THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MARINES PT BRANCH (1871-1971). : simplebooklet.com

• As WW1 and WW2 have shown, whenever war is declared, 40-60% of recruits have been found to be medically unfit for military service. • Preparing physically weak recruits for military service has long been an ongoing challenge for the Royal Marines PT Branch.• This short book provides a brief 100-year overview of the Royal Marines Physical Training Branch and how it has evolved to meet this challenge. GENERAL INTRODUCTION:“Nations have passed away and left no traces, And history gives the naked cause of it- One single, simple reason in all cases;They fell because their peoples were not fit.” (Rudyard Kipling).

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TOPIC: PAGE:• The RM PT Branch – 100 Years of Excellence. 1.• Forward – By Maj. Gen. Garry Robison CB. 2.• The Origin of the Crossed-Clubs Badge. 3.• Archibald MacLaren and the First Military Gymnasiums. 5.• The Building of the RM Gymnasium at Deal. 8.• The Sinking of HMS Victoria and the Swimming Pool at Deal. 9.• Sport in the RMA & RMLI in the 1800’s. 12.• Portrait of an 1800’s PTI - Sergeant Joseph Ives Cole RMLI 13.• Royal Marines & Bayonet-Fighting. 16.• Pehr Henrik Ling’s Swedish PT system. 17.• The Royal Navy School of PT (1902). 19.• RM P & RT Instructors in the early 1900’s. 21.•RMLI Physical Training in the early 1900’s. 22.• WW1 and the Importance of Sport in the Army. 23.•WW1 and the Importance of Sport in the RN & RM. 25.• Cdr. Coote & Post-War Sport in the RN & RM. 27.• RM Football in the 1900’s & The Tunney Cup. 29.• The P & RT Instructor Syllabus of the 1920’s. 31.• The RM Physical and Recreational Training School (1926). 32.• Sgt. PTI Joe Field – Olympic Fencer. 33.• Major Tommy Lenham MBE RM – England Boxer. 35.• The P & RT Instructors of the 1930’s. 37.• The 1940’s P & RT Course Syllabus. 39.• RM Physical Training & Sport in the 1940’s. 40.• WW2 & PTI’s Serve Both on Land and Sea. 41.• A 1950’s PT2 Course Requirements. 44.• RM PTI Sports Champions of the 1950’s. 45.• RM Sport in the 1950’s & 1960’s - Fencing. 46.• Fencing – Professor Bob Anderson. 47.TOPIC: PAGE:• The PT School at Deal in 1957. 48.• The Depot RM Searchlight Tattoo at Deal in 1960. 49.• Life as a Deal PTI in the 1960’s.51.• The 1960’s – PT Branch Gymnastics. 53.•The 1968 PT Display Team at Eastney. 54.• Lympstone PTI’s in the late 1960’s.55.• Commando Training at Lympstone in the 1960’s.56.• Recruit Training at Lympstone in the 1960’s57.• The PT Wing Staff at Deal in 1960.58.• 1962 – The Corps Sports Office Moves to Eastney.59.• Corps Sport in the 1960’s & 1970’s.60.• Some Early PTI Corps Boxers.61.• Corps Sportsmen in the 1960’s & 1970’s.62.• Judo in the 1950’s & 1960’s. 63.• The Royal Marines Football Team in 1968. 65.• PTI’s and Rugby in the 1970’s. 66. • The PT Staff at Lympstone in the early 1970’s.67.• 1977 – The Move to Lympstone.68.• The Centenary PT Branch Reunion in 1971.69.• The PT Wing Staff at Deal in 1975.71.• The Closing of the PT Branch Gymnasium at Deal.72.• PO/X 4687 PTI Sgt. Charles Forrest RM73.• The PTI’s Memorial Bench on the Walmer Seafront.74.• We Will Remember Them.75.• The History Of Military Physical Fitness - Bibliography & Resources.76.• Other Bibliography & Resources.77.• The History Of Military Physical Fitness - Some Food for Thought.80.TABLE OF CONTENTS:

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For hundreds of RM PT Officers and Instructors, the RM PT School at Deal was the centre of excellence, and my aim has been to provide a short snapshot overview of our fine 100-year history (1871-1971) of that period. Gathering the information, or the photographs, has not been easy because of the lack of history previously recorded. However, the content that is provided has been gathered in good faith from a wide variety of sources and is believed to be as accurate as possible. However, if this is not the case any additional information, or corrections, are always welcome. As well as maintaining the highest levels of military fitness, sport has also played an important part in maintaining high morale and esperit de corps in the Royal Marines and there have been many past PT Branch sports champions at corps, national and international level. This book is a tribute to the many generations of RM PTI’s who have maintained such high standards of military fitness and sport for over 100 years, and hopefully our serving PTI’s will continue to maintain this fine heritage in future years. Peter Brown MBE, MSc. In Exercise & Behavioural Medicine.Former WO1, Assistant Inspector of PT, Royal Marines.(Photo Left above): Former WO1 Peter Brown MBE AIPTRM. ( Photo Right above): The PT Staff at CTCRM in 1981.THE ROYAL MARINES PT BRANCH - 100 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE.1

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Peter Brown has produced a fascinating history of the RM PT Branch for the century between 1871 and 1971 at which point the PT School at RM Deal moved from its historical home to its new home in the “Old” gymnasium at CTCRM, since replaced by the state of the art “New” Physical Training and Recreation Centre where the School presently resides.Many retired members of the Branch will remember the gymnasium at Deal with fond affection as the place they qualified and practiced their art on the dias, whilst those of us who subsequently qualified at CTCRM will have heard many tales, embellished over time, from our forebears. But all of us remain immensely proud of our Branch and the essential role it plays in the development of fitness, sport, and rehabilitation in today’s modern Corps.Understanding our history and heritage are essential if we are to put the effectiveness of our current Branch into context. This book will evoke many memories from those of us who have been privileged to serve as PTIs, and as a wider contribution to the Corps’ historical record. I strongly commend it to all current and retired Royal Marines and thank Peter for his dedication and commitment in researching and publishing the book. (Major General Garry Robison CB. Former PT & SO and MGRM).(Above Left): A young Lt. Robison RM on his PT & SO Course. (Above Centre): Maj. Gen Garry Robison CB as CGRM) (Above Right): This photo was taken on the final day of Major General Garry Robison CB, the CGRM, leaving the Corps in 2011. The photo shows a muster of PT&SO’s on the CTCRM bottom field before Garry’s final (and voluntary) tanking! The pyramid is constructed by rank with the CGRM, as a Major General, at the top, Mike Ellis and Jed Salazano as Brigadiers on the next rank, Lt. Colonels below, then Majors (including the CGRM’s brother Mike, who was also a PT&SO), and finally Captains at the bottom.FORWARD – BY MAJ. GEN. GARRY ROBISON CB.- Former PT & SO & MGRM 2

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3In India, the gada, or Indian club, was commonly used to improve the strength of warriors, dating back to 400BC. Much admired by the Army officers in the British Garrisons in India, Indian club exercises (albeit with much lighter clubs) were then introduced to the British Army during the Victorian period. The Indian club exercises also became widely popular amongst the general British population, including ladies, and in the early 1800’s, became symbolic of early structured exercise. In 1888, the first Army Gymnastic Staff Instructors were authorised to wear the crossed-swords emblem above their chevrons. Later, in 1905, both the Royal Navy and Royal Marines PTI’s were authorised to wear a crossed-clubs badge on their PT vests. THE CROSSED-CLUBS BADGE:‘MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO’:The Ancient Greek philosophers strongly believed development of the body was equally as important as development of the mind - ‘Mens Sano In Corpore Sano’ (“A healthy mind in a healthy body“). This motto was later adopted by the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines Physical Training Branches and still remains today as our core belief.

