Customer Reviews

"For the Glory of the Marines!": The Organization, Training, Uniforms, and Combat Role of the British Marines During the American Revolution

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The book gives a decent overview of the British Marines in the War for American Independence. But too many broad generalizations, no footnoting, and some facts are wrong (Marine Light Companies did go on Lexington/Concord March, Battle of Penobscot Bay had Marines, but main British units involved were the 72nd and 84th Foot). The book does have a pretty good bibliography. If interested in the role of the Marines in the American Revolution, The Lost War, a collection of letters from British Officers to the Earl of Something or other in England, gives a good account of the Marines in Boston and Halifax during the War.

This short overview of the British Marines serving in America during the American Revolution was a light read, full of intriguing details,about arms, uniforms, drill, military regulations and so on though its concentration was mainly on the early battles of the American War of Independence. The battle accounts seemed to lack detail, though. The rest of the war was covered even more skimpily. I thought the section on the marines' sojourn in Halifax could had been more extended. As an historian who has studied in detail the history of the First Fleet Marines in Australia from 1787 - 1792 (the dates include the journey out to Australia)I was particularly struck by the similarities between life in the Halifax garrison in Nova Scotia and life in early Sydney (convicts excepted.) For a scholar, though, the lack of footnotes was infuriating. Still, worth a look at.

This slim book told me more about the Royal Marines than years of reading about Hornblower or Jack Aubry and countless books about the Royal Navy. A Marine made more than a soldier because of fewer stoppages of pay was new for instance. Marine officers didn't buy their rank. All sorts of information that I never thought to wonder about. A good buy for the price.

A must-read for any revolutionary war buffs. I found the book extremely helpful in my own research.