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From Royal Marines Records 1755 - 1792.
‘In the “London Gazette” of 26 April 1755, 20 companies were allotted to Portsmouth, 18 to Plymouth, and 12 to Chatham; they were numbered in rotation No 1 to Portsmouth, No 2 to Plymouth, No 3 to Chatham and so on; this was changed in 1763 when No 1 was allotted to Chatham, No 2 to Portsmouth, No 3 to Plymouth, etc.’
‘A second Sergeant Major was added to each Division on 17 November 1756. At the same time the senior Sergeant Major at Plymouth, John Christian, was given a commission and appointed Adjutant, an appointment which he held for 19 years; on 18 October 1773, when a Captain Lieutenant, he was appointed Adjutant of the Portsmouth Division.’
Each Division had: a lieutenant colonel (command), a major (adjutant), a deputy paymaster, a quartermaster, a surgeon, a sergeant major, a drum major, an orderly room clerk, squad officers. Company officers - captains, first lieutenants, second lieutenants.
‘Parade Companies called Squads were formed by grouping the Divisional Companies. The number of Companies to a Squad varied from 4 to as many as 44 to 6 squads. Officers called Squad Officers were appointed to take charge of the accounts, etc.’ - This was done to alleviate the difficulties in keeping all accounts of NCOs, men, and the purchase and supply of necessaries, &c.
‘It was not until 1764 that it was ordered that the firelocks should be marked with the number of the Company and the number of the firelock in the Company. “Sergeants and Corporals to keep a list.” So that from the earliest times it was the custom of the Marine to retain his own firearm.’
No fixed sea roster for officers until 1815.
Officers given commissions to certain companies and not to the Corps. Commissions signed by the King.
The Marine Mutiny Act and Articles of War passed each year by Parliament. Sent to Admiralty for signature, then sent by warrant to commanding officers in April each year.
Two types of court-martial: General and Divisional.
During courts-martial, the adjutant usually acted as Judge Advocate.
1764-1770 - Corps strength at 70 companies.
‘The question early arose as to the Marines providing Garrison Guards such as Haslar, etc, and after much bickering with the local Army authorities a ruling was given on 28 September 1764 which has been in force ever since, though there have been many variations of it. It is curious that the question should have arisen with our Chummy regiment, the 31st.’
12 May 1764: Admiralty directs the commanding officer to send out more recruiting parties following awareness of shortages in weekly returns. “Beating Orders and Recruiting Instructions” sent.
Monthly reports thereafter include complaints about ‘the badness of the firelocks’; in September: “in the firings they were not at all steady, and that it will be necessary to have them on shore together to make them in any degree masters of that part of their duty, in being impossible to do it on board”. Marines then ordered to be landed once a fortnight in summer for this purpose.
4 May 1764 - ‘ruling given that one year constituted a tour of sea duty for roster purposes’.
Seniority in brevet rank depended on dates of actual commissions - a ruling on 15 July 1764 establishes this. “As these officers (Bt Majors Marriott and Howarth) are only Majors by Brevet, Major Marriott must by seniority of his commission as Captain command Major Howarth who is a junior Captain on all duties among the Marine Corps, conformable to what is practical among each particular regiment in the Army in pursuance of the Article of War on that head.”
An Admiralty Warrant dated 1 December 1763 describes the duties of squad officers: “Whereas it has been represented to us from the various accounts of receipts and disbursements which Squad Officers of Marines are required to keep, not only a thorough knowledge of accounts, but a regular minute exactness therein, as well as some experience in business is requisite to enable them to execute well the several parts of their duty; and that the frequent removal of officers from the Squad duty to take their turn of seat duty as the 114th Article of the Regulations established in July last directs, must unavoidably be attended with many inconveniences to the service, we have taken the same into consideration and in order to prevent the inconvenience which might attend the frequent changing of Squad Officers, as well as to remove every obstacle to officers taking their regular tours of sea duty, we have resolved that for the future officers upon half-pay shall be appointed Squad Officers to the several Divisions of Marines with an allowance of fourty pounds a year each for their care and trouble in addition to their half pay.”
The above system lasted until 1785. A London contractor for the supply of necessaries to the whole Corps was then appointed. Squad Officers were then relieved by Squad Sergeants; these were later replaced by Company Pay Captains.
A court-martial in March 1765:
Sentence of Gilbert Wright upheld; ‘letter of 3 July 1765 says: “he was shot to death on Friday last.” ’
Sentences of Kelly and Cotton upheld. Hopkins reduced to 300 lashes. Adams “appears to be a very sempill and of weak understanding”, was released and discharged. The other(s) received pardons “in consideration of their penitence and desire they showed to return to their duty.”
13 October 1764: “My Lords of the Admiralty being of opinion that the guarding of HM Dockyards with Marines instead of watchmen selection from the Labourers of the Yards, as is now the practise, may contribute greatly to the security of HM Magazines and Stores as well as the safety of HM Ships ... the Navy Board having concurred with their Lordships ... the guard should consist of as many men as will admit of 3 reliefs. Said Guard with proper number of Officers should march into the Yard every day and remain on duty for 24 hours ... and Captain of Guard is to obtain from the Commissioner of the yard orders and instructions ... all duties to be performed in the most punctual garrison duty. If numbers are insufficient now or at any future time the Commandant is to apply to the Commanding Officer of HM Ships to land such number from the guardships as may be necessary.”
