thirty-sixth regiment, on the 2nd of June 1808. He served in
Holland during 1809 and 1810, and was present at the capture of
Walcheren and siege of Flushing. Ensign Baldwin was removed from
the thirty-sixth to the third Ceylon regiment on the 4th of April
1811, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the fourteenth
regiment of foot on the 9th of November 1814. Lieutenant Baldwin
was present at the memorable battle of Waterloo, for which he
received a medal, and served at the storming of Cambray on the 24th
of June 1815. He exchanged from the half-pay of the seventy-fifth
regiment to the THIRTY-FIRST on the 14th of March 1822, and
embarked for India on the 7th of February 1825, with the right
wing of the regiment on board the ship _Kent_, which was burnt at
sea on the 1st of March following. Lieutenant Baldwin received a
severe injury when the ship was in flames, by an iron spike running
into his thigh. Lieutenant Baldwin was promoted to the rank of
Captain in the THIRTY-FIRST regiment on the 14th of June 1833. He
served in the campaign of Affghanistan in 1842; was present in
the action at Mazeena on the 26th of July 1842; at Tezeen on the
13th of September following; and at the occupation of Cabool by
Major-General Pollock. For his services in Affghanistan he was
rewarded with a medal, and received the brevet rank of major on the
23rd of December 1842. On the 8th of October 1844 he was promoted
to the rank of major in the THIRTY-FIRST regiment. Major Baldwin
served with the army of the Sutlej in 1845, was present at the
battles of Moodkee and Ferozeshah; in the latter he was mortally
wounded. Major Baldwin died on the 30th of December 1845.
FOOTNOTE:
[43] This account of the services of Lieut.-Colonel Skinner has
(with permission) been abridged from a printed (but unpublished)
“_Sketch of the Military Services of Lieut.-General Skinner and his
Sons_,” by Allan Maclean Skinner, Esq., of Lincoln’s Inn, Barrister
at Law, youngest son of the late Lieut.-General Skinner.
* * * * *
As the _Thirtieth_, _Thirty-first_, and _Thirty-second_ Regiments
were originally raised, in 1702, as _Marine Corps_, and served in
that capacity until the year 1714, when they were retained, as
Regiments of regular Infantry, on the Establishment of the Army,
the following account of the _Marine Corps_ is appended,--it
being found impracticable to record the earlier services of the
_Thirtieth_, _Thirty-first_ and _Thirty-second_ Regiments distinct
from those of the _Marine Corps_, in consequence of their being
employed, from 1702 to 1714, _by detachments_ on board the Fleet,
and engaged on various services at Sea, as well as on land,
according to the purposes for which they were originally raised.
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE MARINE CORPS,
CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR FORMATION AND SERVICES
FROM 1664 TO 1748;
AT WHICH PERIOD THOSE CORPS CEASED TO FORM PART OF THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REGULAR ARMY.
FROM THE YEAR 1755
THE PRESENT CORPS OF
ROYAL MARINES
HAVE BEEN UNDER THE CONTROL OF
THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY.
COMPILED BY
RICHARD CANNON, Esq.,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL’S OFFICE, HORSE-GUARDS.
ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES.
THE MARINE REGIMENTS.
CONTENTS
OF THE
RECORDS OF THE MARINE CORPS.
YEAR PAGE
INTRODUCTION.
