'The London Chronicle' (Thursday 31st March to Saturday 2nd April 1768) (Sic)

1768. Tuesday 26th April. A few days ago a quarrel arose between a number of the Shipwrights in our Dock Yard and Marines then on Duty there, which had like to have proved of bad consequence: it was as follows: Several of the Shipwrights had according to Custom, got ready their Bundles of Chips in order to carry them away at the ringing of the Bell, but which the Marines found means to convey into the Guard House; this so enraged the Shipwrights that they armed themselves with Axes and other offensive weapons, and marched up to the Marines to demand their Property, but the Soldiers refused giving it up; on which both Parties prepared for an engagement, the Marines drawing up in line with their Muskets and Bayonets fixed and the Shipwrights in like manner with their Axes etc. but happily the superior officers of the Yard interfering, prevented the dreadful consequences, by obliging the Soldiers to restore the Chips, several reprimanding them, and strictly forbidding them forever interfering with the Shipwrights any more.

'Chips' referred to above, are the discarded and left-over chippings and other off cuts of wood produced during the construction and repair of RN ships.

1768. The Corps was further increased to 140 companies, amounting to 14,845 men.

1768. May. HMS Dolphin returned from voyage of discovery.

1768. June. A small Royal Marine detachment consisting of 9 Marines, 1 Drummer, 1Corporal, under the command of Sergeant John Edgecotabe R.N., drummed out of Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth (still a R.M. Barracks) and marched down to Plymouth Hoe to the Barbican to join H.M.S. Endeavour (under Captain. Cook). On the 26th August 1768 she sailed for the South Seas, and the Royal Marines began a 3 year commission. on the 9th November 1769, just east of the tarananui River the Marines landed for the first time in New Zealand; by Mercury Bay on that same day they presented Arms as the Union Flag was hoisted, the first link in the chain between the Royal Marines and New Zealand was welded. Other detachments followed with Captain Cook; when Cook fell in Hawaii, four Royal Marines fighting off his attackers died with him.

The Royal Marine Detachments of the Resolution and Discovery did their duty in New Zealand waters, and later in the New Zealand Wars P.M. Detachments of no less than 17 ships saw service both afloat and ashore; either as Gunners (Royal Marine Artillery) or as Infantry (Royal Marine Light Infantry). Then came the Fencibles (the Soldier settlers) amongst whom were a large number of time-expired Marines. 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 ISIS Dunedin and 1Q45 Diomede and five detachments - while on station, ISIS Achilles three detachments, HMS Leander two detachments, HMNZS Gambia one detachment; last but not least WINES Bellona with two detachments. The lot in 1946 made up in the main by Royal Marines who had served in 11)45 Achilles and Leander during the War and had not had the chance of seeing the country they had bayed. In 1949 these Royal Marines were sad and-sorry to leave when their tour of duty was up, and the relief detachment arrived in Wellington in the liner Atlantis, under the command of Capt. P. R. Lankester P.M., who had previously served in the Achilles.

The last detachment (1949 to l951) carried out their duties in the traditional manner of the Corps, the 3 years passed too quickly. At the Royal Show in Epson Show Grounds, Auckland in 1951 they said farewell to New Zealand by Beating the Retreat; their bearing and drill were the delight to thousands who watched them. Many ex-Royal Marines from all over New Zealand were there, deeply touched as their serving comrades executed the Royal Marine Corps traditional ceremony, in pouring rain, flashing lighting and rolling thunder. The last link was welded, for the chain could never be broken. The Royal Marine Band would see to that, for they continued to serve in New Zealand for another nine years. As would the Royal Marine Assoc., but above all the many New Zealand families whose very beginning were with those who truly served under two flags, with equal allegiance to both.

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. (Sic)

A son of New Zealand, General Sir John Westall, born in Napier, became the commandant General of the Royal Marines, 1951-53.

1768. Friday 3rd June. Plymouth (Uniform). Officers ordered to wear their Frocks with Skirts turned back, short Spatterdashes and hair queued. The men to wear White Breeches and Short Spatterdashes, their New Hats and their hair plaited and turned inside their Hats.

1768. Saturday 11th June. The Band was ordered to wear white breeches and stockings with black buckled garters at Guard Mounting. The first dated reference to a Marine Band at Portsmouth (The 2nd Grand Division) although it is believed that a band was formed there in 1765.

1768. July. HMS Endeavour sailed on a voyage of discovery.

1768. Friday 26th August. Captain Cook and his ship HMS Endeavour left Plymouth carrying 94 men and 18 months of provisions. Cook had been chosen to lead an expedition to the South Seas to observe the Transit of Venus and to secretly search for the unknown Great Southern Continent (terra Australis incognita 1768 – 1771). HMS Endeavour travelled via Madeira (September), Rio de Janiero (November-December) and Tierra del Fuego (January 1769) to Tahiti.

The Marine detachment joined HMS Endeavour at Plymouth Tuesday16th August 1768.

Edgcumbe. John Sergeant.

Truslove. John Corporal.

Rossiter. Thomas Drummer.

Judge. William Private.

Paul. Henry Private.

Bremer. Michael Private.

Preston. Daniel Private.

Wilshire. William Private.

Greenslade. William Private.

Gibson. Samuel Private.

Dunster. Thomas Private.

Webb. Clement Private.

Bowles. John Private.

1768. Wednesday 6th October. Mail Arrangements Chatham Division. Conformable to the orders of 1758, the Orderly Sergeant is to bring all letters from the Post Office that are directed to the Officers of the Division. The C. O's letters to be carried to his quarters and the rest delivered to the Orderly Room, where they will be given to those who the officers choose to send for them, or otherwise delivered by the sergeants and corporals of the respective squads at the officers' quarters, with their orders.

1769. Friday 17th March. Chatham (Uniform). No Military compliments to be paid by the Marine Guards or Centinels when on duty to any officer of the Land Force or Marines, unless such officers are dressed in Scarlet with swords, nor to any officers of H.M. Fleet unless they are dressed in Blue with swords.

1769. Friday 17th March. Chatham Orders. No Military Compliments to be paid by the Marine Guards or Sentinels when on duty to any Officer of the Land Forces or Marines unless such Officers are dressed in Scarlet with swords; nor to any Officer of H.M. Fleet unless they are dressed in Blue with Swords.

1769. March. HMS Swallow returned from a voyage of discovery.

1769. Monday 15th May. Plymouth (Uniform). Officers ordered to wear their White Coats without and lace or embroidery, Hats with New Pattern Lace two Epaulets with no distinctions of rank. Gorgets when ordered.

1769. June. A French ship made to Salute in the Downs.

1769. Tuesday 12th September. Plymouth (Uniform). Officers to get New Uniform Gorgets (Silver).

1769. Sunday 1st October. Plymouth (Uniform). Men to wear Red Breeches and Long Spatterdashes to mount a Guard in.

1769 \- 1770. The Marines served in Australia and New Zealand over a longer period than any other British military unit.

1770. The afternoon of Sunday 29th April. A small detachment of 13 Marines landed with Captain Cook at Botany Bay in New South Wales Australia. There have always been stories that spoke of a Marine being first out of the boat as it beached, to hold it steady. However, it was Isaac Smith, who became the first European to set foot on Eastern Australian soil. As the ship's boat touched the shore, Cook is reputed to have said "Jump out, Isaac". Isaac Smith was a very young man at the time, but a month later on Wednesday 23rd May 1770, he was promoted to midshipman following James Magra's suspension on suspicion of having assaulted Captain Cook's clerk.

1770. July. Fire at Portsmouth Dockyard.

1770. While in the Americas, affairs of a very serious aspect caught the attention of the British government to the disturbed state of her American colonies, in consequence of a real or pretended right on the part of Great Britain to impose internal taxes. The stamp act was so exceedingly unpopular, that its repeal was absolutely necessary to appease the people, and the tax on tea imported into America was so obnoxious, that every means of opposition was resorted to help get it abolished.

1770. October. Ships laden with tea having arrived at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Charlestown, and Rhode Island, conveying altogether 2200 chests, the people assembled at different places to concert measures that would prevent the importation, and to compel the consignees, at the risk of their lives and property, to relinquish their employments. In these assemblies, resolutions were passed derogatory to the legislative power of Great Britain, and on the Wednesday18th December a number of armed men, under the disguise of Mohawk Indians, boarded the ships, and threw their valuable cargoes into the sea, but at New York the tea was landed under the protection of the men of war.

1770 \- 1780. The Marines uniform of the day. (Taken from 'Britain's Sea Soldiers: Vol 1 by Cyril Field RMLI.)

1771. Thursday 7th of March, his Majesty sent a message to Parliament requiring immediate measures for securing the execution of the laws, and just dependence of the colonies upon the crown of Great Britain. The Minister at the same time introduced a bill to take away from Boston the privilege of a party as a punishment for their refractory conduct, reinforcements were sent there, and General Gage was appointed governor of the colony. This restriction on of the inhabitants of Boston raised a spirit of rebellion throughout the continent of America, all were agreed in resisting the collection of any internal tax not imposed by their own assemblies, and to suspend all commercial intercourse with the mother country until their grievances were fully redressed. Deputies were soon afterwards appointed from each province to attend a general congress at Philadelphia, which assembled on Tuesday 6th September 1774. Among their first resolutions was to acknowledge their dependence, but insisted on their privileges, consenting to those acts of the British legislature which regulated their external commerce, yet insisting, that according to the English constitution, the people had a right to participate in their legislative council, and as the colonies, from various causes, could not be represented in the British Parliament. They were entitled to a free and exclusive legislation in their respective provincial assemblies, in all cases of taxation and internal policy. They recommended to the several provinces the establishment of a national militia, and to raise money for paying those who should bravely hazard their lives in defence of the privileges of America.

1771. When Colonels of Marines were appointed Commandants of divisions the Marines discharged from the service obtained the right of following their trade in any town in the kingdom, except the universities. The Earl of Sandwich succeeded to the office of first Lord of the Admiralty, and his ready attention to the memorials of the Marines, by reviving their hopes of promotion, and restored that spirit of discipline which characterised the battalions sent by his Lordship to America.

Edgcumbe. John. 2nd Lieutenant. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Hamilton. John. Sergeant. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Beard. Robert. Corporal. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Brotherson. Philip. Drummer. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Scott. James. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Commena. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Baldy. Richard. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Phillips. John. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Carpenter. Richard. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Tow. William. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Harper. John. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Wedgeborough. William. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Twitty. Charles. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Taylor. Francis. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Duttall. John. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Monk. William. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

McVicar, Archibald. Private. Joined Sheerness 29th May 1772.

Gibson. Samuel. Corporal. Joined Plymouth 9th July 1772.

Taylor. Isaac. Private. Joined Plymouth 9th July 1772.

1771. Monday 13th May. Plymouth (Uniform). Grenadiers hats to have no lace but to be cocked with white looping with two white tassels on the right side.

1771. Friday 7th June. Plymouth (Uniform). Officers to wear their coats hooked back, to have black gaiters, white stocks or cravats, and their hair queued.

1771. Monday 22nd July. An old Recruiting Advertisement. Sergeant Calbet RM. was sent recruiting to Birmingham for the Royal Marines. following is the advertisement which notified his activities:

He That Works Hard Is Sure to be Poor.

After six Days hard Labour comes Sunday - you rest.

And no sooner peeps Monday but you are quite shy of Cash.

Therefore, to made Life easy, and fill your Pockets with Money, Sergeant Calbet will learn any young Man a Profession (Without Fee or Reward) by which the Learner will be sure to earn a Guinea and a Crown the very first Hour. He will also introduce you to His Majesty's First Division of Marines, which is always quartered at Chatham, only thirty miles from London, to which Place Pleasure-Boats carry Passengers for Six-pence each. When you arrive at Chatham, you are immediately provided with Cloths, free Quarters in a Public-house, where you will be sure to meet with merry Fellows, a kind Landlady, and a rousing Fire: do nothing but on a fine day dance to the softest Music, feed on Dainties, drink the best Liquors and Play at "Why won't you" with the prettiest Girls, saying "Chatham forever." and "God save the King".

He teaches no Militia Men or Apprentice. (sic)

1772. Wednesday 11th March. Plymouth (Uniform). Waist belts are ordered to be altered to cross belts.

1772. Sunday 5th April. HMS Resolution and HMS Adventure sailed on a voyage of discovery.

1772. Sunday 17th May. Plymouth (Uniform). Surgeons are ordered to wear red coats with a red cape (Collar), and lapels, Marine uniform buttons, white waistcoats, white breeches, with black buckled garters, when on duty, uniform hats and swords.

1772. Saturday 30th May. Plymouth (Uniform). Officers to wear their coats long waisted with short shirts in the present Military Fashion, white stocks and black ribbands round the neck, their hair queued, hats laced and cocked smartly with silver cord, band and Tassels. Their garters are to be made of black satin, three quarters of an inch wide, and lined with white linen.

1772. July. HMS Resolution Commanded by Captain Cook, and HMS Adventure Commanded by Lieutenant Furneaux, set sail from Britain, via Madiera (July - August) and Cape Town, South Africa (October - November), towards the Antarctic in search of the Great Southern Continent.

The Marine detachment that joined HMS Resolution.

Mollineux. John Sergeant.

Mills. Alexander Corporal.

Lane. John Drummer. Private.

Lear. Daniel Private.

Stewart. Donald Private.

Allden. William Private.

Reed. Richard Private.

Thomas. John Private.

Kearney. William Private.

Sommerfield. Bonaventure Private.

Rosa. Alexander Private.

Scott. James 2/Lt. Promoted 11th June 1772. Joined 7th July from HMS Resolution.

1772. Wednesday 16th September. Chatham Orders. In pursuance of His Majesty's Orders the several companies of Marines at Quarters to parade tomorrow morning upon the New Road close to Star Lane Rochester in order to march to Maidstone on account of the Election.

1773. Wednesday 12th May. Chatham (Uniform). Officers on joining Quarters who lately are or shall be appointed to this Division may know the proper uniform they are to appear in upon Guard and in the Field of Exercise on General Field Days, the Comg. Officer finds it necessary to insert the following Mode of Dress which he expects every Officer will strictly observe.

Uniform Coat, White Waistecoats and Breeches, Silver Laced Hat with Silver Band and Loopings, Black Stock, Black Silk Buckle Garters, Sash Gorget, Uniform Sword and Knot. Half Gaiters except when long ones are particularly ordered. Shoulder Sword Belt with Clasp. Belt and Pouch to be worn over the Coat same as Private men. Battalion Officers Hair queued. Grenadiers and Light Infantry platted and tucked.

1773. Wednesday 2nd June. George III. reviewed the Fleet at Portsmouth.

1773. HMS Racehorse and HMS Carcass sailed for the North Pole.

1774. During the latter part of the year the Americans were making great preparations for resistance; and they scrupled not to declare their intention of attacking Boston when the ice on the river became strong enough to bear their weight, but as it did not freeze hard enough during the winter, they postponed their plans until the spring of 1775. To prevent being taken by surprise, the neck of land which leads into Boston from Roxbury, was carefully fortified by the British and Admiral Graves, by placing the Somerset in the ferry way between the two towns. This overawed the inhabitants of Charlestown and prevented any attack from that side. The fleet under Vice Admiral Graves consisted of four sail of the line and a great many smaller vessels, which was greatly dispersed, but so disposed as to afford all the protection possible to his Majesty's loyal subjects in the colonies.

1774 \- 1776. Flank Companies. While British Marines were not unknown to Colonial America, their first appearance in considerable numbers was at Boston in 1774, General Thomas Gage's army there requiring reinforcements, an improvised battalion of fewer than 400 marines, was hastily dispatched, without gaiters or watch coats. Their camp equipment, tents, and spare clothing turned up in Rhode Island. However, their commander, the able and popular Major John Pitcairn, drilled and fathered them into a first-class unit. They took part in the Lexington-Concord brawl, with 74 casualties out of 336 effectives. When some 700 additional marines arrived in May 1775, Pitcairn reformed his force into the 1st and 2nd Marine Battalions, organised on the same basis as British infantry regiments, with Army pay and rations. Each formed two flank companies, one of light infantry, one of grenadiers. These were then detached to serve with the army's provisional battalions of grenadiers and light infantry. The entire 1st Marine Battalion and the flank companies of the 2nd Battalion were engaged at Bunker's Hill.

In early 1776, the marine battalions and light infantry companies were held at Halifax while the two grenadier companies went off to Long Island. In 1777, the light companies took part in the attack on Machias, Maine. Subsequently, all marines were ordered back to England for fleet duty.

The present (since 1802 "Royal") marines had been organized in 1755. Available sources do not indicate when the first grenadier companies were authorized, though they may well have existed in 1761. The first mention of light infantry appears to be at Plymouth in 1772, when the captain of HMS ALBION protested that his marine detachment had not been issued coats and hats. The marine commandant there had to explain that they were light infantry "...in consequence of which their coats were cut shorter than the rest of the companies (and the) lace was taken off the Hatts to make Bands, Loops, and Tassels (for their caps)" Since the British Army had reintroduced light infantry companies in 1771, it may well be that the marines followed suit. Obviously, it was new to the ALBION's captain.

The marines' uniform was red, faced white, with white waistcoat and breeches; half-gaiters were worn unless long ones were specified in orders. Lace was white with a red and blue stripe on its right side. Stocks were black. Individual equipment apparently was identical with that of the Army. Enlisted marines' buttons were of pewter, possibly with the incised design of a fouled anchor as is established for c 1780. Marines of the battalion companies wore their hair in the conventional queue; grenadiers and light infantrymen had theirs "platted" (plaited) and tucked up under the caps. Flank companies had "wings" on their coats.

The grenadiers' black bearskin caps also followed Army specifications but carried the marines' special badge of "The Anchor and Star", surrounded by a laurel wreath granted them for valor at Belle Isle. For reasons unexplained, the light infantry cap badge had oak leaves instead of laurel. When the grenadier companies were formed at Boston, fur caps were sent out from England under the charge of a Captain Walker.

Officers had silver lace and buttons. Orders in 1773 specified a "Shoulder Sword Belt, with Clasp and Pouch to be worn over the coat, the same as the Pte (enlisted) Men" for light infantry officers. The 1780 officers' buttons were bone-backed with a silver face, carrying the design of a fouled anchor within a wreath, and a scalloped edge. There is no clear agreement on the design of the officer's belt "clasp". In April 1784 it was ordered changed to "buckles and slides", which shortly thereafter were definitely replaced by belt plates. General agreement is that the first clasps/plates were oval, probably with an anchor design, as shown in contemporary paintings of naval officers. Considering the marines' dispersed service, there probably was some variation. Oblong plates with a crown-and-lion device appeared in c 1782. As it was not usual for flank company officers to wear wings until 1805-1806, our flank company officers have two epaulettes, a distinction allowed grenadier officers in the 1768 Warrent and quickly adopted by those of the light-infantry companies.

### Chapter 6

1775 - 1799

1775 \- 1783. The American Revolutionary War was an armed conflict between Great Britain and thirteen of its former North American colonies, which had declared themselves the Independent United States of America. Early fighting took place primarily on the North American continent. However, in 1778 France was eager for revenge after its defeat against the British in 1763 and signed an alliance with the United States of America. The conflict quickly escalated into a much larger war with Britain combating France, Spain, and the Netherlands.

1775. Wednesday 8th February. Plymouth (Uniform). Officers of the Battalion ordered to America are instructed to provide themselves with Long leather Gaiters with Hessian tops. The men who are going are to have long Black Gaiters with buttons, and also short ones. They are to have Knapsacks and a Manchester Velvet Stock with Buckle for the Grenadiers and a Clasp for the rest.

1775. Wednesday 5th April. The Marines underwent another name change and roll within the navy. Their new title was changed to 'His Majesty's Marine Forces' and they became the Marine Infantry for the Royal Navy. The Corps was finally established as an integral part of the Royal Naval. After which the Marine force consisted of fifty companies that were split into three Divisions. Each division's headquarters were based in Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth, all under the Admiralty's control. In which they took part in many landings all over the world.

1775. Per Mare Per Terram ('By Sea, By Land'), the motto of the Marines, is believed to have been used for the first time during 1775, according to Alexander Gillespie.

1775. Wednesday 19th April. Major Pitcairn orders his Marines to advance toward Concord to seize the rebel held town. While passing through Lexington an officer unwisely fired towards the local militia. In the skirmish that followed eight militia men were killed in what were to be the first shots fired of the American war of Independence. While advancing further towards Concord more skirmishes took place that forced Major Pitcairn to return to Boston, after many of his force expended their issue of 36 rounds of ammunition. They had suffered 73 dead and over 200 wounded. Later their numbers where increased with the arrival of a Brigade of three Regiments of Marines who had marched 30 miles in under ten hours.

1775. Saturday 20th May. The following is an extract from the Marine Battalion orders of the: "The Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, having directed a reinforcement of Marines to serve under Major Pitcairne in General Gage's Army, consisting of 2 Majors, 10 Captains, 27 Subalterns, 2 Adjutants, 1 Surgeon, 2 assistant-Surgeons, 28 Sergeants, 25 Corporals, 20 Drummers, 600 Privates. The Commanding Officer deems it necessary, for the good of the service, to form the whole under his command into two battalions:

Captain David Johnston, Superintendent, Adjutant, and Deputy Paymaster to the 2nd Battalion.

?? Hill, Surgeon to the 2nd Battalion; William Tervant and?? Silven, surgeon's mates.

The following regulations for the payment of companies were notified in the battalion orders of Saturday 3rd June: "The Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having directed, by their letter to Major Pitcairne of the 2nd March last, that the Captain of Marines commanding companies on shore at Boston should pay their companies in the same manner as practised by the land forces, the Captains or Commanding Officers of companies will receive from Captain Johnstone, Deputy Paymaster, one month's subsistence for the non-commissioned officers and private men of their respective companies, deducting 1s - 51/2p. per week each for provisions and the usual stoppages, as directed by the Admiralty:

For one Sergeant, 2 pence per week.

For one Corporal or Drummer 1 and a half pence per week.

For one Private 1 pence per week.

Captains are to give the Deputy Paymaster complete monthly pay rolls, accounting for the subsistence distributed to their companies, and specifying every particular casualty that has happened in each company during the preceding month, and to commence this day."

Officers off 1st Battalion

Grenadiers

Thomas Avare Capt.

William Finney. 1st Lieut.

George Vevers. 1st Lieut.

First Company.

Stawel Chudleigh. Capt.

Richard Shea.1st Lieut.

?? Hewes. 1st Lieut.

Second Company.

Stephen Ellis Capt.

James Robertson 1st lieut.

P. D. Robertson. 2nd Lieut.

Third Company.

Thomas Lindsay. Capt.

William Lycett.1st Lieut.

David Collins. 2nd Lieut.

Fourth Company.

William Forster. Capt.

William Graham. 1st Lieut.

Isaac Potter. 2nd Lieut.

Fifth Company.

Robert Ross. Capt.

Charles Steward. 1st Lieut.

Isaac Potter. 2nd Lieut.

Sixth Company.

Robert Ross. Capt.

B. M'Donald. 2nd Lieut.

Henry Tatum. 2nd Lieut.

Seventh Company.

J. H. Branson. Capt.

William Creswell. 1st Lieut.

Thomas Trollope. 2nd Lieut.

Eighth Company.

John Perceval. Capt.

Aaron Eustace. 1st Lieut.

Thos. Woodcock. 2nd Lieut.

Light Infantry.

W. Souter. Capt.

William Pitcairne. 1st Lieut.

Philip Howe. 2nd Lieut.

Philip Howe. 2nd Lieut.

Adjutant.

John Waller. 1st Lieut.

Quartermaster

J.Pitcairne. 1st Lieut.

Officers of 2nd Battalion.

Grenadiers.

George Logan.

Alexander Brisbane.

Francis Gardner.

First Company.

Hon. John Maitland. Capt.

Jesse Carter. 1st Lieut.

Roland Carter. 1st Lieut.

Second Company.

Charles Chandless. Capt.

Fenton Griffiths, 1st Lieut.

Henry D'Oyley. 2nd Lieut

Third Company.

Thomas Groves. Capt.

John Hadden. 1st Lieut.

Titus Conyers. 1st Lieut.

Fourth Company.

Samuel Davys. Capt.

Walter Nugent. 1st Lieut.

Robert Carey. 2nd Lieut.

Fifth Company.

Edward Henvill. Capt.

Thomas Biggs. 1st Lieut.

James Lewis. 2nd Lieut.

Sixth Company.

George Elliott. Capt.

Alex. M'Donald. 1st Lieut.

John France. 1st Lieut.

Seventh Company.

Archer Walker. Capt.

James Anderson. 1st Lieut.

Robert Moore. 2nd Lieut.

Eighth Company.

John M'Fie. Capt.

SirJ.Dalston. 1st Lieut.

Francis Dogherty. 1st Lieut.

Light Infantry.

Archibald Campbell. Capt.

John Dyer. 2nd Lieut.

N. H. Nicholas. 2nd Lieut.

Adjutant.

John Fielding. 1st. Lieut.

Quartermaster.

Thomas Smith. 1st Lieut.

1775. May. The Boston garrison was cut off by the American Rebels. However, their numbers were boosted upon the arrival of a further 750 Marines. Finally, their numbers were considered strong enough to advance on to Bunkers Hill and face the rebels who were camped there and ready to meet them head on. Major Pitcairn's plan was to clear the hill and to then move on to the harbour.

1775. Saturday 17th June. The start of the Battle of Bunker Hill. The battle took place on the Charlestown Peninsula on the North side of Boston Harbour. During which the Marines and Sailors took to the ship's small boats to repel attackers who were also using their own small boats against the Royal Navy ships that were taking part in a closed blockade and had become becalmed. While on land other battles were taking place. Major John Pitcairn led a force of 300 Marines that included drummers. While advancing they crossed another line of Infantry, who were being pushed back by heavy fire. Waving his sword Pitcairn is reported to have told them to "Break and let the Marines through". He then urged his men forward with the words "Now for the glory of the Marines". He was then hit by enemy fire and fell wounded into the arms of his son William Pitcairn. He later died from heavy blood lost, aged 52. A contemporary report said, 'The reputation of the Marines was never more nobly sustained. Their unshaken steadiness was conspicuous and their valour in closing with the enemy when part of the attacking column wavered gained them not only the admiration of their comrades but the commendation of their distinguished chief. The Battle of Bunker Hill rates very highly amongst the Marines major battle honours. Although commonly referred to as the battle of Bunker Hill, some of the fighting took place on the nearby Breed's Hill. The British suffered around 1,150 killed and wounded while the American casualties were estimated at only 450 killed and wounded. A Silver medal was presented to Captain Ewing of the Marines after being wounded during the battle. The American War of Independence was to continue until 1783.

1775. Tuesday 19th December. Boston (Uniform). The Captains to receive the Arm, Clothing and Accoutrements of their effectives, the clothing to be fitted by Company's agreeable to the Pattern, but no part of it to be worn till the whole are furnished when an order will be given for that purpose, a Pattern Hat will be fixed upon from one of those already cocked, and each Battalion will find Proper persons to cock the rest, as nearly like as possible. No man to be brought to the Parade or Guard that has not got his Hat Laced, and Band, Black Stock and Leggings. Black Garters are ordered for the Men of duty, and Captains are recommended to see their men's hair properly cut and their Hats cleaned with Spruce Beer.

1755. Marines came under the Naval Discipline Act whilst at sea and to conform to the ships' hierarchy it was rare to have a Marine officer above the rank of Captain aboard (equivalent to a naval First Lieutenant). However in larger operations a number of ships' Marine detachments would form into a Battalion to be landed, and on these occasions a Marine officer with the commission of Major or Colonel would assume command ashore.(RMHS)

1775 \- 1782. The First Anglo-Maratha War was the first of three fought between the British East India Company and Maratha Empire in India.

1775. To help put down the rebellious American colonies a Battalion of Marines commanded by Major Pitcairn was dispatched to Boston, where the infamous Tea Party incident had taken place, two years earlier.

1775. Fighting also broke out in India between the British East India Company and the French allied Kingdom of Mysore.

1775. The loss of the Pomona and the Ferret.

1775. The capture of the Bolton by American privateers.

1775. The loss of the Savage.

1776. Monday 1st January. Liverpool and consorts burnt Norfolk Virginia.

1776. Saturday 6th April. HMS Glasgow engaged American Squadron.

1776. Wednesday 17th April. Halifax (Uniform). The O.C. desires the Captains will take care to have the Arms, Accoutrements and Appointments of their men, in perfect order on Tuesday next, as the General intend to see both Battalions on that day. When it's expected that every man will have a Clean Shirt with a Frill to it, a good Black Stock, and a pair of half Gaiters. The Pouches to be slung and polished as soon as possible.

Phillips. Molesworth. 2nd/Lieutenant. Chatham Division 12 June 1776.

Gibson. Samuel. Sergeant. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Thomas. James. Corporal. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Ledyard, John. Corporal. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

James. John. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Harrison. John. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Hinks. Theophilus. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Brown. Richard. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Scruse. William. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Girley. Thomas. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

McDonald. John. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Jackson. John. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Morris. Thomas. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Allen. John. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Fatchett. Thomas. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Perkins. John. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

McLeod. John. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Carley. Isaac. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Harford. Thomas. Private. Plymouth Division 9th July 1776.

Portsmouth. Michael. Drummer. Joined 11th July 1776.

1776. Sunday 21st April. Halifax (Uniform). The Officers of the 1st battalion to wear White Roses in their Gorgets and to provide themselves with them immediately. They are like wise to wear their hair (when under arms or on Duty) in a short Club.

1776. May. The loss of Actacon (?)

1776. May. The Bombardment of Charleston.

1776. Friday 12th July. The voyage of HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery. Captain Cook set sail in a repaired HMS Resolution along with HMS Discovery Commanded by Charles Clerke, in search of the 'North West Passage'. On the way to Cape Town South Africa HMS Resolution stopped at Tenerife to top up on supplies, eventually arriving on the 17th October. Immediately upon arrival HMS Resolution had it re-caulked because it had been leaking badly, especially through the main deck. Mean time HMS Discovery had been delayed in London and did not follow Cook until 1st August. When HMS Discovery finally arrived on 10th November she was also found to be in need of re-caulking. The HMS Discovery was the smallest of Cook's ships and was manned by a crew of sixty-nine. The two ships were repaired and restocked with a large number of live-stock. They then sailed in company on 1st December and on 13th December located and named the Prince Edward Islands. Twelve days later Cook found the Kerguelen Islands which he failed to find on his second voyage. Driven by strong westerly winds they reached Van Diemen's Land on 26th January 1777.

The Marine detachment on HMS Resolution.

Kich. James. Sergeant.

Harrison. George. Corporal.

Kerwin. Christopher (or Kerwin). Private.

Moody. George. Private.

Thompson. Hamlet. Private.

Randall. William. Private. Corporal 23rd Sept on death of Harrison G.

Herriott. John. Private.

Brown. William. Private.

Broom. William. Private.

Holloway. Jeremiah. Drummer. Joined at Plymouth 12 July 1776.

Broom. William. Private. Joined at Plymouth 24 July 1776.

Newman. Michael. Private. Joined at Plymouth 29 July 1776.

Poole. James. Private. Joined at Plymouth 29 July 1776.

1776. Tuesday 27th August. Long Island. In this action 1 Officer and 20 Marine Grenadiers were captured from having mistaken the blue uniforms of the Americans for those of the Hessians. There were 2 battalions of Marines totalling 1172 men in General Howe's Army at New York at the time.

1776. September. The Bombardment of New York.

1776. Friday 11th October. Action on Lake Champlain.

1776. Friday 6th December. Fire in portsmouth Dockyard.

1776. HMS Repulse lost with all hands off Bermuda.

1776. Corps Strength at that time was 10,129 men. It included six field-officers with their companies, three Lieutenant Colonels and three Majors, but on the formation of the expedition for Botany Bay, whilst four companies were added, those of the field officers remained reduced. On the retirement of Lord Howe, the Earl of Chatham became first Lord of the Admiralty, and in consequence of the presentation of a memorial from the three divisions the field-officers and their companies were restored.

1776. November. Martha's Vineyard. Taken from Beatson's M. & N. Memoires: "The Diamond, Captained Fielding, having been driven by the weather into Martha's Vineyard, sent a boat ashore under a flag of truce. The inhabitants suffered the boat to come within gun shot, and then fired upon her and one man was wounded. To punish this treachery the Diamond's Marines were landed, and at once attacked and routed a party of the enemy, though strongly posted on a hill and sheltered by rocks and bushes, from behind which they kept up a brisk fire. One Marine was killed and one wounded, while the rebels lost 4 killed and many wounded. The Marines then set fire to their houses and barns and brought off as many oxen, sheep and poultry as they could." (Sic)

1776 \- 1783. During the American War of Independence, the following advertisement appeared in the Ipswich Journal of Saturday 26th February 1780. This newspaper, now defunct, had had a wide circulation in Suffolk and Essex.

VOLUNTEERS

For the First Division of Marines.

Twenty Recruits are wanted immediately to complete the 31st Company, Commanded by Captain Shairp.

Now is the time for young men of spirit to gain honour and make their fortune by captures from the enemy. The superior advantages attending the marines' service are well known; particularly at this time, when our ports are crowded (sic) with French and Spanish Prizes. Marine Soldiers have every advantage of his Majesty's royal bounty, excellent clothing, arms and accoutrements with the addition of provisions found them gratis when on board ship, besides their full pay; and when in service, they share in prize-money equal to able seamen; these are advantages well known, and can be testified by many in this county, who have made their fortunes in the last, but more particularly in the present war. All under the age of 40, and above the size of 5 feet 3 inches, will meet with due encouragement, by applying to Capt Shairp in Queen's Street, or to his sergeants at the Marlborough's Head, Botolph's Gate, Colchester." (By H. Charles McBarron and John R. Elting.)

1776. Pattern 1776 infantry rifle was designed. One thousand are made and issued to British soldiers fighting in the War of American Independence.

1776. From very early times 'Press Gangs' had functioned in order to provide seamen. It was an Admiralty rule, founded upon the believe, that every British male subject was eligible to be pressed into service. However, the principal raids by press gangs were usually on experienced seafarers, particularly those serving aboard merchant vessels. There is little doubt that pressing for the naval service was legal provided the press gangs held a warrant issued in the county and was accompanied by a commissioned officer. There was also lawful protection documents that barred press gangs from taking the person. These were of short tenure and only for necessary skilled craftsmen, men with connections. It's interesting to note that to this day it has never been repealed.

1777. Sunday 18th May. Beaver took Oliver Cromwell.

1777. July. Fox taken by Hancock and Boston.

1777. Monday 18th August. The Rainbow took the Hancock.

1777. Tuesday 19th August. The Flora took the Fox.

1777. Tuesday 4th September. The Druid was attacked by an American frigate.

1777. Monday 22nd September. The Albert took the Lexington.

1777. Wednesday 22nd October. The Augusta and the Merlin blown up.

1777. Friday 26th September. The Capture of Philadelphia. The two Marine Grenadier Companies present with the rest of the Grenadiers belonging to the Army. During the advance on the city the US rebel frigate Delaware ran aground and was taken possession of by a company of Marines under command of Captain Avarne.

1777. Corps strength at that time was 11,829 men.

1777. Stephen Davenports time in the Corps 1777 - 1785. Little is known of Stephen Davenport other than brief references in, the muster rolls of various ships and divisional records, yet his brief 6 years in the Corps give an, insight not only into daily life of the 18th century marine but the hardships they suffered.

First mention as a Private Marine in HMS Augusta in 1777, engaged in the assault on Mud Island in the Delaware River in support of Sir William Howe's land attack on Philadelphia, where we have him dirty and tense as the ships guns roared all around him, and the Augusta went aground as she tried to squeeze through a narrow channel made narrower by the enemy batteries. The ship lay quiet all night, with the men busy lightening her to catch the morning tide, but the wind was unfavorable and at daylight the shore batteries began firing again. At mid-morning an odd crackling was heard, and the ship was on fire, started by fire rafts floated down stream by the American, or as the Captain believed by burning wads from her own guns igniting cattle fodder on board.

The crew scrambled to safety and the Augusta, a 64-gun ship of the line blew up. Her crew including Steven Davenport were distributed amongst the other ships of the fleet, Davenport to HMS Somerset doing duty out of New York & Rhode Island. A year later, on the 2nd of November 1778 guarding the entrance to Boston Harbour, Somerset was driven ashore on the Peak Hill Bars, by Provincetown, some of the crew were saved by a boat engaged in a prisoner exchange, but the captain and four hundred of his crew managed to get to shore where they were taken by the Americans. No record has been found in the muster lists of those saved who were dispersed into the other ships of the fleet, so it must be assumed that Davenport was among the prisoners taken by the Americans. These were exchanged by cartel the following year, and Stephen Davenport next appears promoted to Corporal in the newly raised 129th Coy of Plymouth Division, embarking on the 9th November into HMS Dublin whose log records "come on from Head Quarters 110 marines 1 Captain 2 Subalterns 4 Sargent's 2 Droomers". Here occurred the only blemish found on his record. On the 27th December 1779 an 'R' was placed against his name on the muster list (R is the mark of a man deserted), but Dublin was Portugal bound and was anchored in the Sound on the 25th "getting ready for sea", "employed unmooring on the 26th", and "under way" on the 27th. Fourteen men were so marked between those dates, possibly caught ashore when the winds came up and filled the sails, the 'R' would normally be removed on reporting to their Divisional Office, with a plausible reason, it was not an uncommon occurrence, when sailing time was decided by the wind. (sic)

At the end of March 1780, he is noted in the muster list of HMS Diligence at Portsmouth without the 'R', and in June was discharged into HMS Monarch, serving aboard until the end of September. In the December he embarked in HMS Cormorant for passage to Plymouth. On the 5th October 1781 he was mustered into HMS Nymph, where on the 28th June 1783 at Tortola in the West Indies she caught fire, the Admiralty was informed "the fire ragged so violently, the Greatest exertions of the officers and company proved ineffectual". Only three men were lost, but a subscription had to be raised to clothe the survivors. Davenport returned to England aboard the Caton and was discharged to Headquarters at Plymouth on the 4th November 1783. Caught in the reduction of the Corps strength because of the end of hostilities he was discharged from the Corps on the 17th of February 1784, his pay being recorded as 9.1s.1½d for service in HMS Nymph and 2.8s.6d for HMS Caton.

His last appearance is recorded in the Lent Assizes held in Exeter on the 14th February 1785 charged with Robbery on the King's Highway, together with three others, two former marines, and a servant. On the 17th, the Exeter Flying Post announced the names of the eleven prisoners who had received the death sentence, Stephen Davenport among them.

In the pages of the Devon Goal Book can still be seen the dreaded black asterisk against his name. Before he left Exeter, the Justice, Sir Francis Buller pleaded the King's Mercy about seven of the condemned, six having their sentence commuted to "transportation beyond the seas for seven years" and for Stephen Davenport, a Free Pardon. (sic)

1778. Monday 9th March. The Ariadine and the Cores took the Alfred.

1778. Friday 24th April. King George visited Chatham and Sheerness.

1778. Thursday 7th May. The Capture of Borden town and the destruction of rebel shipping. Carried out by the Marine Light Infantry under command of Major Hon. John Maitland of the Marines.

1778. Saturday 30th May. James Weir was commissioned into The Marine Corps as a second lieutenant on 30th May 1778 At this time it was customary for an officer, upon promotion, to be posted to another company, and 2nd lieutenant Weir was no exception. On his promotion to full lieutenant on Friday 25th August 1780, he was drafted from 56 Company to 60 Company Division, which was then quartered round the Barbican, Plymouth.

After three years in The Marine Corps, however, Lieutenant Weir suddenly found his service career cut short. With the lifting of the siege of Gibraltar 1779 - 1783, and the end of the American War of Independence 1775 - 1783, The Marine Corps was drastically reduced. As a result, Lieutenant Weir found himself on half pay. His retirement was only for a brief period, as on Thursday 15th May 1783 he was reinstated and appointed to 7 Company, Chatham Division.

For the next ten years 1783 - 1793 peace existed between England and France. But during that period the Prime Minister, William Pitt, to save money, neglected the defence of the country. Consequently, when the newly formed French Republic declared war on England in February 17931) it was found that the Navy had been reduced to 16,000 men, of whom only 4,500 were Marines. Due to this shortage of men, it was found necessary for The Marine Corps to be reinforced by a number of Army regiments, who were sent to serve at sea on ships-of-the-line.

The situation was slightly improved, however, when an Order-in-Council in April 1795 voted for the recruitment of 15,000 men for The Marine Corps. With this increase in The Marine Corps, orders soon followed to supply all ships-of-the-line with detachments when they came into port without Marines or soldiers. This move caused a lot of drafts between Divisions.

It also led to the long awaited promotions among Marine officers. James Weir was one of them. After twelve year's service as a Lieutenant he was promoted to Captain on 4th May 1795, with a pay increase from £3-1Os-0d to £5-12s.-Od per month.

Shortly afterwards he was given command of the Marine detachment on board HMS Audacious, a two-decker 74-gun ship-of-the-line which had been operating out of Gibraltar since 1795. But in 1796 with the British position weakened by the loss of the Coalition partners, Austria and Italy, the British fleet was withdrawn to the Atlantic. From that station Audacious began to visit ports along the coast of Portugal until early December 1796, when orders were given for her to return to Spithead. On 7th December Audacious arrived at that port before being ordered round to Plymouth, where most of her crew were paid off. Thereafter, Audacious spent the first quarter of the year 1797 refitting and recommissioning.

Battle of the Nile:

In May 1798 eight ships-of-the-line joined St-Vincent's fleet off Cadiz, with orders from the Admiralty to the C-in-C to send into the Mediterranean a squadron to report on intelligence received in London of large French force fitting out along the south coast of France.

Captain Weir was to learn of this news three days later when orders were received for Audacious to sail in company with ten other 74-gun ships the Cuioden, Bellerophon, Minotaur, Defence, Zealous, Goliath, Majestic, Swiftsure, Theseus, and the 50-gun ship Leander, to join Rear Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson off Toulon.

Nelson in his 74-gun flagship, the Vanguard, had been detached from the C-in-C's fleet on 2nd May and sent with two other 74-gun ships and two 32-gun frigates to find out the object of Napoleon's expedition assembling off Toulon, but on 19th May had been driven off that station by a strong gale.

As a result, when the British squadron found Nelson off the coast of Corsica on 7th June with new orders from St. Vincent to destroy the French force, the thirteen French ships-of-the-line, and 280 transports carrying some 50,000 men had already sailed for an unknown destination.

Nelson aware that Napoleon had left Toulon, but not where he had gone, went in search with his force which now, up to fleet strength, could challenge the French. While Nelson sailed back and forth among the Italian islands and along the north-west coast of Italy, Napoleon had arrived off the island of Malta.

Malta was Napoleon's first military destination. By a decree dated Thursday 12th April 1798, given by the French Directory, Napoleon had been instructed to seize the island. Although Malta was under the sovereignty of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and at peace, Napoleon soon found a pretext to land his troops. With few knights and troops to resist the invaders the Grand Master von Hompesch himself with no heart for a fight, the Order soon capitulated to the French. The articles of surrender were signed on board the 120gun flagship L 'Orient in the early hours of the morning of the Tuesday 12th June 1798, Thus, brought to an end 268 years of rule in Malta by the Knights of the Order of St. John.

Napoleon himself only remained in Malta for one week. On Monday 18th June he re-embarked on board L'Orient with treasure plundered from the churches and government buildings and sailed on the following day for Egypt. The French force Napoleon left behind, under General Vaubois, consisted of 3053 infantry and five companies of artillery which in all amounted to 3350 officers and men who during the following weeks began a campaign of rape and pillage throughout the islands.

While these atrocities were being carried out by the French on the island, Nelson in pursuit of Napoleon continued to miss the French armada, which arrived at Alexandria on 1st July, and where the troops were immediately put ashore by Napoleon. The French fleet, however, unable to moor in the shallow harbour was ordered to go to Corfu or to Malta, but Vice-Admiral Brueys, aboard L 'Orient, instead sailed fifteen miles along the coast to Aboukir Bay, where Nelson on 1St August found the enemy fleet anchored across the bay close inshore.

Nelson ordered action stations at 6.20 p.m. Weir's ship was fifth in line, in front of Nelson's flagship Vanguard, when the British fleet entered the bay, but when Goliath went to landward side of the French fleet, Audacious followed and attacked that end of the enemy's ships. The first was Le Guerrier 74, which Audacious raked with a broadside on passing, and then engaged the next ship, Le Conquerant 74. This action soon developed into a murderous upper deck battle.

The Audacious forecastle men turned their guns which were loaded with grape and almost swept clear the upper deck men on the enemy ship, while the Marines fired their muskets up into the riggings to dislodge the French seamen who with small arms were firing down onto the British gunners.

It only took twelve minutes of ferocious fighting for Le Conquerant to be reduced to a wreck, compelling it to surrender to Audacious. During the battle, a note sent by David Gould, the Captain of Audacious, to Nelson on board the Vanguard, said:

"I have the satisfaction to tell you Le Conquerant has struck to the Audacious the slaughter on board is dreadful".

Le Conquerant's loss was 220 killed and wounded from a crew of 550. Audacious's casualties in the battle were Lieutenant John Jeans killed, and thirty five seamen and Marines wounded. While the seamen and Marines tended to the casualties of Audacious and to those of the enemy on board their newly won prize, the rest of the British Fleet was still in action.

The battle raged all night. The flagship, L 'Orient became the most severe casualty in the fight. First engaged by the Bellerophon, which was forced to withdraw when dismasted, the attack was taken up by Swiftsure and Alexander. At about 10 p.m., the flagship, her commander Admiral Brueys, already killed early in the engagement, was set alight. The ship continued to burn until the fire reached the magazine, and with a deafening roar L'Orient blew up.

So tremendous was the explosion that for several minutes there was silence amongst the other ships, and then the battle commenced again until daylight when only three French ships remained from the thirteen ships-of-the-line which had sailed from Toulon. One ran aground and was burned by her crew. The other two Guillaurne Tell 80 bearing the flag of Rear Admiral Villeneuve, and Le Genereux 74, with two frigates, La Diane and La Justice made sail and escaped into the Mediterranean.

The battle over, work immediately was put in hand to refit and jury rig the captured French prizes. This took up to twelve days to complete. This time allowed Captain Weir to complete a number of drawings of the battle as seen through his eyes. His artistic hobby was, however, cut short on 14th August when orders were received for his ship to make ready for sea.

On that day, Tuesday, instructions were given by Nelson to Sir James Saumarez of the Orion, to take under his command the Bellerophon, Minotaur, Defence, Theseus, Majestic, and Audacious and escort the prizes Le Franklin, Le Tonnani L 'Aquilon, Le Souverain Peuple, Le Spartiate, and Le Conqiierant, to Gibraltar. (Sic) (From Brian N. Tarpey, from his book 'Nelson's Marines at Malta' – RMHS 1995)

1778. Wednesday 17th June. The Milford took the Licorue.

1778. Thursday 18th June. The Foudreyant and consorts captured the Pallas.

1778. Wednesday 8th July. The Lively taken by French Squadron.

1778. Wednesday 8th July. The Ostrich took a French privateer.

1778. Monday 27th July. Keppel and d'Orvilliers off Brest.

1778. Wednesday 29th July. HMS Kingfisher was captured by a French Squadron.

1778. Sunday 9th August. Lord Howe and d'Estaing off Rhode Island.

1778. Monday 10th August. The Siege of Pondicherry was the first military action on the Indian subcontinent following the declaration of war between Great Britain and France in the American War of Independence. A British force besieged the French controlled port of Puducherry, which capitulated after ten weeks of siege.

1778. Sunday 16th August. The Lois engaged the Cesar.

1778. Sunday 16th August. The Vernon and Tranjolly off Coromandel Coast.

1778. Friday 21st August. Pondicherry captured by the Vernon.

1778. Sunday 23rd August. Sartine taken by a British Squadron.

1778. Tuesday 20th October. Jupiter and Medea engaged a french ship.

1778. Wednesday 4th November. Maidstone took Lion.

1778. Tuesday 15th December. Barrington and d'Estaing at St. Lucia.

1778. Corps Strength at that time 17,389 men.

1778. The Fox was taken by the Junon.

1778. The Helena was taken by the Sensible.

1778. The Arehusa engaged the Belle Poule.

1778. The Zephyr was captured by a french frigate.

1779. (Uniform). It seems that Silver Lace replaced the Gold Lace for the Officer from 1769, since New Lace is refereed to and Silver Gorgets at the same time. The Lace and Gorgets were always the same colour.

1779. Monday 4th January. Savannah capitulated to the British.

1779. Saturday 30th January. Weazel taken by the Bondeute.

1779. The loss of HMS Arethusa.

1779. Sunday 14th February. The death of Captain Cook (7th November 1728 - 14th February 1779) took place at Kealakakau Bay Hawaii. During his third voyage of exploration in the pacific. He had just landed with a Marine guard consisting of Lieutenant Molesworth Phillips along with four men. The Lieutenant protected Cook for as long as he could from hostile Hawaiians. The Marines were clubbed to death, and Cook was stabbed as he called to the boats crews to hold their fire. Only Phillips escaped back to the safety of the ship.

1779. Sunday 28th February. Apollo took Oiteau.

1779. Monday 21st June. Spain declared War on Great Britain.

1779. Sunday 7th March. HMS Yarmouth destroyed the Randolph.

1779. Sunday 14th March. Rattlesnake took the Fenelon.

1779. Tuseday 6th July. Byron and d'Estaing,

1779. July. The start of the Great Siege of Gibraltar (the fourteenth and last military siege). This was an action by French and Spanish forces to retake control of Gibraltar from the established British Garrison. The garrison, led by George Augustus Eliott, later 1st Baron Heathfield of Gibraltar, survived all attacks and a blockade of supplies.

1779. Sunday 15th August. The French and Spanish fleets off Plymouth.

1779. Monday 16th August. HMS Ardent was captured by the French and Spanish fleets off Plymouth.

1779. Monday 30th August. Boreas took Compas.

1779. September. HMS Experiment taken by French fleet.

1779. Tuesday 14th September. HMS Pearl took the Santa Monica.

1779. Tuesday 21st September. HMS Suffolk and squadron took the Fortunie.

1779. Thursday 23rd September. The Serapis taken by Bon Homme Richard.

1779. Thursday 23rd September. The Countess of Scarborough taken by the Pallas.

1779. Wednesday 6th October. Quebec and Surveillante.

1779. Saturday 9th October. The Defence of Savannah. Seamen and Marines were landed from the men of war present to assist in the defence against the French and Americans. The latter were attached to the Grenadier Company of the 60th Regiment and occupied a position on the right of the line of entrenchments. The final assault on the works by the French had almost succeeded but had been checked by the fire of the seamen's guns. The Marines, with the Grenadiers of the 60th, made such a furious counter attack on a redoubt which had been taken by the enemy that they were driven out in an instant and a general offensive being assumed by the garrison, the enemy's attack totally failed and shortly afterwards they abandoned the siege.

1779. Thursday 14th October. Chatham Orders. The Non Commissioned Officers and Private Men are never on any occasion in paying the proper Respect to their Officers, or any other Person, to take off their Hats or Caps. They are when without Arms, to put up their Right Hand (in a graceful manner) on the right side of their Hats with the Palm outwards; and when with Arms, to keep Recovered; and in these positions of civility they are to continue during their Business with any Officer, or other Person to whom the same respect may be due.

1779. Saturday 17th October. The storming of Fort Omoa, was a short siege and battle between British and Spanish forces just after Spain had entered the American Revolutionary War on the American side. Following a brief attempt at a siege, a force of 150 British soldiers and seamen assaulted and captured the fortifications at San Fernando de Omoa in the Captaincy General of Guatemala (Honduras) on the Gulf of Honduras. The British forces managed to overwhelm and capture the Spanish garrison, consisting of 365 men. The British only held the fort until November. After which they withdrew from the garrison, being badly affected by tropical diseases that reduced their numbers and was also under threat of a strong Spanish counter-attack. An expedition, consisting of detachments of Loyal Irish, Marines from the HMS Charon, HMS Pomona, HMS Lowestoft and HMS Porcupine Frigates, and 250 armed slaves, 500 men in all commanded by Captain Dalrymple sailed from Truxillo Bay on the Sunday 10th October, arriving at Porto Cavallo Bay on the 11th. During the evening the troops were landed with the intention of attacking Port Omoa that night. However, the roads proved so intricate and rugged that they did not arrive until after day break. After a short halt they again moved forward, but still had to encounter passes and defiles similar to those which had obstructed their night march. While having to contend Skirmishes with local Indians as they advanced. Learning from some prisoners that the enemy were drawn up in a position ready to resist their attack. It was arranged that the Marines and the Loyal Irish should over take the column, and then advance rapidly supported by the reserve. The order was instantly carried out, and the Spaniards, after discharging their muskets fled, some headed for the fort, while others took to the woods, and the town. From the heights upon which the troops now stood there was a full view of the fort, situated about half a mile from the Port Omoa at the bottom of the hill. The enemy were constantly firing from the town. Captain Dalrymple carried out his orders to destroying the place. While it was in flames the squadron came into the bay and endeavoured to get into position to batter the fort, the land forces seconding their efforts, but the latter were unable to effect very much owing to the scaling ladders not arriving in time. HMS Lowestoft went aground and both she and HMS Charon suffered severely from the enemy's fire. However, it was determined to continue the attack, and at 3 in the morning of the 20th the storming party consisting of 150 strong was in position for the assault. It was arranged in four parallel columns, four guides at the head of each, two of the columns consisting of seamen and two of Marines with a few Loyal Irish. Upon an agreed signal from HMS Charon that she was under way and would attack in twenty minutes. The columns of assault moved off covered by the fire of the shipping. It was now 4 am. The Spaniards did not observe the columns movement but concentrated their fire upon the squadron and the guns which had been placed in a battery on the hills. In profound silence, with trailed arms, the English approached the enemy's sentries undiscovered, but suddenly their drums beat to arms. Their ladders being quickly planted against the wall, 28 feet high, surmounted by a battery of 5 guns, the seamen rapidly ascended, and being reinforced by Marines, the Spaniards fled to the casemates, while about a hundred escaped by a Sallyport, The Governor and the officers then delivered up their swords to Captain Dalrymple, and the garrison, along with the ships in port, surrendered.

1779. Sunday 24th October. Proserpine took Alcuiene. (?)

1779. Thursday 11th November. HMS Tartar took Santa Marguritta.

1779. Sunday 21st November. HMS Hussar took N.S. del Buen Confegio.

1779. Sunday 12th December. Salisbury took San Carlos.

1779. Saturday 18th December. Parker and de la Motte off Fort royal.

1779. HMS Glasgow burnt.

1779. HMS Ariel taken by the Amazone.

1779. Ruby, Aeolus and Jamaica took Prudente.

1779. Corps Strength at that time 18,779 men.

1780 \- 1784. The 'Forth Anglo Dutch War' was a conflict between Great Britain and the Dutch Republic. The conflict was related to the American Revolutionary War and broke out over British and Dutch disagreements on the legality and conduct of the Dutch trading with Britain's enemies during that war.

1780 to 1784. A conflict between the Kingdom of Mysore in India and the British East India Company. Mysore's main ally was France, who at that time was at war with the British.

1780. Corps Strength was 146 Companies each of 118 Privates and 4 Drummers. Approximately 584 Drummers in the Corps.

1780. Sunday 2nd January. Captain Fielding exacted the right of search from Couat Bylandt.

1780. Sunday 16th January. The Marines were involved in the Battle of St Vincent against the Spanish off the southern coast of Portugal. A British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney commanding 18 ships of the line defeated a Spanish squadron of 11 Ships Commanded by Don Juan de Lángara. The Spanish, who were at war with the British because they had chosen to back the American rebels in the War for Independence. The British suffer 32 killed and 102 wounded, while the Spanish suffered 1 ship destroyed, 4 ships captured, and 2,500 men captured, killed or wounded.

1780. Saturday 26th February. The following advertisement appeared in the Ipswich Journal, this newspaper had a wide circulation in Suffolk and Essex. A Marines Recruiting Poster used during the American War of Independence.

'VOLUNTEERS'

For the First Division of Marines. Twenty Recruits are wanted immediately to complete the 31st Company, Commanded by Captain Shairp.

Now is the time for young men of spirit to gain honour and make their fortune by captures from the enemy. The superior advantages attending the marines' service are well known; particularly at this time, when our ports are crowded (sic) with French and Spanish Prizes. Marine Soldiers have every advantage of his Majesty's royal bounty, excellent clothing, arms and accoutrements with the addition of provisions found them gratis when on board ship, besides their full pay; and when in service, they share in prize-money equal to able seamen; these are advantages well known, and can be testified by many in this county, who have made their fortunes in the last, but more particularly in the present war. All under the age of 40, and above the size of 5 feet 3 inches, will meet with due encouragement, by applying to Captain Shairp in Queen's Street, or to his sergeants at the Marlborough's Head, Botolph's Gate, Colchester."

1780. Monday 13th March. Alexander and Courageux took Monsieur.

1790. Monday 20th March. Cornwallis chased by La Motte Piquet off St. Domingo.

1780. Wednesday 12th April. HMS Rodneys Victory off Cape St. Vincent.

1780. Monday 17th April. Rodney engaged de Guichen in the West indies. The Battle of Martinique in the West Indies took place during the American War of Independence between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy.

1780. Friday 9th May. Rodney engaged de Guichen in the West indies.

1780. Friday 12th May. The Battle and Capture of Charleston was one of the major battles which took place towards the end of the American Revolutionary War, after the British began to shift their strategic focus towards the American Southern Colonies. After six weeks of siege, a continental Army led by Major General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered his forces numbering about 5,000 to the British.

1780. Saturday 1st July. HMS Romney took Artois.

1780. Tuesday 4th July. The French 32 gun frigate La Capricieuse was captured by the British frigates HMS Prudente and HMS Licorne. After a four hour battle in which the French lost her Captain and 150 men were killed and wounded. The ship was so knocked about that her captors had to set her on fire. The British ships lost 20 killed and 28 wounded between them. Captain Waldegrave of HMS Prudente made the following report on the behaviour of his detachment of Marines: "in justice to Lieutenant Banks of the Marines, I must beg leave to observe to their Lordships, that his party behave with upmost steadiness and bravery, keeping up a regular and constant fire from the beginning of the action, till necessity called them to the great guns, when they showed an equal share of spirit and good order."

1780. Thursday 6th July. HMS Romney took Perle.

1780. Friday 14th July. Nonsuch destroyed a Frigate and took Belle Foule.

1780. Thursday 10th August. The fight between the HMS Flora and the Nymphe. Every one of HMS Floras Marine detachment were killed in the capture of the French ship Nymphe. With two masts gone, Monmouth's wounded Captain was one of only five left alive on the quarter and poop deck. All including the senior Lieutenant of Marines had been killed. The same fate had befell all below on the gun deck.

1780. Saturday 12th August. Rienfaisant took Comte d' Artois.

1780. Tuesday 15th August. Copy of a letter from Captain Pere Williams of his Majesty's Ship FLORA to Mr Stephens at Falmouth.

SIR

I beg you will communicate to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the following particulars, which I have the honour of transmitting to you from this port, where contrary winds obliged me to put in.

On Tuesday the 10th at half past four in the afternoon standing in under Ushant, in quest of the fleet, the wind at that time about ENE we discovered through the haze a square rigged vessel and cutter under our lee, lying to with their heads to the northward, distant from us about four miles; whereupon we made sail, beat to quarters and hedged towards them, which the ship perceiving, wore, hauled to the wind, backed her missen top sail and waited our approach, the cutter working off and on. At ten minutes past five we got abreast of her, and within about two cables length upon showing our colours received her fire which we instantly returned and continued briskly on both sides for about an hour, gradually nearing each other, when our wheel being shot away, our shrouds, backstays, and running rigging much cut, we dropped on board of her, and continued the engagement in that position about 15 minutes, the enemy then deserting their great guns attempted to board us, but were instantly repulsed with 1058, our people boarded in return, sword in hand, struck their colours, and in short time took possession of their ship, which proved to be French Frigate, called La Nymphe, commanded by the Chevalier Du Remain, who died the same evening of the wounds he received in the action. She is 4 years old copper bottomed, mounts 22 guns, though pierced for 40, and her compliment consists of 291 men. She had been only four days out of Brest, and was employed upon reconnoitring service of that Port.

Before I conclude my letter, I beg leave to add that my officers and people in general showed the greatest coolness and intrepidity, on this occasion, and indeed merit more enconniums than I can find words to express; their conduct will, I flatter myself meet with these Lordships approbation, and recommend them to their future favour. (Sic)

I am etc

P WILLIAMS

Return of killed and wounded: Mr Bisset Midshipman Wounded, Mr Creed Master 1, wounded, 27 Seamen since died, Marines on board the FLORA 1, Seamen 6, Marines Seamen 13, Marines 42 Total killed 9.

1780. Tuesday 12 September. Vestal took Phoenix.

1780. Saturday 30th September. Pearl took Esperrance.

1780. Monday 2nd October. Stirling Castle, Thunderer, Phoenix, Deal Castle and Endeavour were lost.

1780. Tuesday 10th October. Laurel, Scarborough, Andromeda, and Blanche were lso in the West Indies.

1780. Thursday 2nd November. Zephyr took Senigal, late Racehorse.

1780. November. Sartine lost off Mangalore.

1780. Wednesday 20th December. A 'Fourth Anglo-Dutch War' took place from 1780 to 1784 over secret Dutch trade and negotiations with the American colonies, then in revolt against England.

1780. Wednesday 20th December. The English quickly took advantage off the newly declared Dutch war and captured key Dutch possessions in the West and East Indies, while imposing a powerful blockade of the Dutch coast.

1780. December. Bellona took Princess Caroline.

1781. 2370 Marines were voted for service.

1781. January. Warwick took Rotterdam.

1781. Thursday 4th January. Courageux and Alexander took Minerve.

1781. Tuesday 23rd January. HMS Culloden lost on Long Island.

1781. Sunday 29th January. Wilmington surrendered to the Blonde and consorts.

1781. Friday 3rd February. St. Eustatia taken by HMS Rodney.

1781. HMS Monarch took Mars and Dutch convoy.

1781. March. Cerberus took Grana.

1781. Thursday 16th March. Arbuthnot engaged de Terney.

1781. Monday 16th April. Johnstone attacked by Suffren in Porto Praya Bay.

1781. Friday 20th April. Resource re-took Unicorn.

1781. Sunday 29th April. Hood engaged De Grasse off Martinique.

1781. Wednesday 2nd May. Canada took Santa Leocadia.

1781. Tuesday 8th May. Mentor and Port Royal captured by the Spaniards.

1781. Monday 14th May. Nonsuch, 64, engaged Actif, 74.

1781. Wednesday 23rd May. Sir George Rodney, having assumed the command, reached Barbadoes where he learned of the attack upon the island. Lieutenant Johnstone of Marines was sent in an Advice Boat in order to gain intelligence, and other information of a secret nature. His ability and zeal fully qualified him for the task, but nothing could avert its surrender, after two fruitless attempts to relieve it. This may be said to have ended the campaign of 1781, in the West Indies.

1781. Monday 28th May. Atalanta and Trepassey taken by American frigate USS Alliance.

1781. Wednesday 30th May. Crescent taken by Brielle but re-taken by Flora.

1781. Wednesday 30th May. Flora took Castor.

1781. Wednesday 20th June. Castor and Crescent taken by the Dutch.

1781. Monday 16th July. Charleston, Allegiance, and Vulture engaged Astree and Hermione.

1781. August. Southampton engaged Surveillante.

1781. Wednesday 1st August. Pelican lost off Morant Keys.

1781. Sunday 5th August. Hyde Parker engaged Zoutman on the Dogger Bank. Marines were involved in the only significant engagement of the war, when a small Dutch force won a victory off Dogger Bank in the English Channel.

A letter of the engagement from H. Parker: "Yesterday we fell in with the Dutch squadron, with a large convoy, on the Dogger bank. I was happy to find I had the wind of them, as the great number of their large frigates might otherwise have endangered my convoy. Having separated the men of war from the merchant ships and made the signal to the last to keep their wind, I bore away with the general signal to chase. The enemy formed their line, consisting of eight two decked ships; ours, including the HMS Dolphin, consisting of seven. Not a gun was fired on either side until within the distance of half musket shot, the Fortitude being then abreast of the Dutch Admiral, the action began and continued with unceasing fire for three hours and forty minutes, by this time our ships were unmanageable. I made an effort to form the line, in order to renew the action, but found it impracticable, the Bienfaisant had lost her fore topmast, and the HMS Buffalo her fore yard, the rest of the ships were not less shattered in their masts, rigging, and sails. The enemy appeared to be in as bad a condition; both squadrons lay a considerable time near each other, when the Dutch with their convoy bore away for Texel. We were not in a condition to follow them. His Majesty's officers and men behaved with great bravery, nor did the enemy show less gallantry. The Fortitude was extremely well seconded by Captain McCartney in HMS Princess Amelia, but he was unfortunately killed early in the action, Lieutenant Hill has great merit in so well supporting the conduct of his brave Captain. As there was great probability of our coming into action again, Captain MacBride very readily obliged me by taking command of that ship, and I have appointed Mr. Waghorne, my first Lieutenant, to the command of HMS Artois. This gentleman, although much hurt in the action, refused to leave my side while it lasted. Captain Graeme, of HMS Preston has lost an arm. (In closed) I transmit a list of the killed and wounded, and an account of the damage sustained by the ships. "The enemy's force was, I believe, much superior to what their Lordships apprehended; and I flatter myself they will be satisfied that we have done all that was possible with ours. The frigates this morning discovered one of the Dutch men of war sunk in twenty two fathoms water, her top gallant masts were above the surface, which Captain Patton has struck and brought to me on board. I believe she was the second ship of the line of 74 guns." (sic)

1781. Tuesday 7th August. Medea took Belisarius.

1781. Thursday 9th August. Isis took Trumbull.

1781. Friday 17th August. George III. visited the fleet at the Nore.

1781. Sunday 19th August - 4th February 1782. The defence of Fort St. Philip Minorca was conducted by a small Corps of 430 Marines and Sailors when the Spanish blocked the harbour.

Beatson's M. & N. Memoirs: "A small Corps of Marines and Sailors belonging to such of His Majesty's ships as chanced to be here when the Spaniards blocked up the harbour, were of great service during the siege, and being more accustomed to live on salted provisions, they kept their health much better than the other troops in the garrison." (sic)

One of the charges against General Murray the Governor of the Island, when called to account for Its loss, was that in order to make out that he had a garrison weaker than it really was, he suppressed in his report to the Secretary of State: "The mention of the Marines Corps, which alone consisted of 430 fit for duty, with 125 Artillery men, besides Greeks, Algerines and Corsicans." Lieutenants Davis and Crew, 3 Sergeants and 54 Privates were killed in the defence, and Captain Harman and Lieutenant Hodges were wounded. (sic)

1781. Sunday 26th August. Richmond and Isis taken by the French.

1781. Wednesday 5th September. Graves engaged De Grasse off the Chesapeake.

1781. Thursday 6th September. Savage, 14, taken by Congress, 20.

1781. Chatham took Magicienne.

1781. Saturday 6th October. Chatham Division. Conformable to the orders of 1758, the Orderly Sergeant is to bring all letters from the Post Office that are directed to the Officers of the Division. The C. O's letters to be carried to his quarters and the rest delivered to the Orderly Room, where they will be given to those who the officers choose to send for them, or otherwise delivered by the sergeants and corporals of the respective squads at the officers' quarters, with their orders.

