The book highlights especially the Marines' roles as guards against mutiny and desertion and as an imperial 'rapid reaction force' and provides details of the many and varied actions in which they were involved, worldwide.
The Royal Marines are respected all over the world as one of the truly elite fighting forces. Researched with active co-operation of the Royal Marines, this text is the official history of the corps from the end of World War I to the present day. The main cmapaigns are illustrated with maps and there is a comprehensive list of orders of battle and unit organization.
One of the most famous fighting divisions of the British Army in World War One was the Royal Naval Division. Ernie Coleman tells its story, from training at Crystal Palace to the Zeebrugge Raid.
Whether you are interested in the career of an individual Royal Marine or just want to know more about the part played by the Marines in a particular battle or campaign, this book will point you in the right direction. Assuming that the reader has no prior knowledge of the Royal Marines, their history or organization, Richard Brooks and Matthew Little explain which records survive, where they can be found and how they can help you in your research. They also describe in vivid detail the evolution of the Royal Marines, from the tentative beginnings of the service in the seventeenth century to their present position as a key part of the British armed forces.
The Royal Marines were originally formed under the auspices of the Royal Navy to guard its sailing ships from harm. They are proud of their history and origins but the Navy heritage is fading. John Parker charts how the units have moved away from their nautical beginnings to develop, over time, into the most versatile force in the British military, containing one of their most elite brigades. The Royal Marines Commandos have, over the past few years, developed into the premier fighting organisation on land, sea and air. This history deals with events associated with the Royal Marines and subsequently in their commando role, starring in all major conflicts including Italy, Malaysia, the Borneo confrontation with Indonesia, and more recently Afghanistan.