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5ARCHIBALD MACLAREN AND THE FIRST MILITARY GYMNASIUMS:In 1830, Archibald MacLaren (1819-1884) a restless medical student from Edinburgh, travelled throughout Europe to study the physical education methods of the early pioneers, including Pehr Henrik Ling - creator of the Swedish PT System. MacLaren returned to England in the 1850’s to teach fencing and gymnastics and in 1858, he built his own purpose-built fencing gymnasium in Oxford, the first of its kind at that time. He then set out to determine the very best exercise programme to develop physical development and carefully and systematically measured the results of his innovative programmes. His scientific and highly detailed approach was very successful, and he was considered to be a great authority in his field at his time. Following the Crimean War (1853-1856), where many thousands of troops were unfit to fight, The War Office concluded that a system of exercises was required to train and prepare soldiers physically for military service. In 1864, based upon his successful Oxford Gymnasium, MacLaren was invited to do a presentation to the Royal United Services Institution to outline his ideas for a “First - class gymnasium”, that would be suitable for a garrison of 7,000 men. MacLaren had already designed his purpose-built gymnasium and programme in Oxford, and he was then invited by the War Office to train Major Frederick Hammersley and twelve selected Army NCO’s (“The Twelve Apostles”) at his Oxford Gymnasium for six months, to learn his methods of gymnastic instruction. MacLaren was insistent that military physical education should be a regular and progressive process, as well as being carefully supervised. He devised a programme of structured exercises, and meticulously recording body measurements at both the beginning and at the end of the six-months training. Following this intense training period, as well as teaching his methodology, he was able to prove that his programme had greatly increased the muscular strength and physique of his military students. The Army authorities were very impressed and “The Twelve Apostles” returned to Aldershot to form the Army Gymnastic Staff – the very first Army PTI’s. With an impending defence threat to Great Britain and its Empire, and after some intense debate in the House of Commons (primarily because of the cost of circa £5,000 per gymnasium), there was a general vote of approval. The War Office then engaged MacLaren to design the first military gymnasiums to be built for all British Army Garrisons, both at home and abroad. Although detailed information is not available it can be envisaged that Archibald MacLaren would then have been instrumental in the building plans for the new gymnasium at the Depot RM Deal in 1867. This fine building was built as per his recommendations and then stood the test of time for over 100 years. Within its walls, and on the sprung floor, thousands of RM Recruits and hundreds of Physical Training Instructors were trained, resulting in a fine history of excellence in military fitness and sport.

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In the early 1800’s Archibald MacLaren had carefully studied the very first outdoor gymnasiums of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (“The Father of German gymnastics“) and had derived many of his gymnasium ideas from him. Jahn’s outdoor gymnasiums (called ‘Turnvereins’) included the first gymnasium apparatus designed for running, jumping, balancing, climbing, and vaulting. Jahn also invented the pommel horse, high bar, parallel bars, and gymnastic rings, and his gymnasiums became widely popular throughout Germany and elsewhere, including the USA. MacLaren adapted Jahn’s ideas, as well as the work of Pehr Henrik Ling’s Swedish PT system and apparatus, to create his first indoor gymnasium in Oxford, which proved to be very successful. In 1884 he outlined his ideal military gymnasium building design, in a lecture to the Royal United Service Institution. He recommended that a military gymnasium should be able to accommodate ‘bodily exercise’ and include a ‘school of arms’, where sword exercises and bayonet-fighting could also be practised. His design also recommended that the military gymnasium should be a large, oblong, well-ventilated facility, with sufficient length for the simultaneous running and vaulting activities for a large number of men. It should also include a raised loft area for climbing ropes, and narrow platforms for the teaching of traversing, as well as a viewing gallery for visitors. Based upon MacLaren’s recommendations, in 1867 the plans were prepared for the Deal gymnasium, and it opened in 1871. In 1869, Captain J. Straghan RM was passed as ‘Certified’ by the Army in Woolwich, thus becoming the very first Royal Marines ‘Inspector of Gymnasia’, And he held the appointment until 1876, retiring with the rank of Major. Unfortunately, no early photographs of the completed Deal Gymnasium, or of Captain Straghan, appear to have been kept in the PT Branch archives, although it proved to be very successful for over 100 years.Friedrich Ludwig Jahn’s outdoor gymnasium and apparatus in the early 1800’sdesigned for running, jumping, balancing, climbing, and vaulting. Jahn also invented the pommel horse, high bar, parallel bars, and gymnastic rings, The combined ideas of Friedrich Jahn, Pehr Henrik Ling and Archibald MacLaren led to the design of the first Victorian Gymnasiums.ARCHIBALD MACLAREN AND EARLY GYMNASIUM DESIGN:6

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ARCHIBALD MACLAREN & THE FIRST MILITARY PTI’s:In 1830, Archibald MacLaren, a Scotsman, travelled throughout Europe to study all the PT systems of the early pioneers of physical training and in 1860, he was tasked by the War Office to design the first military gymnasiums.This would include the Royal Marines gymnasium in Deal, which opened in 1871.(Above): 1858: Archibald MacLaren’s first purpose-built fencing gymnasium in Oxford. (Below Left): The first Army gymnasium in Aldershot. (Below Right): 1860: The first twelve Army Gymnastic Instructors, who were trained for six months at MacLaren’s Oxford gymnasium. 7

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HMS VICTORIA AND THE SWIMMING POOL AT DEAL:On 22nd June 1893, HMS Victoria, the flagship of the British Mediterranean Fleet, collided in uncharted waters with HMS Camperdown off Tripoli and sank within 13 minutes, taking with her 358 of the 715 men onboard, including 68 Marines and the commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet, Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon. The RM Detachment under Major A C Smythe and Lieutenant H G Farquharson RMLI fell in on the quarterdeck where they remained until the ship heeled over and sank. Lieutenant H D Farquharson RMLI was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal for saving lives during this incident. Following this disaster an order directed that all Royal Marines must learn to swim and the Swimming Pool, on the Walmer seafront, was completed in 1898. The pool itself (dug out from an old coal pit) was originally tidal and was filled twice a day from the cold sea water at each high tide. However, when officers started to use the swimming pool, fresh water was introduced, plus a coke-fired boiler to warm the water.Lieutenant H D Farquharson became the first Royal Marine Superintendent of Swimming at Deal. Recruits were then taught to swim by those NCO’s who could swim, and the swimming tuition included land drills, until 1923, when the first ‘Swimming & Recreational Training Instructors’ course was held, and more educational methods were used. 9

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SPORT IN THE RMA & RMLI IN THE 1800’s: 12During the mid-1800’s, to aid the recruiting of volunteers, efforts were made to improve the food, accommodation and leisure facilities for the Royal Marine Artillery (RMA) and Royal Marines Light Infantry (RMLI) recruits.As well as improved food, sport was also encouraged.The provision of the associated sports fields, both behind and in front of the gymnasium, would have played a critical role in facilitating this. The 1895 Depot, Royal Marines, athletics sports poster (left) shows a wide variety of such sporting activities, together with good cash prizes. Bayonet fighting and fencing became an important part of training, and many RM PT Instructors became prominent in bayonet-fighting and fencing competitions, such as the Royal Tournament. This annual military event began in 1880 to promote skill-at-arms and to raise money for soldiers’ widows. Except during the war years, the Royal Tournament was held every year for 120 years, from 1880-1999, when it closed.