1781. Friday 26th October. Hannibal took Neckar.

1781. Monday 8th October. The first reference to a Marine Band at Chatham (the 1st Grand Division) although it is believed that a Fife Drum Band was formed there in 1773.

1781. Sunday 21st October. 3,200 of the East India Company's troops were at Nagore and Vice Admiral Sir Edward Hughes landed the Marines of the squadron that was 443 strong. The next day 827 seamen along with two 24 pounders, twelve 18 pounders, two12 pounders, two 10 inch and six 5-1/2 mortars. The Marines who, on landing immediately joined the land forces, co-operated to the utmost, and during the Siege of Negapatam, were unrivalled in their gallantry, as well as performing most important services, in landing with the utmost difficulty and danger, through the surf, guns and mortars for the batteries on shore.

1781. Monday 29th October – 11th November. An attack was made upon Negapatam by 3200 troops, under the Command of Major General Sir Hector Munro, K.B. assisted by a squadron of five ships of the line under Vice Admiral Sir Edward Hughes. On the Sunday 2lst October the Marines disembarked from the ships, amounting to 443 men, including officers, and immediately joined the army at Nagore, on the sea coast. On the following day 800 seamen, under Captains Mackenzie, and H. Keynolds, were also placed under the orders of Sir Hector Munro, and the artillery, with stores necessary for the siege, were with much difficulty landed through the surf. The general, having invested the place in the best manner his scanty force would admit, determined on an assault; and on the Thursday 29th of October the strong lines which the enemy had thrown up were stormed, and carried by the steady and distinguished bravery of our troops. On Saturday 3rd November the approaches were commenced, and on the Wednesday 7th a battery of 10 eighteen-pounders was ready to open fire. During the course of the siege, the enemy made two desperate sallies with the greater part of the garrison, but they were beaten back with great loss. On Saturday 10th the batteries opened with so much effect upon the bastion, in which a breach was to be made, that the enemy proposed to capitulate, and on the Sunday 11th November both town and citadel were taken possession of by the British troops. The garrison consisted of 8000 men, but of these only 600 were Europeans, and about 2000 were the troops of Hyder Ali, who fled on the first charge made on the enemy's lines. The loss sustained by the British during the siege of Negapatam was 28 killed, and about 100 wounded. The Marines and seamen were re-embarked on board the ships and prepared for an attack of the Dutch settlement of Trincomale, which did not take place until the following year.

1781. Admiral Hughes dispatched his Squadrons of Marines to support the East India troops during the capture of Negapatam.

1782. Friday 11th January. The Capture of Trincomale. After the capture of Negapatam, the tempestuous state of the weather retarded the intended departure of the squadron of Sir Edward Hughes to attack the Dutch settlement of Trincomale, on the island of Ceylon, but the squadron having embarked 30 Artillery men, and 600 volunteer Sepoys, put to sea on the Thursday 3rd January from the roads of Negapatam, and arrived in the bay of Trincomale on the 4th. Early in the morning the Marines, with 2 six-pounders, were landed, and soon afterwards 800 seamen were disembarked, followed by the Sepoys; and before it became dark, the whole force pushed forward towards TrincomaIe fort. On the same night the Grenadier companies of the Marines, led by Lieutenant Orr, made themselves masters of the fort, by forcing an entry through the gateway at the moment the governor was preparing terms of capitulation. The garrison consisted of only 3 officers and 40 men, but the possession of the fort was important to the future operations of the enterprise as it commanded the only safe landing for stores and provisions from the ships. On Tuesday 8th the seamen and Marines captured a post situated on the top of a high hill commanding Fort Ostenburgy which fortress was also on the summit of a neighbouring eminence that commanded the harbour. Sir Edward Hughes, after sending a second summons to the governor without success ordered the immediate preparation for an assault on the morning of the 11th. Accordingly, the storming party, consisting of 460 seamen and Marines, having on their flanks a party of pioneers, with 20 seamen carrying scaling-ladders, and a reserve of three companies of seamen and three of Marines, supported by two field-pieces and the Company's troops, advanced at daylight towards the fort. A Sergeant's party of Marines led the attack, and getting through the embrasures, the Dutch were soon driven from their positions and the fort gained, with the loss of Lieutenant George Long of the navy, and 20 sailors and Marines killed, and Lieutenant Samuel Wolseley of the navy, Lieutenant Samuel one of the Marines, officiating as Brigade Major, and 40 men wounded. The fort mounted above 60 guns and contained a garrison of 400 men. In the harbour there were two valuable East Indiamen, and 30 smaller vessels. Sir Edward Hughes, in his official report, thus expresses himself on the conduct of the Marines. "The whole of the officers who have been landed from the squadron for the attack of Negapatam and Trincomale, have on all occasions manifested much honour, courage, and good conduct, and the private seamen and Marines have acted with great steadiness and bravery." (sic)

1782. Corps Strength at that time was 21,305 men.

1782. January. Hannibal and Chafer captured by the French.

1782. Friday 25th January. Hood attacked three times by De Grasse off Basse Terre.

1782. Saturday 17th February. The Battle of Sadras off Ceylon, was the first of five largely indecisive naval battles fought between a British fleet under Admiral Sir Edward Hughes and French fleet under the Bailli de Suffren off the east coast of India (during the 'American War of Independence'). The battle was fought near present day Kalpakkam and was tactically indecisive. Although the British fleet suffered the most damage, and the troop transports that Suffren was protecting were able to land their troops at Porto Novo. The British suffered 32 men killed and 83 wounded, while the French had 30 killed and about 100 wounded.

1782. Friday 16th March. Success took Santa Catalina.

1782. Tuesday 9th April - Friday 12th April. A naval battle that took place during the 'American War of Independence', that ended with a victory for the British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir George Rodney, over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon its planned invasion of Jamaica. The British suffered 243 dead, 816 wounded. While the French suffered far worse with 4 ships of the line captured,1 destroyed, 3,000 dead or wounded and 5,000 captured.

1782. Friday 12th April. Rodney defeated De Grasse off Martinique.

1782. Friday 12th April. Lord Rodney's action off Dominica. Admiral Rodney's Letter: "I received intelligence that the enemy were embarking their troops on board the ships of war and concluded that they intended to sail in a few days. Captain Byron of the Andromache, an active and diligent officer, watched their motions with such attention that on the 8th inst. at day light he made out the enemy's signal of coming out and standing to N.W. I instantly made the signal to weigh and having looked into the Bays of Fort Royal and St. Pierre, I made signal for a general chase, and before day light came up with the enemy under Dominique, where both fleets were becalmed, and continued so for some time. The enemy first got the wind and stood towards Guadaloupe. My van division, under that gallant officer Sir Samuel Hood, received it next, and stood after them. At nine the enemy began to cannonade my van, which was returned with the greatest briskness. The baffling winds did not permit part of the centre division to get into action with the enemy's rear till half past eleven, and then only the ship next me in line of battle, &c. The enemy's cannonade ceased upon my rear's approach, but not before they had done considerable damage to the ships in the van, and disabled HMS Royal Oak and HMS Montague. The night of the 9th inst. the fleet lay-to to repair their damages. The 10th they continued to turn to windward under a very easy sail, the enemy continuing to do the same; and always had it in their power to come into action, which they cautiously avoided, and rendered it impossible for me to force them in the situation they were in, between the Saints and the island of Dominique. On the 11th, the enemy having gained considerably to the windward, and the wind blowing a fresh steady gale, I made the signal for a general chase to windward, which continued the whole day; and towards sunset one of the enemy's ships, damaged in the late action, falling to leeward, the Count de Grasse bore down with his whole fleet to her protection, which brought him so near that I flattered myself he would give me an opportunity of engaging him next day. With that view I threw out the signal for the form of sailing and stood with the whole fleet to the southward till two in the morning, then tacked, and had the happiness, at day-light, to find my most sanguine desire was near being accomplished, by my having it in my power to force the enemy to battle. Note from Lord Rodney's narrative contained in a private letter. The 10th of April and the 11th were employed in endeavouring to bring the enemy to battle, and on the 11th, late in the afternoon, the enemy bore down to protect two of their own ships, who were in danger of being cut off. This brought them to the position the Admiral wished; he instantly issued orders to sail during the night in the order of sailing; to put out all lights; to stand to the southward till two in the morning, and then the whole fleet to tack without signal. This deceived the enemy, who had no conception that the British fleet should be so near them at day light, we instantly formed the line of battle on our starboard tack, the enemy formed theirs on the larboard tack, and had made the signal to wear; but the nearness of the British squadron prevented its being put into execution, and the British fleet taking the lee gage, the Admiral made the signal to engage and close." (sic)

1782. Sunday 21th April. Hughes engaged Suffren (2nd action).

1782. Sunday 21st April. Foudroyant took Pegase.

1782. Tuesday 23rd April. Queen took Actionnaire.

1782. Friday 5th July. Hughes engaged Suffren (3rd action).

1782. Monday 29th July. Santa Margaritta took Amazone.

1782. Saturday 17th August. Chatham Orders. As it will greatly conduce to the good order and happiness of the Inhabitants of the Barracks that a Military Good example of attention in the Officers who lodge there be adhered to by keeping proper and seasonable hours, in repairing thither regularly in the evenings. It is therefore earnestly wished and expected, if any Officer who lodges in the Barracks, is engaged abroad for the evening that he will be pleased to repair to his Apartment at Ten o'clock, or at furthers half-an-hour thereafter. For as the Commanding Officer will endeavour to carry out the several duties.

little time to give the Young Officers, in as pleasing a method as can be desired, a small idea of Garrison modes, he is therefore resolved that at half-an-hour after Ten, or at furthers a Quarter before Eleven o'clock every night the keys of all the Gates and Doors shall be brought to him by the Sergeant of the Guard, and not returned to the Guard until full daylight next morning.

1782. Thursday 29th August. The loss of the Royal George, which foundered at Spithead.

1782. Monday 2nd September. Due de Chartres took Aigle, French frigate.

1782. Tuesday 3rd September. Hughes engaged Suffren (4th action).

1782. Wednesday 4th September. The Rainbow took Hebe.

1782. Wednesday 11th September. The Warwick and Lion took Aigle, French frigate.

1782. Friday 13th September. Grand attack upon Gibraltar by the Spaniards. The start of an assault involving 100,000 men, 48 ships and 450 cannons against the British garrison of Gibraltar survived.

1782. Wednesday 9th October. London and Torbay engaged Scipion, which was run ashore.

1782. The Diamond took Magdalena, Dutch armed ship.

1782. The Alligator taken by Fee.

1782. Friday 11th October. The Relief of Gibraltar by Lord Howe.

1782. November. The Ruby captured the Solitaire.

1782. Saturday 30th November. The British and Americans sign preliminary Articles of Peace.

1782. Thursday 12th December. The Mediator took Alexander.

1782. Thursday 12th December. The Mediator took Menagere.

1782. Monday 23rd December. The Diomede took South Carolina.

1782. The loss of the Blonde.

1782. The Solebay burnt to save her from capture.

1783. January. Leander engaged a French 74.

1783. January. Argo taken by Nymphe and Amphitrite.

1783. February. Hussar took Sybille.

1783. February. St. Albans took Concorde.

1783. Fox took Santa Catalina.

1783. Sunday 2nd March. Resistance took Coquette.

1783. March. There was a Mutiny at Spithead of such extent that it can only be compared with that of the great outbreaks of 1797? Some of the ships company's notably those of HMS Ganges, HMS Janus, and HMS Proselyte threatened to run their ships on shore and destroy them unless their wages were instantly paid and themselves discharged.

1783. Monday 14th – Friday 18th April. The Capture of the New Providence of Nassau in the Bahamas took place late in the 'American War of Independence', when a Loyalist expedition under the command of Andrew Deveaux set out to retake the Bahamas from the Spanish. The expedition was successful, and Nassau fell without a shot being fired. It was one of the last actions of the entire war. 600 Spaniards surrendered that were later repatriated, 7 ships were scuttled, and 50 cannons captured.

1783. Friday 20th June. Hughes engaged Suffren (5th action).

1783. Wednesday 3rd September. The United States of America and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Paris thus ending the war between them.

1783. Wednesday 5th November. Loss of Superbe off Tellicherry.

1783. Tuesday 25th November. British troops finally leave New York City.

1783. Sir Charles A. F. N. Menzies (1783 - 22nd August 1866) was born at Sal Freike, Perthshire, Scotland. Although he became a respected soldier with the Royal Marines, fighting with Horatio Nelson in the Napoleonic Wars and later rising to the rank of General before becoming aide de camp to the Queen. Charles Menzies is best remembered for the founding of Newcastle, in New South Wales Australia, and the successful commencement of its settlement.

Menzies was the son of Captain Charles Menzies of the 71st Regiment, and mother Sarah Menzies, née WalkerJ'. He was educated at Stirling and his family who lived in Theft ancestral castle, as was done at that time, bought him a commission at the age of 15, as a second Lieutenant in the Marines on 17th February 1798. Following his commission, he saw plenty of action having been posted to duties that involved blockading French ports and chasing the French and Spanish fleets around the Mediterranean-sea. He was attached to Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's squadron off Boulogne, on France's Atlantic coast and was repeatedly involved in attacking shore batteries and engaged in skirmishes with French boats.

Menzies sailed to Australia on board the HMS Calcutta which was transporting some convicts to New South Wales and then others to form a new settlement in Tasmania (then known as Van Diemen's land.)

Menzies was aboard the ship in Port Jackson, Sydney on 5th March 1804 when a rebellion involving a number of convicts broke out in the area of Castle Hill. This incident would later be called the Vinegar Hill rebellion. Menzies with a detachment of Marines landed from the ship to help quell the rebellion. He was promoted to lieutenant shortly thereafter.

Governor Phillip Gidley King faced with a need to prevent future outbreaks of this nature, hanged the nine leaders of the 300 rebels involved and ordered the establishment of a new settlement to segregate the Worst of the Irish sent here for Sedition from the other convicts. On 14th March 1804, nine days after the rebellion Menzies wrote to the Governor offering his services as the settlement's commandant. Governor King accepted this offer and provided Menzies with a Commission dated 15th March 1804 which appointed him as the commander of the settlement of Newcastle. The Commission signed by the Governor noted:

Whereas it is expedient, in consequence of an instruction from His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies and War Department, as well as from existing causes, that the settlement at the Coal Harbour and Hunter River, now distinguished by the name of Newcastle, in the county of Northumberland, should be re-established without loss of time:

You are, therefore, hereby required and directed to take upon you the charge and command of the said settlement; and do hereby charge and command all His Majesty's subjects that may be within our command to obey your directions, and you to obey all such Orders and directions as you may from time to time receive from me, or any other your superior officer (sic), according to the rules and discipline of war. For which this shall be your authority.

Menzies resigned his commission in relation to his detachment of Royal Marines and formed an expedition of skilled personnel including the surgeon James Mileham, Isaac Knight whose role was to be superintendent of the convicts, John Tucker a store-keeper, the botanist George Caley, Ferdinand Bauer an artist, and eleven military guards. Thirty-four especially chosen convicts, including three miners, three timber cutters, two carpenters, a gardener and a salt bailer (with the skill of making salt from salt water) and which also fitted Governor King's description of the worst of the Irish left Sydney on 28th March in three small ships the Lady Nelson, Francis and Resource.

The party arrived on 30th March by accounts at noon and Menzies' flotilla anchored of the entrance to Coal River. A boat from Menzies ship and seamen aboard the boat rowed him towards the southern shore of the river.

Menzies initially called the settlement Kingstown (after the Governor and as a continuation of the name used for a temporary settlement in 1800) - but this reverted to Newcastle, which was the Governor's personal choice.

Menzies' year in Newcastle: Other than the general Commission provided by the Governor, Menzies was instructed to use the convicts to get as many coals as possible, cutting cedar, clearing ground for cultivation and to enforce a due observance of religion and good order.

Although only aged 21 when he arrived at Newcastle, Menzies proved to be both stern and forward thinking. This was shown by his rules which dictated that convicts would work from sunrise to sunset but have a rest of two hours in the middle of the day.

To reduce the possibility of the convicts escape food rations were only issued twice a week to stop the convicts from hoarding food for any escape attempt. Menzies befriended the local Awabakal and Worimi peoples so that they would not assist any escapes.

Then later when he discovered a plot by the convicts to assassinate him and the other expedition members he arrested and severely punished the ringleaders.

Huts were constructed under his direction for both the expedition members and the convicts. He organised the building of a large stone wharf and established a coal beacon to assist other ships in their navigation into the harbour.

Governor King said of Menzies in the year that he was commandant that he fixed that Settlement and brought it to a forward degree ofperfection.

After a year establishing Newcastle, Menzies submitted his resignation to Governor King so that he could return to England and his duty in the Royal Marines. King accepted his resignation and he left soon after, returning almost immediately to active service including a meritorious role in the war against Napoleon.

He was promoted to the rank of Captain in the Royal Marine Artillery during April 1813.

He was promoted to command the Royal Marine Artillery from 1838 to 1844 indeed progressing through the ranks from Major to Lieutenant-colonel and then in 1857 to General.

He was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Queen Victoria in 1852.

Menzies met Maria Wilhelmina, daughter of Dr Robert Bryant, physician to the Duke of Gloucester and they married and had five children. Despite all this meritorious service his principal importance in Australia is as the founder of the first permanent settlement at Newcastle. He died at Hastings on 22nd August 1866.

1783. Stonehouse Barracks in Plymouth was first occupied.

1783. Corps Strength at that time was 26,291 men.

1783 \- 1793. During the years of peace, the Royal Marines had been reduced to about 5,000 men. At the start of the war the Marines had 70 companies and in the Royal Navy estimates for 1793 the establishment was raised to 9,815 men.

1784. May. The Dutch republic was never able to assemble a proper fleet for combat, and when the war ended the Dutch were at the lowest peak of their power and prestige.

1784. Friday 30th July. Antelope lost off Jamaica.

1784. Sunday 8th August. First mention of a 'Wardroom'.

1784. The peace with the Dutch reduced the establishment to 4,496 Marines, including six field-officers with their companies. Three Lieutenant Colonels and three Majors, on the formation of the expedition to Botany Bay. Whilst four companies were added, the field officers remained reduced. On the retirement of Lord Howe, the Earl of Chatham became the first Lord of the Admiralty, and in consequence of the presentation of a memorial from the three divisions, the field officers and their companies were restored.

1786. Saturday 9th December. The Leicester and Nottingham Journal. The power of conscience is in no instance so strongly marked, as in the crime of murder. An example has lately happened in this town. A few evenings since a woman followed the watchman and entreated him to take her into custody, as she had been an accessary in a murder.

The watchman thinking at first, she was insane disregarded what she said, at last wearied by her importunities he conveyed her to the constable who ordered her into confinement for the night. The next morning, she was examined before Edward Pilcher Esq, a Justice of the peace, before whom she made the following confession. That about six years since she lodged at the house of a woman who lived on the point at Portsmouth, and carried on the employment of a procuress for seaman, that she cohabited with a Marine belonging to the Courageaux, who having received about ten guineas prize money the daughter of the said procuress endeavoured to seduce him to sleep with her that night; but he refused: that the Marine being intoxicated with liquor, the daughter knocked him down with a • poker and repeated her blows till he was dead, that they then all assisted in carrying out the body to the seashore to which fastening stones they endeavoured to sink it in the water, but finding that ineffectual, they dug hole in the beach and buried it: that the mother afterward gave her six guineas if she would not publish the fact, but go over to Ireland, to which she consented, but that her mind was so disturbed in consequence of the part she had taken, that she could have no peace by night or by day, and was therefore resolved to give herself up to justice, upon this confession she is committed to Maidstone Gaol to take her trial at the next assizes, it seems that the mother and daughter were sometime after the murder committed on suspicion and were tried at Winchester but for want of evidence were acquitted. (From H. Heather).

1785. Thursday 6th October. Loss of Rambler in Leigh Roads.

1786. Having lost the use of the American Colonies as a country to deport its convicts, and of their use in populating the county with its subject, in order to spread the word that it was English Territory. A new plan was devised to send Convicts to Australia.

1787. Saturday 24th February. Ten o'clock in the morning saw Lord Loughborough and a special jury at Westminster hall the trial of an action, in which Lieutenant Charles Bourne late of the Marines was Plaintiff, and the Countess of Crequi, of Walcot Place, Lambeth, defendant for a breach of a promise of marriage. After the Plaintiffs witnesses had been examined Mr Recorder rose, and in a speech of about an hour and a half, stated a variety of observations to show, that nothing had appeared in evidence to prove the promise of marriage, either by express words or implication, and then after a short consultation with his brethren, declared that he would not call a single witness for the defendant but would leave the matter to the court and Jury, as it appeared to them from the Plaintiffs evidence. After a very candid charge from the Noble Judge, the Jury, in less than two minutes brought in a verdict for the Plaintiff with one shilling damages. The Leicester and Nottingham Journal.

1787. Tuesday 27th February. Marine Thomas Lucas. A detachment of 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 2 Sergeants, 2 Corporals, 26 Privates and 1 Drummer went on board the Scarborough transport. Thomas Lucas would have been part of this detachment. The following Sunday 4th March, 185 convicts were taken on board. Amongst them would have been Nathaniel Lucas, and there is a persistent rumour that they were brothers, but it is hard to find clear evidence that this is the case. The Fleet weighed anchor on Saturday 12th May 1787, and arrived at Botany Bay on Saturday 19th January 1788, at 8 o'clock. At half past nine they sailed through the heads.

The Scarborough stayed a week there while some stores were transferred to others ships and some Marines went ashore as guards or to work. All the work ashore was done by Marines or seamen.

The Scarborough then sailed for Port Jackson and anchored close to the shore at Sydney Cove. That night the landing began, when four convicts were sent ashore, and then the Marines disembarked with all their baggage, and the rest of the convicts.

The life of the Marine detachment at Port Jackson seems to have been comparatively easy. The Marines were there, not to act as overseers to the convicts, but to provide protection from external attack. During their stay, those of the Marines who had trades worked at their trades and were paid for it. Thomas Lucas' name does not appear on this list.

Most of the time the Marines had to face the boring round of duty, mounting guard, reporting worn out boots and uniforms, short rations and the question must often have been discussed as to whether they would be relieved at the end of three years, as they had been promised when they volunteered. On the Wednesday 1st October 1788, only 5 officers and 4 other ranks were prepared to accept the offer of a grant of land and to accept discharge in the colony. (sic)

1787. Friday 4th May. Fact as know on Royal Marine Drummer Joseph Abbot:

Abbot joined the Marines in Portsmouth and was stationed on the Scarborough in Portsmouth harbour. On the 4th of May 1787 she sailed for Australia. Scarborough was a ship of 430 tons, built in 1782 at Scarborough. She carried with the detachment of marines 208 male convicts. On arrival in Sydney Cove on 26th January 1788 Abbott was assigned to Captain Shea's company.

By the end of 1788 Abbott had taken up with a convict woman Isabella Rawson. I can find no record showing they were ever married. Isabella had a child, Mary who was born in London prior to leaving England. Mary died onboard the 'Lady Penrhyn' on 8th June 1787 just a month out of England. In 1788 Isabella became pregnant to Joseph and she gave birth to a son, Joseph, on 15th February 1789. Joseph and Isabella separated soon after the birth.

On 5th September 1789 Isabella Rawson married William Richardson a convict who had travelled out to NSW on HMS porpoise. Joseph and Isabella's son, Joseph, died later that year on 12th November 1789.

4th March 1790, saw Joseph Abbot bound for Norfolk Island aboard HMS Supply with Captain Shea's company. Early in 1792 saw the return of Abbot to Sydney town. He was to be one of many marines who transferred to the 'Rum Corps'; officially known as the Royal New South Wales Regiment. His transfer was dated 6th April 1792 and was to be for five years. Abbot was discharged from the NSW Regiment on 6th April 1797.

Joseph Abbot once again set sail for Norfolk Island as a free man onboard the Reliance on 18th January 1798. As no further records are to be found on Joseph Abbott it is presumed he returned to England at some later date.

As an aside William and Isabella Richardson also returned to England in December 1810 aboard HMS Porpoise. (Cleve Whitworth RMAQ)

1787. Sunday 13th May. The First Fleet set sail from Portsmouth in United Kingdom, Commanded by Captain (later Admiral) Arthur Phillip. It consisted of eleven vessels containing a total of 1420 people. (1373 landed). The Flag ship was HMS Sirius along with HMS Supply. The Convict transport ships were HMS Alexander, HMS Charlotte, HMS Friendship, HMS Lady Penrthyn, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Scarborough. The Stores ships were HMS Fishburn, HMS Borrowdale, and HMS Golden Grove. The cargo of convicts comprised of 565 male 192 female and 18 children. His orders were to set up a penal colony in Australia. After a voyage that lasted almost 250 days they arrived in Botany Bay New South Wales.

The First Fleet called in at Tenerife before setting sail for Rio de Janeiro where they stayed for a month, in which time they took on extra supplies. By this time it had been discovered that in spite of all Captain Phillips had organised two very important items had been over looked. Soap for the convicts was one, and ball ammunition for the Marines was another. It was perhaps, fortunate that the convicts had not discovered the latter before 10,000 musket balls could be brought from the Arsenal in Rio. Here they also obtained paper for making cartridges, and a supply of soap from which the convicts were able to repay the Marines to whom they had been indebted for what little of this useful article they had been able to borrow during the voyage.

1787. Sunday 23rd December. Bounty sailed. (Mutiny, 28th April 1790).

1788. Friday18th and 20th January. Captain Arthur Phillip had been given full instructions for the setting up of the colony, with full authorisation to make regulations, and land grants to those within the colony. A detachment of four companies of Marines, under the command of Major Robert Ross, that consisted of four Captains, 12 Subalterns, 24 Sergeants and Corporals, 8 Drummers, and 160 Privates. That included his Adjutant, Second Lieutenant John Long, Quartermaster Lieutenant James Furzer, Engineer Officer Lieutenant William Dawes and his four Company Commanders. Captains James Campbell and John Shea, Captain Lieutenants James Meredith and Watkin Tench. Their job was to protect the new colony as they settled into their new world. Many went on to stay never to return to the United Kingdom.

At that time, private Marines enlisted for life although discharge by purchase was allowed on payment of 10 guineas. Those who went to NSW, however, had the option of discharge after three years. Recruits were paid a 2 guinea bounty as an inducement to join. Daily pay rates which included a food and clothing allowance, ranged from £1.6s.6p for a Major to 1/2d for a Marine private. However, when the Fleet finally arrived at Botony Bay, the area was deemed to be unsuitable for settlement due to its lack of fresh water, even though it had been recommended by Captain James Cook back in 1770.

They moved north arriving at Port Jackson on the Australian East coast on Saturday 26th January 1788. However, Botany Bay had other shortcomings as well, as it was open to the sea, making it unsafe for the ships and Captain Arthur Phillip (the Colony's first Governor) considered the soil around Botany Bay was poor for crop growing. From the start the settlement was beset with problems. Very few convicts knew how to farm and the soil around Sydney Cove as predicted was very poor. Instead of Cook's lush pastures, well watered and fertile ground, suitable for growing all types of foods and providing grazing for cattle, they found a hot, dry, unfertile country side unsuitable for the small farming necessary to make the settlement self-sufficient. Everyone, from the convicts to Captain Phillip, lived on rationed food. The natives were wary and fearful of the settlers, who referred to them as Indians. Some African American convicts, hoping to be accepted by the natives, escaped but were rejected by them. Other convicts, heeding rumours of other settlements nearby and that China was just over the horizon, also escaped. Those that managed to survive the rigors of the country returned to the colony and to further punishment.

While the natives subsisted on local plants and fish, the settlers found few of the plants to be appetising. As the settlers appear to have been poor fishermen, most of their food had to come from the supplies brought with them on the ships. This resulted in their total dependence on a shipping trade monopolised by the East India Company and none existent as far as Sydney was concerned. Rats, dogs, crows, an occasional kangaroo or emu were to be used to supplement the food. Shelter was also a problem. They had very little building material and the government had provided only a very limited supply of tools, which were of a bad quality. With the local trees being huge, and the wood hard, these tools were soon blunt or broken and building slowed. Extra clothing had been forgotten and, by the time the Second Fleet arrived, convicts and Marines alike were dressed in patched and threadbare clothing. By July 1788, all the ships except the naval vessels HMS Syrius and HMS Supply had left and the settlement was isolated. (sic)

1788. Thursday 24th January. Botany Bay. Sergeant James Scott RM, Sergeant of Marines, travelled to NSW on the First Fleet aboard the Prince of Wales, accompanied by his wife Jane. His daughter Elizabeth was born on the voyage out and his son William Boxell was born in Sydney in 1790. James Scott had married Jane Boxell in 1796 at Portsea, Hants.

During the voyage, and intermittently during their stay in New South Wales, James kept a diary. This journal is now in the Dixson Library in Sydney as part of the Sir William Dixson bequest. It is believed to have come from the estate of a Miss Russell, a connection between John Russell and James Scott.

The journal is written in a tall notebook, measuring 32 cm by 20.5 cm, the soft cardboard covers are much worn and rubbed, but it is now protected in the library by a chamois lined morocco folder in a dark morocco case, tooled in gold. The handwriting is large and looks clear and Scott expresses himself simply. However, his bad spelling and many alterations have made it difficult to transcribe some parts. Each page has a heading and there is a wide ruled margin in which are written the dates of entry. It is marvellous to have this record and also the diary of Private Easty of the Marines as it highlights what interested 'the men' as distinct from the officers. Like soldiers at all times they were interested in their own daily lives, in promotions and punishments, in food and grog and women.

Not very much is known about Scott. The baptisms of the two children are recorded in the Registers of St Phillip's Church and James Scott is mentioned as a witness to several civil court cases in the Minutes and Proceedings etc of the Bench of Magistrates of the County of Cumberland. One case involved Scott and his wife Jane when a soldier's wife, Martha Davis is charged with scandalously abusing James Scott, a Serjt of Marines, & Jane Scott his wife, on Friday night the 15th instant. The case was heard on 23rd April 1791; in her defence Martha Davis accused Jane Scott of having thrown out Suspicions and Surmises of her conduct, suggesting that she had been gossiping, with or without foundation we do not know.

The Scott family boarded the Gorgon transport on Monday 31st October 1791 to return to England and all were discharged at Spithead on Friday 1st June 1792. James Scott died at Portsmouth early in 1796 after serving as a squad sergeant. (sic)

Article featured in the First Fleet Folio December 2005.

1788. Thursday 24th January. Botany Bay. John Gowen was a Corporal of Marines on HMS Sirius. His grave is in the church yard of Christ Church (Anglican), Kiama NSW. The plates on the tomb top were later additions. The Kiama & District Historical Society in 1977 recorded the inscription that is no longer visible on the tomb top.

1788. Thursday 24th January. Botany Bay. Marine Daniel Stanfield was reputed to have come from an English naval family. He arrived with the First Fleet at Port Jackson Australia as a private in the Marines. Promoted to corporal, he married Alice, widow of Thomas Harmsworth, on Saturday 15th October 1791 at St Phillip's Church, Sydney. In less than a month he was on duty at Norfolk Island.

In 1794 he was discharged from the Marines and sworn in as constable and started to farm. He received two goats from Governor King, who described him as a deserving settler. In March Stanfield was robbed and petitioned, with other settlers, to Lieutenant Governor Gross for restoration of arms which they had both been deprived of by Government order.

Stanfield talked of enlisting in the NSW corps and in November 1794 he sailed in HMS Daedalus for Port Jackson. The following October he returned to Norfolk Island in HMS Supply with his wife, four children, 30 sheep and 35 acres of his 120 acres under cultivation.

When the evacuation of Norfolk Island was planned, Governor King requested Stanfield to remain and encouraged him by offering additional land. However, keen and determined, Stanfield did not find life easy, and he sailed with his family in HMS City of Edinburgh _,_ arriving in Hobart Town in October 1808.

Next month he took up land at Green Point near Bridgewater and built a weatherboard house, which he valued at more than £2,000 (pounds), which stood for over a century. There Stanfield's industry and enthusiasm brought better results than at Norfolk Island. By February 1825 he had been granted 1200 acres in widely separated areas, he had purchased 890 acres more and claimed to have 1,000 cattle, 800 sheep, 10 horses, a flour mill and other capital. His only grievances were that Michael Howe had raided his stockyard and other bushrangers had plundered his properties, though he was sometimes compensated by more land.

In 1826 he was summoned to give evidence against receivers of good stolen from him, but he died suddenly on 4th February, leaving a very numerous and opulent family. His eldest son, Daniel, was baptised Sunday 25th April 1790 at St Phillips church. He inherited in full measure his father's energy and acquisitiveness and a great deal of property. But he was not entirely reliant on his father – by 1825 he could claim 450 cattle, 600 sheep, 7 horses and other cattle. His land grants included 450 acres from Governor Macquarie, 300 from Governor Brisbane and 300 from Governor Arthur he bought 850 acres of Green Lagoon. His brothers also had land and stock, and in 1827 the land commission reported that:

The Stanfields, a large clan altogether, have had immense herds of wild cattle roaming all over this quarter of the Island and finding themselves limited, have driven hundreds to the sea coast.

Stanfield improved his properties and became a well-known stock breeder. In 1828 he was one of the first in Van Diemens Land to export apples to Britain – 1 specimen was one foot in diameter, but the shipment did not carry well. Like his father he had trouble with the bushrangers, and by 1825 he had been twice in Sydney to give evidence at trials. In Hobart, January 1808, he married Maria Kimberley the daughter of a transported First Fleet convict Edward Kimberley. They had a large family. Daniel Stanfield jnr died Friday 28 March 1856. (Sic)

1788. Thursday 24th January. Botany Bay. Marine Michael Murphy was born about 1760 at Wexford, Ireland, and his description as a man was 5'8" tall with dark completion, dark brown hair and grey eyes.

Murphy was a Private Marine in the 41st Portsmouth Company, enlisting at Portsmouth on 3rd July 1779 and in the years of 1780 - 1783 was serving in the West Indies. Back in Portsmouth in 1785, he was serving on the guard-ship Ardent. On Saturday 24th February 1787 Murphy joined Sirius as part of the ship's Marine complement and was discharged on Friday 5th June 1789 from the ship's books to the Port Jackson detachment.

When the Gorgon was in Port Jackson in 1791, Murphy did duty on board from Saturday 31st October to Friday 11th December. On Friday 6th April 1792, Murphy joined the NSW Corps, serving 5 years to Wednesday 5th April 1797, and receiving a 60 acre grant at Bankstown on Friday 6th April 1798. In January 1799 he shared a grant of 200 acres at Bankstown with Stephen Gilbert which was sold by January 1800 to Matthew Flinders.

In 1800, he re-joined the NSW Corps. On Sunday 24th March 1805 Murphy was transferred to Port Dalrymple, VDL as a member of the 102nd NSW Corps with Colonel Paterson on the Lady Nelson. Among the passengers was Eliza Paterson, the wife of the Commandant; accompanying her, was her maid Ann (Hannah) Williams, a convict who had arrived in Sydney aboard the Nile 1800. The list of passengers on the Lady Nelson was extracted from HM Ship Buffalo's muster roll, there being no separate list for Lady Nelson when she sailed from Port Jackson to Port Dalrymple in March 1805.

As Archibald Murphy, Michael was married to Hannah Williams on Sunday 10th March 1811 by the Reverend Robert Knopwood in Launceston Tasmania. On the same day their four daughters were baptised, Ellinor (b 1804 Sydney), Elizabeth, Mary and Jane. The father's name recorded in St Johns' Parish records was Michael. Two more children were to follow, Michael (1812) and Maria (1814). In 1810, the NSW Corps was recalled to Sydney Murphy transferred to the NSW Veteran Company. But in 1814 sees Murphy back in Parramatta and then at Emu Plains, until his death at the age of 63 on Friday 10th January 1823. He is buried at St Matthew's Windsor. The registration of his burial details records him as Archibald Murphy.

Michael Murphy had served a total of 37 years and 321 days in the Marines and the NSW Corps.

Michael Murphy was buried in the church yard of St Matthews Windsor NSW, the oldest Church in Australia. It was built by convicts between 1817-1820. (sic)

1788. Thursday 24th January. Botany Bay. Thomas O'Brien was a 23 year old Marine on the Scarborough and came to Australia as part of the First Fleet. He had enlisted as a private in the Marines on a 3 year contract in 1787. Some special incentives to join were that they could discharge after three years' service with a sign on fee of 2 guineas ($4) and a daily pay rate of 7 cents plus 5 cents clothing and food allowance.

Lieutenant King on Friday 15th February 1788, at Governor Phillips direction, 3 weeks after the First Fleet landing at Sydney Cove had taken a party of 9 male, 6 female convicts, 2 marines, 3 seamen, 3 officers and a surgeon on the Supply to establish a camp on Norfolk Island 13 days away by sail. It was thought the better soil and climate on the Island would supplement the food to supply the Colony at Sydney Cove, the tall pine trees could be used to make new masts and the flax for new rigging for the British fleet which had been severely depleted in the war against America.

By October 1791 Thomas had completed his 3 year contract with the Marines and so in November 1791 he elected to stay in the Colony and sailed on the Atlantic with convicts and 28 other Marines who had been discharged at Port Jackson to become free settlers on 60 acre grants on Norfolk Island.

Susannah Mortimer married Thomas O'Brien on Norfolk Island in November 1791.

Susannah Mortimer, age given as 24, had been sentenced at Exeter Lent Assizes on Tuesday 18th March 1788 to 7 year's transportation (commuted from a death sentence by hanging) for stealing 2 sheep with John Rice in August 1787 at Moreton Hampstead, Devon. She eventually sailed from London on Monday 29th June 1789 after spending 22 months in gaol and came to Sydney with around 240 female convicts, 6 Marines and 30 crew on the Lady Juliana arriving in Sydney nearly 12 months later on Thursday 3rd June 1790.

In early August 1790, eight weeks after landing at Sydney Cove, Susannah was among 194 male and female convicts transferred to Norfolk Island in Surprise. She brought with her a young child, Susannah who had almost certainly been born on the voyage from England.

The O'Brien family were successful farmers on their 60 acre allotment and by 1808 they had 8 children, 6 sheep, and 72 pigs with 140 bushels of maize in store. They were regarded as first class settlers.

The settlement at Norfolk Island did not achieve the objectives of the Governments of Sydney Cove and Britain. The harbour was treacherous and in fact in 1788 the HMS Sirius was sunk there attempting to land settlers on the Island. The climate was wild and attempts to grow provisions were not too successful. The use of the Pine Trees for ships masts and the flax for rigging proved quite worthless. So, with all facts considered and the Sydney Colony now self supporting with food, the Government decided to abandon the Island and ship all the inhabitants to Hobart Tasmania.

Thomas O' Brien his wife Susannah and 8 children were shipped to Hobart on the City of Edinburgh on Saturday 3rd September 1808 along with approximately 250 others.

The family settled in New Town district, Hobart and took up 100 acres, the area originally was called O'Brien's Bridge and later renamed Glenorchy. There is still a bridge in the Glenorchy area called O'Brien's Bridge. (sic)

1788. Sunday 10th February. The first European child born in Australia was the daughter of Marine Sergeant Samuel Bacon, and his wife Jane Bacon. She returned to England on HMS Gorgon with her parents on Monday 26th November 1792.

1788. When Major Robert Ross learned that a detachment of Marines was to guard the First Fleet on its way to Botany Bay, he was among the first to volunteer. For the 46 year old Scot, this was the best thing that had happened to the Corps since its involvement in the glorious action at Bunkers Hill at the beginning of the American War.

Why the Marines had been chosen instead of the Army was none of the Major's business. Others could worry about that. Meanwhile, he had been appointed to command the detachment and he meant to see that his Marines acquitted themselves with honour.

As he wrote to his patron, Evan Nepean, Under Secretary for the Colonies: "A good performance at Botany Bay will rescue the corps from the obscurity in which it has been for so long." (sic)

Less than four years after arriving at Botany Bay, however, the Marines were on their way back to England - and the colony sighed with relief.

The detachment owed its unpopularity almost entirely to Major Ross, to his personal touchiness and irascibility and to his near-insane determination to protect the honour of the corps whatever the cost.

Originally founded by Charles II in 1664, the Marines had known a continuous existence only since 1755, when war loomed once again with the old enemy across the Channel, the French.

A newly organised Marine Corps, including the very young Second Lieutenant Robert Ross, was in the vanguard of a British force under General Wolfe which scaled the Heights of Abraham and took Quebec from the French in 1759. But the Marines were everywhere in the Seven Years War - in Canada, India, the West Indies, even in the far-off Philippines, where 300 of Britain's sea-soldiers helped capture Manila from the Spanish in 1762.

But as useful as they were in times of war, they had little standing in peacetime Army officers, who paid highly for their commissions) didn't mix in the society of mere Marine officers.

In 1786, the Marines were a minor branch of the Army establishment and Robert Ross, for all his honorary rank of brevet-major, had made no progress in his career since a promotion to captain in 1773. Thus, 27 years after Quebec, 11 years after Bunkers Hill, the veteran jumped at the chance when volunteers were called for Botany Bay.

Knowing little or nothing of the country to which he was going, he visualised the Marines defending the settlement against hostile Aborigines, even winning new battle honours as they repelled possible attacks on Botany Bay by the French, Spanish or Americans.
Even before the Fleet left Portsmouth, however, he saw how different the reality was going to be. All the power was being invested in Governor Phillip, While Ross was designated Lieutenant-Governor, Phillip was the one who would make the important decisions, and Phillip, as he quickly made clear didn't mean to consult Major Ross about anything.

An early example occurred on the voyage out. Four days before reaching Capetown, Phillip divided his fleet into two, four vessels going on ahead of the remaining seven to prepare the ground.

It was a sensible arrangement. But why had he, the second-in-command, been almost the last to hear of the change of plan? This was the question Ross kept asking himself, and brooding over, for the rest of the voyage.

Finally, they arrived, and it didn't take the major long to see that any military role for the detachment was just a dream. From the remoteness of their situation and the wretched state of the Aboriginal population, he guessed the Marines would be spending most of their time on sentry duty and acting as slave-drivers to the unfortunate convicts.

It was pretty much the way it turned out, although Ross never stopped fighting against what he saw as indignities from the day he landed on "that miserable shore".

Not formerly noted as a severe disciplinarian, he was savage when he caught any of his men thieving, fighting, breaking into the female prisoners' quarters, or otherwise carrying on like convicts.

On the evening of Sunday 16th March 1788, the colony was less than two months old when marines Hunt and Dempsey came to blows over a convict woman, Jane Fitzgerald. Joseph Hunt, the original aggressor, was charged with disorderly behaviour and a court-martial was convened under the presidency of Captain Watkin Tench.

He was found guilty, but the sentence was rather unusual. Private Hunt was required to ask Private Dempsey's pardon before the whole battalion, or else receive 100 lashes from the drummers on his bare back. The major was speechless when he heard of the sentence, but not for long. No soldier had the right to choose his own punishment, he shouted at Tench.

Not only was it against martial law, it removed from the man's commanding officer all power to confirm or mitigate the decision of the court. He went on raving and cursing but he couldn't shake the determination of Tench and the four other young officers to stick by the original sentence.

So, Ross had those five arrested as well and applied to Governor Phillip to have them tried for insubordination. Phillip managed to put him off for the moment, claiming he would have to refer the matter to England first.

The difficult Scot was responsible enough when it came to maintaining the peace and good order of the little settlement and the governor had no complaints to make on that score. Yet, on other subjects, he just couldn't be reasoned with and he was making life unbearable for his officers. One of them, Lieutenant James Maxwell, actually went mad during his six months at Botany Bay.

Having been confined to hospital with an eye disease, the sick man was later found to have planted 70 guineas, neatly set out in long rows in the hospital garden. He had high hopes of a "good crop" the following year, he told the doctors.

The behaviour of Captain James Meredith was another source of embarrassment. One evening, Captain Meredith was rolling home, drunk as usual, down Bridge St when he was tempted to visit 17 year old Sarah Bellamy, a well-known prostitute.

At the time, Sydney consisted merely of two streets of "miserable huts", according to one account. The officers' huts were in a row opposite the Marine barracks in George St. The convict huts were dispersed throughout The Rocks.

None had any windows beyond a lattice-work of sticks and, when the captain came to. Sarah's house, he simply put his hand through and grabbed the girl by her red hair. She promptly began screaming and kept it up until the Sydney night watch arrived.

Meredith immediately demanded she be taken into custody. But the night watch, a body of convict constables since Ross didn't permit his men to perform constabulary duties was not to be bullied into submission by any officer.

Constable John Harris made sure the girl had a chance to tell her side of the story and, as a growing crowd listened in sympathy, Meredith decided not to go on with the case.

It was glaringly obvious that, after 18 months, Sydney was divided into two camps. The convicts, who had adopted Botany Bay as their home since few of them could ever expect to see England again, were in one camp. The marines were in the other.

For Robert Ross and his men, though, their worst moment had been in March 1789 after the Commissary, Andrew Palmer found that thieves had broken into the public store. A piece of a broken-off key was found in the padlock of the front door. Palmer took it to the blacksmith for identification and the blacksmith had no trouble recognising it as part of the key he had specially altered for Marine Joseph Hunt.

Hunt was the same man who had luckily escaped 100 lashes 12 months before. This time, he turned King's evidence and described how with six others, he had had the keys altered so they fitted any of three locks.

When one of the seven was posted as night guard at the street-door, the others could nip round to a back entrance and help themselves to as much as they could carry away.

It had been going on for months during which most of the group had been punished several times for drunkenness without the authorities having any idea where they were getting the liquor.

Yet even before news of this dire occurrence reached London, a new Secretary for the Colonies had decided to replace the Marines with a detachment of infantry, to be known as the NSW Corps+ Six months later, however, Governor Phillip still had not been informed of the decision. (+ New South Wales Corps).

His pre-occupation was with the famine, which was fast approaching the colony, and the only solution, as he saw it, was to divide his people in two and send half to cultivate the much more fertile Norfolk Island. It was also his chance to get rid of Major Ross.

And yet, if various accounts are true, the major was a changed man from the moment he landed on the island at the head of two companies of Marines and a large convict labour force.

In Sydney, much of his time had been taken up in writing to the Admiralty to complain about Phillip On Norfolk, he was his own master, free to concentrate exclusively on expanding the island's food resources Ross spent 20 months there in which time he more than trebled wheat and potato production.

Those who didn't farm, Marines as well as convicts spent their time catching schnapper and hunting mutton-birds and the haul was prodigious-41,000 birds in three months,1867 large schnapper in a typical fortnight.

Full bellies all round resulted in more work being done and, when the first NSW Corps arrived to take over, it saw a more flourishing settlement than the one which had recently greeted its arrival in Sydney.

In December 1791 Robert Ross and the Marines duly returned to England. Two officers David Collins and George Johnston, chose to stay on, while about 40 Marine NCOs and privates had transferred to the NSW Corps.

As it turned out, those who returned with Ross were the ones who generally did best. Watkin Tench went on to become a lieutenant-general while James Meredith retired with the rank of major-general. There also had been more fighting for the Marines after the French Revolutionary Wars broke out in 1793.

Finally, by Royal Order of Thursday 29th April 1802, the corps became known as the Royal Marines. Officially at least, the Marines now enjoyed parity with the Army. But Robert Ross didn't live to see that day.

His reputation having been virtually destroyed by what Governor Phillip had to say about his obstructive behaviour in Sydney, he was transferred soon after his return to recruiting duties around the countryside. Still a brevet-major, he died in London on Monday 9th June 1794.

From Cleve Whitworth and reprinted by kind permission of the Sydney Daily Mirror. This appeared under the title "Old marine major's dreams of glory died at Botany Bay" on Thursday 15th December 1988, and also featured in The Sun on Thursday 5th October 1989.) (sic)

1788. Wednesday 9th July. The number of the Marines serving in New South Wales (NSW) in Australia, was 211 men including 160 Privates.

1788. Monday 10th November. The number of the Marines serving in NSW, was 196 men of all ranks, including 160 privates, plus 12 men absent.

1788. Upon the British First Fleet arrival there was no provision made for policing the new settlement. Arthur Phillip's commission empowered him to, "Appoint of constables and other necessary officers and ministers in our said territory and its dependencies for the better administration of justice and putting the law in execution". However, policing in Britain was less than proficient, so he had no model to base the establishment of a law enforcement agency upon. Watchmen, called Charlie's after King Charles II who introduced them, were the first paid keepers of the peace in London, but they were rather ineffectual, and it was a job for old men. Charlie's were often ridiculed by the people. The Marines who accompanied the First Fleet refused to carry out the duties of a police force. Their Commander Major Robert Ross stated that his men were soldiers, not prison guards, and it was insulting to His Majesty's Regiments to expect them to act in such a role. However, they did agree to guard the settlement and patrol at night. Governor Phillips appointed freeman James Smith as a peace officer, but he retired after a brief period, as he was deemed too old and infirm to be effective.

1788 \- 1850. The English deported over 162,000 convicts to Australia in 806 ships.

1788 \- 1930's. The Australian Frontier Wars were a series of conflicts that were fought between Indigenous Australians and European settlers that spanned a total of 146 years. The first fighting took place several months after the landing of the First Fleet on Saturday 26th January 1788. The last clashes is recorded to have occurred as late as 1934.

1789. Four companies of Marines, comprising 213 men, commanded by Major Robert Ross, sailed with the First Fleet for Australia. They remained in the Colony until their relief by the New South Wales Corps in 1791.

1789. Thursday 9th July. Royal Visit to Portland Roads.

1789. Tuesday 18th August. Royal Visit to Plymouth Sound.

1789. Thursday 24th December. Loss of the Guardian.

1789. Scarcely a night passed when there was not a theft of some kind. After six Marines were executed during March 1789 for stealing provisions when the colony was close to starvation, it became obvious that some form of organised law enforcement was needed. In July 1789 convict John Harris went to Collins with a proposal for a night watch to be established from among the convicts to deal with all those found away from their huts at improper hours. Collins commented that: "It was to be wished, that a watch established for the preservation of public and private property had been formed of free people, and that necessity had not compelled us in selecting the first members of our little police, to be appointed from a body of men in whose eyes, it could not be denied, the property of individuals had never been sacred. However, there was no choice convicts who had any property were themselves interested in defeating such practises as theft". This first night watch consisted of 12 well behaved convicts and was split into four divisions. The Rocks watch patrolled from the hospital to the observatory, approximately Globe Street to Dawes Point. In November 1789, Collins wrote that the night watch had been very effective, there were fewer crimes and the culprits were usually caught. On Monday 1st February 1790, Governor Phillip advised Lord Sydney of "the institution of a night watch to control robberies (particularly of vegetables and poultry) was immediately effective" and that there was "no robbery in three months". The night watch were held in "fear and detestation" by their fellow convicts. Convicted pick-pocket George Barrington arrived in Sydney in 1791 and was almost immediately appointed a police constable guarding the colony's stores. He later became Chief Constable at Parramatta.

1789 to 1792. The Third Anglo Mysore War was a conflict that took place in South India between the Kingdom of Mysore and the East India Company and its allies that included France and the Maratha Empire.

1789. The start of the French Revolution that took place from 1789 to 1799.

1789. The Plymouth order Book. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do not recognise a Light Infantry. Saying Officers may wear the appointments, if they have the ordinary ones when required.

1790. Saturday 6th March. HMS Sirus and HMS Supply having on board 65 officers and men, with 5 women and children belonging to the Marine detachment and the civil department, 116 male and 67 female convicts, with 27 children, sailed for that small but beautiful, fertile Island of Norfolk. The Governor had sized on the opportunity of getting rid of his uncongenial Lieutenant Governor, by giving him a commission as Commandant of Norfolk Island, and it is quite possible that Ross himself was glad enough to go.

1790. June. Five of the six ships comprising the 'The Second Fleet' arrived at Sydney. The sixth HMS Guardian had been so severely damaged by a collision with and Iceberg that she had to be beached in Table Bay, narrowly escaping total loss.

1790. Thursday 10th June. In a despatch from Sydney Australia Governor Hunter writes to the Duke of Portland he states "I shall now only trouble your Grace further by mentioning that there are a considerable number of the Marines, who were the first troops sent to this country, and who upon the recall of that Corps from hence were allowed to enlist for a five years in the New South Wales Corps, some of them having completed this last engagement, are desirous of settling in the country and are entitled to a double proportion of land in consequence of a double tour of duty". (sic)

1790. Vancouver's Expedition in the Discovery.

1790. The arrival of the first ship the Lady Juliana of the Second Fleet was a cause of much excitement in the new colony. Amongst the correspondence from the homeland was the orders for the formation of the New South Wales Corps, and encouragement for the Marines to become settlers.

"In consequence of the assurance that was given to the non-commissioned officers and men belonging to the battalion of Marines, on their embarking for the service of this country, that such of them as should behave well, would be allowed to quit the service on their return to England: or be discharged aboard upon the relief taking place, and permitted to settle in the country – His Majesty has been graciously pleased to direct the following encouragement to be held up to such non-commissioned officers and privates, as may be disposed to become settlers in this country or in any of the islands comprised within the government of the continent of New South Wales, on the arrival of the corps raised and intended for the service of this colony, and for their relief.

To every non-commissioned officer, an allotment of one hundred and thirty acres of land, if single; and one hundred and fifty acres if married. To every private soldier, an allotment of eighty acres if single, and of one hundred acres if married; and also, an allotment of ten acres for every child, whether of non-commissioned officer, or of a private soldier. These allotments will be free of all fines, taxes, quit rents and other acknowledgements for the space of ten years; but after the expiration of that period will be subject to an annual quit rent of one shilling for every fifty acres.

His Majesty has likewise been farther pleased to signify his royal will and pleasure, that a bounty of three pounds be offered to each non-commissioned officer and soldier who may be disposed in this country and enlist in the corps appointed for the service of New South Wales with a farther assurance, that the case of a proper demeanour on their part, they shall, after a farther service of five years, be entitled to double the former portion of land, provided they then choose to become settlers in the country, free of all taxes, fines and quit rents, for the space of fifteen years; but after that time, to be subject to the before mentioned annual quit rent of one shilling for every fifty acres.

And as a further encouragement to those men who may be desirous to become settlers and continue in the country, His Majesty has been likewise pleased to direct that every man shall, on being discharged, receive out of the public store a portion of clothing and provisions sufficient for his support for one year; together with a suitable quantity of seeds, grain etc, for the tillage of the land; and a portion of tools and implements of agriculture, proper for their use. And whenever any man, who may become a settler, can maintain, feed, and clothe, such number of convicts as may be judged necessary by the governor, for the time being, to assist him in clearing and cultivating the land, the service of such convicts shall be assigned to him.": Article featured in the First Fleet Folio June 2000. (sic)

1790. December. The ship Lady Juliana reached Sydney Cove. This was the first ship to arrive from England since the First Fleet. She carried 226 female convicts. This arrival was an important milestone for Thomas Lucas, because among the convicts a woman was the spinster Ann Howard. She had been convicted at the Old Bailey and sentenced to seven years transportation.

It seems that Thomas Lucas and Ann Howard began to live together at Sydney Cove, and on Thursday 29th December 1791 a son was born. On Sunday 29th January 1792 he was baptised Thomas. This was the period when the colony was on extremely short rations. With the responsibility now of a de facto wife and a tiny baby, when volunteers were called for transfer to the New South Wales Corps, Thomas Lucas enlisted for five years, and was promoted to Corporal, joining the new Corps in April 1792.

Thomas Lucas appears to have still been stationed at Sydney until he left as part of a relief detachment in September 1794, with Ann and the baby Thomas on the store ship Daedalus for Norfolk Island. Ann was pregnant again, and she and the toddler Thomas were landed on Norfolk Island in October 1794, but Corporal Lucas did not come ashore until a week later. Perhaps he had to stay on board until unloading was finished. The soldiers all landed a week later.

Two months later Ann's sentence expired, and then on Saturday 20th December 1794, baby Richard was born, but there is no record of his baptism. Thomas continued in the Army for two and a half years and was discharged on Thursday 6th April 1797. As a former Marine he was entitled a land grant of 60 acres, and Governor Hunter granted this in August 1797. In the meantime, a third son, John was born, but he was not baptised until four years later. In most of the Norfolk Island records the children are recorded under the name Howard, not Lucas.

The farm was developed, and a living was made by the sale of wheat, maize and pork to the government stores.

1799. Saturday 19th October. a fourth son was born called Nathaniel. On Sunday 2nd August, the Reverend Henry Fulton, baptised the two youngest children, John and Nathaniel. Fifteen days later (probably after banns had been published for the necessary three Sundays) Thomas and Ann were married on Monday 17th August 1801. Thomas signed his usual clear signature, but Ann made her mark.1

In 1803 the decision was made to abandon Norfolk Island. Thomas Lucas elected to be transferred to the Derwent. When the Lucas family left Norfolk Island they left behind a farm, which had been developed with 42 acres cleared and 17 acres not cleared. They had a shingled house of two floors, a thatched and boarded barn of two floors, 3 thatched outhouses and one boarded outhouse, various sheep and pigs as well as what and oats being cultivated.

The settlers were granted compensation for the farm and stock and promised a grant of land four times as much, i.e. for Thomas Lucas, 240 acres, in Van Diemen's Land. Nevertheless, the settlers were reluctant to move.

On Saturday 3rd September 1808, the City of Edinburgh took aboard the last group of settlers for Van Diemen's Land, and the Lucas family was among them. They sailed on Friday 9th September and arrived in Van Diemen's Land Sunday 2nd October 1808.

The Lucas family settled into Van Diemen's Land, and apparently chose land at Brown's River near the present Kingston, where they are recognised as the first settlers. A muster on Sunday 30th April 1809 shows Thomas Lucas as having 530 acres between Hobart Town and Brown's River. This was the largest holding in Van Diemen's Land at the time.

On Tuesday 29th August 1815, at the age of 56 Thomas died and he was buried in St David's Cemetery in Hobart. At his funeral the Masonic Lodge performed their ceremonies over a brother mason at the graveside. (sic)

1790. An empty bottle is sometimes referred to as a 'Dead Marine'. The origin of the term is somewhat obscure, but the following story is told to account for the expression. This is one of the few Sailor expressions that can actually be traced to a specific person on a specific date.

William IV who was known as the 'Sailor King' was the third son of George III, he was born Prince William Henry. In 1789 he became Duke of Clarence. As a youth he joined the Navy as a midshipman and rose through the ranks. Someone in his social position who might be expected to become a Rear Admiral through patronage. Which he did through true merit.

Shortly after receiving his promotion to Rear Admiral in 1790, His Highness was at dinner on board one of his fleet's ships. He ordered the steward to remove the 'Dead Marines' to make room for new bottles.

There was also in the mess a dignified elderly Major of Marines who promptly took exception to this remark, and rising from the table asked, "May I respectfully ask your Royal Highness why you apply the name of the Corps, to which I have the honour to belong, to those empty bottles? The Duke, with tact and quick wit, replied; "I call them Marines because they are honest fellows who have done their duty and are now quite ready to do it again." This reply somewhat mollified the indignant officer of Marines.

An alternative derivation comes from the animosity between the Navy and the Marines. The Royal Naval seaman says that like an empty bottle a Marine is of no use to anyone, and if dropped over the side in the position of attention would float upright because of the size of his boots. The Marine's retort is that like an empty bottle he is always ready for duty again.

Although some have been known to suggest that the term is derived from the fact that an empty bottle always floats head up, and it has been rumored that a Marine will do this even when dead, owing to the traditional size of his feet and boots. I think the former explanation is certainly the most just and decidedly the most apt. It is supposed that the Duke of Clarence made use of this term on one occasion and the event is commemorated in verse by Colonel W. Drury, R.

The story also caught the imagination of the Army officers. They wanted their soldiers to be held in the same favorable view. They adapted the term for their use, changing it to 'Dead Soldiers'.

Since it's a more nautical term, 'Dead Marines' is usually refer to freshly emptied wine bottles, by Naval ratings and Royal Marines.

This same Duke of Clarence is said to have added the words 'By Land or Sea' to the badge of the Royal Marines.

1790 \- 1805. The Marines uniform of the day. (Taken from 'Britain's Sea Soldiers: Vol 1 by Cyril Field RMLI.)

1791. Tuesday 16th August. Loss of Pandora.

1791. Wednesday 16th November. Chatham Orders. All the Officers, N.C. Officers and Private Men are to hold themselves in readiness to turn out a minute's notice to march where they may be ordered to receive Their R. Highness the Duke and Duchess of York; and uniformly dressed; and those that are unfit to join the Battalion are not to be straggling about the streets on any account.

1791. November. Phoenix took Resolu.

1791. November. All the Officers, N.C. Officers and Private Men are to hold themselves in readiness to turn out a minute's notice to march where they may be ordered to receive Their R. Highness the Duke and Duchess of York; and uniformly dressed; and those that are unfit to join the Battalion are not to be straggling about the streets on any account.

1791. Thursday 18th December. After 18 months service in Norfolk Island, Major Ross returned to Sydney, and with the greater part of Marines left for England on board HMS Gorgon leaving behind only one Captainand Lieutenant, three 1st Lieutenants, the Judge Advocate (Collins), eight Non Commissioned Officers, two Drummers and fifty Privates.

1791. On a memorial being presented, an invalid establishment was formed, allowing the following officers to retire, one Commandant on 24d per day, one Lieutenant Colonel, one Major, and twelve Captains, six First Lieutenants, and three Second Lieutenants.

1792. Wednesday 12th September. Trial of some of the Bounty mutineers at Portsmouth.

1792. Tuesday 11th December. The last of the Marines left Sydney (NSW) with Governor Phillip on his ship HMS Atlantic.

1792. Saturday 15th December. A number of Marines remained in Australia as settlers and in a despatch from Governor Phillip, these included 8 at Parramatta and 31 at Norfolk Island, while others remained in Sydney, some had died and six had been executed.

1792. Lodging money was allowed at the following rates: Commandants 20 shillings per week, Field Officers 12 shillings. Captains 8 shillings and Subalterns 6 shillings. The non-commissioned Officers and Privates obtained the privilege of allotting.

1792. By the Benevolent Act of 1792 Non-Commissioned Officers and Private Marines were allowed the privilege of allotting a portion of their pay (usually a moiety) to their wives, families, or others, which, till that period, was confined to the Seamen alone.

Immediately after embarkation, he who has a relative or a friend to whom he inclines to allot such a part, should execute this instrument, which the Captain of the ship he may belong to, will forward to the Navy Board; the Treasurer of which, authenticates the ticket and transmits it to the person for whose benefit it is designed.

1792. Although no complete Marine units were garrisoned in Australia between 1792 and 1824 a few individual Marines and Officers were attached to garrison Regiments in NSW during that period. Those who choose to stay after having completed their military service and in some cases having married, were give crown land to settle on and build a home. Many Australians today can trace their ancestors back to these Marines.

1793. Saturday 2nd February. War declared by France against Great Britain. It meant that for the next twenty three years the Marines were in action around the world. At the start of the war the Marines had 70 companies However, the establishment was raised to 9,815 men.

1792 \- 1824. At that time, private Marines enlisted for life although discharge by purchase was allowed on payment of 10 guineas. Those who went to NSW, however, had the option of discharge after three years. Recruits were paid a 2 guinea bounty as an inducement to join.

1792 \- 1824. Although no complete Marine units were garrisoned in Australia, a few individual Marine officers were attached to garrison regiments in NSW during that period.

1793. Wednesday 13th March. Scourge captured Sans Culotte.

1793. Friday 15th March. Syren, and convoy engaged batteries at Moordyke.

1793. Sunday 14th April. Phaeton captured General Dumourier.

1793. Monday 15th April. The capture of Tobago. The British forces numbered 400 men that included Major Richard Bright, 1 Lieutenant 2 Sergeants, 1 Drummer and 27 Private Marines.

1793. Monday 13th May. Iris engaged Citoyenne Francaise.

1793. Monday 27th May. Venus engaged Semillante.

1793. Monday 27th May. Hytzna taken by French squadron.

1793. Tuesday 18th June. Nymphe captured Cleopatre.

1793. July. The Marines were authorised to recruit in Ireland at three recruiting stations in Dublin, Waterford and Cork.

1793. Wednesday 31st July. Boston engaged L'embuscade.

1793. Thursday 15th August - 18th December. Operations at Toulon. Lord Hood leading a squadron of 21 ships of the line and several frigates entered the harbour of Toulon to assist the inhabitants against the tyranny of the Republican faction which had seized control of the Government. The Loyalists willingly handed over the town, and 1,500 troops and a number of Marines under the Command of Captain Richard Bidlake near fort La Malgue. The later occupied the fort which stood on a hill between the little and the great roads, while Fort Mulgrave was situated on the tongue of land that continued from the hill into the harbour. Soon afterwards a Spanish fleet arrived with reinforcements, and on the 31st August the allied British marched out and defeated a republican detachment near Ollicules. The Marines of the fleet were dispersed over the various forts and lines of defence, which soon came under fire from the enemy's batteries, the number of the besiegers increasing day after day. Fighting continued until December, when the increasing pressure of the enemy rendered the evacuation of the town inevitable. One of the most brilliant events of the siege was the defence of a redoubt by Lieutenant Thomas Naylor of the Marines with 120 men, mostly of his own Corps. A French column of 2,000 strong, covered by a fog attempted to surprise the redoubt in the early morning, but the garrison was on the alert, and Naylor, ordering his men to reserve their fire until the Republicans were at close quarters and then to fire by platoons, succeeded in killing or wounding nearly a quarter of their numbers and eventually repulsing their attack. Fort Mulgrave became known as the 'Little Gibraltar', and other forts fell one after another into the hands of the Enemy, and at 10pm on the18th December, the defence was restricted to the town and the Fort on La Malgue, which were held while the French men of war in harbour and the magazines were burnt and blown up, and the Loyalist who number nearly 15,000 men, women and children embarked on board the fleet to save them from the bloodthirsty Republicans. (sic)

I793. August to December. 0perations under Lord Hood at Toulon.

1793. September. Lowestoft captured a tower at Mortella, Corsica.

1793. Tuesday 1st October. Ardent and convoy at Tornelli and San Fiorinzo, Corsica.

1793. Saturday 5th October. Bedford and Speedy captured Modeste.

1793. Saturday 12th October. Boats of Captain captured Imperieuse.

1793. Sunday 20th October. Crescent captured Reunion.

1793. Tuesday 22nd October. Agamemnon engaged French frigates.

1793. Thursday 24th October. Thames engaged Uranie.

1793. Thursday 31st October. Quebec, and Convoy attacked Ostend and Nieuport.

1793. Monday 18th November. Latona engaged Tigre and Jean Bart.

1793. Monday 25th November. Penelope and Iphigenia captured Inconstante.

1793 \- 1802. The 'French Revolutionary Wars'. In which Great Britain, Austria, Spain, Russia, Germany and the French Royalists were all against French Revolutionaries. While Marines saw action in the Mediterranean, South Africa, India, Egypt and the East Indies, and its strength was increased to 9,815 men.

