Royal Marines with the ANZACs
by Susan McAndrew RMHS Member, Melbourne, Australia
We remember and reflect upon those past who crossed the bar and especially those during this period, when the 63rd Royal Naval Division (Major General A Paris RMA), landed on Gallipoli’s shores in April 1915.
63rd Naval Division at Gallipoli
The ORBAT was as follows: 1st RNBde. (Drake, Hawke, Benbow, Collingwood, Deal) [Brig D Mercer RMLI]; 3rd RNBde. (Chatham, Portsmouth, Plymouth) [Brigadier C Trotman RMLI], supported by Royal Engineers, RAMC and Divisional Troops from Armoured Machine Gun Corps Sqn, RN Cyclist Coy, RN (ASC), Veterinary Sect (AVC).
On 25 April 1915, the Division carries out a feigned landing at Bulair to draw enemy attention away from the planned landing at Cape Helles, whilst the Plymouth Battalion supports the ‘Y’ beach landing of the 29th Division (Major General Hunter-Weston).