The Role of the Royal Marines During World War One
The Royal Marines were formed in 1664. They were formed as part of the
Navy to keep order on board the men-of-war, to provide the Navy with a
raiding force but mainly to deal with the Dutch, who were the
combatant in 1664.
The Marines have always been a flexible force, fighting on land and on
sea, a skill which has made them one of the most advanced forces of
modern warfare, a weapon in their own right. This essay looks at the
role that the Royal Marines played during and surrounding World War
One.
Prior to the outbreak of World War One, the last action that the
Marines had seen was during the Boer war of 1898 - 1901 however the
use of the Corps came under huge criticism as assault infantry for
they were "expensive products . . . many with scientific training . .
. who cannot be produced at all except after long preparation." As a
result the seamen were forced back to their ships and left the
campaign.
These criticisms are not without evidence, for in 1914 not just
anybody could join the marines. They had to be literate and be able to
do basic subjects such as maths. They had to have certain height and
chest measurements comparing to their age.
I.e. if you wanted to join the Royal Marines Artillery:
Age
Height
Chest
17-18
5ft 7.5
35
18-19
5ft 8
35.5
19-20
5ft 8.5
36
20+
5ft 9
36.5
If you wanted to join the Royal Marines Infantry:
Age
Height
Chest
17-18
5ft 5
34
18-19
5ft 5.5
34.5
19-20
5ft 6
35
20+
5ft 6.5
35.5
When the Germans marched into France and Belgium in August 1914 a
The Marine Raider Battalions developed an elite fighting force within an elite service. There still exist today the elite units of the Marine Corps, such as the Force Reconnaissance Battalions and the Special Operation Capable Units, but the Raider Battalions were the first specialist of the amphibious doctrines. Although the amphibious landing has been preformed throughout the ages since the invention of the water-bearing vessels, the Marine Raider Battalions tested and perfected this combat operation. Although the two Raider Commanders had very different views on how to prepare their marine...
The mannerisms, attitudes, and background of the American and British soldiers contrasted greatly. The values held by the individual soldiers of the two armies differed. American soldiers had a tendency to think on their own accord and often with liberty in mind (143). In contrast, the British soldiers held the values that their army held (144). American soldiers often fought with the same men from their town or village (142). The British soldiers, however, were pulled from society and isolated from it (144). During the time of the British soldiers’ isolation, they were tightly disciplined and rigorously trained (144). This too shows a contrast between the British and American soldiers. British soldiers underwent a stricter regimen of training while the training Americans had was more informal. The commanding men of the armies, the officers, were different as well. The British officers held themselves aloof from war and quite distant from their men (145). British officers were also much harsher on their men and trained them more effectively (136). The American officer sought to achieve the refinement of the British officers but often failed in achieving it. (145). The training American officers gave to their men was also not as cohesive like the
Nevertheless, upon return to civilian life, many found they were treated with the same or harsher prejudice and discrimination as before. Fighting in another country in a war that does not affect them and completely against their culture and moral beliefs. It seems that the effects and the Aboriginal contribution of WW1 had a negative effect when they came back home and this was still evident at the start of WW2. When the war began in 1914, many Indigenous Australians tried to enlist but were rejected on the fact of their colour and race, but some simply snuck through. By October 1917, when recruits were rare and one conscription referendum had already failed, restrictions were eased back. A new Military Order stated: "Half-castes may be enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force provided that the examining Medical Officers are satisfied that one of the parents is of European origin." (Peter Londey, 2013). The repression of Indigenous Australians increased between the wars and protection acts gave government officials greater authority over Indigenous Australians. Australian Aboriginals had a positive contribution in World War One but this in turn had a negative effect on their culture and the way they were
Frustrated by the commissioning programs of the time, Sledge begins his journey by resigning from the officer candidate program in an effort to more quickly reach combat. He subsequently volunteers to be a sixty millimeter mortar-man and joins Company K, Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment (K/3/5) of the First Marine Division. It is within this command framework that Sledge experiences two of the bloodiest campaigns of the Second World War...
Abrashoff begins the book by informing the reader of how his story begins; when he is given command of the USS Benfold. The Benfold was the Navy’s most advanced guided missile destroyer the Navy had in 1997 and its command was to be one of the Navy’s top innovators. Unfortunately, Abrashoff points out some flaws with the Navy’s personnel management that I found to be shocking. First, was that “nearly 35 percent of the people who joined the military annually, wouldn’t complete their enlistment contracts.” (p.2) Such turnover can be understood by many business managers in the service industry, but unlike the quick and cheap training process for them, the cost for the military (taxpayers) is astounding. Abrashoff estimates that it cost roughly “$35,000 to recruit a trainee and tens of thousands more in additional training costs to get new personnel to the basic level of proficiency.” (p.2) Curbing this trend on his own ship and eventually helping to achieve a decrease overall in the mil...