1664 Formation of a Corps for Sea-service on commencement
of war with Holland 1
---- Designated “_The Admiral’s Maritime Regiment_,”
and commanded by the Duke of York, afterwards
King James II. --
1672 Formation of additional Corps of Marines on renewal
of hostilities with Holland 2
1689 _The Admiral’s Maritime Regiment_ incorporated
in the Second Foot Guards --
1702 Formation of six Regiments of Marines --
---- Six other Regiments of Infantry selected for
Sea-service --
---- The Royal Warrant for forming the six Regiments of
Marines, and for selecting six other Regiments for
Sea-service 3
---- Other Regiments embarked, at different periods during
the war, to serve as Marines on board the Fleet --
---- Rules and Instructions for the duties, pay, and
clothing of the Marine forces 4
1702 Placed under the control of the Lord High Admiral,
the Prince George of Denmark 4
---- Appointment of Brigadier-General W. Seymour, of the
Fourth Foot, to superintend the details of the
Marine Regiments 5
---- Uniform prescribed for the Marine forces --
---- Independent Companies of Marines formed for the fleet
in the West Indies --
---- Services of the Marines on board the fleet in the
Mediterranean --
1704 Proceeded in the fleet to Lisbon, to aid the cause
of the Archduke Charles of Austria --
---- Proceeded against Barcelona, but afterwards withdrew,
and re-embarked 6
---- Attack and Capture of Gibraltar --
---- Engagement of the British and French fleets in the
Mediterranean 7
---- Siege of Gibraltar by the Spaniards and French 8
1705 The attempt to retake the fortress abandoned after
a siege of seven months 9
---- The Marine Corps distributed in the several ships
of war on the coast of Spain 10
---- Proceeded against Barcelona with the troops under
the Earl of Peterborough --
---- Capture of Fort Montjuich by storm 11
---- Surrender of the garrison of Barcelona 12
1706 Siege of Barcelona by the French 13
---- The French raised the siege and retreated --
---- Capture of Carthagena --
---- Capture of Alicant 14
---- Surrender of Iviça --
---- Surrender of Majorca --
1707 Attack and siege of Toulon 15
---- The siege of Toulon raised --
1708 Surrender of Sardinia --
1708 Capture of the Island of Minorca 16
---- Decease of H. R. H. the Prince George of Denmark,
Consort of Queen Anne, and Lord High Admiral of
England --
1709 Capture of _Anna-polis Royal_, in Nova Scotia 17
---- Surrender of Alicant to the forces of Spain and
France --
1710 Capture of the Isle of Cette 18
---- The Isle of Cette recaptured --
1711 Proceeded on an Expedition against Quebec, in Canada --
---- Failure of the expedition by storms and wreck in the
River St. Lawrence 19
---- Decease of Joseph I., Emperor of Austria --
---- Election of Charles III. of Spain to be Emperor of
Germany --
1712 Negotiations for general peace --
1713 Definitive treaty of peace at Utrecht on 31st March 20
---- Gibraltar, Minorca, and Nova Scotia ceded to Great
Britain by the treaty of peace --
---- The Corps of Marines disbanded --
1714 Decease of Her Majesty Queen Anne on the 1st of August --
---- Accession of King George I. --
---- Attempts of the Son of the late King James II. to
obtain the throne, defeated --
---- Augmentations made to the Army 21
---- Three of the late regiments of Marines, now the 30th,
31st, and 32nd, retained, and placed on the
establishment of the infantry of the Line --
1739 War declared against Spain on the 23rd of October,
1739 --
---- Augmentation of the Land forces 22
1739 Formation of six regiments of Marines 22
---- Fleet of five ships, with a detachment of Marines,
under Admiral Vernon, proceeded against
_Porto Bello_ --
1740 An additional regiment of Marines, of four battalions,
formed at New York in North America, and Colonel
Spotswood appointed Colonel-Commandant 23
---- The six regiments of Marines augmented from 700 to
1000 men each --
---- Augmentation of the four invalid companies of Marines --
---- Usefulness of Marine forces, as proved on former
occasions, now generally admitted 24
---- Formation of four additional regiments of Marines,
of 1000 men each --
---- Attack and capture of Fort Chagre 25
---- Fleet under Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle, and troops,
including the six Marine regiments under General
Lord Cathcart, proceeded to the West Indies, for
the purpose of attacking the Spanish possessions
in South America --