1793. In consequence of the field officers being restored, and the establishment of an invalid retirement, several officers, who had quit active service, determined on returning to the effective corps; a circumstance that would have been attended with so much injustice to those who had continued in the service, and more particularly to the junior ranks, that it was resolved to resist such applications, for they had already experienced the injury arising from officers re-joining. Memorials were sent to the Board of Admiralty from each division to this effect: "That all officers may take rank and do duty in the corps from the date of their last appointment, receive promotion, and be placed on the list accordingly." The memorials were acceded to and enforced until a recent period, when a few officers were permitted to re-join; but this infraction, which was on a very limited scale, arose from a resolution of Mr. Hume, that he would not consent to the retirement of officers on full pay, or selling out, while serviceable officers remained on half-pay. Only four or five re-joined the corps, and about forty quitted the service.

1793 \- 1815. 'Per Mare Per Terram' - The Royal Marines 1793-1815 By Ron McGuigan.

The following is a short, concise look at the Royal Marines during the Napoleonic Wars. Largely forgotten when calculating the forces of Great Britain, they formed a valuable reserve of men for the Royal Navy and were often available to serve quickly on land until army reinforcements arrived to assist or replace them.

The value of soldiers aboard a Royal Navy ship was long recognized with the first recorded regiment converted for sea service on 16th October 1664, shortly after the beginnings of Britain's standing army. There then followed a parade of Maritime Regiments raised for service during wartime, with land regiments serving as marines in the fleets as well, and then disbanded at the peace, although some were re-raised as land regiments and their lineage is perpetuated today.

1687 to 1698, a total of seven Marine Regiments were raised and subsequently disbanded.

Early 1702, during the War of the Spanish Succession, orders were issued to raise six regiments of marines.

1701 and 1702, six Marine regiments were either converted or raised for 'Sea Service'. They were either disbanded or converted to foot Regiments by 1714. It is interesting to note that the Marine Regiments had 2nd Lieutenants whilst those Regiments designated for sea service had Ensigns.

1739 The largest number of Marine Regiments was formed from 1739 to 1740, when ten Regiments were raised for service. They ranked as the 44th to 53rd in seniority with the regular Army Regiments. They were all disbanded after the peace in 1748.

Seven years after the last Marine Regiment had been disbanded, it was determined to raise a Marine force on a permanent basis and on 5th April 1755 the order to raise the force was issued. With this in mind, fifty companies of Marines were authorized divided into three divisions based at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. The companies were known as Marine Forces. A Colonel Commandant commanded each division. The main staff officer was the Adjutant General.

1755 also marked the date when Officers' Commissions in the Royal Marines were no longer allowed by purchase, but by regular rotation of seniority.

By 1762, there were 135 Companies of Marines, which were drastically reduced to 70 Companies at the peace in 1763. Reaching 146 companies in 1782, by 1784 the establishment of the marine force had again been quickly reduced. These companies served at sea and on land in the Seven Years War 1755-1763 and the American Revolution 1775-1783, sometimes as individual companies and sometimes as ad hoc battalions. In 1791 an invalid establishment was created, and officers allowed to retire from active service.

Whenever the Royal Marines serve with the army, they take precedence in seniority after the 49th Regiment of Foot. Royal Marine seniority is only calculated from its formation in 1755 and not by any previous service of the disbanded marine regiments.

When Great Britain found itself at war again on 1 February 1793, it meant that for the next twenty-three years, the Royal Marines were in action around the globe.

During the years of peace between 1783 and 1793, the Royal Marines had been reduced to about 5,000 men. At the start of the war the Marines had 70 companies and in the Royal Navy estimates for 1793 the establishment was raised to 9,815 men.

In July 1793, the Royal Marines were authorized to recruit in Ireland at three recruiting stations of Dublin, Waterford and Cork.

In 1794 the establishment was increased to 12,000 men and in 1795 its establishment reached 15,000 men. In 1796 it augmented the companies to 8 sergeants, 8 corporals, 8 drummers and 113 privates and later that year to 120 privates for a total establishment of some 18,000 men. There were no further augmentations in either 1797 or 1798. In 1799 its establishment reached 22,716 men and between 1800 and 1801 it reach 24,200. The number of companies increased with the augmentations in establishments.

On 29th April 1802, in recognition of their services, the companies were granted the style of Royal Marines by His Majesty King George III, "In order to mark his approbation of the very meritorious conduct of the Marines during the late war, has been graciously pleased to direct that in future the corps shall be called the Royal Marines." (Also carried in the army lists as Royal Marine Forces) The white facings of the corps were changed to blue in accordance with the practice that royal regiments all wore blue facings.

With the peace in 1802, it was reduced to 100 companies and 12,100 men. But in 1803, with war again declared, the Royal Marine establishment was raised to 22,467 men. With another increase in 1804 it reached 29,000 men. A fourth division was formed at Woolwich in 1805 and the Marine establishment set at 30,000 with four artillery companies. The year 1806 saw additional companies raised to accommodate supernumerary Marines. Between 1807 and 1814 the establishment remained at 31,400 men. The peace of 1814 brought the usual reduction in numbers.

Even these augmentations proved inadequate and many line regiments served in the fleets between 1793 and 1814, although becoming less prevalent in the later years.

The Royal Marine Artillery was raised c.1804 for service in the bomb-ketches and other like vessels with one company raised for each division. A fourth company was raised in 1805 when the Woolwich Division was formed. They first saw service with the Boulogne Squadron and then at Copenhagen 1807.

In 1747, the deployment aboard ship was usually at a ratio of one marine per gun with officers. This ratio was maintained when the Marine Forces were re-raised. The Marines were present in every notable, and not so notable, fleet and ship-to-ship action between 1793-1815. For example, they were at 1st of June, St Vincent, Camperdown, the Nile, Copenhagen, Trafalgar, the Dardenelles, Cape Lissa and Aix Roads.

They always formed part of any cutting out excursion (i.e. seizing an enemy ship by using ships' boats and taking it from its anchorage). But the Marines also distinguished themselves on land either serving with the army or serving as part of a naval brigade (a force made up of both seamen and marines) such as at Tenerife in 1797 or Santa Maura in 1810.

Other examples are 1799 in the Helder where they helped garrison the forts or in 1812, where the Royal Marine Battalions served aboard Commodore Home Popham's squadron off the north coast of Spain. Together with Spanish forces, they disrupted coastal traffic, captured several towns and ports and tied up the French Army of the North not allowing it to reinforce the Army of Portugal, which was subsequently defeated at Salamanca.

Most marine battalions were ad hoc formations temporarily made up from the marines serving in the fleet or squadron. There were Royal Marine battalions formed by the fleets for locations such as South Africa 1795, Acre 1799, Naples 1799, Malta 1800, Egypt 1801, Elba 1801, South Africa 1806, South America 1806-1807, Portugal 1808, Walcheren 1809, Anholt 1811, Java 1811, Netherlands 1813, North America 1814-1815 and Marseilles 1815.

There were, however, three more permanent battalions formed in Britain for service overseas:

The 1st Battalion at Chatham, formed 30 September 1810 for service in Lisbon as the Royal Marine Battalion (numbered when the 2nd Battalion was raised). It left Lisbon in early 1812 to reorganize in Britain and returned to the north coast of Spain in 1812. Left for Britain again in December 1812 and arrived in Chesapeake Bay in June 1813 taking part in all of the operations there. In October 1813, the 1st Battalion left for British North America where it served until July 1814 when it was ordered to be distributed in the Great Lakes squadrons. A cadre reformed the battalion in Bermuda and it went to the Georgia coast, where it last saw action at St. Mary's River, Georgia in January and February 1815. It was finally disbanded in Britain July 1815. It had an artillery company and a small rocket corps attached.

The 2nd Battalion at Chatham, formed in July 1812 for service in the Peninsula. The 2nd Battalion arrived on the north coast of Spain in August 1812. In company with the 1st Battalion, it left for Britain December 1812. It arrived in the Chesapeake Bay in June 1813 taking part in all of the operations there. The 2nd Battalion was sent to British North America in September 1813. By order of the Admiralty in May 1814, the 2nd Battalion was broken up and dispersed among the Great Lakes squadrons. A cadre went to Chesapeake Bay where in August 1814, the 3rd Marine Battalion was now re-designated the 2nd Marine Battalion. It saw service at Bladensburg. In December 1814, the 2nd Battalion, with the 3rd Battalion, went to join the 1st Battalion at St. Mary's River, Georgia. The 2nd Battalion was disbanded in Britain July 1815. It had an artillery company attached.

Each battalion organized for service in North America originally contained:

1 Major Commanding; 1 Major; 8 Captains; 16 Lieutenants; 1 Paymaster; 1 Adjutant; 1 Quartermaster; 1 Surgeon; 1 Assistant-Surgeon; 2 Staff-Sergeants, 40 Sergeants; 40 Corporals; 16 Drummers and 672 Privates.

Each battalion also included one company of Royal Marine Artillery:

1 Captain; 4 Lieutenants; 4 Sergeants; 4 Corporals; 6 Bombardiers; 2 Drummers and 60 Gunners.

Artillery consisted of:

Four light 6 pounders; two light 5 ½ inch howitzers; two 10 inch mortars and two 8 inch brass howitzers.

The 3rd Marine Battalion at Portsmouth, formed in January 1814, by detachments there and by Royal Marine detachments withdrawn from serving in the Netherlands. It consisted of:

1 Major, 4 Captains, 21 Lieutenants 1 Adjutant, 1 Quartermaster and 10 Companies of 100 men each. Attached was one company of Royal Marine Artillery.

It arrived in Chesapeake Bay in July 1814. In August 1814, the 3rd Battalion was re-designated the 2nd Battalion and in September Vice Admiral Cochrane ordered the formation of a new 3rd Battalion using three companies of Royal Marines from the old 2nd Battalion and three companies of Colonial Marines. The Colonial Marines had been formed in Maryland, in May 1814, from escaped slaves and had been serving on the Atlantic coast. They saw service at Bladensburg and North Point.

The 3rd Battalion, with the 2nd Battalion, left Chesapeake Bay in December 1814 and rendezvoused with the 1st Battalion at St. Mary's River, Georgia. In April 1815 the Royal Marine companies were separated from the Colonial Marine companies of the 3rd Battalion. The Colonial Marines were joined by three new companies recruited from escaped slaves in Georgia, continued to be known as the 3rd Battalion, and finally disbanded in August 1815 in Trinidad.

In 1815, the Royal Marines once more went on a war footing. Officers just recently placed upon half-pay were brought back on full pay. The establishment was to be raised to two-thirds of its former war strength. The naval squadrons were reinforced by marine forces including detachments of the Royal Marine Artillery. One RMA company served in Wellington's army where it wasstationed at Ostend. Commanded by Captain Charles Burton, it consisted of 124 officers and men. Its original armament was to be of four 6 pounders and two 5½ inch howitzers. These guns were left behind when the company sailed for Ostend in the first week of June. It remained in garrison at Ostend and the company was recalled home at the end of September.

For their services the Royal Marines received medal awards as diverse as the Portuguese Cayenne Medal 1809 awarded to the Marines of HMS Confiance and the Spanish Medals for Bagur and Palamos 1810. They were also eligible for the Naval General Service Medal (awarded in 1849) with clasps for specific fleet and ship-to-ship actions and as well as for boat service (e. g. cutting out excursions by using a ship's boats). Royal Marines were also eligible for the Army General Service Medal (awarded 1848) with clasps for Martinique 1809, Guadeloupe 1810 and Java 1811.

Between 1814 and 1816, the Royal Marines were reduced to a peacetime establishment set at eighty companies (four of artillery) of 6,222 men. This reduction, of course, did not last and its numbers again increased, and you see the Royal Marines once again called upon to serve around the globe both at sea and on land.

1794. The establishment of Marines was increased to 12,115 men, in consequence of a general memorial to Earl Spencer, then first Lord of the Admiralty, presented by General Souter, which having obtained his Lordship's favourable consideration, twenty one companies were added, including those of six field-officers, and the levy money was also increased to eight guineas.

1794. Saturday 11th January. There was a curios sequel to the evacuation of Toulon. Not knowing of the British withdrawal HMS Juno sailing from Malta arrived in Toulon at 10pm in the evening. She had no pilot on board and made her way into the harbour the as best she could. Although here Captain was somewhat surprised to see no British ships in the outer harbour, although the lights of several vessels were clearly visible further in. Eventually a Brig at anchor loomed up through the darkness, and as HMS Juno passed her a shout was not understood, and supposed to be "What ship is that?" Upon the answer the crew of the Brig was heard to cry out "Viva", and as HMS Juno crossed her stern a voice from her called out distinctly "Luff". The helm was at once put to lee, but HMS Juno grounded and so its boats were hoisted out to warp her off. A sudden gust of wind drove her astern, and the anchor was let go, but as she swung to it she touched again aft. While the boats and sail trimmers were at work to get her off again, a boat came out from the shore, and running alongside, two officers and a party of seamen came on board and informed the Captain Sir Samuel Hood that it was the regulation of the port and the Commanding Officers orders that the ship should go to another branch of the harbour to perform quarantine. "Where is Lord Hood's flagship", asked the Captain. The reply he received aroused his suspicion, and it was then discovered that the visitors were Frenchmen. All pretence was dropped. "Soyez tranquille" said the visitors, "les Anglais sont des braves gens lestraitons bien, l'Amiral Anglais est parti il ya quelque temps" It was a terrible trap, but just then a gust of wind came down the harbour, and "I believe, Sir" said the 3rd Lieutenant "we shall be able to fetch out if we can only get her under sail". Where upon it was every man to his station to set the sails upon the ship. The Frenchmen drew their cutlasses, but the Marines seizing the boarding pikes from their racks charged and drove the unwelcome visitors below, where they were disarmed. The cable was cut, and the ship got under way, and in spite of heavy fire opened upon them from the batteries and forts on shore HMS Juno succeeded in making her way out to sea without loss of a man.

1794. Sunday 12th January. Sphinx captured Trompeuse.

1794. Wednesday 22nd January. Britannia and Nonsuch captured Vengeur and Resolu.

1794. Saturday 25th January. Houghton and Nonsuch engaged Cybele.

1794. Wednesday 5th February. The Capture of Martinique, by a British expeditionary force under the Command of Admiral Sir John Jervis and Lieutenant General Sir Charles Grey. By Thursday 20th March, only Fort Bourbon and Fort Royal still held out. Jervis ordered the third rate ship of the line HMS Asia of 64 guns, and HMS Zebra to take Fort Saint Louis. HMS Asia was unable to get close, and so Commander Faulkner went in without her help. Despite facing heavy fire, Faulkner ran HMS Zebra close under the walls. He and his ship's company then used HMS Zebra's boats to land. The British stormed the fort and captured it. HMS Zebra lost only her pilot killed and four men wounded. Meanwhile the boats of the British fleet captured Fort Royal and two days later Fort Bourbon capitulated.

1794. Saturday 8th February. Fortitude and Juno captured Mortella, Corsica.

1794. Monday 17th February. Alcide and squadron captured Fornelli, Corsica.

1794. Wednesday 19th February. The Capture of the ship St Fiorenzo in Corsica by Lord Hood. The St Fiorenzo was a 38 gun fifth rate, formerly the French ship named Minerve. She was captured having been scuttled by the French. She was raised, and placed on harbour protection from 1812 and finally broken up in 1837.

1794. February - March. Operations at and the Capture of Martinique.

1794. February. The Siege of Saint-Florent took place during the 'French Revolutionary War' when a British force joined with Corsican partisans to capture the French garrison town of Saint-Florent, Corsica. After a blockade by Royal Naval ships under Horatio Nelson. A landing was made, and British troops were put ashore where they were joined with around 1,200 Corsicans. The town was dominated by two defensive towers, one to the north at Mortella Point and the other at the strong Convention Redoubt. Once these had been taken the town agreed to surrender and the British fleet under Lord Hood was able to sail into its harbour. A large number of its defenders were able to escape to Bastia where they participated in its defence. Saint-Florent was one of three major French garrisons on Corsica the others being Bastia and Calvi.

1794. Early April. The Siege and surrender of Bastia in Corsica took place during the French Revolutionary War, when an allied force of British and Anglo Corsicans forces laid siege to the French town of Bastia. After a six-week siege the garrison surrendered due to a lack of supplies owing to a blockade by the Royal Navy. The siege was marked by constant disputes with Lord Hood the naval Commander and Senior Army officers.

1794. Friday 4th April. Capitulation of St. Lucia.

1794. Thursday 10th April. Capture of the Saintes.

1794. April. The British capture of Tobago and Santa-Lucia from the French. However, Santa-Lucia was retaken by the French during the summer of 1795, and later taken back by the British during April 1796.

1794. The North and the South Barracks were built in Deal.

1794. Friday 11th - 12th April. The Winchelsea at Guadaloupe.

1794. Wednesday 23rd April. Sir J. B. Warren's action off Guernsey, when the Arethusa captured the Pomone and Babet.

1794. April - May. Bombardment and capture of Bastia.

1794. Monday 5th May. The Orphers captured the Duguay-Trouin.

1794. Monday 5th - 7th May. The Swiftsure captured the Atalante.

1794. Thursday 29th May. The Carysfort captured the Castor.

1794. Thursday 29 th May - Sunday 1st June. Lord Howe's Victory, the battle of the Glorious First of June off Ushant. One of the great sea battles in which many Marines took part. It was the first and largest fleet action of the naval conflict between Great Britain and the First French Republic during the 'French Revolutionary Wars'. The British Channel Fleet under Admiral Lord Howe attempted to prevent the passage of a vital French grain convoy from the United States of America, which was protected by the French Atlantic Fleet, commanded by Rear-Admiral Villaret Joyeuse. The two forces clashed in the Atlantic Ocean, some 400 nautical miles (741km) west of the French island of Ushant. Howe's ships inflicted a severe tactical defeat on the French fleet. Although in the aftermath of the battle both fleets were left shattered and in no condition for further combat. Both fleets were forced to return to their home ports.

The following is an extract taken from an account wrote immediately after the battle, by an officer who served in the battle. It gives a vivid description of what happened: "The sinking of the Vengeur was one of the most awful sights ever beheld. This ship and the HMS Brunswick by some means got on board each other. HMS Brunswick lost her mizzen mast before she got clear but left her enemy a wreck of horrible ruin. She carried her mast and yards, everyone away, tore her decks and sides to pieces, and left her sinking. She went to the bottom at about a quarter past six, and I saw her sinking, fast, but gradually. After the loss of her mizzen mast, main top mast and rigging cut to pieces, the French hoisted an English Jack, and called for quarters, but HMS Brunswick, having all her boats shot to pieces, could not board the enemy, and was obliged to let her go down, and all on board perished." (sic)

The most obstinate conflict of the battle was between HMS Defence that carried 74 guns Captained by J. Gambier and HMS Jacobin with 110 guns. They were in close action for upwards of three hours, at the expiration of which time HMS Jacobin went to the bottom, and HMS Defence had become totally unmanageable as to be obliged and towed out of the line by the frigate HMS Phaeton. The HMS Jacobin lay without masts and a helm, and moving around by the force of the water, which rapidly entering shot holes in her hull, and running over her galleries, she quickly sunk. Yet so invincible was the spirit of her crew, that they were still manning their upper deck guns, while the water was running in at the lower deck ports. It seems that they had previously agreed never to give up and nailed their colours to the staff, which were flying when she went down. Those on the upper deck to a man, refused to take to a cutter, and when the water rose to where they stood, they took off their hats and gave three cheers universally crying out "Vive la Republique Vive la Liberte". This is corroborated in a letter from a Seaman on board HMS Queen. (sic)

1794. Sunday 1st June. The Irresistible and Squadron took Fort Brissoton, P. au Prince.

1794. Sunday 8th June. The Crecent and the Druid engaged a French squadron.

1794. Wednesday 11th June. The Dido engaged a squadron in Gourjeau bay.

1794. Tuesday 17th June. The Romney captured S, bille.

1794. July to Sunday 10th August. The Siege and Capture of Calvi took place during the French Revolutionary by the British forces, ending in a British Victory. Troops under Charles Stuart under took the attack against Calvi, one of his officers being Horatio Nelson. Heavy bombardment drew equally heavy French and Corsican resistance. It was during the fighting on the Saturday 12th July that Nelson lost the sight of his right eye during an assault on the town. There followed heavy fighting, but the French batteries were captured one by one, and on Sunday 10th August the French garrison finally surrendered with full military honours, having held out for 40 days. During the siege it was estimated that 24,000 cannon balls had been fired at the town.

1794. June - August. Victory and Agamemnon at Calvi.

1794. June - December. Unsuccessful operation at Guadaloupe.

1794. Saturday 23rd August. Squadron destroyed Volontaire.

1794. Saturday 23rd August. The Flora and Arethusa destroyed the Filicite, Espion, and Alerte.

1794. Tuesday 21st October. The Artois captured the Revolutionnaire.

1794. Wednesday 22nd October. The Centurion and the Diomede engaged a French Squadron.

1794. Thursday 6th November. The Canada and the Alexander (taken) engaged a French Squadron.

1794. Tuesday 30th December. The Blanche attacked the Desirade and captured a French Squadron.

1794. After a mutiny on board HMS Culloden, her crew flogged several Marines for not joining them.

1795. Friday 3rd - 7th January. The Diamond reconnoitred Brest.

1795. Sunday 4th January. The Blanche captures the Pique. The official report reads The Marines under Lieutenant Richardson keeping up so well directed and constant a fire, that not a man could appear on the forecastle till she struck. (sic)

1795. January - June. The Blanche and the Squadron at St. Lucia, Grenada.

1795. The Marines were further augmented to 15,000 men. In consequence of some differences arising with regard to the Regiments of the line doing duty as marines in the fleet, they were ordered to be disembarked, and many of the men were permitted to enlist in the Marines at an additional bounty of five guineas; and on the 15th of November the levy money was increased to fifteen pounds, which allowed ten guineas and a crown bounty to each recruit. This arrangement gave such fresh vigour to the corps, that the companies were soon up to their full strength.

1795. The French unsuccessfully attempt to retake Corsica.

1795. Saturday 7th March. The Berwick was captured by the French Fleet.

1795. Friday 13th March. The Lively captured the Tourterelle.

1795. Saturday 14th March. Hothams Victory off Genos, and the capture of two sail of the line.

1795. Sunday 29th March. The Cerberus captured the Jean Bart.

1795. Friday 10th April. The Astrea captured the Gloire.

1795. Saturday 11th April. The Hannibal captured the Gentille.

1795. Saturday 9th May. The Melampus and squadron were in Gourville Bay.

1795. Sunday 17th May. The Thetis and the Hussar captured the Raison and the Prlvoyante.

1795. Monday 25th May. Thorn captured Courier National in the West indies.

1795. Monday 8th June. The Kingfisher engaged a french convoy.

1795. Tuesday 9th June. The Masquito captured a Privateer.

1795. Wednesday 17th June. Cornwallis's retreat.

1795. Tuesday 23rd June. Bridports Victory off O'Oient.

1795. Thursday 24th June. The Dido and the Lowestoft engaged the Minerve and Artemise.

1795. Monday 25th May. The Thorn captured the Courier National in the West Indies.

1795. Thursday 25th June. The 300 Marines at Quiberon.

1795. Saturday 22nd August. Engagement of Iris and consorts with Dutch frigates.

1795. Tuesday 25th August. Spider (cutter) captured a brig.

1795. Wednesday 26th August. Cutting-out exploits at Alassio and Lanqueglia Bays.

1795. June - December. Royal Marines in Quiberon.

1795. Friday 3rd July. The Melampus and the Hebe captured the Vesuve.

1795. July. Nelson Captures Elba.

1795. Sunday 12th July. The Cumberland captured the Alcide off Hyeres.

1795. Friday 7th August - 16th September. During the 'Napoleonic Wars', Britain captured the Dutch Cape Colony's, from the Dutch East India Company. 350 Marines landed under Major Hill and took part in the battle of Muizenburg, receiving the commendation of Major General Craig "for their steadiness and resolution" upon this occasion. The advanced guard of the 78th, supported by the Marines, drove the Dutch from their position on the heights, and on the Thursday 8th August repelled a counter attack supported by artillery.

1795. Saturday 22nd August. Engagement of the Iris and consorts with dutch Frigates.

1795. Tuesday 25th August. Spider (cutter) captured a Brig.

1795. Friday 26th August. Cutting out exploits at Alassio and Lanqueglia Bays.

1795. Monday 28th September. Rose captured a privateer and sank another.

1795. Tuesday 29th September. Southampton engaged Vestale.

1795. August. The capture of the Cape Colony by Elphinstone.

1795. August - October. Operations under Commodore Rainier at Ceylon.

1795. August - December. The capture of Malacea, Chinsura and Cohin.

1795. Wednesday 16th September. The Capture of Cape Town from the Dutch.

1795. Wednesday 7th October. Action off St. Vincent. Censeur captured by the French.

1795. Saturday 10th October. Mermaid captured Brutus.

1795. Tuesday 13th October. Mermaid captured Republicaine.

1795. Wednesday 14th October. Melampus and Latona engaged batteries at Groix.

1795. Thursday 15th October. Melampus and consorts engaged Tortue and Nertide.

1796. The Marine Companies were further augmented to include 8 Sergeants, 8 Corporals, 8 Drummers and 113 Privates. Increasing later in the year to 120 Privates for a total establishment of some 18,000 men.

1796. Monday 15th February. Ceylon capitulated without resistance.

1796. Tuesday 16th February - Sunday 8th March. The capture of Amboyna and Banda Niera.

1796. Tuesday 16th February. Amboyna capitulated.

1796. Tuesday 8th March. Orpheus engaged Banda batteries, Banda Isles taken.

1796. Wednesday 9th March. Boats of Barfleur and consorts, re-captured vessels at Tunis.

1796. Thursday 10th March. Phaeton and convoy captured Bonne Citoyenne.

1796. Thursday 17th March. The storming of batteries at Herqui.

1796. Thursday 17th March. Diamond and convoy engaged at Port Spergni. Sir Sidney Smith, with that intrepidity in hazard so natural to him, destroyed a small convoy within the port of Herqui; which was not accomplished however, without landing some Seamen, under Lieut. Pine, and the Marines of the Diamond, under Lieut. Carter, who, in spite of a body of troops, pushed ashore, climbed the precipice in front of their batteries, and re-embarked, after having spiked the guns. Lieut. Pine was wounded, and Lieut. Carter mortally, of which he soon died, leaving behind him the merited character of a most excellent Officer and amiable man.

1796. Sunday 20th March. Anson and consorts engaged with French convoy. Sir John Warren, with his little squadron, engaged a very superior force, taking one frigate and four of a convoy. Lieutenant. Williams, of Marines, appears mentioned by Sir Edward Pellew as having rendered essential service on board the Indefatigable, in capturing La Virginie on the 21st of April.

The fortunate contest between the Unicorn, Captain Sir Thomas Williams, and La Tribune, began under an obvious disadvantage, and while it has fully established the fame of that Officer, it was likewise most honourable to Lieutemant. Hart. The Seamen and Marines of La Margaretta were also much distinguished in Captain Martin's official dispatch, announcing the capture of La Tamise.

Captain Trollope, in the Glatton, of 54, armed with heavy carronades, stands most highly on the records of this year, by his having encountered and beat a squadron carrying upwards of 200 guns, and in every respect nearly thrice his force. While the circumstances of the battle reflect a lustre upon all who fought, the unsubdued spirit of Captain Strangeways, of Marines, was truly heroic, and demands the grateful sympathy of his Country and his Corps. After having received a ball in his thigh, he was necessarily carried below, and on a tourniquet having been applied by the Surgeon, he insisted upon going again to his quarters, where he continued to animate his men until he fainted from loss of blood, when Captain Trollope was obliged to interpose his authority for his removal from danger. He afterwards fevered and died, forsaking by destiny a distressed widow and family to deplore his fall, to the tutelar care of Providence and the British nation. William Hall, Corporal of Marines, was, besides, the only one wounded in this memorable action.e capture of La Tamise.

1796. Monday 21st of March. The town and fort of Leogane, in the island of San Domingo, was attacked by a detachment of Colonial and British troops under Major General Forbes with two divisions, supported by the squadron, which consisted of the three ships of the line HMS Leviathan, HMS Swiftsure, and HMS Africa, with the frigates HMS Ceres and HMS Iphigenia, but the fort proving better capable of defence than was anticipated, the troops were withdrawn on the following day and night, without sustaining much loss. HMS Leviathan had 5 men killed, and 12 wounded, and HMS Africa one killed, and 7 wounded, and both ships were so seriously damaged, that they were under the necessity of going to Jamaica to refit

1796. Wednesday 13th April. Revolutionnaire captured Unite off Ushant.

1796. Sunday 17th April. Boats of Diamond captured Vengeur.

1796. Wednesday 20th April. Indefatigable captured Virginie.

1796. Wednesday 20th April. Inconstant captured Unite in the Mediterranean.

1796. Monday 25th April. Agamemnon and squadron captured French vessels at Finale.

1796. Wednesday 27th April. The capture of the Island of St. Lucia. 350 Marines were landed and the Re official report read "The conduct of the Marines upon this, as upon all other occasions, was perfectly correct."

1796. Wednesday 27th April. Niger and boats destroyed Eaireuil.

1796. Saturday 30th April. Agamemnon and squadron captured six vessels at Oneglia.

1796. April - May. Operations resulting in capitulation of Barbados.

1796. Wednesday 4th May. Spencer captured Volcan.

1796. Thursday 12th May. Phoenix captured Argo.

1796. Friday 27th May. Suffisante captured Revanche.

1796. Wednesday 8th June. Unicorn and Sta. Margaritta captured Tribune and Tamise.

1796. Wednesday 8th - 11th June. The capture of the Island of St. Vincent, during the evening the troops destined for the attack were safely disembarked, under cover of the 38 gun frigate HMS Arethusa, Captain Thomas Wolley, who also sent a detachment of seamen to serve on shore with the troops. After some skirmishing and an obstinate resistance, the enemy, composed chiefly of people of colour and Charibs, capitulated on the terms proposed by General Abercromby, who, on the 11th, took possession of the island. The loss sustained by the British amounted to 38 officers and privates killed, and 145 wounded.

1796. Thursday 9th June. Southampton captured Utile.

1796. Saturday 11thJune. The capture of Grenada, was taken with ease after the locals knew what had happened on St Vincent only 4 days earlier.

1796. Monday 13th June. Dryad captured Proserpine.

1796. Friday 27th June. Inconstant saved British residents and consorts at Leghorn.

1796. June. Mermaid and squadron captured Grenada.

1796. Thursday 7th July. Quebec and convoy engaged two French frigates.

1796. Sunday 10th July. Captain seized Porto Ferrajo.

1796. Friday 15th July. HMS Glatton engaged a French squadron off Flanders.

1796. Friday 22nd - 23rd July. Amiable engaged Pensee, which escaped.

1796. Monday 8th August. Mermaid engaged Vengeance and batteries.

1796. Wednesday 17th August. The surrender of Dutch Squadron at Simon's Bay.

1796. Monday 22nd -23rd August. Galatea and convoy destroyed Andromaque.

1796. Thursday 25th August. Raison engaged Vengeance.

1796. Sunday 28th August. Topaze captured Elizabeth.

1796. Friday 9th September. Arrogant and Victorious engaged six French frigates.

1796. Friday 23rd September. Pelican engaged Medee.

1796. Thursday 13th October. Terpsichore captured Mahonesa.

1796. Monday 24th October. Sta. Margaritta captured Buonaparte.

1796. Tuesday 25th October. Sta. Magaritta captured Vengeur and prize.

1796. October - November. Corsica re-taken by the French.

1796. Wednesday 16th November. In consequence of some differences arising with regard to the Regiments of the line doing duty as Marines in the fleet, they were ordered to be disembarked, and many of the men were permitted to enlist in the Marines at an additional bounty of five guineas, and on 16th November the levy money was increased to fifteen pounds, which allowed ten guineas and a crown bounty to each recruit, this arrangement gave such fresh vigour to the Corps, that the companies were soon completed to their full strength.

1796. Friday 2nd December. Crescent and Sphinx at Foul Point, Madagascar.

1796. Friday 2nd December. Hazard captured Musette.

1796. Saturday 3rd December. Lapwing captured Dedeux and destroyed Vaillante.

1796. Monday 12th December. Terpsichore captured Vestale.

1796. Monday 19th December. Minerve captured Santa Sabina.

1796. Monday 19th December. Blanche engaged Ceres.

1796. December. Theobald Wolfe Tone a leading Irish revolutionary ordered the dispatch of a force of 14,000 French veteran troops under the Command of General Hoche which arrived off the coast of Bantry ay in Ireland. After eluding the Royal Navy, unremitting storms, indecisiveness of its leaders and poor seamanship all combined to a failed landing. The French fleet was forced to return to France. Theobald Wolfe Tone was later to remarked, "England has had its luckiest escape since the Armada."

1796. December. Horatio Nelson had obtained the rank Commodore and was too senior to command a ship. He was transferred to HMS Captain which became his flag ship. The squadron he commanded covered the evacuation of British family's from Leghorn, Corsica and Elba.

1796. The vote for the sea service affording no extension to the Corps, an earnest memorial was addressed to Earl Spencer and in consequence of that application nine companies were added, with a Second-Lieutenant to each company, which was increased to 8 Sergeants, 8 Corporals, 8 Drummers, and 113 Privates each. In November, six more companies were added, and seven additional privates to every company, which then consisted of 120 men. At the same time three Colonels and Second-Commandants were added to the establishment of the corps.

1797. Sunday 8th January. Indefatigable and Amazon destroyed Droits de l'Homme.

1797. Tuesday 31st January. Andromache captured an Algerine corsair.

1797. Friday 14th February. Sir John Jervis's Victory off Cape St. Vincent.

1797. Monday 17th - 18th February. Trinidad surrendered without resistance.

1797. Tuesday 28th February. Terpsichore engaged Santissima Trinidada.

1797. Friday 17th February. The British capture Trinidad from Spain. A fleet of 18 warships under the Command of Sir Ralph Abercromby invaded and took the Island of Trinidad. Within a few of days the last Spanish Governor, Don José María Chacon surrendered the island to Abercromby.

1797. Thursday 9th March. San Fiorenzo and Nymphe captured Resistance and Constance.

1797. Monday 13th March. Viper captured Virgen Maria del Carmen.

1797. Monday 13th March. Plymouth captured Amitie.

1797. Wednesday 22nd - 23rd March. Hermione destroyed vessels at Porto Rico.

1797. Wednesday 29th March. Kingfisher captured General.

1797. Saturday 1st April. Hazard captured Hardi.

1797. Thursday 6th April. Boats of Magicienne and Regulus at St. Domingo.

1797. Sunday 16th April. Thunderer and Valiant destroyed Harnionie.

1797. Thursday 20th April. Cutting out affair at Port au Paix.

1797. Wednesday 26th April. Irresistible and Emerald captured two Spanish frigates.

1797. Saturday 22nd April. Magicienne, Regulus, and Fortune at Carcasse Bay.

1797. April. A mutiny of the Royal Navy took place at Spithead off Portsmouth.

1797. Saturday 20th May. Oiseau engaged a Spanish frigate.

1797. Monday 29th May. Boats of Lively and Minerve cut out Mutine.

1797. May. A second mutiny took place at the Nore, a sand bank off the Kent coast in the Thames where the fleet usually anchored.

1797. Monday 3rd June - 5th July. The Bombardment and assault of the Spanish port of Cadiz was a part of a protracted naval blockade by the British Royal Navy, which comprised of a siege and the shelling of the city as well as an amphibious assault on the port itself. The battle involved Horatio Nelson and John Jervis pitted against the Spanish Jose de Mazarredo and Fererico Gravina. It was a Spanish victory although both sides suffered an economic loss. The British casualties amounted to one killed and 20 wounded that included Captain Thomas Francis Fremantle, 3 boats were sunk, and the Victory's launch driven ashore.

1797. Thursday 15th June. "I write this from Gravesend at which place we arrived yesterday having received a route in the morning at six o'clock, to march immediately.

This place is all bustle and confusion. We have a Captain, two Subalterns and 80 Privates on board the STANDARD man of war and I expect every moment to receive orders to go on board some of the other ci-devont mutinous ships.

I believe ours is the first Militia regiment that ever acted as Marines. To the honour of the men the whole garrison turned out volunteers, and the conduct of those in the ship is most exemplary." (Sic)

1797. Friday 23rd June. The Leicester and Nottingham Journal. The following is an extract of a letter from an officer of the Warwickshire Militia to a friend in Birmingham.

Gravesend Thursday 15th June 1797.

"I write this from Gravesend at which place we arrived yesterday having received a route in the morning at six o'clock, to march immediately.

This place is all bustle and confusion. We have a Captain, two Subalterns and 80 Privates on board the STANDARD man of war and I expect every moment to receive orders to go on board some of the other mutinous ships.

I believe ours is the first Militia regiment that ever acted as Marines. To the honour of the men the whole garrison turned out volunteers, and the conduct of those in the ship is most exemplary."(Sic)

1797. Friday 23rd June. The Leicester and Nottingham Journal. It was the Lieutenant of Marines that was shot by a woman on board the IRIS, and not a Midshipman as was first understood. A disturbance having arisen on board the ship, the Marines as usual were called up to quell it.

The Lieutenant was very active in suppressing the riot; and finding one man particularly outrageous after the others had submitted he cut him down with his sword.

The wife of the man, who was present instantly went down below, and taking a large pistol went up coolly to the Lieutenant and discharged the contents in his belly, which caused his immediate death. She is now in safe custody. (Sic)

1797. Monday 3rd - 5th July. Cadiz bombardad by Nelson.

1797. Sunday 16th July. Anson and Sylph destroyed Calliope.

1797. July. Attack on Santa Cruz by Nelson.

1797. Thursday 6th July. Three Marines Lee, Coffy and Branham who had been found guilty by court Marshall for attempting to excite a mutiny in Stonehouse Barracks. While another Marine, M Gennis was convicted of a similar crime and sentenced to 1000 lashes (although he only received 500) and then transported to Botany Bay for life. The other three were lead out on to Plymouth Hoe and at 2.30pm on the 6th made to kneel in front of their coffins wearing a blind fold. At a given signal the firing squad carried out the order, and both Coffy and Branham fell immediately, but it seems that not one shot out of the sixteen fired had struck Lee, as he remained on his knees by the coffin. Until a Marines discharged his musket through the front of his head. He then fell, and another musket was fired through the side of his head and he died instantly. All four were in their thirties and of Irish decent. Marine Lee was found to belong to the 'United Irishmen' organisation. He was also an Attorney by profession and seems to have been the conspirator, and all who joined him used to meet on the Long Room Hill at Stonehouse to be sworn in as partakers in the plot. The ring leaders had enlisted in to the Marines, probably with the view of spreading disaffection in their ranks. It was also believed that the 58th Regiment and the crews of two ships then in an insubordinate state were also implicated.

1797. A complaint (Taken from 'Britain's Sea Soldiers: Vol 1 by Cyril Field RMLI.)

1797. Saturday 22nd - Tuesday 25th July. Horatio Nelson led a doomed assault on the Spanish island Santa Cruz de Tenerife was an amphibious assault by the Royal Navy on the Spanish port and city in the Canary Islands. Launched by Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson the assault was defeated, and the remains of the landing party withdrew under a truce with the loss of several hundred casualties. Nelson himself had been wounded in the arm, which was subsequently partially amputated: a stigma that he carried to his grave as a constant reminder of his failure. The ship's surgeon, James Farquhar, wrote in his journal: "Compound fracture of the right arm by a musket ball passing through a little above the elbow; an artery divided, the arm was immediately amputated." It is claimed that within 30 minutes, Nelson was again issuing orders to his men. On Tuesday 1st August Farquhar noted: "Admiral Nelson, amputated arm, continued getting well very fast. Stump looked well; no bad symptoms whatever occurred." British losses were 250 dead, 128 wounded, 300 captured, many drowned and 1 cutter sunk.

1797. July. An order in Council, fixed the pay of Marines at the following rates: Sergeants. Corporals.

On board £-12-0s-10p and on shore at, £1-6s-1p.

1797. July 22nd - 24th July. Attack on Santa Cruz by Nelson.

1797. Thursday 10th August. Arethusa captured Gaite.

1797. Friday 11th August. Sylphe and consorts destroyed gunboats at Sable d'Olonne.

1797. Monday 14th August. The battle of Cape St Vincent was one of the opening battles of the Anglo-Spanish War of 1796 to 1808, as part of the French Revolutionary Wars. During which a British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir John Jervis defeated a larger Spanish fleet under Admiral Don José de Córdobay Ramos near Cape St. Vincent in Portugal. After the battle Admiral Lord St. Vincent wrote: "A very considerable Corps of Marines should be kept up, and I hope to see the day when there is not another foot soldier in the kingdom, in Ireland or in the colonies". While Nelson also voiced his opinion: "When I become First Lord of the Admiralty, every fleet shall have perfect battalions of Marines, with their artillery, and commanded by experienced field officers, they will be prepared to make a serious impression on the enemy's coast." 1 Major, 1 Lieut., 1 Sergeant, and 5 rank and file killed, 21 wounded.

1797. Tuesday 15th August. Alexandrian captured Coq.

1797. Monday 21st August. Penguin captured two French brigs.

1797. Sunday 27th August. Jason and Triton captured part of a French convoy.

1797. Monday 28th August. Pomone destroyed Petit Dia'le.

1797. Sunday 17th September. Pelican destroyed Trompeur.

1797. Wednesday 4th October. Alexandrian captured Epicharis.

1797. Wednesday 11th October. The battle of Camperdown was the most significant action between British and Dutch forces during the French Revolutionary Wars and resulted in a complete victory for the British, who captured eleven Dutch ships without losing any of their own. Although they suffered 203 killed and 622 wounded. While the Dutch suffered 540 killed, 620 wounded.

1797. Wednesday 25th October. Indefatigable captured Hyene.

1797. Sunday 12th November. Cerberus captured Epervier.

1797. Monday 13th November. Boats of fairy captured Epervier, a lugger.

1797. Tuesday 14th November. Cerberus captured Renard.

1797. Wednesday 20th December. Growler captured by two French privateers.

1797. Thursday 21st December. Phoebe captured Nereide.

1797. Friday 29th December. Anson captured Daphne.

1798 \- 1799. The Fourth Anglo Mysore War was a conflict in South India between the Kingdom of Mysore and the British East India Company at that time run by the Earl of Mornington.

1798. Wednesday 3rd January. George taken by Spanish privateers.

1798. Friday 5th January. Pomone sank Cheri.

1798. Monday 8th January. Kingfisher captured Betsy

1798. Sunday 14th January. Sibylle and Fox at Caista Roads, Manilla.

1798. Yuseday 16th January. Boats of Babel captured Desiree.

1798. Monday 22nd January. Sibylle and Fox at Samboangon.

1798. Tueasday 23rd January. Melampus captured Volage.

1798. Saturday 3rd February. Speedy engaged Papillon.

1798. Friday 16th February. Boats of Alfred captured Scipion.

1798. Sunday 25th February. Marquis of Coburg sunk Revanche.

1798. Wednesday 21st March. A desperate action was fought between the Mars and La Hercule, of nearly equal force, both ships touching during the space of one hour and a half. English valour at last prevailed, but with a heavy loss. Captain Alexander Hood, who blended in himself all the talents and virtues of his ancestors, fell in the moment of victory; and Captain Joseph White, of Marines, shared his fate, while discharging the duty of a gallant Officer.

Quote, "Much do I lament in not being able to commemorate the names of five brave privates of my Corps, who, with an habitual intrepidity, attempted to board the enemy, but dropping into the sea, were crushed between the sides of the contending ships." Alexander Gillespie.

1798. Thursday 22nd - 23rd March. Phaeton, Canada, and Anson engaged Charente.

1798. Sunday 8th - 9th April. Diamond and Hydra in Caen River.

1798. Tuesday 17th April. Recovery captured Revanche.

1798. Saturday 21st April. Mars captured Hercule.

1798. Tuesday 24th April. Pearl engaged two French frigates.

1798. Thursday 30th April. James Scott, Sergeant of Marines and John Easty noted that two Marines were missing. Easty wrote, about one o'clock in the afternoon Edward odges, Michell Towlien, Marines which belonged to rose hill and was doing Duty they went out Shooting and was Lost in the woods.

1798. Saturday 2nd May: James Scott recorded that a greyhound, which Tolan and Odgers had taken with then, returned to camp at Rosehill.

1798. Saturday 5th May. Badger and Sandfly repulsed 52 gun brigs at Marcon.

1798. Wednesday 6th May: Scott wrote that he had abandoned all hope that Tolan and Odgers would be found, because of bad weather.

Their ration of provisions, except in being debarred from an allowance of spirits, was equal to that which the Marines received. Under these circumstances I record with pleasure, that they behaved better than had been predicted of them – To have expected sudden and complete reformation of conduct were romantic and chimerical Watkin Tench – on the convicts. (sic)

1798. Monday 7th May. Victorieuse captured Brutus.

1798. Monday 7th May. The Defence and Battle of the Islands of St. Marcou took place near the Cotentin peninsula on the Normandy coast of France in May 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars. During 1795 a British garrison was set up on the islands, which operated as a resupply base for Royal Naval ships cruising off the coast of Northern France. Their strength was that of 500 Marines a few sailors and 17 guns. Wanting to remove the British presence on the islands and simultaneously test the equipment and tactics then being developed in France for a projected invasion of Britain, the French launched a massed amphibious assault on the southern island using over 50 landing ships and thousands of troops. Although significant Royal Naval forces were in the area, a combination of wind and tide prevented them from intervening and the island's 500-strong garrison was left to resist the attack alone. The British suffer 1 killed and 4 wounded, while the French suffered 900 killed, 3000 wounded, 500 captured and 7 boats destroyed.

1798. Sunday 13th May. Boats of Flora cut out Mondavi,

1798. Saturday 19th May. Disembarkation at Ostend.

1798. Sunday 27th May. Plymouth (Uniform). Light Infantry Officers ordered to wear on their shoulders 'a Bugle, Horn and wings'.

1798. Wednesday 30th - 31st May. Hydra and consorts destroyed Confiante.

1798. May to September. The Irish Rebellion was an uprising against British rule in Ireland. The Republican Revolutionary group were heavily influenced by the ideas of the American and French Revolutions and were the main organising force behind the rebellion.

1798. Saturday 16th June. Boats of Aurora destroyed two vessels.

1798. Tuesday 19th June. Aurora engaged off Adeira.

1798. Friday 22nd June. Aurora destroyed a corvette.

1798. Tuesday 26th - 27th June. Seahorse captured Sensible.

1798. Friday 29th June. Pique and Jason captured Seine.

1798. Wednesday 11th July. Boats of Regulus captured three vessels.

1798. Sunday 15th July. Lion captured Santa Dorotea.

1798. Thursday 26th July. Brilliant engaged Vertu and Regenre.

1798. Wednesdat 1st August - Friday 3rd August. The Battle of the Nile took place. France had declared war on Britain during 1793, where upon several Naval battles took place between the two countries. One of the most famous victories was the battle of the Nile. The Lieutenant of Marines in Nelson's flagship wrote, "Fought the French fleet at anchor off Alexandria, consisting of 13 sail of the line and several frigates, took 10 sail of the line and burnt one three decker and one frigate and sunk one frigate. Captain Faddy of the Marines and six privates killed and seven wounded." The total British losses were 218 killed and 677 wounded, while the French losses were very high and estimated at around 3 to 4000 casualties, with a further 3000 captured, 2 ships of the line and 2 frigates were destroyed, and 9 ships of the line captured.

1798. Saturday 4th August. Boats of Melpomene and Childess captured Aventurier.

1798. Tuesday 7th August. Espoir captured Liguria.

1798. Tuesday 7th August. Indefatigable captured Vaillante.

1798. Sunday 12th August. Hazard captured Neptune.

1798. Saturday 18th August. Leander captured by Gentreux.

1798. Wednesday 22nd August. Naiad and Magnanime captured Decade.

1798. Wednesday 2nd September. The Siege of Malta was a two year blockade by the British of the French occupied garrison of Valletta the largest city on the Island. That had been captured by a French expeditionary force during earlier during 1998. The garrison held over 3,000 men under the command of Claude Henri Belgrand de Vaubois and was besieged for over two years, eventually surrendering on Wednesday 2nd September 1880.

1798. Friday 7th September. Phaeton and Alison captured Flore.

1798. Friday 12th - 14th October. A larger French force consisting of 3,000 men and including Wolfe Tone attempted to land in County Donegal near Lough Swilly. Later it became known as the battle of Donegal They were intercepted by a larger Royal Naval squadron, and finally surrendered after a three hour battle without being able to land in Ireland. It was the last action of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The battle also brought to an end the French trying to land soldiers in Ireland. Wolfe Tone was tried by a court-martial in Dublin and found guilty. He asked for death by firing squad, but when this was refused, Tone cheated the hangman by slitting his own throat in prison on Monday 12th November and died a week later.

1798. Friday 12th October – Sunday 14th October. Warrens Victory Off Ireland. Captain R. Williams of the Marines lowered a boat and took possession of the French ship La Hoche with 50 officers of ranks on board going to join the rebel forces in Ireland, and also the notorious Wolf Tone, at whose subsequent trail in Dublin he was a principle witness. A pair of large engravings of this action were published by an officer of Marines who was present on board HMS Canada.

1798. Tuesday 16th October. Kangaroo engaged Loire.

1798. Wednesday 17th October. Mermaid engaged Loire.

1798. Thursday 18th October. Anson and Kangaroo captured Loire.

1798. Saturday 20th October. Fisgard captured Immorlalite.

1798. Wednesday 24th October. Sirius captured Furie and Waakzamheid.

1798. Sunday 28th October. The fortified island of Goza, about five miles to the North-west of Malta, belonging to the Knights of that Order, surrendered to Captain Ball, of the Alexander. When Captain, later Major Cresswell, along with a party of Marines, took possession of it.

1798. Sunday 28th - 29th October. Cesar and consorts engaged four French frigates.

1798. October. Malta. 300 Marines served on shore during the blockade of Valetta under Major Weir who raised an efficient Regiment of Maltese. Castle of Gozo occupied by Captain J. Creswell and detachment Marines.

1798. Wednesday 7th November – 14th November. The reduction of Minorca. Captain Minto with Marines of HMS Centaur and HMS Leviathan.

1798. Monday 3rd December. Victorieuse and consorts at Trinidad.

1798. Friday 7th December. Perdrix captured Armee d'Italie.

1798. Friday 14th December. Aminscale captured by Bayonnaise.

1798. During the disturbances that took place in various parts of the kingdom, the loyalty of the troops was unshaken, and the example of devotion to their Sovereign which was first shown by the Marines at Chatham, then commanded by Lieutenant General Innes, was eagerly followed by the soldiers of the line in that garrison. The public journals were daily filled with the loyal resolutions of various Corps, and the seditious designs of the secret agitators entirely frustrated. Sergeant Pinn of the Chatham division particularly distinguished himself upon this occasion, and as a recompense for his excellent conduct the Lieutenant General granted him his discharge, but as this was done without the sanction of the Board of Admiralty the general was tried by a court martial for a breach of the Articles of War. Although there was no positive sanction of the Board for the step he had taken, yet it appeared in evidence that the Earl of St. Vincent, (then the first Lord,) in a conversation with General Innes upon the subject, had approved of the measure, consequently the court pronounced an honourable acquittal. His Royal Highness the Duke of York, commander of the forces, wrote to Lieutenant General Innes, expressing his high approbation of the loyalty and example shown by the Chatham division, and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty also conveyed their satisfaction of their loyalty and zeal.

1798. Its recorded that tobacco was introduced in the navy, mostly for chewing, but was known and used on shore long before this time.

1799. 20,000 Marines formed the Establishment.

1799. Saturday 4th January. Wolverine engaged Ruse and Furet.

1799. Sunday 3rd - 22nd February. Bulldog and Perseus bombarded Alexandria.

1799. Wednesday 6th February. Argo captured Santa Teresa.

1799. Saturday 9th February. Daedalus captured Prudente.

1799. Friday 22nd February. Espoir engaged Spanish flotilla and captured Africa.

1799. Thursday 28th February. Sybille captured Forte.

1799. February. Salerno. Marines of Zealous assisted Neapolitans to repulse 3,000 French troops.

1799. Monday 18th March. Telegraph captured Hirondelle.

1799. March - May. Tigre Theseus and Alliance at Acre.

1799. Wednesday 20th March to 21st May 1799. The Defence of Acre (The Otteman Empire, against the French and Turks). Sir Sidney Smith shelled Bonaparte outside Saint John d'Acer, forcing him to lift the siege.

1799. Tuesday 26th March. Plymouth (Uniform). The Light Infantry Companies where directed to wear the new round Hats Bound in Black Tape, White Band and Looping, and Green worsted Tuft, to distinguish them from the Battalion Companies whose hats had Black Looping and red and White Tuffs. The grenadiers wore the same as the light Infantry but had White Tuffs. But the Flank Companies did not last much longer as they were definitely abolished by an Admiralty Order of the 1st November 1804.

1799. Tuesday 30th March. Sparrow and Trent at Porto Rico.

1799. Friday 9th April. San Fiorenzo and Amelia engaged three French frigates.

1799. Tuesday 13th April. Amaranthe captured Vengeur.

1799. Tuesday 4th May. Fortune and gunboats captured by Salamine.

1799. Wednesday 12th May. Courier engaged a French privateer.

1799. Thursday 6th June. The cutting out of La Selva.

1799. Wednesday 9th June. Boats of Success cut out Belle Aurore.

1799. Saturday June 26. Alemene captured Conrageux.

1799. The strength of the Marines at that time was 22,716 men.

1799. Thursday 11th July. Naples and the siege of Port St. Elmo. 800 Marines under Colonel Strickland.

1799. Sunday 18th July. Alemene and boats captured two Spanish vessels.

1799. Monday 29th July – 4th August. The taking of Capua and Gaeta.

1799. Monday 9th August. Speedy and boats captured Spanish armed vessel.

1799. Wednesday 11th - 12th August. Attack on Schiermonikoog.

1799. Friday 13th - 30th August. Operations in the Texel.

1799. Saturday 14th August. Fox, Dadalus and boats destroyed Kosseir.

1799. Thursday 19th August. Surinam taken.

1799. Friday 20th August. Clyde captured Vestale.

1799. Thursday 26th August. Tamar captured Republicaine.

1799. Monday 13th September. Arrow and Wolverine captured Draak and Gier.

1799. Monday 20th September. Camel and Rattlesnake engaged Freueuse.

1799. Wednesday 2nd October. The Battle of Alkmaar was fought between forces of the French Republic and her ally, the Batavian Republic under the command of general Guillaume Marie Anne Brune, and an expeditionary force from Great Britain and her ally Russia, commanded by Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany in the vicinity of Alkmaar during the Anglo-Russian Invasion of Holland. Although the battle ended in a tactical draw, the Anglo-Russians were in a position at the end of the battle that favoured them slightly in a strategic sense. This prompted Brune to order a strategic withdrawal the next day to a line between Monnickendam in the East and Castricum in the West. There the final battle of the campaign would take place on Sunday 6th October.

1799. Sunday 3rd October. Speedy chased Spanish coasters on shore.

1799. Tuesday 5th October. Ferret engaged Spanish privateer.

1799. Sunday 10th - 11th October. Jupiter engaged Prencuse.

1799. Friday 11th October. The defence of Lemmer Town, West Friesland. The garrison consisted of 157 Seamen and Marines. At 5 am a small advance party of French and Batavians attempted to storm the north Battery. They were entrapped between two fires surrounded by the seamen armed with pikes and surrendered. The main body of the enemy 670 strong soon after assaulted the village, but after a sharp fight of four hours and a half were driven off with a loss of 5 and 11 wounded. The officers present 1st Lieut. Marmaduke WY bourn and L2nd Lieutenants. J. Howell, Jas. Higginson and Rd. Gardner.

1799. Tuesday 12th October. Trincomalee engaged Iphigenie and both sank.

1799. Friday 15th October. Ethalion captured Thetis.

1799. Sunday 17th October. Boats of Echo cut out Buonaparte.

1799. Sunday 17th October. Triton and consorts captured Santa Brigida.

1799. Wednesday 20th October. Cerberus engaged five Spanish frigates.

1799. Sunday 24th October. Orpheus captured Zeelast and Zeevraght.

1799. Monday 25th October. Boats of Surprise cut out Hermione.

1799. Friday 29th - 31st October. Boats of Tigre engaged off Damietta.

1799. Saturday 6th November. Speedy engaged twelve Spanish vessels.

1799. Monday 22nd November. Courier captured Guerriere.

1799. Wednesday 24th November. Solebay captured Egyptienne and three others.

1799. Friday 3rd December. Racoon captured Intrepide.

1799. Saturday 11th December. Tremendous and Adamant destroyed Preneuse.

1799. Friday 17th December. Amiable engaged Sirene and Bergere.

1799. Monday 20th December. Boats of Queen Charlotte re-captured Lady Nelson.

1799. Friday 24th - 30th December. Tigre took El Arisch.

1799. Sunday 26th December. Viper captured Furet.

1799. The Scotch Brigade Marines. It has been said that war is the logical continuation of diplomacy, but it could be argued more reasonably that war is the logical extension of competition in trade. We have been referred to, rather contemptuously, as a nation of shopkeepers, and the bayonet can be seen as a complement of the clerk's quill.

The conduct of many a campaign has been dictated by commercial considerations as much as by purely military ones, and the trader's preoccupation with his profit and loss account once sent a party of the Scotch Brigade, later numbered the 94th Foot, the 2nd Battalion of the Connaught Rangers, to serve as Marines on the waters of the Bay of Bengal.

In 1799 the shipping of the East India Company was being ravaged by a French frigate, La Forte, said to be the fastest and best armed frigate in any navy in the world. To hunt down and destroy this tiger of the seas was the allotted task of HMS SYBILLE, commanded by Captain Edward Cooke. The SYBILLE had spent several months at Calcutta in 1798 and the inevitable disease engendered by a lengthy stay in so unhealthy a position had so reduced the numbers of her crew that barely 250 men were fit for duty. Particularly heavy had been the reduction of numbers among her complement of Royal Marines that only, nine remained, and to remedy this shortage of Marines a company of the Scotch Brigade, then newly arrived in India from Cape Town, was pressed into service. In the Regimental History of the Connaught Rangers, Volume II, it is stated that 5 officers and 96 NCOs and men were embarked in the SYBILLE, but it will be apparent later in this paper that these figures are inaccurate.

On the 19th February 1799, the SYBILLE put to sea and immediately cleared ship for action. In the days before aerial reconnaissance the sea was a very big place, and day followed day without contact being made with the enemy. At length the HAPPY CHANCE, a prize taken by La Forte, was encountered proceeding to Madras under a flag of truce to exchange prisoners. From her came the welcome news that La Forte was in the neighbourhood. On the evening of February 28th flashes were seen on the horizon but no sound was heard. Despite the general opinion that these flashes were caused by lightning, Captain Cooke turned the SYBILLE's head to the South East to investigate. As darkness fell the source of the flashes was discovered to be indeed La Forte. She was found in the process of putting prize crews aboard her latest two captures, the MORNINGTON and the ENDEAVOUR. Under cover of darkness the SYBILLE crept up on her prey and not until 12 30 am on March 1st did a lookout on La Forte notice her. To the French Admiral and Captain it seemed that another prize was sailing into their grasp, and without calling her crew to action stations La Forte approached her "victim" A gun was fired at the SYBILLE and when no notice was taken the awful realisation dawned on the French that they had caught a Tartar and drums hastily called the crew of La Forte to action stations to face a sterner test than had been posed by Company merchantmen.

Every advantage seemed to lie with La Forte. She mounted 58 guns, 28 of them 24-pounders, while the SYBILLE could make reply with 48 guns, 28 being 18-pounders. La Forte suffered from one result of her previous successes, so many of her men had been taken up in supplying prize crews that her complement of some 600 was reduced to 370, almost the same as the SYBILLE's But on the decks of the SYBILLE stood a company of trained soldiers and their discipline and accurate fire was the deciding factor in the action that followed.

La Forte began the battle by firing broadsides at the SYBILLE, without any effect, as apparently no thought was given to the rapidly reducing range and the shot passed harmlessly overhead. As the SYBILLE passed the stern of La Forte the covers were stripped from the battle lanterns and a double-shotted broadside tore the length of the French ship with sickening results, eighty men falling to the deck. Taking up position alongside La Forte the SYBILLE soon mastered the enemy gunners and commenced to hammer the French ship to matchwood at twenty yards range. To the Scotch Brigade it was a wonderful opportunity to display the power of the Brown Bess as close range. Front and rear ranks took turns to fire and load, now aiming at the French gunners, now shooting down any one who showed himself on deck. About 2 o'clock in the morning of March 1st the action faltered, and it was apparent that the French were attempting to set sail and escape. To pick off the sailors from the rigging was child's play to trained soldiers, and when the masts of La Forte crashed to the deck it was all over.

At dawn Lieutenant Nauger (or Manger) RN took a party of the Scotch Brigade to take possession of La Forte. The effects of sustained musketry could be seen from the comparative losses on the two ships engaged, La Forte losing 65 killed and 85 wounded, while the SYBILLE's "butcher's bill" amounted to only 6 killed and 16 wounded. Among the dead on the SYBILLE were her Commander, Captain Cooke, a Captain Davis, an aide-de-camp of Lord Mornington, serving as a volunteer, and two men of the Scotch Brigade, Pts Peter Duckett and James Mollison,

In 1848 the Naval General Service Medal with the clasp SYBILLE was issued to survivors of the action and twelve men made good their claim, Lieutenant Manger, Midshipman Lysaght and ten seamen. Not a single claim was made by a man of the Scotch Brigade Marines, perhaps none surviving or perhaps more likely none being aware that they were entitled to a medal at all. To answer this question, it became necessary to trace the names of the men of the Scotch

Brigade who embarked on the SYBILLE. I enlisted the aid of A Y McPeake, a former officer of the Connaught Rangers, and the muster rolls of the Scotch Brigade for the relevant period were traced. Mollison and Duckett were shown as "Dead", no mention was made of any party detached to serve as Marines. Captain Morgan suggested a search for the Victualling List of HMS SYBILLE. A Y McPeake took up the trail again and after failing at the Public Record Office (records for this India Station not being held there) ran the quarry to earth at the India Office. Omitting the members of the crew of the SYBILLE the Victualling List gave 101 names.

Of the 94 men of the Scotch Brigade who served on the SYBILLE only one man can be represented by his medals today, Lieutenant Bogle. As a Captain in the 94th Foot he received the Gold Medal for Badajoz with a clasp for Nivelle. Later he was appointed a CB. As his name does not appear on the Military General Service Medal Roll he must have died prior to 1848. There are, however, two names on the Victualling List of HMS SYBILLE which may coincide with names on the MGS Roll. This contains a Sgt James Rickie (or Richie) and a Drummer James Miller, who may be the same men as the Sgt Richie and Pte James Miller of the Victualling List. Miller also received the Array of India Medal. To determine whether this is so would entail tracing the discharge papers of the men who served in Spain to discover the date of enlistment. Since the muster roll of the Scotch Brigade does not include NCOs (except those who had died since the previous muster was prepared), this cannot be used to shorten the task.

Although the tangible results of our search are but small the rescuing from oblivion of the names of the men of the Scotch Brigade who served so gallantly on INS SYBILLE can be regarded as reward enough for any student of military history. (Sic)

(Editor's Note: We are most grateful to the Editor of Seaby's Bulletin for permission to publish this article, which appeared in the December 1972 issue.) From O.D. Cresswell.

### Chapter 7

1800 - 1824

1800. The strength of the Marines was 24,231.

1800. Wednesday 5th February. Fairy and Harpy engaged Pallas.

1800. Thursday 6th February. Loire and consorts captured Pallas.

1800. Tuesday February 18th. Alexander and Success captured Genereux and transports.

1800. February. A large convoy under the Command of Contre-Admiral Jean-Baptiste Perrée sailed from Toulon in France to try and resupply its besieged garrison of Valletta on the Island of Malta. The blockade squadron under the Command of Rear Admiral Lord Nelson intercepted the convoy and in the brief battle Jean Baptise Perrée was killed and his flagship captured.

1800. Quote."Every revolving year seemed to add to the naval superiority of Great Britain. In each quarter the enemy's fleets were blockaded within their ports, the happy result of our reiterated victories. In the Mediterranean, Lord Keith, by his cruizers, was highly instrumental in producing the fall of Genoa, to the Austrian General Melas, by cutting off its supplies, and occasional bombardments. Early in 1800 a battalion of Marines was landed at Malta, which had withstood a tedious blockade, and still held out with uncommon perseverance. The occasion presented no opportunities of signalising themselves, but by the most exemplary good conduct, under the following Officers" Captain Weir. (Major Commandant.)

1800. Sunday 2nd March. Nereide captured Vengeance.

1800. Wednesday 5th March. Phoebe captured Heureux.

1800. Friday 21st March. Petrel captured Ligurienne.

1800. Sunday 30th March. Penelope and consorts captured Guillaume Tell.

1800. March. The French ship Guillaume Tell set sail from Valletta to Toulon France laden with soldiers to try and break the blockade of Malta. However, it was intercepted, and after a long battle it finally surrender to a larger British squadron Commanded by Rear Admiral Nelson. The defeat rendered the French position on Valletta untenable, and its surrender inevitable. Although the town of Vaubois held out for further five months. It eventually surrendered on Saturday 4th September, by which time the garrison mortality rate from malnourishment and typhus had reached 100 men a day. Malta was retained by Britain, and control of the island was a factor in the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars in 1803. After the surrender a battalion of Marines were garrisoned at Valetta.

1800. March. The British blockade of Genoa and Massena was besieged by the Austrians under the Command of General Melas attacked and by the third week in April had managed to advance towards the Var River. While Massena and half the army in Genoa were besieged by land, by the Austrians and under a very tight blockade by the Royal Navy. In response Berthier moved but not to the threatened frontier, but to Geneva and Massena and was instructed to hold Genoa until at least Wednesday 4th June.

1800. Sunday 6th April. Emerald captured a Spanish ship.

1800. Monday 7th April. Boats of Leviathan and Emerald captured Los Ingleses.

1800. Monday 7th April. Leviathan and Emerald captured Carmen and Florentine.

1800. Saturday 12th April. Boats of Calypso cut out Diligente.

1800. Monday 21st April. Lark engaged a French privateer.

1800. Friday 25th April. Lark and boats captured Imprenable.

1800. April - June. Blockade of Genoa'.

1800. April - June. Blockade and surrender of Savona.

1800. Wednesday 21st May. Boats of Minotaur, and consort cut out a galley.

1800. Wednesday 4th June. Thames and Cynthia attacked Quiberon.

1800. Friday 6th June. Impetueux and consorts at Morbihan.

1800. Wednesday 11th June. Boats of Renown and consorts cut out Nochette and others.

1800. Monday 23rd June. Storming of forts at Quimper.

1800. Tuesday 1st July. Boats of Renown and consorts at Noirmontier.

1800. Tuesday 8th July. Capture of Desiree, and consort at Dunkirk.

1800. Friday 25th July. Nemesis and Arrow captured Freya.

1800. Tuesday 29th July. Boats of Impetueux, and consort captured Cerbere.

1800. Monday 4th August. Belliqneux captured Concorde.

1800. Wednesday 20th - 21st August. Seine captured Vengeance.

1800. Sunday 24th August. Success captured Diane.

1800. Wednesday 25th August. The Battle of Ferrol. During the abortive attack on this place by an expedition under the command of Lieutenant General Sit James Pultney, Lieutenant Jasper Farmar and George Richards with their detachments landed and stormed a battery of six guns which commanded the landing area for the Army.

