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RMHS WEBINAR:- A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MARINES PT BRANCH:A 100-year snapshot view of the Physical Training Branch from 1871-1971.

THE CROSSED CLUBS BADGE:3

PHYSICAL EXERCISE BECAME QUITE POPULAR IN THE VICTORIAN AGE:4

MACLAREN & THE FIRST ARMY GYMNASIUM:5

THE BUILDING OF RM GYMNASIUM AT DEAL:

HMS BirkenheadTHE RM SWIMMING POOL AT DEAL:7

1900’s RMLI PT Officers. An RMA PT Class passout in 1922PHYSICAL TRAINING IN THE EARLY 1900’s:8

SPORT IN WORLD WAR 1 (ARMY):9

PT on HMS Gloucester.Deck hockey on HMS Kent.SPORT IN WORLD WAR 1 (NAVY):10

(Above): The HMT Man o’ War football team – 20 games played, nineteen won and one draw!CDR. COOTE & POST-WAR NAVY SPORT (RN & RM):11

RM SPORT IN THE 1900’s - FOOTBALL:In the early 1900’s the Football was especially popular in the RMA & the RMLI. The 1910 RMLI football team: winners of the prestigious Army Cup, as well as the F.A. cup in that year – something never achieved before! 12

THE TUNNEY CUP:In 1928, to recognise the bond between the USMC and the RM, Capt Tunney USMC presented Gen.Halliday V.C., C.B., R.M., with The Tunney Cup at Eastney Barracks in Portsmouth. This trophy has been fiercely competed for every year, right up to the present date.13

BELOW: TRAINING FOR THE 1936 ROYAL TOURNAMENT DISPLAYBAYONET - FIGHTING:14

Sgt Joe Field RM coached the British Olympic Team for the 1936 games in Berlin.SGT. JOE FIELD – OLYMPIC FENCER:15

TOMMY LENHAM MBE – ENGLAND BOXER:16

PTI’S ON LAND & SEA:Commando training at Bickleigh.The first RM Commando units were formed in Feb. 1942. WW2 Commando training at Achnacarry.17

THE 1950’S PT QUALIFYING COURSE:18

PEHR HENRI LING’s SWEDISH PT SYSTEM: 19

RM SPORT IN THE 1950’s - FENCING:20

OTHER RM SPORT IN THE 1950’s:British Empire Games: 1954 Gold MedalCapt. Bob Thompson - 1958 British Empire Games in Cardiff. CAPT. BOB THOMPSON RMBELOW: ‘BIG JOHN’ SAVAGE21

Maj. Alan DowntonMBE (3rd Dan).Fred Cummings (3rd Dan).JUDO (COMMANDOKWAI RM):Judo was encouraged in the corps and was very popular in the 1950’s & 1960’s. Recruits at Deal learning judo.(Top Left): With Mr Koizumi22Peter Brown (4th Dan) RN Open Judo Champion 1970’s.

THE PT BRANCH IN THE 1960’s:23

The 1960 PT Branch Ladder Display Team. 1960 – THE RM SEARCHLIGHT TATTOO AT DEAL: 24

THE 1960’S PT COURSES:A PT2 instructors qualification course photo in 1964. After 16 weeks of intensive training, if successful, they would be awarded their coveted PT2 instructor’s badge.“- Not that low, Cpl Ellis!”25

(Above left): A young newly qualified PT&SO, Andy Keeling.(Above right: With the combined RN/RM PT Staff at BRNC Dartmouth in 1967.BRNC:“My main memory of Deal is of a large number of PTIs standing on the balcony during our apparently endless gymnastics lessons - watching in amazement as I consistently vaulted through, rather than over, the boxes and repeatedly speared in, head-first, every time I was told to turn upside down for whatever reason!” (Andy Keeling)THE 1967 PT&SO COURSE – ANDY KEELING:26

THE 1960’S – PT BRANCH GYMNASTICS:27

THE 1968 PT DISPLAY TEAM AT EASTNEY:28

Right: C/Sgt Derek Evans BEM, Corps Boxing Coach, with his corps Boxing team at RMB Eastney. ‘Big Ted’ Kelland BEM John Watts with the NATO sports trophyMike (“The Bike”) Parker - Plymouth to Portsmouth record.Alan Downton MBE (3rd Dan Judo)Mike Wells-Cole GB OrienteererJohnnie LaingFrank Allen 1970 Commonwealth GamesTerry Harrison MBE 1976 – Inter-Services Champion-At-Arms. Jim Douglas,GB Runner THE 1960’s & CORPS SPORT AT EASTNEY:(Left): Major Jeff Beadle MC MBE RM – Corps Sports Sec. At RMB Eastney.29

If you would enjoy reading about sport in the RM PT Branch, this 40-page PDF will provide a good overview from the 1930’s - 1970’s.To receive a copy just email me at: pb@peterbrownemail.co.uk and I will forward a copy to you.AVAILABLE PDF - CORPS SPORT IN THE 1930’S – 1970’S30

THE LYMPSTONE PTI’S:31

COMMANDO TRAINING AT LYMPSTONE: The old Tarzan Course in The Glade & the Endurance Course.“Blimey – not sure about that!” A royal visitor with Major John Lewis MBE.The (then) HRH Prince Charles went on to complete the All-Arms Course in 1974.32

After 9 months training The King’s Squad march out of ITCRM for duty.The old red brick huts (with one small stove in the middle!).Above Right: After 9 months training Rct. Brown gets his green beret!The 1961 754 King’s Squad passes out.RECRUIT TRAINING AT ITCRM IN 1961:33

THE LATE 1960’s:34

1978 – THE PT BRANCH MOVE TO LYMPSTONE:The new P&RT Centre at CTCRM being opened in 1978 by HRH Prince PhilipCapt. Andy Higginson IPTRM & the combined PT staff in the mid-1970’s.35

1971 – THE CENTENARY PT BRANCH REUNION:DEAL PT BRANCH VS DEAL TOWN FOOTBALL MATCH:L to R (back row): Tug Wilson, Bill Turnbull,Tony Higgins, Gordon Russell, Archie Houston,Nobby Clark, John Ellis. (Front row): Peter Best, Alec Scott, Jeff Barrs, Vic Harris Dave Nicholson & Johnny Bickford.QMS KEN WILSONCAPT. SIMON COOK RM36

THE BI-ANNUAL PT BRANCH REUNIONS:Fond memories!37

THE PTI’s MEMORIAL BENCH ON THE WALMER SEAFRONT:The PT Branch Memorial Bench is on the Walmer seafront (near the RMA Club) and has the names of the departed who served at Deal from the year 2000 on the back of the bench. A QR code has the bench history.(Above): Former Corps boxer & Deal PTI Charles Forrest at 96. He sadly died a few days in an Ayrshire hospital after this photo was taken.

1988 – THE CLOSING OF THE DEAL BARRACKS:In 1978 the RM Deal Gymnasium, having trained hundreds of RM PT Instructors and thousands of RM recruits to the highest standard of physical training was closed without ceremony. With the closing of the barracks, this fine gymnasium was converted into flats. Thus ended the building’s fine history of over 100 years between 1871-1971.39

https://simplebooklet.com/rmphysicaltrainingbranchsomehistoryfondmemoriesAVAILABLE FROM THE RM HISTORICAL SOCIETY:A real nostalgia trip - share PT Branch history with your family & friends!Hot off the press and available from: rmhistoricalsociety @gmail.com For an online preview go to:40

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