Two Parade Companies at Plymouth placed in barracks at Dock (Devonport) and the officers’ mess established in Marlborough Square. “Marlborough and Granby Squares within the lines of Plymouth Dock were to be allotted for use of HM Marine Forces of 500 men with usual proportion of officers, which detachments are to take care of the Barracks and do all necessary.” Frederick Square added on 25 January 1765.
Officers and men in Chatham billetted in Old Brompton. Sickness frequent because of mud and wet.
Commandant at Portsmouth reports significant trouble with desertion in 1765; men should be put in barracks. Response on 16 July 1765: “As soon as the old Cooperage at Portsmouth can be spared from the Victualling Service it will be fitted up as a barrack for the Marines.” This became Clarence Barracks, weren’t occupied until 1767.
On equipment: “...that it will be a great advantage to the Discipline to the Corps to give the men accoutrements better than they have at present; want of pouches (they only hand cartouch boxes) preventing them being put through the firings of a Battalion and they approve of an alteration being made.”
Colours in use by 1765.
Bands formed; Portsmouth Band in 1765/66, Plymouth in 1767. Order of 11 June 1768 directs the Band to wear white breeches and stockings with black buckled garters at Guard Mounting.
27 March 1766: Sergeants of Marines permitted to wear sashes.
Grenadier companies formed in 1767. Plymouth Orders (10 March 1767) direct grenadier officers to wear ”two epaulets and fringe and Officers of Battalion Companies one on right shoulder only.”
11 August 1768: Master General of Ordnance ordered to issue firelocks fitting with iron ramrods, instead of wooden.
15 May 1769: new uniform issued. Grenadier caps in general use believed then to be replaced by cocked hats.
October 1769: Marines’ breeches were red.
24 October 1769: new gorget ordered for officers.
11 December 1770: each of 70 companies increased by one lieutenant, one sergeant, one corporal, one drummer, and fifty privates. Strength up roughly to 8,000.
April 1771: First Lord of the Admiralty (Earl of Sandwich) approves the raising of Marine Commanding officers to rank of Colonel Commandant and Captain. First holders were:
Chatham - Colonel J Mackenzie to No 1 Company vice Bendyshe, 17 April
Portsmouth - Colonel Hector Boisrond to No 2 Company, promoted 17 April
Plymouth - Colonel John Bell to No 3 Company vice Burleigh, 18 April
Their additional rank of captain and command of companies retained 1814. Their Companies were commanded by captain lieutenants rather than first lieutenants.
18 Aprilt 1771: Each Division increased by one adjutant.
Chatham - David Johnstone
Portsmouth - T. Archbold
Plymouth - Jas Waller
17 April 1771: Eighteen Penny Fund mentioned. It “had been established by the late Commanding Officer to supply accidental expenses not authorised by the Admiralty.” 18d a week was stopped from pay of men allowed to work for civilians.
6 November 1766: Officers’ Widows Fund established at Plymouth.
3 February 1772: companies reduced from one hundred to eighty men each. Those deemed ‘least fit for service’ were discharged.
Portsmouth selected a draft of fifty of the best men and sent them to Plymouth. Men who wished to be entered as landsmen in ships were to be approved of by the senior naval officer. Those who wanted a change were sent to Plymouth. Others who took discharges received ”what was usual and given their proper papers.”
5 December 1772: companies reduced from eighty to fifty men each. Same as above.
9 December 1772: companies reduced one sergeant, one corporal, and one drummer each.
9 January 1773: complements of all guardships reduced.
Standard of height in 1773 was 5’4”.
14 June 1773: orders issued that accoutrements were to be made of buff. Accoutrements also ordered to be whitened. Pipeclay thus introduced.
24 March 1772: bayonet and pouches, previously slung on waistbelts, ordered to be made into crossbelts.
25 December 1771: Admiralty expressed no objection to officers having buckles on their belts.
‘About this time the Commissioner of the Dockyard at Portsmouth objected to the Drum beating when marching detachments to embark, but he was promptly sat on by the Admiralty.’
16 April 1772: Lieutenant Colonel H Smith appointed Colonel Commandant and Captain of No 2 Company, Portsmouth. Lieutenant Colonel Boisrond to retire on half-pay.
‘It has often been said that prior to 1813 Commissions from the ranks were not given in the Marines, but this is not borne out by the facts. Lieutenant Christian, the Adjutant at Plymouth, has already been mentioned and on 9 September 1772 Sergeant Major C Olive was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in 31st Company at Chatham and again on 29 March 1774 there is a letter saying that Sergeant Major Harry Rudd had been promoted to a 2nd Lieutenancy on recommendation of officers of Portsmouth Division, and that as the officers at Plymouth desired that he should be removed to Portsmouth it was proposed to post him there.’
1773: Portsmouth barracks enlarged. ‘The Commandant applied for a quarter in barracks but was refused and told the accommodation was to be appropriated for Privates only.’ Standard of height increased to 5’5”.
April 1773: Companies raised to seventy privates, three drummers, four corporals, and four sergeants each.