---- Death of General Lord Cathcart at Dominica 26
---- Brigadier-General Wentworth succeeded to the military
command of the expedition --
1741 The whole collected at Jamaica under Admiral Vernon --
---- Proceeded to the _Grande Playa_, to windward of the
town of Carthagena --
---- Capture of forts _St. Jago_ and _St. Philip_ --
---- Capture of the castle of _Bocca Chica_ 27
---- Capture of Fort _St. Joseph_ --
---- Capture of the castle of _Grande Castello_ --
---- Attack of St. Lazar by escalade --
1741 Repulse of the troops, and abandonment of the
enterprise 28
---- The forts and castle of Carthagena demolished --
---- The expedition returned to Jamaica --
---- Another expedition proceeded to the island of Cuba 29
---- Returned to Jamaica after encountering much sickness
and numerous casualties 30
1742 The island of _Rattan_, in the bay of Honduras,
taken possession of, and placed in a state of
defence 31
---- A detachment sent to the assistance of General
Oglethorpe, in South Carolina, against the
Spaniards 32
---- Recall of Admiral Vernon and General Wentworth --
---- The independent Companies at Jamaica (now the
forty-ninth regiment) and the Marines on board
of the fleet, completed with effective men; the
remainder of the troops returned to England --
---- The command of the fleet in the West Indies devolved
on Sir Chaloner Ogle --
1743 Another expedition proceeded to South America, under
the command of Commodore Knowles of the Navy, with
400 men of the thirty-eighth regiment and 600
Marines 33
---- Sailed to Antigua, and proceeded to attack La Guira
in Terra Firma --
---- Proceeded to Curaçao to refit --
---- Sailed again for Porto Cavallo --
---- Attack of Ponta Brava --
---- Returned to Jamaica 34
---- Declaration of war against France on 31st March, 1743 35
1744 Engagement of a party of Marines of the Essex
ship-of-war in the Mediterranean 35
---- Active means adopted for completing the ten regiments
of Marines --
1745 Expedition against Cape Breton 36
---- Capitulation of Louisburg and of the Island of Cape
Breton --
1746 Complaints investigated respecting the settlement of
accounts in the corps of Marines 37
---- Contemplated expedition against Quebec 38
---- Expedition proceeded against _Port L’Orient_ --
---- Disembarked in Quimperlay Bay, and advanced against
Plymeur --
---- Re-embarked and sailed for Quiberon --
---- Returned to England 39
1747 Royal Warrant issued on the 28th February, 1747, for
placing the Marine Forces under the control of the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty --
---- Renewed efforts of the King of France against the
British possessions in North America, and in the
East Indies 40
---- Victory over the French Fleet by Vice-Admiral Lord
Anson and Rear-Admiral Sir Peter Warren, K.B., on
the 3rd of May, 1747 41
---- Another victory over the French Fleet, by Commodore
Fox, in June 1747 42
---- A further victory obtained on the 14th of October,
1747, by Admiral Sir Edward Hawke, over the French
Fleet --
1748 A fleet proceeded under Admiral Boscawen, with
Marines and other troops, to attack the
_Mauritius_ 43
---- Proceeded thence to the coast of _Coromandel_ --
---- Disembarked and marched towards _Pondicherry_ 44
1748 Obtained possession of _Arian Coupan_ 44
---- Re-embarked after having demolished the fort of
Arian Coupan --
---- Another expedition, under Rear-Admiral Knowles,
proceeded against St. Jago in Cuba 45
---- Squadron returned to Jamaica --
---- The King of France expressed a desire for Peace --
---- Definitive treaty of Peace concluded at Aix-la-Chapelle
on 18th October, 1748 46
---- The ten regiments of Marines disbanded in November,
1748 --
1755 Preparations for renewing war with France --
---- Re-formation of the present Corps of Marines --
---- Augmentations made in the Army and Navy --
---- Fifty Companies of Marines, formed in Three Divisions,
raised under the control of the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty --
---- An Act of Parliament for the regulation of the Marine
Forces while doing duty on Shore --
1802 The Royal Authority granted for the Marine Forces to
be styled “_The Royal Marines_” 47
1805 A _Fourth_ Division formed at Woolwich by Order in
Council dated 15th August 1805 --
1827 Presentation of Colours, on the part of His Majesty
King George IV., by His Royal Highness the Duke of
Clarence, then Lord High Admiral, and afterwards
King William IV 48
PLATES.
