Corps Crest, Corps Colours & Cypher
The Corps Crest
This crest is also the main component
of the Royal Marines Cap/Beret badge.
The Corps Crest comprises 6 elements:
The Lion and Crown, Gibraltar, The Globe, The Laurels, Fouled Anchor
and Per Mare Per Terram.
Move your mouse over the crest below to find out more about the
history of the Corps Crest.
The Lion and the Crown.
Presented to the Royal Marines in 1802 by King George III. The Lion and Crown
shows that the Royal Marines were a Royal Regiment.
Gibraltar
The Capture and defence of Gibraltar in 1704 was considered by King George IV
to be one of the most glorious achievemenys of the Royal Marines and that it
should therefore appear as part of their crest to represent the numerous honours
they had earned.
The Globe.
Presented by King George IV in "1827" in place of the one hundred
and nine Battle Honours which the Marines honourably earned.
The Laurels.
Granted for the gallantry displayed by the Marines in the capture of Belle
Isle in 1761.
The Fouled Anchor
The badge of The Lord High Admiralty, was first worn by the Marines in 1747
and indicates that the Corps is part of the Royal Navy.
Per
Mare Per Terram
The Corps Motto of the Royal Marines "Per Mare Per Terram" means "By
Sea By Land". Per Mare Per Terram is believed to have been used for the
first time in 1775 at Bunker Hill.
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| Tha Cap Badge of the Royal
Marines |
The Brunswick Star worn on the front of the
Pith Helmet |
The Corps Colours
The following are the Corps colours, in sequence and proportion:
 Blue
4 part
Yellow 1 part
Green 1 part
Red 2 parts
Blue 4 parts
Blue
Navy blue is the primary colour in the combination selected. it
marks the intimate connection of the Corps with the RN. Blue was
the colour of the facings on the uniform for over 100 years.
Red
Drummer red is the secondary colour in the design. This tint of
red is the old historic colour of the British Army and was worn
by the infantry of the Corps from early times down to the introduction
of scarlet in 1876.
Green
Light Infantry green was worn on the shako by the infantry of the
Corps for some years. It was perpetuated in the bugle strings of
the RMLI
Yellow
Old gold, rather than yellow, is the colour closely associated with
the early history of the Corps, as it was the distinctive colour
of the dress and ensigns of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime
Regiment of Foot from which the Corps originates.
The Royal Cypher
The Royal Cypher appears on the drums and also on
the backing cards of the bands when on parade:
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