THE ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERY AT FIELD-GUN DRILL ON SOUTHSEA COMMON. (Circ. 1840). From an Oil Painting in the Officers' Mess, Eastney. in 1823--the R.M.A. headquarters had been transferred back to Chatham. Sir Richard Williams did great things for the Blue Marines, and it is only necessary to quote the following letter from H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence, then Lord High Admiral, and afterwards William IV., to show the estimation in which he was held. The letter also bears witness to the great personal interest which that Royal Prince took in the Corps of Royal Marines.1 "Dear Sir,--By a letter received last night, I am informed that Colonei is gazetted out, and I assure you the moment I reach London, where I am now going, I shall sign your commission appointing you Commandant of the Royal Marines at Portsmouth, upon which I congratulate yourself and the King's Service. I decidedly consider you as the best officer in His Majesty's Marine Forces, and I feel very sincere pleasure in confiding into your hands the Portsmouth Division. Thank God! you are now in the command of the Portsmouth Division, for I admit that the Royal Marines, now under your command, labour under greater disadvantages than the other Divisions, but you will overcome all difficulties. Should the peace last, I shall pay you a visit at Portsmouth whenever you report to me that the Royal Marines are in perfect order. You will, of course, proceed with arming the Sergeants with fuzees,2 and having their proper accoutrements fitted, which you will report to me the moment these noncommissioned officers are thus appointed. I remain, dear Sir, yours truly, To Colonel Sir Richard Williams, K.C.B.” WILLIAM. The "disadvantages" referred to by H.R.H. were the very constant embarkations and disembarkations, causing sudden and great fluctuations in numbers, thus rendering any regular system of drill and instruction almost impossible. In 1817 Sir Howard Douglas, a distinguished officer of the Royal Artillery, had put forward a proposal to form Naval Gunnery Schools, but it was not till 19th June, 1830, that an Admiralty Minute instituted the School of Gunnery on board H.M.S. Excellent at Portsmouth. 66 On its first establishment the services of the Marine Artillery were put largely into requisition; a great portion of the early instruction fell to their share, and to them the credit is justly due of having introduced a systematic method of instruction which, however modified, has never yet been wholly departed from. But the time had now arrived when it was thought that the first steps towards what was looked upon as the final extinction of the Corps might be safely taken. In accordance with this idea, an order was issued on the 2nd December, 1831 directing that As the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty had determined that the services of the Royal Marine Artillery were no longer required as a distinct and separate Corps it should be broken up with the least possible delay. A lurking feeling of mistrust seems, however, to have disturbed their Lordships' minds, at the moment of framing this order, for a clause was inserted which directs that two companies shall be retained and annexed to the Portsmouth Division, of King William IV. Vide Note II. 1 This is witnessed to this day, by the fine full length portrait of H.R.H. which he presented to each Division on becoming In lieu of the pike previously carried. |