6 May 1773: Companies reduced to fifty privates, two drummers, three corporals, and three sergeants each.
Tuesday 23 June 1773: HM the King visited Portsmouth and reviewed the Fleet and Establishments. The visit lasted until Saturday 26 June. Corps well involved but no mention of HM visiting the Marine barracks.
Admiralty Letter (8 January 1774):
Commissioners of the Yards seem to have been responsible for dealing with the pay of ships when the ships were paid off.
April 1774: “Owing to the frequent necessity of sending for deserters, the Sergeants, Corporals and Privates are put to great expense for breeches shoes and stockings” and “that it is not in their power to appear so clean as their characters and station require”. Admiralty orders subsequently direct Deputy Paymasters to pay allowances and charge them in the Contingent Account (“to be equally shared among the party”).
The above allowance eventually became known as “Shoe money”.
23 March 1764: Firelocks marked with the number of the company and each firelock numbered individually within that company. Sergeants and corporals kept lists thereof.
Marines known only by their company number.
11 December 1760: orders for officers ‘who pay squads’ to return “Arms, Accoutrements and King’s Clothing” to the Quartermaster when Marines are discharged.
King’s Clothing: hats, uniform coats, waistcoats, and breeches. These supplied by contract; Admiralty and Naval storekeepers. Quality bad.
Necessaries purchased locally by squad officers; costs stopped from men’s pay.
Board of Ordnance supplied arms, accoutrements, and swords for sergeants. Quality bad.
1 June: annual clothing issue. Clothing forwarded to Divisions for altering and fitting beforehand.
‘Sergeants carried swords and halberds. They also wore special hats. Corporals wore “Knotts” on the shoulder.’
28 July 1771: officers ordered to privately purchase new pattern swords.
On embarkation, Marines were to have:
1 white and 3 check shirts
4 pairs of stockings (2 of thread)
2 pairs of shoes
Spatterdashes regarded as useless and were made of white linen. Lieutenant J. McIntire gives that they should be replaced by wool. Linen spatterdashes ‘give the men rheumatism from being put on wet with pipeclay.’
‘Proper black spatterdashes’ ordered for new drafts bound for America; probably made of leather.
1773: Grenadier and Light companies in existence in the Corps. Uniforms of these occasionally caused difficulties with captains of ships.
21 January 1773: Plymouth Division informed that maintaining a light company unnecessary.
1773: Divisional surgeons ordered to wear uniforms. Initially these men were locally appointed civilians. Naval surgeons eventually appointed to the Divisions and received Marine commissions and uniform (until 1887). The uniform was a red coat with a red cape, cuffs, and lapels with Marine uniform buttons, white waistcoats and breeches with uniform hat. When on duty, black buckle garters and a sword are worn.
Plymouth Orders (9 July 1766): Division tailors worked from 0400 to 2000 with one hour for dinner. They worked in the Black Hole in Frederick Square with a sergeant supervising.
The Black Hole used from 1757 for punishing sergeants caught drinking with the men. Second offences warranted a court-martial.
Order-in-Council (15 February 1775): Companies increased to 56 privates each, thus adding 420 men.
Order-in-Council (21 June 1775): Companies increased by one sergeant, one corporal, one drummer, and fourteen privates each, thus adding 1,190 men.
July 1775: Portsmouth short of establishment by 500 men.
14 February 1775: “I have great desire to convince everybody of the utility of keeping a large body of Marines who are capable of acting either by sea or land as public service may require.” - Major Pitcairn in a letter to the First Lord.
Further: an expressed wish that “the standards were raised; no Marine in humble opinion ought to be taken who is under five feet six inches and were not at that size if under twenty years of age.”
21 January 1775: a draft of two majors, ten captains, twenty-seven subalterns, twenty-eight sergeants, twenty-five corporals, twenty-nine drummers, and six hundred privates to be sent to Admiral Graves on the American station.
Portsmouth sent: Major Tupper and Adjutant Fielding with three companies, comprised of three captains, six subalterns, six sergeants, six corporals, six drummers, and one hundred and eighty privates.
Plymouth sent: Major Short and Adjutant Waller with six companies, comprised of six captains, twelve subalterns, twelve sergeants, twelve corporals, twelve drummers, and three hundred and sixty privates.
Chatham sent: one company of one captain, two subalterns, two sergeants, two corporals, two drummers, and sixty privates.
Portsmouth and Plymouth also sent: seven subalterns, eight sergeants, and five corporals for those companies already in America.
25 January 1775: senior naval officers in the Ports ordered to draw men from the harbour ships if the Divisions were short of men for their allotted drafts. Portsmouth drew 130 men in this way; Plymouth probably likewise. Chatham drew men from harbour ships after its draft departed.
2 February 1775: Portsmouth and Plymouth ordered to “send the Colours of your Division to Boston with the Marines and to acquaint you that they will be replaced with new ones.”
Chatham and Portsmouth, and probably Plymouth, ordered to send sixty grenadiers caps, indicating the consideration of a raising of a grenadier company.
Provisions made in transports for women to accompany the draft; Chatham provided for six and four, for detachments already there. Portsmouth provided eighteen and six. Plymouth provided thirty-six and ten. It appears thus that each company was allowed six women. Such women acted as medical orderlies and attended the laundry and some cooking.
