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Home , Admiral (Royal Navy), Commando, Commando (aircraft), Royal Marines

THE ROYAL NAT O A rmies and T heir raditions (per Mare per Terram)  by CAPT (GBR RN) Andy Mallows

The , “globe itself” as the symbol of the . The the land fight- badge of the Royal Marines is designed to com- ing element of the Unit- memorate the history of the Corps. The Lion ed Kingdom’s Royal and Crown denotes a Royal . King , was formed as George III conferred this honour in 1802 “in con- part of the Naval Serv- sideration of the very meritorious services of the ice in 1755. The Royal Marines in the late war.” The “Great Globe it- Marines can trace their self” surrounded by laurels was chosen by King origins back as far as George IV as a symbol of the Marines’ successes 1664, when English sol- in every quarter of the world. The laurels are diers first went to sea to believed to honour the gallantry they displayed fight the Dutch. The during the investment and capture of Belle Isle, Royal Marines are off , in April–June 1761. The word “Gi- therefore not only but also seamen, who braltar” refers to the Siege of in 1704. were and are still today part of the complement It was awarded in 1827 by George IV as a spe- of warships as well as fighting men cial distinction for the services of four of the old in their own right within the land component. Army Marine (Queen’s Own Marines, For almost 350 years the Royal Marines have 1st Marines, 2nd Marines, 3rd Marines). All been an integral part of ’s Armed other honours gained by the Royal Marines are Forces and today can be found serving across represented by the “Great Globe”. As a conse- the globe both on land and sea. quence, there are no battle honours displayed on The Royal Marines have a proud history and the colours of the four sized units in unique traditions. Their colours do not carry in- the corps. The fouled anchor, incorporated into dividual battle honours in the manner of the the emblem in 1747, is the badge of the Lord regiments of the but rather the High and shows that the Corps is part

nrdc-ita magazine Issue14 27 of the Royal Navy. The motto of the Royal Ma- ing team and will depend on the recruit’s or

NAT O A rmies and T heir raditions rines: Per Mare Per Terram (“By Sea, By Land”), young ’s overall performance. Further- is believed to have been used for the first time in more, officer training still consists of many more 1775 and reflects the dual role of theC orps that months. is still prevalent today. Over the years the A Royal Marine or Royal Marines have “Royal” as they are been awarded numer- sometimes referred to; ous Battle Honours. is identifiable by his From the American War coveted Green of Independence to the (awarded after some of ; the the World’s most to the grueling military train- Boer War, World War ing) and the and World War II. More dagger illustrated on a recently Marines have shoulder flash. The fought in the Falklands Commando Dagger de- Conflict, the Balkans, Iraq and . signed by two serving These Battle Honours are reflected in the Globe Royal Marines was and Laurel indicating the global na- standard issue in the ture of the campaigns in which the Royal Ma- Second World War. The Fairburn Sykes Knife rines have fought. (named after the designers) now indicates that What marks out a Royal Marine Commando the wearer is a member of 3 Commando Bri- is the sense of spirit and ethos; defined simply gade, the lead component of the United King- ethos is what a group does and how it does it. dom’s Amphibious Forces. The ethos of the Royal Marines refers to their The with the Globe and Laurel role and the way they fulfil it. Since the Second Cap Badge is presented to an individual who World War, the Royal Marines have developed a has passed the arduous Commando Test. The specific function as and amphibious Commando Test itself consists of a series of forces, undertaking operations in harsh envi- tests conducted in full fighting order of 32 lb ronments be they mountain, jungle, cold weath- (14.5 kg) of equipment taken on consecutive er or desert. This ethos of commitment, team- days and all four tests must be successfully work and loyalty, combined with the Commando completed within a seven day period; they in- Spirit is indicative of the modern marine. The clude: a nine mile (14.5 km) speed march. The four elements of Commando Spirit; courage, de- Endurance course, a six mile (9.65 km) course termination, unselfishness, and cheerfulness in across rough moorland and woodland terrain the face of adversity, are well known to all re- followed by a marksmanship test. The Tarzan cruits by the time they complete Commando Assault Course, an assault course combined training. It is the individual characteristics of with an aerial confidence test. It starts with a the modern commando allied to the commando death slide and ends with a rope climb up a spirit that makes the Marines who they are. thirty foot near-vertical wall in full fighting or- Today the Royal Marines continue their tra- der, completed in 13 minutes. And finally, the ditions in accordance with the Ethos and Com- 30 miler, a 30 mile (48 km) march across up- mando spirit that defines who they are. They land , completed within eight hours are the cold weather specialists within the Unit- for recruits and seven hours for Royal Marine ed Kingdom Armed Forces and can be found op- officers. erating in the Arctic, the Jungle, and the Deserts Completing the Commando course success- across the globe. They were the first into Af- fully entitles the recruit or officer to wear the ghanistan in 2002 and Iraq in 2003, since then coveted Green Beret but does not mean that the they have served on numerous tours in both the- Royal Marine has finished his training.T hat de- atres and continue to live up to their motto, Per cision will be made by the or batch train- Mare, Per Terram.

“I never knew an appeal to them for honour, courage or loyalty that they did not real- ise more than my expectations. If ever the hour of real danger should come to , they will be found the country’s sheet anchor”. Sir John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent on the role of the Royal Marines 1805 

28 Issue14 nrdc-ita magazine