Royal Marines Corps celebrate birthday in style

The Royal Marines Corps have marked their anniversary with a parade at HMS Excellent and a traditional cutting of the birthday cake.

On the 28th October 2017, the Royal Marines celebrate their 353rd birthday.

From fighting on the decks and in the mastheads at the Battle of Trafalgar, through Two World Wars, to the modern day, leading the assaults on the Falkland Islands and Iraq and operating in Afghanistan, they are an integral part of Britain’s defence and the Royal Navy; their distinction combines excellence, versatility and unique amphibious skills.

Formed in the reign of King Charles II on October 28, 1664 as the Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot (or Admiral’s Regiment), the name Marines first appeared in the records in 1672 and in 1802 they were titled the Royal Marines by King George III.

Since then, Marines have taken part in more battles on land and sea around the world than any other branch of the British Armed Forces; so numerous are the Corps’ Battle Honours they are simply represented by the famous Globe and the single honour ‘Gibraltar’.

Warrant Officer Wayne Rogers said, “In view of the fact that all the Royal Marines on Whale Island can rarely get together at the same time this is a great opportunity to celebrate the birthday of the Corps with the New Deputy Commandant General Royal Marines, Brigadier Haydn White ADC.”