A sourced photo timeline

Royal Marines in pictures1664 – 1980

26 sourced images in date order, from the founding of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot in 1664 to 1979. Before 1855 every image is a painting, drawing or print. Each entry says when it was made and links the archive record and the source for its caption.

I. 1664 – 1799

  1. 1664

    1664 · Founding (shown through a later uniform plate)

    The Corps traces its origin to 28 October 1664, when the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot was raised for the Second Anglo-Dutch War. No picture from 1664 itself was found; this 1896 plate looks back over the uniforms since 1664.
    Type
    Watercolour
    Made vs. depicted
    Made c.1896; depicts uniforms 1664–1896
    Creator / collection
    Richard Simkin (Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  2. 1704

    1704 · Capture of Gibraltar

    A Dutch print of the Anglo-Dutch fleet taking Gibraltar. English marines' best-known achievement of the period was taking part in this capture and the siege that followed. Individual marines can't be picked out in the print.
    Type
    Print (contemporary)
    Made vs. depicted
    Made 1704–1705; depicts 3 August 1704
    Creator / collection
    Unknown printmaker (Rijksmuseum RP-P-OB-83.182)
    License
    CC0
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  3. 1742

    1742 · 1st Regiment of Marines

    A uniform plate captioned 'Great Britain. England, 1742. 1st Regiment of Marines', from the period when marine regiments served in the War of the Austrian Succession.
    Type
    Print (uniform plate)
    Made vs. depicted
    Dated 1742
    Creator / collection
    Unknown (NYPL Digital Collections)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  4. 1774

    1774 · Marines at mess aboard HMS Pallas

    'Four Marines eating Pease on board the Pallas, Novr 74', drawn from life by a naval officer: a mess of uniformed marines below an upper-deck hatchway. His Majesty's Marine Forces had been placed under Admiralty control in 1755.
    Type
    Drawing (from life)
    Made vs. depicted
    Made November 1774
    Creator / collection
    Gabriel Bray (Royal Museums Greenwich PT1993)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    commons.wikimedia.org

  5. 1775

    1775 · Bunker Hill and Major John Pitcairn

    Marines under Major John Pitcairn captured the American redoubt at Bunker Hill, and Pitcairn was killed. The painting's key identifies Pitcairn falling back, dying, in his son's arms.
    Type
    Painting
    Made vs. depicted
    Painted 1786; depicts 17 June 1775
    Creator / collection
    John Trumbull (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1977.853)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  6. c.1780

    c.1780 · Lieutenant George Belson at Chatham

    Lieutenant George Belson, Corps of Marines, outside the Guard Room of the Marine Barracks, Chatham. Chatham was one of the three marine divisions set up in 1755.
    Type
    Painting
    Made vs. depicted
    Painted c.1780
    Creator / collection
    Richard Livesay (National Army Museum 1992-03-44-1)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

II. 1800 – 1899

  1. 1805

    1805 · Trafalgar: a Royal Marine sergeant at Nelson's side

    Painted many years after the event. Royal Marine Sergeant Secker is already at the fallen Nelson's side, and a marine prepares to fire. The museum notes this is an impression, not an eyewitness record. The title 'Royal Marines' dates from 29 April 1802.
    Type
    Painting
    Made vs. depicted
    Painted c.1825; depicts 21 October 1805
    Creator / collection
    Denis Dighton (Royal Museums Greenwich BHC0552)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  2. 1815

    1815 · A Private of the Royal Marines

    The uniform of a Royal Marines private at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, when Royal Marines served in almost every naval battle and in many amphibious landings.
    Type
    Print (aquatint)
    Made vs. depicted
    Published 1815
    Creator / collection
    Joseph Constantine Stadler (National Maritime Museum PAF4247)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  3. 1840

    1840 · Attack on the castle of Tortosa, Syria

    Boats of HM frigates Carysfort and Zebra carry 50 Royal Marines under Lieutenant R. H. Harrison to attack the castle of Tortosa. The title and date come from the Royal Marines Museum record on Art UK.
    Type
    Painting (oil)
    Made vs. depicted
    Painted 1851; depicts 25 September 1840
    Creator / collection
    Robert George Kelly (Royal Marines Museum P/11/38)
    License
    Public domain
    Image source
    artuk.org
    Caption source
    commons.wikimedia.org

  4. 1855

    1855 · Crimean War medal recipients (earliest photograph here)

    Men of the Royal Marines and Rifle Brigade who received the Crimean Medal from Queen Victoria on 18 May 1855. This is the oldest true photograph in the timeline. Everything above it is a painting, drawing or print.
    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken 1855
    Creator / collection
    Unknown photographer (IWM Q 71583)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    commons.wikimedia.org

  5. c.1864

    c.1864 · Group portrait of the Royal Marine Battalion

    Titled 'Group Portrait of the Royal Marine Battalion', about 1864. The record gives no location, so none is claimed here.
    Type
    Photograph (albumen print)
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken about 1864
    Creator / collection
    Felice Beato (via Google Arts & Culture)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    commons.wikimedia.org

  6. 1882

    1882 · Royal Marines and US Marines in Alexandria

    Two Royal Marines and two United States Marines in Alexandria, Egypt, during the 1882 intervention, as shown in the Illustrated London News.
    Type
    Engraving (Illustrated London News)
    Made vs. depicted
    Published 29 July 1882
    Creator / collection
    W.Q. after E. Kremer
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    commons.wikimedia.org

  7. 1896

    1896 · Zanzibar, after the capture of the Sultan's palace

    British marines pose with a captured Zanzibari gun after the capture of the Sultan's palace in Zanzibar Town.
    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken 27 August 1896
    Creator / collection
    Richard Dorsey Mohun
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    commons.wikimedia.org

III. 1900 – 1945

  1. 1914

    1914 · Arrival at Ostend

    Belgian civilians cheer British marines arriving at Ostend. That year Royal Marines, as part of the Royal Naval Division, landed in Belgium to help defend Antwerp.
    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken August 1914
    Creator / collection
    Unknown photographer (IWM Q 53225)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  2. 1915

    1915 · Gallipoli

    Royal Marines Colour Sergeant Bankes and the galley staff at Gallipoli. The Royal Marines took part in the 1915 landing and were the last to leave in the withdrawal.