1800. Friday 29th August. Boats of squadron cut out Guepe.

1800. Tuesday 3rd September. Boats of Minotaur and Niger cut out Paz and Esmeralda.

1800. Wednesday 4th September. The French capitulation of Malta to the British fleet, which had been blockading the island for two years. The Marines occupied Valetta after its surrender.

1800. Thursday 5th September. Malta capitulated. of which the Marines took possession. The indefatigable exertions of Captain (now Sir A.) Ball, of the Royal Navy, did him much honor, and it was partly owing to the seasonable arrival of Major General Pigott with a reinforcement, as well as to the debarkation of the Marines, that this important key to Egypt was so soon added to our dominion. The steady vigilance of the Navy, during a blockade of two years, had a pre-eminent share in this final event. The fortress of Savona, reduced to famine, by the activity of Captain Downman and his little squadron.

1800. Monday 11th September. Curacoa capitulated.

1800. September. Active engaged at Amsterdam, Curacoa.

1800. Wednesday 8th October. Gipsy captured Quid pro Quo.

1800. Sunday 12th October. Mail Arrangements Chatham Division. It is possible that many of the Private Men's letters may not reach their friends owing to the incorrectness of the superscription, the Sergeants of the Companies to which such men belong are ordered to address the men's letters before they are brought to the Commanding Officer to sign, after which they are to be returned to the Adjutant's Office, and delivered to the men who have the Commanding Officer's leave to put them into the Post Office themselves upon paying one penny with each letter.

1800. Monday 27th October. Boats of Phaeton cut out San Josef.

1800. Friday 7th November. Netley captured San Miguel.

1800. Thursday 13th November. Milbrook captured Bellone which afterwards escaped.

1800. Monday 17th November. Boats of squadron destroyed Reolaise.

1800. Sunday 7th December. Nile and Lurcher captured a convoy.

1800. Wednesday 10th December. Admiral Pasley captured by Spanish gun-vessels.

1801. The Baker rifle was used during the Napoleonic Wars. It continued to be in service in the British Army until the 1840's.

1801. Thursday 1st January. After the Act of Union was passed with Ireland which incorporated Ireland into the United Kingdom, there was an influx of Irish volunteers into the Marines.

1801. Saturday 3rd January. Boats of Melpomene cut out Senegal.

1801. Tuesday 6th January. Boats of Mercury captured French convoy of fifteen sail.

1801. Friday 9th January. Constitution captured by two French cutters.

1801. Friday 9th January. Constitution re-captured by Harpy and Greyhound.

1801. Friday 16th - 17th January. Garland and consorts captured Eclair.

1801. Tuesday 20th January. Mercury captured Sans Pareil.

1801. Friday 23rd January. Active's company in a Spanish prize captured Sta. Maria.

1801. Tuesday 27th January. Ossian and Sirius captured Dedaigneux.

1801. Tuesday 27th January. Concorde engaged Bravoure.

1801. Thursday 29th January. Bordolais sunk Curieux.

1801. Friday 13th March. The Battle of Aboukir in Egypt. The British army of 7000 strong effected its disembarkation at Aboukir, defeating the French force opposing it. In this engagement Lieutenant E, Bailie of the Marines was attached to the 27th Foot. The Marines detachments of about 30 ships were formed into a battalion of just over 600 strong (all ranks) and landed on the Saturday 12th March. This battalion was attached to the 3rd Brigade under Lord Cavan, as were the 50th and the 79th Regiments. It was at once paraded under a blazing sun, and after 2 to 3 hours one half of the battalion set off to fill sand bags for the batteries, while the other heavily laden with muskets and knapsacks of the working party advanced for a considerable distance through sand in which the men often sank knee deep. Some hours later, at 7 in the evening, it was re-joined by the other half battalion and the whole were ordered to march and join the rest of the army, then about 15 miles distant. After the hard day's work, the battalion had put in under a boiling Eastern sun it reached its destination at one in the morning of the 13th, a fine marching record for men whose services had been on ships up to the day before.

At 5am the troops were under arms, and the British advanced in two lines with the object of turning the French Flank. To counter this the French descended from the hills on which they had been posted and attacked the leading Brigades. The engagement becoming general the Marines, owing to the narrowness of the peninsular upon which the fighting was taking place, were somewhat crowded in their ranks by the battalions on their right and left, and it was at this crisis, owing to their too great eagerness to get to close quarters with the enemy, that they suffered severe loss. Both officers and men greatly distinguished themselves and charged the French so repeatedly and with such determination and gallantry that they earned for themselves the cognomen of "The Bulldogs of the Army". The battalion was under the command of Colonel Walter Smith, and in Sir Ralph Abercrombie's Orders of the day following, he was asked to accept the thanks of the General for himself and his battalion "for their gallant conduct in the course of the services of yesterday. (sic)

1801. Wednesday 18th March. The Marines marched to Aboukir, and when Aboukir Castle surrendered after some day's bombardment, they were again thanked in orders for their assistance and detailed as its garrison. Two days later the Marines were relieved by the 92nd Regiment and joined Major General Erye Coote's Brigade before Alexandria. This city capitulated on the Saturday 3rd September, the Marines were re-embarked on the 5th, on which day their Brigadier Major General Finch issued the following farewell order: "Major General Finch, in taking leave of Lieutenant Colonel Smith and the Marines under his command, requests him to accept his warmest thanks for the order, regularity, zeal and attention that have uniformly marked their conduct during the period he had the honour of commanding the First Brigade, and he shall be happy on all occasions, to bear testimony to their merit in the correct performance of their duty, in every respect, which has come under his observation." (sic)

1801. Wednesday 18th February. Penguin engaged French vessels.

1801. Thursday 19th February. Capture of Africaine.

1801. Monday 2nd March. Capture of Bienvenue.

1801. Sunday 8th - 8th March. Disembarkation in Egypt. (Naval Brigade Ashore).

1801. Friday 13th March. French defeated near Alexandria. (Naval Brigade Ashore).

1801. Friday 20th March. St Bartholomew capitulated.

1801. Saturday 21st March. French defeated at Canopus. (Naval Brigade Ashore).

1801. Sunday 22nd March. Andromache and Cleopatra at Cuba.

1801. Tuesday 24th March. St. Martin, W. Indies, surrendered.

1801. Sunday 29th March. St. Thomas and St. John, W. Indies, capitulated.

1801. Monday 30th March. British Fleet forced the Sound.

1801. Tuesday 31st March. Santa Cruz, W. Indies, surrendered.

1801. Thursday 2nd April. The Battle of Copenhagen saw a British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker fight and strategically defeat a Danish-Norwegian fleet anchored just off Copenhagen, Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson led the main attack. He is supposed to have disobeyed Sir Hyde Parker's order to withdraw by holding the telescope to his blind eye to look at the signals from Parker. However, Parker's signals had given him permission to withdraw at his discretion, at which Nelson declined. His action to carry on resulted in the destruction of many of the Danish-Norwegian ships before a truce was finally agreed. Copenhagen is often considered to be Nelson's hardest fought Battle.

1801. Friday 3rd April. HMS Trent at Havre De Grace. The bravery of Lieutenant Tait of the Marines (This officer had been thought to have been the original of Sir Walter Scott's 'Captain Clutterbuck'.

1801. Monday 6th July. The Battle of Algeciras Bay refers to two separate battles during July 1801 between an allied French-Spanish fleet and the British near Gibraltar. The French drove off an attack by the larger British fleet and captured one of their ships of the line. The battle of Algezitas is remembered by the Heroism of Lieutenant J.D. Williams of the HMS Hannibal.

1801. Wednesday 8th July. The second Battle of Algeciras Bay in which the British pursued the Franco Spanish fleet, destroying two Spanish ships and capturing one French ship. The British squadron suffered various degrees of damage and lost 121 men killed and 240 wounded. While the French lost 306 killed, including Captains Laindet Lalonde and Moncousu, and 280 wounded.

The British fleet consisted of six ships of the line:

HMS Caesar 80 guns (flag of Rear-Adm. James Saumarez, with Captain Jahleel Brenton).

HMS Pompee 74 guns (Captain Charles Stirling).

HMS Spencer 74 guns (Captain Henry D'Esterre Darby).

HMS Venerable 74 guns (Captain Samuel Hood).

HMS Hannibal 74 guns (Captain Solomon Ferris).

HMS Audacious 74 guns (Captain Shuldham Peard).

The French squadron consisted of:

Formidable 80 guns (flag of Rear-Adm. Linois, with Captain Laindet Lalonde †).

Indomptable 80 guns (Captain Moncousu)

Desaix 74 guns (Captain Jean-Anne Christy de la Pallière).

Muiron 40 guns (Captain Martinencq)

The Spanish element of the Franco-Spanish squadron consisted of:

Real Carlos 112 guns (Captain Don J. Esquerra).

San Hermenegildo 112 guns (Captain Don J. Emparran).

San Fernando 94 guns (Captain Don J. Malina).

Argonauta guns 80 (Captain Don. J. Herrera).

San Agustín 74 guns (Captain Don. R. Topete).

San Sabina 44 guns (frigate carrying the flag of both Vice-Adm. Moreno and Rear Admiral Linois)

1801. Saturday 15th August – 16th August. The Attack on the Boulogne Flotilla.

1801. Thursday 16th April. St. Eustatius, W. Indies, seized.

1801. Tuesday 18th - 21st August. Marabou Island surrendered. (Naval Brigade Ashore)

1801. Wednesday 19th April. Sibylle captured Chiffonne.

1801. Wednesday 6th May. Speedy captured Gamo.

1801. Monday 25th May. Boats of Mercury re-took Bulldog.

1801. Tuesday 9th June. Kangaroo and Speedy destroyed gunboats and consorts.

1801. Wednesday June 24. Swiftsure captured by Dix Aout and consorts.

1801. Sunday 28th June. Boats of Mercury and Corso captured Tigre.

1801. Friday 3rd July. Speedy captured by French squadron.

1801. Monday 6th July. Action on Algeciras. Loss of Hannibal.

1801. Sunday 12th July. Saumarez's action off Gibraltar.

1801. Tuesday 21st July. Cutting out of Chevrette.

1801. Tuesday 21st July. Pasley engaged a 22 gun xebec.

1801. Friday 31st July. Sylph engaged a French frigate.

1801. Monday 3rd August. Pomone captured Carriere.

1801. Monday 10th August. Boats of Atalante captured Eveilie.

1801. Thursday 20th August. The Capture of the Spanish ship Neptune and others at Corunna. Lieutenant Mark Anthony Gerrard of the Marines of HMS Fishguard was a volunteer in this cutting out affair effected under guns of the Corunna batteries. He was presented with a sabre and belt by his ship mates "in memory of the action with 'L'Immortalite', on the 20th September, the boarding expeditions at the Saintes, Penmarcks, Quimper, Noirmoutier, St. Andero, and Corunna, in which he served as a volunteer and bore so distinguished a part." (sic)

1801. Friday 21st August. Cutting-out operations at Etaples,

1801. August. Nelson's operations at Boulogne.

1801. Wednesday 2nd September. Alexandria surrendered. (Naval Brigade Ashore).

1801. Wednesday 2nd - 6th September. Victor destroyed a French corvette.

1801. Wednesday 2nd September. Minerve and Pomone took Success and destroyed Bravoure.

1801. Tuesday 8th September. Sylph engaged Artemise.

1801. Sunday 13th September. Lark captured Esperanta.

1801. Sunday 13th September. Attack on Porto Ferrajo.

1801. Monday 14th September – 25th March 1802. The defence of Porto Ferrajo. Lieutenant Lawrence and the detachment of HMS Pearl served with the garrison. "This little force by its constancy and courage, ever set the best of examples, and its men were always foremost on service, and stood their posts and their guns when the Tuscan and other foreign troops gave away. They were most useful in preparing shells, mounting and transporting cannon and in repairing their carriages, as well as in construction works. Their knowledge of gunnery, and their ambition to gain honour for their Corps and themselves induced them to live in their batteries, and the little sleep they got was alongside their cannon." Colonel Airey who commanded the British garrison having applied to Admiral Sir J. Warren for his co-operation in an attack upon some French batteries which shut up the port, 449 Marines under Captain John Richardson and a division of 240 seamen were landed just after day break on 14th September. They were joined by a detachment of Swiss troops and a party of Tuscans, The Maltese Corps raised, and Commanded by Major Weir of the Marines was also engaged on this occasion. At the beginning of the attack on the batteries on the right of the Bay, Captain Long RN was killed while gallantly leading his men. "A suspension of arms was maintained while his body was borne with full military honours to the grave." After this remarkable pause in hostilities, Lieutenant Campbell of the Marines instantly charged, and drove the French into a narrow pass, where, his further advance was checked by the arrival of French reinforcements, and he had to fall back on the garrison. Meanwhile on the other side of the bay several of the batteries were destroyed by the British together with a large quantity of ammunition, after which the arrival of a very superior force of the enemy compelled a retreat to the boats. (sic)

1801. Wednesday 28th October. Pasley captured Rosario.

1801. 1st December. A mutiny broke out on board a squadron in Bantry Bay that continued until the 11th December. The Marines remained firm to their allegiance, and it is probable that their zealous and loyal conduct deterred the seamen from further resistance of the Commands to their officers. Six of the ring leaders were executed on the 5th January 1802, and five on the 19th of the same month.

1801 \- 1815. Royal Marines. After the Act of Union was passed in 1801, which incorporated Ireland into the United Kingdom, there was an influx of Irish volunteers. After 1805 nearly ten percent of each company were comprised of foreigners, mainly Maltese, German, Spanish and Portuguese. Each company on paper was to comprise 1 captain, 2 first lieutenants, 2 second lieutenants, 8 sergeants, 8 corporals, 6 drummers and 140 privates. Each Marine Division also had a grenadier and a light company, but they were abolished in 1804. With disease, shortages and battle-caused deaths, it was highly unlikely that the paper figures were ever met. The marine companies were dispersed throughout the fleet and where needed on land. The marines had their uniforms supplied by the Navy Board, but their dress was that of the infantry. They wore the red coat, with white collar and cuffs. Plumes were the standard colours, white-over-red for battalion companies, green for the light and white for the grenadiers. Officers wore scarlet coats, with white lace and white gloves. Gorgets, worn at the throat, were purely decorative horseshoe shaped pieces of metal that harked back to the days when officers had worn armour like medieval knights. Officer's carried straight bladed cutlasses with a thirty-two inch blade, a pistol and most commonly a dirk. The marine privates were armed with the Sea Service Brown Bess muskets and the sergeants carried halberds, and then later spontoons or half-pikes.

The marines were nicknamed by the sailors 'lobsters' because of the red woollen coat, and 'bootnecks', a semi-derogatory term derived from the dark leather 'stock' worn round the neck inside the collar which forced a soldier to keep his head up. "Take my sea boots off your neck", was a saying to imply the marines were wearing a piece of leather cut from the sailor's footwear.

In 1802, largely at the recommendation of Admiral John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent, the marines were re-titled 'Royal Marines' by King George III for services to their country: "In order to mark his approbation of the very meritorious conduct of the Marines during the late war, His Majesty has been graciously pleased to direct that in future the corps shall be called the Royal Marines." The white facings (collars and cuffs) were given a royal makeover, changing to 'Royal Blue'. The bicorn was replaced by the black 'round-hat' made of felt, but the red coat was retained.

1802. April. Mutiny of the West India Regiment at Dominica. At which the Marines played a large part in putting it down.

1802. Friday 9th April. The 8th West India Regiment made up of free black and runaway slave members mutinied, killing some officers and non-commissioned officers. The mutiny was suppressed after nearly 100 of the mutineers were killed. In the subsequent investigation, it was discovered that the black soldiers had been severely abused, and Colonel Johnstone their commander was blamed for the mutiny and suspended from duty.

1802. Thursday 29th April. The Marines were given the title of Royal Marines by King George III on the recommendation of the Admiral of the Fleet John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent Admiralty Office. "His Majesty has been graciously pleased to signify His Commands that, in consideration of the very rigorous services of the Marines during the late War, the Corps shall in future be styled The Royal' Marines by Command of their Lordships. (Signed) Evan Nepean." On acquiring the title of Royal, the facings of the Marines, which had been white, were changed to Blue as in other Royal Corps of Infantry. The Laurel was also authorised to be borne as a testimony of the gallantry of the Marines at the siege of Belle-Isle in the year 1761 and is encircled about the figure of the Globe on the Colours.

1802. When the Marines were made Royal, Lord Vincent is reported to have said: "In obtaining for them the distinction of 'Royal' I but inefficiently did my duty I never knew an appeal made to them for honour, courage or loyalty that they did not more than realise my biggest expectations. If ever the real danger should come to England they will be found the country's sheet Anchor."

1802. The establishment of the Corps strength was 12,119 men.

1802. The Marines became a Royal Corps and tradition has it that this honour was awarded for loyalty during the Nore Mutiny.

1802 \- 1870. The last force of Royal Marines to serve in Australia was stationed at Cape York.

1803 to 1815. The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars fought between Napoleon's French Empire and a series of opposing coalitions. That composed of the United Kingdom, Prussia, Austria, Sweden, Spain, Portugal and Russia against France. The wars where originally sparked by the French Revolution during 1789. Napoleon went on to fight 60 battles, losing only seven, mostly towards the end of his rein. The great French Dominion collapsed rapidly after the disastrous invasion of Russia during 1812. Eventually Napoleon was defeated by the Russians in 1814. He returned to France and was finally defeated in 1815 at the battle of Waterloo, and all of France's gains were stripped away by the victors. During the Napoleonic Wars the Royal Marines participated in all the naval battles on board Royal Navy's ships and several amphibious landings.

1803. Establishment of the Corps was increased to 22,467. Many officers were allowed the retirement, and through the advocacy of the Earl St Vincent, it was made an open list.

1803. Friday 18th March. Besides the many useful reforms adopted by Earl St. Vincent, for the internal œconomy of the British Navy, his Lordship also turned his attention to the Corps of Royal Marines. Upon the 18th of March, a new code of instructions was published for their regulation when on shore, which vests in the four Senior Captains of each division, the management and superintendance of many concerns that had formerly been placed under separate departments. It would exceed my bounds to attempt the discussion of arrangements which are obviously well designed to promote the interests of the public and the individual, as well as to establish a facility in subordinate transactions. Experience, doubtless, will attest their wisdom, and posterity recognize with gratitude their enlightened author.

1803. Wednesday 18th May. Doris captured Affronteur.

1803. Saturday 28th May. Minotaur captured Franchise.

1803. Tuesday 14th June. Immortalite and consorts cut out Inabordable and Commode.

1803. Centaur and consorts took Morne Fortunee.

1803. Saturday 25th June. Endymion captured Bacchante.

1803. Monday 27th June. Boats of Loire captured Venteux.

1803. Tuesday 28th June. Goliath captured Mignonne.

1803. Tuesday 28th June. Hereule engaged Poursuivante.

1803. Thursday 30th June. Vanguard and Cumberland captured Creole.

1803. Thursday 30th June. Capture of Tobago.

1803. Saturday 2nd July. Minerve captured off Cherbourg.

1803. Monday 4th July. Boats of Naiad cut out Providence.

1803. Monday 11th July. Racoon captured Lodi.

1803. Monday 25th July. Vanguard and Tartar captured Duquesne.

1803. Monday 1st August. Boats of Hydra captured Favori.

1803. Sunday 14th August. Racoon captured Petite Fille, Amelie, and Jeune Adele.

1803. Wednesday 17th August. Racoon destroyed Mutine.

1803. Thursday 25th August. Seagull and Colossus captured Lord Nelson (late British).

1803. Wednesday 31st August. Boadicca engaged Duguay-Trouin and Guerriere.

1803. Friday 9th September. Boats of Sheerness captured two chasse-marees.

1803. Tuesday 13th - 15th September. Cerberus and consorts at Granville.

1803. Wednesday 14th September. Dieppe bombarded by Immortalite and consorts.

1803. Tuesday 20th September. Princess Augusta repulsed Union and Wraak.

1803. Tuesday 27th September. Calais bombarded by Autumn and consorts.

1803. Thursday 29th September. Boats of Antelope in the Texel.

1803. Thursday 29th September. Leda drove ashore 23 gun-vessels.

1803. September. Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice surrendered.

1803. Monday 9th October. Boats of Atalante cut out two French vessels.

1803. Wednesday 26th October. Boats of Osprey captured Ressource.

1803. Thursday 27th October. Milbrook and boats destroyed Sept Freres.

1803. Monday 31st October. Admiral Mitchell drove ashore a French gun-brig.

1803. Friday 4th November. Launch of Blanche cut out a French schooner.

1803. Friday 4th November. Boats of Blanche cut out Albion.

1803. Saturday 5th November. Lieutenant Edward Nicolls RM led a 12 man cutting-out party in the cutter from HMS Blanche and captured the French cutter Albion from under the battery at Monte Christe in Santo Domingo. The Albion had a crew of 43 men and was armed with two 4-pounder guns and six swivels. In the fighting the French Captain wounded Nicolls with a pistol shot before being himself killed. The British lost two dead and two wounded, including Nicolls. He later became known as fighting Nicholls. During his remarkable career he saw action 106 times, was wounded six times, court martialled twice, and demoted. However, he was eventually promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.

1803. Sunday 6th November. Cutter of Blanche captured a French trooper.

1803. Monday 14th November. Boats of Blenheim and Drake captured Harmonie and stormed.

1803. Wednesday 16th November. Boats of Blenheim at Martinique. Lieutenant G. Beatty and 60 Marines storm Fort Dunkirk protecting the harbour of Marin, while the seamen cut out L'Harmonie a French privateer.

1803. Saturday 26th November. The storming of a battery at Petite Ance D'Arlette on Martinique. Captain Acheson Crozier. Lieutenant. W. Walker and Marines of HMS Centaur carried a 9 gun battery of 24 pounders. Lieutenant Walker received a sword of honour and £100 from the Patriotic fund.

1803. Wednesday 30th November. Capture of Cape Francois and Surveillante and Clorinde.

1803. Friday 16th December. Merlin destroyed the grounded British frigate Shannon.

1803. Royal Marine George Smith arrived in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) along with his wife Grace Morrisby onboard the Calcutta, as a guard looking after the convicts.

1803 \- 1815. During the Napoleonic Wars the Royal Marines participated in every notable naval battle on board the Royal Navy's ships and also took part in multiple amphibious actions. Marines had a dual function aboard ships of the Royal Navy in this period; routinely, they ensured the security of the ship's officers and supported their maintenance of discipline in the ship's crew, and in battle, they engaged the enemy's crews, whether firing from positions on their own ship, or fighting in boarding actions.

The number of marines on board Royal Naval ships depended on the size of the ship and was generally kept at a ratio of one marine per ship gun, plus officers. For example: a First Rate Ship of the Line contained 104 marines while a 28 gun Frigate had 29. Between 1807 and 1814, the total marine establishment number was 31,400 men. Manpower (recruitment and retention) problems saw regular infantry units from the British Army being used as shipboard replacements on numerous occasions. One result of the Royal Navy's dominance of the seas in Europe, and the blockading of the French Navy's ports, was that manpower constraints became less of an issue at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. From 1812, such maritime supremacy meant the Mediterranean and Channel Fleets were assigned additional marines for use 'in destroying signal communications and other petty harassing modes of warfare'.

In the Caribbean theatre volunteers from freed French slaves on Marie-Galante were used to form the 1st Corps of Colonial Marines. These men bolstered the ranks, helping the British to hold the island until reinforcements arrived. This practice was repeated during the War of 1812, where escaped American slaves were formed into the 2nd Corps of Colonial Marines. These men were commanded by Royal Marines officers and fought alongside their regular Royal Marines counterparts at the Battle of Bladensburg in August 1814. During the battle a detachment of Royal Marine Artillery commanded by Lieutenant John Lawrence deployed Congreve rockets resulting in the rout of the US militiamen. The Royal Marines battalion and the 21st Regiment of Foot also took part in the Burning of Washington later that day.

Also present on shore during the Chesapeake campaign was a composite battalion of Marines, formed from ships' Marine detachments, frequently led by Captain John Robyns. A smaller composite battalion of about 100 men (23 officers, two of whom (John Wilson 1787-1850 and John Alexander Phillips 1790-1865) were Trafalgar veterans, and 80 other ranks) also took part in the Battle of New Orleans, under the command of Brevet Major Thomas Adair, in January 1815. The only British success at New Orleans was an attack on the west bank of the Mississippi River by a 700-man force, consisting of the 100 Royal Marines, 100 sailors under Captain Rowland Money, and 3 companies of the 85th Foot.

Throughout the war Royal Marines units raided up and down the east coast of America including up the Penobscot River and in the Chesapeake Bay. They later helped capture Fort Bowyer in Mobile Bay in what was the last action of the war.

1804. Tuesday 3rd January - 25th March. The Attack on Curacao. Lieutenant Nicholls and 199 Marines belonging to HMS Hercule, HMS Blanche, HMS Pique and HMS Gipsy were present, when fort Piscadoro was stormed and French troops driven under the guns of Fort Republique by seamen and Marines of these ships. Lieutenant Nicolls and his Marines withstood 28 consecutive days of continuous enemy assaults on their positions.

1804. January - February. Operations at Curacoa.

1804. Sunday 27th May. The Cutting out of La Conception.

1804. Saturday 4th February Boats of Centaur cut out Citrieux.

1804. Sunday 5th February. Eclair engaged Grand Decide.

1804. Sunday 19th February. Boats of Drake cut out a schooner at Martinique.

1804. Monday 20th February. Active engaged 16 gunboats and took a transport.

1804. Friday 24th February. Party from Drake stormed Trinite Fort.

1804. Sunday 4th March. Boats of Blenheim cut out Curieux.

1804. Monday 5th March. Cutter of Eclair cut out Rose.

1804. Wednesday 7th March. Boats of Inconstant cut out a ship at Goree.

1804. Thursday 8th March. Goree taken.

1804. Tuesday 13th March. Emerald and consort's boats cut out Mozambique.

1804. Wednesday 14th March. Drake captured two prizes.

1804. Saturday 17th March. Penguin and boats destroyed Renommee.

1804. Friday 23rd March. Osprey engaged Egyptienne.

1804. Saturday 24th March. Wolverine captured by Blonde.

1804. Sunday 25th March. Hippomenes captured Egyptienne.

1804. Saturday 31st March. Scorpion and Beaver cut out Dutch vessels.

1804. Tuesday 3rd April. Swift captured Esperanee.

1804. Monday 9th April. Amazon captured a brig under fire at Sepet.

1804. Tuesday 10th April. Wilhelmina engaged Psyche.

1804. April - May. Operations and capture of Surinam.

1804. Tuesday 8th May. Vincejo captured by 17 French vessels.

1804. Tuesday 15th May. Cruiser and five consorts engaged 60 vessels off Blankenberg.

1804. Thursday 24th May. Reconnaissance of Toulon.

1804. Thursday 21st June. Unsuccessful engagement with Buonaparte.

1804. Wednesday 11th July. Boats of Narcissus, Seahorse and Maidstone at La Vandour.

1804. Thursday 12th July. Aigle destroyed Charente and Joie.

1804. Sunday 15th July. Lily captured by Dame Ambert.

1804. Tuesday 31st July. Tartar's boats captured Hirondelle.

1804. July - Aug. Dieppe bombarded.

1804. Sunday 12th August. Galatea's boats failed to cut out General Ernouf (late Lily).

1804. Friday 17th August. Loire captured Blonde.

1804. Saturday 18th August 1804. Lord Melville became The First Lord of the Admiralty.

1804. August. The King authorised the formation of the Royal Marine Artillery (RMA) for service on board the Bomb Ketches and other like vessels, and to man ordnance ashore in support of Naval operations. One company was raised for each division.

Although the Ketches had originally manned by the Army's Royal Regiment of Artillery. A lawsuit by a Royal Artillery officer resulted in a court decision that Army officers were not subject to Naval orders.

As their uniforms were the blue of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, this group was sometimes nicknamed the 'Un-boiled Lobsters' or the 'Blue Marines'. While the Infantry element, who wore the scarlet uniforms of the British infantry, became known as the 'Red Marines', often given the derogatory nickname 'Lobsters' by sailors. A fourth division, known as the Woolwich, was formed on Thursday 15th August 1805, which soldiered on until they were abolished in 1870.

While an Artillery company had been added to each division at the time of the fourth division formation, and in 1854 the seperate title of 'Royal Marine Light Artillery' was conferred and the old artillery companies, by that time increased in number, were constituted as a seperate corps under the name of the 'Royal Marine Artillery'. This Corps headquartered in Portsmouth with fourteen companies.

At that time the total force of the Marines was 29,000 men.

1804. With the formation of the Royal Marine Artillery, Gunners from this new unit were used on specialist ships such as Bomb Vessels and Mortar Boats.

They were volunteers and were less likely to 'jump ship' than the pressed seamen. They would be landed with them to deter them from deserting.

During battle they provided extra manpower to operate the guns, small arms and disciplined musketry defence at close quarters. They would also be used as part of prize crews (to man captured ships) and on occasions assist with boarding parties.

They participated in attacks on coastal installations and cutting out (capturing) enemy ships at anchor, as well as protecting watering and foraging parties.

They protected the ship's officers from the crew and were quartered between them.

They were deployed as sentinels guarding the powder rooms, magazines, the spirit room and other storerooms, and the entrances to the officers' quarters and ships' cells.

They assisted in the general sailing and maintenance of the ship when unskilled heavy labour was required, such as hauling ropes when the ship was manoeuvring, turning the capstan to weigh anchor, and embarking heavy stores.

They could not be ordered to go aloft, although if expedient, many did. They could not however, be punished for not showing inclination to do so.

The Marine detachment would form up on deck for all formal occasions and punishments.

In addition to their military duties, Marine officers would undertake watch duty.

As the Royal Navy developed into the steam and iron-clad era Royal Marine detachments focused more on manning the new types of naval guns, and gunnery in general. Training was undertaken at HMS Excellent at Portsmouth, whilst the Royal Marine Artillery eventually built sea service training batteries at their Headquarters at Eastney.

The Royal Marines Light Infantry were also trained in naval gunnery and often manned a ship's secondary armament. (RMHS)

1804. Saturday 25th August. Immortalite and Bruiser engaged off Boulogne.

1804. Sunday 26th August. Immortalite and consorts engaged, and Constitution sunk.

1804. 18th September. Centurion engaged Marengo, Atalante, and Semillante.

1804. Tuesday 18th September. the following letter was sent: "It having been judged, expedient to crop the hair of all soldiers liable for foreign-service, The Admiralty order the same to be adopted at the Marine Divisions. This was the end of powdered hair and queues, and no doubt the start of the well-known "short back and sides"!

1804. Wednesday 3rd October. Indefatigable and consorts took or destroyed Fama, Medea, Mercedes, and Clara.

1804. Friday 5th October. The capture of three Spanish Treasure ships of Cadiz. The Captain, officers and crew of the HMS Lively, one of the ships engaged in the capture, gave £50 to Thomas Tough, a Marine who lost his arm in the engagement in testimony of their admiration of his "brave and meritorious conduct in the action".

1804. Friday 5th October. The Battle of Cape Santa Maria, was a naval action that took place off the southern Portuguese coast, in which a British squadron under the command of Commodore Graham Moore attacked a Spanish squadron Commanded by Brigadier Don José de Bustamantey Guerra, in a time of peace, without a declaration of war between Britain and Spain.

1804. Monday 8th October. Albacore engaged off Gros Nez.

1804. Tuesday 23rd October. Cruiser lost in engagement off Ostend.

1804. Nearly ten percent of each company were comprised of foreigners, mainly Maltese, German, Spanish and Portuguese. Each company on paper was to comprise 1 Captain, 2 first Lieutenants, 2 second Lieutenants, 8 Sergeants, 8 Corporals, 6 Drummers and 140 Privates. Each Marine Division also had a grenadier and a light company, (but they were abolished in 1804). With disease, shortages and battle caused deaths, it was highly unlikely that the paper figures were ever met. The Marine companies were dispersed throughout the fleet and where also needed on land.

1804. General Sir Charles Menzies KCB. KH., Colonel of the RM Artillery Division, was previously the first Governor of the Australian Convict Settlement at Newcastle NSW.

1804. 'The Royal Marine Artillery in the Crimean War; The Royal Marine Artillery (RMA) was formed as a separate unit in August 1804 to man the artillery in bomb vessels and to man ordnance ashore in support of naval operations. This had been done by the Royal Artillery Regiment, but a lawsuit by a Royal Artillery officer resulted in a court decision that Army officers were not subject to Naval orders. As their uniforms were the blue of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, this group was nicknamed the "Blue Marines" and the Infantry element, who wore the scarlet uniforms of the British infantry, became known as the "Red Marines", often given the derogatory nickname "Lobsters" by sailors. A fourth division, the Woolwich, was formed on August 15th, 1805 which soldiered on until abolished in 1870. An artillery company had been added to each division at the time of the fourth division formation and in 1854 the seperate title of Royal Marine Light Artillery was conferred and the old artillery companies, by that time increased in number, were constituted as a seperate corps under the name of the Royal Marine Artillery. This corps headquartered in Portsmouth with fourteen companies.

The various siege operations during the latter Napoleonic period, Calais in 1810 and other operations along the various coastline points of Europe. established a tradition within the RMA that kept it a cohesive, functional command while other military organizations across the continent began to lose orientation due to internal hubrus and an aging command hierarchy. The value of the Mortar had made it an integral part of the inventory of the Royal Marine Artillery, bores of 5.5, 8, 10 and 13 inch being the accepted requirers of munitions during the Crimean War period. The 13 inch bore was introduced into RMA service after British forces tasted the receiving end of this large projectile during the Siege of Calais. Engineer James Atkinson Longridge designed the ordnance as used in RMA service during the period in question, one accomplishment among many that spanned the engineering of steam and civil construction works.

Tensions between the governments of Russia and the Ottoman regime of Turkey began to move towards a critical diplomatic mass in 1851, the conflict between the states being conflicts between the Latin and Orthodox factions of Christianity. Precedence in the Holy Lands and the demand that Russia be allowed to protect Orthodox pilgrims in the region with a military force, points unacceptable to the Suleman Turks, led to the breaking off of diplomatic relations on May 18th 1853. An underlying condition that led to the conflict was the fact that the Concert of Europe, the diplomatic accord passed in 1815 with the ending of the Napoleonic wars, was being undermined by Austrian interests in trying to force European conditions to something of a form prior to the French Revolution. These attempts by Austria increased nationalist sentiments in several European nations. When push came to shove Austria and Prussia declared their neutrality on 20th April 1854. Those powers of Central Europe declaring neutrality is, I believe, the major factor in the conflict developing into a naval war, the usual paths toward the invasion of Russia being closed to the Allies. The Russians had entered the Danubian Principalities at the end of July and the Sultan, Abdul Medjid, had been forced by Turkish public opinion to declare war on October 4th, 1853. This at a time that initial engagements between Russian and Turkish forces were occurring in Bulgaria and Romania. A battle occurred between Russian and Turkish naval forces at Sinop, a seaport of Northern Turkey, the first naval engagement of the conflict. A Russian victory ensued the 30th November 1853 four hour duration battle; Russia fielded Paixhans shell guns, the use of which destroyed eleven ships of Pasha Osman's navy with no Russian losses. The development of explosive shells for use by artillery firing at low levels of elevation was that of Henri-Joseph Paixhans, a French Artillerist born at Metz in 1783. The use of the shells in this battle spelled the end of the wooden navies of the world and the realization of the need for more robust construction techniques, French usage of exploding shells dating from 1827; British usage from 1829 after initial tests of his development of the explosive shell by Paixhan in 1824. The battle was used as justification for British and French declaration of war against Imperial Russia in support of the Ottoman Empire. France declared war on March 27, 1854, with Great Britian following suite the next day.

The British Mediterranean fleet, then under the command of Vice-Admiral James Whitney Deans Dundas, C.B., was ordered to assemble at Malta; soon afterwards directed to proceed to Besika Bay to join with a French Squadron under Vice-Admiral de Lassusse, who had left Toulon on March 23rd, 1853. Lassusse was replaced by Vice-Admiral Ferdinand Alphonse Hamelin due to slow movement in rendezvous. Hamelin having a British line in his family might have been a consideration of his appointment, also. Upon Turkish invitation the combined fleet began to move through the Dardenelles on October 22nd, 1853. On 16th March 1854 the British fleet, under Vice-Admiral Sir Charles John Napier, cast anchor in the Kiel Bight. After receiving fresh reinforcements, Napier approached Gangut with nineteen ships of the line and 26 steamers. The blockade of Russian ports and coasts began. The Russians chose not to attack the Anglo-French forces poised to strike in the Baltic in May, this decision based on lack of organization, the fact that many of the vessels were still in poor condition from being winter ice-bound and the Russian commander in the Baltic, General-Admiral Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich, had insufficient experience in command to decisively operate the Baltic fleet. Vice-Admiral Napier and French Vice-Admiral Parseval-Deshen rejected the idea of attacking the Russian fortresses in the Baltic, their decision based on a lack of troops available for movement ashore.

Unsatisfactory results during the Crimean War operations of 1854 were mainly due to French and British maritime naval forces being ill-equipped for the job before them, the reduction of Russian strongpoints along the Baltic coast, in order to move towards St. Petersburg. The requisite vessels for effective operations in the shallow waters of the Baltic and the shallow outlying parts of the Black Sea, shallow draught steam-powered gunboats and mortar vessels, did not exist in the numbers needed. After the initial attempt at reducing the fortress at Sweaborg by Admiral Dundas the London Times reported that, "Sweaborg is no more." Two days afterward it was proved that the fortress was untouched. Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier fired up his pen and responded to the Times stating, "We are defeated by our own triumphs, and all for want of mortars." The Royal Navy in the Baltic at that time did not have a single large mortar in the fleet worthy of use, the few available rusted and subject to bursting upon firing. Napier's caustic use of the press caused him to be superseded by the Admiralty under pressure from First Minister of the Crown Lord Palmerston. Mention is made in some detail in another post on this topic of the effort made by British yards to supply the needs required in a timely manner. Russia utilized the time granted them by British inability to mount decisive attacks by building sixteen screw-propelled gunboats. The French constructed five Mortar Vessels for use in Crimean operations using the designs of naval constructor Pastoureau, the Bombe class, and all vessels constructed at Lorient in 1855. Each vessel had armament comprised of two 32 cm mortars. All five of these seventy-nine foot length vessels were stricken from the active list before 1860, four became water barges. The dearth of Allied equipment usable in the required Crimean operations, plainly made evident by the first Baltic operations, put the spur to Allied building effort. The two former adversaries conversed freely regarding operations and requirements. Sir Baldwin Wake-Walker, Chief Surveyor of the Royal Navy upon appointment in 1848, visited France in the spring of 1854 to exchange ideas concerning gunboats and the British Chief Constructor, Isaac Watts, went over in the autumn to inspect construction. French naval constructors Molle, Mangin, Garnier, Guieysse, Sabatier and Pastoureau, as well as the French Captain of Naval Artillery Sapia, made tours of inspection in England in 1854 and 1855. The entire Russian Navy in 1853, divided among five fleets, consisted of ninety-five warships. The number of personnel in service of the Imperial Russian Navy consisted of 91,000.

The concept of the Bomb Vessel, fleet support vessels intended to work against shore installations, had been a part of the Royal Navy since the 1680's. Brigadier General Sir Samuel Bentham is known to have used a 13 inch bore mortar in 1788 as a low-angle fire weapon, "either point blank or with very little elevation, never, I believe, exceeding ten degrees." This acceptance of a French tactical development was reinstated in naval planning for use in the Crimean War, with contracts being let to three yards for construction after vessels for conversion proved unobtainable. Two types were eventually developed, the mortar vessels, divided into 60-, 65-, 70- and 75-foot types, and the mortar floats. The mortar vessels carried a basic rig on a signal mast and were armed with a single 13in mortar. The mortar floats had no sails and had to be towed into position, many of the fifty floats constructed becoming dockyard craft after loss of requirement for their primary mission. The nature of the Mortar ordnance caused them to be placed under Royal Marine Artillery responsibility, though at naval command discretion. Four obsolete Frigates that had been converted to steam propulsion were planned as bomb vessels, only one, the Horatio, being completed in 1855 before the success of the Allied operations negated the completion of the remainder. (Sic) (Courtesy of Tom C./Wikepedia.com)

1805. The daily ration for the Navy and Marines had been reduced to 1 lb. bread: 1 oz. cheese: 2¼ oz. pork oz. sugar: oz. butter: 4¼ oz. beef: 3 oz. flour: 4 oz. suet and one gallon of beer.

1805. Monday 28th January. Gipsy destroyed privateer schooner.

1805. Sunday 3rd February. Arrow and Acheron taken by Hortense and Incorruptible.

1805. Friday 8th February. Curieux captured Dame Ernouf.

1805. Thursday 14th February. San. Fiorenzo captured Psyche.

1805. Sunday 17th February. Cleopatra captured by Ville de Milan.

1805. Saturday 23rd February. Leander re-captured Cleopatra and took Ville de Milan.

1805. Wednesday 20th March. Renard blew up General Ernouf.

1805. Saturday 23rd March. Boats of Stork captured Antelope and a brig.

1805. Friday 5th April. Boats of Bacchante at Mariel, Havana.

1805. Tuesday 9th April. Gracieux destroyed a Spanish armed schooner.

1805. Monday 15th April. Boats of Papillon captured Conception.

1805. Tuesday 23rd April. Gallant and consorts captured eight gun-vessels.

1805. Thursday 25th April. Archer captured two gun-vessels.

1805. Saturday 4th May. Seahorse and boats at San Pedro.

1805. Monday 6th May. French privateer Tape a bord captured.

1805. Monday 27th May. Spanish armed schooner Concepcion captured.

1805. Friday 31st May - 2nd June. Diamond Rock bombarded and capitulated.

1805. Sunday 2nd June. Boats of Loire at Camarinas Bay.

1805. Tuesday 4th June. Boats of Loire at Muros Bay.

1805. Monday 10th June. Chiffonne and consorts engaged French gunboats.

1805. Thursday 13th June. Boats of Cambrian captured Maria.

1805. June. Boats of Seine captured Felucca Concepcion.

1805. Wednesday 3rd July. Cambrian captured Matilda.

1805. Sunday 7th - 21st July. Cambian's party in Matilda in St. Mary's River.

1805. Monday 15th July. Plumper and Teazer captured by French gun vessels.

1805. Wednesday 17th - 18th July. Ariadne and consorts engaged off Boulogne.

1805. Friday 19th July. Blanche taken and destroyed by Topaze and three corvettes.

1805. Monday 22nd July. Sir Robert Calders action off Finisterre. Known as the Battle of Cape Finisterre off Galicia, Spain, the British fleet under Admiral Robert Calder fought an indecisive naval battle against the combined Franco Spanish fleet which was returning from the West Indies. Failing to prevent the joining of Villeneuve's fleet to the squadron of Ferrol and to strike the shattering blow that would have freed Great Britain from the danger of an invasion. The British received 198 dead or wounded, while the French and Spanish suffered 647 dead and wounded, 1200 were taken prisoners and two Spanish ships were captured. Although it was a strategic victory for the British, Calder was later court martialled and severely reprimanded for his avoiding of the French / Spanish fleet and a further possible engagement on the 23rd and 24th July.

1805. Tuesday 23rd July. Champion and consorts engaged off Fecamp.

1805. Friday 2nd August. Phaeton and Harrier engaged Semillante and consorts.

1805. Tuesday 6th August. Blenheim engaged Marengo and Belie Poule.

1805. Saturday10th August. The British HMS Phoenix and the French ship Didon fought bitterly off the Cape Ortegal during which the far more powerful Frenchmen rammed the British ship's starboard quarter. The day was saved by Marine marksmen who prevented the French from boarding thus allowing the sailor's time to manoeuvre a gun to sweep the Didons decks.

1805. Tuesday 13th August. Swift and boats at Truxillo.

1805. Thursday 15th August. Lord Barham presided at the Board of Admiralty an order in Council ordered a new division to be established a fourth division RMA company was added when a Woolwich Division was formed. They first saw service with the Boulogne Squadron and then at the second battle of Copenhagen that took place from the Friday 16th August to Saturday 5th September 1807. That saw a British bombardment of Copenhagen in order to seize the Dan-Norwegian fleet. During the same time of the fourth division's formation, an additional Artillery company was also added to each of the divisions. The strength of the Corps was now listed as 30,000 men, including four companies of artillery.

1805. Friday 16th August. Raisonnable engaged Topaze.

1805. Wednesday 21st August. Reconnaissance in Camaret Bay.

1805. Thursday 22nd August. Distant Engagement in Camaret Bay.

1805. Thursday 26th September. Calcutta captured by Magnanime and Armide.

1805. Wednesday 9th October. Princess Charlotte captured Cyane.

1805. Wednesday 16th October. Jason captured Naiade.

1805. Monday 21st October. The Battle of Trafalgar was a naval engagement fought by the Royal Navy against the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navys, during the War of the Third Coalition from August to December 1805 as part of the Napoleonic Wars of 1803 to 1805. Sadly, it was the battle that led to the death of Vice Admiral Lord Nelson, one of great Britain's navel and country heroes. As Lord Nelson lay wounded on board his Flag ship HMS Victory, having been shot by a French sniper high in the rigging of the French ship Redoubtable. Thomas Hardy ordered Royal Marine Sergeant Secker and some sailors to carry Nelson gently down to the orlop deck situated below the water line. Midshipman John Pollard age 18 on board HMS Victory is credited with being the man who killed the French sniper. It's estimated that 3,600 Marines took part in the battle (nearly a third of the Corps). Some were involved in Cutting Out Operations during the battle.

1805. October. Major Louis Rotely Recalls Trafalgar. Major Louis Rotley, RM, who made this speech at Swansea was a marine subaltern in the "VICTORY" at Trafalgar. He retired in 1814 and died at Swansea in 1861. He saved four persons from drowning in the course of his life. A scholarship was founded at the Royal Naval School, Eltham, in his memory. Many years after his retirement his fellow citizens of Swansea presented him with a ring on the anniversary of Trafalgar, a gift he acknowledged in the following words.

"Mr Chair and Gentlemen-Friends and fellow townsmen, labouring under extreme illness I rise to return thanks for the honour conferred in drinking my health and for presenting me with this ring. During my career I have received many tokens of regard, among which is a splendid sword with a Damascus blade, a gold snuff-box, several medals, a present from a President of the United States of America, and from several Indian Chiefs, also a valuable consideration from the Patriotic Fund for wounds, etc, but none do I prize more than this elegant ring, which must now become an heirloom.

Having seen but half the world, I have a longing desire to see the other. The first port that will bring me up will be Aboukir Bay at the mouth of the Nile, where the immortal hero whose death this ring is intended to commemorate, as an Admiral gained his first grand victory. At Copenhagen he had to contend against the genius of Napoleon, who had united in one grand league the Fleets of Denmark, Sweden and Russia, with the hope of crushing the naval supremacy of Great Britain. Nelson was sent against them, and the Northern Confederation vanished in smoke.

His last and most decisive victory was at Trafalgar, in which I had the honour to take a part. Trafalgar was my first essay, and never shall I forget my father's advice on my being appointed to the VICTORY; he was an old seaman and had fought against the celebrated Paul Jones in the first American War. "Louis, " said he, "you will soon be in battle-I foresee a tremendous contest, but whatever you do, be sure to keep your head erect in battle, never bow to a French man's shot, it is folly, for when you hear the balls whistle you are safe, the ball has passed harmless before you can hear it," and amid the carnage and the thousands of cannon balls that whistled past my head on that memorable day, well did I recollect my father's advice. I bore a charmed life then, as I have upon many occasions since.

Previous to breaking the enemy's line their fire was terrific. The VICTORY', was steering for the four-decker, when four ships ahead and four astern together with that huge leviathan brought their broadsides to bear upon the bows of the VICTORY. It was like a hailstorm of bullets passing over our heads on the poop, where we had forty Marines stationed with small arms. It has been stated that Lord Nelson ordered them to lie down at their quarters until wanted, but no such order was given, and no man went down until knocked down; had such orders been given many a life would have been saved, as not a man was hit below the waist. Their steadiness indeed was observed by Nelson, whose eye was everywhere, and who declared he had seen nothing which surpassed it in any of his previous battles. He also made this remark during the battle, "The young Marine is doing well." which I have taken for my motto.

This I learnt from Sir Thomas Hardy, when returning me his thanks on the quarterdeck for my conduct in the battle. The poop became a slaughterhouse, and soon after the commencement the two senior Lieutenants of Marines,' and half the original forty, were placed 'hors de combat.' Captain Adair then ordered me to bring him up a reinforcement of Marines from the great guns. I need not inform a seaman the difficulty of separating a man from his gun. In the excitement of action, the Marines had thrown off their red jackets and appeared in their check shirts and blue trousers. There was no distinguishing Marine from seaman-all were working like horses. I was now upon the middle deck; we were engaging on both sides every gun was going off. A man should witness a battle in a three-decker from the middle deck, for it beggars all description. It bewilders the senses of sight and hearing. There was the fire from above, the fire from below, besides the fire from the deck I was upon, the guns recoiling with violence reports louder than thunder, the decks heaving and the sides straining. I fancied myself in the infernal regions, where every man appeared a devil. Lips might move, but orders and hearing were out of the question; everything was done by signs. With the assistance of two Sergeants and two Corporals (and in some cases by main force) I succeeded in separating about 25 men from the great guns and with this force I ascended to a purer air. The battle now raged at its greatest height, the REDOUTABLE had fallen on board us on our starboard side, and the soldiers from their tops were picking off our officers and men with deadly aim. We were also engaged with the SANTISIMA TRINIDAD and the BUCENTAURE (though at a greater distance) on our larboard. The reinforcement arrived at a most critical moment. Captain Adair's party was reduced to less than ten men, himself wounded in the forehead by splinters, yet still using his musket with effect. One of his last orders to me was "Rotely, fire away as fast as you can," when a ball struck him on the back of the neck, and he was a corpse in a moment-and at the same time our revered Chief fell, having received his mortal wound from a soldier in the mizzen top of the REDOUTABLE. The Marines became exasperated. I was now in command, and the first order I gave was to clear the mizzen top, when every musket was levelled at that top, and in five minutes not a man was left alive in it. Some Frenchman has vaunted that he shot Nelson and survived the battle, and I have heard that a book has been published so stating, but it must be a romance, as I know the man was shot in five minutes after Nelson fell. About this time, I observed a British flag on the opposite side of the REDOUTABLE, which proved to belong to the TEMERAIRE, and shortly after another French ship, the FOUGEUX, fell on board the TEMERAIRE on her starboard side, so that four ships of the line were rubbing sides in the heat of the fight, with their heads all lying the same way as if moored in harbour. It consequently became a great nicety in directing the fire of the musketry, lest we should shoot our own men over the decks of the REDOUTABLE. I therefore directed the fire of the Marines to the main and fore tops of that devoted ship, and but few of their men escaped. We gained the battle with Nelson's blood.

Gentlemen, this ring is now rendered sacred by the relic it contains, a part of the hero's hair cut off his head by my own hand. On the morning after his death, I. went below to view the body, and to procure a lock of his hair as a memento, but Captain Hardy had been before me and had cut off the whole with the exception of a small lock at the back of the neck, which I secured. The hair, with tie coat and waistcoat Nelson fell in, was preserved and sent to Lady Hamilton; the breeches and stockings came into my possession and have preserved them as valuable relics for upwards of forty years.

To preserve the body, a large cask was procured and lashed on its end on the middle deck. The body was brought up by two men from the cockpit. I received it and placed head foremost in the cask. The head of the cask was then replaced and filled with brandy, and a Marine sentinel placed over it by night or day, so that it was impossible for anyone to approach it unseen." (Sic) (Reprinted from the October 1944 edition of 'THE NAVY' magazine.)

1805. Mondat 21st October. Battle of Trafalgar. The British Fleet details and losses:

HMS Victory 100 guns, Vice Admiral Lord Nelson (killed), Captain T.M. Hardy, 57 killed,

102 wounded. Captain Charles Wm. Adair (killed), First-Lieutenant James G. Peake (wounded), Second Lieutenant Lewis Buckle Reeves (wounded), Second Lieutenant Lewis Rotely.

HMS Temeraire 98 guns, Captain E. Harvey, 47 killed, and 76 wounded. Captain Simon Busigny (mortally wounded), Second Lieutenant William N. Roe, Second Lieutenant Samuel J. Payne (wounded), Second Lieutenant John Kingston (killed).

HMS Neptune 98 guns, Captain T. F. Freemantle, 10 killed, 34 wounded. First Lieutenant George Kendall, Second Lieutenant William Burton, Second-Lieutenant Lewis Rooke.

HMS Leviathan 74 guns, Captain H. W. Bayntum, 4 killed, 22 wounded. Captain George P.

Wingrove, First Lieutenant Nathaniel Cole, First Lieutenant Thomas J. W. Tane.

HMS Britannia 100 guns, Rear Admiral Earl of Northesk, Captain C. Bullen, 10 killed, 42 wounded. Captain Alexander Watson, First Lieutenant William Jackson, Second Lieutenant L.B.J. Halloran, Second Lieutenant John Cooke.

HMS Conqueror 74 guns, Captain J. Pellew, 3 killed, 9 wounded. Captain James Atcherly, Second Lieutenants Patrick Toole, and Thomas Wearing (wounded).

HMS Africa 64 guns, Captain Henry Digby, 18 killed, 44 wounded. Captain James Fynmore

(wounded), First Lieutenant Thomas Brattle.

HMS Agamemnon 64 guns, Captain Sir E. Berry, 2 killed, 7 wounded. Captain H. B.

Downing, Second Lieutenant Herbert Raban, Second Lieutenant Donald Campbell.

HMS Ajax 74 guns, Lieutenant J. Pilfold, 2 killed, 9 wounded. Captain David Boyd, Second Lieutenant J. Cinnamond, Second Lieutenant Samuel B. Ellis.

HMS Orion 74 guns, Captain E. Codrington, 1 killed, 23 wounded. Captain Henry VV. Creswell, Second Lieutenant Stephen Bridgman.

HMS Minotaur 74 guns, Captain C.M. Mansfield, 3 killed, 22 wounded. Captain Paul Hunt, Second Lieutenant Nathaniel B. Grigg, Second Lieutenant Thomas Reeves.

HMS Spartiate 74 guns, Captain Sir F. Lafoi'ey, 3 killed, 20 wounded. First Lieutenant Samuel Hawkins, First Lieutenant John R. Coryton, Second Lieutenant G.D. Hawkins.

The Lee Colum:

HMS Royal Sovereign 100 guns, Vice Admiral C. Collingwood, Captain E. Rotheram, 47 killed, 94 wounded. Captain Joseph Vallack, Second-Lieutenant Robert Green (killed),

Second Lieutenant Armiger Wm. Hubbard, Second Lieutenant James Le Vescomte (wounded).

HMS Belleisle 74 guns, Captain W. Hargood (wounded), 34 killed, 96 wounded. First Lieutenant John Owen (wounded), Second Lieutenant John Weaver, Second Lieutenant Paul Harris Nicolas.

HMS Mars 74 guns, Captain G. Duff (killed), 29 killed, 69 wounded. Captain Thos. Norman, Second Lieutenant Charles Holmes, Second Lieutenant Robert Guthrie.

HMS Tonnant 80 guns, Captain C. Tyler (wounded), 26 killed, 50 wounded. Captain Arthur Ball, Second Lieutenant James Cottle, First Lieutenant William Magin.

HMS Bellerophon 74 guns, Captain J. Cooke (killed), 27 killed, 123 wounded. Captain James Wemyss (wounded), Second Lieutenants John Wilson (2nd), Peter Connolly, and Luke Higgins.

HMS Colossus 74 guns, Captain J. Morris (wounded), 40 killed, 160 wounded. Captain Elias Lawrence, Second Lieutenant William Laurie, Second-Lieutenant John Benson (wounded).

HMS Achille 74 guns, Captain R. King, 13 killed, 59 wounded. Captain Palms Westropp (wounded), Second Lieutenants William Liddon (wounded), and Francis Whalley.

HMS Dreadnought 98 guns, Captain J. Conn, 7 killed, 26 wounded. Captain Thomas Timmins, First Lieutenants John M'Cullum and Thomas Lemon, Second Lieutenant David Manley.

HMS Polyphemus 64 guns, Captain Robert Redmill, 2 killed, 4 wounded. Captain Michael Percival, First Lieutenant John Mackintosh, Second Lieutenant Charles Stewart.

HMS Revenge 74 guns, Captain R. Moorsom (wounded), 28 killed, 51 wounded. Captain Peter Lely (wounded), Second Lieutenant Arthur Copperthwaite, Second Lieutenant Henry Blackler Fairtlough.

HMS Swiftsure 74 guns, Captain H.G. Rutherford, 9 killed, 8 wounded. First Lieutenant William Gibbins, First Lieutenant Robert Gordon, Second Lieutenant Henry Miller.

HMS Defiance 74 guns, Captain P.C. Durham (wounded), 17 killed, 53 wounded. Captain Basil Alves, Second Lieutenant George Bristow.

HMS Thunderer 74 guns, Lieutenant J. Stockham, 4 killed, 12 wounded. Captain Gilbert Elliott, Second Lieutenant William Hockley, Second Lieutenant John Lister.

HMS Defence 74 guns, Captain G. Hope, 7 killed, 29 wounded. Captain Henry Cox, First Lieutenant John Wilson (1st), Second Lieutenant Alfred Burton.

HMS Prince 98 guns, Captain R. Grindall. Captain Francis Williams, Second Lieutenant Edward Pengelley, Second Lieutenant John Shillibeer.

Total, 450 killed, 1244 wounded.

Officers of Marines on board the Frigates: HMS Phoebe First Lieutenant Mortimer, HMS Timson? HMS Euryalus Lieutenant John Sandford, HMS Naiad Lieutenants Edward Jones and P.

The Combined Fleet:

S. Perkins; HMS Sirius, Lieutenants Thomas Moore and William Murray.

The direction in which the combined fleet now lay, with a home port scarcely seven leagues on their lee-bow, induced Lord Nelson to telegraph to his second in command, "I intend to pass through the van of the enemy's line, to prevent him from getting into Cadiz," and as the shoals of San Pedro and Trafalgar were under the lee of both fleets, his Lordship, in order to guard against that danger, made the signal "Prepare to anchor after close of day." Shortly afterwards that emphatic message of "England expects every man to do his duty" was communicated to the fleet by telegraph. The inspiring sentiment excited the most-lively enthusiasm and was greeted by hearty cheers on board of every ship.

Having already described the formation of the combined line of battle, it is only necessary to observe, that the Commander-in-Chief in the Bucentaure, with the Santissima Trinidada, his second, ahead, were directly in front of the Victory, the Santa Ana, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral D'Alava, was in the same direction from the HMS Royal Sovereign whilst the Spanish Commander in Chief, Admiral Gravina, in the Principe d'Asturias, was the rearmost ship of the combined fleet, which formed nearly as follows, Neptuno 80 guns, Scipion 74, Intrepide 74, Rayo 100, Formidable 80, Dugnay Trouin 74, Mont Blanc 74, San Francisco d'Asis 74, San Augustin 74, Heros 74, Santissima Trinidada 130, Bucentaure 74, Neptune 80, San Leandro 64, Redoutable 74, San Justo 80, Indomptable 80, Santa Ana 112, Fougueux 74, Mo-narca 74, Pluton 74, Algesiras 74, Bahama 74, Aigle 74, Swift-sure 74, Argonaute 74, Montanez 74, Argonauta 80, Berwick 74, San Juan Nepornuceno 74, San Ildefonso 74, Achille 74, Principe d'Asturias 112.

1805. Monday 21st October. The Battle of Trafalgar, fact file you might not of heard about:

Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson was not the only Nelson who fought at Trafalgar - there were nine Nelsons at the battle.

One of his namesakes, John Nelson, deserted the Royal Navy in February the following year aged 29 having collected his prize money of £1 17s 8d. He was born in Portsmouth and served on board HMS Tonnant at Trafalgar.

Other facts revealed include:

There were more than 18,000 men who served in the British fleet at Trafalgar including nearly 3,000 marines

Two of the Nelsons that served in the battle were from Denmark.

Only one in six sailors were press-ganged into joining Nelson's navy dispelling the myth that the majority had been forced into service.

The British fleet was a multi-national force with nearly 10 per cent of its fleet, 1,400 men, came from 25 countries outside the British Isles.

A total of 58 Frenchmen were among 750 sailors from across Europe which fought on the British side. Another 430 came from the US and Canada and 156 from the Caribbean Islands.

Of the British contingent, 25 per cent came from Ireland (nearly 4,000), 9 per cent from Scotland (1,300), and 3 per cent from Wales (some 500).

Of the remainder, three-quarters came from the coastal counties, the largest number from Devon, followed by Lancashire, Kent, Hampshire and Cornwall.

The largest single nationality was, of course, the English, with 7,000 men serving and one in 10 of these from London.

For the marines, three quarters were English.

More than half of the sailors were aged in their 20s with 274 boys aged between 10 and 14

Less than one in 10 were over 40. Nelson was 47.

The oldest at Trafalgar was Walter Burke, the purser (supply officer) of Victory who was 69. He survived the battle and lived 10 years more before dying at the aged of 79 in 1815.

The majority of the men involved were between 5ft 2in and 5ft 8in tall with Nelson himself standing 5ft 7in tall.

A total of 624 British sailors and marines were killed at Trafalgar and another 1,402 wounded.

Losses on the French and Spanish side were much greater - estimated to be 7,300. (This information was provided by Pamela and Derek Ayshford who have collected many interesting and unusual facts by trawling through records from the 1805 battle.)

(With this information they have created a CD-Rom called The Ayshford Trafalgar Roll which lists details of all 21,000 men who were at Trafalgar and can be used by people researching their family trees.)

1805. Monday 4th November. Sir Richard John Strachan's (Colonel of Marines) Victory in the Bay of Biscay. Sir Richard was in command of a detached squadron including three ships of the line and four frigates in the Bay of Biscay. Whilst sailing off Cape Finisterreon on the 2nd November the squadron encountered four French ships of the line that had escaped from the Battle of Trafalgar under the command of Rear Admiral Dumanoir le Pelley. Sir Richard pursued them vigorously and forcrd them into battle on 4th November. After a short engagement, known as the Battle of Cape Ortegal in which he defeated and captured all of them, and in doing so completing the destruction of the French fleet.

1805. Friday 29th November. Boats of Serpent captured San Christoval Pano.

1805. Tuesday 24th December. Egyptienne and Loire captured Libre.

1805. By the end of the year the Corps numbered thirty thousand, the largest it ever saw during the Peninsular War.

1805. A fourth division was formed at Woolwich, and the Marine establishment set at 30,000 with four artillery companies

1805. Terms of Service. The recruitment of Marines resembled that of the army, as they were essentially landmen they could not be "impressed" like seamen. Posters were printed and stuck up in market places, and recruiting sergeants roamed the area trying to recruit young men with tales of action and adventure. persuasion was not enough and in wartime a substantial bounty was offered which by 1801 had reached £26 per man. Despite this the rapid expansion of the navy caused a crisis as recruitment of marines did not match impressment of sailors. Some soldiers from the army were consequently used at sea and to overcome line of command problems many were offered bounties to transfer to the Marines full time. The marines continued to expand throughout the Napoleonic Wars so that by 1805 some 30,000 marines had been voted by parliament. Marines like soldiers were traditionally recruited for life however during the 1790's there was some attempt made to recruit for the "duration" instead.

Marine shore organisation centered on three divisions, with barracks near the dockyards at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. Training on shore was almost entirely in the skills of an infantryman. The first many marines knew of a ship was on their first posting aboard.

The pay of a marine private was £1 8s 0d per month as per the army. However, on board ship this was reduced to 19s 3d per month as victualling and accommodation were provided free.

1806. Thursday 2nd January. Wolf and consort captured two privateers.

1806. Sunday 5th - 12th January. Operations and Capture of the Cape of Good Hope.

1806. Monday 6th January. Favourite captured by French squadron.

1806. Wednesday 8th January. The Battle of Blaauwberg, and the recapture of Cape Town, was a small but significant military engagement. It established British rule in South Africa, which was to have many ramifications for the region during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Captain McKenzie and 400 Marines played a major role during the battle.

1806. Tuesday 28th January. Growler captured Voltigeur.

1806. Tuesday 28th January. Attack captured Sorcier.

1806. January. Bruizer captured Impromptu.

1806. January. Boats of Franchise cut out Raposa.

1806. Thursday 6th February. Sir Robert Duckworth's action off St. Domingo, against seven ships of the French line. He captured three and burned two, a major part of the French fleet. Only two Frigates, and a Corvet managed to escape.

1806. Thursday 27th February. Hydra captured Furet.

1806. Saturday 8th March. Boats of Egyptienne cut out Alcide.

1806. Thursday 13th March. London and Amazon captured Marengo and Belle Poule.

1806. Monday 17th March. Boats of Pique captured Santa Clara.

1806. Friday 21st March. Boats of Colpoys at Avillas.

1806. Monday 24th March. Reindeer engaged Voltigeur and Phaeton.

1806. Wednesday 26th March. Pique captured Voltigeur and Phaeton.

1806. Friday 28th March. Niobe captured Nearque.

1806. Friday 4th April. Renommee captured Vigilante and consort.

1806. Saturday 5th April. Pallas drove ashore three French corvettes.

1806. Saturday 5th April. Boats of Pallas captured Tapageuse.

1806. Thursday 17th April. Sirius at Civita Vecchia.

1806. Saturday 19th April. Colpoys and Attack in the Douillan.

1806. Monday 21st April. Tremendous engaged Canonniere.

1806. Friday 25th April. Pallas reconnoitred Isle of Aix.

1806. April. Pallas off La Vendee.

1806. April. Pompee and squadron succoured Gaeta.

1806. April. Frisk, Contest and Pallas at Pointe d'Aiguillon.

1806. Sunday 4th May. Boats of Renommee and Nautilus cut out Giganta.

1806. Sunday 11th May. Capture of Capri.

1806. Monday 12th May. Pallas and consorts off Isle of Aix.

1806. Monday 12th May. Boats of Juno at Gaeta.

1806. Monday 12th May. The Capture of the highly fortified Island of Capri, by Sir Sidney Smith's Marines and bluejackets, who wrestled the Island back from the French, after Bonaparte had taken it earlier in January.