Captain the Hon. J. Maitland could not sail with the draft; believed to have been an MP. He later distinguished himself at Savannah in 1779, commanding an army light infantry battalion.
Plymouth Orders (8 February 1775): kit lists set down. Officers to have long leather gaiters with Hessian tops except with buttons rather than springs, and to have proper accoutrements. Men to have the following:
Plymouth Orders (24 March 1775): “They will muster at 5.30 pm for muster master parade, and march off parade (the old parade in the Barbican) at 5.30 am tomorrow.”
The first part of the draft arrived in Boston on 15 May 1775 and the rest on 23 May 1775.
September 1775: captains of companies granted 1/- a day allowance for paying their companies.
10 August 1775: letter from the Admiralty regarding training of Marine second lieutenants. ‘It appears that when a gentleman was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant he took the place on the sea roster of the officer in place of whom he was gazetted. On 30 July the Commandant at Chatham (Colonel Mackenzie) pointed out that these officers might be embarked before they “are qualified in the Requisites personally necessary for their appearance on duty;” and even sometimes “embarked in sloops on their own they will be ignorant of the care and command of troops in action or other necessary parts of the Service.” The Board agreed with the Colonel that “giving time to the new appointed 2nd Lieutenants to perfect themselves in their duty at Quarters before they are sent to sea or on other service is highly necessary and proper.” It was therefore ordered that 2nd Lieutenants (“who have not been in the service before”) were to be placed at the bottom of the roster according to dates of appointment, and not to be sent to sea until the whole number of Lieutenants before them on the roster “shall be embarked or allowed one Tour, in case they shall have served more than one tour before they were last relieved. To be applied to 2nd Lieutenants appointed since 17 June last.” ’
31 October 1775(?): Companies increased from seventy to eighty privates.
16 February 1776: Companies increased by one second lieutenant each. Seventy gentlemen were gazetted.
20 February 1776: complaints from Divisions regarding disparity in levy money. The army was giving five guineas, while the Corps only giving three. The Navy Board raised this amount to four guineas but no more, because of “the particular advantages of the Marine Service being considered.”
‘The Army apparently issued a King’s Pardon to Deserters, but it was not applied to the Marines until 3 May 1778.’
Order-in-Council (3 April 1776): Companies increased from eighty to ninety privates (700 men).
Order-in-Council (10 July 1776): Companies increased from ninety to one hundred privates (a further 700 men).
18 November 1776: fifteen more companies added - three to Chatham, 6 each to Portsmouth and Plymouth. All companies had one captain, two first lieutenants, two second lieutenants, five sergeants, five corporals, four drummers, and one hundred privates. Total strength was 10,145 men.
Admiralty letter (9 November 1776): “Several applications having been made to the Earl of Sandwich for 2nd Lieutenants for persons of an improper age, I am commanded by My Lords to signify their direction to you to make it publicly known at your Division that no gentleman under the age of 15 years nor above 21 can, by the rules laid down by Their Lordships, have a commission to be a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.”
To be continued in a later post.
‘In the “London Gazette” of 26 April 1755, 20 companies were allotted to Portsmouth, 18 to Plymouth, and 12 to Chatham; they were numbered in rotation No 1 to Portsmouth, No 2 to Plymouth, No 3 to Chatham and so on; this was changed in 1763 when No 1 was allotted to Chatham, No 2 to Portsmouth, No 3 to Plymouth, etc.’
‘A second Sergeant Major was added to each Division on 17 November 1756. At the same time the senior Sergeant Major at Plymouth, John Christian, was given a commission and appointed Adjutant, an appointment which he held for 19 years; on 18 October 1773, when a Captain Lieutenant, he was appointed Adjutant of the Portsmouth Division.’
Each Division had: a lieutenant colonel (command), a major (adjutant), a deputy paymaster, a quartermaster, a surgeon, a sergeant major, a drum major, an orderly room clerk, squad officers. Company officers - captains, first lieutenants, second lieutenants.
‘Parade Companies called Squads were formed by grouping the Divisional Companies. The number of Companies to a Squad varied from 4 to as many as 44 to 6 squads. Officers called Squad Officers were appointed to take charge of the accounts, etc.’ - This was done to alleviate the difficulties in keeping all accounts of NCOs, men, and the purchase and supply of necessaries, &c.
‘It was not until 1764 that it was ordered that the firelocks should be marked with the number of the Company and the number of the firelock in the Company. “Sergeants and Corporals to keep a list.” So that from the earliest times it was the custom of the Marine to retain his own firearm.’
No fixed sea roster for officers until 1815.
Officers given commissions to certain companies and not to the Corps. Commissions signed by the King.
The Marine Mutiny Act and Articles of War passed each year by Parliament. Sent to Admiralty for signature, then sent by warrant to commanding officers in April each year.
Two types of court-martial: General and Divisional.
During courts-martial, the adjutant usually acted as Judge Advocate.
1764-1770 - Corps strength at 70 companies.
‘The question early arose as to the Marines providing Garrison Guards such as Haslar, etc, and after much bickering with the local Army authorities a ruling was given on 28 September 1764 which has been in force ever since, though there have been many variations of it. It is curious that the question should have arisen with our Chummy regiment, the 31st.’
