Whether you are interested in the career of an individual Royal Marine or just want to know more about the part played by the Marines in a particular battle or campaign, this book will point you in the right direction. Assuming that the reader has no prior knowledge of the Royal Marines, their history or organization, Richard Brooks and Matthew Little explain which records survive, where they can be found and how they can help you in your research. They also describe in vivid detail the evolution of the Royal Marines, from the tentative beginnings of the service in the seventeenth century to their present position as a key part of the British armed forces. AUTHOR: Richard Brooks is a military historian who has made a special study of the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy. Among his many books are Cassell's Battlefields of Britain and Ireland, The Royal Marines ? 1664 to the Present, The Long Arm of the Empire: Naval Brigades from the Crimea to the Boxer Rebellion and Fred T Jane: An Eccentric Visonary. Matthew Little is archivist and librarian at the Royal Marines Museum in Southsea. With over thirty years experience of building and researching the museum's collection, he has assisted with numerous publications and undertakes the public inquiries received. He has produced The Royal Marines iThe Victoria Cross and The Royal Marines Museum ? The Story of Britain's Sea Soldiers. SELLING POINTS: Comprehensive introduction to researching Royal Marine history. Shows how to trace individual Royal Marines from the seventeenth century to the present day. Describes the duties, organization and ethos of the Royal Marines. Information on all the major relevant archives, websites and museums, including the Royal Marines Museum. 40 illustrations