1806. Wednesday 14th May. Pallas engaged Minerve and three brigs.

1806. Thursday 15th May. Juno supported a sortie from Gaeta.

1806. Friday 23rd May. HMS Pompee Captures Convoy at Sealia.

1806. June - October. Sir H. Popham's operations in the River Plate.

1806. Thursday 22nd June. Boats of Minerve in Finistere Bay.

1806. Monday 26th June. Boats of Port Mahon captured San Josef.

1806. Friday 27th June. The taking of Buenos Ayres. Major Alezr. McKenzie and 340 Marines were present.

1806. Friday 4th July. Boats of HMS Melpomone take a French Setee.

1806. Wednesday 9th July. Powerful captured Bellone.

1806. Friday 11th July. Boats of Minerve captured Buena Dicta.

1806. Wednesday 16th July. Boats of squadron cut out Cesar.

1806. Saturday 19th July. Blanche captured Guerriere.

1806. Saturday 26th July. Greyhound and Harrier took Pallas, Vittoria, and Balavia. Loss of the Sidney.

1806. Monday 28th July. Mars captured Rhin.

1806. Wednesday 30th July. Amphion at capture of Cotrone.

1806. July. The British invasions of the Río de la Plata in South America was a series of unsuccessful British attempts to seize control of the Spanish colonies located around the La Plata Basin. The area was vast and included parts of Argentina, Uruguay and especially the town of Buenos Aires. A detachment from the British army occupied Buenos Aires for 46 days during 1806 before being expelled.

1806. Thursday 14th August. Phosphorus beat off a French lugger.

1806. Monday 18th August. Boats of Galatea at Porto Cabello.

1806. Thursday 21st August. Boats of Galatea destroyed a privateer.

1806. Saturday 23rd August. Boats of Alexandria in the Plate.

1806. Saturday 23rd August. Anson and Arethusa captured Pomona and gunboats.

1806. Saturday 30th August. Boats of Bacchante cut out three vessels at Sta-Martha.

1806. Saturday 30th August. Pike captured a guarda-costa.

1806. Wednesday 3rd September. Squadron at Batabano.

1806. Sunday 14th September. Melampus destroyed Impetueux.

1806. Monday 15th September. Anson engaged Foudroyant.

1806. Thursday 25th September. Monarch, Centaur and Mars took four French men of war.

1806. Saturday 27th September. Dispatch captured Presidente.

1806. Tuesday 2nd October. Boats of Minerva at Oro Island.

1806. Thursday 9th October. Boats of Galatea cut out three schooners at Barcelona.

1806. Thursday 12th October. Sheldrake and consorts destroyed Salamandre.

1806. Saturday 18th October. Caroline captured Maria-Riggersbergen and three more.

1806. Tuesday 21st - 22nd October. Boats of Renommee at Colon, Majorca.

1806. Friday October. 24 to 26. Pitt captured Superbe.

1806. Saturday 1st November. Boats of Pique in Carbaret Bay.

1806. Sunday 2nd November. Pique took one privateer and destroyed another.

1806. Tuesday 11th November. Sceptre and Cornwallis engaged Semillante and batteries.

1806. Wednesday 12th November. Boats of Galatea captured Reunion.

1806. Thursday 20th November. Boats of Success captured Vengeur.

1806. Thursday 20th November. Boats of Orpheus captured Dolores.

1806. Friday 21st November. Dedaigneuse engaged Semillante.

1806. Thursday 27th November. Boats of squadron in Batavia Roads.

1806. Saturday 13th December. Halcyon captured Neptune.

1806. Tuesday 16th December. Kingfisher captured Elisabeth.

1806. Saw additional companies raised to accommodate supernumerary Marines.

1806. Lord Howick succeeded Lord Barham as first Lord of the Admiralty. Nothing particular occurred during the short time he was at the Board, but under his successor, the Earl of Mulgrave, the Corps obtained many advantages; for his Lordship being a military man, was better capable of comprehending the real and combined interests of the Corps with that of the public service. He appointed an additional Lieutenant Colonel and a Major to the Woolwich division, placing it on the same footing as the other three, and at the same time ten companies were added to the establishment of the Corps, to appropriate the men already raised, but not attached. Second Captains were appointed to the companies as the Pay Captains, which gave promotion to sixteen First and sixteen Second Lieutenants.

1807. Thursday 1st January. HMS Arethusa land and storm Fort Amsterdam and capture Curacoa. At 1am the Frigates hove to when near the high land of St. Barbery's, on the east end of Curacoa, and having hoisted out the boats, and made the necessary arrangements for an immediate attack by storm, bore away for the mouth of the harbour at 6am, with HMS Arethusa leading, followed in close order by the HMS Latona, HMS Anson, and HMS Fisgard. The entrance is only 60 fathoms wide, and is defended by regular fortifications, the principal of which, Fort Amsterdam, standing on the right-hand side, mounts 60 pieces of cannon in two tiers. Athwart the harbour, (which nowhere exceeds a quarter of a mile in width) were the Dutch 36 gun frigate Halstaa, and 20 gun ship Surinam, besides two large armed schooners. On Middleburg height there was a chain of forts; and Fort Republique, deemed almost impregnable, situated upon a high hill at the bottom of the harbour, within half gunshot distance, enfiladed the whole. At daylight HMS Arethusa, with a flag of truce at the fore, entered the port; but the Dutch forts and shipping, taking no notice of the flag, opened a smart although ineffective fire. The wind suddenly shifting to the north, checked the further progress of HMS Arethusa; but in a few minutes it veered back to northeast, thereby enabling all the frigates, except HMS Fisgard, a ground on the west side, to lay up along the harbour, and the three remaining ships anchored in positions for cannonading the defences of the enemy.

HMS Arethusa was now lying with her jib boom over the wall of the town, when Captain Brisbane sent the following Bummons to the Governor, "The British squadron are here to protect, and not to conquer you, but to preserve to you your lives, liberty, and property. If a shot be fired at any one of my squadron after this summons, I shall immediately storm your batteries, you have five minutes to accede to this determination. "No notice being taken of this summons, the flag of truce was hauled down, and at 6-15am the British squadron commenced the action. After the discharge of the third broadside, Captain Brisbane, at the head of the boarders, carried the Dutch Frigate, and HMS Latona immediately warped alongside and took possession. In the meantime, Captain Lydiard, with a division of men from the HMS Anson, had boarded and secured the Corvette.

Captains Brisbane and Lydiard then pulled straight for the shore, and landing together, proceeded at 7-30am too storm Fort Amsterdam. The vigour of the assault was irresistible, whilst some were employed in forcing open the sea-gate, others escaladed the walls, and although the fort was garrisoned by 276 regular troops, it was carried in about ten minutes, and shortly afterwards the citadel and some minor forts, as well as the town, were in the possession of the British. On the return of Captains Brisbane and Lydiard to their respective ships, a fire was opened upon Fort Republique, and 300 seamen and Marines were landed to attack it in the rear, but without waiting for such encounter the fort surrendered, and by noon the whole island of Curacoa had capitulated to the British arms.

This unparalleled achievement was accomplished with no greater loss to the British than 3 seamen killed, and 14 wounded. The loss on the part of the Dutch was much more severe, the Halstaar had her Captain and 2 men killed, and 3 wounded, the Surinam 1 killed, her Commander (dangerously) and 3 wounded, and the schooner Flying Fish, one killed and one wounded. Total, 6 killed, and 8 wounded, whilst the killed and wounded on shore amounted to about 200 men.

Captain Brisbane, the planner and leader of this gallant enterprise, received the honour of Knighthood, medals were conferred on the four Captains, the Senior Lieutenants of the HMS Arethusa and HMS Anson were made Commanders, and Lieutenant George Peebles was promoted to the Brevet rank of Captain.

The officers of Marines serving on board the squadron were as follows:

HMS Arethusa, First Lieutenant Octavius Scott, Second Lieutenant John Fennell.

HMS Latona, First Lieutenant John Hay, Second Lieutenant Henderson.

HMS Anson First Lieutenant George Peebles.

HMS Fisgard First Lieutenant A. Watts, Second Lieutenant Hugh Peregrine.

On the Wednesday 21st January, at day break, the 32-gun frigate HMS Galatea, Captain George Sayer, when cruising off the Caraccas, on the Spanish main, discovered and chased the French I6 gun brig Lynx but with it falling calm, the boats of the Frigate under Lieutenant William Coombe, containing 6 Officers, 50 Seamen, and 20 Marines, were sent to attack her. It was not until 8-30pm. that the boats, formed in two lines, arrived within hail of the brig; instantly cheering they dashed alongside, but met with such determined opposition, that they were compelled to sheer off. A second attempt was equally unsuccessful, but the third attack enabled the gallant assailants, after a severe struggle, to obtain possession of their hard earned prize. Lieutenant Henry Walker, 5 Seamen, and 3 Marines were killed, Lieutenant Coombe, 2 Midshipmen, 15 Seamen, and 4 Marines wounded. Total of 9 killed and 22 wounded.

1807. Sunday 3rd February. The battle of Montevideo, between the British and Spanish Empires during the Napoleonic Wars, in which the British forces captured the city. It also formed part of the British invasions of the River Plate.

1807. Tuesday 6th January. Boats of Imperieuse at Arcasson.

1807. Thursday 8th January. Pickle captured Favorite.

1807. January - July. Squadron at Buenos Ayres and Montevideo.

1807. Wednesday 21st January. Boats of Galatea captured Lynx.

1807. Tuesday 27th January. Lark captured Postilion and Carmen.

1807. Tuesday 27th January. Jason re-took Favourite (late British).

1807. January. Boats of Cerberus captured a privateer.

1807. January. Jackdaw taken by a Spanish rowboat.

1807. Sunday 1st February. Lark and boats at Zispata Bay.

1807. Saturday 14th February. Bacchante and Mediator at Samana, St Domingo.

1807. February - March. Duckworth in the Dardanelles.

1807. February. The Dardanelles Operation was the Royal Navy's unsuccessful attempt to impose British demands on the Ottoman Empire as part of the Anglo Turkish War (1807-1809). During 1806 the French had tried to bring about Turkey's re-entry into the war.

During the fighting with the Turkish fleet at Fort Pesquies, that mounted 31 guns, and fired heavily on the British squadron, and continued its fire well after the Turkish ships had been run ashore or captured. The beach too, was crowded with armed men, and the Pompee having fired a few shells to disperse them, her Marines loaded and brought off a Green Standard. Lieutenant Nichols of the Marines brought off the flag of the Captain Pasha from the 40 gun frigate on which it flew and which he set on fire in accordance with his orders. He then entered Fort Pesquies, spiked the guns and set the garrison a blaze.

1807. February. The Bombardment of Constantinople.

1807. February While in the Dardanelles, Fighting Nicolls (Lietenant Edward Nicolls) Commanding a contingent of Marines landed at Fort Pesquies. It was during this period, too, that he was honourably mentioned in dispatches for his part in the Dardanelles Operation.

1807. Sunday 1st March. Hirondelle and boats of Glatton cut out a Turkish corvette.

1807. Sunday 15th March. Boats of Camus cut out six merchantmen.

1807. Tuesday 17th March. Disembarkation at Alexandria.

1807. Wednesday 18th March. Storming of enemy's works near Alexandria.

1807. Saturday 21st March. Alexandria capitulated.

1807. Saturday 21st March. Leopard attacked Chesapeake and made her strike.

1807. Wednesday 25th March. The Slave Trade Act or the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed with the title of 'An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade', that received the Royal Assent. The original act is kept in the Parliamentary Archives.

The act abolished the slave trade in the British Empire, in particular the Atlantic slave trade, and also encouraged British action to press other European states to abolish their slave trades, but it did not abolish slavery itself. Many of the Bill's supporters thought the Act would lead to the death of slavery, but it was not until 26 years later that slavery itself was actually abolished. Slavery on English soil was unsupported in English law and that position was confirmed in Somersett's Case in 1772, but it remained legal in most of the British Empire until the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.

1807. Friday 17th April. Sally engaged off Danzig.

1807. Wednesday 29th April. Boats of Richmond captured Gaillard.

1807. April. Pike captured by Marat.

1807. Friday 8th May. Boats of Comus cut out a felucca.

1807. Thursday 14th May. Boats of Spartan repulsed by a polacca off Nice.

1807. Saturday 16th May. Dauntless surrendered to the French at Danzig.

1807. May Spartan engaged Annibal, two frigates, and a corvette.

1807. Friday 5th June. Boats of Pomone captured gun-brig and 14 sail.

1807. Saturday 6th June. A prize schooner captured Mercedes.

1807. Saturday 25th July. Fleet assembled at Yarmouth.

1807. Saturday 6th August. Hydra at Begur.

1807. Friday 7th August. HMS Hydra attacks Begur, Catalonia.

1807. August - September. The second Battle Copenhagen. After a heavy bombardment of the city a large contingent of Marines were landed on the 5th September.

1807. Saturday 15th August. Comus captured Fredrickscoarn.

1807. August - September. Gambier at Copenhagen.

1807. Tuesday 18th - 21st August. Light squadron engaged in Copenhagen Roads.

1807. Tuesday 18th August. Boats of Confiance cut out Reitrada.

1807. Monday 24th August. Weazel captured four vessels and destroyed three.

1807. Tuesday 25th August. Boats of Clyde cut out a sloop at Ypont.

1807. Monday 31st August. Psyche and boats at Samarang.

1807. Wednesday 2nd September. RM Corporals were awarded and allowed to wear chevrons in lieu of the 'Knots' worn on their shoulders.

1807. Saturday 5th September. Majestic and Quebec took Heligoland.

1807. Thursday 17th September. Barbara captured by General Ernouf.

1804. Tuesday 18th September. the following letter was sent: "It having been judged expedient to crop the hair of all soldiers liable for foreign-service, The Admiralty order the same to be adopted at the Marine Divisions. This was the end of powdered hair and queues, and no doubt the start of the well-known "short back and sides"!

1807. Wednesday 7th October. Boats of Porcupine captured Safo.

1807. Sunday 25th October. Boats of Herald cut out Cesar.

1807. Wednesday 28th October. Louisa defeated a privateer.

1807. Wednesday 4th November. Carrier captured Aclif.

1807. Friday 6th November. Renommee and Grasshopper off Cartagena.

1807. Tuesday 24th November. Ann captured a privateer and two gunboats.

1807. Friday 27th - 29th November. Boats of Porcupine at Ragusa.

1807. Thursday 3rd December. Curieux engaged Revanche.

1807. Sunday 6th December. Squadron captured Dutch vessels at Java.

1807. Friday 11th December. Grasshopper captured San Josef.

1807. Monday 21st December. St. Thomas taken from the Danes.

1807. Friday 25th December. St. Croix taken from the Danes.

1807. Saturday 26th December. Madeira capitulated.

1807. A second British invasion force stormed and occupied Montevideo, remaining there for several months, and a third force made a second attempt to take Buenos Aires. After several days of street-fighting against the local militia and the Spanish colonial army. The British suffered heavy losses amounting to half its force being killed or wounded, and they were eventually forced to withdraw.

1807 \- 1815. The establishment strength remained at 31,400 men.

1808. The Royal Navy which at that time controlled the world's seas, established the West Africa Squadron to patrol the coast of West Africa, and between 1808 and 1860 they seized approximately 1,600 slave ships and freed 150,000 Africans who were aboard. The Royal Navy declared that ships transporting slaves were the same as pirates. Action was also taken against African leaders who refused to agree to British treaties to outlaw the trade, for example against 'the usurping King of Lagos', who was deposed in 1851. Anti-slavery treaties were signed with over 50 African rulers.

1808. The Corps of Colonial Marines were two units made up of former American slaves for British service. They were created at different times and both disbanded after the wars. They were recruited to address the shortage of military manpower in the Caribbean. The locally recruited men were less susceptible to tropical illnesses than were troops sent from Britain and knew the terrain. The Corps followed the practice of the British Army's West India Regiments in recruiting escaped slaves as soldiers but were loathed to view themselves as mere slave soldiers. They were free men and they represented a psychological threat to the slave owning American society by being armed. They were highly thought of and as competent as their European comrades. They also received free land grants in Canada in return for their commendable service, achieving freedom in which the Land of Liberty had denied them.

1808. Some of the black soldiers of the 2nd West India Regiment mutinied and killed two officers. They were subsequently overcome by loyal soldiers of the Regiment, and seven leaders were executed. The principle justification for using slaves and free blacks for the proposed Regiments was the extremely high mortality rate of European soldiers in the West Indies. A concomitant problem was that assignment to the West Indies was extremely unpopular with the British Army, leading many to refusing to serve in that area.

1808. Saturday 30th January. Delight captured by the French at Reggio.

1808. Sunday 7th February. Decouverte drove ashore a privateer.

1808. Monday 8th February. Boats of Meleager captured Renard.

1808. Tuesday 9th February. Decouverte captured Dorade.

1808. Saturday 13th February. Boats of Confiance cut out a French gunboat.

1808. Wednesday 2nd March. Sappho captured Admiral Yawl.

1808. Wednesday 2nd March. Cerberus and consorts capture Marie Galante.

1808. Thursday 3rd March. The occupation of Marie Galante. 400 Royal Marines left a garrison under Captain Chass. Tyldesley. One report read that they suffered heavily morality from disease. The barracks being built in a swamp.

1808. Tuesday 8th March. San Fiorenzo captured Piemontaise.

1808. Sunday 13th March. The destruction of Batteries and small craft at Vivero. A detachment of Royal Marines of HMS Emerald, under Lieutenant G. Meech and J. Husband. The latter receiving a Sword of Honour from the Patriotic Fund.

1808. Monday 14th March. Childers engaged Lougon.

1808. Tuesday 15th - 20th March. Terpsichore engaged Semillante.

1808. Tuesday 22nd March. Aigle engaged off Groix.

1808. Tuesday 22nd March. Stately and Nassau destroyed Prince Christian Frederick.

1808. Wednesday 30th March. Cerberus and consorts at Desirade.

1808. Monday 4th April. Alceste and consorts at Rota.

1808. Friday 22nd April. Goree and Superieure in action off the Saintes.

1808. Saturday 23rd April. Unsuccessful attempt to cut out Garota.

1808. Sunday 24th April. Grasshopper and Rapid at Faro.

1808. Monday 25th April. Forward and consorts captured ten sail at Flodstrand.

1808. Friday 29th April. Boats of Falcon destroyed eight sail at Endelan.

1808. Monday 2nd May. Unite captured Ronco in the Gulf of Venice.

1808. Saturday 7th May. Boats of Falcon captured two sail at Lundholm.

1808. Saturday 7th May. Redwing destroyed seven Spanish vessels.

1808. Tuesday 10th - 14th May. Wizard engaged Requin.

1808. Wednesday 11th May. Bacchante captured Griffon.

1808. Thursday 12th May. Amphion and boats engaged Baleine at Rosas.

1808. Thursday 12th May. Tartar and boats at Bergen.

1808. Thursday 19th May. Virginie captured Guelderland.

1808. Friday 20th May. Boats of Fawn cut out vessels at Porto Rico.

1808. Monday 23rd May. HMS Melpomone and Danish Gunboats

1808. Sunday 24th July and later dates. Raids on the French and Spanish coast. Lieutenant J. Ryves Hore performed an extraordinary series of raids on the French and Spanish coasts during the summer. Landing from HMS Imperieuse a 38 gun frigate commanded by Lord Cochrane, he took part in the destruction of many coastal batteries and roads near Barcelona in order to hamper the movements of the French Army in Catalonia. On the 31st July he and his detachment seized and occupied the castle of Mongal which completely commandeered a pass on the road from Barcelona to Gerona, then besieged by the French. To preserve the Frenchmen, he found in the castle from the fury of the Spaniards, Hore had to escort his prisoners to the point of embarkation, after having blown up the castle in such a way as to completely block the road. During the latter part of August he was constantly engaged in raiding the enemy's posts with varying opposition, but with unvaried success, says an official letter dated the Wednesday 28th September, "The newly constructed semaphoric telegraphs which are of the utmost consequence to the safety of the numerous convoys that pass along the coast of France at Bourdique, La Pinede, St. Frontignan, Canet, and Fray have been blown up and completely demolished, together with their telegraph houses, fourteen barracks of gene-d'armes, one battery and the strong tower on the lake of Frontignan. These operations had the effect of drawing off about 2,000 French troops from the important fortress of Figueras to defend their coastal communications.

1808. Tuesday 24th May. Swan at Bornhohn.

1808. Tuesday 31st May. Redwing took two sail at Tarifa.

1808. Wednesday 1st June. Unite captured Nettuno and Teulie.

1808. Saturday 4th June. Tickler captured by Danish gunboats.

1808. Thursday 9th June. Turbulent captured by Danish gun-vessels.

1808. Saturday 11th June. Boats of Euryalus and Cruiser off the Naskon.

1808. Sunday 19th June. Seagull captured by Danish gunboats.

1808. Thursday 23rd June. Boats of Porcupine at Civita Vecchia.

1808. Sunday 26th June. Captain Edward Nicolls RM on board the Standard, led the boat attack which captured the Italian gunboats Volpe and Leger off Corfu.

1808. Sunday 3rd July. British repulsed at St. Martin and survivors captured.

1808. Wednesday 6th July. Seahorse captured Badere Zaffer.

1808. Sunday 10th July. Boats of Porcupine at Port d'Anzo.

1808. Thursday 21st July. Boats of Porcupine at Monte Circello.

1808. Thursday 28th July. Volage captured Requin.

1808. Sunday 31st July. Imperieuse at Mongal.

1808. July. A strong detachment of Royal Marines under Captain G. Lewis was landed at Figueras to secure the landing area for the British Army under Sir Arthur G. Lewis. The Portuguese flag was hoisted which hundreds flocked to enrol beneath, and the post was held till the arrival of General Anstruther's Brigade on the 19th August.

1808. Monday 1st August. The Attack on a convoy at Noli.

1808. Monday 1st August. Wizard and boats captured guns and Vigilant at Noli.

1808. Tuesday 2nd August. Tigress captured by Danish gunboats.

1808. Monday 8th August. Boats of Porcupine cut out Conception.

1808. Thursday 11th August. Comet captured Sylphe.

1808. Thursday 11th August. Boats of squadron captured Fama and Salorman.

1808. Tuesday 16th August. Sybille captured Espiegle.

1808. Thursday 18th August. Rook captured by two French privateers.

1808. Friday 26th August. Implacable and Centaur captured Sevolod.

1808. August. Keats relieved garrisons in the Baltic.

1808. Tuesday 6th September. Recruit engaged Diligente.

1808. Monday 12th September. Laurel captured by Canonniere.

1808. Thursday 29th September. Maria captured by Departement des Landes.

1808. September. Imperieuse off Languedoc.

1808. Monday 3rd October. Carnation captured by Palinure.

1808. Monday 3rd October. Modeste captured Jena.

1808. Thursday 20th October. Africa repulsed 25 Danish gunboats.

1808. Monday 31st October. Circe captured Palinure.

1808. Tuesday 1st November. Cruiser captured a Danish brig.

1808. Monday 7th - 8th November. Excellent and Meteor at Rosas.

1808. Thursday 10th November. HMS Amethyst captures Thetis

1808. Monday 14th November. Boats of Polyphemus captured Colibri.

1808. Tuesday 15th November – 5th December. The defence of Fort Trinidad-Rosa

1808. Tuesday 15th - 5th December. Excellent and consorts at Rosas.

1808. Monday 28th November. Boats of Heureux at Mabaut.

1808. Monday 12th - 13th December. Circe and consorts captured Cygne and a schooner.

1809. Sunday 1st January. Onyx captured Dutch corvette Manly.

1809. Monday 2nd January. Amiable captured Iris.
1809. Thursday 5th January. Loire captured Hebe.

1809. Saturday 7th January – 14th January. The taking of Cayenne. Lieutenant J. Read was mortally wounded in leading the assault on Port Dimant.

1809. Tuesday 17th January – 18th January. Corunna. A detachment of Royal Marines of HMS Resolution landed to destroy the batteries commanding the harbour. Officers and men received the thanks of both houses of Parliament for their service but did not get the Army Medal and Clasp.

1809. Sunday 22nd January. Cleopatra, Jason, and Hazard captured Topaze.

1809. Monday 30th January - 24th February. Sir A. Cochrane captured Martinique.

1809. Wednesday 8th February. Horatio and consorts captured Junon.

1809. Wednesday 8th February. Amphion and Redwing dispersed French ships off Melida.

1809. Wednesday 15th February. Belle Poule captured Var.

1809. Friday 24th February. Ceasar and consorts destroyed Italienne, Calypso and Cybe.

1809. Tuesday 28th February. Fight between HMS Proserpine and two French Frigates off Toulon. (Heroism of a private of Marines).

1809. February. A second Commandant was added to each division, and the pay of the Commandant in London increased to £3 per day, Colonels in Command of divisions received £2. 10s, second-Commandants received £1. 10s, and the same amount was extended to those on the retired list, whilst the brevet officers of the establishment obtained 2 shillings per day.

1809. Sunday 12th March. Topaze engaged Danae and Flora.

1809. Sunday 12th March. Batteries carried, and guns destroyed at Lequito.

1809. Monday 20tgh March. Batteries destroyed at Baigno and Paissance.

1809. Saturday 1st April. Boats of Mercury boarded Leda at Rovigno.

1809. Saturday 1st April. Amelia destroyed batteries in Aix Roads.

1809. Wednesday 5th April. Amethyst captured Niemen.

1809. Wednesday 12th April. Lord Cochrane destroyed French ship at Basque Roads.

1809. Thursday 13th April. The attack on the French Flotilla in the Basque Roads.

1809. Friday 14th - 17th April. Pompee and consorts took Hautpoult.

1809. Saturday 15th April. Intrepid engaged Furieuse and Felicite.

1809. Sunday 23rd April. Spartan and consorts bombarded Pesaro.

1809. Wednesday 26th April. Thrasher engaged Flotilla near Boulogne.

1809. Tuesday 2nd May. Spartan and Mercury at Cesenatico.

1809. Thursday 4th May. Parthian captured Nouvelle Gironde.

1809. Thursday 11th May. Melpomene destroyed a Danish cutter.

1809. Monday 15th May. Boats of Tartar captured a Danish privateer.

1809. Monday 15th May. Mercury bombarded Rotti.

1809. Wednesday 17th May. Goldfinch engaged Mouche.

1809. Thursday 18th May. The Capture of the Island of Anholt. Captain Edward Nicolls RM assisted Marines and seamen under the command of Captain William Selby of Owen Glendower in the capture of the island of Anholt. In the skirmish, a Danish garrison of 170 men put up a sharp but ineffectual resistance that killed one British Marine and wounded two before surrendering. Following the capture of Anholt, Captain Edward Nicolls was briefly assigned to duty as the British military governor of the island.

1809. Sunday 21st May. Black Joke engaged Mouche.

1809. Tuesday 23rd - 30th May. Melpomene engaged a Danish flotilla.

1809. Wednesday 31st May. Topaze brought out nine vessels from St. Maura.

1809. Wednesday 7th June. The forts at Vigo were occupied by 60 stragglers from Sir John Moores Army, aided by some seamen and Royal Marines. (Napier) The Marines of HMS Lively garrisoned the castle of Vigo.

1809. Saturday 10th June. Amelia and Statira captured Mouche.

1809. Wednesday 14th June. Boats of Scout at Cape Croisette.

1809. Wednesday 14th - 18th June. Latona took Felicite.

1809. Monday 19th June. Bellerophon's boats carried Russian batteries at Hango.

1809. Sunday 25th June. Islands of Procida and Ischia surrendered to the British.

1809. Monday 25th - 26th June. Cyane and Espoir engaged with Ceres.

1809. Thursday 6th July. St. Domingo surrendered to the British.

1809. Thursday 6th July. Bonne Citoyenne captured Furicuse.

1809. Friday 7th July. Capture of seven Russian gunboats off Hango Head.

1809. Saturday 8th July - 13th July. The Capture of Fort Louis in Senegal. Lieutenant Lewis B. Reeves, Royal Marines, and 50 Privates took part in a small expedition despatched from the garrison of Goree under Major Maxwell. The little force only 210 strong was badly pressed after landing, when the enemy's attack was broken by a bayonet charge delivered by the Marines, and on the 31st Fort Louis capitulated with its garrison of 400 men. The Marines were left to occupy the fort for a further 7 months, during which time nearly half of them succumbed to the climate.

1809. Thursday 27th July. The capture of a Fort at Bremerle, Cuxhaven. A detachment of Royal Marines under Lieutenant John Benson was landed at Ritzbuttle to cover the destruction of the fort and its guns, and to intercept the advances of any French troops. The Marines advanced as far as Bremerdike and Gerendoz, a distance of 28 miles.

1809. Sunday 13th August. The Bombardment of Flushing.

1809. Friday 14th July. Fort of Carri stormed and carried by boats of Scout.

1809. Tuesday 25th July. Princess Caroline and consorts captured four Russian vessels.

1809. Tuesday 25th July. Boats of Fawn captured Guadaloupe.

1809. Thursday 27th July. Forts at Cuxhaven destroyed.

1809. Friday 28th July - 4th September. Expedition to the Scheldt.

1809. Saturday 29th July. Acorn and consorts engaged off Duin.

1809. Saturday 12th August. Monkey and Lynx captured three Danish luggers.

1809. Monday 14th August. Boats of Otter captured two vessels.

1809. Monday 28th August. Battery at Cortelazzo carried by boats of Amphion.

1809. Wednesday 30th August. The occupation of Fort Walcheren. Captain F. Liardet and 700 Marines.

1809. Thursday 7th September. Boats of Mercury captured Pugliese.

1809. Monday 11th September. Diana captured Zephyr.

1809. Thursday 21st September. The reduction of the Isle of Boubon. Lieutenant Cottal. 6 Officers and 130 Royal Marines landed near Pointdu Galet, together with 100 seamen, 200 of the 56th Regiment and 108 Bombay sappers. The object of this force was to destroy the batteries protecting the harbour of St. Paul and to take out the shipping. Five batteries were surprised and destroyed and a quantity of shipping, including two men of war captured or destroyed.

1809. Tuesday 17th October. Capture of French privateer at Sainte Marie.

1809. October. Zante, Cephalonia, Cerigo, and Ithaca surrendered.

1809. Wednesday 1st November. Cumberland and consorts captured 11 armed vessels.

1809. Thursday 2nd November. Victor captured by French frigate Bellone.

1809. Monday 13th November. The storming of Ras-El-Khyma. The detachments of Marines of HMS La Chiffone and HMS Caroline were landed under Colonel Smith in command of troops to attack the pirate strong hold of Ras-El-Khyma in the Persian Gulf. After a short bombardment a landing was gained on the south side of the town which was burnt, and the enemy driven out. Lieutenant T. Drury Commanded the Marines. Three Marines obtained booty amounting to 4,500 gold Mohurs (£7,650).

1809. Monday 13th November. Chiffonne and Caroline destroyed Ras al Khyma.

1809. Friday 17th November. Linga destroyed by Chiffonne and Caroline.

1809. Sunday 27th November. Luft destroyed by Chiffonne and Caroline.

1809. Saturday 9th December. Redpole captured Grand Rodeur.

1809. Wednesday 13th December. Boats of Thetis and consorts took Nisus at Guadaloupe.

1809. Wednesday 13th December. Junon captured and destroyed by the French.

1809. Thursday 14th December. Melampus captured Bearnaise.

1809. Sunday 17th - 18th December. Sceptre and consorts took Anse la Barque, Guadaloupe.

1809. Sunday 17th December. Rosamond captured Papillon.

1809. December - 3rd January. 1810. Chiffonne and Caroline carried Shenaz by storm.

1809. To the peace in 1814, no general promotion took place in the Marines, nor at the latter period were all the vacancies of officers killed in action filled, and although there were 5000 supernumeraries actually serving afloat without officers attached to them, the senior Captains had been from thirty five to thirty two years in the service.

1809. In the General Orders issued by Lieutenant General Sir John Hope, congratulating the army upon the successful result of the Battle of Corunna on Monday16th of January.

1809. It is stated, "On no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered. These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops themselves, and the enemy has been taught, that, whatever advantages of position or of numbers he may possess, there is inherent in the British Officers and soldiers a bravery that knows not how to yield, that no circumstances can appal, and that will ensure victory, when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means. Active continental operations, or in maintaining colonial territories in distant and unfavourable climes."

1809. Up to the peace in 1814, no general promotion took place in the Marines, nor at the latter period were all the vacancies of officers killed in action filled up, and although there were 5000 supernumeraries actually serving afloat without officers attached to them, the senior Captains had been from thirty-five to thirty-two years in the service, notwithstanding the many advances that had been conferred on the various ranks in the navy.

1809. while still a young Captain of Marines, Edward Nicolls married Miss Eleanor Bristow (1792–1880) who was also from Northern Ireland. Sir Edward and Lady Eleanor Nicolls appear on the United Kingdom Census 1861 in Greenwich, where Nicolls is listed as KCB and a retired General of Marines.

. Wednesday 10th January. Cherokee boarded and carried Aimable Nelly.

1810. Wednesday 10th January. Plover took Saratin in the Channel.

1810. Wednesday 10th January. Boats of Christian VII. and Armide in Basque Road.

1810. Friday 12th January. Scorpion captured Oreste.

1810. Friday 12th January. Booloe Comba captured from the Dutch.

1810. Thursday 18th January. Besiglio. Castle stormed and held. An official report: "The Royal Marines were led on with their usual gallantry by Lieutenat Moore whom I have had frequent occasion to mention for his bravery and conduct."

1810. Saturday 20th January. French convoy driven on shore near La Rochelle.

1810. Sunday 21st January. The Storming of the batteries at Baie Mahut, Guadeloupe. Lieutenant Shillibeer and 30 Royal Marines served in a boat expedition which was sent in at dusk to cut out a brig protected by two batteries. She was boarded and taken under heavy fire. The Marines and seamen then waded ashore, the water reaching to their waists. On landing they at once dashed forward and drove the enemy from the nearest battery and closing with their bayonets the Marines compelled them to abandon a position they had taken up in rear of a brick breastwork. Having thrown a 24 pounder over the cliff and buried 6 howitzers in the sand, the party renewed their advance and stormed the second battery of three24 pounders protected by a ditch around them. After destroying the guard house and spiking the guns, two vessels were burnt, and the brig brought out "The gallant manner in which Lieutenant Shillibeer led the Royal Marines to the charge, as well as their steady discipline in keeping possession of the heights while the seamen were destroying the batteries", were specially mentioned in the official report. On 6th February, Vieux Fort, Guadeloupe was stormed by Royal Marines under Captain C. Abbott.

1810. Saturday 27th January - 22nd March. The defence of the fort of Matagorda, near Cadiz. This small fort, not more than a hundred yards square, with no ditch and no bomb proofs, was held for nearly two months by a little garrison of 25 Royal Marines, 25 seamen from HMS Invincible, 25 Royal Artillerymen and 67 N. C. O's and Privates of the 94th Regiment under Captain MacLean. The fort was close to the French lines at the Trocadero. "A Spanish 74 gunner and a Flotilla had co-operated in the resistance till day break on the 21st March, but then a hissing shower of heated shot made them cut their cables and run under the walls of Cadiz, while the fire of 48 guns and mortars of the largest size was turned on the fort, whose feeble parapet vanished before that crashing flight of metal, leaving only the naked rampart and undaunted hearts of the garrison for defence. The men fell fast, and the enemy shot so quick and close, that a staff bearing the Spanish flag was broken six times in an hour, the colours were then fastened to the angle of the work itself, but unwillingly by the men, especially the sailors, all calling out to hoist the British ensign and attributing the slaughter to their fighting under a foreign flag. Thirty hours this tempest lasted, and 64 men out of 140 had fallen, when Graham (the General commanding Cadiz) finding a diversion he had projected impracticable, sent boats to carry off the survivors." Napier's Peninsular War.

1810. Sunday 28th January - 6th February. Capture of Guadaloupe by Pompee and fleet.

1810. Monday 29th January. Boats of Phoenix and Jalouse captured Charles.

1810. Saturday 3rd February. Valiant captured Confiance.

1810. Saturday 10th February. Thistle captured Dutch corvette Havik.

1810. Tuesday 13th February. Attack on French gunboats in Basque Road.

1810. Wednesday 14th February. Rainbow and Avon engaged Nereide.

1810. Saturday 17th February. The capture of the 'Amboyna'. Royal Marines of HMS Cornwallis, HMS Dover and HMS Samatang formed part of a small force of 401 seamen, Royal Marines, Artillery and detachment of the Madras European Regiment which effected this capture against formidable fortifications manned by very superior numbers.

1810. Wednesday 21st February. Horatio captured Necessite.

1810. February. Capture of Amboyna from the Dutch.

1810. February. Surrender of the Islands of St. Martin, St. Eustatius, Saba, Saparoua, Harouka, Nasso Lant, Bouro, Manippa.

1810. Thursday 1st March. Boats of Cornwallis carried Margaretta.

1810. Thursday 22nd March. The attack on Santa Maura. The troops landed for the attack and had to advance over a narrow isthmus defended by two redoubts behind which was an entrenchment, mounting 4 guns, and having a wet ditch and an abbatis in front which extended to the sea on either side. It was manned by 500 troops. The British force consisted of 240 Royal Marines from HMS Monificent and HMS Belle Poule under the command Captain Snowe who formed the centre of the attacking line, 160 men of De Rolls' Regiment placed on the right, 216 men of the Calabrian Free Corps on the left, with 100 men of the same Corps in reserve in the rear of each flank. Brigadier general Oswald of the Calabrian Corps was the senior officer present. The line advanced on the redoubts covered by the fire of the Leonidas frigate, and carried them at the point of the bayonet, after which it advanced, left and front on the entrenchment. At the first discharge from these the Calabrians threw themselves down and could not be got to advance in spite of every effort to rally them, and "the indignant treatment they received from the Marines", remarked Nicholas. The latter, cheering, marched over their bodies, scrambled through the abbatis and drove the enemy out of their entrenchments at the bayonet's point, pursuing them until recalled togarrison the redoubts previously captured. Brigadier General Oswald the next day issued and order in which he referred to the 'Great Gallantry Displayed' by the stormers and stated that "the intrepid manner in which the Royal Marines performed that service claims the highest admiration." Siege was then laid to the citadel which, after an outwork had been taken, capitulated. The Marines lost 6 men killed, Captain Snowe and 16 men severely and Lieutenant Morrison and 5 men slightly wounded.

1810. Wednesday 4th April. Success and Espoir at Castiglione.

1810. Friday 6thv April. Sylvia destroyed armed piratical prow in Straits of Sunda.

1810. Saturday 7th April. Sylvia captured piratical prow.

1810. Wednesday 11th April. Sylvia and boats engaged and sank piratical lugger.

1810. Thursday 12th April. Unicorn captured Esperance (late British Laurel).

1810. Tuesday 24th April. Surly and Firm captured Alcide.

1810. Wednesday 25th April. Spartan and consorts engaged at Monte Circello.

1810. Thursday 26th April. Sylvia took Echo and two transports.

1810. Tuesday 1st May. French troops defeated at Jacolet, Isle of France.

1810. Thursday 3rd May. Spartan captured Sparviere in Bay of Naples.

1810. Saturday 12th May. Tribune engaged four Danish brigs.

1810. Tuesday 22nd May. Boats of Alceste at Agaye.

1810. Saturday 26th May. Boats of Alceste captured four feluccas.

1810. May and June. Royalist engaged and captured six armed vessels.

1810. May. According to a return of the 73rd Regiment there were also some Marines left at Hobart Australia numbering 50 of all ranks plus nine wives of Marine privates and 19 children.

1810. Thursday 21st June. Manado surrendered to Dover.

1810. Thursday 28th June. Boats of Amphion and consorts at Groa.

1810. Friday 29th June. A convoy cut out at Groa.

1810. June. Elaborate preparations were made for the capture of Reunion, or, as it was then called, Bourbon. Large numbers of British and Indian troops, together with transports, were assembled at Rodriguez, and on Sunday 24th June HMS Boadicea of 38 guns and Captain Josias Rowley. HMS Nereide of 36 guns. Captain Nisbet and Josiah Willoughby from off Mauritius, arrived to escort the expedition.

1810. Friday 6th July. They sailed and made a rendezvous, about 50 miles from Reunion, with a small squadron which, under Captain Samuel Pym of HMS Sirius with 36 guns had previously been cruising off Mauritius. This squadron consisted of the HMS Iphigenia with 36 guns, Captain Henry Lambert, and HMS Magicienne of 36 guns. At the rendezvous 3650 troops were divided, and arrangements were perfected, and on the 7th, the ships bore away for the different points of disembarkation. The first brigade, under Lieutenant Colonel Frazier, was to land at Grande Chaloupe, about six miles west of St. Denis, the capital, and the remaining three brigades, under Lieutenant Colonels Henry S. Keating (senior officer), Campbell, and Drummond, were to be thrown ashore at Riviere des Pluies, about three miles to the eastward. In the afternoon, while the enemy, who had about 600 regulars and 2700 militia men on the island, was distracted by a demonstration off St. Marie, Frazier, with 950 men and some howitzers, was landed at Grande Chaloupe without opposition, and Lieutenant John Wyatt Watling of HMS Sirius occupied a height which protected the force from molestation during the following night. At Riviere des Pluies, on the weather side of the island, conditions were less favourable, although Willoughby, still suffering from his musket accident, effected a landing with a few seamen and about 150 troops, the operation was not carried out without the drowning of four people in the surf, and the loss of several boats.

1810. Saturday 7th - 8th July. Boadicea and consorts took Isle of Bourbon.

1810. Monday 9th July. Boats of Sirius captured Edward.

1810. Tuesday 17th July. Euryalus engaged a French 74 off Toulon.

1810. Friday 20th July. Warspite and consorts off Toulon.

1810. Tuesday 23th July. Boats of Belvidera and Nemesis on the coast of Norway.

1810. Thursday 25th July. Thames and consorts at Amanthe.

1810. Monday 30th July 30. Boats of Procris took six gunboats.

1810. July Boats of Sirius destroyed a French stores ship.

1810. July. The capture of Reunion.

1810. Thursday 9th August. Caroline, Piedmontaise, and Barracouta took Banda Neira.

1810. Monday 13th August. The capture of Isle De La Passe, involving Marines on board HMS Nereide, HMS Sirius and HMS Staunch.

1810. Friday 17th August. Porte du Diable stormed and carried.

1810. Monday 20th August. Nereide engaged French frigates off Isle de la Passe.

1810. Tuesady 21st August. Boats of Sirius cut out a French prize.

1810. Thursday 23rd - 28th August. Nereide and consorts taken at Grand Port.

1810. Wednesday 29th August. Queen Charlotte repulsed a French cutter off Alderney.

1810. Thursday 30th August. Repulse and Philomel repulsed frigates off Toulon.

1810. Wednesday 5th September. Boats of Surveillante captured a French brig.

1810. Thursday 6th September. Battery captured and destroyed in the River Crache.

1810. Friday 7th September. Boats of Dreadnought carried a French vessel.

1810. Tuesday 11th September. Boats of Africaine engaged a French schooner.

1810. Tuesday 13th September. Africaine taken by Astree aud Iphigenie but re-taken.

1810. Monday 17th September. Ceylon taken by Venus and Victor.

1810. Tuesday 18th September. Boadicea, Otter, and Staunch took Venus.

1810. Thursday 27th September. Three brigs cut out at Point Du Che. HMS Caledia and HMS Valliant were sent to destroy three French brigs lying under the protection of a battery at Point du Che near La Rochelle. Five officers and 130 men of the Royal Marines were landed at half past two in the morning in order to capture the battery. As the boats pulled in to attack the brigs they were discovered and fired upon. Lieutenant Little of the Royal Marine Artillery mentions in an official despatch that immediately upon landing pushed forward with the bayonet to assault. Supported by Captain McLachlan's division, with Lieutenant Coulter, both of the Royal Marines, and Lieutenant Couche with a separate detachment, and succeeded in carrying the battery and spiking all the guns. Lieutenant little in a personal encounter with one of the enemey when in the act of wrestling his musket from him, deceived the contents in his hand, which was so much shattered in consequence as to render amputation necessary. After the capture of the redoubt a French force advanced from the village but was checked by the fire of the Marines and one of the boats. They then brought up two field pieces to take the Marines in flank, but they instantly charged them with the bayonet, and captured the guns. Meanwhile the boats carried out the destruction of the brigs, and the detachment of Marines was re-embarked in perfect order. Lieutenant Little received a reward from the Patriotic Fund, a pension for wounds of £70 a year and an appointment at the Woolwich Division.

1810. Friday 28th September. Boats of Rambler defeated French Dragoons.

1810. Sunday 14th October. Briseis captured Sans Souci in North Sea.

1810. Friday 19th October - 19th December. Capture of Isle of France by Illustrious and consorts.

1810. Thursday 25th October. Calliope captured Comtesse d'Hambourg.

1810. Saturday 27th October. Orestes took Loup Garou.

1810. Sunday 4th November. Boats of Blossom captured Cesar.

1810. Thursday 8th November. Boats of Quebec captured Jeune Louise.

1810. Monday 12th - 23rd November. Diana and consorts engaged at Lahougue and Tatillon

1810. Thursday 15th - 16th November. Phipps captured Barbier de Seville.

1810. Friday 23rd November. Attack Port St. Mary by boats of the Cadiz fleet.

1810. Thursday 29th November. Three battalions were raised from among the Royal Marines during the Napoleonic Wars, seeing combat in Portugal, Northern Spain, the Netherlands and North America.

The First Battalion

The 1st battalion formed at Plymouth on Thursday 29th November 1810 under the command of Major Richard Williams. It consisted of six companies, plus an attached company of Royal Marine Artillery. It embarked, arriving in Lisbon on 8 December 1810.

The battalion grew to eight companies, plus the attached artillery company. It left Portugal in February 1812 and disembarked at Portsmouth. There it remained until 6th June 1812, when it embarked aboard HMS Diadem. The battalion arrived off the coast near Santoña on 15 June and was involved in the attack on the fort at Castro Urdiales. The fort's garrison of two companies of infantry capitulated on 8th July, the French having evacuated the town the day before. On 10th July, the battalion re-embarked, intending to go to Portugalete, but returned to Castro shortly afterwards. The French, unawares that the marines had returned, launched an unsuccessful counter-attack against the fort's Bilbao gate. Major Williams was appointed commander of the fort on 30th July.

The Royal Navy attacked Santander from 30th July onwards, with the French evacuating the town on 3th August. The first six companies of the 1st battalion embarked for Santander to support the attack and arrived on 4th August. This force re-embarked on 10 August for an intended attack on Gitaya, its destination changing to Portugalete, where it arrived on 12 August. After the marines had destroyed a fort that the French had abandoned, the marines re-embarked and returned to Santander.

The force disembarked at Zumaia on 18th August, along with the 2nd battalion. The artillery companies of both battalions deployed opposite the rock of Gitaya. Both battalions held the area until ordered to re-embark on 20th September.

During October, the 1st battalion was deployed before Santoña, at Castello. [disambiguation needed] The news that a French division was approaching to reinforce the 1,500 men garrison at Santoña led to the recall of the battalion on 1st November. However, the recall was countermanded, and the battalion resumed its positions; it returned to Santander on 14th December.

On 21st December the 1st battalion, which numbered 536 rank and file, and its artillery company sailed from Santander in HMS Fox, HMS Latona, and HMS Venerable, arriving at St Helens, Isle of Wight on 31st December. The right wing (aboard Fox and Venerable) received orders to proceed to Plymouth on 6th January 1813, where the battalion was to perform garrison duty at Plymouth and to prepare for imminent deployment to North America.

The 1st Battalion embarked (on the ships Diadem (1st to 5th companies) and Diomede (6th to 8th companies and artillery) on 30th March, set sail on 7th April, and arrived in Bermuda on 29th May 1813. There it and the infantry already present were formed into two brigades. The embarked artillery brigade, supporting both battalions, comprised 131 officers and men, four 6-pounder guns, two 8" howitzers, two 5.5" howitzers, two 10" mortars, and a quantity of Congreve rocket launching frames, with associated munitions, all under the command of Captain Thomas Parke.

On 25 June, the 1st Battalion participated in the attack on Hampton, Virginia. On 13 July, the Marine Battalions were involved in the occupation of Ocracoake and Portsmouth and engaged in the occupation of Kent Island on 7th August. Later in the year, the 1st Battalion went to Ile aux Noix, south of Montreal in Canada, while the 2nd Battalion went to Prescott, on the Saint Lawrence River.

A detachment of the 1st Battalion, under Lieutenants Caldwell and Barton, was present at the Battle of Lacolle Mills (1814). On 16th August 1814, the battalion received orders to be "disposed for Naval service", with the greater part of the battalion to go to Lake Ontario and the remainder to go to Lake Champlain. In November 1814 the First Battalion was reconstituted in Quebec and shipped south in support of operations off the coast of Georgia.

The Second Battalion, July 1812 to May 1814:

The Second Battalion was formed at Chatham and deployed to Portsmouth in July 1812. It consisted of six companies under the command of Major James Malcolm. On 15th August, the battalion embarked aboard HMS Latona (1st and 2nd companies) and HMS Fox (3rd to 6th companies), to deploy in Northern Spain under the command of the squadron of Home Riggs Popham. The battalion disembarked at Zumaia on 18th August and joined up with Spanish forces under the command of Francisco de Longa. The battalion re-embarked on 20th September and were landed at Santander on 28th September.

Further reinforcements for the battalion disembarked soon after Diadem arrived on 29th November at Santander, resulting in two companies being added and another company of artillery countermanded. Some of the reinforcements had returned from garrison duty on the island of Anholt, Denmark.

On 21st December the 2nd battalion sailed from Santander, along with the left wing of the 1st battalion, aboard Latona, arriving on 4th January. Diadem carried the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th & 10th companies, HMS Iriscarried the 2nd Battalion's artillery company (Captain Parke) and supplemental company (Captain Wilkinson), with the remainder of the battalion (5 companies) embarked upon the transports Whitton and Mariner, leaving the town to Spanish forces commanded by General Mendizabal. The surviving muster lists show the Marines disembarked at Plymouth on 7th January 1813.

The deployment of both battalions in Northern Spain forced the French to redeploy 30,000 men, away from the Salamanca campaign. The Duke of Wellington was so impressed that he requested they would be placed under his command but was rebuffed by the Admiralty.

Given the heterogeneous nature of the battalion, and its deployment in Spain immediately after inception, Major Malcolm felt that the 2nd Battalion was lacking in discipline. He requested that the 2nd Battalion be deployed to the barracks at Berry Head Fort in Torbay, so that drilling of the unit would result in better discipline and cohesion. The 2nd Battalion was dispatched to Berry Head on 14 January aboard HMS Diadem and HMS Latona, having boarded on 12th January. Within a month of the battalion's arrival in Berry Head Fort, the intensive drill bore fruit.

The 2nd Battalion embarked on the ships HMS Romulus, HMS Diomede, HMS Nemesis, and HMS Fox on 30th March, set sail on 7th April with the ships carrying the 1st Battalion, the transport vessel Mariner (containing two rocket detachments with an establishment of 25 men, each commanded by a Lieutenant) and HMS Superb (which was carrying troops of the 8th Royal Veteran Battalion) and arrived in Bermuda on 29th May, where the Marines and the Royal Veterans, with the two Independent Companies of Foreigners already present upon the island, were formed into two brigades.

The 2nd Battalion was employed alongside the 1st Battalion until late in 1813, when the 2nd Battalion was deployed to Prescott, on the Saint Lawrence River. On 6th May 1814, it participated in the Battle of Fort Oswego (1814), suffering fatalities of one Captain, two Sergeants and four Other Ranks. Its final engagement was the Battle of Big Sandy Creek, where an element of the battalion made up part of the 180-man force. Thereafter, the battalion's companies were broken up and its men were dispersed among the squadron and flotilla on Lake Ontario, as per orders from Commodore James Lucas Yeo.

From May 1814: Following the order, the 2nd Battalion ceased to exist as a fighting force. All that remained were the staff elements. When the 3rd Battalion arrived in Chesapeake, they were renumbered as the 2nd Battalion and came under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James Malcolm (Royal Marines officer). Upon the orders of Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, three of the ten companies were detached from this unit, to become the regenerated 3rd Battalion, under the command of Major Lewis. (These three companies were commanded by Captain Clements, Lt Connolly and Lt Stevens.

The recreated 2nd Battalion was present in the Chesapeake campaign, participating in the Battle of Bladensburg, the attack on Washington, and the Battle of Baltimore. Also present during the campaign were the three companies of the Corps of Colonial Marines under the command of an army officer, Captain Reed (of the 6th West India Regiment), and a composite battalion of Marines, formed from ships' Marine detachments, frequently led by Captain John Robyns. A composite "battalion" of 100 men also took part in the Battle of New Orleans, under the command of Brevet Major Thomas Adair.

Following the failure of the British attack against Fort McHenry on 13 September, the 2nd and 3rd Marine battalions proceeded to Tangier Island, where a barracks for 600 men was created on the understanding they would be spending the winter on the island.

Orders were received on 11th December to embark, the Marines later disembarking on Cumberland Island on 10th January 1815, along with the 1st Battalion and two companies of the 2nd West India Regiment. Thereafter, this force attacked Fort Peter on 13th January, subsequently marching on the town of St. Marys, and occupying it for about a week, before retiring to Cumberland Island.

It is understood that an element of the 2nd Battalion could have participated in the Battle of New Orleans. The musters show three dead men (from the First and Third companies commanded by Captain Coles & Lieutenant Fynmore respectively) and several men wounded.

Ironically, the battalion's final action was a purely artillery engagement. The battalion's rocket detachment, commanded by Lieutenant John Lawrence, were on HMS Tonnant, and were put ashore on 7th February 1815, to participate in the attack on Fort Bowyer. (Their penultimate engagement was the Battle of New Orleans.) Thereafter they returned to Portsmouth and were disembarked on 11 May 1815. The infantry companies were embarked aboard HMS Albion for the return to England in 1815. The artillery company was disembarked at Chatham on 20 May 1815.

The Third Battalion December 1813 to August 1814

After Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig in October 1813, the French troops retreated to France. A provisional government was formed, the Driemanschap, which invited the exiled Prince William VI of Orange to The Hague.

A token British force accompanied the Prince of Orange to the Netherlands in November 1813. Most of the British army was fighting the Peninsular War, so the 2nd Battalion 2nd Foot Guards and several companies of Marines were hastily embarked at Deal. These companies were to form the nucleus of the 3rd Battalion. A further two companies of Marines arrived on 19th December, accompanied by Major George Lewis, who assumed command of the Marines.

This force was involved in fighting around Krabbendijke, until Russian troops relieved them on 18th January. When the marines arrived in Portsmouth on 21st January, they were formed into the Third Battalion. The battalion had an establishment of ten companies of 100 men, and one company of Royal Marine Artillery. The battalion was commanded by Major George Lewis, who since 19th December 1813 had been the officer commanding the Marine companies deployed in the Netherlands.

The Artillery company were issued with knapsacks just prior to their departure. The battalion embarked on 29th March, set sail on 7th April, and disembarked at Bermuda. The infantry companies were aboard HMS Regulus, HMS Melpomene and HMS Brune, with the artillery aboard HMS Tonnant. After a sojourn, the battalion sailed for the Chesapeake on 30th June, and joined Admiral Cockburn's squadron on 16th July. Just prior to the liaison, a detachment of 12 Royal Marine gunners (with two howitzers and a field piece) and 100 Royal Marine infantry were transferred to HMS Hermes and HMS Carron, to accompany Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Edward Nicolls to Florida, where they would remain for the duration of the war.

On the morning of 19th July, the battalion landed near Leonardtown and advanced in concert with ships of the squadron, causing the US forces to withdraw. The battalion was deployed to the south of the Potomac, moving down to Nomini. The battalion was subsequently landed at St Clements Bay on 23rd July, Machodoc creek on 26th July, and Chaptico, Maryland on 30th July.

The first week of August was spent raiding the entrance to the Yeocomico River, which concluded with the capture of four schooners at the town of Kinsale, Virginia. On 7th August, the battalion stormed a gun battery of three artillery pieces, situated on the Coan River (a few miles below the Yaocomico river).

During the Chesapeake campaign the 3rd Battalion participated in the Battle of Bladensburg, the attack on Washington, and the Battle of Baltimore. The attack on Washington cost the Navy one man killed and six wounded.

After Lieutenant Colonel James Malcolm arrived, the battalion was split into the reconstituted second battalion, and the third battalion (composed of Royal and Colonial Marines), as outlined below.

From September 1814 to 1815:

Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane ordered that three of the 10 companies from this unit become the nucleus of a regenerated 3rd Battalion, under the command of Major Lewis. These three companies joined the three companies of the Corps of Colonial Marines, formed in May of that year, to make a new 3rd Battalion Royal and Colonial Marines. The Colonial Marines had made their combat debut on the raid on Pungoteague Creek (30th May 1814), with one fatal casualty, and had then carried out incursions at Chesconessex Creek in June and Onancock in August and were involved in the Washington campaign with one man killed and three wounded. Prior to the establishment of the Corps, some of its men had been employed to good effect as scouts and guides with raiding parties.

The 3rd Battalion subsequently deployed to Cumberland Island along with the 1st and 2nd Battalions. When news reached the troops that peace had been made, the 3rd Battalion embarked on 10th March, disembarking on Ireland Island, Bermuda, on 21st March. The battalion's several Colonial companies were renamed the 3rd Battalion Colonial Marines and, after 16 months of garrison duty in the new Royal Naval Dockyard, were settled on new lands in Trinidad on 20th August 1816, forming the community of "the Merikens" in the areas known since then as the "Company Villages". The three remaining Royal Marine companies of the original 3rd Battalion departed Bermuda in May 1815 to return to England.

(by Tom C/Wikepedia/Editor)

1810. Monday 3rd December. The Capture of Mauritius. A battalion of Royal Marines from the men of war present served with the Army under Major General Hon. John Abercromby, who reported that "The battalion of the Royal Marines, under the command of Captain Liardet, supported the reputation of his distinguished Corps."

1810. Friday 7th December. Rinaldo captured Marandeur off Dover.

1810. Monday 10th December. Rosario captured Mameloucke off Dungeness.

1810. Wednesday 12th December. Entreprenante repulsed four French privateers.

1810. Thursday 13th December. The destruction of armed and other vessels at Palamos. The Royal Marines from the HMS Kent, HMS Ajax and HMS Cambrian, 250 in number, and having occupied the enemy's batteries without much resistance, the seamen brought out most of the shipping. But in retiring through the town to re-embark they were attacked and lost 12 killed, 22 wounded, and 43 missing.

1810. Monday 17th December. Rinaldo sank a French lugger off the Owers.

1810. Monday 24th December. Boats of Diana destroyed Elise.

1810 \- 1850. The Marines uniform of the day. (taken from 'Britain's Sea Soldiers: Vol 1 by Cyril Field RMLI.).

1810. Spain and Portugal. In addition to the services of the Royal Marine Battalions already mentioned, it should be said that the 3rd or innermost line of the series of defences famous as the Lines of Torres Vedras was occupied by the Royal Marines. This interior line extended from Passo d'Arcos, on the Tagus, to the Tower of Junquerra on the coast, near Fort St. Julian, was an entrenched camp occupied by the Royal Marines. In Autumn of this year, at the suggestion of the Duke of Wellington, Admiral Berkeley in command of the British squadron in the Tagus, formed a Naval Brigade of 500 Royal Marines, and the same number of seamen. Captain Lawford RN of HMS Impetueux was in command. There were nine Captains of Marines in the Brigade and as many subalterns as could be spared. "Leaving only one to each ship of the line." There was also a proportion of Naval Officers. The Brigade seems to have marched up the left bank of the Tagus, on which there was an armed British flotilla, to Almeirim, a place nearly opposite to Sanarem where Marshal Massena was building and assembling boats with which to cross the river, probably with a view of out flanking the lines of Torres Vedras. The right of the first line rested on the Tagus at Alhandra, some miles further down. Attempts were made to destroy some of Massena's boats which were drawn up on the beach by gun fire, but with little result. Captain Ross RN seems to have been the senior officer of Marines in the brigade. Meanwhile, a Battalion of Marines referred to by Napier "As a superb body of Marines" had been despatched from England, and upon its arrival the seamen were recalled to their ships as "Their Lordships cannot approve of the landing of seamen of the fleet." It was this Battalion that held the third of the Torres Vedras Lines, as mentioned above. Lieutenant Ashmore, Royal Marines, who was on HMS Picquet near Santarem, on the night of Massena's retreat from the Torres Vedras, was the first to report the enemy's movement.

1811. Thursday 10th January. Tamatave bombarded.

1811. Monday 4th February. Boats of Cerberus and Aciiz'c at Pescaro.

1811. Tuesday 12th February. The cutting out of vessels at Ortona.

1811. Tuesday 5th March – 6th March. The Battle of Barossa. The Royal Marines co-operated in the battle of Barossa by storming the enemy's batteries at the mouth of the Guadelete, they were brigaded with two Spanish Regiments and ordered to destroy the batteries, which they did, but with the French coming down in force they were obliged to re-embark under heavy fire. A detachment under Captain G. Nicholson 300 strong was sent to destroy a battery at Tota. Which they blew up after spiking the guns. On the 6th March parties of Royal Marines and Seamen were landed between Rota and Catalina. A 4 gun redoubt near Santa Maria was stormed by a detachment under Captain P. Fottrell Royal Marines, and with the exception of the Fort at Catalina which was too strong to be attempted by coup-fe-main, all the coast defences between Santa Maria and Rota were dismantled and their guns spiked.

1811. Monday 8th March. Two Marines were executed on board the Zealous, at Lisbon, for the murder of a Sergeant of Marines. Their trial disclosed the following wicked, and in other respects, singular circumstances: the deceased Sergeant had been sent with the two prisoners to do duty on board one of the prison ships in the Tagus. In the course of the night they planned to call the Sergeant from his cot, under pretence of his being wanted. On his proceeding to the part of the ship requested, they way-laid him and pushed him overboard. It may be supposed that he had made himself obnoxious to them; but this did not appear. On the deceased's being missed, it obtained general belief on board the prison ship that he had jumped overboard; but it was not warranted by the man's general character, for he was a sober discreet man, and a good soldier. The first intimation of his death to his shipmates on board the Zealous, was by the sentinel upon deck seeing his hat pass by the ship in the Tagus. The sentinel instantly knew it belonged to him, and inquiry ensued; no suspicion, however, fell upon the prisoners, nor was it necessary for the ends of justice, for their consciences so lacerated them after the first hour they had committed the crime, that, as they confessed to their comrades, they had no rest day or night. Their voluntary confession led to their trial, and they told the court they had not slept since, but were constantly visited by a distempered imagination, of being in the presence of the deceased ghost. Both of them it afterwards appeared were notorious characters. The name of one of them was Brown. They died very penitent. (sic)

1811. Saturday 11th March. A letter was sent to Charles Yorke, then First Lord of the Admiralty, from Colonels Desborough and Tench, calling his attention to the neglected position of the Corps. Mr. Yorke, in acknowledging the receipt of this letter, informed Colonel Desborough "that the subject was still under the consideration of the Board;" but no further satisfaction was given to this firm, yet respectful remonstrance.

1811. Wednesday 13th March. Hoste's victory off Lissa.

1811. Sunday 24th - 25th March. Berwick and consorts destroyed Amazone.

1811. Monday 25th - 27th March. The defence of Anholt. It maybe remarked that in the account of Captain J. W. Maurice RN who commanded at Anholt, in O'Byrne's Naval Biography, the Royal Marines are not even mentioned as forming the garrison, while it says that "he rendered his name for ever famous by the brilliant manner in which he defeated an attempt made to reduce it (Anholt) by a Danish flotilla and Army.

1811. Wednesday 27th March. Sheldrake and Tartar captured five Danish gun-brigs.

1811. Saturday 6th April. Arrow in action with chasse marées.

1811. Wednesday 1st May. Pomone and consorts destroyed Giraffe and Nourrice.

1811. Saturday 4th - 5th May. Belle Poule and Alceste at Parenza.

1811. Wednesday 8th May. Scylla boarded and carried Canonniere.

1811. Thursday 16th May. Little Belt engaged U.S. frigate President.

1811. Monday 20th May. Schomberg captured Renommee and Nereide off Madagascar.

1811. Wednesday 23rd May. Capture of 14 Dutch gun-vesseis off Java.

1811. Saturday 26th May. Boats of Sanine engaged at Sabiona.

1811. Saturday 26th May. Party from Pilot took positions at Strongooli.

1811. Saturday 26th May. Alacrity captured by Abeille.

1811. Sunday 27th June. Guadaloupe engaged Tactique and Guepe.

1811. Thursday 4th Ju1y. Boats of Unite captured St. François de Poale.

1811. Thursday 4th July. Unite and Cephalus captured three merchant vessels.

1811. Friday 19th July. Conqueror and Sultan engaged French squadron off Toulon,

1811. Sunday 21st July. The cutting out of 26 vessels at Porto Del Infreschi.

1811. Sunday 21st July. Cephalus and Thames captured 11 French gunboats and consorts.

1811. Saturday 27th July. The cutting out of 28 vessels at Ragosniza, Dalmatia.

1811. Tuesday 30th July. Boats of Minden took Fort Marrack.

1811. Wednesday 31st July. Boats of Procris destroyed six Dutch gunboats off Java.

1811. Wednesday 31st July. Brevdrageren and Algerine engaged three Danish brigs.

1811. Friday 2nd August. Boats of Quebec and consorts took three gun-brigs.

1811. Sunday 4th - 7th August. Capture of Java by the British.

1811. Tuesday 13th August. Temerairc and Caledonia engaged a battery near Toulon.

1811. Sunday 18th August. Hawke and boats took Heron and convoy.

1811. Saturday 24th August. Diana and Semiramis cut out Teazer and Pluvier.

1811. Thursday 29th - 31st August. Capture of Madura by Sir Francis Drake and consorts.

1811. August – September. The Conquest of Java. A Battalion of Royal Marines under the command of Brevet Major F. Liardet was landed to reinforce the Army under Sir Samuel Achmuty. Batavia having been occupied without resistance, the British advanced against the Dutch Army which was entrenched at Meester Cornelis, about 9 miles from the city. After some days fighting an assault was ordered under the command of General Gillespie. The men detailed for this were 250 of the Royal Marines Battalion, the Grenadiers of the 78th and two companies of the 89th Regiment. The troops moved forward at midnight on the 25th August, and after a desperate struggle, in which the Royal Marines bore a most distinguished part, carried all before them. 257 officers including 3 Generals and 5,000 men were made prisoners and more than 1,000 were found dead in the works. After the battle Sir Samuel Achmuty thus addressed the battalion, "I have halted you to express my high opinion of the zeal and gallantry displayed by the Royal Marines, who were attached to the advance under general Gillespie in the action of the 25th. I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude for their exemplary good conduct, I beg you therefore to accept my warmest thanks, and to communicate the same to the officers and men under your command.