Admiralty 28 September 1764 Sir ... signify that Their Lordships directions to you to relieve the 31st Regiment at Haslar Hospital, if you had a sufficient number of Marines at Quarters to enable you to do so; and your having in return represented in your said letter that you not only find it difficult to carry out Their Lordships’ directions on that head into execution, but are prevented from complying with the demand for Marines by the Admiral of the Port for the ships fitting out there, by the orders which Col. Welldon, Commanding Officer of the Garrison has thought fit to issue; in return to which I am to acquaint you that an extract of your said letter and copy of the papers which accompany it are sent to the Secretary of War for his information; and that he is acquainted that as he will see thereby, how much His Majesty’s Naval service is likely to suffer by the very extraordinary orders which Col. Welldon has issued, their Lordships have no doubt of his giving the most effectual orders to the Commanding Officer of the Garrison to prevent his interfering with the Commanding Officer of the Marine Forces in the disposition of the Marines. I am etc. (Signed) Ph. Stephens Lieut. Col. Boisrond, Portsmouth
12 May 1764: Admiralty directs the commanding officer to send out more recruiting parties following awareness of shortages in weekly returns. “Beating Orders and Recruiting Instructions” sent.
By The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Whereas our instructions to the Commander in Chief at Portsmouth (Plymouth, Chatham) of the Guardships, there is inserted an article to the following effect viz: “And in order that we may be enabled to judge of the ability of the Marine Officers, and the Progress they have made in the Discipline of the Marines for Service on Shore, as well as their other duties, so far as the same is practicable while they remain embarked, you are to direct upon application from the Commanding Officer of Marines at the Port, that leave may be given for a Field Officer of Marines from the Division to go on board in order to review and exercise the detachments on board them; and to apply for the Marines to be landed for these purposes once a month, and you are to transmit to us the opinion of the Field Officers on the progress that has been made in the discipline of the Marines accordingly. Given under our hands 6th July 1764. (Signed) Geo. Hay Carys fort. Digby.
Monthly reports thereafter include complaints about ‘the badness of the firelocks’; in September: “in the firings they were not at all steady, and that it will be necessary to have them on shore together to make them in any degree masters of that part of their duty, in being impossible to do it on board”. Marines then ordered to be landed once a fortnight in summer for this purpose.
4 May 1764 - ‘ruling given that one year constituted a tour of sea duty for roster purposes’.
Seniority in brevet rank depended on dates of actual commissions - a ruling on 15 July 1764 establishes this. “As these officers (Bt Majors Marriott and Howarth) are only Majors by Brevet, Major Marriott must by seniority of his commission as Captain command Major Howarth who is a junior Captain on all duties among the Marine Corps, conformable to what is practical among each particular regiment in the Army in pursuance of the Article of War on that head.”
An Admiralty Warrant dated 1 December 1763 describes the duties of squad officers: “Whereas it has been represented to us from the various accounts of receipts and disbursements which Squad Officers of Marines are required to keep, not only a thorough knowledge of accounts, but a regular minute exactness therein, as well as some experience in business is requisite to enable them to execute well the several parts of their duty; and that the frequent removal of officers from the Squad duty to take their turn of seat duty as the 114th Article of the Regulations established in July last directs, must unavoidably be attended with many inconveniences to the service, we have taken the same into consideration and in order to prevent the inconvenience which might attend the frequent changing of Squad Officers, as well as to remove every obstacle to officers taking their regular tours of sea duty, we have resolved that for the future officers upon half-pay shall be appointed Squad Officers to the several Divisions of Marines with an allowance of fourty pounds a year each for their care and trouble in addition to their half pay.”
The above system lasted until 1785. A London contractor for the supply of necessaries to the whole Corps was then appointed. Squad Officers were then relieved by Squad Sergeants; these were later replaced by Company Pay Captains.
A court-martial in March 1765:
Gilbert Wright Theft and Desertion Guilty To be shot to death Wm Cotton Desertion Guilty ) Each to receive Laughlin Kelly Striking a Sergeant Guilty ) 1000 lashes on his Christopher Magee Desertion Guilty ) Bare Back with a John Lees Desertion Guilty ) Catt of Nine-tails Thos Hopkins Desertion Guilty To receive 600 lashes John Parker Desertion Guilty To receive 400 lashes John Adams Desertion Guilty ) Each to receive Robert Leeson Desertion Guilty ) 300 lashes George Brown Desertion Guilty )
Sentence of Gilbert Wright upheld; ‘letter of 3 July 1765 says: “he was shot to death on Friday last.” ’
Sentences of Kelly and Cotton upheld. Hopkins reduced to 300 lashes. Adams “appears to be a very sempill and of weak understanding”, was released and discharged. The other(s) received pardons “in consideration of their penitence and desire they showed to return to their duty.”