Costume of Marines in 1742 _to face page_ 1
Present Colours of the Royal Marines ” 48
CONTENTS
OF THE
APPENDIX TO THE MARINE CORPS.
YEAR PAGE
Authorities were granted by King William III.
in 1694; by Queen Anne in 1713; and by
King George I. in 1715, for deciding the
Rank and Precedence of the Regiments of
Infantry, and for giving Numeral Titles to
the several Regiments, according to the dates
of formation, or of being placed on the
English establishment; as recommended by
Boards of General Officers, at the several
periods stated:--These regulations were confirmed
by the Warrants of King George II.,
dated 1st July, 1751, and of King George III.,
dated 19th December, 1768 49
1660 The Regiments of Infantry, exclusive of the
three regiments of Foot Guards, from the
period of the Restoration of King Charles II.,
in 1660, to 1684, consisted of--
The 1st, or the Royal Regiment.
The 2nd, or the Queen’s Royal (First Tangier) Regiment.
The 3rd, or the Holland Regiment.
The 4th, (the Second Tangier) Regiment. --
1685 The 5th and 6th Regiments were formed in Holland,
in the year 1674, and were brought to England on
the requisition of King James II., in 1685,--from
which period they were authorized to take rank in
the English Army --
1685 The Regiments of Infantry formed during the reign
of King James II., and placed on the establishment
of the army, were:--
From 7th Royal Fusiliers to 17th Regiment 49
1688 During the reign of King William III.:
and From 18th Regiment to 27th Regiment --
1689 The 18th Royal Irish Regiment was formed in Ireland
in 1684; and the 21st Royal North British Fusiliers
in Scotland in 1678: They were placed on the
English establishment, the 18th in 1688, and the
21st in 1689, from which periods their numerical
rank took effect --
1702 Formed during the reign of Queen Anne:
From 28th Regiment to 39th Regiment --
1717 Formed during the reign of King George I.:
From 40th Regiment to 41st Regiment --
1739 Formed during the reign of King George II.:
From 42nd Regiment to 70th Regiment 50
And
The Marine Corps 52
1775 Formed during the reign of King George III.:
From 71st. Regiment to 93rd Regiment 54
1793 The Scots Brigade brought from Holland 55
1800 The Rifle Brigade originally formed --
1824 Formed during the reign of King George IV.:
From 94th Regiment to 99th Regiment --
[Illustration: MARINES. 1742.]
FORMATION AND SERVICES
OF THE
MARINE CORPS.
The advantages arising from the services of corps trained to the
use of arms _on board of ship, as well as on land_, were found
when the British navy acquired a superiority over that of other
nations of Europe; and as the safety of Great Britain, from its
insular position, chiefly depends on the efficiency and excellence
of her fleets, the importance and value of _Marine Forces_ have
consequently been at all times acknowledged and appreciated by the
Sovereign, as well as by the Nation at large.
[Sidenote: 1664]
The first corps raised for Sea-service, of which history gives
an account, is that which was formed by King Charles II., in the
year 1664, when the war with Holland took place: this corps was
commanded by the Duke of York (afterwards King James II.), then
Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, and was designated “_The
Admiral’s Maritime Regiment_.”[44]
[Sidenote: 1672]
In the year 1672 a dispute on the subject of naval precedence,
and other causes, gave rise to another war with the Dutch, and
battalions for _Sea-service_ were formed, as the occasions of the
State required, by drafts from the land forces, which were embarked
on board the fleet; several companies of the Foot Guards were
employed on the Marine duty; these companies were engaged in a
sharp fight with the Dutch fleet on the 28th of May, 1672, in which
upwards of two thousand men were killed; they were also engaged in
several other actions during the war which ended in February, 1674.