On the 31st August an expedition was sent to Cheribon to intercept the retreat of the Dutch General Jansens from Meester Cornelis. As it would have taken too long to embark troops for the purpose, HMS Nisus, HMS President, HMS Phoebe and HMS Hesper were sent round and landed their Royal Marines together with the detachment belonging to HMS Lion, amounting to 180 men in all, who were under the command of Captain Welchman of the Royal Marines. The fort of Cheribon surrendered and was occupied by Captain Welchman and his Marines, but on the news arriving of the approach of 250 men of the enemy's Infantry and of the same number of Cavalry from Buitzenburg, the Marine Garrison was relieved by a detachment of seamen in order that it might be free to assume the offensive.

The Marines and fifty seamen were therefore mounted on horseback, and under the command of Captain Welchman Royal Marines, were pushed forward by forced marching to attack a fort at Carang Sambang about 35 miles off in the interior of the island. This small advanced force was supported by a body of troops under the command of Colonel Wood. Captain Welchman captured 22 chests of money at Bongas, about half way to Catang Sambang, which were sent back by Colonel Wood, and pushing on met a Dutch officer with a flag of truce proposing the surrender of Carang Sambang. A great quantity of stores was taken at this place including coffee to the value of 250,000 Spanish dollars, as well as a large number of prisoners. The Marines were now re-embarked as HMS Nisus and HMS Phoebe were moving along the coast, landed them successively at Panca and Taggal, both of which places were taken. Samarang, Gressie, and Sourabaya were occupied shortly afterwards, the main body of the Marines being under the command of Captain Bunce who had become senior officer present by the death of Major Liardet from dysentery. Lieutenant White Royal Marines, of HMS Minden who, with his detachment and a party of the 14th Regiment had been landed to keep open communications with Pangorah and to procure supplies for the squadron, was sharply attacked by considerable body of the enemy with two guns. After 12 minutes fighting they were driven off, but just as reinforcements were arriving from the 14th and 89th Regiments they renewed the attack in great force. They were again defeated with some loss. Captain E.W. Hoare. R.N. from HMS Minden, in making his official report of this affair wrote: "I feel it my duty to report the conduct of Captain Robert White of the Royal Marines, who commanded at the first attack, assisted by two officers of the 14th Regiment. I was astonished at the bravery and coolness displayed by those officers and their men." The reduction of the neighbouring Island of Madura was affected by the seamen and Marines of HMS Drake and HMS Phaeton, although the native troops had been strengthened by the landing of a French force. Effecting a landing under cover of the darkness, the small British force advanced on the Fort of Samanap, the capital of the Island, in two columns, each consisting of 60 bayonets (presumably Marines) and 20 pike men. The Marine detachment of the 'Hussar' acted as a reserve. The fort was taken by a sudden rush just before daybreak. A spirited battle with a very superior force followed as soon as it was light in which the resolution and superior tactics of the British secured them the victory. Lieutenant Roch, Royal Marines, was twice speared by the native pike men while wresting the colours from a French officer, whom he slew in the contest. The Conquest of Java was now complete, and the captors were rewarded by distribution of prize money to the value of the property taken which amounted to no less than a million sterling. (sic)

1811. Monday 2nd September. Manly taken by Danish brigs off the coast of Norway.

1811. Tuesday 3rd September. Rinaldo and Redpole engaged a flotilla off Boulogne.

1811. Friday 6th September. Pilot dispersed troops at Castellan.

1811. Saturday 7th September. Barbadoes and Goshawk engaged at Calvados.

1811. Sunday 8th September. Hotspur destroyed three gun brigs oI Calvados.

1811. Monday 9th - 13th September. Bucephalus engaged Nymphe and Meduse off Java.

1811. Tuesday 10th September. Boats of Victory captured Danish gunboats.

1811. Thursday 20th - 21st September. Naiad and consorts engaged a flotilla off Boulogne.

1811. Friday 11th October. Imperieuse silenced forts at Possitano.

1811. Saturday 19th October. Imperieuse and Thames took 10 polacres at Palinuro.

1811. Friday 1st - 3th November. Palinuro Heights carried by party from Imperieuse and consort.

1811. Monday 11th November. Skylark and Locust engaged the Boulogne flotilla.

1811. Friday 22nd November. Volontaire and Perlen engaged Trident and two frigates.

1811. Wednesday 27th November. Eagle captured Cereyre.

1811. Friday 29th November. Alceste, Active, and Unite took Pomone and Porsanne.

1811. Wednesday 4th December. Boats of Sultan took Langitedocienne.

1811. Royal Navy and Royal Marines tensions over status and power came to a head during a disagreement about battle rewards after the 'Defence of Anholt'. Governor of the Anholt Garrison Captain Maurice RN wrote up the actions of the Defence of Anholt, downplaying the efforts of the Royal Marines officers and garrison, and instead focussed on the achievements of the Royal Navy frigates, petitioning for their officers' promotion.

In retaliation, the garrison, made up almost exclusively of Royal Marines, presented Captain Torrens with a sword. Torrens, realising it would not help the relations with the admiralty, refused to accept it until Maurice had received one. The officers of the garrison then presented Torrens with another sword, and relations between Maurice and Torrens broke down. Court martial and counter court martial followed, and eventually both Maurice and Torrens were removed from their commands. The Royal Marines museum has all three of these presentation swords in their collection.

1812. A recruiting poster of the day. (taken from 'Britain's Sea Soldiers: Vol 1 by Cyril Field RMLI.).

1812. The field officers below the rank of Commandant, who had attained the rank of Major General, became supernumeraries, and were excused from active duty, such duty being performed by field-officers promoted in consequence of these vacancies.

1812. The beginning of the three year war in America.

1812. Saturday 18th January. The Leicester Chronicle. (Admiralty Office Saturday 11th January.)

From Sir. Edward Pellew of His Majesty's ship IMPERIEUSE in the Gulph.)

Sir:- I have the honour to inform you that his Majesty's Ship under, my command attacked three of the enemy's gun vessels, carrying each an eighteen pounder and thirty men, moored under the walls of a strong Fort, near the town of Passitana in the Gulph of Salernoes the Imperieuse was anchored about eleven o'clock within the range of grope, and in a few minutes the enemy were driven from their guns and one of the gunboats was sunk.

It however became absolutely necessary to get possession of the fort, the fire of which, thought silenced, yet (form its being regularly walled round on all sides), the ship could not dislodge the soldiers -and those of the vessels' crews, who had made their escape on shore and taken shelter in it.

The Marines and a party of seamen were therefore landed and led on by the first Lieutenant EATON TRAVERS, and Lieutenant PIPON of the Royal Marines forced their way into the battery in the most gallant style, -under a heavy fire of Musketry, obliging more than treble their numbers to fly in all directions, leaving behind, about thirty men and fifty standard of Arms.

The guns which were twenty four pounders, were then thrown over the cliff, the Magazines etc, destroyed, and the two remaining gun vessels brought off.

The zeal and gallantry of all the officers and crew in this effort could not have been exceeded, but I cannot find words to express my admiration of the manner in which Lieutenant Travers commanded and headed the boats crews and landing party setting 'a most noble example of intrepidity to the officers and men under him. Swing to buffling winds the ship was unavoidably exposed to raking fire going in, but the foxlapsull yard shot away, is the only damage of any consequence. I have to regret the loss of 1 Marine killed, and two are wounded.

I have the honour to be etc etc from Henry Duncan Captain. (Sic)

Return of men belonging to HMS IMPERIEUSE, killed and wounded in an attack upon the enemy's fort and gunboats at Possitana on Friday 11th October 1811.

THOMAS NORMAN. Private Marine killed.

OWEN JONES slightly wounded.

DAVID JONES slightly wounded.

From Henry Duncan Captain.

1812. Sunday 2nd February. Southampton captured Haytian privateer Amethyste.

1812. Thursday 13th February. Apollo took French frigate Merinos.

1812. Saturday 22nd February. Victorious and Weasel captured Rivoli and Mercure.

1812. Friday 27th March. Rosario and Griffon destroyed 5 French brigs off Dieppe.

1812. Saturday 4th April. Capture of a French xebec by the Maidstone's boats.

1812. Thursday 16th April. Capture of 9 coasting vessels by the Pilot and boats.

1812. Wednesday 29th April. Boats of Leviathan and Undaunted captured 5 vessels.

1812. Wednesday 29th April. Destruction of 21 of a French convoy off the Rhone.

1812. Monday 4th May. Re-capture of Apelles, British Brig-sloop, near Etaples.

1812. Saturday 9th May. Batteries at Languelia carried, and 18 vessels destroyed.

1812. Thursday 14th May. Thames and Pilot at Port Sapri.

1812. Friday 22nd May. Northumberland and Growler destroyed 2 French frigates.

1812. Monday 25th - 26th May. Hyacinth, Termagant, and Basilisk at Almunecar.

1812. Thursday 28th May. Menelaus engaged Pauline and Ecureuil.

1812. Friday 29th May. Hyacinth and consorts captured Brave and Napoleon.

1812. May. Leviathan and consorts at Languelia and Alassio.

1812. Monday 1st June. The storming of a battery at Isle Verte, near Ciotat. The Royal Marines were on board HMS Furieuse and HMS Menelaus.

1812. Thursday 4th June. Boats of Medusa cut out and destroyed Dorade.

1812. Thursday 11th June. Swallow engaged Renard and Gotland.

1812. Friday 19th June. Boats of Briscis captured Urania.

1812. Saturday 20th June - 8th July. Capture of Fort Leguertis and destruction of batteries.

1812. Saturday 27th June. The action at Lunguillia and Allassio.

1812. June to February 1815. Royal Marines serving in the 1812 War.

With a need to free troops for service in the Peninsula, the Admiralty in 1810 created a battalion of marines and sent them to be a part of the garrison in Lisbon. This was done by combining men from each of the four marine divisions. In 1812, this unit served aboard Admiral Popham's fleet off the North Coast of Spain where they were joined by a second battalion. Together, by being landed here and there, they managed to disrupt coastal traffic and supplies, capture several towns and ports and pin down the northern division of the French Army.

Wishing to pursue the war with America, the two battalions were recalled to England, re-equipped and then sent to the Chesapeake Bay. They arrived in June 1813. With the Navy and several other units, they proceeded to roam at will up and down the bay creating chaos wherever they landed. Both battalions were withdrawn in September and sent to aid in the defense of Canada. By May of 1814, the 2nd was used to augment Commodore Yeo's ships on Lake Ontario and the remainder were merged with the 1st. In July, the 1st was also "disposed for Naval Service".

In 1814, with the demise of Napoleon, Britain decided to send a larger force to America and the Chesapeake. Along with regiments from the Peninsular army, a third battalion of Royal Marines was organized from detachments in Holland and again from the divisions in England and added to the force. Upon reaching the region, this battalion was renumbered the 2nd and was combined with the 21st Foot to create General Ross' 3rd Brigade and served as such at Bladensburg and North Point. A new 3rd battalion was created by Admiral Cockburn by joining three companies of Royal Marines and three companies of Colonial Marines.

In addition to the above battalions, Marines from the ships in the Chesapeake were used as landing forces and raiding parties throughout the campaign. Frequently, provisional battalions were formed from these Marines, and sometimes with sailors, and were used to reinforce the regular units. This occurred at North Point. Another provisional battalion was thrown together for the assault on New Orleans and along with the 85th, managed to breach the American line on the south side of the Mississippi. A company sized detachment operated independently out of Pensacola among the Creek Indians in the southeast.

As can be seen, the Royal Marines served throughout the War of 1812 (and the Napoleonic Wars) in every capacity and every theater of operations. By 1814, there were approximately 30,000 Marines in service throughout the world. (Author Unknown)

1812. June - October. The capture of fort Lequertio and destruction of batteries on the north coast of Spain.

1812. Thursday 2nd July. Boats of Horatio captured a Danish cutter and schooner.

1812. Friday 3rd July. Raven drove 3 French brigs on shore near Flushing.

1812. Saturday 4th July. Boats of Attack captured a French transport galliot.

1812. Monday 6th July. Dictator and consorts destroyed Nayaden, Laaland, and Kiel.

1812. Thursday 16th July. Boats of Osprey and consorts captured Eole.

1812. Tuesday 21st July. Sealark captured Ville de Caen.

1812. Sunday 23rd July. Belvidera engaged President and Congress.

1812. Thursday 30th July. Santander and Castle of Ano taken by Venerable and consorts.

1812. July. The Second Battalion was formed at Chatham and deployed to Portsmouth. It consisted of six companies under the command of Major James Malcolm. On Saturday 15th August, the battalion embarked aboard HMS Fox (3rd to 6th companies) and HMS Latona (1st and 2nd companies), to deploy in Northern Spain under the command of the squadron of Home Riggs Popham. The battalion disembarked at Zumaia on Tuesday 18th August and joined up with Spanish forces under the command of Francisco de Longa. The battalion re-embarked on Sunday 20th September and were landed at Santander on Monday 28th September. Further reinforcements for the battalion disembarked soon after Diadem arrived on Tuesday 29th November at Santander, resulting in two companies being added and another company of artillery being formed. Some of the reinforcements had returned from garrison duty on the island of Anholt, Denmark. The deployment of both battalions in Northern Spain forced the French to redeploy 30,000 men, away from the Salamanca campaign. The Duke of Wellington was so impressed that he requested they would be placed under his command but was rebuffed by the Admiralty.

1812. Monday 10th August. Battery carried at Biendom by party from Minstrel.

1812. Tuesday 11th August. Boats of Menelaus at S. Stefano.

1812. Thursday 13th August. Alert captured by U. S. Frigate Essex.

1812. Saturday 15th August. The Leicester Chronical. A young man who had been enticed into the Marines at Oxford, was sworn in on Wednesday night, deserted the following day, and was apprehended a few hours after at Witney, previous to being handcuffed, he asked for some beer, and after drinking it, he cut his throat with a razor he had concealed in his hand, so dreadfully, that he is not expected to live.

1812. Sunday 16th August. Attack sunk by Danish vessels off Foreness.

1812. Wednesday 19th August. Guerriere captured by Constitution.

1812. Monday 24th August. The Battle of Bladensburg, saw the use of Congreve rockets by the detachment of Royal Marine Artillery (RMA) that resulted in the rout of the US militiamen.

1812. Friday 28th August. Operations at Cadiz and the heroism of gunner John Collard.

1812. Tuesday 1st September. Capture of Tisiphone at Port Lemo by Bacchante.

1812. Wednesday 3rd September. Boats of Menelaus took St. Juan.

1812. Friday 5th September. Alcnclatts cut out a French ship at Lake Orbitello.

1812. Monday 8th September. Laura captured by Diligent.

1812. Saturday 12th September. By order of the Lords of the Admiralty, a distribution of the Scriptures is immediately to take place in the Royal Navy, as follows: one copy of the New Testament, two Common Prayers, with two Psalters, for every eight men, and one Bible to every two Messes.

1812. Thursday 17th September. Capture of 17 and destruction of 6 gunboats by Eagle.

1812. Friday 18th September. Capture of 8 armed and 18 merchant vessels by Bacchante.

1812. Saturday 26th September. The Leicester Chronical. On the 13th, a shocking occurrence took place at Radstock. Corporal Green, who has been for some time at Bath, with a recruiting party of Marines, went over to the above place, with the avowed purpose of apprehending a deserter, but called on a respectable young woman, of the name of Smith, to renew his addresses, which had formerly been rejected by her parents.

They walked out together in the neighbouring lane when the villain, in a fit of desperation, took out a double-barrelled pistol, the contents of which he discharged at the unfortunate young woman, and with the other shot himself through the head. He died on the spot, but his intended victim survives, and hopes are entertained of her ultimate recovery. A woman, in passing through the lane, heard the man exclaim, "in that case we will both die together".

She had not proceeded above a hundred yards when the reports of a pistol induced her to return and was the first witness at this dreadful scene. (Sic)

1812. Tuesday 29th September. Capture of 4 French vessels at Valencia by Minstrel.

1812. Tuesday 29th September. Attack on Mittau, Riga.

1812. Tuesday 29th September. The attack on Mittau, Riga. Royal Marines of HMS Aboukir and HMS Ranger.

1812. Sunday 18th October. Frolic captured by U.S. sloop Wasp.

1812. Sunday 18th October. Poictiers captured Wasp and re-captured Frolic.

1812. Friday 23rd October. The Naval Chronicle. A Court Martial took place on board the Salvador del Mundo, Hamoaze, for the trial of Lieut. William Gibbons, commanding His Majesty's schooner Alphea, on account of the treatment experienced by one Mrs. Bentley, the wife of a Corporal of Marines, who was, In August last, by Lieut. Gibbons's order, put, and left, on the warping buoy, between the island and the main; and for a breach of the 33d article of war. It appeared that on the 14th of August, Lieut. G. went on board the Alphea, to proceed to sea, and enquired what women were on board. He was told Corporal Bentley's wife; whom he had given positive orders should not come into the ship. Lieut. G. desired a boat to be manned to take her on shore; upon which the woman commenced the most violent abuse of Lieut. G. which induced him to say to the men, " put her no farther than the buoy; put her on the buoy." She was there a quarter of an hour; when a boat from the shore took her off. Lieut. G. on his defence, admitted the fact; he thought no injury could arise to her from it; did not know she was pregnant; the buoy was so large that he and 16 others had stood on it. The Court thought that the treatment experienced by Grace Bentley, pursuant to Lieutenant Gibbons's orders, was highly improper and reprehensible, but that the said Lieut. Gibbons has not been guilty of a breach of the 33d article of war, The Court did, in consequence, adjudge him to be dismissed the command of His Majesty's schooner Alphea.

1812. Sunday 25th October. Macedonian captured by U.S. frigate United States.

1812. Wednesday 16th December. Albacore and consorts engaged Gloire.

1812. Monday 21st December. Destruction of tower of St. Cataldo by Apollo and Weasel.

1812. Sunday 28th December. Java captured by U.S. frigate Constitution.

1812. Monday 29th December. Royalist captured Ruse.

1812. During the War of 1812, Edward Nicolls RM was posted to Spanish Florida as part of an attempt to recruit the local Indians as allies against the United States.General Sir Edward Nicolls, KCB (Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath). (1779 – Wednesday 5th February 1865). He was of Anglo-Irish officer serving in the Royal Marines. Often referred to as 'Fighting Nicolls', he had a distinguished career, was involved in numerous actions, and often received serious wounds. According to his obituary in the (London) Times, "He was involved in no fewer than 107 actions, in various parts of the world. He had his left leg broken and his right leg severely injured, was shot through the body and right arm, had received a severe sabre cut in the head, was bayoneted in the chest, and had lost the sight of an eye." (sic)

For his service, he received medals and honours, and reached the rank of General. Described as an 'impatient and blustering Irishman' by an anonymous detractor, Nicolls was greatly admired for his courage. A similar assessment was made by Lord Bathurst.

Nicolls was born in Coleraine, Ireland, in to a family with a military tradition; his father was surveyor of excise in Coleraine, and his maternal grandfather was a rector. Nicolls spent his life as an intensely devout Ulster Protestant. He had two years of school in Greenwich but enlisted in the Royal Navy at the age of 11. In 1795, at the age of 16, he received his first commission in the Royal Marines. At 20 he began service with shipborne detachments of Marines. During the Napoleonic Wars and associated conflicts in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and North Sea, he served as a commander of ships' detachments, and gained his reputation for ferocity and courage.

Upon being posted to Spanish Florida as part of the British attempt to recruit local allies in the fight against the United States. He set up a base at what became known as Negro Fort and recruited Creeks, escaped slaves, and other local residents. As the war ended and after he returned to England in 1815, he attracted controversy by advocating for the Creeks and others who allied themselves with the British. From 1823 to 1828, he was the commandant of Ascension Island in the South Atlantic, which was followed by a posting from 1829 to 1835, as Superintendent of Fernando Po off the coast of Africa. In 1835, Nicolls retired from the Royal Marines with the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel. For his service, Nicolls was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) among other honours and was promoted to the rank of full General in his retirement.

1813. Wednesday 6th January. Boats of Bacchante took 5 French gun-brigs.

1813. Wednesday 6th January. Boats of Havannah captured 3 vessels and a gunboat.

1813. Monday 18th January - 3rd February. Augusta and Carzola Islands captured by Apollo and troops.

1813. Saturday 30th January. The Sydney Gazette. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in ordering Home the Detachment of Royal Marines doing Duty at the Derwent for some Years Past, having granted permission for such of them as were inclined to remain in the country and become settlers, 28 of them having availed themselves of this option. His Excellency the Governor and Commander in Chief directs that they shall be disbanded at Hobart Town on 6 March and struck off all military duties from that date, receiving I months' pay in advance from 6 March in consideration of their long and faithful Services and highly meritorious Conduct for 9 years past in this Country. (sic)

1813. Tuesday 2nd February. Boats of Kingfisher took 6 vessels at Corfu.

1813. Wednesday 3rd February. The capture of the Island of Agusta. Royal Marines and Seamen from the HMS Apollo, the 35th Regiment and Artillery.

1813. Sunday 7th February. Amelia engaged Arethuse.

1813. Monday 8th February. Boats of Belvidera and consorts took Lottery.

1813. Sunday 14th February. Boats of Bacchante captured Alcinous.

1813. Monday 15th February. Batteries at Pietra-Nera stormed and carried.

1813. Wednesday 24th February. Peacock sunk by U.S. sloop Hornet.

1813. Thursday 25th February. Linnet taken by French frigate Gloire.

1813. Friday 26th February. Island of Ponza taken by Thames and consorts.

1813. Thursday 4th of March. An order in Council established the rates of officer's pensions on the same footing with the Army. At the reduction of the Corps in 1814, the non-commissioned officers and privates loudly expressed their disappointment in not being allowed a pension for length of service, on the same footing with their brother soldiers in the line, and incompliance with the Admiralty order of Wednesday 6th of July 1814 the men were desired by their commanding officer on no consideration to trouble the Lords of the Admiralty respecting pensions, unless absolutely worn out in the service, so as to be rendered incapable of labour. This unjust determination of the board gave rise to a letter entitled, The Royal Marine to the Friends of his Country and its brave Defenders, which, on being circulated in the barracks at Chatham, tended to increase the discontent that prevailed, but shortly afterwards the claims of those gallant and loyal veterans obtained due consideration, and pensions were awarded them. (sic)

1813. Thursday 18th March. Battery at Carri destroyed by boats of Undaunted.

1813. Sunday 21st March. Capture of 2 Danish gunboats by Brevdrageren and Blazer.

1813. Monday 22nd March. Two French vessels taken at Vasto by boats of Havannah.

1813. Friday 26th March. Boats of Havannah captured 10 vessels at Fortore.

1813. Wednesday 31st March. Batteries at Morgion destroyed and 11 vessels captured.

1813. Friday 2nd April. Boats of San Domingo and consorts captured 4 schooners.

1813. Sunday 11th April. Devil's Island taken by Apollo and Cerberus.

1813. Wednesday 14th April. Malero Island captured by Apollo and Cerberus.

1813. Saturday 17th April. Alutine captured Invincible.

1813. Thursday 22nd April. Weasel destroyed 14 French vessels off Boscalina.

1813. Saturday 24th April. Boats of Apollo captured a felucca.

1813. Monday 26th April. Six vessels captured at Goro by Elizabeth and Eagle.

1813. Wednesday 28th April. French Town in Chesapeake taken. Captains Wyburn and Carter with 150 Royal Marines.

1813. Thursday 29th April - 5th May. Boats of Marlborough and consorts in Chesapeake Bay.

1813. April. Boats of Orpheus captured a Danish letter-of-marque.

1813. Sunday 2nd May. Batteries destroyed at Morgion by boats of Repulse and consort.

1813. Tuesday 11th May. Bacchante at Karlebago.

1813. Sunday 16th May. Boats of Berwick and Euryalus at Cavalarie.

1813. Monday 17th May. Boats of Apollo and Cerberus took a vessel near Brindisi.

1813. Thursday 27th May. Boats of Apollo and Cerberus took 3 gunboats at Faro.

1813. May - June. Lyra, Royalist and Sparrow at Castro de Urdeales.

1813. Sunday 2nd May. Morgion. Captain Ennis and a party of Royal Marines from HMS Undaunted and HMS Volontaire blow up battery and capture six laden vessels.

1813. Tuesday 1st June. Shannon captured U.S. frigate Chesapeake.

1813. Tuesday 1st June. HMS Shannon captured U.S. frigiue Chesapeake.

1813. Thursday 3rd June – 8th June. Fort San Felippe De Balaguer. A small but important fort garrisoned by 100 men situated upon an isolated rock in the very gorge of a pass and blocking the only carriage way between Tortoza and Tarragona. Five men of war and two battalions were detailed for the attack. Guns and Mortars were landed from the ships and great difficulty placed in position on the mountain side. Earth for the batteries had to be brought up from below and water was only obtainable from the ships, the landing place being a mile and a half away from the scene of the operation. The surrender of the fortress was due to the fire of a couple of 8 inch mortars worked by Lieutenant H. James RMA. which exploded a magazine. He and his party belonged to the Stromboli bomb vessel. After capture a garrison of Royal Marines under Captain E. Baillie was placed in San Felippe.

1813. Thursday 3rd - 19th June to 28th September. Operations on Lake Ontario.

1813. Tuesday 8th June. Boats of Elizabeth and Eagle defeated troops at Omago.

1813. Saturday 12th June. Boats of Bacchante captured 24 vessels at Abruzza.

1813. Saturday 12th June. Boats of Narcissus took the American schooner Surveyor.

1813. Thursday 17th June. Garrison defeated at Zapano by party from Saracen.

1813. Sunday 20th June. Capture of Dignano by boats of Elizabeth.

1813. Sunday 20th June. Junon engaged 15 gunboats in Hampton Roads.

1813. Tuesday 22nd June. Unsuccessful attack by boats of squadron on Craney Isla.

1813. Wednesday 23rd June. Boats of Castor cut out Fortune off Catalonia.

1813. Friday 25th June. Capture of Hampton by boats of Marlborough and squadron.

1813. Friday 25th June. The battle of Hampton.

1813. Saturday 3rd July. Fiume. The detachment of Royal Marines of HMS Milford took and spiked the guns of a battery, took possession of a fort and hoisted the British colours. On advancing through the town they were much annoyed by the fire of a field piece and by musketry from the windows but headed by 2nd Lieutenants S. Lloyd and E. Nepean they pushed the French troops, almost 300 strong before them till they came to the square. Here the enemy made a stand but were dispersed by the fire of the cannonades in the ships boats. Nine guns were captured, 90 vessels taken or destroyed, 50 guns disabled, and two magazines burnt.

1813. Saturday 3rd July. The Leicester Chronical. The Court Martial held last week at Portsmouth on Lieut DELAP of the Marines, one late of the Java, on charges of having refused to account for a sum of money due to a widow of one of the officers of the Java, who was killed in action, which he had received and was entrusted with, and for the most insolent conduct to General Elliot, of the Marines, commanding at Portsmouth, etc, finished their proceedings on Saturday, and passed the following sentence on him on the parade in the barrack-yard, viz - That he be cashiered, and rendered incapable of ever serving his Majesty in any military or civil capacity whatever, and his heirs for ever, and that his epaulette and sash should be torn from him by the Drum Major and the breaking of his sword over his head was dispensed with in consequence only of his late good conduct when in action on board the Java.

At 10 o'clock on Saturday morning, sentence was carried into execution. All the officers and men at quarters having been ordered under arms, Lieut Delap was brought from his room, in-custody of the officer on guard, and placed in the centre of a hollow square, which the troops had formed. The sentence was then read by the Judge Advocate (Lieut and Adjutant PATTEN) and the Drum Major cut the epaulette from off his shoulder, and his sash from off his body, General WINTER (the President) then addressed the Corps in an impressive manner, and with the feelings worthy of the British Soldier pointed out the evils of insubordination, and adverted to the case they had just witnessed, as a proof that no rank was above the reach of the law. He informed Mr Delap that it was his good conduct in the action between the Java and Constitution that alone averted an additionally disgraceful circumstance that would have been included in the sentence, that of having his sword broke over his head. Mr Delap was then led out of the Barracks by a guard.

1813. Wednesday 7th July. Destruction of Farasina by Eagle and landing party.

1813. Saturday 10th July - 8th Sept. Reduction of St. Sebastian by Graham.

1813. Sunday 11th July. Conflict and consorts took Ocracoke and Portsmouth.

1813. Sunday 11th July. Contest and Mohawk captured U.S. schooner Asp.

1813. Monday 19th July. Bordighero.

1813. July 29. Martin aground, attacked by American gunboats.

1813. Monday 2nd August. The Royal Marines from HMS Eagle and HMS Bacchante under Lieutenants C. Holmes, W. Haig and S. Lloyd took part in the capture of 14 merchantmen and 10 gunboats lying in the Rovigno harbour, protected by 100 troops and 2 field guns. The Royal Marines charged the guns with the bayonet and captured and destroyed them.

1813. Wednesday 4th August. Battery at Ragosniza destroyed by Milford and Weasel.

1813. Thursday 5th August. Dominica taken by the privateer Decalur.

1813. Friday 13th August. Pelican captured U.S. brig Argus.

1813. Wednesday 18th August. Capture of Cassis by Undaunted, squadron, and boats.

1813. Sunday 5th September. Boxer captured by U.S. brig Enterprise.

1813. Sunday 5th September. Destruction of batteries and capture of ships at d'Anzo.

1813. Thursday 9th September. Alphea engaged Renard but blew up with all hands.

1813. Friday 10th September. Detroit and 5 consorts captured by Perry on Lake Erie.

1813. Thursday 16th September. Boats of Swallow took Guerriere.

1813. Tuesday 5th October. A convoy was destroyed, and Royal Marines stormed the battery at Port D'ango.

1813. Tuesday 5th – 29th October. A detachment of Royal Marines along with 2 guns blockaded and capture of Trieste.

1813. Saturday 9th October. Thunder captured the French lugger Neptune.

1813. Tuesday 12th October. St. George and Cattard taken by Bacchante and Saracen.

1813. Wednesday 13th October. Telegraph destroyed Flibustier.

1813. Thursday 14th October. Boats from HMS Furieuse cut out a convoy while the Royal Marines stormed the battery at Marinello (near Citcita Veechia). Capturing the battery and 16 vessels.

1813. Saturday 16th, 17th and 18th October. A detachment of the Royal Marine Artillery was involved in the battle of Leipzig.

1813. Wednesday 20th October. Achates engaged Trave.

1813. Saturday 23rd October. Andromache captured Trave.

1813. Monday 1st November. Snap captured the French lugger Lion.

1813. Friday 5th November. Scipion and consorts engaged the French off Cape Sepet.

1813. Monday 8th November. Boats of Revenge took a French privateer at Palamos.

1813. Tuesday 9th November. The storming of the batteries at Port Nouvelle by Undaunted and Guadeloupe.

1813. Friday 26th November. Boats of Swiftsure took Charlemagne.

1813. Monday 29th November. The Hague.

1813. Tuesday 30th November. Desiree and gun-vessels attacked batteries at Cuxhaven.

1813. Saturday 11th – 15th December. Leghorn.

1813. December. Enryalus took a French 22-gun store ship.

1813. December. Alemene captured a French schooner laden with troops.

1814. Tuesday 4th January. Operations in South Beveland.

1814. Wednesday 5th January. Fortress of Gluckstadt captured by a British squadron.

1814. Wednesday 5th January. Fortress of Cattaro taken by Bacchante and Saracen.

1814. Thursday 6th January. Tagus and Niger took the French frigate Ceres.

1814. Saturday 15th January. Boat of Castor took Heureux.

1814. Sunday 16th - 20th January. Venerable and Cyane took Iphigenie and Alemene.

1814. Tuesday 18th January. Severn engaged Etoile and Sultane.

1814. Sunday 23rd January. Astrea and Creole engaged Etoile and Sultane.

1814. Friday 28th January. Surrender of Ragusa to Bacchante, Saracen and troops.

1814. January. The 3rd Royal Marine Battalion was formed at Portsmouth from detachments based in portsmouth, and by Marines detachments withdrawn from serving in the Netherlands. It consisted of 1 Major, 4 Captains, 21 Lieutenants, 1 Adjutant, 1 Quartermaster, and 10 Companies of 100 men each. Also attached was one company of Royal Marine Artillery.

1814. Wednesday 2nd February. Majestic took Terpsichore.

1814. Sunday 13th February. Boyne and Caledonia engaged Romulus and Adrienne.

1814. Sunday 13th February. Island of Paxo surrendered to Apollo and troops.

1814. Monday 14th February. Picton captured by U.S. frigate Constitution.

1814. Wednesday 23rd February. Epervier took U.S. privateer brig Alfred.

1814. Friday 25th February. Eurotas captured Clorinde.

1814. Monday 7th March. U.S. privateer Mars destroyed at Sandy Hook.

1814. Friday 12th March. Primrose engaged by mistake a British brig Packet.

1814. Sunday 13th March. Cole Mill in Canada.

1814. Friday 25th March. Royal Marines of HMS Edinburgh and HMS Swallow land and capture the castle of Lerici (near Spain).

1814. Saturday 26th March. Hebrus and Sparrow engaged Etoile and Sultane.

1814. Saturday 26th March. Hannibal captured Sultane.

1814. Sunday 27th March. Hebrus captured Etoile.

1814. Monday 28th March. Phoebe and Cherub took Essex and Essex Junior.

1814. Saturday 2nd April. Boats of Porcupine captured 12 and destroyed 4 vessels.

1814. Thursday 7th April. Raid on the Connecticut River at the Town of Essex. A British raiding force of 136 Marines and sailors rowed six heavily armed boats from four British warships anchored in Long Island Sound (HMS Hogue, HMS Endymion, HMS Maidstone and HMS Borer), six miles up the Connecticut River. They had come under the command of Captain Richard Coote (Coot) to burn the privateers anchored in port towns along the river. On the way up the river, the Marines landed to secure the old fort at Saybrook to prevent being trapped on their return trip, they found it to be unmanned. The boats were armed with swivel guns loaded with grapeshot, the officers armed with swords and pistols, the Marines with Brown Bess muskets, and the sailors with torches and axes.

1814. Friday 8th April. The British raiding force arrived in Essex then known as Pettipaug at 3:30am. At the landing site a handful of local militia men fired out into the darkness, with muskets and one four pound cannon. The British replied with a massive volley from the Marine's muskets and the guns mounted in the ship's boats. Realising further resistance was futile, the small, disorganised militia fell back into the darkness. The Marines secured the village while the seamen set about burning all of the ships at the wharves and on the stocks being built, as well as those moored the harbour.

The British informed the villagers that they had come to destroy shipping, not their homes. Reportedly the civilians were told that as long as they did not molest the British, the town would not be put to the torch. There was no formal capitulation, but it was the best deal that the people of Pettipaug were going to get that night.

However, there was resistance and riders were sent to New London to seek assistance from the troops at Fort Trumbull as well Commodore Stephan Decatur whose squadron was blockaded in the Thames River. Meanwhile several men and boys attempted to extinguish burning ships and even hide some of them up the coves, although their attempts were unsuccessful.

The British searched houses for arms and destroyed or commandeered ship rigging materials from waterfront warehouses and destroyed a large quantity of West Indies Rum.

By 10am the British force had torched 27 vessels. They began an orderly departure with their ship's boats and two large American privateers, the brig Anaconda and the schooner Eagle. About a mile south of the village the brig went aground in the river where the British were subject to sporadic gunfire from shore.

They transferred everything from the grounded vessel and burned it. Coote decided to anchor the schooner and wait until nightfall to head further down the river where militia from Killingworth and Lyme were gathering at the narrows in the river.

At this point the Americans sent a boat out under a white flag to serve the British with a surrender ultimatum. Captain Coote dismissed it stating, "We hold your power to detain us at defiance."

By late afternoon soldiers, sailors, Marines and additional militia and volunteers were arriving from New London. There were now several hundred armed Americans and a number of artillery pieces on each side of the river. These forces included two American Generals and two US Navy Captains.

The trap was set, but when the Americans realised the British were not going to come down the river until it was dark, they understood there was a real chance of missing them in the blackness of the overcast night. They raced to get at cannon into position on Ayres Point to hit them where they were anchored in the river.

At dusk, as the British set fire to the remaining privateer and were transferring their men back into the boats, they were hit by an American six pound cannon under command of Lieutenant Bull, which had arrived just as the sun began to set. The American crew fired off six rounds as fast they could reload. Two Royal Marines were killed, and a sailor was wounded, but the cloak of darkness now masked their movements.

Aided by the strong flow of the river they headed down river in their boats, running a gauntlet of small arms and cannon fire from both banks. Despite the effort of upwards of 600 Americans to stop them, the British reached their ships at 10pm reportedly letting out three cheers after they passed the fort in Saybrook from which ineffectual parting shots were fired.

Compounding the loss of the 27 ships and the failure to capture the British on the way out was the fact that an American had helped guide the British during the raid. The traitor, nicknamed Torpedo Jack by the British, was paid $2,000 for his efforts, a staggering sum at that time.

By the time the raid was over they had burned 27 ships, including six newly built privateers. It was the largest single maritime loss of the war.

1814. Wednesday 20th Apil. Orpheus and Shelburne captured U.S. sloop Frolic.

1814. Friday 29th April. Epervier taken by U.S. sloop Peacock.

1814. April. Batteries destroyed on the Gironde by Belle Poule.

1814. Wednesday 13th – 17th April. Co-operating with the Anglo Italian Army in its attack on Genoa. The Royal Marines of the British squadron were embarked in to boats and ready to land when and if required. Later while the troops were engaged with the enemy, and the guns in the shore batteries. This enabled the Royal Marines and seamen to storm them with little loss, and to turn their guns against the town.

1814. Tuesday 3rd May. Oswego.

1814. Friday 6th May. Capture of batteries and consorts at Oswego by the British squadron.

1814. Wednesday 25th May. Boats of Elizabeth took Aigle off Corfu.

1814. Monday 30th May. Party from Montreal and Niagara defeated at Sandy Creek.

1814. Wednesday 1st June - 4th July. Operations in the River Patuxent.

1814. Tuesday 14th June. Superb and Nimrod destroyed American vessels at Wareham.

1814. Tuesday 28th June. Reindeer taken by U.S. sloop Wasp.

1814. Tuesday 12th July. Landrail taken by U.S. privateer Syren.

1814. July. Ballahou taken by U. S. privateer Perry.

1814. Saturday 16th July. The British fleet arrived in Chesapeake Bay.

1814. Tuesday 19th July. The British occupied Leonardtown.

1814. Tuesday 19th July - 25th August. Operations in the Potomac River and capture of Washington.

1814. Wednesday 20th July. The British fought on the Nominy River.

1814. Saturday 23rd July. The British fought on the St Clements River.

1814. Tuesday 26th July. The British fought at Machodic Creek.

1814. Saturday 30th July. The British fought at Chaptico.

1814. Wednesday 3rd August. The British fought on the Yocomico River at Kinsale.

1814. Sunday 7th August. The British fought on the Cann River.

1814. Friday 12th August. Boats of Cherwell and Netley took Somers and Ohio.

1814. Monday 15th August the half pay was increased, which equalised it with officers of the same rank in the line.

1814. Wednesday 17th August - 9th September. Capture of Fort Washington and Alexandria.

1814. Wednesday 24th August. The battle of Bladensburg.

1814. Wednesday 24th August. The sacking and burning of Washington.

1814. At Pensacola Captain Edward Nicolls RM issued an order of the day for the 'First Colonial battalion of the Royal Corps of Marines'. At the same time, Nicolls issued a widely disseminated proclamation to the people of Louisiana, urging them to join forces with the British and Indian Allies against the American government. Both proclamations were reproduced in Niles' Register. These were a ruse as to the real strength of the British. The 'numerous British and Spanish squadron of ships and vessels of war' comprised 2 sloops and 2 sixth rates. The 'good train of artillery' comprised of 3 cannons and 12 Royal Marine gunners, whilst the 'Battalion' was a company-strength group of 100 Royal Marine infantry, all of whom were detached from Major George Lewis's battalion. The numbers of Corps of Colonial Marines and Redstick Creeks are difficult to ascertain, although Nicolls did arrive in Florida with 300 British uniforms and 1000 muskets. Manrique cooperated with Nicolls, allowing him to train and drill Creek refugees.

Nicolls is also mentioned in attempts to recruit Jean Lafitte to the British cause. Nicolls participated in an unsuccessful land and naval attack on Fort Bowyer on 15th September. The taking of Pensacola in November by an American force under Andrew Jackson forced Nicolls to retreat to the Apalachicola River with freed slaves from Pensacola. There, Nicolls regrouped at Prospect Bluff, and rallied Indians and refugee ex-slaves living free in Florida, recruiting the latter into his detached unit of the Corps of Colonial Marines.

Later Captain Nicolls joined General Pakenham's force, accompanied by less than 100 Seminole, Creek & Choctaw warriors. At the Battle of New Orleans on 8 January 1815, Nicolls was attached with some of his men to the brigade commanded by Colonel William Thornton of the 85th Regiment of Foot (Bucks Volunteers). Nicolls was the senior-ranking officer of the Royal Marines present at the battle. Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane forbade Nicolls to personally take part in the fighting, fearing that mishap to Nicolls might deprive the British of their most competent officer serving with the Redstick Creeks and Seminoles. The actual battlefield command of the 100 Royal Marines brigaded with Thornton's 85th Foot went to a less senior officer, Major Thomas Benjamin Adair, commanding officer of the Marine detachment on HMS Vengeur. Nicolls embarked HMS Erebus on 12 January at Cat Island Roads, and disembarked at Appalachicola on Tuseday 25th January, accompanied by several Creek warriors and a number of Royal Marine reinforcements.

The start of 1815 was to see an offensive in the south, with Royal Marine battalions to advance westward into Georgia, and to be joined by Nicolls and his forces from the Gulf Coast. These plans were overtaken by events, as peace was declared. Consequentially, with the offensive cancelled, Nicolls and his men returned to Prospect Bluff.

1814. Tuesday 30th August. Party from Menelaus engaged ashore in Chesapeake Bay.

1814. August. Nancy destroyed by Tigress and Scorpion on Lake Huron.

1814. Thursday 1st September. Castine captured by a British squadron.

1814. Thursday 1st September. Avon sunk by U.S. sloop Wasp.

1814. Saturday 3rd September. American frigate Adams and 10 vessels destroyed.

1814. Sunday 3rd September. The Royal Marines stormed Hampten, USS Adams burnt and vessels destroyed at Bangor.

1814. Sunday 3rd September. Boats of Nancy captured U.S. schooner Tigress.

1814. Wednesday 6th September. Party from Nancy captured Scorpion.

1814. Sunday 10th - 14th Sept. Attack on Baltimore by a British squadron.

1814. monday 11th September. Confiance and 3 consorts taken by Macdonough.

1814. Monday 12th September. The fight before Baltimore.

1814. Monday 12th-15th September. The Battle of Baltimore. The Royal Marine Artillerymen served aboard HMS Erebus.

1814. Thursday 15th September. Hermes lost at unsuccessful attack on Fort Bowyer.

1814. Monday 26th September. Boats of Plantagenet and Rota repulsed by General Armstrong.

1814. October. Henry Noble Shipton (27th June 1797 – 5th December 1821) was a British junior officer who served in the Royal Marines and the Army. He is notable as being the sole Royal Marine to have fought at the Battle of Waterloo.

In October 1814, he was sent with sixteen other officers as a draft of reinforcements to North America. He embarked Statira with 10 other officers and 38 other ranks and was disembarked in Louisiana on 29th December. It was atypical for Royal Marines to serve on land as infantry; most Royal Marines were ship-borne. He, however, was present with the 4th Foot at the Battle of New Orleans, and at the Second Battle of Fort Bowyer in February 1815.

He embarked Tonnant, and returned to Europe in May 1815, as did the 1st battalion of the 4th Foot.

He had a recommendation of commission into the army by General John Lambert, and therefore he tendered his resignation to the Royal Marines. The path of advancement in the Royal Navy was to have high-ranking sponsors. As well as striking up a good rapport with the officers of the 4th, he also gained General Lambert as a sponsor. Given that a lengthy land war seemed imminent (rather than a 100-day campaign), it made perfect sense from a career point of view to resign his commission as a Second Lieutenant, and to become an Ensign in the army.

Immediately upon Shipton's return to the UK from the United States in 1815 he had submitted a letter resigning his commission in the Royal Marines. He was anticipating being commissioned in the Army having obtained "a strong endorsement" from Major-General Lambert. When the 4th Foot embarked for the Netherlands in early June 1815 Shipton accompanied that regiment as a gentleman Volunteer. He fought at Waterloo as a Volunteer; he was neither a Royal Marine or an Ensign. Shipton's commission as an Ensign in the 4th Foot is dated 3 August 1815. He was appointed in place of Ensign Blagrave who had been promoted to Lieutenant on the same day. Despite Shipton's medal being issued to him with the rank of Ensign on the rim he was still only a Volunteer on 18 June 1815. In the National Archives in London there is correspondence dated 27th June 1815 from Shipton's father to the Military Secretary pleading for his son to be granted a commission in the Army. Shipton's father was fearful that in any "speedy peace" his son "would be thrown upon the world without half-pay either from the Army or Marines...". Included in this correspondence is a letter from the Admiralty Office dated 31st May 1815 to the Military Secretary which states "that no objection exists in this Department to the appointment of 2nd Lieut Henry Noble Shipton to a Regiment of the Line, their Lordships being pleased to accept his resignation of his Commission in the Royal Marine Corps". This correspondence is held in WO 31/425 (Commander in Chief's Memoranda).

1814. Monday 3rd - 4th October. Boats and landing parties in the Coan River.

1814. Sunday 9th October. Boats of Endymion unsuccessfully attacked Neufchatel.

1814. Tuesday 13th - 14th December. The capture of an American flotilla on Lake Borgne, five U.S. gun-boats and a sloop.

1814. Raids on the American Coast.

1814. Three additional Marine Battalions (numbered 1-3) were raised from among the Royal Marines specifically for action in Portugal, Northern Spain, the Invasion of France, the Netherlands, North America and the Caribbean. However, they were later disbanded in 1815.

1814 \- 1816. The Royal Marines were reduced to a peacetime establishment set at eighty companies (four of artillery) of 6,222 men. This reduction, of course, did not last and its numbers again increased, and you see the Royal Marines once again called upon to serve around the globe both at sea and on land.

1815. Thursday 2th January. The capture of Point a Pitre.

1815. Sunday 8th January. The British attacked New Orleans.

1815. Friday 13th - 14th January. Capture of St. Mary's, Georgia, by the British.

1815. Sunday 15th January. Endymion captured U.S. frigate President.

1815. January - March. The British mount many raids on Florida Coast.

1815. Friday 20th February. Cyane and Levant captured by U.S. frigate Constitution.

1815. Sunday 22nd February. Engagement between British boats and U.S. troops in St. Mary's River.

1815. Thursday 26th February. St. Lawrence taken by U.S. privateer Chasseur.

1815. Wednesday 15th March. A U.S. Army aide-de-camp named Walter Bourke communicated to Major General Thomas Pinckney that conditions were difficult on the Georgia frontier despite efforts of Brigadier General John Floyd of the Georgia militia to reinforce American defences, and the efforts of U.S. Truce Commissioners T. M. Newell and Thomas Spalding on the Georgia coast to negotiate the return of slaves who had enlisted in, or sought asylum with, the Corps of Colonial Marines still at Cumberland Island under the command of Rear Admiral George Cockburn. Cockburn was not inclined to voluntarily hand over British military personnel who risked being returned to slavery by the Americans. Cockburn also professed difficulty in communicating news of the Treaty of Ghent to Nicolls and his forces. There was a whiff of panic in St. Marys and Savannah at this time.

Edward Nicolls RM contributed to diplomatic tensions between the United Kingdom and the United States over slavery-related issues arising from Jackson's Treaty with the Creeks, the Treaty of Ghent, and Nicolls's attempts to represent the interests of the Native Americans and blacks who had taken up arms on the British side. Writing from HMS Royal Oak, off Mobile Bay, on Wednesday 15th March 1815, Rear Admiral Pulteney Malcolm, Cochrane's subordinate commander of the Mobile Squadron, assured Don Mateo Gonzalez Manrique, the Governor at Pensacola, that Post-Captain Robert Cavendish Spencer of HMS Carron, (a son of George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer), had been detailed to conduct a strict enquiry into the conduct of Nicolls and Captain Woodbine, respecting the losses in property to Spanish inhabitants of Florida. Malcolm believed that in cases where former slaves could not be persuaded to return to their owners, the British government would undertake to remunerate the owners.

Prior to leaving British Post for Great Britain, Nicolls engaged in a heated exchange of letters with U.S. Indian Agent Benjamin Hawkins. Hawkins accused Nicolls of being overzealous and of overstepping his authority in his personal defence of Redstick Creeks, Seminoles, and their Marron Creole or Black Allies, who some Americans in authority viewed as nothing more than runaway slaves and lost or unclaimed property.

1815. Saturday 22nd April. Nicolls received orders to withdraw his troops from the fort. The Royal Marine detachment embarked HMS Cydnus on, and were duly returned to Ireland Island in Bermuda, arriving on Tuesday 13th June 1815, to re-join the 3rd Battalion as a supernumerary company. Nicolls left in the summer of 1815 with the Redstick Creek Prophet, Josiah Francis (or Hillis Hadjo, the Native American Indian spiritual and political leader known for his role in the Battle of Holy Ground), and an Anglo-Creek-Seminole treaty of Nicolls' own initiative. Nicolls, Woodbine, and a Redstick Creek leader, probably Francis, arrived at Amelia Island, in East Florida on Wednesday 7th June 1815, where rumours circulated that the officers were seeking to either obtain British possession of Florida from Spain, or at least to arm and supply the Florida factions resisting American territorial expansion. In leaving West Florida, according to the U. S. Indian Agent Hawkins, Nicolls had left local forces with the arms and means to resist advancing American encroachments which were leading up to Andrew Jackson's First Seminole War. Nicolls embarked the brig HMS Forward at Amelia Island on Thursday 29th June 'for passage to England', and disembarked at Portsmouth on Wednesday 13th September. In England, Nicolls failed to obtain official support for the Creeks, and Josiah Francis failed to receive official recognition for his credentials as the Redstick Creek emissary from the Foreign Office, although he did receive honorary recognition as a former Colonel of the British Army in Florida as well as publicized encounters with British notables, before returning to West Florida in 1816. Nicolls himself, however, was retained on full pay status in the duties of a Captain of Royal Marines with the brevet rank of Major.

1815. Thursday 23rd March. Penguin taken by U.S. ship Hornet.

1815. Sunday 30th April. Rivoli captured Melpomene off Ischia.

1815. Sunday 21st May. Naples. The Royal Marines landed 500 strong to occupy Forts St. Elmo and D'Uovo upon its surrender by the French.

1815. Saturday 17th June. Pilot engaged Legere off Cape Corse.

1815. Sunday 18th July. French convoy captured by Ferret, Fly and consort.

1815. Wednesday 5th July. The pay of Adjutants was increased.

1815. Friday 14th July. 500 Marines landed under Brevet Major H. Cox, co-operated with the Army under Sir Hudson Lowe in the occupation of Marseilles.

1815. Saturday 15th July. Marine Private John Sudbury record Napoleon's boarding of HMS Bellaraphon, and a claim that a young Napoleon applied for a commission in the British Marines.

1815. Sunday 18th July. French convoy captured by Ferret, Fly and consorts.

1815. Tuesday 18th – 19th July. The French convoy cut out at Corigeou. On the 5th July the frigates HMS Rhin, HMS Menelaus and HMS Havannah, with the Fly and Ferret brigs, and the schooner Sealark chased a French convoy into the Bay of Corigeou, about eighteen miles from Brest. The boats left the squadron at 10pm on the 18th and came to a grapnel under a range of rocks about a quarter of a mile from shore. Here they lay till the moon went down, finally effecting a landing, undiscovered, at 2-45am on the 19th. The Marines of HMS Menelaus, 45 rank and file, formed the advance guard under Lieutenant A, Burton RH, the main body consisting of 120 Marines under Lieutenants Bunce and Hurdle, and 80 seamen, was commanded by Captain Malcolm RN of HMS Rhin. Having stormed the two batteries which protected the anchorage, the brigs were able to enter and bring out the convoy. This little affair is of some interest as being the last of the numerous cutting out expeditions in which the Marines played such an important part during the long war with France.

1815. Saturday 24th July. Reduction of Gaeta by Malta and Berwick.

1815. Napoleon was exiled to St Helena Island of Ascension.

When St. Helena became the prison of Napoleon, the occupation of Ascension necessarily followed; and Sir George Cockburn, the commander-in-chief on the station, immediately sent an officer with a number of men under his command to hold the island. But the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were not long in forwarding a different establishment, and a detachment of Marines was sent from England, under Major Campbell, to form the garrison. It was in October 1823 that Major Nicolls succeeded to the command of the Island of Ascension, which was then a mere rock overrun by immense rats, and incapable of producing any vegetation; having scarcely sufficient water for its small garrison, and the road from the barracks to the spring which furnished the supply almost impassable for their water cart. But by the unremitted exertions of the Marines on the island, convenient roads were made, and water-tanks built, affording not only an ample supply for the garrison, but for the ships of the African squadron, and numerous merchant vessels that came to the island in distress. Vegetables were cultivated with so much success, that a plentiful supply was obtained by our cruisers, and previous to the recall of Major Nicolls from his command in 1828, (on his promotion to the rank of Major in the Corps,) he had so improved the cultivation of the island, that there were 800 head of cattle of his own rearing, consisting of cows, oxen, sheep, goats, and swine, besides about 500 that had been slaughtered.

The ingenuity and perseverance of the Marines who served on the Island of Ascension, and particularly those who were its earliest inhabitants, convey to the admiring and astonished visitor of the colony a flattering impression of the discipline and internal economy of the Corps.

Captain William Bate succeeded Major Nicolls, and this officer, after years of exertion, vexation, and difficulty, died on the island. Captain Tinklar was the next commandant, and this zealous officer soon became a victim to his anxious desire to promote the welfare of the service. Captain Bennett was the next appointed, but the period of that officer's command was even briefer than his predecessor, and he died in a still more sudden manner.

The death of three commandants within so short a period leads us to infer, that their removal was not entirely attributable to the malignity of the climate, for we do not find its fatal influence extending to the subordinate ranks, but we believe that the duties of the commanding officers were of a most tantalising character, involving contradictions, vexations, and anomalies that but few constitutions could long resist in such a climate as that of Ascension. The last officer of Marines in command at this seemingly fatal colony was Captain R. P. Dwyer, and he all but shared the fate of his predecessors, for in little more than two years from his appointment, he was, through the excitement and vexations inseparable from his duties, seized with such severe illness, that, as the only chance of saving his life, he was sent to England by the first ship that touched at the island. But some time previous to his illness Captain Dwyer had solicited permission to resign his command, under the persuasion that no exertions, no line of conduct however upright and honourable, could guarantee him from annoyances which could not be overcome.

Thus ended the command which had been so long held by officers of the Royal Marines on the Island of Ascension. That gloomy cinder in the distant ocean, which has been forced into its actual state of usefulness and importance by the perseverance, the skill, and the zeal of the Marines. This fact so forcibly struck the Prince de Joinville when he visited the island in the early part of 1843, that his Royal Highness observed to Captain Dwyer, "The Marines deserve great credit. They have performed wonders here, for out of nothing, less than nothing, you have created a great deal, a very useful little colony."

1816. Saturday 6th July. The pay of Adjutants was increased.

1816. Sunday 27th August The Bombardment of Algiersby Lord Exmouth. The following is taken from the MS. Journal of General F.W. Whinyates R.E. published in the R.E. Journal of 1th February 1881; On the 9th August, arrived at Gibraltar after 13 days passage. Whilst at Gibraltar the Marines of the fleet, about 100, were formed into two Battalion, to be commanded by Majors Vallack and Collins of the Royal Marines. It was intended that the company of Royal Sappers and Marines should land with them at Algiers, and each Sapper and Miner was to carry two hand Grenades and a piece of slow match in his haver sack, besides his musket and ammunition.

1816. In consequence of the peace, the establishment was reduced to eighty companies, consisting of battalion companies, 6,760, four artillery companies 368, staff 94, making a total of 6,222 men.

1817. Wednesday 26th November. By order in Council of the Corps was fixed at 6,236 men, in eighty companies, of which eight were artillery.

1817. Captain Edward Nicholls, later known as 'fighting Nicholls' and to become a General of Royal Marines, raised a Regiment of North American Indians to fight in the War of Independence. These Indians comprised mainly of Seminoles, Redstick Creeks and Choctaw warriors.

1817. Bombardment of Mocha by Eden.

1817. During the summer Captain George Woodbine, one of Edward Nicoll's former subordinate officers, was present in Spanish East Florida together with the former British soldier and Scottish mercenary lieutenant of Simon Bolivar, Gregor MacGregor. Woodbine and Macgregor both left Spanish East Florida to re-join the Latin American revolutionary movement prior to U.S. military intervention in East Florida. The names of Nicolls, Woodbine, and Macgregor, had become associated with the arming of blacks as soldiers, militiamen, and even as mercenaries. The threat, real or imaginary, was an anathema to North American popular conceptions of the time.

The Niles' Weekly Register of Baltimore also published, between July and October 1818, portions of correspondence between Nicolls and the former auxiliary 2nd Lt Robert Chrystie Armbrister (1797–1818) of the first "battalion" of the Corps of Colonial Marines. Armbrister was one of two British subjects executed in the Arbuthnot and Ambrister incident by order of Major General Andrew Jackson following a drumhead trial at Saint Marks in West Florida in April 1818. Josiah Francis and another Seminole leader, Nehemathla Micco, were also summarily executed by the Americans in Spanish territorial waters in April 1818. In the correspondence of Armbrister, assistance is asked of Nicolls to intervene with the British government on behalf of former allies seeking asylum in Spanish West Florida from perceived American wrongdoing and injustice.

1818. The Marines were landed without any encumbrances, with 60 rounds of ammunition, and proportion of small rockets was to be distributed among them for throwing into casemates, and four steady men from each Division were to be selected to carry rockets and storming poles. It was intended to have stormed the Mole opposite HMS Queen Charlotte, but it was the difficulty of communicating with her and getting the Sappers and Marines off again, that prevented Lord Exmouth's ordering it.

1818. By order in Council of the Corps was fixed at 6000 men.

1819. By order in Council of the Corps was fixed at 6000 men

1820. Saturday 6th May. An order in Council regulated the pay of Quarter-masters.

1820. July. The first reference to a Band at Woolwich Barracks.

1820. Monday 6th - 12th July. The British were involved in a Battle at Algeciras with French / Spanish vessels.

1820. Wednesday 23rd July. The first band of the Royal Marine Artillery was formed. During this time the Artillery Company's were based at Chatham.

1820. Friday 4th - 30th December. Royal Marines and Seamen from HMS Topaze storm Mocha.

1820. The Corps was increased to 8,000 men.

1822. Monday 30th December. Eliza engaged two pirates off Guajaba and took one.

1823. Friday 31st January. Cameleon and Naiad captured Algerine corsair Tripoli.

1823. Friday 28th March. Boats of Naiad distroyed a pirate brig at Bona.

1823. Friday 28th March. Boats of Tyne and Thracian captured Zarajonaza.

1823. The Corps strength was 8,700 men, distributed in eighty five divisional and eight artillery companies.

1823. Edward Nicolls became the first Royal Marines commandant of Ascension Island. Ascension is a small volcanic island in the South Atlantic, halfway between South America and Africa. In 1815, HMS Zenobia and HMS Peruvian took the island to prevent it from being used as a staging post from which to rescue Napoleon Bonaparte from Saint Helena. From 1815 until Nicolls took over, the Royal Navy registered the island as a "small Sloop of 50 or 60 Men", HMS Ascension, since the Navy was forbidden to govern colonies. The island had a garrison of about thirty, with a few families, servants, and liberated Africans. The Royal Navy came to use the island as a victualling station for ships, particularly those of the West Africa Squadron (or Preventative Squadron), which were working to suppress the slave trade.

Water was scarce, and an important task for Nicolls was to ensure that the island had a stable source of water. He achieved this by installing systems of pipes and carts to bring water to the settlement from the few springs in the mountains. Food was mostly shipped from England, but some could be procured locally: fish, a few vegetables grown on the island, feral goats and sheep, fishy-tasting eggs from a tern colony on the island, and turtle meat obtained during the laying season from December to May. Due to Nicolls's efforts in directing the harvest of turtles, turtle meat, an expensive delicacy in England, became so common it was fed to prisoners and pigs, and Marines complained of it. This surfeit of turtle irritated Nicolls's superiors and the Lords of the Admiralty, and when an Admiral ordered Nicolls to stop feeding turtle to prisoners, he started selling or bartering it to visiting ships. With this monotonous diet, men on the island relied on rum for spice. Nicolls understood this and gave large rations of grog when his men showed "spirited and Soldier like feelings".

On the confines of the island feuds were vicious, and one surgeon went insane. Pirates were frequently seen off Ascension, keeping the garrison on edge. Nicolls was also busied by many infrastructure projects on the island, building roads, water tanks, a storehouse, and developing the gardens on Green Mountain. For these efforts, Nicolls had about sixty freed Africans sent to Ascension, and additionally asked for convicts.

Nicolls had many such grand schemes for trade between Britain and its colonies, but these all failed to materialise. These schemes included a plan to grow oaks in Sierra Leone for Royal Navy ships, a plan to ship Ascension rocks to England, and a plan to ship New Zealand flax to England which he discussed in a letter to Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst. On Monday 3rd November 1828 Captain William Bate replaced Nicolls as commandant on Ascension.

During his time in control of Fernando Po, Edward Nicolls clashed with the Portuguese authorities on the neighbouring islands of São Tomé and Príncipe regarding his refusal to return slaves escaping from there. In an 1842 letter to The Times he says he was accused by the Portuguese governor, Senhor Ferreira, of deliberately enticing slaves to run away and of encouraging 'thieves' and 'murderers'. This charge he denied, asserting that he had never actively encouraged slaves from nearby islands to make the dangerous crossing to Fernando Po: but that if they chose to do so, it was his duty under British law not to return them to slavery. He considered those slaves who killed in the course of their escapes as legally and morally justified in their action; nor did he regard them as thieves for having seized canoes to escape in. He offered to return the canoes however, and informed Ferreira that if the latter could persuade any of the escapees to return voluntarily to a state of slavery, Nicolls would not impede them. He wrote to The Times on the subject because of the debate which followed the Creole case in which slaves transported aboard an American vessel had taken control of her and forced the crew to take them to a British-run port.

1823. The two departments of Royal Marine Artillery and the Royal Marine Light Infantry, merged to become the Royal Marines once again.

1824 \- 1829. A small detachment of Royal Marines served at Melville Island in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia.

1824. The establishment was 9,000 men, at which it continued until 1832, when it was increased to 10,500.

1824. March – April. The destruction and capture of a gang of Pirates who made the Isle of Pines Island their headquarters and had murdered a Lieutenant and some men belonging to a British man of war. Lieutenant Beaden of the Royal Marines was on this Island for about two months, performing most arduous duty, marching from 5 to10 miles daily through the jungle in search of pirates. Eventually with 15 Royal Marines he ran them to earth, dispersed and captured the survivors who were executed at Jamaica. On the first 2 days only about 70 seamen with their officers assisted in the search.

1824. Sunday 28th March. Boats of Tyne and Thracian captured Zarajonaza.

1824. Tuesday 11th May. Rangoon captured.

1824. May - June The first Ashanti war, and the Marines defended Cape Castle. Seamen and Marines from the Squadron assisted in the defence of Cape Castle. Lieutenant W.O. Aitcheson of the Royal Marine Artillery was killed here after greatly distinguishing himself and doing great service with a 6 pounder gun.

1824. Tuesday 1st June. The Royal Marine Artillery Company's first occupied Fort Cumberland.

1824. Monday 2nd August. Tavoy captured.

1824. Thursday 2nd September. Stockades carried at Dalla Creek.

1824. Sunday 5th September. Enemy repulsed at Thontai.

1824. Tuesday 21st - 27 September. Burmese defeated at Penang.

1824. Wednesday 6th October. Mergui captured.

1824. Thursday 7th October. Than-ta-Bain captured.

1824. Wednesday 27th - 30th October. Martaban captured, and war boats destroyed.

1824. Tuesday 30th November - 15th December. Burmese defeated at Kemmendine.

1824. Friday 10th December. Lieutenant Williamson R.M. and a detachment were placed in charge of Fort Dundas, on the Melville Islands, that are in the eastern Timor Sea, off the coast of the Northern Territory of Australia. The Fort had been built since the first settlement in Australia in August 1814.The settlement did not prove a success and was abandoned on 31st March 1829.

1824 \- 1829. A small detachment of Royal Marines served on Melville Island. A similar force was stationed at Port Essington from 1827 until 1854 and the last force of Royal Marines to serve in Australia as stationed at Cape York from 1802 until 1870.

1824 – 1826. The first Burma War. Royal Marines and Seamen from the East India Squadron were landed in Rangoon and helped open up the river route to Irrawaddy.
Chapter 8

### 1825 - 1849

1825. Saturday 5th February. Than-ta-Bain captured.

1825. Saturday 19th February. Paulang captured.

1825. Wednesday 31st March. George IV passes an act for the regulating of His Majestry's Royal Marine Forces on shore. An Act for the regulating of His Majesty's Royal Marine Forces while on Shore. The Safety of the United 61 Kingdom, and the Defence of the Possessions of the Crown of Great Britain and Ireland, that a Body of Royal Marine Forces should be employed in His Majesty's Fleet and Naval Service under the Direction of the Lord High Admiral or Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland: And whereas the said Royal Marine Forces may frequency be quartered or be on Shore, or sent to do Duty on board Transport Ships or merchant Ships or Vessels, or Ships or Vessels of His Majesty, not being in Commission, or any Convict Hulk or Ship, where they will not be subject to the Laws relating to the Government of His Majesty's Forces by Sea; yet nevertheless it being requisite for the retaining of such Forces in their Duty, that an exact Discipline be observed ; and that Marines who shall mutiny or stir tip Sedition, or shall desert His Majesty's Service, be brought to a more exemplary and speedy Punishment than the Law will allow; be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the Twenty-fourth Day of March One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five. (Sic)

1825. March and April. Donoobew captured.

1825. Monday 25th April. Prome occupied.

1825. Sunday 25th December. Burmese defeated at Prome.

1825. Appointment of a Colonel Commandant and deputy Adjutant General of Marines, resident in London.

1825 \- 1854. The Marines Band uniforms of the day. (taken from 'Britain's Sea Soldiers: Vol 1 by Cyril Field RMLI.).

1825. The Marines Drummer uniforms of the day. (taken from 'Britain's Sea Soldiers: Vol 1 by Cyril Field RMLI.).

1826. Thursday 19th January. Melloone captured.

1826. Thursday 9th February. Pagahm-mew captured. In these operations Alligator, Arachne, Boadicea, Champion, Larne, Liffey, Sophie, Slaney, Tamar, and Tees, or parties from them, were engaged.