    Non-commercial use only. This IWM photograph is licensed for private, non-commercial use only.

    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken 1915
    Creator / collection
    Unknown photographer (IWM Q 109168)
    License
    IWM Non-Commercial Licence (private, non-commercial use); Crown copyright / IWM
    Image source
    iwm.org.uk
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  3. 1917

    1917 · Royal Marine Artillery near Ypres

    The crew of a Royal Marine Artillery 15-inch howitzer supporting the Australians. The shell is chalked 'RMA Peace Germies'. The RMA had been raised in 1804.
    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken October 1917
    Creator / collection
    Frank Hurley (Australian War Memorial)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    commons.wikimedia.org

  4. 1918

    1918 · The Zeebrugge Raid

    'The Storming of Zeebrugge Mole, St George's Day, 23 April 1918'. Royal Marines took part in the raid, and two of their five First World War VCs were won there.
    Type
    Painting
    Made vs. depicted
    Painted c.1918; depicts 23 April 1918
    Creator / collection
    William Lionel Wyllie (HMS Excellent collection, via Art UK)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  5. 1936

    1936 · Palestine railways

    Library of Congress title: 'Palestine disturbances 1936. British marines as breaksmen on Palestine railroads.' This is after the RMA and RMLI merged into one Corps on 22 June 1923.
    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken 1936
    Creator / collection
    G. Eric and Edith Matson (Library of Congress)
    License
    Public domain
    Image source
    hdl.loc.gov
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  6. 1943

    1943 · The new Royal Marines beret

    A navy-blue beret with a scarlet patch behind the Globe and Laurel badge, adopted as the Royal Marines' new headdress. The first RM commando unit had been formed at Deal on 14 February 1942.
    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken 21 July 1943
    Creator / collection
    Lt C. J. Ware (IWM A 18136)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  7. 1944

    6 June 1944 · D-Day: 48 (RM) Commando on Juno Beach

    Commandos of 48 (RM) Commando come ashore from landing craft at St Aubin-sur-Mer. Royal Marines also crewed landing craft on D-Day.
    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken 6 June 1944
    Creator / collection
    Lt Handford, No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit (IWM B 5217)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  8. 1944

    1 November 1944 · Walcheren: 41 (RM) Commando at Westkapelle

    No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando advance on the Westkapelle lighthouse. 4 Commando Brigade, all Royal Marines after March 1944, fought on Walcheren during the clearing of Antwerp.
    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken 1 November 1944
    Creator / collection
    Unknown photographer (Royal Marines Museum)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

IV. 1946 – 1980

  1. 1950

    1950 · Korea: 41 Independent Commando

    Men of 41 Independent Commando during the retreat to Hungnam, where they formed the rearguard of a battle group drawn from the 1st US Marine Division. The unit fought through the Chosin Reservoir withdrawal.

    Non-commercial use only. This IWM photograph is licensed for private, non-commercial use only.

    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken December 1950
    Creator / collection
    Royal Marines Collection (IWM KOR U 2)
    License
    IWM Non-Commercial Licence (private, non-commercial use); Crown copyright / IWM
    Image source
    iwm.org.uk
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  2. 1956

    1956 · Suez: the first helicopter assault from the sea

    Whirlwind helicopters take the first men of 45 Commando from HMS Theseus to Port Said in Operation Musketeer. It was the first time a helicopter assault was used operationally to land troops in an amphibious attack.
    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken November 1956
    Creator / collection
    Royal Navy official photographer (IWM A 33640)
    License
    Public domain
    Caption source
    en.wikipedia.org

  3. 1964

    1964 · Borneo confrontation: 40 Commando in Sabah

    Marine A. Sharpe services outboard motors for 40 Commando's assault craft in Sabah, during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.

    Non-commercial use only. This IWM photograph is licensed for private, non-commercial use only.

    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken September 1964
    Creator / collection
    Admiralty official photographer (IWM A 34856)
    License
    IWM Non-Commercial Licence (private, non-commercial use); Crown copyright / IWM
    Image source
    iwm.org.uk
    Caption source
    iwm.org.uk

  4. 1971

    1971 · Arctic warfare in northern Norway

    An SR.N6 hovercraft loaded with Royal Marines raiding craft heads up the Norwegian coast. It was taking part in the mountain and Arctic warfare training of 45 Commando, then assigned to NATO's northern flank.

    Non-commercial use only. This IWM photograph is licensed for private, non-commercial use only.

    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken February 1971
    Creator / collection
    Admiralty official photographer (IWM A 35338)
    License
    IWM Non-Commercial Licence (private, non-commercial use); Crown copyright / IWM
    Image source
    iwm.org.uk
    Caption source
    iwm.org.uk

  5. 1979

    1979 · Prince Charles inspects the Royal Marines Band

    Prince Charles inspecting the Royal Marines Band Service (RMVBC) Portsmouth Division, the last image before the 1980 cut-off.
    Type
    Photograph
    Made vs. depicted
    Taken 23 February 1979
    Creator / collection
    StephenCharlesLow (Wikimedia Commons)
    License
    CC BY 4.0
    Caption source
    commons.wikimedia.org