[Sidenote: 1689]
In 1689 King William III. incorporated “_the Admiral’s Regiment_”
(which was then considered the third regiment of Infantry) in the
Second, now the Coldstream, regiment of Foot Guards. Two Marine
regiments were, about the same time, established for service on
board the fleet, which were disbanded in 1698.
[Sidenote: 1702]
On the recommencement of hostilities, in 1702, with France and
Spain, both of which nations possessed powerful fleets as well
as numerous armies, the British Parliament felt the expediency
of enabling the Queen to increase the efficiency of her navy, by
forming _Corps of Marines_, which could act at sea as well as on
land.
Six regiments were accordingly added in the year 1702 to the
regular Army as _Marine corps_, and six other of the regular
regiments of Infantry were appointed for _Sea-service_; as shown in
the following list.
The six Regiments of Marines were:--
Colonel Thomas Saunderson’s, now thirtieth foot.
Colonel George Villiers’s, now thirty-first foot.
Colonel Edward Fox’s, now thirty-second foot.
Colonel Harry Mordaunt’s; disbanded in 1713.
Colonel Henry Holl’s; disbanded in 1713.
Colonel Viscount Shannon’s; disbanded in 1713.
The six regiments of Foot for _Sea-service_ were:--
Colonel Ventris Columbine’s, now sixth foot.
Colonel Thomas Erle’s, now nineteenth foot.
Colonel Gustavus Hamilton’s, now twentieth foot.
Colonel Lord Lucas’s, now thirty-fourth foot.
Colonel Earl of Donegal’s, now thirty-fifth foot.
Colonel Lord Charlemont’s, now thirty-sixth foot.
Her Majesty’s Order for levying this body of men was contained in
the following Royal Warrant, dated 1st of June, 1702:--
“ANNE R.
“Our pleasure is, that this establishment of _six regiments of
Marines_, and six other regiments for _Sea-Service_, do commence
and take place from the respective times of raising.
“And our further pleasure is, that the order given by our dearest
brother the late King, deceased, and such orders as are, or shall
be, given by us, touching the pay or entertainment of our said
forces, or any of them, or any charges thereunto belonging, shall
be duly complied with, and that no new charge be added to this
establishment without being communicated to our High Treasurer,
or Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being.
“Given at our Court at St. James’s, on the first day of June in
the first year of our reign.
“_By Her Majesty’s Command._
“GODOLPHIN.”
Other regiments were also embarked, at different periods, during
the war, on board the fleet to act as Marines, and the efficiency
and usefulness of these corps, while so employed, were attested by
the capture of several fortresses in Spain; more especially that of
Gibraltar in 1704, the taking of which was effected by the Navy and
Marines.
Rules and Instructions for the better government of the Marine
regiments were issued by authority of Her Majesty Queen Anne, on
the 1st of July, 1702, in which it was directed, “That when on
shore they were to be quartered in the vicinity of the dock-yards,
in order to guard them from embezzlement, or from any attempt that
might be made on them by an enemy.”
Full instructions were also given as to their pay, subsistence, and
clothing, which directed, “that the same deductions should be made
for clothing as was usual in the land forces. Also that one day’s
pay in every year be deducted from officers and soldiers for the
Hospital.
“When on board ship they were to have an equal proportion of
provisions with the seamen, without any deductions from their pay,
the soldiers receiving short allowance money like the seamen.”
In order to render such portions of the Marine regiments as might
be on shore, useful on all occasions when their services might be
required, Her Majesty directed, that it should rest with herself,
or with the Lord High Admiral, the Prince George of Denmark, to
dispose of them at such places nearest to the several dock-yards as
might be judged most convenient; and as there might be occasion for
labourers to despatch necessary public works, Her Majesty empowered
the High Admiral, or the Commissioners for executing that office,
to cause to be employed in the dock-yards so many of the marine
soldiers as might be judged fitting, and to make them such daily
allowance for their labour, besides their ordinary pay, as should
seem reasonable.