13 October 1764: “My Lords of the Admiralty being of opinion that the guarding of HM Dockyards with Marines instead of watchmen selection from the Labourers of the Yards, as is now the practise, may contribute greatly to the security of HM Magazines and Stores as well as the safety of HM Ships ... the Navy Board having concurred with their Lordships ... the guard should consist of as many men as will admit of 3 reliefs. Said Guard with proper number of Officers should march into the Yard every day and remain on duty for 24 hours ... and Captain of Guard is to obtain from the Commissioner of the yard orders and instructions ... all duties to be performed in the most punctual garrison duty. If numbers are insufficient now or at any future time the Commandant is to apply to the Commanding Officer of HM Ships to land such number from the guardships as may be necessary.”
Two Parade Companies at Plymouth placed in barracks at Dock (Devonport) and the officers’ mess established in Marlborough Square. “Marlborough and Granby Squares within the lines of Plymouth Dock were to be allotted for use of HM Marine Forces of 500 men with usual proportion of officers, which detachments are to take care of the Barracks and do all necessary.” Frederick Square added on 25 January 1765.
Officers and men in Chatham billetted in Old Brompton. Sickness frequent because of mud and wet.
Commandant at Portsmouth reports significant trouble with desertion in 1765; men should be put in barracks. Response on 16 July 1765: “As soon as the old Cooperage at Portsmouth can be spared from the Victualling Service it will be fitted up as a barrack for the Marines.” This became Clarence Barracks, weren’t occupied until 1767.
On equipment: “...that it will be a great advantage to the Discipline to the Corps to give the men accoutrements better than they have at present; want of pouches (they only hand cartouch boxes) preventing them being put through the firings of a Battalion and they approve of an alteration being made.”
Colours in use by 1765.
Bands formed; Portsmouth Band in 1765/66, Plymouth in 1767. Order of 11 June 1768 directs the Band to wear white breeches and stockings with black buckled garters at Guard Mounting.
27 March 1766: Sergeants of Marines permitted to wear sashes.
Grenadier companies formed in 1767. Plymouth Orders (10 March 1767) direct grenadier officers to wear ”two epaulets and fringe and Officers of Battalion Companies one on right shoulder only.”
11 August 1768: Master General of Ordnance ordered to issue firelocks fitting with iron ramrods, instead of wooden.
15 May 1769: new uniform issued. Grenadier caps in general use believed then to be replaced by cocked hats.
October 1769: Marines’ breeches were red.
24 October 1769: new gorget ordered for officers.
11 December 1770: each of 70 companies increased by one lieutenant, one sergeant, one corporal, one drummer, and fifty privates. Strength up roughly to 8,000.
April 1771: First Lord of the Admiralty (Earl of Sandwich) approves the raising of Marine Commanding officers to rank of Colonel Commandant and Captain. First holders were:
Chatham - Colonel J Mackenzie to No 1 Company vice Bendyshe, 17 April
Portsmouth - Colonel Hector Boisrond to No 2 Company, promoted 17 April
Plymouth - Colonel John Bell to No 3 Company vice Burleigh, 18 April
Their additional rank of captain and command of companies retained 1814. Their Companies were commanded by captain lieutenants rather than first lieutenants.
18 Aprilt 1771: Each Division increased by one adjutant.
Chatham - David Johnstone
Portsmouth - T. Archbold
Plymouth - Jas Waller
17 April 1771: Eighteen Penny Fund mentioned. It “had been established by the late Commanding Officer to supply accidental expenses not authorised by the Admiralty.” 18d a week was stopped from pay of men allowed to work for civilians.
6 November 1766: Officers’ Widows Fund established at Plymouth.
3 February 1772: companies reduced from one hundred to eighty men each. Those deemed ‘least fit for service’ were discharged.
Portsmouth selected a draft of fifty of the best men and sent them to Plymouth. Men who wished to be entered as landsmen in ships were to be approved of by the senior naval officer. Those who wanted a change were sent to Plymouth. Others who took discharges received ”what was usual and given their proper papers.”
5 December 1772: companies reduced from eighty to fifty men each. Same as above.
9 December 1772: companies reduced one sergeant, one corporal, and one drummer each.
9 January 1773: complements of all guardships reduced.
Standard of height in 1773 was 5’4”.
14 June 1773: orders issued that accoutrements were to be made of buff. Accoutrements also ordered to be whitened. Pipeclay thus introduced.
24 March 1772: bayonet and pouches, previously slung on waistbelts, ordered to be made into crossbelts.
25 December 1771: Admiralty expressed no objection to officers having buckles on their belts.
‘About this time the Commissioner of the Dockyard at Portsmouth objected to the Drum beating when marching detachments to embark, but he was promptly sat on by the Admiralty.’
16 April 1772: Lieutenant Colonel H Smith appointed Colonel Commandant and Captain of No 2 Company, Portsmouth. Lieutenant Colonel Boisrond to retire on half-pay.
‘It has often been said that prior to 1813 Commissions from the ranks were not given in the Marines, but this is not borne out by the facts. Lieutenant Christian, the Adjutant at Plymouth, has already been mentioned and on 9 September 1772 Sergeant Major C Olive was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in 31st Company at Chatham and again on 29 March 1774 there is a letter saying that Sergeant Major Harry Rudd had been promoted to a 2nd Lieutenancy on recommendation of officers of Portsmouth Division, and that as the officers at Plymouth desired that he should be removed to Portsmouth it was proposed to post him there.’