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13PORTRAIT OF AN 1800’s PTI - SERGEANT JOSEPH IVES COLE RMLI:Joseph Ives Cole (17) enlisted into the Royal Marines Light Infantry on the 22nd of August 1882, carrying out his initial nine-month training at the RMLI Depot in Deal, Kent. Following his training, Joseph served on various HM ships, including HMS Duncan, HMS Algerine, HMS Ajax and HMS Superb, all wooden-hull ships of that period.In 1887 Joseph returned to the Chatham Division Depot and qualified as a PT Instructor, where he gained notoriety for his gymnastic and fencing ability. In 1893, on his very first visit to the Royal Tournament, he won the Bayonet v Bayonet competition, earning a Silver medal (1st place). In 1894 he also won a silver-plated tea service for Bayonet v Lance at Aldershot in front of a crowd of approximately 10,000 people, following this in 1896 by winning another silver cup in the Aldershot Army Athletics Tournament, Bayonet v Bayonet competition. He then went on to win many other championships in various prestigious sword, foil and bayonet competitions, and some of his many medals and awards are kept in the Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth. In 1899 Joseph was re-assigned to HMS Britannia (a wooden hulked ship, moored in Dartmouth as a training ship for the Royal Navy Officers) and his wife Emily and their two children went with him. By 1903 Joseph had served in the RMLI for 21 Years and he left HMS Britannia to return back to the Chatham Division Depot. In 1903 a local press article reported that: “Sergeant Coles record is a brilliant one. In open competition during the last nine years, he has won upwards of sixty valuable prizes, most of them against the best gymnasts and fencers in the whole of England. To his credit have fallen four silver cups, six silver medals, fourteen bronze medals, and three Empire gold medals from the Royal Military Tournament at the Agricultural Hall, London. Where every year gather the cream of the gymnastic talent of the country”.Sgt Joseph Cole was then discharged to pension but retained for the Royal Fleet Reserve. Moving from Chatham, Joseph then became the landlord of ‘The Harp Inn’ public house, located in Middle Street in Deal. The family only ran the pub for two years, when a new landlord was appointed in 1905. However, the former pub building still exists and is now a popular fish and chip shop.

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SERGEANT JOSEPH IVES COLE RMLI:– WHY IS SGT. COLE WEARING A CROSSED-SWORDS BADGE?Q: Why is Sgt. Cole RMLI (in 1867) wearing a crossed-swords badge on his vest?A: The early RMLI and RMA Marines were first trained by the Army Gymnastic Staff, who were formed in 1861 at Aldershot and upon qualifying Sgt. Cole would have worn the Army’s crossed-swords badge, which was authorised in 1868. However, with the opening of the Portsmouth RN School of PT in 1902, the RM P&RT Instructors were also trained by the Navy and in 1905 were then authorised to wear the Royal Navy crossed-clubs badge when they became qualified. In 1909, the term 'Physical Training' was substituted for ‘gymnastics’ and it appears that RM Instructors were then referred to as ‘Physical & Recreational Training Instructors’ (P & RT’s) during the early 1900’s.15

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Per Henrik Ling (1776–1839), a medical doctor, was known as (‘The Father of Swedish Gymnastics’) and as a strong Swedish patriot in the early 1800’s, when Sweden lost Finland to Russia, he realised that it would be essential to train brave and physically fit soldiers to defend his country against any future aggression. In 1799 Ling had already been introduced to Johann Guts-Muths (1759–1839) the German “Father of Gymnastics” who foundedthe ‘Turnverein’ (gymnastics club) movement in Germany. Ling then returned to Sweden to further study anatomy and physiology.In 1806, Ling then used his in-depth study of anatomy and physiology to better understand the importance of exercise and he also believed that physical educators must possess a good knowledge of the effects of exercise on the human body. Having thoroughly examined all known systems of physical training and then created a system of anatomically correct ‘free-standing’ exercises, that were designed to systematically exercise each part of the human body in turn, through a series of progressively harder exercises. Ling’s system was also designed to exercise large numbers of people simultaneously, and this involved some apparatus work, so he invented wall bars, beams, and the box horse for his gymnasiums. Having gained the approval of the authorities, in 1814, he was appointed by the Swedish government to establish the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics (RCIG) in Stockholm. His ‘Handbook of Gymnastics’ then introduced the first form of structured physical training for the Swedish military forces, and his progressive system became increasingly popular throughout Europe. From 1903 onwards Ling’s PT system was introduced into the Royal Navy School of Physical Training in Portsmouth for officers and instructors of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, which was then adopted for all recruit physical training. In 1908, the British Army’s 254-page “Manual of Physical Training” included Pehr Henrik Ling’s Swedish PT system, together with detailed anatomical and physiological information for instructors, and instructions for conducting marching-drills, vaulting, balancing, rope-climbing and games. Swedish PT was also introduced into the British School system, where all children underwent regular physical exercise sessions to help prepare them for military service.Having stood the test of time and considered to be the best system of physical training to develop the strength, physical ability and posture for all new recruits, the Swedish PT system was used at the Royal Marines PT School at Deal for several decades, until it closed in the early 1970’s.In 1839, following the passing of Pehr Henrik Ling’s death through tuberculosis, his legacy continued to be developed by his pupils, and his son Hjalmar Ling, who continued to develop the Swedish system of physical training. 17PEHR HENRIK LING’s SWEDISH PT SYSTEM:

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19In 1860 HMS Warrior, a new steam-powered armoured frigate, was launched. It was one of the first armour-plated, iron-hulled warships, which was equipped with 40 guns. However, if sailors and marines no longer got their traditional exercise in the rigging of the previous sailing ships, strong muscles were still needed to manage and move the heavy guns, ammunition and machinery around the lower decks of the new warships. It was soon realised that it would be necessary to introduce some structured method of physical activity to be undertaken afloat. Consequently, structured gymnastic exercise programmes and sporting activities were introduced, especially for the young undernourished and unfit trainees. In the mid 1880’s, to improve training, the Admiralty set aside five old hulks (a ship that cannot go to sea) at locations around the country to train up to 3,500 boys, aged 15-17, in seamanship, gunnery and naval tradition, as well as improving conditions to attract future seamen. To improve the poor physique of the Victorian city dwellers, boys between 15-18 aboard the Navy’s training ships in Portsmouth and Plymouth received a more generous diet to spur on their growth. The effects of extra portions of bread, potatoes, treacle, and salt pork purportedly made them ‘The very best recruiter for the Navy that can be got.’ Steps to distract sailors from unwelcome ‘mischievousness’ ashore were also taken. Ships were provided with libraries, and temperance was actively promoted. Sporting competitions were organised, both onboard ship and ashore, in an attempt to provide an alternative way of life. 1902 the Admiralty decided it was necessary to have a central headquarters school of physical training in the Navy, for the purpose of training officers and petty officers to be instructors. This was built in Portsmouth, as well as the swimming pool.The Swedish PT system was chosen as being the most suitable for the physical training of large numbers of men and boys, and in 1903 a Mr. Broman (from Pehr Henrik Ling’s Swedish PT Academy in Stockholm) introduced the Swedish system of gymnastics at the RN School of PT. As part of the Royal Navy, RM PT Instructors were initially trained at the PT School in Portsmouth, as well as at Deal, and also served in a large number of RN establishments and on-board HM ships.THE ROYAL NAVY SCHOOL OF PT (1902):

