mystery uniform and insignia - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

raymond hammond · #1 13-09-10, 08:52 PM

Can any of you experts identify this uniform please? Is it Roral Marine light Infantry? Many Thanks, Ray

Sunray9 · #2 13-09-10, 09:02 PM

Ray,
It certainly looks very much like it. Unfortunately it does not show up the red tunic of the RMLI.

Ritchie

grey_green_acorn · #3 13-09-10, 10:04 PM

Very like this one:

http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/im...CapperRMLI.jpg

raymond hammond · #4 14-09-10, 05:16 PM

Thankyou gentlemen, for identifying the RMLI uniform. The person wearing it was my Grand Uncle Walter Joseph Hammond who served with the RMLI on the armoured cruiser HMS Australia around 1888.

Best Regards, Ray Hammond

johnG · #5 15-09-10, 02:02 PM

I have found this post very interesting as my father joined the RMLI in 1918 and subsequently served twenty six years before being invalided out in 1944 after being badly wounded..
I know the RMLI and the RMA combined in - was it 1922 - whatever, to become the Royal Marines, but please can somebody tell me if the RMLI wore a red coat up to date of that amalgamation. With visions of British past glories, then I would love to think of my old dad as having been a 'Redcoat', even if he only got in the act right at the end. Mutton-chop whiskers and a Brown Bess musket would have suited him.

BWEF · #6 15-09-10, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnG

I have found this post very interesting as my father joined the RMLI in 1918 and subsequently served twenty six years before being invalided out in 1944 after being badly wounded..
I know the RMLI and the RMA combined in - was it 1922 - whatever, to become the Royal Marines, but please can somebody tell me if the RMLI wore a red coat up to date of that amalgamation. With visions of British past glories, then I would love to think of my old dad as having been a 'Redcoat', even if he only got in the act right at the end. Mutton-chop whiskers and a Brown Bess musket would have suited him.

I think that the RMLI wore a "Redcoat", as they were nicknamed "Red Marines.

The RMA were the "Blue Marines" and, I assume, wore a blue coat.

cossack · #7 15-09-10, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymond hammond

Can any of you experts identify this uniform please? Is it Roral Marine light Infantry? Many Thanks, Ray

Definitely RMLI by the shoulder straps!
Andy

johnG · #8 15-09-10, 05:24 PM

Thanks BWEF, I am obliged to you for the information. I do recall his favourite necktie was a RMLI one, it had a green background in place of the present RM blue. Now I know more about these things I do wish he was still around.

cossack · #9 15-09-10, 05:34 PM

[QUOTE=johnG;82529]Thanks BWEF, I am obliged to you for the information. I do recall his favourite necktie was a RMLI one, it had a green background in place of the present RM blue. Now I know more about these things I do wish he was still around.[/QUOTE

Have you got a copy of his service record? All the RMLI ones are intact & available via the National Archives - you would find exact info on his Company, service, all ships he served on etc

Andy

johnG · #10 15-09-10, 05:41 PM

Thank you Cossack. Yes, I got hold of a copy of his service record a couple of years ago, and just as you say, complete with all ships he served on, including a draft chit from the 'Royal Oak' just a few weeks before she was scuppered. Fascinating reading.

cossack · #11 15-09-10, 05:43 PM

Do you know which Division he was in & what company? Just interested to see if he was in the same as my Great-grandfather & Great-Great-Grandfather - 42 Co. Portsmouth Div

johnG · #12 15-09-10, 05:54 PM

Hi Cossack. He was Chatham Division, and after the Battle of The Atlantic he was in North Africa with MNBDO 2. He crossed over to Sicily, and came a gutsa in Italy in 1943 at the wrong end of a shell, and after that spent months in 15 General (Scottish) Hospital in Cairo before being shipped back to UK.

Incidently, one of my earliest memories is Sunay morning 'Divisons' on the square at Chatham Barracks, and the RM band playing 'Life on The Ocean Waves', the words of which it was obligatory for my sister and I to learn when we were nippers. What a fantastic Corps; I never shaped up for it, and rightly so as, like other fine regiments, they only take the very best.

johnG · #13 15-09-10, 05:59 PM

By way of a Post Script: The RAAC and the BSAP arn't bad outfits either.

cossack · #14 15-09-10, 06:00 PM

I just realised you mentioned he joined in 1918, I was mixing him up with the original post of the photo!

raymond hammond · #15 19-09-10, 07:06 PM

Thankyou Gents for identifying the uniform for me. I knew that my great Uncle served with the RMLI around 1888 because of letters that have survived, and this photo was in a collection of old family photos but had no name on it. and I wondered if it was him, and now you all have confirmed it. In 1895 according to his marriage certificate he was a "ships corporal" which I think are the Navy Police, so he must have transfered to the Royal Navy at some time. The ship he served on whilst in the RMLI was the armoured cruiser HMS Australia.