1773: Portsmouth barracks enlarged. ‘The Commandant applied for a quarter in barracks but was refused and told the accommodation was to be appropriated for Privates only.’ Standard of height increased to 5’5”.
April 1773: Companies raised to seventy privates, three drummers, four corporals, and four sergeants each.
6 May 1773: Companies reduced to fifty privates, two drummers, three corporals, and three sergeants each.
Tuesday 23 June 1773: HM the King visited Portsmouth and reviewed the Fleet and Establishments. The visit lasted until Saturday 26 June. Corps well involved but no mention of HM visiting the Marine barracks.
Admiralty Letter (8 January 1774):
“My Lords consider it will benefit the service as well as the Marines themselves that they should not receive the whole of the Sea Pay due to them but a sufficient portion should be retained to furnish them with necessaries while at Quarters, and to provide them with sea necessaries when they embark. Commissioners at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth have been directed to retain £3 of the Sea Pay to be paid into the hands of the Deputy Paymaster who shall account for it to the Marine. If he has not got £3 or if he has not got £3 credit, half of what he has is to be retained.”
Commissioners of the Yards seem to have been responsible for dealing with the pay of ships when the ships were paid off.
April 1774: “Owing to the frequent necessity of sending for deserters, the Sergeants, Corporals and Privates are put to great expense for breeches shoes and stockings” and “that it is not in their power to appear so clean as their characters and station require”. Admiralty orders subsequently direct Deputy Paymasters to pay allowances and charge them in the Contingent Account (“to be equally shared among the party”).
Distance from Quarters Parties of 2 men Parties of 3 men Between 8 and 20 miles 2/- 3/- Between 20 and 50 miles 4/- 6/- Between 50 and 100 miles 8/- 12/- Between 100 and 150 miles 10/- 15/- Between 150 and 200 miles 12/- 18/- Above 200 miles 15/- 1/1/-
The above allowance eventually became known as “Shoe money”.
23 March 1764: Firelocks marked with the number of the company and each firelock numbered individually within that company. Sergeants and corporals kept lists thereof.
Marines known only by their company number.
11 December 1760: orders for officers ‘who pay squads’ to return “Arms, Accoutrements and King’s Clothing” to the Quartermaster when Marines are discharged.
King’s Clothing: hats, uniform coats, waistcoats, and breeches. These supplied by contract; Admiralty and Naval storekeepers. Quality bad.
Necessaries purchased locally by squad officers; costs stopped from men’s pay.
Board of Ordnance supplied arms, accoutrements, and swords for sergeants. Quality bad.
1 June: annual clothing issue. Clothing forwarded to Divisions for altering and fitting beforehand.
‘Sergeants carried swords and halberds. They also wore special hats. Corporals wore “Knotts” on the shoulder.’
28 July 1771: officers ordered to privately purchase new pattern swords.
On embarkation, Marines were to have:
1 white and 3 check shirts
4 pairs of stockings (2 of thread)
2 pairs of shoes
Spatterdashes regarded as useless and were made of white linen. Lieutenant J. McIntire gives that they should be replaced by wool. Linen spatterdashes ‘give the men rheumatism from being put on wet with pipeclay.’
‘Proper black spatterdashes’ ordered for new drafts bound for America; probably made of leather.
1773: Grenadier and Light companies in existence in the Corps. Uniforms of these occasionally caused difficulties with captains of ships.
21 January 1773: Plymouth Division informed that maintaining a light company unnecessary.
1773: Divisional surgeons ordered to wear uniforms. Initially these men were locally appointed civilians. Naval surgeons eventually appointed to the Divisions and received Marine commissions and uniform (until 1887). The uniform was a red coat with a red cape, cuffs, and lapels with Marine uniform buttons, white waistcoats and breeches with uniform hat. When on duty, black buckle garters and a sword are worn.
Plymouth Orders (9 July 1766): Division tailors worked from 0400 to 2000 with one hour for dinner. They worked in the Black Hole in Frederick Square with a sergeant supervising.
The Black Hole used from 1757 for punishing sergeants caught drinking with the men. Second offences warranted a court-martial.
Order-in-Council (15 February 1775): Companies increased to 56 privates each, thus adding 420 men.
Order-in-Council (21 June 1775): Companies increased by one sergeant, one corporal, one drummer, and fourteen privates each, thus adding 1,190 men.
July 1775: Portsmouth short of establishment by 500 men.
14 February 1775: “I have great desire to convince everybody of the utility of keeping a large body of Marines who are capable of acting either by sea or land as public service may require.” - Major Pitcairn in a letter to the First Lord.
Further: an expressed wish that “the standards were raised; no Marine in humble opinion ought to be taken who is under five feet six inches and were not at that size if under twenty years of age.”
21 January 1775: a draft of two majors, ten captains, twenty-seven subalterns, twenty-eight sergeants, twenty-five corporals, twenty-nine drummers, and six hundred privates to be sent to Admiral Graves on the American station.
Portsmouth sent: Major Tupper and Adjutant Fielding with three companies, comprised of three captains, six subalterns, six sergeants, six corporals, six drummers, and one hundred and eighty privates.