The Marine forces being thus placed under the control of the Lord
High Admiral, His Royal Highness was pleased in 1702, to nominate
Colonel William Seymour (of the fourth regiment of foot) to
superintend the whole, with the rank of Brigadier-General, whose
peculiar duties were to observe, that the men were comfortably
quartered, that the officers were attentive in their respective
departments, and that the marine soldiers, when embarked on board
of ship, were supplied with proper sea-clothes and other suitable
necessaries. When the Marines were serving afloat, they were to be
under the command of the Naval Officers of the ships.
The Uniform of the Marine forces consisted of high-crowned
leather-caps, covered with cloth of the same colour as the facings
of the regiment, and ornamented with devices, the same as the caps
worn by the grenadiers; scarlet frock-coat; buff waist-belt; black
pouch carried in front, with bayonet-belt attached; buff gaiters.
During the reign of Queen Anne, certain Independent Companies of
Marines were raised for the purpose of aiding in the defence of the
British possessions in the West Indies.
The first important service on which the Marine corps were employed
in this reign, was on board the fleet under Admiral Sir Cloudesly
Shovel, then commanding in the Mediterranean, who was instructed to
make every possible arrangement, by conciliation or by conquest,
among the dependencies of the French and Spanish monarchies, in
order to ensure a cordial reception of the Archduke Charles of
Austria, in opposition to Philip, Duke of Anjou, of France, to the
throne of Spain.
[Sidenote: 1704]
After some delays, the Archduke arrived at Lisbon under Admiral Sir
George Rooke, on the 25th of February, 1704, in order to concert a
plan of future operations with his ally the King of Portugal.
Sir George Rooke, after cruising with the fleet on the coast
of Portugal, returned to Lisbon, and took the Prince of
Hesse-Darmstadt on board, with whom he sailed on the 20th of
April to Barcelona. On the arrival of the fleet before Barcelona,
the Prince of Hesse sent a letter to Don Velasco, the governor,
requiring him to surrender the town, which he refused. Information,
however, being received that the city would declare for Charles
III. if a show of attack were made,--sixteen hundred Marines were
accordingly landed at the request, and under the command, of
Major-General the Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt, on the 19th of May,
1704: this force, being found to be inadequate for the purpose, was
re-embarked on the following day.
The next object of attack was the Rock of _Gibraltar_, where the
Prince of Hesse landed in the afternoon of the 21st of July, 1704,
with 1800 British and Dutch Marines. Acting upon the decision of a
council of war, His Highness proceeded to cut off all communication
with the mainland, to bombard the place, and to reduce it to the
obedience of Charles III., King of Spain. The governor, on being
summoned, refused to surrender, alleging that all the garrison had
taken an oath of allegiance to King Philip V.
Admiral Sir George Rooke having directed a strong force to proceed
against the South Mole, the enemy was driven from his guns; several
boats, manned and armed, were then detached under the command of
Captain Whitaker, of the Navy, who soon obtained possession of the
great platform: about one hundred of the besiegers, whose impetuous
bravery had carried them within the effects of a mine connected
with the fort, were killed or wounded by the explosion; the rest,
advancing rapidly, gained a redoubt half-way between the mole and
the town. The Governor, at the urgent desire of the inhabitants,
was induced to capitulate, and the Prince of Hesse took possession
of the garrison on the evening of Sunday the 24th of July 1704.
The loss in effecting the capture of this important fortress was
sixty-one killed, and two hundred and six wounded. The attack of
the seamen was one of the boldest and most difficult ever made,
being obliged to climb up rocks and precipices. Thus was taken, in
three days, a fortress since made impregnable to all assaults.