Editing Royal Marines (section)

===World wars===
====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 [[Battle of Gallipoli|amphibious landing at Gallipoli]] in 1915. It also served on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]. 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 landing. 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 Army|French troops]] in a neatly planned and executed withdrawal from the beaches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/rmli_gallipoli.html|title=The RMLI move to, and deployment at, Gallipoli|publisher=The Long, Long Trail|access-date=30 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427234041/http://www.1914-1918.net/rmli_gallipoli.html|archive-date=27 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Royal Marines also took part in the [[Zeebrugge Raid]] in 1918. Five Royal Marines earned the Victoria Cross in the First World War, two at Zeebrugge, one at Gallipoli, one at Jutland and one on the Western Front.<ref name=cross/>

====Between the wars====
After the war Royal Marines took part in the [[Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War|allied intervention in Russia]]. In 1919, the 6th Battalion RMLI mutinied and was disbanded at Murmansk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://libcom.org/history/1918-1930-mutiny-and-resistance-in-the-royal-navy|title=Mutiny and resistance in the Royal Navy, 1918–1930|first= Dave |last=Lamb|publisher=Lib.com|date=9 September 2006|access-date=26 November 2020}}</ref> The Royal Marine Artillery (RMA) and Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI) were amalgamated on 22 June 1923.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32850|page=5311|date=3 August 1923}}</ref> Post-war demobilisation had seen the Royal Marines reduced from 55,000 (1918) to 15,000 in 1922 and there was [[Treasury]] pressure for a further reduction to 6,000 or even the entire disbandment of the Corps. As a compromise an establishment of 9,500 was settled upon but this meant that two separate branches could no longer be maintained. The abandonment of the Marine's artillery role meant that the Corps would subsequently have to rely on Royal Artillery support when ashore, that the title of Royal Marines would apply to the entire Corps and that only a few specialists would now receive gunnery training. As a form of consolation the dark blue and red uniform of the Royal Marine Artillery now became the full dress of the entire Corps. Royal Marine officers and SNCO's however continue to wear the historic scarlet in [[mess dress]] to the present day. The ranks of [[Private (rank)|private]], used by the RMLI, and [[Gunner (rank)|gunner]], used by the RMA, were abolished and replaced by the rank of Marine.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32871|page=6962|date=16 October 1923|supp=y}}</ref>

====Second World War====
[[File:Commandos archery.jpg|thumb|left|[[British Commandos]] in action during [[Operation Archery]], Norway]]
During the [[Second World War]], a small party of Royal Marines were first ashore at [[Namsos Campaign|Namsos in April 1940]], seizing the approaches to the Norwegian town preparatory to a landing by the [[British Army]] two days later. The Royal Marines formed the [[Royal Marines Division|Royal Marine Division]] as an amphibiously trained division, parts of which served at Dakar and in the [[Battle of Madagascar|capture of Madagascar]]. After the assault on the French naval base at Antsirane in Madagascar was held up, fifty Sea Service Royal Marines from {{HMS|Ramillies|07|6}} commanded by Captain Martin Price were landed on the quay of the base by the destroyer {{HMS|Anthony|H40|6}} after it ran the gauntlet of French shore batteries defending Diego Suarez Bay. They then captured two of the batteries, which led to a quick surrender by the French.<ref>Mountbatten, p. 107</ref>

In addition the Royal Marines formed Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisations (MNBDOs) similar to the [[United States Marine Corps]] [[Marine defense battalions|Defense Battalion]]s. One of these took part in the [[Battle of Crete|defence of Crete]]. Royal Marines also served in [[Malayan Campaign|Malaya]] and in [[Battle of Singapore|Singapore]], where due to losses they were joined with remnants of the 2nd Battalion of [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]] at [[Tyersall Park]] to form the "Plymouth Argylls". The Royal Marines formed one Commando (A Commando) which served at [[Dieppe Raid|Dieppe]]. One month after Dieppe, most of the 11th Royal Marine Battalion was killed or captured in an ill staged amphibious landing at Tobruk in [[Operation Agreement]]. Again, the Marines were involved with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, this time the 1st Battalion. In 1942 the Infantry Battalions of the Royal Marine Division were re-organised as [[Commando]]s, joining the [[British Commandos|British Army Commandos]]. The Division command structure became a [[Special Service Brigade]] command. The support troops became [[landing craft]] crew and saw extensive action on [[Normandy landings|D-Day]] in June 1944.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/france/5354580/D-Day-Heroic-battle-in-Port-en-Bessin.html|title=D-Day: Heroic battle in Port-en-Bessin|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=20 May 2009|access-date=30 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613034049/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/france/5354580/D-Day-Heroic-battle-in-Port-en-Bessin.html|archive-date=13 June 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:House to house fighting at Riva Bella near Ouistreham.jpg|right|thumb|Men of [[No. 4 Commando|4 (Army) Commando]] engaged in house to house fighting with the Germans at Riva Bella, near [[Ouistreham]]]]

