The Royal Marines Historical Society

The Royal Marines Historical Society has been in existence for over 30 years. In addition to the publication of newsletters, journals and special booklets, meetings are held annually at Portsmouth and in the West Country.

Its value to the Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth has been shown by a number of historical projects undertaken by members. These include listing all Royal Marines who died in the two World Wars, helping on a project covering the Royal Marines in Malta and another on the Eastney Forts.
A list of Special Publications are shown at the end.

Do you know:

that the last man to be hanged from the yardarm was a Royal Marine?
that Evelyn Waugh and Compton Mackenzie both served in the Corps?
the origin of the Green Beret?
that the Royal Marines served in the China and Maori Wars?
that the last man in England to die in a duel was killed by a Royal Marine?

All these questions have been answered over the past few years in our publications.

Origins and Objectives

The Royal Marines Historical Society was formed on 28 October 1964, the Corps Tercentenary year, by a group of enthusiasts who had been exchanging information on Corps History. The first newsletter was published in April 1968.

Objectives

a. To engage in and encourage research into the history, uniform, traditions of the
Royal Marines and other aspects of the Corps History. The results of research conducted by the Society are published.

b. To provide a means of communication between persons interested in the history
of the Royal Marines.

c. To assist in the compilation of historical records in the Historical Reference Library
of the Corps Museum.

At present the Society has about 200 active members, many of them retired Royal Marines, but welcomes others who are genuinely interested in particular facets of Royal Marines history and are prepared to contribute actively to the Society.

Advantages of Membership

Members receive two issues of the Society's illustrated publication, Sheet Anchor, which contains articles and news of interest on Royal Marines history. Members also receive a copy of the Society's annual Special Publication on a particular detailed and researched topic. Three newsletters are distributed each year.

The Annual General Meeting is held in the Corps Museum at Eastney, Southsea in April, after which there is a buffet luncheon, followed by a talk on a Royal Marines historical subject. Subjects covered over the past few years have included 'Gallipoli', 'Royal Marines in the Gulf War', 'Kenneth Alford, Musician Extraordinaire', 'The Falklands Campaign', 'Commandos in Italy in WW2', etc.

For members in the West Country there is also an annual evening meeting at Lympstone, Devon in September which includes supper in the Officers' Mess with a talk afterwards.

An Annual Dinner is held in Portsmouth each year to celebrate the Corps birthday, 28 October, on the nearest Saturday.

Members are not charged the entry fee when visiting the Museum, on production of their Membership Card. There is also a RMHS room in the Museum where work on research projects may be carried out.

Subscriptions

The annual subscription is currently £16 per annum for those who complete a Gift Aid Declaration [UK Taxpayers only] and £20 others. There is an entrance fee, equivalent to the annual subscription which means that new members are charged double for the first year. Overseas members may have their mailings by Air Mail with the payment of a small supplement to cover the additional cost.

Associate Membership is available for organisations interested in the Society's aims, but this does not carry voting rights.

Applicants who are not former or serving Royal Marines must be sponsored by two members of the Society. If necessary the Membership Secretary will be pleased to arrange for applicants to meet members living in their locality with a view to sponsorship.

Applications for Membership

Application forms for membership may be obtained from the Membership Secretary, Royal Marines Historical Society, c/o The Royal Marines Museum, Eastney, Southsea, Hants PO4 9PX.

RMHS Publications

Special Publications: Special Publications are available for sale from the Museum Shop at the Royal Marines Museum. A complete list of all the 23 publications so far issued can be obtained by writing to the RMHS Office, Royal Marines Museum, Eastney, Southsea, Hants PO4 9PX.

All available from RM Museum Eastney, Southsea, Hants P04 9PX. Telephone 023 9281 9385
Ext 222 or on the Internet:- www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk

Subjects recently covered in Sheet Anchor (Twice yearly)
Major Landing Craft on D-Day
Royal Marines Postal History
The Cape York Marines
Aqaba Interlude
Portsmouth Gunwharf
Medal Collections
What's in a Rank?
How Grivas Got Away - Cyprus
The Royal Marines Provost
Royal Marines Masonic Lodges
Egyptian Campaign - 1882
Crete - 1941
Plymouth Band in Normandy
Royal Marines and Portsmouth
Three Renowned Bandmasters

We welcome contributions from all members on any
historical subject related to the Royal Marines.

1664 - 2002