1826. Thursdaay 6th - 7th April. Boats of Alacrity took four Greek pirate vessels.

1826. Saturday 17th June. In search of Pirate ships off the Island of Candia in the Bay of Porta Bono. Captain G.R. Pechell of the 36 gun Frigate HMS Sybille, arrived off the island of Candia in search of some piratical vessels that had plundered a Sardinian merchant-ship, and ill-treated the crew. Being close in with HMS Gozo, on the morning of the 18th four large Misticos were discovered and chased under a small island, forming the bay or harbour of Porto Bono, or Calos-limuonop. The frigate anchored at about half past noon with a spring on the cable and opened her broadside on the Misticos lying moored to the rocks, whilst the five boats under the orders of Lieutenant Gordon, assisted among other officers by Lieutenant of Marines J.T. Brown, pulled in to the attack. They were instantly assailed by a destructive fire of musketry from above 200 men, protected by a stone breast work or concealed behind the rocks. Their pieces, loaded with three balls each, connected by a piece of wire, were so well directed, that although Lieutenant Gordon succeeded in boarding one of the vessels, the crew of the barge suffered so severely that he was compelled to abandon her, having 7 seamen and 1 Marine killed, himself, Mr. Edmonsons, Midshipman, and every other seaman and Marine wounded. Lieutenant E. Tupper, Commanding the launch, was mortally wounded. In the first cutter, Commanded by Lieutenant P.T. Brown of the Marines, Mr. Lees, Midshipman, was severely wounded, 2 Seamen killed and 2 wounded, the other boats suffered proportionally, and the total loss amounted to Mr. Knox, Midshipman, 10 Seamen, and 3 Marines killed, 2 Lieutenants, 2 Midshipmen, 20 Seamen, and 6 Marines wounded.

1826. Tuesday 12th September. An increase of the pay of Adjutants was ordered.

1826. The Appointment of a Colonel Commandant and deputy Adjutant General of Marines was resident in London.

1826. Chatham Division band accompanied the british Ambassador to Russia for the Coronation of Tsar Nicholas 1st, the first time that a British Band left Britain to attend a foreign ceremony. An Imperial Russian sword, suitably engraved, was presented to the Bandmaster. This sword is now in the Royal Marines Museum collection.

1827. Tuesday 3rd July. Why The great Globe? It is a well known fact oI`Corps history, that when in 1827. Kind. George IV was to present new colours to the Corps. it was only after a long and tedious consideration that a de cc was deemed appropriate to submit to for the King's approvLil.

Accompanying this was a list ofaetions in which the Corps had distinguished itsell. for the King to select those actions which would be emblazoned on the new colours. So great was this list that he could not choose and after more deliberation it was decided to retain the distinctive device of the `Fouled Anchor but to be surmounted with a crown and the word "Gibraltar" and in addition to this. a great globe surrounded by laurel was adopted to recognise the many actions in which the Corps had distinguished itself around the world.

The history records that the number of actions submitted to the King to choose from was 106. but did you ever wonder what were the actions named on this list?

Well, here they are, as recorded in the Globe & Laurel at the time that new colours were presented to the Pymouth Division on the 3rd July 1896, by.R.H. the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha KG. KT.

1704. Gibraltar, 1704 Toulon.

1706. Ostend, 1706 Barcelona.

1708. Spanish Plate Fleet, 1708 Minorca.

1718. Messina.

1719. Vigo, 1719 Port Antonio.

1740. Porto Bello, 1740 Paita.

1745. Cape Breton, 1745 Louisburgh.

1748. Port Louis, 1748 Hispaniola.

1758. Pondicherry, 1758 Chandernaorc.

1758. Goree, 1758 Guadaloupe.

1759. Defeat of French Fleet. Lagos, 1759 Defeat of French Fleet, Quiberon.

1761. Belle Isle, 1761 Dominique, 1761 Martinico.

1762. Manilla.

1775. Bunkers IIill.

1776. Charlestown.

1778. St Louis, 1778 Tiberoon, 1778 Jshant, 1778 St Vincent.

1781. Doggerbank.

1782. Dominique, 1782 Porto Rico, 1782 TritRcomdtee.

1793. Defence of Toulon, 1793 Tobago.

1794. Martinique, 1794 Cape Tiberoon, 1794 Guadaloupe, 1794: Martinique. 1794: St Lucia, 1794: Glorious First June.

1795. L'Orient, 1795 St Fiorenzo, 1795 St Fiorenzo, 1795 Corsica, 1795 Trincomalee, 1795 Columba (Ceylon), 1795 Malacca, 1795 Chinsura Cochin, 1795 Demerara, 1795 Essequibo, 1795 Berbice.

1796. Saintes Loana.

1797. Cape St Vincent, 1797 Camperdown, 1797 Teneriffe.

1798. Nile.

1799. St Jean D'arc, 1799 I-Holland.

1800. Malta, I800 Genoa. 1800 Quiberon,

1801. Cabarita Point. 1801 Copenhagen, 1801 Aboukir, 1801 St Bartholomew, 1801 St Thomas, 1801 Santa Cruz.

1804. Diamond hook.

1805. Cape Finistcrre, 1805 Trafalgar. 1805 Bay of Biscay.

1806. Ocoa Bay. 1806 St Domingo. 1806 Cape of Good Hope.

1807. Montevideo.

1807. Capture of Copenhagen.

1807. Charente.

1807. Lord Cachran's action.

1809. Walcheren.

1810. Use de Bourbon.

1810. Mauritius.

18l1. Java.

1811 Rarossa.

1812. Anhalt.

1813. Castro St Andro.

1813. Bilhoa.

1813. St Sebastian,

1813. Queenstown.

1814. Oswego.

1814. Blandishurgh.

1814. Washington.

1815. St Mary's.

1815. New Orleans.

1816. Algiers.

1827. Wednesday 26th of September. New Colours were presented to the Division of Royal Marines at Chatham, on the part of His Majesty King George IV, by His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, then Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, and General of Marines, afterwards King William IV. After alluding to the services of Marine Regiments from the period of their formation to the present time, His Royal Highness caused the New Colours to be unfurled and concluded his address in the following terms: "His Majesty has selected for the Royal Marines a Device to which their achievements have entitled them, and which, by his permission, this day present to you, a Badge which you have so hardly and honourably earned. From the difficulty of selecting any particular places to inscribe on these Standards, your Sovereign has been pleased to adopt. The Great Globe itself as the most proper and distinctive badge. He has also directed, that his own name (George IV.) shall be added to that peculiar badge, the Anchor, which is your distinctive bearing, in order that it may be known hereafter, that George the Fourth had conferred on you the honourable and well earned badge this day presented to you. The motto, peculiarly your own, 'Per Mare; Per Terram' has been allowed to remain and surmounting the entire is the word Gibraltar, in commemoration of the important national services you performed there. In presenting these Colours, the gift of your Sovereign, into your hands, I trust I am confident you will defend them with the same intrepidity, loyalty, and regard for the interests of the country, that have marked your preservation of your old ones, and if you do, you're Sovereign, and your Country will have equal reason to be satisfied." (sic)

Through out the 18th and 19th century the Corps played a major roll in fighting to win Britain the largest empire ever created. The Marines had a dual function, they ensured the security of the ship's officers and supported their maintenance of discipline in the ship's crew. During battles they engaged the enemy's crews, firing from positions on their own ship, or fighting during boarding's. The Corps strength at that time was 9,000.

1827. Saturday 20th October. The Battle of Navarino was fought in the bay of Navarino (on the south-western shore of the Peloponnesus) between Turkish Egyptian naval forces and the joint Russian, British, and French navies during the Greek National Liberation Revolution (Greek War of Independence) of 1821 - 1829. The allied squadrons were sent to exert pressure on Turkey, which had refused to carry out the demands of the London Convention of 1827 on granting autonomy to Greece. The three squadron commanders, the British Vice Admiral E. Codrington, the Russian Rear Admiral L.M. Geiden, and the French Rear Admiral H. G. de Rigny, decided to enter the bay of Navarino, where the Turkish Egyptian fleet under the command of Ibrahim Pasha was located. (Ibrahim Pasha's fleet consisted of three ships of the line, 23 frigates, and about 40 corvettes and brigs, with almost 2,220 artillery guns.) The entrance to the bay was defended by coast batteries (165 guns and six fire ships).

A British squadron (three ships of the line, four frigates, one corvette, and three brigs), a French squadron (three ships of the line, two frigates, and two corvettes), and a Russian squadron (four ships of the line and four frigates), totalling 1,676 artillery guns and under the overall command of Codrington, who was senior in rank, entered the bay. After a British truce envoy was killed by the Turks and the ships were fired on by coast batteries, the allies opened fire. In four hours, the Turkish Egyptian fleet was completely destroyed and almost 7,000 Turks died. The Russian flagship Azov, under the command of Captain First Class M.P. Lazarev, especially distinguished itself in the battle. The allies lost more than 800 men in dead and wounded. The defeat of the Turkish fleet aided in Greece's national liberation struggle and contributed to Russia's victory in the Russo Turkish War of 1828 - 1829.

1827 \- 1854. A small detachment of Royal Marines was stationed at Port Essington Australia.

1828 \- 1829. The Taking of the Castle of Morea (or Rhion) and the Siege of Patras. A few Royal Marines, Artillery and Infantry, and some bomb vessels co-operated with the French Army in these operations. Lieutenant Logan RMA mainly caused the surrender of the Castle by blowing up the principal magazine for which he received the Legion of Honour.

1829. Edward Nicolls RM was appointed Superintendent of Fernando Po (now Bioko), a tropical island immediately off the coast of Africa, which the Navy used as a base for operations against the slave trade. Nicolls received the appointment after colonial administrator William Fitzwilliam Owen had refused the post, and after merchant John Beecroft was deemed unfit for the post. Owen, however, voiced his dissatisfaction with what he viewed as Nicolls's harsh rule on the island, and Beecroft increased his influence in the area. Nicolls, in turn, attacked Beecroft for his dealings with former slavers. Nicolls's health suffered in Fernando Po and by April 1830 he had left for Ascension. When Nicolls returned to England ill, Beecroft was placed in charge of the island. Tropical illness took a toll on the Europeans at Fernando Po, where hundreds died during the period. Nineteen of the 34 men in Nicoll's first contingent died soon after their arrival, and only five of the original 47 Royal Marines who accompanied him to Fernando Po in 1829 survived two years duty on the station. Lieutenant Colonel Edward Nicolls, somewhat restored to health, served a second term as Superintendent of Fernando Po during 1832–1833. Despite his differences with Owen, Nicolls was just as determined to disrupt the slave trade, and equally energetic in his attempts to convince the British government to adopt a more aggressive stance. Frustrated in territorial annexation schemes, he invited the West African rulers of Bimbia, Old Calabar, Camaroon, Malimba, and the Bonny to Fernando Po to form an anti-slavery alliance. To Nicolls' great disappointment, the British government ordered him to evacuate Fernando Po on Wednesday 29th August 1832 and put an end to operations there. Unfinished work and efforts to provide for the welfare of liberated and displaced slave populations delayed the end of Nicoll's mandate for several months, and the Colonel did not return to England until April 1835.

1830. Monday 26th April. Black Joke took the Spanish slaver Marimerito.

1830. Primrose captured the Spanish slaver Veloz Passagera.

1831. April. The Maintenance of Order in Newcastle. "On Wednesday week a detachment of 80 Marines and 6 Subalterns under the command of Major Mitchell, sailed from Portsmouth for this (Newcastle), on account of disturbances among the colliers. The vessel, towed by a steamer, sailed in less than an hour after the orders were received." (Contemporary Newspapers of 28th April 1831). (sic)

1831. Wednesday 24th August. By Order-in-Council 1831 gratuities for Good Conduct were granted after certain periods of service to wear "a silver medal, the size of half-a-crown, at the third Button of their jackets; having on one side 'For Long Service and Good Conduct" and on the other an 'Anchor and Crown'." The forerunner of the "Blue Peter".

1831. Saturday 10th December. Extract from a Journal dated 10th December 1831. "A Corporal and a Drummer of the Royal Marines, on the recruiting service at Henley, applied to the Magistrates to punish a man they had the day before enlisted, but, upon inspection, turned out to have a wooden leg. It appeared the Corporal slipped the enlisting shilling into his hand upon the usual expression of "free, able and willing", and which was soon converted into three pots of fourpenny, and as soon consumed by the recruit and his officers, and upon the word of command to march, the want of a limb so necessary to perform this part of the duty became obvious. The Magistrates recommended thee in future to drill the recruits before parting with His Majesty's money. But • the Drummer insisted that this man ought to be punished to deter others, and to prevent not only His Majesty's officers, but His Majesty himself, as represented by them, from being laughed at. The Magistrates, not apprehending the latter, dismissed the case.'(Sic)

1831. Loyalty and Determination of Private George Higham. "Whilst the Medina steam vessel was stationed on the coast of Africa in the year 1831 a boat containing a midshipman, 9 seamen and a Marine was dispatched on service, and on ascending a river, the crew became mutinous, that the officer was under the necessity of using violent measures and ran one off them through the body. This so exasperated the others, that they determined the throw the midshipman overboard, and were attempting to put their threat into execution when the Marine, named George Hyam or Higham, with great firmness stood between them, and declared he would shoot the first man who dared to lay his hand upon an officer, and bayonet the next who might venture to approach him. This determined act of courage so overawed the sailors that they desisted in their murderous intention, and the midshipman, thus nobly supported, was enabled to maintain his authority and re-join his ship in safety." (Nicholas History. Record R.M. Force)

1831. First Cholera outbreak in England that affected all the British military forces.

1832. The establishment of the Marines increased to 10,000 men.

1832. The companies of Marine Artillery have been gradually increased until they have reached to about the same numerical strength as their establishment during1823, (but still short of field officers,) when they were formed into eight companies. The minutes of the Board of Admiralty show that relative to the Marine Artillery, they were intended for the training of the other Marines, so as to embark efficient artillery-men in others of his Majesty's ships as well as in Bombs Ketches.

1832. Monday 6th of February. The Band of the Royal Marines Artillery, was disbanded as part of the 1832 reductions.

1832. Monday 6th of February. An order in Council abolished the Corps of Royal Marine Artillery. This battalion, originally selected from a Corps of 30,000 men, and which had progressively risen to eminence and distinction, was immediately broken up, retaining two companies as a nucleus to form a greater body, which might hereafter be deemed advisable.

1832. Thursday 12th April. An order in Council ordered the promotion of four Lieutenant Colonels to be second Commandants, thus creating vacancies in the subordinate ranks.

1832. \- 1834. A Battalion of Marines were keeping the peace in Ireland.

1833. A report of the Committee of the House of Commons on Army and Navy appointments, recommended the abolition of the sinecures of Generals and Colonels of Marines, enjoyed by Naval officers.

1833. The Marines uniforms of the day. (taken from 'Britain's Sea Soldiers: Vol 1 by Cyril Field RMLI.).

1833. Finally an Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies is passed by British Parliament and Policed by law.

1834. Wednesday 30th April. Additional retirements on full and half-pay.

1834. Friday. 15th August. Private Charles Welch R.M. Naval General Service Medal 1793 to 1840 bar "SYRIA" (HMS Stromboli).

Born Britford, Salisbury, Wiltshire Approx. 1814, Trade, Labourer Enlisted by Serjt. A.W. Simpson on 15th August 1834 on a bounty of 3 pounds Attestation papers to serve in the Royal Marines at Portsmouth on 16th August 1834 and was read the Articles of War regarding Mutiny and Desertion he then took the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity and received the sum of Ten shillings and Sixpence. The Surgeon then declared him as fit for His Majesty's service. The commanding officer certified that he was satisfied with the correctness of the Attestation and he was entered in the Regimental Register with the number of 1157. He had joined the 85 Company of the Portsmouth Division of Royal Marines.

On the 21st March 1836 he joined HMS Vanguard (to 2nd April 1840) a 78-gun (or 80-gun) second-rate ship of the line, launched on 25 August 1835 at Pembroke Yard and commanded by Captain Thomas Fellowes (from January 1837 and April 1840) in the Mediterranean.

Vanguard had been commissioned at Portsmouth on 19 Mar 1836 and began her sea trials in July calling at Plymouth and then sailing to Cork. They returned to Plymouth to continue her trials and then on the 20th October they for Lisbon, Cadiz and then Malta. This means he would have been on board when on the morning of June 8th, all crews were mustered on decks to witness the execution of Private Thomas McSweeney, Royal Marines HMS Rodney who was hanged from Rodney's yard-arm for an assault on Lance Sergeant James T. Allen also of Rodney which resulted in Allen's demise soon afterwards. They remained in the Mediterranean with the British and French Fleets until ordered home in January 1840, in February they left Malta for Portsmouth arriving 17th March and Welch left Vanguard on 2nd April.

4th September 1840 joined HMS Stromboli a 1st class Paddle sloop of 1839 Commanded by Commander Woodford John Williams. Sailed for Malta on the 6th September and arrived in Gibraltar on 12th. On the 13th they sailed to join Vice Admiral Sir Robert Stopford fleet in the Levant. On 25 Sep 1840 Stromboli was part of Napiers force detailed to take possession of Sidon.

Sidon the main Depot for the Egyptian army was held by about 2700 men, it was quite well protected by a fort and other various defences. A mixed party including 750 marines landed and attacked on 26th, the fighting while fierce did not result in many casualties on either side, the British loss being 11 killed and 39 wounded. This included Stromboli's casualties of 1 marine (Leiut C.T. Hockin) killed with 3 marines severely wounded and 1 marine slightly wounded. These appear to have been caused while storming the fortress which commanded the town. Of the three severely wounded was Charles Welch who lost three fingers from one hand. (Napier in his dispatch of September 29th says one marine officer and three seamen killed and two mates one boatswain and thirty seamen wounded. While a more detailed list is included in the London Gazette giving ship by ship)

See www.gazettes-online.co.uk of 17 Nov 1840.HMS Stromboli continued with the fleet off Syria including the bombardment and capture of Acre on the 3rd/4th November (if Welch was still on board is not recorded but he would have qualified for the Turkish Medal even if he had not been).Welch's papers state that he left Stromboli on the 3rd December 1840.24th December 1840, A divisional board (Col. Parks C.B., Captain Mercer and Captain Evans) looking at the discharge of 1157 Charles Welch of the 85 Company Plymouth Royal Marine Division remarked that "Wounded at the storming of Sidon" for which he has received a Smart Ticket.

He has served afloat and on Foreign Stations for 4 years 3 months 13 days and with a total service on shore in the United Kingdom 2 years and 28 days (total 6 years, 4 months 11 days).The Cause of his discharge is in consequence of having lost three fingers (Wounded in Action) contracted in the service and per Admiralty order dated 22nd December 1840.The Defaulters book was examined and parole testimony from other sources heard. His conduct was found to be Very Good and he received from his senior officer Capitan Mercer a high testimony of his good conduct during the four years that he served under Capitan Mercers immediate command. Being asked if he had any claims against the service he stated none other than 13 days conduct money. The board verified that his ledger account was balanced and signed by the pay Capitan of his division then approved his discharge which was signed and dated 26th December 1840 (the report No.3437) Discharged in 1840 as an invalid.

Note. Smart Money – Money paid to a sailor who has a Smart Ticket (Smart Certificate), which was issued to a man who had been injured or wounded in the performance of his duty. The smart ticket was the formal certificate signed by the ship's standing officers and the captain, 1st lieutenant, master and surgeon which attested to the wound described. (www.britainssmallwars.co.uk)

1834. Sunday 7th - 9th September. Imogene and Andromache engaged in the Canton River.

1834. Royal Marines supported the Queen of Spain's forces during the First Carlist War with Spain.

1834 \- 39. The First Carlist War with Spain. Lieutenant Charles Hockin, Royal Marines St. Felicitas, Phillack, Cornwall The Man Phillack is on the north coast of Cornwall, across a canal from Hayle, and separated from St. Ives Bay by a stretch of sand dunes. It is an area which in the early 19th century was a centre of copper mining and smelting, and in the early 19th century the rector there was a native of that place, William Hockin. Hockins had been rectors there since 1754, when one of the family purchased from Baron Arundell of Wardour "the lease for three lives of presentation to the rectory of Phillack, with the chapelry of Gwithian", and Hockins then remained as rectors of Phillack until 1922. It strikes me that if you wanted to indicate how the way we think now differs profoundly from the way our ancestors thought that tale stands as an exemplar. How on Earth can someone buy the right to appoint a vicar? For three generations? The church was rebuilt, apart from the tower, in 1856, but the Hockins carried on. Ironic that William's fifth son, Charles Francis, born in 1813, was to feature in two of the more obscure campaigns of the century that, unlike most of the others mentioned here, were not empire-building, and did not really involve Britain, although British troops were involved. The scion of a line of Church of England vicars was to be decorated by a Catholic monarch and die fighting to support a Muslim one. The Background Hockin's active military life appears to have been dedicated to obscure conflicts, as four years in Northern Spain were as part of a Royal Marine force in a struggle that was a Spanish civil war, in essence nothing to do with Britain – but we do like to interfere. This war is known as the First Carlist War, so called because it was about the putative claim to the throne of Carlos, younger brother of Ferdinand VII. In four marriages Ferdinand had only daughters, so in 1830 he introduced the Pragmatic Sanction, removing the existing Salic law (only introduced the previous century) which prohibited women from succeeding to the throne. The corollary of this was that Carlos was no longer the heir to the throne, which was presumably fairly galling for an ambitious man in his early forties, and for his supporters. When Ferdinand died in 1833 he was succeeded by his infant daughter, Isabella, with his wife Maria Christina being appointed regent. The stage was set for the conflict, with the opposing sides named after their chief protagonists: the Carlists were in favour of absolute monarchy and, in a rather contradictory fashion, regional autonomy (hence support from the Basques), were conservative and traditional in terms of religion, and had support from the Austrians, Prussians and Russians; the Christinos were more liberal and progressive in political and religious terms, were more popular in the cities, and had support from Britain, France and Portugal. In essence, it was yet another conflict between liberals and conservatives, with corruption and venality thrown in. The Campaign The fighting began in 1834, and from the outset appears to have been conducted with savagery; prisoners were not taken, with all that that implies. Although both sides won battles the Carlists on the whole had the better of the exchanges, so in 1835 the Christinos asked their allies for help. Neither Britain nor France really wanted to get too involved, so the French sent their Foreign Legion, which was causing disruption in France anyway, and the British sanctioned the creation of what was essentially a mercenary force called the Westminster Legion, a volunteer force under one Sir George de Lacy Evans. By October 1835 the French had landed four thousand men, and the British seven thousand, eight hundred. So, was our brave Lieutenant Hockin a mercenary? The answer is no, for in April 1836 a force of British marines garrisoned the Basque port of Portugalete, to the west of Bilbao, and British ships lay off the coast. The intention seems to have been precautionary, or to act in some form of support capacity, but not to get too involved, as indicated by an incident in March 1837, when the marines were drawn into the capture of the fortress of Oriamendi near San Sebastian, but were then ordered back, allowing the Carlists to retake it. This seems to have been the pattern throughout the marines' tenure. Although Charles was decorated for his services by Maria Christina, a contemporary source, Alexander Somerville, who fought in the war as part of the British Legion, makes it clear in his memoirs that the marines rarely saw major action. Charles Hockin, as a marine, had to be a hero, for political expediency, to justify his presence, but it was a symbolic as much as a practical role. A temporary peace came to Spain in August 1839, when the defeated Carlist forces agreed terms. It would not last, but by then Hockin and the Marines had moved on. (www.britainssmallwars.co.uk)

1835. A Royal Marine Battalion and Royal Marine Axillary Battery were in Spain during the Carlist War that came to a close in1840.

1835. A Battalion of Royal Marines were in Portugal. "On Thursday morning at 6 o'clock, 2 officers and 200 Rank and File of the Royal Marines and 5 officers and 90 Gunners RMA embarked on board HMS Talavera and HMS Britannia, left Portsmouth for Plymouth where they were Joined by 7 officers and 200 Rank and File from that division and HMS Romney troop ship. They took with them 4 guns and a Brigade of Rockets. Never did a finer body of men quit the shores of England. They have orders to join Admiral Parker, and it said Don Miguel will very soon be made acquainted with the object of their mission. The Portsmouth contingent was to be transferred to HMS Romney at Plymouth and the Plymouth one to embark for passage in HMS Caledonia (Contemporary new paper 30th May).

1836. Wednesday 11th May. An order in Council abolished the office of Inspector General of Marines. The creation of this office, in March 1831, produced a feeling of dissatisfaction in the Corps, that called for loud and general remonstrance, for it will scarcely be credited that the appointment was conferred upon a civilian (he having sold out of the service many years previously) totally unconnected with the Marines, and who, to have authority and control over the Colonels of Divisions, was created a Major General. This act of injustice produced a feeling of respectful remonstrance, until the discontent became too apparent to be disregarded; and another Board of Admiralty, with a due consideration for the welfare of the Corps, removed the Inspector General, and restored the Command of the Marines to the hands of one of its distinguished veterans.

1836. May to October. Operations against pirates in Straits of Malacca.

1836. Monday 6th June. The Battle of Ametza.

1836. The Brunswick rifle, a muzzle-loading weapon, is introduced to replace the Baker and remains in production until 1885.

1836-7 Carlist War. Pique, Castor and Salamander concerned.

1837. Thursday 16th March. The Battle of Hernani.

1837. Friday 28th April. John Gowen RM died aged 74 years at Kiama, Illawarra NSW. Having arrived in the Colony as a member of the First Fleet and filled the situation of Government Store Keeper for the long period of 22 years. When he retired on a pension for his honest and upright services; he is deeply regretted by his relations, and all that knew him.

Taken from the Sydney Monitor (NSW: 1828-1838), Wednesday 10th May 1837 on page 3). (Sic)

1837. Tuseday 20th June. Her Majesty Queen Victoria ascended the Throne and commenced the long reign which was to bring such glory and honour to England, but the year found the fortunes of the Corps at a very low ebb.

The numbers voted were 9007, but the RM Artillery had officially ceased to exist - a School of Laboratory and nominally two companies quartered at Fort Cumberland as part of the Portsmouth Division only being maintained. The Portsmouth Division were still in the old inadequate Clarence Barracks in the High Street; Plymouth and Chatham were in their present barracks, which had not then been enlarged to their present size, and Woolwich were in the western part of the Royal Artillery Barracks.

Owing to the long peace and the neglect of the Services, promotion was stagnant and a Commission was held this year which makes very sad reading: as a result an Order in Council was published on 21st June 1837 increasing the Establishment of Retired Officers, which afforded some relief, but gives a sorry picture of the position of affairs: "The Inefficiency of the Officers holding the rank of Colonel Commandant in the Royal Marines who, from slowness of promotion in the Corps, must almost necessarily have reached an age incapacitating them from active exertion before they attain command of a Division, has occupied the serious attention of successive Boards of Admiralty. Further steps are necessary. At a survey held by our orders by a member of the Board, the Physician General of the Navy, and the DAG Royal Marines, three out of the four Commandants were found unfit to discharge their duties. The Board therefore propose to create six additional retirements on Full Pay for Colonels Commandant, the full and retired pay to be £1.18.6 per diem. Also three retirements on full pay for Colonels 2nd Commandant, one additional full pay retirement for Lieutenant Colonels and five for Captains This made the full pay retired establishment up to 8 Colonels Commandant, 3 for Colonels 2nd Commandant, 4 for Lieutenant Colonels (there was an increase to 6 on 10 August 1840), 25 for Captains and 10 for First Lieutenants The Order went on to say that experience of late years had shown that owing to the number of men embarked in small ships without officers etc, the number of officers on shore, in proportion to men, was larger than required; the number of companies was therefore reduced to 90 with 2 Artillery Companies, allowing one Captain and two Subalterns to each, thereby reducing 12 Captains and 4 Subalterns, also abolishing the supernumerary Artillery Captain, though he was restored on 15 May, 1838. Further, to place the Marine Corps on the same footing as the Artillery and Engineers, and to accelerate promotion the 2nd Commandants were granted the rank of Colonel, and the rank of Major was abolished. Of the Subalterns, two-thirds were to be First-Lieutenants and the remainder Second-Lieutenants On 1st January 1838, Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Owen (afterwards KCB KH) became DAG, an appointment that he held until 12 December 1854; under his fostering care conditions in the Corps much improved. Sidearms - On 5 November 1837 an order was issued that Army and Marines were to discontinue wearing of sidearms except on duty. This of course did not affect the Sergeants' swords and at the same time the exception must have been made which allowed Corporals of the Portsmouth Division to wear them when walking out. Prior to this they must have been generally worn, because an order of 30 January 1830 (Plymouth) shows that a punishment for misconduct was deprivation of wearing sidearms in streets or at Church Parade except on duty. In 1838 the numbers voted were 9,000. In 1839 the numbers voted were 9000. Officers - On 19th December it was laid down that in future all candidates for Commissions would be required to possess competent knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, euclid and trigonometry, and be able to write English from dictation: the examinations were held at the RN College, Greenwich. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1837. Wednesday 21st June. An order in Council gave six additional retirements of full-pay for Colonels Commandant, which placed the establishment as follows, Eight for Colonels Commandant, two for Colonels, Second Commandant, four for Lieutenant Colonels, twenty five for Captains, ten for First Lieutenants.

It must be a very rare and extraordinary circumstance that would induce a Second Commandant to take the retirement, for being so near a preferment of much greater consideration, it is not to be expected that a man would forego the advantage almost within his reach. By adding those two offices, (which are never filled), to those of Colonels Commandant, a boon would be conferred on the Corps, but to accelerate promotion and improve the health and vigour of the service, the Commandants of Divisions ought to be placed on the same footing as the appointments in the Royal Navy, in which service they are limited to a certain period, and when vacancies occurred on the retired list, and a Commandant of division had held that office four years, he should be compelled to withdraw from active service on the honourable and liberal retirement afforded him.

1837. Wednesday 21st June. An order in Council abolished the rank of Major, making the establishment, four Colonels, four Colonels-en-second, twelve Lieutenant Colonels, four divisional pay masters, four barrack masters, four surgeons, four assistant surgeons. Another Lieutenant Colonel was subsequently added, exclusive of the officers of artillery. It can be seen, by the following statement, that in abolishing the rank of Major, the Corps was deprived of four field officers.

1837. Friday 14th July. The Admiralty ordered a regulation be introduced for pensions to the non-commissioned officers and privates.

"Twenty-one years' service at sea or on foreign service, shall entitle him to his discharge and pension, two years' service on shore in England shall be allowed to reckon as one year served afloat for this purpose, but no Marine shall be entitled to such pension, who shall not have served ten years actually at sea or on foreign service."

It would be difficult to comprehend the object intended by this unjust, degrading, and injurious restriction. We can understand that the disinclination of a soldier to embark when required should be punished, but because a Marine obediently and loyally does his duty in the various garrisons, in conjunction with the troops of the line, that he shall be deprived of the reward held out to those of every other Corps in her Majesty's service, is a stipulation as inequitable as it is destructive of the best interests of the service. Its effect has long been felt in procuring recruits for the Marines, and as the pernicious system has been deprecated by those, who with the desire to promote the welfare of the Corps are now in a position to support the claims of those enduring servants of the crown, we have reason to expect that the order of 1837 will be rescinded.

1837. Wednesday 27th October. Captain John McArthur with a subaltern and forty men of the Royal Marines was placed in charge of a settlement of Port Essington in the Northern Territories of Australia. (1854). This settlement lasted longer than the one at Melville Island.

1837. Sunday 5th November. An order was issued that Army and Marines were to discontinue wearing of sidearms except on duty. This of course did not affect the Sergeants' swords and at the same time the exception must have been made which allowed Corporals of the Portsmouth Division to wear them when walking out. Prior to this they must have been generally worn, because an order of Saturday 30th January 1830 (Plymouth) shows that a punishment for misconduct was deprivation of wearing sidearms in streets or at Church Parade except on duty.

1838. The numbers voted were 9,000.

1838. Monday 12th - 13th March. Prescot in Canada. Lieutenant C.A. Parker, Royal Marines, and 30 Privates formed part of the force of 300 Infantry and 40 Militia Cavalry which, under the command of Colonel Young K.H. engaged and defeated a body of 800 Americans and Canadian insurgents, who with 2 guns had entrenched themselves near the village of Prescot on Lake Ontario. The village was defended by a few men of the 83rd Regiment, 30 of the Royal Marines, and such of the Glengarry Militia as had had time to collect. The American force after landing had taken up a position in which they were protected by the walls of an orchard, from behind which they kept up a galling fire upon the advancing Marines, while later pushed on, firing as objects offered. In this position of affairs, Lance Corporal James Hunn, Royal Marines, who was on the right of the British line, ran forward and jumped over the wall which covered the American sharpshooters, and found himself on the extreme left, and almost in contact with six or seven of them, who were separated from their main body by another wall running perpendicular to that which covered their front. These men were either loading or in the act of firing at the advancing Marines when Hunn leaped the wall, and were so intent on their occupation that they did not notice Hunn until he was on them, so that he was able to close with them, and was seen by his commanding officers to bayonet three one after the other before they had time to load their pieces and fire. A fourth man, whose piece was loaded, turned and fired, and his ball struck the swell of Hunn's Musket, where it was grasped by the left hand, which it passed through. Destroying the second finger, while at the same time the Musket was driven violently against his stomach as for a moment to suspend his breath. Recovering himself, however, he fired effectively at the enemy, now in full retreat, but his disabled hand prevented his again loading, and he was most unwilling oblige to give up any further shares in the glory of the day, after having thus accounted for four of the enemy.

Captain Sandon, in his official despatch says "It may appear invidious to particularise any one man of a small band of Marines engaged, where all have shone so conspicuous, but I trust I may stand excused for naming James Hunn, acting Corporal, a young man twenty years of age, who, in the melee with the rebels, was seen by his officers and companions of beat back seven of the pirates, three of whom fell dead before him, and although at this time having his left hand shattered by a rifle ball, he still continued the unequal contest. I feelingly hope such a noble example of bravery and devotion will plead my excuse for urging you to move the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to bestow promotion and a medal upon this valiant young soldier. He is in every way fit to become an Officer.

Hunn was in consequence prompted to the Rank of Sergeant without passing through the intermediate grade of Corporal. The poor fellow died a year or two after, a victim to yellow fever, while serving aboard HMS Arab on the coast of Africa" (Deeds of Naval Daring, Giffard 1852). (sic)

1838. Saturday 5th May. A Legion at San Sebastian, aided by the fire of HMS Phoenix and other ships, drove off the Carlists and captured some guns, but had later to fall back to San Sebastian. The Royal Marine Battalion was brought round to Portugalette and proceeded to Bilbao, but after a week was withdrawn and returned to San Sebastian.

1838. Tuesday 15th May. A supernumerary Captain of Artillery appointed.

1838. Sunday 27th May. The Third Brigade of the Legion, supported by the Royal Marines, advanced across the river Urimea to the east of San Sebastian, covered by the fire of the steamers and gunboats, and the guns on the Fortifications together with the RMA Field Battery. They forded the river in three places and bivouacked on a hill near Ametza, whilst a feint was made to the westward by a detachment of Royal Marines in the Salamander and Reyna to draw off the Carlists.

1838. Monday 28th May, 70 men of the Castor under Lieutenants Halliday and Langley were taken to the eastward and landed at Passages, where they marched to the top of the hill, which commanded the harbour and the hills round. On the next day they were reinforced by Lieutenant Clapperton and 12 RMA; here they built a redoubt, under the direction of Lord John Hay, which was shaped like a ship and was given the name of the 'Ship'. It was armed with two 6 prs and two 3prs, also a 4 pr and 20 pr Rocket Tube. Seamen from the Fleet came up to help make and can the redoubt also a company under a Captain from the Battalion. It was only about six miles across country to San Sebastian, so they could watch the fighting going on there. About 2 am on the 9th June the little garrison of 300 was attacked by 400 Carlists. At daylight, when visibility was better, the Carlists were driven off: Lieutenant Langley was wounded in the leg and gained the Order of San Fernando. The garrison of the 'Ship' was than augmented by two companies from the Marine Battalion, also the Marines of the HMS Pearl, HMS Tweed, and HMS Royalist, besides 300 Spaniards and 4 Companies from the Legion.

1838. Tuesday 26th June. A commission of inquiry into the system of naval and military promotion and retirement, had its first sitting. This proceeding originated in the spontaneous efforts of a certain Member of Parliament, who, seeing how much the officers of Marines were aggrieved, independently espoused their cause, and brought the matter before the House of Commons.

Colonel Sir Richard Williams of the Marines, and a member of the Commission, explained to the Board the object of this inquiry: "In January 1837, there were upon the list of officers actually serving, one Colonel Commandant resident in London, and four Colonels, each in the command of a division, who had not been less than fifty-eight years in the service; 21 field-officers forty-five years; the senior Captains more than thirty-five years, and more than 50 Subalterns who had been upwards of twenty-five years in that rank. The retired list at that time was limited to two Colonels Commandant, three Lieutenant Colonels, three Majors, twenty Captains, twelve first and ten Second Lieutenants; and although two of the Colonels in command of divisions had applied for permission to retire, they could not obtain it. Under these circumstances there was much discontent, and the subject was at length brought forward in the House of Commons by Lord George Lennox, who advocated the pretensions of the officers to promotion; and his lordship was only induced to withdraw his motion, upon assurance on the part of the secretary of the Admiralty that the Board had it in contemplation to do what he thought would be beneficial to the service, and acceptable to the Royal Marines, whose merits had been acknowledged. The dissolution of Parliament stopped all further proceedings for the moment; but before a new Parliament had assembled, a measure was carried into effect which was satisfactory to the Corps, but injurious to the service, and tending to cripple it in one material branch; and although the House of Commons, with great liberality, agreed to afford relief by a vote for any reasonable sum of money for that purpose, it was a manifest disappointment to the officers to know, that in the navy estimates for 1838 the sum voted was less by £1,500 for the Marines, than in the preceding estimate for 1837.

1838. Saturday 27th October. The Chatham Riot. There occurred a remarkable incident in Chatham, which left two Marines dead, and several others seriously injured. Even after the conviction of a number of those involved, their motives remained a mystery.

The incident took place on the evening of the 27th of October 1838, when a group of about twenty Irish soldiers of the 67th and 74th Regiments of the Chatham garrison marched, armed with sticks and bludgeons, into Chatham High Street. The object soon became apparent. They were looking for Marines and sailors to attack. Why they should want to do this is not known, but they soon discovered a small party of marines. The Marines, not expecting trouble were unarmed, taken by surprise, they were all soon badly beaten, some being very seriously injured.

Eventually, the soldiers reached the 'Navy Arms' public house, where a group of marines including a Cpl King and Privates Robert Ross and James Barrett were having a quiet drink of porter and a smoke of their pipes. The time was a little after 8 o'clock and they had been there for about three hours, all being regulars of the pub. Suddenly four members of the 67th and ten or eleven members of the 74th, armed with sticks burst in. With them came Sergeant of Marines, William Ross, whom onlookers assumed was part of their party since he was laughing and joking with them. In fact, news had reached him that a group of soldiers were out looking for trouble and he joined them in an attempt to defuse the situation.

The soldiers ordered drinks, which they downed rapidly, and then they began to get rowdy, banging their sticks on the floor. The landlady, Johanna Huddington, anticipating trouble, asked James Chidley, the pubs resident fiddler, to quietly ask the marines to go into the back room, They, not realising the danger they were in refused, saying 'they won't hurt us', so she then told Chidley to play his fiddle in an attempt to calm things down, which appeared to work, several of the soldiers starting to dance and one even getting Sergeant Ross to his feet and started to dance with him. So relaxed did the situation appear to get, that one of the soldiers even pretended to give Sergeant Ross a kiss.

Then suddenly, without provocation, one of them struck Private Robert Ross, who was sat by the door, across the head with a huge club. A blow for which he was completely unprepared. Immediately as if it was signal, all the other marines were attacked, and within minutes they were badly beaten and bleeding. The soldiers then moved on, but an urgent message sent to the Garrison Headquarters had caused the guard to be turned out and it was on its way. Things then calmed down very quickly especially when a group of soldiers suspected of being the ringleaders were arrested. Meanwhile the injured marines had been taken to the Melville Hospital, where three of the most seriously injured Ross, Sholdrake and Jeffcott, gave grave cause for concern. Late, the following Sunday, Private Ross died.

On Monday following his death, the two Regiments were paraded in the barracks, for witnesses to pick any they believe involved in the incident, as a result of which parade, several other men were detained. An inquest on Ross was held at the 'King's Arms" on Wednesday to decide the cause of his death and as was the custom at that time; his body was displayed at the pub for the jury to view. By then it was not a pretty sight. Although the body bore an awful head wound, which exposed part of his skull, the cause of death was not as straightforward as might be expected.

Early Victorian hospitals were not the place in which to spend much time, if one valued one's health, and Melville Hospital was no exception. During his brief period of life in the hospital he contracted Erysipelas, a disease that was prevalent there at the time. There was therefore some dispute as to what actually killed him. Was it the blow to head? Or the disease he had contracted in the hospital after he arrived there? After a day of deliberation, the inquest had to be adjourned.

When the inquest was reconvened, the Coroner laid great stress, particularly in his summing up, on whether it was a straightforward case of murder or was it manslaughter. In other words, would Ross have died from the blow to his head alone or was the wound aggravated by the Erysipelas, the cause of death. After hearing all the evidence, the Coroner then asked the jury for their verdict. Normally, this would have been instantly forthcoming, but not this time. The jury requested further time to deliberate, and then requested a quiet room be provided for them. After an hour and thirty-seven minutes, they returned a verdict of "Wilful Murder" and cited three men, Callaghan, Lyons and Connell, all of the 67th Regiment, as the principals and another three men of the 67th and three of the 74th Regiment as 'Aids and Abettors'.

All were then bound over and committed to the Maidstone Goal, to appear at the Spring Assizes of 1839. The body of Robert Ross was taken that same day for burial in the New Burial grounds, Chatham.

In the mean while another of the Marines had died in the hospital; this was Charles Jeffcott, one of the first group that had been attacked in the street, he too suffering serious head wounds. He like Ross, had, in his final hours in hospital, contracted Erysipelas, which eventually covered the whole of his body. At his inquest, the arguments, as at the inquest on Ross, were put forward and questions as to the precise cause of death, asked. Eventually a similar conclusion was reached; the jury deciding that it was again a case of 'Wilful Murder', but this time 'by persons unknown' but that a soldier, Private Joshua Sykes, of the 74th Regiment, had 'Aided and Abetted' them. He too was bound over, as had been the others.

In the town, the situation was tense. The Chatham area had a large concentration of soldiers, sailors and marines and conflict between them could have very serious consequences for the town. The civilian population was aghast, the attacks had been entirety unexpected and apparently unprovoked and retaliation by the Marines was anticipated at any time. The military authorities also expected that the violence would continue with the marines seeking to avenge their comrades, in consequence of which, they acted quickly.

As soon as the inquests were over, the Chatham Division of Marines was formed into a square in the open space of the Royal Marines Barracks. Every man, Officer, NCO and Private being present to hear Colonel Murton, the Commanding officer, read out letters he had received. The first, from the Adjutant-General praising the Marines and regretting the unfortunate incident, attached to which was another from Colonel Whare, commandant of the Chatham Garrison, who praised the self restraint of the marines and for their "unwillingness to bring disgrace upon their brother soldiers of the line, even after the most cruel and wanton attack which had been made upon them"; he went on to add that 'no exertion (on his part) shall ever be wanting to maintain those feelings of cordiality and good will which he is happy to say has long existed between the Royal Marines and the troops of the Chatham Garrison'.

The soldiers came to trial on Friday 15th March 1839; the first case to be tried was that of the wilful murder of Robert Ross. No legal council was employed on either side and several of the soldiers on trial used the opportunity to cross-examine each of the witnesses. One of these was a Mr. Ray, a surgeon at the Melville Hospital, who in his evidence stated he was not prepared to say categorically that Ross had died simply of his wounds. He added that a post mortem had shown that although the wound was life threatening, the Erysipelas was the immediate cause of death. He further stated that the disease was prevalent in the hospital at the time but added that Ross did not appear to have contracted it prior to his injuries, he concluded by saying, that in his opinion, Ross, would in all probability have recovered from the wound, had he not contracted the Erysipelas.

When the jury retired, it was absent for only 10 minutes, and on return announced that they had found Connell, Lyons and Callaghan not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter and those charged with Aiding and Abetting "Not Guilty" on all charges. Connell was sentenced to be transported for life, while Lyons and Callaghan were to be transported for seven years.

Next to be tried was Joshua Sykes for 'Aiding and Abetting a Person or Persons Unknown in the wilful murder of Charles Jeffcott'. Sykes must have been optimistic, for he had just been acquitted of a similar charge in the Ross trial. As with the previous trial, no council was used by either side. The chief witness for the prosecution was Corporal Joseph Allen of the 6th Regiment, who had been standing outside the 'Black Boy' public house when the first attack involving Jeffcott, took place. Although Allen swore he had seen Sykes brandishing a stick over Jeffcott head, he could not say for sure who had struck the fatal blow.

The surgeon, Mr. Ray, was again called as a witness and this time stated that the blow to Jeffcott's head had severely damaged his brain, and that the cause of death was concussion of the brain and Erysipelas. Sykes was not so lucky this time and he was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to be transported for seven years.

This incident was extraordinary for a number of reasons. No motive was ever discovered, nor was it the result of a drinking spree which got out of hand. Similarly, although the principal assailants were stated to be Irish, that also appears to be irrelevant as to motivation. Equally there was no evidence of any of the soldiers wanting to settle an old score, either personal or of a Regimental nature. Indeed, the very suddenness and totally unprovoked nature of the attacks is well attested too.

For example, the Marines outside the 'Black Boy' or in the 'Navy Arms' did not even realise they were in any danger until it was too late. It was also extraordinary for the fact that all those found guilty, only narrowly escaped being found guilty of murder, because the doctor concerned could not be certain whether the victims had actually died of their wounds or as a result of the infection contracted in the hospital. Had both men been treated elsewhere, they may well have survived. What is certain is that although bleeding profusely, Ross was able to walk after the attack and was clearly coherent.

It is a sobering thought that in the nineteenth century, patients could frequently be at a greater risk in a hospital, than out of it.

Sources: The Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser. The Maidstone Gazette and the Kentish Courier.

Extract from a Medical Journal:

Erysipelas: Is an infection, usually of the face, caused by streptococcal bacteria, which are thought to enter the skin through a wound or sore. Young children and the elderly are often the most affected. The disorder starts abruptly with malaise, fever, headaches and vomiting. Itchy, red patches appear on the face and spread across the cheeks and bridge of the nose to form an inflamed area with raised edges. Within this area, pimples develop, that first blister, then burst, and then crust over. Modern treatment is with Penicillin, which usually clears the condition within seven days.

1838. Wednesday 19th December. It was laid down that in future all Officer candidates for Commissions would be required to possess competent knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, euclid and trigonometry, and be able to write English from dictation: the examinations were held at the RN College, Greenwich. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1839 The numbers voted were 9000.

1839. The first China War, also known as the First Opium War and also the Anglo-Chinese War. It was fought between Britain and China over their conflicting viewpoints on diplomatic relations, trade, and the administration of justice for foreign nationals. The Royal Marines served in many landings against the Chinese. The troubles went on to finally come to an end in 1842.

1839. Thursday 17th January. HMS Wellesley, flagship of the East Indian Squadron, embarked the 40th Regiment and sailed for Karachi. On Saturday 2nd February under cover of the guns of Algerine and Constance the boats landed the regiment on the beach to west-ward of the batteries, which however only fired one shot. As so many seamen were away in the boats, the Marines under Captain E B Ellis, were manning the ships' guns and opened fire until the fort was occupied. On the 4th the boats crews went to the encampment of the regiment on Marharo Hill and the regiment occupied the town. So it fell into British hands one of the most important harbours in India.

The Wellesley then went up the Persian Gulf to Bushire, where the Persians were holding up the Residency. Captain Ellis and 50 Marines were sent in the boats on 25th March to a landing place 8 miles from the Wellesley, where the boats opened fire which was not returned, and the detachment landing quickly the Persians fled; 1 Sergeant and 2 Privates were wounded. They then occupied the Residency and brought off the Admiral and Residency staff. Captain Ellis and 30 Royal Marines were left there until 30th March, when they brought off the Resident. Another small party of the Corps from HMS Volage and Cruiser were present with the force that captured Aden on Saturday19th January 1839. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1839. Saturday 19th January. Lieutenant Ayles and Royal Marines of HMS Volage and HMS Cruiser served with combined force that effected capture of Aden.

1839. Saturday 2nd - 3rd February. Capture of Kurrachee by Wellesley, Algerine and troops.

1839. Friday 23rd August. Capture of Hong-Kong.

1839. Wednesday 4th September. Action with junks at Kowlung.

1839. Tuesday 1st October. Blockade of Canton.

1839. Sunday 3rd November. Volage and Hyacinth engaged war junks in Canton River.

1839. Thursday 19th December. It was laid down that in future all candidates for Commissions would be required to possess competent knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, euclid and trigonometry, and be able to write English from dictation: the examinations were held at the RN College, Greenwich.

1839 \- 1860. Royal Marines in China. British merchants first obtained a foothold in the China trade, through the East India Company. After the Indian Mutiny, the East India Company ceased to exist and the anger which the Chinese had always felt against the intrusion of the "foreign devils" spilled over into hostility towards British traders generally, and particularly, towards the traders in opium. In 1839, British Traders were driven out of Canton and merchant shipping was attacked by a fleet of Chinese War Junks and the first of the China Wars, also called the 'Opium Wars', broke out in 1840. The years that followed were also colloquially known as the era of 'Gunboat Diplomacy'.

The Royal Marines played a prominent part in the war. It was a type of warfare ideally fitted to the capabilities of an amphibious regiment. The engagements consisted for the most part, of landing parties of Marines and Bluejackets, attacking Chinese Forts, towns and strongholds in the Pearl River estuary. In this war, it was discovered that the Chinese did not protect their forts from the rear. Marines therefore, landed some distance from them and had little or no difficulty, in capturing the positions from behind; a manoeuvre which the Chinese declared to be Globe & Laurel. It was a Marine who bayoneted the Chinese Admiral Kwan, the Commander of the Chinese junks, which had first attacked the British in 1839.

The first of the China wars, 1839-42, where the Marines, during the rest of the century, saw a great deal of service. Three years earlier, the Imperial government at Peking had banned the East India Company's opium trade. Smuggling, connived by both sides, was followed by expulsions, seizures and attacks on shipping in the Pearl River. In 1840 a British squadron arrived with troops from Singapore, bombarded and took Chusan and seized Chinese batteries threatening the European settlement at Macao. Early in 1841, the British took the Bogue Forts, guarding the river approach to Canton and occupied Hong Kong, at the time almost uninhabited. After a truce in which the forts were handed back, the British returned to force the approaches to Canton and seize the city forts and gates, then retook Chusan and, moving north, took Amoy and Ningpo.

The British, although they could defeat large numbers of Chinese ashore or afloat, were too few to hold Canton. The Cantonese, for their part, dared only to report victories to Peking, but, although they fought hard, found they could not get the British to go away except by paying indemnities. Only the Imperial court could make peace, and to bring pressure on it, the British had to go north. This they did in 1842, taking Woo-sung and Shanghai, and then advancing 150 miles up the Yangtse to take Chinkiang and threaten Nanking. After that peace was concluded. The pattern would be repeated.

From the first actions in the Pearl River onwards, Marines from ships were constantly engaged in bombardments, boat actions and landings. A battalion nearly 500 strong was formed from them in January 1841 and fought at the Bogue Forts and at Canton. Detachments formed smaller units to fight at Chusan, Amoy, and Ningpo and, as part of a naval brigade, at Woosung, Shanghai and Chinkiang. In all about 700 Marines fought in the first war.

The first China War, had not taught the lessons which it was designed to teach; and within a few years of its conclusion new difficulties began to arise between the British and the local authorities in various parts of the huge invertebrate empire. For a time, these were arranged as they arose, without resort to war; but they were arranged, unfortunately, in a manner which too often allowed the Chinese to remain in the belief that they had won diplomatic triumphs. The result was that both locally and at the capitals, the governing classes became steadily more and more inattentive to British remonstrance's concerning acts of aggression, until, in 1856, the affair of the Arrow, and the vigorous action of Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies, brought about the second China War, which lasted, with intermissions, for nearly four years.

To digress, in 1855 an Order in Council designated the Royal Marine infantry a Light Corps, 'their training being considered the best adapted to the nature of the service which the Corps is generally required to perform when employed ashore', so that the two corps became the Royal Marine Artillery, the 'Blue Marines' and the Royal Marines Light Infantry, the 'Red Marines.

In 1856, the Second China War broke out. This, with the Third, which closely followed it, took a similar course to the First, an escalating series of incidents and reprisals in the Pearl River area, culminating in a British occupation of Canton and then a move north, this time to Peking itself.

The causes of the fresh outbreak of hostilities are set forth in a dispatch which was sent by Seymour to the Admiralty on November 14th, 1856; and they may be thus summarised (Perhaps the best account of the origin and early part of the Second Chinese War is in G. C. Cooke's 'China', which has been freely made use of).

On October 8th, 1856, the lorcha Arrow, with a colonial register from the governor of Hong Kong, was boarded, while at anchor at Canton, by a Chinese officer and a party of soldiers, who, notwithstanding the protest of the English master, seized twelve of the crew, bound them, carried them off, and hauled down the British flag. Mr. Parkes, her Majesty's consul, brought the matter before the Imperial High Commissioner, Yeh, and demanded the return of the twelve men by the officer who had abducted them, together with an apology, and an assurance that the flag should be respected in the future. Ultimately the men were sent back, but not in the public manner required; nor was any apology or assurance offered. On October 11th, the matter was reported to Seymour by Sir John Bowring, British Plenipotentiary in China, who suggested that an Imperial junk should be seized by way of reprisals. The making of the seizure was entrusted to Commodore the Hon. Charles Gilbert John Brydone Elliot, C.B., of the Sibylle, 40 guns, senior officer in the Canton river, who was reinforced for the purpose with the Barracouta, 6 guns, paddle, Commander Thomas Dyke Acland Fortescue (Posted, Sept. 7th, 1857.), and the Coromandel, steam tender. A junk was duly captured, but, as it proved to be private property, it had to be presently released. Seymour then (Oct. 18th) sent the Encounter, 14 guns, screw, Captain George William Douglas O'Callaghan, and Samson, 6 guns, paddle, Captain George Sumner Hand, to join the Commodore, hoping that the display of force in the river would bring the High Commissioner to reason. It soon, however, became clear that that official was bent upon resistance.

In the meantime, Mr. Parkes proceeded to consult with Seymour and Bowring at Hong Kong, where it was decided to seize the defences of Canton, it being evident that any more moderate measures would, as usual, be interpreted by the Chinese as symptoms of weakness.

Seymour accordingly moved his flagship, the Calcutta, 84 guns, Captain William King Hall, C.B., as high above the Bogue Forts as her draft would permit; and, on the morning of October 23rd, proceeded towards Canton in the Coromandel, accompanied by the Samson and Barracouta, with detachments of Royal Marines, and boats' crews, from the Calcutta, Winchester, 50 guns, Captain Thomas Wilson, and Bittern (she had been condemned, and had been for some time awaiting sale), 12 guns, and with the Commodore and the boats of the Sibylle. On approaching Blenheim reach, the Samson and part of the force diverged up the Macao passage to keep that channel open, and to capture Blenheim fort, while the Rear-Admiral, with the Coromandel and Barracouta, went on, and anchored above the four Barrier Forts, about five miles below the city. The boats, being sent in, took possession of the works, two of which fired ere they were taken, and consequently suffered a slight loss. In the forts "were about 150 guns, from one foot bore (this was a brass gun) to four pounders."

The Barracouta was ordered to follow the Samson; and the Commander-in-Chief, having dismantled and burnt the forts, continued his route to Canton, off which he arrived at 2 P.M., and where he learnt that boats from the Samson and Barracouta had quietly occupied the Blenheim Fort, and also the Macao Fort, a strong island position mounting 86 guns.

Mr. Parkes formally announced Seymour's arrival to the High Commissioner, and explained not only what had been done, but also that further measures of like nature would be adopted unless reparation should be forthcoming. The High Commissioner chose to remain obdurate.

On the morning of October 24th, Sir Michael landed additional Marines to aid detachments which were already ashore in Canton from the Sibylle and Encounter for the protection of the factory and he himself went in the Coromandel to join the Barracouta off Macao Fort. Upon a preconcerted signal, the Bird's Nest Fort mounting 35 guns, and a small fort, which being opposite the city, might have annoyed the factory, were seized without resistance. The Shameen Forts, at the head of the Macao passage were subsequently treated in the same way; and all the guns and ammunition in them were rendered unserviceable or were destroyed.

Detecting no signs whatsoever of submission on the part of the Chinese, but rather a more intractable disposition than ever Seymour landed the rest of his Marines and a body of small-arm men to secure the factory, and stationed boats to guard against the approach of fire rafts, and attacks by water. This necessary work was superintended by Captain William King Hall, and the Marines on shore were placed under Captain Penrose Charles Penrose, R.M., of the Winchester, while Captain Cowper, R.E., who had been sent for the purpose from Hong Kong, advised as to the strengthening of the weak points of the position. For the protection of American interests, officers, seamen, and marines were landed at the same time from the U.S. corvette Portsmouth, Commander Andrew H. Foote, U.S.N.

On October 25th possession was taken of Dutch Folly, a 50-gun fort on a small island opposite Canton; and it was garrisoned by 140 officers and men under Commander William Rue Rolland, of the Calcutta. All the defences of the city were then in British hands; and the Commander-in-Chief desired Mr. Parkes to write to the High Commissioner that operations would cease when his Excellency should be prepared satisfactorily to settle the points in dispute.

His Excellency did not reply as Seymour had anticipated. At 12.30 P.M., a body of Chinese troops, part of a much larger force in its rear, attacked the position at the factory, in spite of Mr. Parkes's warning; but Penrose, with his Marines, drove back the enemy, killing and wounding about 14 of them. On the 26th, it being Sunday, the men were allowed to rest.

Early on the morning of the 27th, Seymour caused a new letter to be written to the High Commissioner, informing him that, since satisfaction had not been offered for the Arrow outrage, operations would be continued. At Bowring's suggestion an additional demand was made to the effect that all foreign representatives should be allowed the same free access to the city, and to the authorities at Canton, as was enjoyed under treaty at the other four ports and denied at Canton only.

No reply being vouchsafed, fire was opened at 1 P.M. on the High Commissioner's compound from the 10-in. pivot gun of the Encounter and kept up at intervals of from five to ten minutes until sunset. At the same time, the Barracouta, from a position which she had taken up at the head of Sulphur Creek, shelled some troops who were on the hills behind Gough's Fort. The High Commissioner retaliated by publicly offering a reward of 30 dollars for the head of every Englishman. A few gunners of the Royal Artillery, who had joined under Captain Guy Rotton, R.A., were that day stationed in the Dutch Folly, where two 32-prs from the Encounter had been mounted.

On the 28th, these guns opened with the object of clearing a passage to the city wall. In the course of the day, Captain the Hon. Keith Stewart, of the Nankin, 50, joined the Rear-Admiral, with 140 of his men, and a couple of field-pieces; and 65 officers and men from the U.S. corvette Levant reinforced the American guard ashore. During the following night, the enemy apparently mounted guns on the city wall; and, anxious to give them no further opportunity for improving their defences, Seymour reopened fire early on the 29th. In the course of the morning, Commander William Thornton Bate, late of the Bittern, and acting Master Charles George Johnston, at some personal risk, ascertained that the breach was practicable; and a body of Marines and small-arm men, about 300 in number, was told off for the assault, under the command of Commodore Elliot. The Rear-Admiral accompanied the advance from the boats which landed the force, and two field-pieces at 2 P.M. The seamen were led by the Commodore, Captain the Hon. Keith Stewart, and Commanders Bate and Rolland (Posted, Aug. 10th, 1857.); the Marines by Captains Penrose and Robert Boyle, R.M.; and the gun-detachment by Lieutenant James Henry Bushnell and James Stevenson Twysden; Bate gallantly showing the way and carrying an ensign to the summit of the breach, the wall on each side of which was quickly occupied. Penrose moved to the gate next on the right, and, having signalled his presence there, opened it to a further detachment which was instantly landed under Captain William King Hall, Commander Fortescue, and Flag-Lieutenant George Campbell Fowler (Com., Aug. 10th, 1857.). The gate was then blown to pieces (By Capt. Rotton, R.A), and the archway above it partially destroyed. In the meantime, the guns had been placed in the breach, and had opened on some Chinese who began a desultory fire from their gingals, by which three people were killed, and eleven (two mortally) wounded. The latter were sent to Dutch Folly where they were attended to by Surgeon Charles Abercromby Anderson, M.D., and Assistant-Surgeon George Bruce Newton. The Rear-Admiral, with the Commodore and Mr. Parkes, visited the house of the High Commissioner, and, at sunset, re-embarked with all his force, his object being, as he said in his dispatch, to demonstrate his power to enter the city. It is right, however, to add, that in the squadron the retirement was attributed to the impossibility of making a lodgement. At all events, its morale effect was bad; and it is scarcely astonishing that, in the night, the enemy filled up the breach with sandbags and timber. On the 30th and two following mornings it was cleared again by fire from the ships.

Seymour once more wrote to the High Commissioner, sending him indeed two letters, neither of which produced a satisfactory reply. In the interval, in order to protect the factory from the dangers of incendiary fires, the houses between it and the city were pulled down; and copies of the Rear-Admiral's letters, with a précis of the whole affair by Mr. Parkes, were distributed among the people through the medium of the native boatmen, who, in spite of what was going on, continued to furnish supplies to the ships. On the 31st, Captain Thomas Wilson joined, with 90 officers and men from his ship, the Winchester.

On November 3rd, the Encounter, Samson, and Dutch Folly began a slow fire on the government buildings in the Tartar city, and on Gough's Fort, and continued it till 5 P.M. Seymour also addressed yet another letter to the High Commissioner. At night an attempt was made to blow up the English clubhouse, in which were some seamen and Marines; and, in consequence, no native boats were thereafter allowed to approach the sea-wall of the factory.

On the 4th, fire was resumed for four hours, and on the 5th, one of the Samson's 68-prs in Dutch Folly threw shells into a distant fort on a hill behind the city. That day information was received to the effect that an attack was intended upon the ships and the factory, and that twenty-three war junks were at anchor below Dutch Folly, protected by French Folly Fort, which mounted 26 guns.

Commodore Elliot was ordered to take the Barracouta, Coromandel, and ships' boats, and disperse or capture the junks; and, Commander Bate having buoyed the narrow channel, the force proceeded at daylight on the 6th, and Fortescue presently anchored the Barracouta 800 yards above French Folly, and within 200 yards of the nearest of the hostile vessels, which were all ready for action. The Barracouta, in order to prevent the Chinese from training their guns on her, fired her bow pivot gun as she approached, and so provoked the enemy, who, from more than 150 pieces, retaliated ere she could bring her broadside to bear. In about five-and-thirty minutes, however, her grape and canister, and the approaching boats, under Captain Thomas Wilson, drove the people from their vessels; and the sloop was then able to give her undivided attention to French Folly, which, being soon silenced, was taken possession of by a landing-party under Captain King Hall. Its guns and ammunition were destroyed. Two 32-prs in Dutch Folly rendered material help during the engagement. The junks, being aground, or sunk, were burnt, with the exception of the admiral's ship, which was brought off, and two more, which escaped for the time, though one of them was afterwards burnt by Captain King Hall. Seymour mentions with praise the conduct of Commander Fortescue, of his senior Lieutenant, William Kemptown Bush, and of Lieutenant Henry Hamilton Beamish, of the Calcutta, who, under a very heavy fire, carried out the anchor by means of which the Barracouta (her hull was pierced by 28 large shot, besides smaller ones) was enabled to spring her broadside. The affair, very bloody to the enemy, cost the British a loss of but 1 killed and 4 wounded."

The Marines had again played their accustomed part in the Pearl River operations, seizing forts, garrisoning the British residential area outside Canton, and beating off attacks on it. Early in 1857, the Provisional Battalion RMLI sailed from England for China, apparently to form a nucleus of a Brigade to be formed from the Marines on detachment with the ships of the China Squadron. The Provisional Battalion was 300 strong and under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Lemon, with Prettyjohns, (the Corps' first VC, which he won at the Battle of Inkerman in the Crimean War), as Sergeant Major. En route to China, the Provisional Battalion was diverted to Calcutta and played a notable part in the relief of Lucknow, during the Indian Mutiny. A Brigade of Royal Marines was thereupon dispatched to China under the command of Col. Holloway R.M.A. The Brigade consisted of the 1st Battalion from Woolwich and Chatham, and the 2nd Battalion from Portsmouth and Plymouth, with 100 all ranks of the RMA.

As soon as the situation in India allowed, the Provisional Battalion proceeded to Hong Kong and the three battalions of the R.M.L.1. arrived there almost simultaneously. The Royal Marine Brigade was a major element in the force of 14,000 British and 7,000 French troops, which concentrated at Hong Kong and proceeded to campaign northwards in 1860.

Canton was stormed and captured. The Brigade provided a garrison in Canton between 27th April 1858 and the original "First Brigade Order Book" for this period is held in the Royal Marines Corps Archives. The Orders reveal the considerable extent to which the Marines in Canton were dependent upon Hong Kong. The Flagship of the Commander in Chief of the China Fleet, Admiral Sir M. Seymour, was in Hong Kong and the Brigade Order Book indicates that some senior officers in the Brigade, were at various times, serving as staff officers on the C-in-C's staff in the Colony.

The Brigade was supplied by a military train, which operated between the landing stages in the two cities. The sick and wounded of the Brigade were sent by the Units' Surgeons to Hong Kong for hospital treatment and recuperation. There were Military Provost Cells in Hong Kong, in which offenders were held for periods before being passed over to the Civil Authorities, to serve their sentences in Civil Prisons. All ranks spent recreation leave in Hong Kong. Coolies were continually being furnished to the Brigade from the "Military Train" in Hong Kong. The Train was commanded in 1859 by Capt. Temple. General Orders were issued by the C-in-C and his staff in Hong Kong, and Brigade Orders by Colonel Thomas Holloway ADC "Commanding Brigade of RM on special service in China, Canton".

The Brigade Order Book provides details of the attachments to the Provisional Battalion, of detachments of Royal Marines drawn from HM ships in Hong Kong. At least six ships - Inflexible, Princess Charlotte, Nankin, Esk, Sans Pareil and Bittern, supplied Marines to the Brigade in 1858.

In May, after bombardment by a flotilla of gunboats, the Taku Forts guarding the mouth of the Peiho River, and the direct route to Peking, were taken by a force of 1,200 Marines, after which a Marine Guard was posted to protect the Allied Admirals at Tientsin, where a Peace Treaty was signed. The Provisional Battalion was thereupon broken up, the ship Marines were re-embarked, and the rest of the unit was distributed between the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the R.M.L.I.