A total of four Special Service Brigades (redesignated Commando brigades in December 1944 as the "SS" abbreviation was unpopular) were raised during the war, and Royal Marines were represented in all of them. A total of nine RM Commandos were raised during the war, numbered from 40 to 48. These were distributed as follows:

* [[1st Special Service Brigade|1 Commando Brigade]] 
**[[45 Commando|45 (RM) Commando]]
*[[2nd Special Service Brigade|2 Commando Brigade]]
** [[40 Commando|40 (RM) Commando]] 
** [[43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines|43 (RM) Commando]]
*[[3 Commando Brigade]] 
**[[42 Commando|42 (RM) Commando]]
** [[No. 44 (Royal Marine) Commando|44 (RM) Commando]] 
*[[4th Special Service Brigade|4 Commando Brigade]] (entirely Royal Marine after March 1944)
**[[41 Commando|41 (RM) Commando]]
**[[No. 46 (Royal Marine) Commando|46 (RM) Commando]]
**[[No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando|47 (RM) Commando]]
**[[No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando|48 (RM) Commando]]

1 Commando Brigade took part in first in the [[Tunisia Campaign]] and then assaults on [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Sicily]] and [[Normandy landings|Normandy]], campaigns in the [[Rhineland]] and [[Operation Plunder|crossing the Rhine]]. 2 Commando Brigade was involved in the [[Salerno landings]], [[Battle of Anzio|Anzio]], [[Operation Roast|Comacchio]], and operations in the [[Gothic Line#The Allied attack|Argenta Gap]]. 3 Commando Brigade served in Sicily and [[Burma Campaign 1944–45|Burma]]. 4 Commando Brigade served in the [[Operation Overlord|Battle of Normandy]] and in the [[Battle of the Scheldt]] on the island of [[Walcheren]] during the clearing of [[Antwerp]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.combinedops.com/Walcheren.htm|title=Operation Infatuate|publisher=Combined Operations|access-date=30 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206071019/http://combinedops.com/Walcheren.htm|archive-date=6 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Royal Marine Commandos attached to 3rd Division move inland from Sword Beach on the Normandy coast, 6 June 1944. B5071.jpg|thumb|left|Royal Marine Commandos attached to 3rd Division move inland from Sword Beach on the Normandy coast, 6 June 1944]]
In January 1945, two further RM Brigades were formed, 116th Brigade and 117th Brigade. Both were conventional Infantry, rather than in the Commando role. 116th Brigade saw some action in the [[Netherlands]], but 117th Brigade was hardly used operationally. In addition one Landing Craft Assault (LCA) unit was stationed in Australia late in the war as a training unit. In 1946 the Army Commandos were disbanded, leaving the Royal Marines to continue the Commando role (with supporting Army elements). A number of Royal Marines served as pilots during the Second World War. It was a Royal Marines officer who led the attack by a formation of [[Blackburn Skua]]s that sank the [[German cruiser Königsberg|Königsberg]]. Eighteen Royal Marines commanded [[Fleet Air Arm]] squadrons during the course of the war, and with the formation of the [[British Pacific Fleet]] were well represented in the final drive on Japan. Captains and Majors generally commanded squadrons, whilst in one case Lt Colonel R.C. Hay on [[HMS Indefatigable (R10)|HMS ''Indefatigable'']] was Air Group Co-ordinator from [[HMS Victorious (R38)|HMS ''Victorious'']] of the entire [[British Pacific Fleet]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1366169/Cdr-Ronnie-Hay.html|title=Obituary:Colonel Ronnie Hay|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=24 December 2001|access-date=30 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102173845/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1366169/Cdr-Ronnie-Hay.html|archive-date=2 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Throughout the war Royal Marines continued in their traditional role of providing ships detachments and manning a proportion of the guns on [[Cruiser]]s and Capital Ships. They also provided the crew for the UK's Minor [[Landing craft]], and the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group manned [[Cromwell tank|Centaur IV]] tanks on [[Normandy landings|D Day]]; one of these is still on display at [[Pegasus Bridge]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2504563/D-Day-tanks-found-on-seabed.html|title=D-Day tanks found on seabed|date=5 August 2008|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=30 January 2015|last1=Bingham|first1=John|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102173845/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2504563/D-Day-tanks-found-on-seabed.html|archive-date=2 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Only one marine ([[Corporal]] [[Tom Hunter (VC)|Thomas Peck Hunter]] of 43 Commando) was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] in the Second World War for action at Lake Comacchio in [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italy]]. Hunter was the most recent RM Commando to be awarded the medal.<ref name=cross/> The Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment under Blondie Haslar carried out [[Operation Frankton]] and provided the basis for the post-war continuation of the [[Special Boat Service|SBS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12914628|title=Remembering the secret mission of Cockleshell Heroes|publisher=BBC|date=31 March 2011|access-date=30 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102173845/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12914628|archive-date=2 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>