Royal Marines. What is his rank please?

[royd]

I have inherited this picture of my grandfather.  It is not valuable, except to me.  I would like to know what rank he held at the time it was painted please.

I have downloaded his file from the N/A wondered if anyone could shed some light on them and, maybe, explain them to me a little, I would be grateful as I am literally 'all at sea'.      I understand that he was in Hong Kong in 1899 and the ships he served on :

Immortalite 1895-98. Wildfire 1899-1900. Pembroke 1900-02.  Wildfire 1903-04.  Resolution 1905 (3 months).  Bedford 1906 (1 month). Charybdis 1906-07.  Cressy 1907-1909.  Victory RM Brigade(?) 1914-15.  Marshal Sault 1915-16. 

Many thanks.  Royd. 

[Jebber]

Two chevrons. He is a Corporal.

[royd]

Thank you.  That is very helpful.  R.

[pogo99]

Hms Immortalite was a cruiser based in the China Station so your relative would of been in Hong Kong around that time,check out Wikipedia as there is a photo of it firing a broadside in Yokohama harbour during his time onboard.
           From the dates given it looks like he was UK based until joining HMS Bedford then Charybdis and Cressey as these were all stationed on the China Station. HMS Cressey transferred to the N.America and West Indies Station, so your relative certainly saw a large part of the world. During the first world war Marines not stationed on ships were put into the Naval Brigade to fight in the trenches to shore up an army manpower issue, Marshal Sault is a mystery.
    As mentioned before, the two chevrons indicate a Corporal, onboard ships they would man or even command 1 or 2 of the main gun turrets as well as as being put ashore into any trouble spots as needed as well as controlling undisciplined sailors !

[royd]

Many thanks for that reply - it was interesting.  I realise that I had mis-spelt the name of HMS Marshal SOult.  On checking, it seems this ship performed numerous bombardment operations in Flanders, so I guess he could have been there as I know he was involved in WW1 and was mentioned in Despatches apparently.  No idea what for though.  Is there a way I could find out do you know?

I have a photo of him somewhere on board the Charybdis I think, where he and a group are on the deck posing with what seems to be a scoreboard of some sort.

He lived till he was 94 and I so regret not having spoken to him more about his life.  One lives and learns.  Thank you again.  R

[Salty]

A red Tunic would denote that he was in The Royal Marine Light Infantry. At that time.

[pogo99]

This will help
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/research-mention-despatches/#:~:text=Not%20all%20%E2%80%9Cmentions%E2%80%9D%20appear%20in%20this%20way%20in,Victory%20Medal%20ribbon%20when%20worn%20on%20a%20bar.

[royd]

Many thanks for those helpful replies Pogo and Salty.  Much appreciated. R.