Plymouth sent: Major Short and Adjutant Waller with six companies, comprised of six captains, twelve subalterns, twelve sergeants, twelve corporals, twelve drummers, and three hundred and sixty privates.
Chatham sent: one company of one captain, two subalterns, two sergeants, two corporals, two drummers, and sixty privates.
Portsmouth and Plymouth also sent: seven subalterns, eight sergeants, and five corporals for those companies already in America.
25 January 1775: senior naval officers in the Ports ordered to draw men from the harbour ships if the Divisions were short of men for their allotted drafts. Portsmouth drew 130 men in this way; Plymouth probably likewise. Chatham drew men from harbour ships after its draft departed.
2 February 1775: Portsmouth and Plymouth ordered to “send the Colours of your Division to Boston with the Marines and to acquaint you that they will be replaced with new ones.”
Chatham and Portsmouth, and probably Plymouth, ordered to send sixty grenadiers caps, indicating the consideration of a raising of a grenadier company.
Provisions made in transports for women to accompany the draft; Chatham provided for six and four, for detachments already there. Portsmouth provided eighteen and six. Plymouth provided thirty-six and ten. It appears thus that each company was allowed six women. Such women acted as medical orderlies and attended the laundry and some cooking.
Captain the Hon. J. Maitland could not sail with the draft; believed to have been an MP. He later distinguished himself at Savannah in 1779, commanding an army light infantry battalion.
Plymouth Orders (8 February 1775): kit lists set down. Officers to have long leather gaiters with Hessian tops except with buttons rather than springs, and to have proper accoutrements. Men to have the following:
4 good white shirts 4 pairs good stockings (2 white, 2 worsted) 1 check shirt 3 pairs good shoes 1 pair long gaiters hessian tops 1 pair short gaiters 2 pairs good Prussian drab drawers 1 brush, wire, picker, turnkey, etc 1 set uniform knee and shoe buckles 1 knapsack (which are arriving in the Transport) 2 black Manchester velvet stocks buckles for Grenadiers, clasps for Battalion Companies Sea Kit: 1 old hat 1 jacket, etc
Plymouth Orders (24 March 1775): “They will muster at 5.30 pm for muster master parade, and march off parade (the old parade in the Barbican) at 5.30 am tomorrow.”
The first part of the draft arrived in Boston on 15 May 1775 and the rest on 23 May 1775.
September 1775: captains of companies granted 1/- a day allowance for paying their companies.
The Navy Board having been represented that a number of shipwrights at Portsmouth have absented themselves, and they have reason to apprehend they may obstruct and assault the orderly and well disposed workmen, and thereby deter them from going to their duty in the Yard; Commissioner Gambier is authorised to apply to you and the Commanding Officer of the Land Forces for a sufficient number of men as well for the security of the Dockyard, as to assist the Civil Magistrates in preserving the peace, until the refractory workmen shall be brought to order. You are to supply as many Marines as you can. Commanding Officer. Portsmouth, 18th July 1775.
10 August 1775: letter from the Admiralty regarding training of Marine second lieutenants. ‘It appears that when a gentleman was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant he took the place on the sea roster of the officer in place of whom he was gazetted. On 30 July the Commandant at Chatham (Colonel Mackenzie) pointed out that these officers might be embarked before they “are qualified in the Requisites personally necessary for their appearance on duty;” and even sometimes “embarked in sloops on their own they will be ignorant of the care and command of troops in action or other necessary parts of the Service.” The Board agreed with the Colonel that “giving time to the new appointed 2nd Lieutenants to perfect themselves in their duty at Quarters before they are sent to sea or on other service is highly necessary and proper.” It was therefore ordered that 2nd Lieutenants (“who have not been in the service before”) were to be placed at the bottom of the roster according to dates of appointment, and not to be sent to sea until the whole number of Lieutenants before them on the roster “shall be embarked or allowed one Tour, in case they shall have served more than one tour before they were last relieved. To be applied to 2nd Lieutenants appointed since 17 June last.” ’
31 October 1775(?): Companies increased from seventy to eighty privates.
16 February 1776: Companies increased by one second lieutenant each. Seventy gentlemen were gazetted.
20 February 1776: complaints from Divisions regarding disparity in levy money. The army was giving five guineas, while the Corps only giving three. The Navy Board raised this amount to four guineas but no more, because of “the particular advantages of the Marine Service being considered.”
‘The Army apparently issued a King’s Pardon to Deserters, but it was not applied to the Marines until 3 May 1778.’
Order-in-Council (3 April 1776): Companies increased from eighty to ninety privates (700 men).
Order-in-Council (10 July 1776): Companies increased from ninety to one hundred privates (a further 700 men).
18 November 1776: fifteen more companies added - three to Chatham, 6 each to Portsmouth and Plymouth. All companies had one captain, two first lieutenants, two second lieutenants, five sergeants, five corporals, four drummers, and one hundred privates. Total strength was 10,145 men.
Admiralty letter (9 November 1776): “Several applications having been made to the Earl of Sandwich for 2nd Lieutenants for persons of an improper age, I am commanded by My Lords to signify their direction to you to make it publicly known at your Division that no gentleman under the age of 15 years nor above 21 can, by the rules laid down by Their Lordships, have a commission to be a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.”
To be continued in a later post.
