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
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
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On December 1, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive order that started the Civil Air Patrol. No one, not even its creator, Gill Robb Wilson, foresaw the importance that Cap would play in protecting the waters along the coast from the dreaded German U-boats attacking the shipping lanes. Sixty years later the CAP is still going strong. Performing its missions of aerospace education, cadet programs and search and rescue, CAP is preparing today’s youth to become successful leaders. This was not all that CAP has done. In the beginning of its creation, CAP played a major role in the defense of the U.S. during World War II. CAP played a vital role in the coastal defense of the Southern and Eastern coasts of the U.S. that could not have been done effectively by any other agency at that time.
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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
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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.