Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

  • Surface Fleet

  • Submarines

  • Royal Marines

  • Fleet Air Arm

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

Sea service

Article highlights

• Royal Marines afloat

• The move into gunnery

• Royal Marine Artillery

• Royal Marine Light Infantry

Royal Marine Light Infantry

Due to the declining role of the Royal Marine Light Artillery, they also began to branch into gunnery, although not to the same standard of the RMA.

By 1901 the RMLI trained at Whale Island. The Admiralty began to recognise the needs of the fleet and the relative redundancy of the RMLI. This Admiralty Circular Letter informs the fleet of its plans to allow a number of 4 and 6-inch guns to be manned by Royal Marine Light Infantry.

Admiralty Circular Letter, dated 10th June 1901. (RMM)

The Admiralty Circular letter below, dated 19th December 1902, also indicates the changing role of the Royal Marines in the Fleet. It suggests jobs that the Royal Marines could do whilst on board - although duties covered would still be at the discretion of the ship's captain.

Admiralty Circular Letter, dated 19th December 1902. Letter informing the fleet of changes to the on board duties of a Royal Marine Officer. (RMM)