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THE ROYAL NAVY SCHOOL OF PT (1902): FROM SAIL TO STEAM: In Victorian times with the transition from the traditional sailing ships to the new steamships, The Admiralty realised that some form of physical exercise would be needed to keep sailors fit and that sport was also being suggested as being ‘very beneficial for boys entering the Navy’. Eventually, in 1902, The Admiralty decided to establish a School of Physical Training in Portsmouth, to train both Officers and Instructors in the theory and practice of Swedish PT. as well as games. (Left):The RN School of PT at Pitt Street in Portsmouth. (Centre): Swedish PT on-board ship and (Right): the Pitt Street swimming pool, which taught thousands of sailors to swim. 20

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A SHORTAGE OF RM P & RT INSTRUCTORS:In the early 1900’s there was a great shortage of RM P & RT Instructors, because of poor recognition, and the low level of pay, compared with other naval sea ratings. To address this: • In 1905 The Admiralty approved the wearing of Specialist Qualification (SQ) badges, to be worn by ‘Qualified Gymnastic Instructors, 1st and 2nd Class, whilst employed as such’.• In 1909 RM PTI’s also received greater recognition, when they were able to serve on HM ships at sea, in lieu of Royal Navy PT Instructors. • In 1913 the pay rates were increased, and a P & RT Instructor (Second Class) would then receive four pence per day and the P & RT Instructor (First Class) eight pence per day. • By 1926 Royal Marine P & RT Instructors became better recognised and served throughout all of the main R.N. establishments and on-board H.M. Ships. RM P & RT INSTRUCTORS IN THE EARLY 1900’s: (Photo Right): Vaulting on the deck of HMS Revenge.211905: “The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have approved of distinguishing badges, similar to those worn by Seaman R.N. being worn by Royal Marines holding the under-mentioned non-substantive Gunnery and Gymnastic Ratings viz:- Qualified Gymnastic Instructors Ist and 2nd Class, Whilst employed as such. Gold embroidered on blue cloth.”

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RMLI PHYSICAL TRAINING IN THE EARLY 1900’s: AN EARLY 1920’s PT CLASS. 1920’s - RMLI PT Officers. 22 WEEKS OF BASIC RECRUIT TRAINING: • Physical Training: 1 Hour daily, 5 hours per week.• Swimming: 1st to 9th weeks - learning to swim and must be able to swim before passing out. • Dress: “Serges and Caps should always be removed, sleeves of Flannels, or Shirts, rolled up above the Elbow and Braces slipped from the Shoulders and secured round the Waist.”22Photographs of the early 1900’s showed a high level of structured physical training for RMA & RMLI recruits.

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23Following the formation of the Army Gymnastic Staff in 1860, athletics, boxing and football were strongly promoted and in 1876 the first Army Athletics Championships were also organised. With football becoming increasingly popular, the Army Football Association was formed in 1888 and almost all Army Regiments had a football team.The 1908 Army Manual of Physical Training, included all elements of Pehr Henri Ling’s Swedish PT system, along with instructions regarding foot-drills, vaulting, balancing, rope-climbing and games. True to Ling’s underlying philosophy, the 1908 manual also included detailed anatomical and physiological information for the instructors to learn and apply. It proved to be highly successful for the physical training of Army recruits and between 1908 and 1914 Swedish PT was continuously used to train recruits.Also, for the first time, sport was officially recognised as an important part of physical training and the 1908 Manual of Physical Training (p.8) stated that: ‘The value of active games and sports to physical training cannot be over-estimated. Games and physical training should be looked on as complimentary to one another and a man's physical education can hardly be considered complete without the introduction of some form of active recreation.’ Front-line warfare in the Western Front involved four years of trench warfare, with big areas of land between both the British and German trenches, which were covered in barbed wire. Those brave enough to leave their trenches were met with rapid machine-gun fire. The losses were great, and the Battle of the Somme resulted in 600,000 soldiers being killed, wounded, or captured. Following a period in the trenches, rotating units were removed from front-line fighting to the rear of the battlefield for a brief respite, before returning to the trenches. During their time in the rear areas the soldiers received further daily military training, but there was also time for some recreation. Boxing and Football were very popular and easy to organise, as well as other recreational activities, from hop, skip and jump competitions to tug o’ war matches. By 1916 it was clear to the military authorities that sport could play an important part in sustaining the morale and esprit de corps of fighting troops. With the value of sport in maintaining high morale and esprit de corps becoming highly recognised, sport was then widely also used to attract new recruits. The Army printed millions of recruitment posters, promoting sport and emphasising that “The Army isn’t all work”, which proved to be a powerful recruiting tool, especially at the Saturday afternoon football league matches, and tens of thousands of young men rushed to sign up as a result. WW1 & THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORT IN THE ARMY:

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25During the 1800’s sport was practiced mainly by the officer class because of their education in the British Public Schools. On the war front, sport was seen by some military officers as merely a natural extension of ‘winning the game’. The Duke of Wellington is said to have remarked that ‘The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton.’ By the 1870’s, participation in military sport became widely popular for all ranks, with widespread participation in fencing, football, boxing, rugby and other sports. This led to a dramatic growth of regimental sport and huge crowds watched the large sporting tournaments, as well as gymnastic displays and tug-of-war competitions. However, for Royal Marine Artillery Recruits, having undergone six months of intense infantry training, many found themselves on board ships, where sport was very limited. Prior to joining a ship, Recruits also had to spend considerable time being trained as a Ship’s Gunner and from 1908 onwards, they traditionally manned the 'X' and 'Y’ gun turrets during ‘Battle Stations’. During the 1914-1918 First World War, sport was not a priority, because of the realities of war. As part of the Navy, Royal Marines were very much governed by both the regulations and traditions of their parent service and RM detachments served on board most battleships and cruisers of the fleet. The RM Detachments carried out their traditional roles of security for officers, ceremonial duties, boarding parties and the occasional small-scale landing ashore. Thus, very little sport participation occurred during WW1, especially for those who served on board the ships of Admiral Jellico’s Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow, because there was little time, or space, for any recreational activities. With the many ships that were tied up alongside at the Scapa Flow base, boredom and disciplinary problems became a problem, and by 1916 it was clear to Admiral Jellico that even some limited sporting activities could play an important part in maintaining good morale. Consequently, he arranged for a football ground to be built on the boggy permafrost ground, a basic golf course was created for the officers, and a boxing ring was erected on a canteen ship. Despite the harsh, cold, winters these provided a very welcome respite for the Sailors and Marines in Scapa Flow. By 1919 Senior officers had recognised the importance of sport in helping to maintain good order and discipline and at the cessation of war sport and recreation were then given a high priority. As a result, post WW1 opened up a new era for Royal Navy and Royal Marines sport, with Boxing, Bayonet-fighting and Fencing being particularly popular and prominent during this period. WW1 & THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORT IN THE RN & RM:

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27During WW1, in 1917, Commander Coote, head of the Naval School of Physical Training at Portsmouth, had travelled to the Western Front in France to observe the very successful Army’s Physical and Bayonet Training School at St. Pol. He was very impressed and at the close of the war in 1919, he arranged a special conference in Portsmouth entitled: “Physical & Recreational Training in the Royal Navy” to create a similar sport and recreational approach in the Royal Navy. At the conference, Cdr. Coote recommended a new programme of ‘Physical, Recreational and Morale training’ to encourage the greater 90% who did not participate in any sport, instead of focusing on the 10% of outstanding sportsmen, as had previously the case. Whilst agreeing with the proposal, before agreeing to these recommendations, the Royal Marines Officers attending had their own demands e.g. • “That Bayonet Training be considered as an important part of a P&RTI’s Course curriculum and not just as a separate subject at the end. At Deal the P&RT Instructors train the RM Recruits directly and are very successful in this. They instruct them in Physical Training, Physical Exercise, Bayonet Training and Boxing from the very start under supervision. They also assist to organise and carry out all Recreational Training. Such conditions prevail at no other Training Establishment in the country and to return to pre-war methods would lower the standard of both our instructors and recruits to a very great extent. • Given the great experience of the direct training of RM Recruits at Deal and that the Ideal conditions exist for the training of young Instructors prevail at Deal, that RM P&RT Instructors should have their own PT School at Deal, and not just be trained at the RN PT School in Portsmouth, as the RM Instructors lose their identity.• It must however be realised that they have no wish to be considered as Army, but as Royal Marines, who are part and parcel of the Navy. This is the result of ‘Esperit de Corps’ on which our Recruit Training is based.• Further than this, it is considered that P.T.I.’s R.N. would derive great benefit if they came to Deal to be taught Fencing and Bayonet Training which would also the greatest value to them and would give the Naval Ratings an insight into the conditions prevailing at R.M. Establishments on Shore.”Cdr. Coote’s vision was accepted and implemented. Additionally, In 1919, both the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Sports Associations were formed to organise and encourage widespread participation in sport. This led to the beginning of a huge growth of sport and recreation in both the RN & RM. The Royal Navy’s original 1930’s recruitment p o ster, showing a young, fit and sun-tanned sailor in an exotic location could, once again, become a major recruiting tool for the Royal Navy.CDR. COOTE & POST-WAR SPORT IN THE RN & RM:

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Football was hugely popular in the Royal Marines during the 1900’s, and Commanding Officers fully supported their unit teams, giving it a high priority, and regarded winning as an extremely important part of their regimental status within the Corps.Records show that the Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI) and the Royal Marine Artillery (RMA) were playing football very seriously in the early 1900’s and one of the biggest successes was in 1910, when the RMLI (then stationed in Gosport) won the Amateur Football Cup, beating South Bank (Middlesbrough) 2-1. In those days football matches could attract crowds of up to 100,000 spectators.In 1928, the United States Marine Corps wished to perpetuate the bond of friendship, which had existed between the two Corps since the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1901, when the Royal Marines and the USMC had fought side by side. To commemorate this bond a USMC Challenge Trophy called The Tunney Cup was presented to the Royal Marines by Captain J.J. Tunney USMC, a highly skilled boxer, who was ranked in the 10 top Best Heavyweight boxers in the U.S. and was also the reigning World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.Retired Sergeant Major Charles R. Francis USMC, was chosen to accompany the Trophy from America to England on board the S.S Leviathan. He had served side by side with the Royal Marines during the Boxer Rebellion and had been badly wounded. He was awarded the Navy Congressional Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism at Tientsin, China in 1900.Capt J.J. Tunney USMC presented General L. S. T. Halliday V.C., C.B., R.M., Adjutant General Royal Marines, with the trophy on the 15th December 1928, at Eastney Barracks in Portsmouth. This trophy was fiercely competed for every year thereafter until the present date.RM FOOTBALL IN THE 1900’s & THE TUNNEY CUP: 29

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In the 1920’s the P & RT Instructor qualification courses were of a duration of six months, with an upgrading course of three months. Subjects such as fencing and boxing were the main sports in which the P & RT Instructors had to be particularly well qualified. Additionally, a large emphasis was placed upon class- taking ability, as well as practical performance in agility, vaulting and gymnastic apparatus.The 1929 ‘Physical Exercise Tables for the Training of Royal Marine Recruits’ were contained in an Aide Memoire (Left) that provided clear lesson plans for eight Physical Training Tables, as well as Bayonet fighting, Sabre Fencing, Boxing Lessons, Wrestling, Athletics, Physical Training Tests, Field Tests, Indoor Obstacle Training Exercises and Swimming, with the latter being an important requirement to pass out as a trained Marine.The Physical & Recreational Training Instructor Course (P & RTI) examinations included: Physical Education Class-taking, PT Theory, Recreational Training, PT Practical, Medical Knowledge, Bayonet Fighting, Fencing (mainly Sabre), Boxing, Swimming, and ‘ Notebook.’ Each subject had a 60% pass mark to qualify, out of a total score of a maximum 1,330 possible points.Both in civilian and service life, the 1920’s saw a period of huge interest and growth in sports. In military training, bayonet fighting drills were taught by the Royal Marines P & RT Branch Instructors to all recruits, as a necessary skill for war, although rarely used in actual battle.Fencing, Boxing and Gymnastics were also a major focus at this time, with a dedicated “Master” of each sport, ‘when employed as such’, at the RM Gymnasium at Deal. Many PTI’s reached the highest levels of sporting skill, and some became outstanding national sportsmen of their time.THE P & RT INSTRUCTOR SYLLABUS OF THE 1920’S: 31

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Fencing featured strongly in the Armed Forces prior to WW2 and when the first Royal Navy PT School opened in Pitt Street, Portsmouth, fencing was taught in the P & RT course curriculum, mainly by Royal Marine PT Instructors. Many RM and RN fencers were prominent at both International and Olympic level after the war. One of the most outstanding Royal Marine fencers, both before and after the war, was Sgt. Joe Field RM.Fencing is one of five sports which have been permanent fixtures at the Olympic Games since the first modern Games were held in 1896. Sgt Joe Field RM coached the British Olympic team for the 1936 games in Berlin. Following the war, Joe Field (now promoted to Lieutenant) returned to competition to win the foil and the epee at the 1947 Combined Services Championships, and he represented Great Britain in an international competition in Paris in 1946. After the war he coached fencing at the Bath Sword Club.In the 1980’s Joe and his wife Vera, also attended many of the PT Branch Reunions at CTCRM and loved sharing some brief snapshots of his long and illustrious RM service career. At the 1988 PT Reunion, Joe and vera visited The White Hart pub for lunch in Woodbury Village only to find, to his delight, his old PTI friend, Norman “Sticks” Joy, who lived nearby! A great supporter of the PT Reunions into his old age, Joe Field was subsequently elected President of the RM PT Reunion Club, a role that he cherished until he sadly died, aged 91, and he is still remembered as the very modest and a true gentleman that he was.(Sgt Joe Field RM coached the British OlympicTeam for the 1936 games in Berlin.SGT. PTI JOE FIELD RM – OLYMPIC FENCER:Above, (Front row left): Former SPTI Joe Field With a PT Qualifying Course in the 1930’s.33

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Tommy Lenham, arrived at Deal in 1935 as a young recruit and already showed great promise as a boxer. By 1936 Tommy was in the Imperial Services Boxing Association Team, and in 1937 he boxed for England. Not only that, but Tommy also won an England Rugby Cap. Whilst serving onboard an HM Ship that docked in Las Vegas, Tommy once “Jumped Ship” to both box in and win the coveted Golden Gloves Boxing Championships match in Las Vegas – definitely a first for a the British Royal Marine!Tommy was a leading boxer and boxing official throughout his 23 years of service in the Corps, winning numerous awards. Consequently, he was responsible for raising Corps boxing to a very high level through coaching and organising courses for boxing coaches and officials, whilst encouraging many young PTI’s to follow his example and take up boxing as a sport. Having retired, Tommy then ran a pub (The Drum Major) in Deal, just opposite the Jubilee Gates in South Barracks. In 1984 he very much wanted to attend the PT Reunion being held in CTCRM at Lympstone – a long journey for him. However, just prior to the event Tommy unfortunately became seriously ill and his Deal PT Branch colleagues arranged an ambulance to travel from Deal to CTCRM, so that he could attend his final PT Reunion. With all arrangements carefully made, sadly, Tommy died a week before the event that would have meant so much to him.THE TOMMY LENHAM TROPHY:The Tommy Lenham Trophy was raised by funds provided by his fellow PTI’s, after Tommy sadly passed away on Sunday 7th October 1984. Some of Tommy’s many trophies are displayed in a cabinet in the gymnasium at CTCRM. In his memory, The Tommy Lenham Trophy was intended to be awarded annually to an outstanding PTI of the current serving PT Branch at CTCRM. Tommy was one of the many outstanding PTI Corps Sportsmen who achieved the highest level in their sporting career and was a fine inspiration for those that follow in his footsteps. MAJOR TOMMY LENHAM MBE RM – ENGLAND BOXER:35

