The Royal Marines manned the guns on board naval ships and acted as a striking force on land.  During the First World War they were divided into Royal Marine Artillery and Royal Marine Light Infantry, although in 1923 they merged together again to form the Royal Marines.  In 1942 Royal Marine Commandos were established – these were numbered between 40 and 48, and should not be confused with Army Commandos, also operational during the Second World War, which had lower numbers.

Records of other ranks up to 1925 are now held by The National Archives in Admiralty files ADM 159, with a selection of records in ADM 157 and ADM 158. An index to these files is also contained in ADM 313.

Some Royal Marines attestation papers (dating from the 1850s to the mid 1920s) can also be found at the Fleet Air Arm Museum (although these are principally those for Marines from the Plymouth and Chatham Divisions; there are very few from Portsmouth).

Records of officers up to 1925 are held at The National Archives in Admiralty files ADM 196.

Royal Marines’ files are subject to a 75-year closure period, and therefore if you are seeking information about a Marine who enlisted less than 75 years ago, the address to contact is:

HRORM (Historical Records Office Royal Marines)
Room 038
Centurion Building
Grange Road
Gosport
Hampshire PO13 9XA.

You may also wish to contact the

Royal Marines Museum
Southsea
Hampshire PO4 9PX
Tel: 023 9281 9385
Web-site: www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk