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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 9, 2010 21:50:21 GMT 12
I came across this book on Trademe that insinuates in the write up that the writer was in the "NZ Royal Marines" in WWI.
The seller may have got it wrong of course, but I'm wondering did New Zealand ever actually have its own Royal Marines? Particularly back in the days when our Navy was a Division of the Royal Navy, did they recruit locals for the Marine contingent onboard the ships? Both the old sailing ships and in more modern times? Or were they all brought out from the UK?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 25, 2010 12:29:04 GMT 12
From the lack on any response, I guess the answer must be no...?
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 25, 2010 17:13:32 GMT 12
I'm note sure of their legal status however there were definitely RMs based in NZ. In the Wardroom at Devonport there are several RM articles. If I recall correctly one has the last RM still bing based in NZ the post WWII.
Paul
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 25, 2010 17:38:38 GMT 12
Thanks Paul, interesting.
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Post by Parrotfish on Jul 6, 2010 23:15:58 GMT 12
Royal Marines provided ship detachments for NZ ships in 3 year detachments to NZ. The last RM detachment left NZ in 1951.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 6, 2010 23:30:53 GMT 12
I spoke with a chap here in town last week on this very mater. he served in the RNZN from 1947 to 1955, first aboard the training ship HMNZS Bellona, and then two tours (13 months each) on frigates Hawea and Rotoiti respectively in the Korean War. He said they had Marines onboard all these ships and he reckoned Marines were still on our Navy's ships up till the point he left the RNZN. However that ast detail may be wrong as he spent the later couple of years of his career in an office in Wellington. The Marines from one of those frigates mounted a raid and captured a Korean prisoner at one point. His stories of the war there were quite fascinating, our frigates were right in the thick of things there.
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Post by Parrotfish on Jul 6, 2010 23:50:50 GMT 12
They did continue to base a band here until the very late 1950s and he may be thinking of that. But as for active RM detachments... last one left NZ in 1951 for sure.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 6, 2010 23:59:35 GMT 12
Thanks Sean. That must be the case.
It must have been one hell of a dull posting, join the Royal Marines in Britain and find yourself posted to a training ship in NZ, putting around the Tasman Sea for three years.
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jul 7, 2010 18:00:09 GMT 12
Thanks Sean. That must be the case. It must have been one hell of a dull posting, join the Royal Marines in Britain and find yourself posted to a training ship in NZ, putting around the Tasman Sea for three years. Compared with RM detachment Falkland Islands NZ would look quite good. |
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