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Following the Second World War and with five years of poverty and poor nutrition, physical training at Deal for new recruits had to take into account the undernourished and poor physical and medical state of many of them. Although many new recruits had previously played sports before joining up, few of them had received three square meals a day, or had any form of structured physical exercise programmes, prior to joining the Royal Marines. Thus, the 1940 Physical Training Instructor’s Manual took this into consideration and stated that: ‘All Training is progressive, and lessons in physical training must be arranged in accordance with the capabilities of the recruits for whom they are intended, gradually increasing in difficulty, or severity, from week to week.’ The Swedish PT System was an essential part of this process and was very successful.The initial 12 weeks of recruit training at the Depot RM Deal provided the recruits with good nutrition, regular meals, and a carefully structured Swedish exercise programme to gradually strengthen their weak bodies and turn them into fit and disciplined young men. This prepared them well for the harder infantry and commando training to follow. In addition to regular physical training, sports and recreation also played an important part in developing the young recruits. The physical training guidelines at this time stated that “The value of active games and sports as adjuncts to physical training cannot be over-estimated. Games and physical training should be looked upon as complementary to one another and a man’s physical education can hardly be considered as quite complete without the introduction of some form of active recreation.”The PTI’s training syllabus had to prepare them for this huge challenge and a thorough knowledge of anatomy and physiology was essential, in order to understand the physiological development of young bodies, through Pehr Henrik Ling’s Swedish PT system. The PT sessions were also combined with minor recreational games to make recruit training more enjoyable and to build team spirit. Thus, the Physical and Recreational Instructor Course syllabus of the mid-1940’s differed from the 1930’s course, by including more sports subjects. As well as examinations for the basic course subjects of P.T. Class Taking, P.T. Practical, Apparatus, Close Combat, P.E,. Class Taking, P.T. Paper, Battle Training Class Taking, Swimming and ‘Notebook’, the syllabus now also included Fencing, Boxing, Recreational Training and Athletics.For the PT Instructors, additional 2–3-week sports coaching courses were held at the RM PT School in Deal to train them specifically in many sports, but predominantly Boxing, Fencing, Athletics, Swimming, Judo and Recreational Games. RM PHYSICAL TRAINING & SPORT IN THE 1940’s: 40

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WW2 & PTI’s SERVE BOTH ON LAND & AT SEA:The first RM Commando trainees were not highly selected but were put through a rigorous programme of physical training, weapon training, boat training, long-distance marches, rock climbing, tactics, and battlefield exercises at the Depot RM, Deal, and then later at the Achnacarry Commando Training Centre in the remote Scottish Highlands. Much has already been written about the arduous commando training at Achnacarry, where the early commandos were often pushed to the point of exhaustion. In the summer of 1942 and as a recognition of their passing the tough commando tests, the consideration of a common headdress for the many different army regiments was proposed and the colour of green was finally agreed. An official request for the provision of the new green berets was then requested and signed by Lord Mountbatten, Chief of Combined Operations, dated 1st May 1942. In his letter request to the Under Secretary of State for War he wrote: ‘I have been much struck by the intense desire on the part of all officers and men with whom I have spoken to have a distinctive form of headdress and consider that it would make the greatest difference to esprit de corps.’ This request was granted and subsequently all those who passed the Achnacarry commando test standards, were awarded the coveted green beret. Despite the great success of the wartime commando training at Achnacarry, at the end of the war the centre was closed. In 1946 all of the Army Commando units were disbanded, and the commando training role was passed to the Royal Marines to uphold. Post-WW2 RM Commando training was then initially conducted at the Commando School in Towyn, North Wales, then in 1947 it moved to Bickleigh Camp, near Plymouth and finally, in 1954, to the Infantry Training Centre (ITCRM) at Lympstone, where it has remained to date.41During WW2 many PTI’s served in their General Duties role, either in the various land-based units, or on-board HM Ships. Despite their infantry fighting skills, at the beginning of the war in 1940-1941, the majority of Royal Marines would find themselves at sea on North Sea patrols, carrying out ship security duties and manning the guns of the battleships and cruisers of the fleet. In 1941, the Chief of Combined Operations, Lord Louis Mountbatten, called for the training of more Commandos and despite the Royal Navy preferring to keep the Royal Marines serving on board HM Ships, in 1942, Lord Mountbatten finally succeeded in getting men from the RM Divisions to retrain as commandos.

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THE POST - WW2 PHYSICAL TRAINING BRANCH: During the 1950’s, in addition to Swedish PT, Recreational Training Class Taking was introduced into the PTI’s qualifying syllabus. There was also an emphasis on Gymnastics (Vaulting, Agility, Parallel Bars, Horizontal Bar) Athletics, Boxing, Fencing, Gymnastics, Judo and Swimming. Such thorough training resulted in the emergence of many outstanding PT Branch Corps gymnasts and sportsmen. The RM PT Branch, was also responsible for the organisation of all of the many Unit and Corps sports events held throughout the year. This included the many PTI’s stationed in Commando Units abroad. Thus, PTI’s were also required to pass the many sports coaching and officiating examinations during their 16-week PT2 Qualifying Course to prepare them for this role. From 1956 onwards all PT Instructors were strongly encouraged by the PT Branch to organise, coach, and officiate a wide spectrum of sports, particularly in Athletics, Boxing, Fencing, Gymnastics, Judo and Swimming. Additionally, every PTI had to pass the Royal Lifesaving Bronze Medallion and be able to teach swimming to recruits, organise Swimming Galas and officiate in Water-Polo matches. The Royal Navy PT School in Portsmouth, with its associated swimming, soccer and athletics facilities, became a major sports training centre for many Royal Marines PTI’s, who attended the wide range of sports coaching and officiating courses that were widely available. 43

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THE 1950’S PT2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS:THE INTRODUCTION OF RED-EDGED VESTS:Of great significance to RM PTI’s, in 1956, the former blue-edged PT vests and SQ badges were replaced by the red-edged vests and badges, thus distinguishing them from the RN PTI’s. Although strong links still remained with the RN School of PT in Pitt Street, Portsmouth, this further established the RM PT Branch in its own right and with more autonomy.REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A PTI:In 1951 (RMRO 205) stated that the Physical Training Instructor, 2nd Class (PT2) was: (1) To be able to teach Basic and Battle Physical Training, Daily Physical Exercises and Recreational Training.(2) To be able to teach elementary principles of athletics, boxing, fencing, judo and swimming. (3) To be a probationary referee in Association Football and Rugby Football, Hockey, or Water Polo. (4) To have reached the required standard in apparatus work and agility.A Physical Training Instructor 1st Class (PT1) and a Staff Physical Training Instructor (SPTI) were required to achieve even higher levels of sports qualifications than the above. 44