The terms of the Treaty of Tientsin were, in the event, not observed by the Chinese. In June 1859, a new British Admiral arrived off Taku, intent upon asserting the right of passage. Colonel Lemon, "a most excellent officer, strict but justice itself", had taken over the command of the 1st R.M.L.I., 400 strong and of the 2nd Battalion, almost as strong, formed from the Marines of the Fleet. The Taku defences had been rebuilt and greatly strengthened. The Admiral was determined to take the forts on the South Bank, a long line of earthworks mounting 58 guns, and, against the strong representations of Lemon, he decided to attack. The operation that followed on 25th June was a failure which came close to disaster.

The gunboats suffered heavily under the fire of the forts. The assault in the evening, struggling knee deep in mud with stakes and ditches, met heavy fire. Lemon was wounded. A hundred or so reached the line of earthworks, but the Chinese were massing, and a withdrawal was ordered. In good order, bringing off the wounded, the assaulting troops re-embarked during the night. This orderly withdrawal must have demanded great coolness and courage, but, because it was a defeat, no decorations were awarded.

In August 1859, a British army of 12,000, under Sir Hope Grant and a French one of 8,000, landed north of the Peiho, took the Taku Forts in the rear, routed a Chinese army and, on 13th October, entered Peking. Reaching this force in time for one wing to take part in the attack on the forts, the R.M.L.I. thereafter fought and entered Peking with the 1st Division and an RMA detachment, earning Sir Hope's praise for its work in bringing up siege guns to Peking.

In November, after the Imperial Government had ratified the Treaty of Tientsin, the British and French withdrew. The Marine battalion left two companies at Shanghai, which was now threatened by the Taiping rebellion. But that is another story.

In December, the RM Brigade was formed into a single battalion. Early in 1860, this went north to Chusan and Shanghai.

At Hong Kong, on its way back to England, the R.M.L.I. Brigade and R.M.A. Battery erected a memorial to the 232 all ranks who had lost their lives, and the 222 wounded in China in 1857-60.

The handsome monument is still standing in Victoria. The memorial records the services of the Brigade between the capture and occupation of Canton in 1857, and the march on Peking in 1860. It also records the loss of 3 officers, 2 staff sergeants, 13 corporals and 214 gunners and privates. The wounded are also recorded as 27 officers, 16 sergeants, 20 corporals, 4 buglers and 155 gunners and privates.

(BB - Source Acknowledgements: Maj. Gen J.L. Moulton CB DSO OBE RM; Dr. S.S. Richardson AO CBE MA LLD RMHS; W. L. Clowes & Wikipedia.com)

1840. The Marine numbers were 9000.

1840. Sunday 12th January. The franking of letters was abolished, and in future all letters were to be prepaid, and accounts to be kept by the Office Adjutant: this coincided with the introduction of the Penny Post. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1840. Saturday 28th March. Agnes Weston was born the daughter of a Barrister. In 1845 her father was retired and the family moved to Bath. She was educated at private schools, including preparation for confirmation from a priest whose leaning was towards Christian evangelism and whose teaching left a strong influence on the young Agnes.

After leaving school, she began philanthropic work that suited a young lady of her station and also began to speak at temperance meetings. She also learnt to write tracts for the promotion of the temperance movement. She opened a coffee bar for the soldiers of the 2nd Somerset Militia brigade. When they were posted away, she kept in touch with some of the soldiers by writing to them. In 1868, one of her letters was shown to a troopship steward who remarked that it would be nice to receive such a letter. Agnes was told about the steward and she also began writing to him and others. This started off her career in sailor welfare.

In 1873, sailors who corresponded with Agnes were paid off and she went to visit them at Devonport, Plymouth. She met Sophia Wintz and they became good friends and later fundraising partners. Agnes joined the Royal Naval Temperance Society and was allowed to visit sailors on warships and talk to the crew to promote temperance. Later it was suggested that she open a temperance house near to the dockyard gates. After discussing it with Sophia, they decided to undertake the project. Through meetings all round the country, they were able to raise enough funds to buy a house outside the dockyard at Devonport and open it up as a hostel for sailors. It was opened in May 1876 as the first 'Sailor's Rest'. It was immediately successful since it offered place to eat and drink as well as beds for the night if required. Although intended as a temperance house for the promotion of the movement, it was not confined to those of similar views and all sailors were welcome to make use of the facilities. Lectures were arranged as well as religious services and there was the chance to sign the 'pledge' to refrain from drinking alcohol.

The success of the Devonport Sailor's Rest led to a similar project being opened in Portsmouth in 1881, to provide baths, lodgings and recreational activities and facilities. Agnes and Sophia felt that these facilities would help to combat alcoholism in the sailors and keep them from causing mischief on the streets. They also opened Rests at Portland and Sheerness but found the prospect of organising four establishments too much. The Rests were intended to be self funding once they had been set up through public subscription. Soon they were able to house 900 men at Devonport and 700 at Portsmouth. To add to the satisfaction gained from the success of the Rests, several pubs had been closed and demolished due to lack of custom.

Agnes became known as 'Mother' Weston as she was constantly concerned and interested in her sailor's welfare, while being forthright on her views on their drinking habits. She was also known by the name 'Aggie'. The work of Agnes and Sophia was becoming more publicly known and in 1895, Queen Victoria endowed a cabin to be used as a Sailor's Rest in Devonport and allowed the use of Royal Sailor's Rest to be given to the whole institution.

Agnes did not neglect the sailors at sea. Where she had previously written letters to individual sailors away from home, she now printed a monthly letter to sailors for distribution among the ship. This rose to a circulation of 60,000 by 1918. She also published a journal Ashore and Afloat to encourage Christian beliefs, behaviour and temperance amongst sailors.

Agnes was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1918. However, she died shortly after receiving this award on Wednesday 23th October 1918 at Devonport. She was buried with full naval honours. In 1940, a frigate was named after Weston-Super-Mare and this became known in the fleet as 'Aggie-on-Horseback'.

Her Sailor's Rests continued to operate up until the turn of the twenty-first century, when a fall in custom led them to be closed. 'Royal Naval Museum Library'.

1840. Friday 5th July. The Capture of Chusan.

1840. Sunday 28th June. Blockade of Canton.

1840. Wednesday 1st July. Batteries at Amoy silenced by Blonde.

1840. Saturday 4th - 5th July. Bombardment of Tinghai and surrender of Chusan.

1840. Wednesday 19th August. Macao. The British residents at Macao, near Canton, having appealed to the British Admiral for assistance, the Royal Marines of HMS Druid, Larne, and Hyacinth (about 100, under Lieutenants Maxwell and Pickard) landed on Wednesday 19th August 1840, with some seamen manning a field piece, covered by the Larne and Hyacinth. The ships opened fire on one of the principal batteries and Chinese encampment with 10 guns, and silenced them in twenty minutes; the Royal Marines advanced to the top of the hill where they came under heavy fire and were counterattacked by a strong body of infantry, who were checked by a volley and retreated leaving a number of killed and wounded; Lieutenant Maxwell then ordered the RM to return to the beach to await the arrival of Captain Mee and the Bengal Native Volunteers, who landed about an hour later. This officer, with the Royal Marines in the centre, the Bengalis on the right, and seamen on either flank, advanced on the fort which was entered without opposition, the Chinese retiring to the war junks and to the old Portuguese battery. After a short 2 Authorities: Log of HMS Nemesis; Life of Sir Hugh Gough; Life of Sir S. B. Ellis, RM; original letters, Reports, etc. 10 bombardment the Chinese abandoned their guns and fled; the guns were spiked, and the magazines destroyed. The Chinese now took refuge in negotiations. The sickness was very great in Chusan in October 1840, so that no troops were available for any serious attempt to be made on the Canton Forts. An old Return of the number of sick at Chusan has a note against the regiment with the largest number of sick, "a temperance regiment". On Monday 30th November the Government, realising that they were committed to a serious campaign, offered the command of the troops to General Sir Hugh Gough in India, but he did not arrive on the scene until Tuesday 2nd March 1841. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1840. Monday 10th August. By Order in Council all Marine Cadets were admitted to the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth to train for Commissions. It was laid down that after a short course on board one of HM ships and at the RN College they were to receive Commissions as 2nd Lieutenants It was estimated that 12 cadets would be sufficient to fill vacancies. Their pay was to be the same as Mates RN, £65 per annum, and they messed with the Mates and Midshipmen. The Royal Naval College had been established on Tuesday 30th January 1816 and the staff allowed is interesting as showing subjects taught: Governor, 1st Lord of Admiralty; a Post-Captain and 2 Lieutenants; a Professor - Master of Classical History and Geography, with 3 Assistant Masters; a French master, a Fencing and Dancing master (abolished in 1827), Drawing master; 2 Sergeants Marine Artillery (with £30 extra pay); Matron and Housekeeper. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1840. Friday 10th - 16th September. Bombardment of Beyrout by a British squadron.

1840. Saturday 11th September. Attack on castle of Gebail by Carysfort and consorts.

1840. Saturday 12th September. The attack on the Castle of Gebail Syria,

1840. Tuesday 15th September. Batroun captured by Hastings and consorts.

1840. Thursday 17th September. The capture of Caiffaby by Castor and Pique.

1840. Sunday 20th September. The Attack on Torosa.

1840. Thursday 24th September. Tyre captured by Castor and Pique.

1840. Saturday 26th September. The Storming of Sidon: The Oriental Crisis, Egyptian-Ottoman War. Lieutenant Charles Hockin, Royal Marines St. Felicitas', Phillack, Cornwall.

Then, as now, the western powers preferred stability in the Middle East, but in the first half of the 19th century that stability was lacking. The Ottoman Empire, which was in nominal control, was enfeebled. Memhet Ali, the Pasha of Egypt, decided the time was right to seize independence for that country, and presumably power for himself. In 1839 his force of however many thousand men, commanded by his son Ibrahim, was in what was then Syria, now Lebanon, having defeated an Ottoman army at the battle of Nezib. This victory placed Constantinople (now Istanbul) and the Eastern Mediterranean under threat, and so the British, supported by the Russians and the Austrians, moved to forestall Mehmet's further advances, and push him back to Egypt, as they wished to preserve the integrity of the Ottoman Empire, presumably on the principle of better the devil you know, particularly a weakened one.

Hockin's force of marines was attached to HMS Stromboli, a steam-powered paddle sloop launched in 1839. In September 1840 the ship was one of those ordered to Sidon, 40 km south of Beirut the main supply base for the Egyptian army, to storm the fort there. From an account pertaining to Marine Private Charles Welch it appears to have been a minor engagement, with few casualties on either side, and only one on the British – unfortunately for Charles Hockin, he was that one.

British victory cut the Egypt army's access to the coast, and without access to the coast for its supply chain it was forced to withdraw, and a peace settlement was reached which assured the continuation of the Ottomans for a few more years. Ironically, this British desire to see the perpetuation of the Ottoman stability would, just over a decade later, see it engaged in a serious war against its erstwhile ally, Russia.

Strange that Hockin fought and died in two such obscure campaigns, as otherwise his family seem to have epitomised the 19th Century middle-class. He was the younger son who went off to join the army. His father, a graduate of Jesus College, Cambridge, was the vicar of Phillack, beneficiary of that arrangement set up by his grandfather in the 1750, and Charles' brother, Frederick, succeeded as vicar having previously been an attorney. Another son, William, also became a solicitor's clerk in 1827, and in 1871 was in Truro as a solicitor. The Church, the Law, and the Army; Charles got the bad roll of the dice.

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF LIEUTENANT CHARLES FRANCIS HOCKIN OF H. M. ROYAL MARINES CORPS WHO FELL WHILE GALLANTLY LEADING HIS MEN IN THE STORMING OF SIDON, IN SYRIA, ON THE 20TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 1840. HIS REMAINS WERE INTERRED WITH MILITARY HONORS, N THE BRITISH CAMP, AT D'JOUNI, NEAR BEIROUT. HE HAD SERVED FOUR YEARS IN THE NORTH OF SPAIN AND HAD RECEIVED FROM THE QUEEN REGENT THE CROSS OF THE ORDER OF ST FERDINAND, FOR THE PART HE BORE IN THE ACTIONS OF ANDOUIN AND HERNANI. HIS CONDUCT AS AN OFFICER OBTAINED HIM THE HIGH ESTEEM AND REGARD OF THOSE WHOM HE SERVED, AND HIS AMIABLE DISPOSITION ENDEARED HIM TO ALL WHO KNEW HIM. HE WAS THE FIFTH SON OF THE REVD WM HOCKIN, RECTOR OF THIS PARISH, BY PEGGY, HIS WIFE, DAUGHTER OF THE REVD A WILLIAMS, OF TRENEERE, WHO HAVE ERECTED THIS TABLET TO THE MEMORY OF AN EXCELLENT SON, THUS FALLING IN THE 27TH YEAR OF HIS AGE. (www.britainssmallwars.co.uk)

Privat Charles Welch R.M. Naval General Service Medal 1793 to 1840 bar "SYRIA" (HMS Stromboli.

Born Britford, Salisbury, Wiltshire Approx. 1814, Trade, Labourer Enlisted by Serjt. A.W. Simpson 15th August 1834 on a bounty of 3 pounds Attestation papers to serve in the Royal Marines at Portsmouth on 16th August 1834 and was read the Articles of War regarding Mutiny and Desertion he then took the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity and received the sum of Ten shillings and Sixpence. The Surgeon then declared him as fit for His Majesty's service. The commanding officer certified that he was satisfied with the correctness of the Attestation and he was entered in the Regimental Register with the number of 1157. He had joined the 85 Company of the Portsmouth Division of Royal Marines.

On the 21st March 1836 he joined HMS Vanguard (to 2nd April 1840) a 78-gun (or 80-gun) second-rate ship of the line, launched on 25 August 1835 at Pembroke Yard and commanded by Captain Thomas Fellowes (from January 1837 and April 1840) in the Mediterranean.

Vanguard had been commissioned at Portsmouth on 19 Mar 1836 and began her sea trials in July calling at Plymouth and then sailing to Cork. They returned to Plymouth to continue her trials and then on the 20th October they for Lisbon, Cadiz and then Malta. This means he would have been on board when on the morning of June 8th, all crews were mustered on decks to witness the execution of Private Thomas McSweeney, Royal Marines HMS Rodney who was hanged from Rodney's yard-arm for an assault on Lance Sergeant James T. Allen also of Rodney which resulted in Allen's demise soon afterwards. They remained in the Mediterranean with the British and French Fleets until ordered home in January 1840, in February they left Malta for Portsmouth arriving 17th March and Welch left Vanguard on 2nd April.

4th September 1840 joined HMS Stromboli a 1st class Paddle sloop of 1839 Commanded by Commander Woodford John Williams. Sailed for Malta on the 6th September and arrived in Gibraltar on 12th. On the 13th they sailed to join Vice Admiral Sir Robert Stopford fleet in the Levant. On 25 Sep 1840 Stromboli was part of Napiers force detailed to take possession of Sidon.

Sidon the main Depot for the Egyptian army was held by about 2700 men, it was quite well protected by a fort and other various defences. A mixed party including 750 marines landed and attacked on 26th, the fighting while fierce did not result in many casualties on either side, the British loss being 11 killed and 39 wounded. This included Stromboli's casualties of 1 marine (Leiut C.T. Hockin) killed with 3 marines severely wounded and 1 marine slightly wounded. These appear to have been caused while storming the fortress which commanded the town. Of the three severely wounded was Charles Welch who lost three fingers from one hand. (Napier in his dispatch of September 29th says one marine officer and three seamen killed and two mates one boatswain and thirty seamen wounded. While a more detailed list is included in the London Gazette giving ship by ship)

(See www.gazettes-online.co.uk) of 17th Nov 1840. HMS Stromboli continued with the fleet off Syria including the bombardment and capture of Acre on the 3rd/4th November (if Welch was still on board is not recorded but he would have qualified for the Turkish Medal even if he had not been).Welch's papers state that he left Stromboli on the 3rd December 1840.24th December 1840, A divisional board (Col. Parks C.B., Captain Mercer and Captain Evans) looking at the discharge of 1157 Charles Welch of the 85 Company Plymouth Royal Marine Division remarked that "Wounded at the storming of Sidon" for which he has received a Smart Ticket.

He has served afloat and on Foreign Stations for 4 years 3 months 13 days and with a total service on shore in the United Kingdom 2 years and 28 days (total 6 years, 4 months 11 days).The Cause of his discharge is in consequence of having lost three fingers (Wounded in Action) contracted in the service and per Admiralty order dated 22nd December 1840.The Defaulters book was examined and parole testimony from other sources heard. His conduct was found to be Very Good and he received from his senior officer Capitan Mercer a high testimony of his good conduct during the four years that he served under Capitan Mercers immediate command. Being asked if he had any claims against the service he stated none other than 13 days conduct money. The board verified that his ledger account was balanced and signed by the pay Capitan of his division then approved his discharge which was signed and dated 26th December 1840 (the report No.3437) Discharged in 1840 as an invalid.

Note:-Smart Money – Money paid to a sailor who has a Smart Ticket (Smart Certificate), which was issued to a man who had been injured or wounded in the performance of his duty. The smart ticket was the formal certificate signed by the ship's standing officers and the captain, 1st lieutenant, master and surgeon which attested to the wound described. (Author Unknown) (www.britainssmallwars.co.uk)

1840. Saturday 26th September. Attack on Tortosa by Benbow and consorts.

1840. Sunday 27th September. Sidon captured by Thunderer and squadron.

1840. Friday 2nd - 5th October. Removal of gunpowder from Beyrout by parties from Hastings and Edinburgh.

1840. Saturday 10th October. Fall of Beyrout.

1840. Tuesday 3rd November. The bombardment of St, Jean D'Arce.

1841. Thursday 7th January. The taking of Chuenpee.

1841. Tuesday 26th January. The occupation of Honk Kong.

1841. Monday 8th February. The Corps was rearmed with the new Percussion Muskets, an advance that was to prove its worth in China the following year.

1841. Monday 8th February. Presumably in consequence of the War in China, one Lieutenant Colonel RM and a Lieutenant Colonel for the Artillery Companies were added to the Establishment also one Company to each Division besides an additional Company to the Artillery of the Marines. The number of Privates in each Company was raised to 107 from 97, and the three Artillery Companies had an addition of 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal and 15 Gunners each, making the total Staff 41, Royal Marines 10,058, Artillery 405. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1841. Friday 26th February. The storming of the batteries at Anunhoy.

1841. Saturday 13th March. The storming of Macao Passage Fort.

1841. Thursday 18th March. Forts carried, and junks destroyed in Canton River.

1841. March. A return in the Records, dated 'Marmarice Bay, shows the effectives of the Royal Marines who were lately on the Coast of Syria, but were now supernumeraries in the Fleet (i.e. in garrison at Acre) as 1 Lieutenant Colonel, 6 Captains, 3 Subalterns, 1 Acting-Adjutant, 2 Staff Sergeants, 14 Sergeants, 11 Corporals, 4 Drummers, 160 Privates, Royal Marines. 1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 3 Sergeants, 3 Corporals, 2 Drummers and 47 Gunners, RMA. The officers were: RMA. - Captain Shute, Lieutenant Parke. Royal Marines – Lieutenant Colonel McCallum, Captains Baker, Brown, Edwards, Brevet Major Whylock, Leonard, Childs. Lieutenants Travers, Suther, Rich, Anderson, and the following were in hospital \- Captains Cater and Downman, Lieutenants Land, Miller and Aslett.

1841. Saturday 8th May. An order in Council fixed the establishment of Marines at ninety divisional companies, consisting of 107 men each, including officers, and four companies of artillery of 135 men each, making a total of 10,500 men.

1841. Friday 21st - 25th May. Operations at Canton by landing parties supported by the squadron.

1841. Monday 24th May. The action near Canton.

1841. Thursday 27th May. The GOC published the following General Order. Fort Yang-gang-Tai. Major General Sir H. Gough, from his heart, congratulates the troops of every arm upon their steadiness under fire and their brilliant conduct in the attack of the heights and the capture of the several forts above Canton and of the entrenched camp under cover of the City Wall on 25th instant.

The expression of the General's best thanks was as fully merited and as sincerely accorded to the Naval Battalions and the Royal Marines who have nobly upheld the high character of their profession." On the 1st June the heights above Canton were evacuated and the troops re-embarked.

The following extract from Orders refers to the Royal Marines. "No. 2. The Royal Marines and Brigade of Seamen will not move until a preooneerted signal be given, when the whole of the remaining force will evacuate the forts at the same moment and move down into the plain and form in rear of the Artillery in the following order: Royal Marines Brigade of Seamen, 49th Regiment 18th Royal Irish." The detachments returned to their shapos. The RM casualties had been two severely wounded and four slightly wounded. 16 On Sunday 6th June the General expressed his thanks again to the 18th Royal Irish and to Captain Ellis RM.

1841. Sunday 6th June. HMS Wellesley at Anunghoy. A letter from S.B. Ellis Captain, Royal Marines. Commanding Officer.

Sir, I have the honour to report to you that the Battalion of Royal Marines under my command amounting to 370 men, and formed from part of the Squadron under your Command employed in China, viz; Wellesley's detachment, Blenheim's, part of Blonde's, Modeste's, Pylades', Hyacinth's, Nimrod's, Cruiser's and Columbine's landed in cooperation with other Forces of Her Majesty and HEICs Service in the successful and gallant advance, and the capture of the Heights and Forts in front of Canton on the 25th ultimo, and that although' under the very great disadvantage of having to be formed as they landed into eight companies of 22 files each, and to be proved and officered, many of the men meeting for the first time, unaccustomed to act together, the zeal of all got everything into fair order, and they advanced with steadiness and regularity to the attack.

First-Lieutenant Maxwell of the Druid commanded the first company, and cooperated with HM 18th Regiment Royal Irish, in storming the enemy's entrenched camp the evening after the attack: Lieutenant White the 2nd, Lieutenant Polkinghorne the 3rd, Lieutenant Ussher the 4th (for one day only, as he fell sick and returned the next), Colour Sergeant Nicholls commanded the 5th, Colour Sergeant F Fairweather the 6th, Lieutenant Farmer the 7th, Lieutenant Whiting the 8th. Captain Whitcomb assisted as Field Officer and from whom, throughout the whole of the arduous duties the Battalion had to perform, I received at all times and occasions the most cheerful, able, and ready aid; Lieutenant Stransham of the Calliope executed the laborious duties of Adjutant with alacrity, zeal, and ability, and to this officers in command of companies generally I was much indebted for the prompt execution of, and attention to, the orders they from time to time received; to Lieutenant Whiting of the Blenheim, an active and vigilant young officer, my thanks are especially due, in an affair of the 30th ultimo between a large body of armed peasantry, and HM 26th Regiment and the 37th NI, a company of the latter, on the return to quarters was missing, and in consequence, at about sunset, I was directed by the Major General to detach a Company in search of it - the 49th had two out for the same object. I selected the 8th (Blenheim's) - being armed with percussion muskets - for this important duty, and Lieutenant Whiting to command them. He was accompanied by Captain Duff of the 37th NI. After a long and tedious march of 8 miles through paddy fields filled with water, they succeeded in reaching this company drawn up in square on a rising ground, surrounded by the enemy, then actively engaged in getting up a field gun for their destruction. Lieutenant Whiting announced his proximity to the 37th NI by firing a musket and directing his company to cheer loudly; the effect was instantaneous and beneficial; the Chinese, from the darkness, not knowing the amount of force, so unexpectedly near, separated a little and the 37th retreated; and Lieutenant Whitting, watching his opportunity, judiciously fired a volley amongst them, whereby the two companies were enabled to return to their respective Corps unmolested: the previous very heavy rain to which the 37th Company was exposed had wetted their firelocks and rendered them useless for the time. The following morning in a letter I had the honour to receive from Sir Hugh Gough on the subject he thus expressed himself: "Many thanks to the officer and party who were out last night. I shall give out an order on the subject." I am most happy to add that every praise is due to the Non-Commissioned Officers, Drummers, Rank and File of the Royal Marine Battalion engaged in this short and brilliant campaign for the steadiness, zeal, order, and sobriety invariably displayed by them through all the operations, which it is most gratifying to me, their Commanding Officer, to have the honour to make known to you. The casualties are happily but few: one corporal and one private dangerously wounded, four privates slightly. The lst and 2nd Instant all the men composing the Battalion had returned to their respective ships. I have the honour to remain.

Sir, Your obedient servant,

(Signed) S. B. Ellis.

Captain, Royal Marines.

Commanding Officer.

(H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.) (sic)

1841. Thursday 26th August, Amoy and Kalongsew bombarded and captured.

1841. August - October. Niger Expedition (Albert, Wilberforce and Soudan).

1841. Friday.1st October. The assault and capture of Ting-Hai.

1841. Sunday 10th October. The assault and capture of Ching-Hae.

1841. Wednesday 13th October. The occupation of Ning-Po.

1841. Tuesday 28th December. Destruction of works at Tzekee Tuyao by Nemesis and consort.

1842. Thursday 10th March. Destruction of fire-rafts at Chin-hae.

1842. Thursday 10th March. Destruction of burning fire-rafts at Ning-Po.

1842. Tuesday 15th March. The taking of Tse-Kee.

1842. Thursday 14th April. Destruction of burning fire-rafts at Chusan.

1842. Wednesday 18th May. The taking of Cha-Poo.

1842. Monday 13th June. British fleet entered the Yang-tse-Kiang.

1842. Thursday 16th June. The capture of Woo-Sung.

1842. Saturday 18th June. Shanghai surrendered.

1842. Thursday 21st July. The capture of Chin-Keang-Foo.

1842. Thursday 21st July. Assault on and capture of Ching-Kiang.

1842. Tuesday 9th - 17th August. Nankin blockaded by the British fleet.

1843. Thursday 8th June. Keppel at Paddi, Sarawak.

1843. June 8. Pakoo and Rembas destroyed by boats of Dido.

1844. Wednesday 7th August. Boats of Dido destroyed Patusen and Karangan.

1844. The Marine Artillery was increased to six companies, and the corps distributed as follows:

Ninety- four divisional companies, each consisting of one Captain, two Subalterns, five Sergeants, five Corporals, three Drummers, and eighty seven Privates. A total of 103. With five Artillery companies, each consisting of one Captain, four Subalterns, seven Sergeants, seven Corporals, three Bombardiers, three Drummers, and one hundred and twenty Privates. A total of 146. Making the whole establishment of Marines a total of 10,469.

1844. The Heroism of Private Drake RM, during a Mutiny. The Brazilian slave ship Romeo Primero was captured off Cape Lopez by HMS Waterwitch and HMS Racer somewhere about the middle of 1844. Commander Mansfield R.N. 3 seamen, a Private Marine named Drake, and 1 Krooman were put on board her as a prize crew in order to navigate her to St. Helena. On the night of the second or third day after parting company with the men of war, the Brazilian crew, four of whom were left on board, attempted to retake the vessel. Some accident having happened to the top gallant halliards, the only two seamen who were on deck were ordered by Commander Mansfield to go aloft and repair the damage, he himself taking the wheel. Drake, the remaining seaman, and the Krooman had the watch below, and were fast asleep in their hammocks. The four Brazilians, on the alert to seize the first favourable opportunity, took instant advantage of the temporary isolation of Commander Mansfield, and opened the attack by possessing themselves of Drakes musket, which one of them fired at the British officer, who fell, stunned by a severe wound in the head., which tore off a piece of his skull. In the meantime, another on them stole below, and having mortally wounded a seaman who lay asleep in his hammock, was proceeding to despatch Drake. But the Marine, feeling a peculiar sensation about his throat, awoke and raising his arm, diverted the murderer's knife, but not without receiving a deep and server would above the collar bone. Without for a moment losing his presents of mind, he flung himself out of his hammock, and wrenching the knife from murders hands, plunged it into the ruffian's stomach with such furious energy and hearty good will that he felt the point of it grate against the spine. He then seized the man's cutlass and seeing that his officer was down, gallantly rushed to his rescue, regardless of the blood that poured profusely from the wound in his neck. Standing over the Commander's body he fought so well in resisting the attack of the three remaining Brazilians, that by the time the two seamen had got down from aloft to his assistance he had killed one and wounded the two others who fled precipitately below, fairly terrified at the indomitable valour and the fierce over powering energy of their gallant opponent. Drake fainted from loss of blood as soon as they disappeared and did not recover consciousness for a whole week. After several months in hospital Drake made a good recovery from his wounds, went afloat again and three years later was back in England and laid up with sickness in Haslar Hospital. Then, at length his heroism was recognised and the Admiralty on Wednesday 7th June 1848, directed that he should be, "Immediately and specially promoted to the rank of Corporal, and that this order be read at the head of each Division of Royal Marines." Moreover, on the Friday 14th of the following month, he was ordered to be further promoted to Sergeant, and to Colour Sergeant nine months later. In1850 he was appointed to HMS Birkenhead and was one of the survivors when she was wrecked on Monday 26th January 1852. Drake saw service in the Baltic, Crimea, and China, leaving the service in 1864. He died in 1905 after 28 years' service as an attendant at Westminster Abbey. An excellent account of this gallant Marine illustrated by two portraits is to be found in "A Deathless Story, or the 'Birkenhead' and its heroes." Published by Messrs. Hutchinson and co in 1906. (sic)

1844. December. The detachment of Royal Marines at Port Essington in the Northern Territory of Australia. Consisted of Lieutenants George Lambrick, William Garner Wright and Timpson, with one Assistant Surgeon, three Sergeants, three Corporals, one drummer and forty five Privates.

The introduction of steam has so materially changed the system of warfare, that it is now imperative on the British government to adopt the best method for the improvement of our naval gunnery, and as that never can be effectually maintained when the men are discharged after so limited a period of service as three years, it behoves the executive to consider the advantage that is likely to arise from an increase of the Corps of Marines of sufficient extent to make an addition to the detachments on board Her Majesty's ships, and discontinue that class which is now termed "Landsmen." This measure would not only provide an improving body of artillery men, but at the same time every squadron would convey battalions of effective soldiers, ready to take the field on any emergency. In offering these remarks, we are supported by the opinions of many of our most distinguished naval officers. The immortal Nelson has been frequently heard to say, "When I become first lord of the Admiralty, every fleet shall have perfect battalions of Marines, with their artillery, and commanded by experienced field officers, they will be prepared to make a serious impression on the enemy's coast." And we find it stated by Mr. Tucker, that lord St. Vincent was so persuaded of the importance of keeping up an extensive establishment of Marines, that his lordship remarked, "The French from the era of Louis XIV. have always equipped their fleet sooner than we have, and their 1 bureau de classe' continues in full vigour. Without a large body of Marines, we shall be long, very long, before an efficient fleet can be sent to sea." This system is persevered in, and it will be observed that, in the last vote of the French Chambers, where the number of seamen amounted to 26,000 men, the Marine Artillery numbered 19,000. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1845. Monday 13th January. The numbers seem to have remained unaltered until 1845, when there is a very interesting Order-in-Council dated Monday 13th January 1845, which, whilst giving the numbers for that year, affords information as to the employment of the RM Artillery: "Consideration of the steam vessels and weight of armaments and consequent insufficiency of present numbers of the Companies of Marine Artillery, a portion of whom are embarked in each vessel.

Previous to 1831 the Marine Artillery consisted of eight companies; in that year four companies were reduced and in 1832 two more; at which period the horse-power of the Navy amounted to 2660 horses; in 1841 one company was added, making the strength 405.

The Steam Navy now amounts to upwards of 26,000 H.P., and this amount will be doubled in a few years; the Board therefore propose to establish two companies of RMA without adding to the total foree of RM, viz 10,500. The total strength was divided into Staff 62, RM 9,682, Artillery Companies 725. The cost of the change was estimated to be £2741." On Wednesday 18th March 1846, two more Artillery Companies were added, making 7 all told; the numbers were taken from the Divisional Companies without altering the total.

The RMA Headquarters about this time were moved back to the Gunwharf Barracks, still forming part of the Portsmouth Division; and when there were too many men for these and Fort Cumberland, men were sent to the other Divisions. Bands - A subscription of one day's pay from all officers was ordered for the support of the bands from Saturday 19th March 1842 and has continued ever since.

Quartermasters - On Tuesday 19th May 1846 a big departure was made. For the first time a second Quartermaster was added to each Division and instead of a combatant officer being appointed for a term of years, they were selected from the Staff Sergeants of the Corps; but it was not until Order-in-Council Friday 18th January 1850 that any scales of pay were laid down for them and not until Order-in-Council Friday 26th June 1857 that there was any scheme of Retired or Half Pay. It would seem that this addition must have been due to the increased duties in connection with rations and quartering, for we learn13 that it was not till then that the GOC Western District ordered that an evening meal of tea or coffee and a proportion of bread should be provided in addition to breakfast and dinner; and the hour of pm after evening roll-call is suggested.

Duelling - A very important change in the social customs was made by the Army Order forbidding Duelling, on Friday 15th March 1844; as we have seen it was more or less officially recognised, though when the Commandant at Portsmouth reported in 1812 that an officer had died of his wounds, the other officers concerned absconded and the Commandant was ordered to 'respite' their pay.

The year 1847 was noteworthy for legislation affecting service which still governs the Corps. On Saturday 24th April 1647 the strength was raised from 10,500 to 12,000, which included three more companies at a strength of 145 each added to the RMA14 making 10. The Acting Adjutant RMA was put on the same footing as the other Adjutants of the Corps.

The Divisional Companies were 100 with a strength of 104 each, and on 22nd July another Lieutenant Colonel was added. Medals - On Tuesday 1st June 1847 the issue of the Naval War Service Medal for the Great War 1793-1815 was authorised with clasps for the numerous and various actions. The same medal was also issued for the Syrian Campaign of 1840 and for Navarino, 1827. There were 230 different bars issued. The distribution took place on Monday lst January 1849, when naturally there was not a very large number of recipients surviving. An Army Medal was also issued with clasp for their battles, and a certain number of these were issued to the Royal Marines.

Marine Mutiny Act - Since the Great War the problem of the age of officers had been very pressing, but it would now seem as if some difficulty was arising as regards the men. As we have seen, except for certain exceptions during the war periods when men were enlisted for 3 years or the duration of the war, or from the militia for 'Limited Service', enlistment had always been for life, and no doubt the peace period was producing men too old for the duties required.

Doubtless also the influence of the Army Service Act 1847 was felt and at all events the Mutiny Act of this year 13 Plymouth Orders, Friday 8th August 1845. 23 passed on Sunday 1st August 1847 contained the first provision for limiting service in the Marines and was known as the Marine Mutiny Act 1847 (d 12 Victoria c 53), the provisions of which are still in force, by which it was ordered that men were to be discharged after 12 years' service and allowed to re-engage for another 12 years (afterwards modified to 9, in 1853).

This was a revolutionary step and had a great effect on the Corps. The Pension Regulations were altered at the same time. Apparently, on Monday 26 June 1837, pensions had been granted after 21 years at sea or on foreign service, two years on shore in England to count as one year afloat and no Marine was entitled unless he had 10 years afloat or on foreign service. Further, since Sunday 1st January 1832 service had only counted from the age of twenty; now by an Order-in-Council Thursday 17th June 1847 this rule was declared to be unfair, and a reversion to the old Marine system was ordered, by which Marines were entitled to benefit from the whole of their service ashore and afloat and were allowed to reckon service from the age of 15.

On 1st August a new scale of pensions was fixed, which remained in force up to 1919, viz 8d a day, with additions of 21 pence for Sergeant Majors, 2 pence for QMS, 1 penny for Sergeants, a ha'penny for Corporals, with limits of 2/6, 2/3, 2/-, and 1/6 for respective classes. Acting time did not count. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1845. March. During the First Maori War in New Zealand, Marines helped defend Russell Island.

1845. March. New Zealand - In quite another quarter of the Globe, in New Zealand, trouble arose over the occupation of tribal land between the settlers and the Maoris. In March 1845 at Kororareka, the Chief Heke so harried the settlement that it was abandoned, and the inhabitants went to Auckland. Reinforcements were demanded from Australia and on their arrival the 58th and 96th Regiments with the Seamen and Marines of HMS North Star and hazard and a body of natives, proceeded against a stockade called Okaihau. As they had no artillery it was found to be impregnable, and they were forced to retire with a loss of 14 killed and 59 wounded. On Monday 23rd June 1845 they attacked another stronghold - 0heawi; the guns were useless till a 32 pdr was brought up from HMS Hazard. On lst July the assault was delivered and again repulsed with heavy loss; on 10th it was found that the Maoris had evacuated the Pah. In November 1845 Sir G. Grey XI, the governor sent a force of 1170 soldiers, volunteers, Seamen and Marines against the Chiefs Heke and Kawiti. Heke was at Ikoragi, but the force proceeded against Kawiti in the Pah at Ruapekapeka and. besieged it from Wednesday 31st December to Saturday 10th January 1846, when the Maoris abandoned it. The British loss was 13 killed and 30 wounded. The Chiefs surrendered and were pardoned, and the War in the North Island ended. A medal was granted for this campaign in 1869. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.) (sic)

1845. Thursday 8th May. The Storming of Heke's Pah at Okaihu. Royal Marines from HMS Hazard and HMS North Start were present.

1845. Monday 23rd June - 7th July. The Battle of Ohaeawai was fought between British Forces and local Māori during the Flagstaff War at Ohaeawai in the North Island of New Zealand (11th March 1845 - 11 January 1846). Te Ruki Kawiti, a prominent Rangatira (chief) was the leader of the Māori forces. The Battle was notable in that it established that the fortified pā (village) could withstand a bombardment from cannon fire and that frontal assaults by soldiers would result in serious troop losses. Lieutenant Colonel Despard led a combined force of troops from the 58th and 99th Regiments, Royal Marines and Māori allies in an attack on Pene Taui's Pā at Ohaeawai, which had been fortified by Kawiti. The British troops arrived at the Ohaeawai Pā on 23rd June and established a camp about 500 metres away. On the summit of a nearby hill (Puketapu) where they built a four-gun battery. They opened fired the next day and continued until dark but did very little damage to the palisade. The next day the guns were brought to within 200 metres of the pā. The bombardment continued for another two days but still did very little damage. This was due to the elasticity of the flax covering the palisade. Since the introduction of muskets, the Māori had learnt to cover the outside of the palisades with layers of flax (Phormium tenax) leaves, making them effectively bullet proof as the velocity of musket balls was dissipated by the flax leaves. However, the main fault was a failure to concentrate the cannon fire on one area of the defences, so as to create a breach in the palisade. After two days of bombardment without effecting a breach, Despard ordered a frontal assault. He was, with difficulty, persuaded to postpone this pending the arrival of a 32 pound naval gun which came the next day on the 1st July. However, an unexpected sortie from the pā resulted in the temporary occupation of the knoll on which Tāmati Wāka Nene had his camp and the capture of Nene's colours - the Union Jack. The Union Jack was carried into the pā. There it was hoisted, upside down, and at half mast high, below the Māori flag, which was a Kākahu (Māori cloak). This insulting display of the Union Jack was the cause of the disaster which ensued. Infuriated by the insult to the Union Jack, Colonel Despard ordered an assault upon the pā the same day. The attack was directed to the section of the pā where the angle of the palisade allowed a double flank from which the defenders of the pā could fire at the attackers, the attack was a reckless endeavour. The British persisted in their attempts to storm the unbreached palisades and five to seven minutes later 33 were dead and 66 injured. The casualties included Captain Grant of the 58th Regiment and Lieutenant Phillpotts of HMS Hazard. Shaken by the loss of a third of his troops, Despard decided to abandon the siege. However, his Māori allies contested this decision. Tāmati Wāka Nene persuaded Despard to wait for a few more days. More ammunition and supplies were brought in and the shelling continued. On the morning of the 8th July the pā was found to have been abandoned, the occupants having disappeared in the night. When they had a chance to examine it the British officers found it to be even stronger than they had feared. The defenders of the pā had four iron cannons on ship-carriages including a carronade that was loaded with a bullock-chain and fired at close quarters at the attaching soldiers. The colonial forces capture these cannons, one of which had been destroyed by a shot from a British cannon. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1845. Wednesday 18th June. Bombardment of Tamatave.

1845. Tuesday 19th August. Operations against the Pirates by the Royal Navy had been in progress for two or three years. However, on the 19th August the pirate strong hold of Malludu defended by 100 men and two forts armed with 12 heavy guns were attacked and destroyed by boats of the Agincourt and 7 other vessels. Captain Hawkins Royal Marines, 4 Lieutenants, 8 Sergeants, 8 Corporal, 3 Fifers and 178 Privates were present.

1845. August. Relief of Monte Video.

1845. Thursday 20th November. Defeat of the enemy at Obligado on the Parana.

1845. Captain Talbot RN lead a force of 350 seaman and Royal Marines in 27 boats up the Sungei Besar river, in the Labuan area of Borneo, to successful attack a pirate stronghold, For the loss of only 21 killed and wondered.

1845. Thursday 20th November. South America, Puente Obligado. Brevet Major R. Leonard with The Marines of the squadron was landed for the protection of British interests during the siege of Monte Video by the Argentine's and remained there from 1843 to 1847. At the destruction of the batteries erected by General Rosas at Puente Obligado by combining British and French squadrons on the 2th November, Captain F. Hurdle landed with 145 Royal Marines and drove back the enemy from their position covering the Batteries at the point of the bayonet. 180 seamen who had been specially trained as Light Infantry by Lieutenant J.E.W. Lawrence of the Royal Marine Artillery drove them out of the woods they held at the same time. To facilitate the passage of a convoy past the Batteries of San Lorenzo, Lieutenant C.L. Barnard of the RMA with 12 gunners, Lieutenant Mackinnon RN the boatswain and pilot of the Alecto and 11 seamen with 4 rocket tubes lay concealed for three days on a small Island close under the guns. When the moment came for the convoy and their escorting gun vessels to pass the batteries, the RMA and seamen manned their rocket tubes. Lieutenant Barnard planted the British Flag under the noses of the enemy, and by the well aimed and heavy discharge of rockets the passage of the convoy was made possible. In the evening the Marines of the squadron under Captain Hurdle RM and 4 Subalterns were landed and supported by the Bluejackets small arm men, stormed the batteries and spiked the guns.

1845. Thursday 31st December – 11th January 1846. A Royal Marines ships detachment stormed Ruapekapekeon a New Zealand Station.

1846. Monday 6th April. Alecto engaged at San Lorenzo and Toneloro.

1846. Tuesday 21st April. Lizard engaged near San Lorenzo.

1846. Monday 11th May. Harpy engaged at San Lorenzo.

1846. Thursday 4th June. Gorgon and consorts at San Lorenzo.

1846. Tuesday 7th - 8th July. Sir T. Cochrane at Pulo Bungore and Brune.

1846. July. Colonia captured.

1847. Saturday 3rd April. Vulcan and consorts attacked Bogue Forts.

1847. Monday 5th April. Bogue Forts captured.

1847. Francis Whatley was born in the town of Warminster, in the county of Wiltshire, in the year 1830, and enlisted into the Royal Marines in the year 1847.

After pursuing the ordinary course of a soldiers life for several years, doing duty at various places at home, and cruising in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Queen, the Flagship of Admiral Sir W Parker, he found himself, on the outbreak of the Russian war, in 1854, at Varna, on board the Agamemnon, assisted in the embarkation of the Allied Armies which were assembled at that place, to transport them to the Crimea, the Allied Commanders Lord Raglan and Marshall St Arnaud having resolved upon attacking the Russian power in that quarter.

Whatley says that the sight which presented itself upon the occasion of the embarkation at Varna was most magnificent; the sea as far as the eye could reach being covered with ships of all descriptions, having on board French and English troops, horses and war materials of every kind.

Having been transferred to the Britannia, Whatley now sailed in company with others of his corps for the Crimea and arrived at a place which he calls "Old Fort", where some of the soldiers began to land. It was not long however before the Russians let them know that they were on the lookout, for they commenced a sharp skirmish with the advanced portion of the landing troops.

After a short stay at "Old Fort", he set sail for Upatoria with detachments of Marines from the French and English fleets, and a detachment of Turkish soldiers, each about 500 in number, for the purposes of holding that town, and to prevent a division of the Russian Army about 10 000 strong from forming a junction with the main body of the Russian Army at the Alma. This it appears they succeeded in doing, although so greatly inferior in number, managing no doubt to keep the enemy in ignorance in that respect,

On the 20th of September was fought the battle of the Alma; and Whatley says that they could distinctly hear the booming of the cannon, while the battle was raging, though he was then at Upatoria, between 20 and 30 miles distant from the scene of the fight.

From Upatoria he sailed in the Cyclops steamer to Balaclava and was sent to the height to do duty in the batteries there.

He was present at the battle of Balaclava, which happened on the 25th October 1854, and witnessed the celebrated "Charge of the Light Brigade", when about 670 men rode down the valley through the Russian forces, while the Russians rained upon them shot and shell from almost every quarter. Suffice it to say that only about 200 men returned from the charge, the remainder having been killed or disabled.

Whatley continued at Balaclava for several weeks after the battle, and then marched to the front to do duty in the trenches with the Royal Artillery before Sebastopol, Whatley himself having become some time previously an artilleryman of the Royal Marines.

He was next engaged at the battle of Inkerman which transpired on the 5th of November. This was a dreadful hand to hand fight, in which a few thousand English kept at bay an immense force of Russians who had come upon them unawares, under the cover of a dark foggy morning, until some French reinforcements arrived, when victory declared itself in favour of the allies.

Our friend remained before Sebastopol working in many batteries until the fall of that place. On one occasion when exchanging shots with the Russians a ball struck dead three out of the five men who were working at the same gun as Whatley.

He also took part in the bombardment of Sebastopol on the 18th June and witnessed the abortive attempts of the Allies to take it by storm on that day. He was also present and engaged in the final three days bombardment, which resulted in the fall of that stronghold on the 8th September 1855.

After the fall of this place he next returned to Balaclava and went on board the St Jean do Acre 101 guns and sailed with the Allied expedition destined to attack the fortress of Kimburn and assisted in its reduction, the garrison surrendering themselves prisoners of war.

Whatley now returned to the Black Sea and sailed from thence in the Juno steamer for England arriving in Portsmouth harbour on the 24th November 1855. He continued in the service until 1861, when he claimed his discharge after a service of 12 years; having received the English and Turki sh medals for the campaign in the Crimea. (From "The Skepton Mallett Home Words" January 1876) Marines in 'John Company's Last War' by Lieutenant Colonel Brian Edwards.

1848. Portsmouth Division moved into Forton Barracks, Gosport.

1848. Saturday 12th February. The storming of fort Serapaqui on a Nicaragua river, Lieutenant R. Boyle RM and 30 Royal Marines from HMS Alarm and HMS Vixen were present.

1848. Wednesday 29th March. The Royal Marines occupied Forton Barracks Gosport, moving from Clarence Barracks Portsmouth.

1848. Monday 12th June 1848 - Wednesday 13th September 1850. John Hopkinson, late Private, 26th Company Royal Marines, Portsmouth Division: 'A Cruise In The Mediterranean'

I was enlisted at Leeds in the County of York on the 6th day of December 1847, at the age of 21 years and 3 months. I was attested on the 7th and left Leeds by express the same night, arriving in London about 5 o'clock the next morning. We soon set off again, for Portsmouth, where we arrived about 2 p.m., and I remained in Barracks there until my turn came to go to sea. On the 22nd May 1848,.a draft came in for 40 men and I happened to be one in that number. We were called out and passed the doctor, and on the following day we embarked on board Her Britannic Majesty's Ship HOVE, 120 guns, Captain Sir James Stirling, K.T. She had then been in commission about 12 months; the first six months she was cruising in the English Channel, then she was ordered back to England to take the Queen Dowager out to Madeira. When the Queen had landed at Madeira the ship went to Lisbon and joined the Channel Squadron again, under Rear Admiral Sir Charles Napier, until the Queen was ready to return.

At this time, they were augmenting all the Ships' companies. Previous to this time every three-decker that carried 120 guns had been allowed 160 Marines, and now they were augmenting them to 200 and 800 seamen, making a total of 1000 men for a ship's company. I was one in the 40 to make up her complement. In a week's time-after-we embarked we took the ship out to Spit Head, then we got in our lower deck gun powder and shot, provisions and water, and they served us last-comers out with a bed and blanket each. (We had had nothing to sleep on but the bare decks from coming on board.) They also served us out two hammocks each. I soon found out that ship's duty was a great deal harder than Barrack duty, for we had to turn out every morning at 4 a.m. while we were fitting out, and we had to work very hard the whole of the day getting the ship ready for sea.

On the 12th day of June we weighed anchor and got on the way about 9 o'clock in the morning. The boatswain mates piped Hands up Anchor, so we manned the capstan as many as could get to.

The band was ordered on deck, and we kept time with our feet as the band played. There were a great many boats round about us, several who had come out from the harbour to take their farewell of some of the ship's company. Some had fathers and mothers, some brothers and sisters, some wives and. children. It was almost heart-rending to see some, how they clung to each other up to the very last. As for me, I had nobody near to come to see me (I was 300 miles away from any of my friends, and I thought at the time it was almost as well it was so.)

After this passes away, and we find ourselves sailing on with a fair steady breeze round the Isle-of Wight, watching the porpoises rolling and leaping around, and the ship's band playing every night merrily down the coast of Portugal and of Spain, and in 14 days from England we arrive at Gibraltar. It is just dusk when all hands are calling out "The Rock is in sight". There was a fair wind, so we sailed on against the strong current and we passed by, seeing very little of the Rock and we took to the Barbary Coast keeping to the African coast all the way, never long out of sight of it. We arrived in Malta on the 17th July and left again the following day to go in search of the Fleet. We cruised about a few days, then we fell in with the Fleet just off Palermo. When we left Malta, we made for the coast of Sicily which lies straight ahead, and on the third day we came in sight of Mount Etna.

We sail on down the channel, with the most glorious scenery disclosing itself at every point, but Etna seems to absorb all till at length it disappears, and we come into the beautiful Straits of Messina, also Palermo, and it is here that we fall in with the Fleet. The following are the names of all the ships belonging to the Fleet at this time:

H.M. Ship HIBERNIA 120 guns, bearing the flag of Vice Admiral Sir William Parker, GCB, (Chattez C Stadden) the QUEEN 116, the RODNEY 84, VANGUARD 84, VENGEANCE 84, POWERFUL 84, then there was the ship to which I belong, the HOWE 120, and there were two French line of battle ships with us, besides a few smaller ships. We sailed on together, sometimes in line of battle order and sometimes all in a breast.

We sailed on round the point of Sicily on our way to Naples, past the Lipari Islands, one of which (Stromboli) is a very active volcano. We are admiring the formation of the clouds that hang over the Sicilian coast, when we perceive there is a mountain up among them, round which they are gathered, and to our infinite surprise and delight, glorious old Etna comes out of her cloud chambers and stands there full to view for at least some 50 miles. Looking if possible grander than when we first beheld her.

The next day we sail into the Bay of Naples. It is said to be the finest and most beautiful bay in the world, and certainly it would be difficult to find another to surpass it. There is Vesuvius smoking on the one side, with vineyards and dwellings half way up the ascent. At the foot of it on the side furthest from us is Pompeii which was buried by an eruption rather less than 1800 years ago, and at its foot nearest to us is a city built on Herculareum, another buried city, as this perhaps may be buried in its turn. There just before us in the curve of the bay is Naples itself. Its streets, as we see them from the ship, seem full of life, and its buildings rising up one above another, some of the domes and spires of the churches shining in the sunlight like burnished gold. I, of course, had a strong desire to go on shore, but I knew I should have to wait some time for this privilege. Our officers began going on shore very shortly after we dropped anchor, and in a few weeks, after we had gone through some slight repairs, to my great delight they commenced giving leave to the men, about 3 or 4 from each mess. It was not very long before I got leave for 24 hours, and this was the first time we had been on shore since we left England. I went onshore with a good many more, and I will just mention a. few things we noticed. First, all the fortifications were turned inwards, so that they could pour destruction in upon the city as well as upon an enemy without. There are four great forts, all the cannon of which are pointed upon the city, while there are government buildings surmounted by cannon in every direction, and at the ends of some of the principle streets you see loopholes and mouths of cannons peeping out at you in every direction, anything but pleasant to behold. I think we almost saw all around Naples there is a very large Barracks which we went to look at, where we were told they could parade some 1000 soldiers on the top.

I saw the King's palace, also the Opera House but I was not inside. There is also a fine museum in Naples, enriched not only with works of art but with relics from Pompeii.

We stopped at Naples and roundabout for more than eight months. We had not been long in the Bay of Naples before the remainder of the French Fleet joined us. There were seven English line of battle ships and eight line of battle ships of the French; there were two French Admirals and one English Admiral. There was a war going on at the time; we could see them shipping troops from Naples regularly, mostly to Palermo, it was said. But what the cause of this war was I am not prepared to say, for men in the Service never get to know much what is going on, only what they can see. When they hear anything it generally comes out from England either in their letters from home or newspapers. We were at Naples on Christmas Day, and a first-class Christmas we had. Each mess subscribed money and had a quantity of meat and other things brought from ashore, and great quantities of fruit, as fruit is very cheap in nearly all parts, of the Mediterranean. Each mess made a large chandelier and filled it with candles, and when they piped to dinner we lighted all our candles and lowered all the ports, and the band played us "The Roast Beef of Old England" while we were eating the roast beef of Naples.

Sometime in January the Admiral despatched us. off to different places; our ship and another went to a place called Castellamare, one to Genoa, one to Messina, one to Palermo, and the Admiral stopped at Naples. Occasionally the Admiral called us all together and exercised us, and the French Fleet also began to move off but where I cannot tell. It was said our business

there was to protect our Merchants. About the middle of April 1849, we weighed anchor, the whole of us except the VENGEANCE and we left her there.

We sailed out of the Bay very nicely without any accidents and we came down to Malta. The weather was very hot at this time, hotter than ever I had felt it in England. We had an awning

spread fore and aft the upper deck the whole day long to keep the sun off. We had scarcely let go our anchors before there were scores of boats, called Bom boats, with fruit and other things to sell; they were crowding round the ships in all directions. It is the Maltese harvest when the Fleet is there; we could buy almost anything in Malta, the same as in England.

We had not been long in Malta before we got leave to on shore. The day I went on shore there were two of my mess mates besides a comrade of mine from another mess, a native of Great Horton, the name of Jowett. With us being used to nothing but the ship's decks for about 12 months, and the weather being so warm and the roads so rough, we had no sooner landed and walked a very short distance, but we had all the skin off our feet. I soon found out I should not have to do much this time on shore.

There are always two English Regiments stationed in Malta, besides a regiment of natives called Royal Malta Fencibles. At this time there were the 44th and 69th Regiments lying there, and I was aware that there were several from Bradford and the neighbourhood, so we went to the St. Elmo Fort where the 69th was lying, and we met with several Yorkshiremen. At night their bands were out on the Parade Ground, which I thought sounded delightful more than 2,000 miles from Old England, playing "The Girl I Left Behind Me" and other lively tunes. So I spent most of my time on shore this time amongst the soldiers, talking of home and watching the antics of some of our sailors and marines. Some who had come on shore with me were regularly drunk in a few hours (a man who keeps sober may enjoy himself best in watching their merrymaking). You might see them sometimes with great bunches of flowers which they have bought from the flower girls, pinned in their breasts, marching 4 or 5 abreast singing with all their might. Sometimes they will hire nearly all the boats in the harbour and fasten them in a train and fill the first with music which they make play "Rule Britannia" for hours together. Sometimes they will hire a number of horses on which they will play the wildest freaks imaginable, getting on the "upper deck" as they call the horse's back, not at all particular whether they face the head or tail, often preferring the latter, and the leader of them has a large stone tied round the horse's neck and every grog shop they come to he drops the stone and that is "dropping anchor", an example in which all the Fleet follow their Admiral.

However, night comes on and we have to look out for lodgings. I and my companions got what we considered very good lodgings, but we had not long been in bed before something came buzzing about us. We could not sleep, what with the heat and these torments flying about us; we scarcely got any sleep at all, and when we enquired in the morning they gave us to understand that they were what they called Mosquitos. After breakfast we had a walk, and I noticed that the houses are all built with flat roofs and a parapet with a staircase leading up to it, and not in frequently people seek relief from the heat below by sleeping there at night. We returned on board again at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and that was the first time ashore in Malta.

After a time, I got leave again, with the same companion as before, and we were determined to go out in the country this time, so we hired a horse each and we drove out to Cevitia Vecchia. As you travel through the country you see the sheep and goats all feeding in the same flock, you look upon the trees around and you see the fig trees by the wayside, and the palm, locust, vine and pomegranate. As for orange and lemon trees, they with their golden fruit are beyond all number. Then as you drive along you see a man ploughing with what looks like two sticks, drawn by a yoke of oxen, or an ox and ass yoked together. As for the cultivation of the island, that is peculiar in one respect, that it is mostly done in terraces, the edges of which are build up by stones.

1848. July. During the revolutionary troubles in Ireland a small Battalion of 300 men was sent to Dublin in July and proceeded to Waterford. It was present at the attack on Portland Barracks and the attempted destruction of the Granagh Bridge over the River Suir on Tuesday 12th September 1848. On Wednesday 1st March the complements of ships on the Irish station had been increased by 300 men. The Battalion had been withdrawn in February 1840.

1848. Royal Marine battalion in South Ireland.

1848. The strength was 12,000 but a fresh distribution was ordered, by which 12 new companies were created, but with reduced strength; which allowed 700 men to be transferred to the Artillery companies and the creation of 3 additional Artillery companies. An additional Lieutenant Colonel was, allowed for the Artillery Companies, and one for the Corps generally.

Portsmouth Barracks - In this year came also the move from the old Clarence Barracks at Portsmouth to the new Barracks, which had been erected on the land where the old hospital for prisoners of war used to stand at Forton. These were exchanged with the War Office for the Clarence Barracks, and at first consisted only of the four large blocks. The transfer took place on Wednesday 29th March 1848. At the same time the Barracks for the Woolwich Division on Woolwich Common were completed. These were the latest things of their day and appear to have been a very fine set of buildings. They were called the Cambridge Barracks: since 1846 the Division had been quartered in the old 74-gun hulk Benbow alongside the quay in the Dockyard. The Infirmary was established in what is now known as the Red Barracks. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1848. The Royal Marines were again in Lisbon. Admiral Sir William Parker, owing to the critical state of affairs in Portugal on Wednesday 21st October 1846, offered an asylum to Queen Maria II. Some Marines, who had been sent out in the Terrible, were available and he was authorised to retain them on lst November, and the Admiralty hoped that he would be able to occupy Belem Castle with them. They were retained until matters calmed down.

1849. The strength voted was: Staff - 70 112

Divisional Companies - 10416 10 Artillery Companies - 1500 11986 An Order-in-Council of l6th January 1849 contains many valued concessions to the Marines which exist to the present day. It is laid down that a Marine's service commenced from date of attestation as service towards pension, reckoned from the age of 18 only.

Meritorious Service Medal - It instituted the Meritorious Service Medal, granting annuities for distinguished service to Sergeants - for which a sum of £250 was allowed, to be divided in sums not exceeding £20 per annum, to be enjoyed whilst serving or after discharge. The medal to be of silver "For Meritorious Service" and not to be liable to forfeiture except by sentence of Court Martial or on conviction of a felony.

Order-in-Council Tuesday 11th January 1853 modified the annuities.

Long Service and Good Conduct Medal - It also instituted gratuities for the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal - Sergeants £15, Corporals £10, Privates £5 \- provided they had served 2l years with irreproachable character and never been convicted by court martial. It also laid down the conditions for the grant of Good Conduct Badges and introduced the proviso of the grant of the 4th Good Conduct Badge at 16 years (now obsolete). It also brought in the regulation that deprivation of Good Conduct Badges could only be by Warrant, as for corporal punishment, and that no man wearing a GCB was liable to corporal punishment except for mutinous conduct.

Gunnery - An Order-in-Council of lst July 1849 directed that Marines generally should be trained in Naval Gunnery, also in knotting and splicing, hammock-slinging, boat pulling, etc. Hitherto such instruction on shore had been confined to the Artillery training of the RMA., but it was not till the year 1877 that a definite standard of Trained Man as for seamen was laid down for the Infantry of the Corps. A curious old custom was abolished on Saturday 6th October 1849. Apparently, Captains of Marines afloat were liable to a deduction of 1/1 a day to meet cost of provisions. No naval or military officers were so liable, and it was 24 abolished on lst July. (H. E. Blumberg. Devonport January 1934.)

1849. Riff Coast Expedition.

### Other Books by this Author

**'Almost Total Recall'** an Autobiography by Terry Aspinall. Who grew up in Stowmarket and the Teddy Boy gangs of Ipswich? Later to serve in the Royal Marines Commandos and saw active service in Borneo. Was involved in Hang Gliding during its early days of development in the UK. Played in several Rock N Roll bands around the world, before immigrating to New Zealand and a few years later to Australia.

**'Correcting History'** the invention of the Modern Hang Glider seems to have been shrouded in mystery and incorrect information for many years. It is only now with the luxury of hindsight, very fast computers, IT media and our constant quest for more and more information, that the story has been slowly unravelled. I'm not sure if it would have been possible fifteen or twenty years ago, as earlier hang gliding historians found out at their cost. As they had published articles and although read by many, nobody seemed to have picked up on what they were saying or did not care.

' **Royal Marines Historical Time Line' Volume Two. 1850 to 2024.** Trying to record every single day of the Corps 354 year history. This volume covers the years from 1850 to 2024.

**'My Personal Bucket' List'** In June (2018) I will be 75 years old, and I have just been asked by a close friend if I have completed or at least made a 'Bucket List'. The truth is I had never thought about it. In fact, until it came out as a film a couple of years ago, I had no idea what a 'Bucket List' was. After a little research I have concluded that the term 'Bucket List', is a list of all the goals you would like to achieve, dreams you want to fulfil and life experiences you desire to experience before you die. Having already experienced a lot of travel during the 60's, 70's and 80's, I have no further plans of places of interesting that I would like to visit. Instead I have concluded that as of now, I would like my 'Bucket List' to comprise of some of my personal Achievements.Coincidence. Right Place Wrong Time. Having served in the Royal Navy, Police force, and currently working for MI5. Dave Slater finds himself found guilty of murder. A crime he did not commit. A couple of years later and after his release from prison, he is once again accused of committing another murder. Is it a Coincidence or just bad luck? Being in the Right Place at the Wrong Time.

**'Royal Marines 350 Years'** is a brief history of the Royal Marines that were formed way back at 11.58 am on Tuesday 28th October 1664 by King Charles II. It describes some of its history up to the present day. Along with its traditions that have moulded Royal Marines into what has always been one of the finest fighting military forces in the world. Those that they fought in battle were so impressed with their courage and skill that their countries formed their own version of the Marines. To copy is the best form of flattery, a way to acknowledge just how great the Royal Marines were respected. Once A Marine Always a Marine.

**'Landguard Fort' Royal Marines Museum'**. Royal Marine museum is within the Landguard Fort complex situated at the southern end of Felixstowe (Suffolk). It is the last place a foreign invading force landed and was defeated on the British main land. It was also the very first battle that the Royal Marines fought on land, having been formed only three years earlier during 1664.

**'The British Hang Gliding History'** is an updated history of how the Hang Glider was invented in Australia during 1963, and of how it arrived in the UK to be manufactured and flown for the first time during 1972. This book is a shortened version of the successful website of the same name www.british-hang-gliding-history.com there are working hyperlinks to the BHGA early Hang Gliding magazine 'Wings' and the BMAA early Microlight magazine 'Front Line'.

**'Transfer Music from iPod to Computer'** This is just a short easy to follow free article that I'm sure will help many people to move their music collections from their iPod and iPads to their computers. I do not use legal or illegal software that usually bring loads of other rubbish into your computers. It will only take you a few minutes to learn and a couple of hours to move folders and files around on your computer.

**'An Easy Guide to Self-Publish Your E-book'** this short book will enable you to self-publish your work in E-book format with Smashwords.com. Its valuable information that can get you started on a literary career. It's short, basic, and very easy to follow. It covers the so-called tricks of the trade and mistakes that I learnt along the way. Explaining to the reader a rough idea of what will or won't be accepted with their publication.

**'Aldeburgh'** **Photo Memories 2014** is a collection of photo's that were taken during a short holiday stay in the town during September 2014. It's my way of being able to remember the trip and to also allow my friends and family to enjoy what Aldeburgh offers. My wife grew up in Aldeburgh and could not believe the changes that had taken place over the past thirty years. People who keep this E-book record will be able to use it in the future as further changes take place as the town changes and grow.

'Birkdale Road' A photo album capturing the different colours that are annually displayed and enhance the Birkdale Road just east of Brisbane Australia. As with most countries one can usually tell the time of year by the vegetation that nature displays all around us. I get a great sense of pleasure looking at the different colours that enhanced the Birkdale road, and of their constant changes that take place during the different seasons.

**'The Fabulous Spawlszoff Brothers'** a fictitious story, that is based on actual funny events that the author has experienced during his 50 years in the music industry.

**'Johnny Morris and the Convertibles'** is a fictitious story that is based on actual events that the author has experienced during his 50 years in the music industry.

**'Chasing Shadows'** this novel is about Englishman Michael J. Thompson. Who joined the Australian Army, so he could serve in Vietnam during 1968. There were only a very few British who got to fight in this theatre of war and Michael was one of them. Michael had his own ideas of jungle training and fighting that he had learnt in other theatres of war. Where they had worked well and saved many lives. He always wanted to help others survive in a hostile environment. Where your next step could kill you if you walked into a bobby trap or ambush. His ideas on cross border patrols where later to be adopted by other western countries. However, his special teams were at their best on information gathering patrols. His golden rule was 'To see but not be seen and eat nothing red'.

**'The Kansas Rascal'** Ten years after his wife died, Australian Bradley Newman is living a lonely life. Never being able to accept her death has made it hard for him to find another partner. His love of music and magic has been his saving grace. Accepting that he will never find that special person that could replace her. After his son sets him up with a computer he becomes excited at the prospect of learning a new technology. Then by chance during 1998 while on line he meets a girl from America and falls in love with her. However, he has not the courage to tell her of his feeling. He secretly flies to America to meet up with her but walks into a lot of trouble that he did not see coming. Feelings of love can sometimes blind the beholder.

**'The Autumn Reunion'** A fictitious story of a school reunion that tempted James through the painful journey of having to choose one girlfriend above another.

**'The Adventures of Henri and Charlie'** is a very young children's short story about the authors pet Peach Face Parrot and Canary that escape from their cages and are taken on a wild ride, with no hope of returning to the security of their own cages back home. In this story, the birds talk to each other.

**'Matthew Returns'** Matthew has been discharged from the British Army after serving 22 years. He returns to Suffolk and the small countryside town of Stowmarket, in which he grew up. At first, he finds it hard to settle back into the life he once knew. Finding it hard to obtain employment with skills he had picked up while serving in the Army. However, a shock awaits him when it comes to finding himself a girlfriend.

**'Unexpected'** John is in a great relationship with his partner until the day she disappears. His friends and the locals turn against him, thinking that he has done something wrong. Luckily, he befriends somebody who takes him for who he is. However, he is in for a shock and an ending that he did not expect.

**'One of A Kind'** Chris Lawler was born into a military orientated house hold and his Officer Father forces him to join the Army that leads to the SAS. He goes on to Join the French Foreign Legion. To later find himself in Vietnam and later Angola. Eventually joining the Royal Marines and serving in Northern Ireland.
