Dating - Royal Marine Light Infantry

[purp72]

Is anyone able to assist with dating this?  It's certainly pre-1923 and I think that it may be pre-WW1. 

[Finley 1]

found this on a google search... still browsing

[PrueM]

Hi purp72,

I suggest you post a new topic on the Armed Forces board, with a link back to this one, asking the experts over there to take a look. 

Prue

[Suttonrog]

Hi

You may like to look at this site http://www.lightinfantry.org.uk/regiments/rmli/marine_timeline.htm


1913 - three divisions of RMLI - Chatham, Portsmouth, Plymouth. All RMLI recruits were sent to Depot at Walmer, Kent for training before being posted to their Divisions

I don't know if this carried on throughout the war but as you know they became the Royal marines in 1923

Rog

[purp72]

Thanks - I have linked to a previous post on the Armed Forces board http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,353633.msg2314878.html#msg2314878
It appears most likely that it dates from 1900- ish; just need to work out who it is now!!
Vicky

[joboy]

G'day purp,
The uniform which you illustrated is identical to the uniform worn by the RMLI at the battle of Graspan during the Boer war.
Google 'Graspan' (1899) for more detail.
http://www.seayourhistory.org.uk/content/view/844/1077/1/1/
joboy

[joboy]

I should add to my previous message that there are two pages and I only provided one ... a photo is on this page;
http://www.seayourhistory.org.uk/content/view/844/1077/1/0/ which shows a mix of RMA (pill box caps) and RMLI (forage caps)
joboy ... ex bootneck

[FROGSMILE]

The combination of glengarry pattern caps and leather gaiters indicates a date of around 1891 and the photo probably shows Royal Marines Light Infantry trainees at Deal.  From around 1894 the caps changed to a so called Austrian pattern Field Service Cap marked out by two small buttons on the front.