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RM PTI SPORTS CHAMPIONS OF THE 1950’s: British Empire Games: 1954 Gold MedalATHLETICS - SGT. ‘BIG JOHN’ SAVAGE:• Corps Boxing Champion.• 50 International vests: Shot, Discus & Javelin.• 1954 British Empire Gold Medallist.• 1950-1952 British & Empire Record (Discus).• 1950-1956 British & Empire Record (Shot).British Empire Games: 1958 Bronze Medal.C/SGT. BOB ANDERSONNational & International fencer, coached the British Fencing Team for six different Olympic Games from 1956-1976.CAPT. BOB THOMPSON RM103 bouts at The Royal Tournament without losing a single bout!45

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47In the 1950’s there was not only a general encouragement for Royal Marine PTI’s to be good at Swedish PT, Class-taking, and gymnastics, but also sports coaching in a variety of sports. As in previous generations, this resulted in many PTI’s reaching the highest levels of sport at both national and international levels. Fencing was a particularly prominent sport for RM PT Instructors and, for example, a small team of PTI’s (C/Sgts. Holland, Hurst, Anderson, QMS Thompson and Capt. Neaves RM) won most of the major prizes in the 1951 Royal Tournament. Capt. Bob Thompson RM was another great fencer who won many fencing trophies and represented Northern Ireland in the 1958 British Empire Games in Cardiff. C/Sgt. PTI, Bob Anderson, was a most prominent fencer in the early 1950’s, winning many medals and trophies at both National and International level. Between 1951-1954 he won the foil and sabre competitions in the Combined Services Championships every year, except two, and he had 103 foil bouts at the Royal Tournament without losing a single bout.Bob also won two gold and three silver medals in the British Empire (now Commonwealth) Games in Auckland N.Z. in 1950 and he competed in the Helsinki Olympic Games in 1952. He then became the Senior National Fencing Coach of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and coached the British Fencing Team for six Olympics from 1956 to 1976. Following this, he also became the President of the British Academy of Fencing.In later years Bob Anderson was also involved in films, particularly in the Star Wars film, where he wore the costume of Darth Vader during the light-sabre battles of the original Star Wars trilogy. FENCING - PROFESSOR BOB ANDERSON:

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In July 1960 a large RM Searchlight Tattoo was held at the Depot RM, Deal, which hundreds travelled from far and wide to see. This included an Army Cadet of the Royal West Kent Regiment, who had saved up his bus fare and travelled from Maidstone to attend. As part of the very impressive programme, the Deal PTI’s performed a very demanding window ladder display. The Tattoo ended with a resplendent RM Band and Corps bugles display of the RM Commando March, ‘Sarie Marais.’ The Army Cadet (one Peter Brown) joined up immediately and having passed the medical examination, as ordered, sharply marched into the Guardroom at the very first stroke at 0900 hrs. 1st January 1961. Following a tour in 45 Commando in Aden, in 1964 he became a PTI himself. Some years later, in 1980, he was appointed to be the WO1 AIPTRM at CTCRM, Lympstone. (Above): The Maidstone Royal West Kent Army Cadet Force Band - Kent ACF Band winners 1960. FOLLOWING THE DEPOT RM SEARCHLIGHT TATTOO AT DEAL IN 1960: 50

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LIFE AS A DEAL PTI IN THE 1960’S:In the 1960’s the PT2 ‘Qualifier’ completed a PT course of sixteen weeks, and for the PT1 ‘Re-Qualifier’, a course of eleven weeks. The subjects on which the PT Qualifier was required to pass included: PT Theory, PT Practical, Medical Studies, Gymnastics, Class Taking, Cricket, Hockey, Football, Rugby, Basketball, Minor Games, Athletics, Swimming and Lifesaving, Judo, and General Duties. The Staff PT Instructor was no longer required to do a SPTI course but was made a probationary SPTI for three months and then upgraded if his knowledge and personal performance was considered to be of a suitably high standard. The PT & Sports Officer did nearly six months training and invariably would become the Officer Commanding of the PT Wing at Deal, Lympstone, or other various RN Training establishments, including Greenwich, or the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. For the Royal Marine PTI’s at Deal, in addition to being excellent class-takers, sports coaching became a normal daily activity, with a continuous stream of Recruits, Junior Marines and Junior Musicians to practice their coaching skills on. There was plenty of sport in Deal, with organised sporting activity on at least two afternoons a week, as well as evening recreation for Juniors and attending sports matches on Saturday afternoons.Most PTI’s were good gymnastic performers and many Saturday afternoons during the summer were spent providing high-box gymnastic displays for various events, such as fetes etc. Judo and Unarmed Combat displays were also very popular and very much in demand. In the gymnasium, lots of fun, work hard, play hard - but make sure that you are on your spots at 07.50 and immaculate! Fond memories of the gym discipline; the pride in squads that passed out extremely fit; the PT displays; the many sports competitions; the wonderful RM Bands; the historic buildings and general military environment. Add to that a team spirit that is second to none, and you have a good picture of what it was like at the RM PT School at Deal in the 1960’s – very happy days! (Above): Andy later became Maj. Gen Andy Keeling CB CBE and President of the RMA PT Branch.(Above): A young Lt. Andy Keeling RM. having Qualified as a PT & SO at Deal, (Below): with the combined RN/RM PT Staff at BRNC Dartmouth in 1967. 51

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60CORPS SPORT IN THE 1960’s & 1970’s:On the 31st March 1961, the Royal Marines gained full Command status in Royal Navy Sport Competitions. As a separate (and the smallest) RN Sports Command, this emphasised the need to raise the standard of Corps sportsmen in order to compete with the numerically larger RN Commands of Portsmouth, Plymouth and the Naval Air Command in Yeovilton. Portsmouth, with the RN School of PT and sports stadium located at Pitt Street, became the geographical centre for much Navy sport. On the 17th May 1962 the Corps Sports Office moved from the PT Branch in Deal to the Royal Marines Barracks in Eastney, and Major Alvey RM assumed the title of both the Inspector of Physical Training and the RM Command Sports Secretary.In the early 1970’s, under Major Jeff Beadle MC MBE RM and a small team of PTI’s, the Corps Sports Office at RMB Eastney was responsible for encouraging Corps sport and they also produced regular copies of ‘The Sportsman’ magazine. This contained a regular and comprehensive summary of Corps sport activity, and was circulated to all RM Units, at home and abroad. As a result, Corps sport gained a new importance and the number of PTI’s qualifying as sports coaches and officiating qualifications greatly increased. Similar moves to embrace sport in the Royal Navy took place during this decade and the Royal Navy PT Instructor 1st Class, in addition to Physical Training, would be now be required to have nine separate sports qualifications (as either a coach, referee, umpire, or official) in the various games and sports that were now now available throughout the Royal Navy. For the Royal Marines, the Gymnasium at the Royal Marines Barracks in Eastney became a focal point for Corps sportsmen to train to the highest level and it became a sporting ‘Centre of Excellence’, particularly for Corps boxing, fencing, football, rugby and athletics. As a result, many outstanding Corps Sportsmen trained at Eastney and reached the highest levels of Royal Navy, Inter-Services, National and International level in many sports.

