Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

  • Surface Fleet

  • Submarines

  • Royal Marines

  • Fleet Air Arm

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

The Boer War

The Royal Marines and the Boer War

At the outbreak of the Boer War in October 1899, Boer forces entered the British colony of Natal in South Africa besieging the garrisons of Mafeking, Kimberly and Ladysmith.

A Naval Brigade made up of seamen and Royal Marines Detachments from the South African Fleet were landed to set up a garrison in Durban with two 12-pounder ship’s guns on mountings devised by Captain Percy Scott RN.

By November the force of 150 Marines and 50 seamen with four 12-pounder guns reorganised and moved to relieve the beleaguered Army forces in Kimberley as part of Lord Methuen’s relief column.

The naval force travelled by rail to bolster Lord Methuen’s force of two infantry brigades, 850 cavalry and mounted infantry and four companies of Royal Engineers and two Royal Artillery field batteries.

Their most notable contribution was at the Battle of Graspan, 25 November 1899.

In addition to the land service the also Royal Marines worked on ships as the Royal Navy secured their sea links in case of opposition from Germany and Holland.

The Bravest of the Brave. Royal Marines in the Boer War. Detachment from HMS Powerful who took part in the battles of Belmont, Enslin or Graspan, Modder River, and Magersfontein (except two who were shut up in Ladysmith). All these men were wounded. (RMM)

Article highlights

• The Royal Marines and the Boer War

• The Battle of Graspan

   

Follow the links to find out more about -

• Sea service

• Gunnery and repository

• The Boer War

• The Boxer Rebellion

• Flying Marines