It is nicknamed “The Sweeps” from its dark coloured uniform.
ROYAL MARINES.
| Titles. | Colour of | Campaigns, Battles, &c. | |
| Uniform. | Facings. | ||
| Marines. 1755–1802 Royal Marines. 1802—— | Scarlet, 1755—. | White, 1755–1802. Blue, 1802—. | In consequence of the Corps representing many Regiments, its services are too numerous to be recorded. |
It bears “The Globe” with motto “Per Mare, per Terram”; also “The Crown,” “The Anchor and Laurel” for its services at Belle Isle in 1761, and “The Royal Cypher.”
It received its Title in 1802, in commemoration of its services during the late war.
It was nicknamed by the French at Belle Isle “The little Grenadiers” from its wearing grenadier caps; and is now known as “The Jollies.”
It ranks next to the 49th Princess Charlotte of Wales’s, having been raised after that Regiment, and before the 50th Queen’s Own.
It is composed of “Royal Marine Artillery” raised in 1804, and “Royal Marine Light Infantry.” It received this Title in 1855.
The first Regiment especially raised for sea service was “His Royal Highness The Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment,” raised in 1664. Its uniform was Yellow with Scarlet facings. It was incorporated into the present Coldstream Guards in 1689.
Six Marine Regiments were raised in 1702, three were disbanded in 1713, and the others are the present 30th Cambrid=geshire, the 31st Huntingdonshire, and the 32nd Cornwall Light Infantry.