The Royal Marine Light Infantry.

 Though, according to the Queen’s regulations, the Royal Marine Light Infantry ranks next to the Royal Berkshire, the corps- for its strength is nearly equal to that of the infantry of two divisions on a war footing-has a history  not only as prolonged as that of the oldest regiments in the army, but can also claim that a large proportion of the battalions of the Line have been either directly formed to assist it in its duties or have been sent to share its work. Essentially it is a naval force, formed to furnish the guards on shipboard, partake in the numerous expeditions that are based on, or depend on, naval operations, and to assist the navy in maintaining that command of the sea which requires the active co-operation of soldiers, by destroying or capturing forts or islands which, if held by the enemy, might be used as bases menacing the operations of the fleet.  It shares with “the Buffs” the honour and right of being able to march through the city of London with bayonets fixed, and can show on its battle-roll that it has shared in all the naval and most military operations that render glorious our national history, with the sole exception, perhaps, of the fighting in the Peninsula of Hindostan, which placed India under the governance of the English “Raj,” though it took part in the operations on the Coromandel coast in 1748.  So lengthy a history can only be told in the very briefest way; but if the battle-roll of the Royal Marines were placed on the colours, there would be little space even for the basal colours of the flag.  The first regiment especially raised for sea-service was the “Admiral’s Regiment,” formed in 1664 from the London trained-bands; but at first it formed a nursery for the navy, the men being drafted when qualified into the ranks of the able seamen, fresh recruits taking their place in the ranks.  This was disbanded after the Dutch War, and was replaced in 1684 by H.R.H. the Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot, and the marine force was increased to two battalions ten years later.  These were “for the service of the navy only;” but on the cessation of hostilities, the first was incorporated in the Coldstream Guards, and the second was abolished.  The Holland regiment, which had also done sea duty, then became the 3^rd of the Line, or “Buffs.”  In 1702 six Marine regiments were raised, and six Line regiments were also added to the army, but for sea service.  The latter reverted to shore duty in 1713, and three of the former disappeared, the remainder being drafted to the Line as the 30^th, 31^st, and 32^nd regiments.  Independent companies were then formed in the West Indies for duty if required in the fleet, but in 1742 they were incorporated into one battalion as the 63^rd, and afterwards the 49^th, of the Line.

           The outbreak of hostilities in 1739 led to the resuscitation of the Marines- at first six battalions, and two years later ten battalions strong- to be quartered at Portsmouth, Chatham, Woolwich, Deptford, and Plymouth.  They were to assist in fitting out vessels of war, besides manning them.  Before this period they had been simply soldiers, serving on board ship; now they began to assume their proper function of being able, in addition, to assist the sailors in their work.  Up to this time commissions in the Marines were, as in the army, purchasable.  Six of these ten regiments were incorporated in the army in 1746 (eventually numbering from the 44^th to the 49^th), and the remainder were disbanded; but previous to their abolition the Marine force was definitely placed under the Lord High Admiral.  Meanwhile two Marine regiments had also been raised for duty at Cape Breton, but these also were transferred to the “Army List” as the 50^th and the 51^st Foot. The nucleus of the present Marine force was formed in 1753, when fifty companies of a hundred men each were recruited, organised in three divisions at Chatham, Portsmouth, and Plymouth, and definitely placed under the naval authorities.  At this time exchange between the marines and Line was permitted.  A division was also formed at Wollich in 1805, but it was done away with in 1869.  When the corps was thus re-formed there were but forty-nine regiments in the “Army List,” and it is from this cause that it takes its present seniority between the Berkshire and West Kent Regiments.  Its position was confirmed by an order in Council in 1820.

           During the prolonged hostilities of the end of the last century the Marines were increased to 19,000 men, and in 1760 the extraordinary step was taken to making admirals and captains of the navy, generals and colonels of the Marines.  These appointments were rather honorary than active; but; of course, they drew pay!  This system, curious as it was, lasted until 1833. Reduction followed the temporary cessation of war, to be succeeded by equally rapid increase.  For example, when the War of  Independence broke out, the corps was but 4,000 strong, and in 1783 numbered 25,000 men.  The service was always popular, though the bounty was lower than that for the army; “the marines recruited better in every part of the island than the Line.”  To this the natural spirit of adventure, and the desire to see active service, doubtless largely contributed; but, in addition, was the fact that, as after the Manilla and Havannah campaigns, a private’s share of  prize-money might amount to as much as £484.  Reduced again to 4,000, the army had to be called upon to assist the navy in its duties; but in 1800 the numbers stood as high as 30,000, to fall again, after the peace of 1815, to 6,000.  Since that date the strength of the corps has steadily increased, and now remains at about 12,000 infantry and 2,500 artillery, coasting the State about £1,000,000 for the whole force. Throughout their history the Marines have proved their loyalty as well as their bravery under the gravest circumstances.  Notwithstanding that they formed part of the crews of the vessels that mutinied at the Nore and elsewhere, and shared the same grievances, they showed no hesitation in obeying the call of duty.  In the serious mutiny of the Impetueux and Castor in Bantry Bay, the men even addressed letters to their commanding officers expressive of their unshaken fidelity.  Extracted from ‘Her Majesty’s Army’s’     

LEWIS STRATFORD TOLLEMACHE HALLIDAY  (Captain, now Brevet-Major)  Royal Marine Light Infantry             In June 1900, in spite of the Great War taking place in South Africa, the attention of this country was anxiously directed to another quarter of the world, where it was feared a terrible tradegy had been, or was, taking place.  The Chinese had broken out into rebellion against the Europeans in their country, and Boxers, who directed a heavy fire against the insufficiently protected buildings, hemmed in the Legations in Pekin.  On the 24^th an attack was made on the west wall of the British Legation, and the Boxers set light to the stable quarters and occupied some buildings adjoining.  After this had with great difficulty been put out, those in the Legation came under a severe fire from the enemy at very close quarters, and it was resolved to force them to evacuate the cover they had secured.  Captain Halliday, after ahole had been made through the wall of the Legation, led twenty marines in a gallant dash at the enemy, and a hand-to-hand fight quickly ensued, in which he was shot through the left shoulder from a Boxer only a few feet from him, receining a most dangerous wound, the bone of his shoulder being smashed, and part of the lung torn away.  Despite the seriousness and pain of his wound, Captain Halliday killed three of his foes, and then, finding he was unable to proceed further, ordered his men to go on without him, and refused any assistance in getting to the hospital, lest y allowing any one to help him, he might lessen the force necessary to drive out the Boxers. Major Lewis S. T. Halliday, son of Lieut. –Colonel Stratford Charles Halliday, R.A., was born at Medstead, Hants, on May 14^th 1870.  Educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey, he entered the Royal Marine Light Infantry on September 1^st 1889, becoming Captain on January 31^st 1898, and Major by Brevet for distinguished field service, September 12^th 1900. On May 29^th 1900, he landed at Taku to Pekin as Legation Guard, in the defence of which he won his Victoria Cross in the way described.  He obtained also the China with clasp, inscribed, “Defence of Legation,” and he now commands the unit of his corps on board the Empress of India. 

Pack 398. Pack of two Royal Navy Assault Ship prints by Ivan Berryman.