In Oct 1664, during a war with the Dutch, The Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot was formed in the City of London. Also known as the Admiral's Regiment, these were land soldiers for sea service, funded by the Admiralty. They enforced discipline afloat, formed landing and boarding parties and guarded the hatches, magazines and the ships' keys. In 1689, they were disbanded, then reformed and disbanded again. By 1694 they were also manning the cannon. In 1699, they were transferred to the Army and the regiments abolished.
Reformed again in 1702 as six regiments for the War of Spanish Succession, the corps distinguished itself in 1704 for its marathon defence of Gibraltar - the only battle honour carried on its Colours, by order of King George IV. The Marines served worldwide, accompanying Lord Anson on his circumnavigation of the world, assisted General Wolfe's assault on Quebec, were at Bunker Hill in the American War of Independence and were at the Nile and Copenhagen facing Napoleon's fleet. In 1802, in recognition of their achievements, they became the Royal Marines. In 1804, they were organised into the Royal Marine Artillery and the Royal Marine Light Infantry.
Further doubt about the future of the Corps existed in the early part of the 20th Century, when its officers were frequently transferred to the Royal Navy, until it formed part of the Royal Naval Division in Flanders in the First World War and took part in the Zeebrugge Raid on the U-Boat base. In 1923, recruit training was centralised at Deal in Kent. Other shore bases were concentrated around the Naval Dockyards at Plymouth, Portsmouth and Chatham, which the Royal Marines were also to defend when not at sea. The 1924 Madden Committee report included amphibious operations in their role, specifically.
Shortly after the withdrawal from Dunkirk early in World War II, the Royal Marines held what little amphibious expertise existed and after the Special Service Brigades of the British Army, the Royal Marines were ordered to raise Commando units to meet Churchill's desire to
set Europe ablaze, early in 1942. These eventually became 40 to 48 (Royal Marine) Commando and served in Brigades alongside the Army units. In 1946, the Army Commando units were disbanded.
On 1 April 2012, 43 Commando was reformed as the Fleet Protection Group at Faslane.