Lieutenant General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, through dedication to his mission and the welfare of his marines, was a visionary leader even by today’s standards. In his youth, Chesty attempted to join World War I before he had reached the required age. He attended Virginia Military Institute, but dropped out after one year to satisfy his urge to experience combat. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as a private and remained enlisted for only a year before his commissioning as a lieutenant. Unfortunately, the war ended before he was able to experience combat. When a force reduction ensued after the end of the war, Lt Puller was sent to the reserves and given the ...
and Drill Instructors see Boot Camp. Why did he pick the Marines as his topic? Attracted to the Corps perception and morale, Thomas E. Ricks expresses the Marines as the only service still upholding its honor and tradition. Due to society changing into a commercial society with a “me” attitude, civilians focus on how they can splendor themselves with material items—never looking at the big picture at all that we can accomplish as a team if we give our heart and soul to life. Team means everyone on earth, for we are the people that provide for one another with peace and prosperity.
The First World War, also known as the Great War, began in about 1914 and went on until 1918. This brutal war was an extremely bloody time for Europe and the soldiers that fought in it. These men spent their days in trenches holding down bases and taking in attacks from all sides. The soldier's only free time was consumed with writing letters to those on the home front. The letters they wrote contain heart breaking stories of how their days were spent and the terrible signs of war. The War consumed them and many of them let out all their true feelings of war in their letters to loved ones. In The First World War: A brief History With Documents we can find some of these letters that help us understand what the First World War might have been like for these young and desperate soldiers.
Field, Frank. British and French Operations of the First World War. Cambridge (England); New York: Cambridge University Press, 1991.
the Somme that had raged from the 1st of July 1916, when over 19 000
Men who went into the Navy and Coast Guard offices to sign up were usually passed to the USMS by recruiters to help the aid the low numbers of merchant marines. Also what contributed to the growing service during this time was that the USMS was the only racially integrated service in the United States. The men who instructed recruits the USMS were thousands of active and retired mariners from the Navy and Coast Guard. The USMS took over 250,000 recruits and was able to turn them into fighting mariners. The instructors taught the men how to operate anti-aircraft guns and cannons, along with the proper equipment used to protect them selves.
The Attitudes of British Soldiers to their Commanders During the First World War On their own they are not very useful to a historian studying the attitudes of soldiers to their commanders in World War I. However, if used together and with some of my own knowledge, they could be useful in creating a picture of what the attitudes of soldiers towards their commanders were like. Time would have been a major influencing factor on the attitudes of the soldiers to their commanders. As the war went on and the soldiers began to realise that they weren’t getting anywhere they would begin to doubt their commanders. This coupled with the volume of casualties would have made them increasingly distrusting of their leaders.
Few tales from history have held as much fascination as that of the Battle of Britain. The notion of the RAF fighting against the might and power of the Luftwaffe, and winning, has captured the imagination of generations. Yet few people know who the man responsible for the victory really was. Most of the time, Prime Minister Winston Churchill is portrayed as the man who saved Britain. To some extent, this is true. If Churchill had not kept up the spirits of the British people, and had not refused to give in to Germany, then the battle would have been lost. But the man who actually kept the Germans from taking control of Britain was Air Chief Marshall Hugh Dowding. He not only won the battle, but quite possibly saved the free world. Dowding won the battle by his backing and use of radar, his insistence of a strong fighter force instead of a bomber force, and his brilliant, revolutionary defensive tactics.
The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the extent to which the Allied success in overcoming German submarine warfare and land invasions in the first world war can be attributed to Britain’s military tactics and resources. The method in this investigation is to first explain what Britain had that could have led it to contribute to Allied success. This includes an evaluation of different British tactical procedures such as ship camouflage, cartography and early naval operations in particular events from the war. Then, Britain’s contribution will be compared against an economic and military viewpoint of the success of the Allies in World War One. This investigation will not discuss all of Germany’s land invasions during the war nor will it discuss the situation of all of Britain’s allies. Instead, Britain’s contribution to the war will be compared with that of the United States.
World War I was the first long lasting war of the 20th century. It changed the outlook of everyday citizens, and normalized cynicism, or the belief that people were motivated by self-interest. However, World War I began with an act of terrorism. On June 28, 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand had taken place in Sarajevo by a Bosnian Black Hand member. More than ever before, the war involved more countries and colonies than any of the wars before it. It wasn't the most destructive war, or the first total war, and it certainly wasn't an event that ended all wars, but it was a war that led to many creations and innovations. Many countries and central powers rivaled against each other in the battle for colonies and resources which