5 President’s Foreword The Royal Marines, who trace their foundations to 1664, and the United States Marine Corps, who had their origins in 1775, both rose to preeminence in the Great War of 1792–1815. Marines, or sea soldiers, became a key component in the naval armoury in the eighteenth century, present at every important action of the fleet, afloat and ashore. Though sometimes at odds during that war, the two corps have in the intervening two hundred years developed at operational and tactical level into fundamental exemplars of the special relationship. Side by side, both corps developed in the twentieth century into naval infantry in the First World War and specialists in amphibious warfare in the Second World War. They continued these roles throughout the Cold War, and it seems likely that they have an enduring part to play in future operations. In the age of sail, marines formed a significant part of the complements of most British and American warships, they took part in all fleet and shipon-ship actions, therefore it is appropriate that an edition of the Trafalgar Chronicle, the leading resource on the history of the of period, should be themed on and dedicated to the Royal Marines and to the United States Marine Corps. Once again, the editor has assembled a cast of international writers, including some of the leading scholars of the genre and amateurs from the ranks of The 1805 Club, and I thank them, and others who kindly offered papers, most warmly for their contribution to this second in the new series of the Trafalgar Chronicle. AdMIRALSIRJONATHONBANdGCBdL Former First Sea Lord President of the 1805 Club
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