First World War
During the First World War, in addition to their usual
stations aboard ship, Royal Marines were part of the Royal
Naval Division which landed in Belgium in 1914 to help defend
Antwerp and later took part in the amphibious landing at
Gallipoli in 1915. It also served on the Western Front in the
trenches.
The Division's first two commanders were Royal Marine
Artillery Generals. Other Royal Marines acted as landing
parties in the Naval campaign against the Turkish
fortifications in the Dardanelles before the Gallipoli
landings. They were sent ashore to assess damage to Turkish
fortifications after bombardment by British and French ships
and, if necessary, to complete their destruction. The Royal
Marines were the last to leave Gallipoli, replacing both
British and French troops in a neatly planned and executed
withdrawal from the beaches. It even required some Marines to
wear French uniforms as part of the deception.
In 1918 Royal Marines led the Zeebrugge Raid. Five Royal
Marines earned the Victoria Cross in the First World War, two
at Zeebrugge, one at Gallipoli, one at the Battle of Jutland
and one on the Western Front. After the war Royal Marines took
part in the allied intervention in Russia. In 1919, the 6th
Battalion RMLI rose in mutiny and was disbanded at
Murmansk.
|