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SOME EARLY PTI CORPS BOXERS: JOHN REA:(Photo left, John on the right) PTI John Rea was already a polished boxer when he joined the Corps.He was also a very good runner. As a Flyweight boxer, and during the 1950’s, John’s superb fitness and his fast straight right, won him many Corps and Navy titles.JOHNNY RICE:In 1947, Marine John Rice was the most skilful boxer that the Corps had, having won the Light-Heavyweight title and narrowly lost the top boxing honours at Middleweight, having taken on all-comers. Even years later, John was still boxing for the Plymouth Command in the Heavyweight division and still sending his opponents the wrong way with his clever footwork. Always very humorous, and during roadwork, a rather struggling large John had the habit of saying: “Hang on, my lace has come undone again!”CHARLES FORREST:With such large numbers of servicemen just after the war it was tough to get on the winners'podium. On winning the Heavyweight Inter-Services Boxing Championships in Portsmouth, PTI Charles Forrest won a very large trophy. As they went back to barracks he asked his mate: “Who was that old chap who presented the trophy to me?” His mate answered “Oh, it was only Lord Field Marshal Montgomery of Alamein!” Charles was a great supporter of the PT Branch and every year travelled down to Lympstone for the PT Reunions from Scotland on his motorbike.JIM (MICK) RUTHERFORD: (FORMER PTI & CORPS BOXING COACH).“Whilst my PT2 course was being lectured on cricket by Major Marsden, every lecture he gave us was always started by questions from the last lecture: ‘Which one of you really looks puzzled?’ - and it was always, ‘Ah, yes, the boxer!’ However, I have so many fond memories from the PT School at Deal, and the one thing that I do remember vividly is what a lovely time we had serving as a PTI at Deal!”61

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CORPS SPORTSMEN IN THE 1960’s & 1970’s:C/Sgt Derek Evans BEM, with his Corps Boxing Team at RMB Eastney. SPTI ‘Big Ted’ Kelland BEM- with yet another trophy! John Watts, National Shot & Discus athlete with the NATO Sports Trophy.Mike (“The Bike”) Parker - Plymouth to Portsmouth record.Lt. Mike Wells-Cole RM - GB Team Orienteerer.Johnnie Laing.Frank Allen 1970 Commonwealth Games.Terry Harrison MBE 1976 – Inter-Services Champion-At-Arms. Jim Douglas,GB Team Runner.Tony HigginsSportsman Extraordinaire. C/Sgt. Derek Evans BEM’ Corps Boxing Coach at RMB Eastney. 62

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JUDO IN THE 1950’S & 1960’s: (COMMANDOKWAI R.M.)It is difficult to identify exactly when the emerging sport of judo was introduced into the Royal Marines, as few records exist, but it is believed to have started its' existence after WW2, at the Commando School at Bickleigh. With the introduction of a wide range of self-defence techniques being taught in Commando-training at Achnacarry and elsewhere, it would be natural for the new martial art of judo to emerge after the war, and this was very much encouraged in the Corps.With judo becoming very popular, prominent PT Branch judo players of this period included Ted Paddon (black belt), Ken Wilson, Bill Sykes, Ray Cooper, John Stark, Buck Stewart, John Rowlands, Sandy MacVicar, and many other PTI’s who were keen to work their way up the coloured belts to achieve black belt status. In the 1950-60’s several teaching courses were held at the PT School at Deal. The photos (below left) shows early judo players with their instructor, Mr Koizumi (8th Dan), as their instructor. Mr Koizumi came from Japan and taught Judo in The Budokwai in London, having been tasked by the founder of judo, Jigoro Kano, (Centre Below), to introduce Judo into the UK.Judo Black belt63

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(Above Left): Maj. Alan Downton MBE (3rd Dan). (Above Right): The Commandokwai R.M. badge. JUDO IN THE 1950’S & 1960’s: (COMMANDOKWAI RM)Many judo courses were organised at the PT School in Deal and under Major Alan Downton MBE RM (3rd Dan Black Belt) the Commandokwai R.M. (Judo Club) was formed and built strong links with the famous Budokwai Judo Club in London, which later paved the way for the forming of the British Judo Association. Sgt Fred Cummings was a member of the British Judo Team and Sgt (later WO1) Peter Brown (RM & RN Judo Coach for many years) became a British Judo Squad Trainer.Sgt. Peter Brown (4th Dan).RN & RM Judo Coach.64Sgt. Fred Cummings(3rd Dan) British Judo Team. Judo was strongly encouraged in the corps and was very popular in the 1950’s & 1960’s.

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THE ROYAL MARINES FOOTBALL TEAM IN 1968:THE ROYAL MARINES FOOTBALL TEAM AT THE RN PITT STREET SPORTS STADIUM - 1968.The 1968 RN Inter-Command Championship Winners: Royal Marines (4) Portsmouth Command (1).Many PTI’s played football at Corps, Navy and Combined Services level in the 1960’s & 1970’s, including the 1968 RN Inter-Command Championships as per above.Back row (L/R): Capt. Ron Woodruff RM, Johnny Scott, Archie Houston, George Kirtley, Buck Taylor, Roger Prescott, TBC, Dusty Miller, George Malhan, Dave Williams, Capt. John Brown RM, John Ellis (coach). Front row (L/R): Josh Holly, Stuart Lindsay, Richie Wassell, Lenny Anderson, Davey Hunt, Curly Barlow. (There are seven PTI’s in the team!).65

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PTI’s & RUGBY IN THE 1970’S:(Above): The RM Rugby Team (circa 1972) that includes PTI’s: Dennis Brown (Capt.) MikeGibson, Mike Williams and Andy Higginson.A Corps Rugby team has been in existence ever since WW2 and thrived as a sport in the 1960’ and 1970’s, with many PTI’s as players in the Corps, Navy, and Combined Services teams. The Royal Marines Rugby Football Club (RMRFC) was born out of the inter-unit competition, the Argyll and Sutherland Bowl, which was presented to the Corps by the Argylls after the second world war and competed for by all RM Units annually thereafter. Above: (Photos L. to R.): Cliff Watts, QMS Sandy McVicar with Major Jeff Beadle, Ian Ross and IPTRM Andy Higginson. Other PTIs who also played Rugby for the Corps during this period include Sandy McVicar, Shaun Parkin, Dai Phillips, Mike Williams, Tony Toms, Bernie Finan, Jan Chorley, Andy Mitchell, Mike Gibson, Taff Titcombe, Tug Wilson, Al Muckle, Ceri Williams, Steve Wright, Al Stacey, as well as the “PT Wing Storemen”, such as John (Taff) Davies, Paul Livingstone, Mark Griffiths and others. (Above): PTI Bernie Finan with the Depot RM’s Rugby Seven’s winning team in the early 1970’s. Former IPTRM, Andy Higginson OBE, captained the Royal Marines, Royal Navy and Combined Services rugby teams between 1967 - 1978. 66

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69To celebrate 100 years of the PT Branch (1871-1971) a Centenary PT Branch Reunion was organised at the Depot RM By the OCPT Wing, Capt. Simon Cook RM, QMS (WO2) Wilson and the PT Staff. Capt. Simon Cook’s recollections are as follows:“It all started when the CGRM visited the PT School at Deal in 1970 and noticed the board containing the names of previous Superintendents and Commandants, starting with the first one, Captain J Straghan, in 1871. He commented that 'the following year would be the Centenary of the PT Branch and asked if we were going to do anything about it?’ By this, he had lit the torch for a celebration to mark the Centenary of the PT Branch!The PT Wing Sergeant Major, QMS (WO2) Ken Wilson, duly took note and presented me as the incoming OCPTW with the strong hint from the then CGRM, a former PT Officer himself, that there should be a Centenary Celebration. Fast forward until I had a meeting with Ken Wilson in Eastney a few days after I had joined Deal, and we discussed the options during the drive back to Deal. In effect we planned the outline programme during this drive.I was fortunate in that I had inherited an incredibly talented and enthusiastic PT staff, who immediately took up the challenge and promised their full support for anything that Ken and I had suggested. We had no problems with ideas, suggestions,and volunteers to carry out the necessary work. This started with gaining the necessary permissions to hold the event with an optimistic assessment of the costs involved. Once all this had been agreed- then the work began.Having agreed the format for the weekend and the actual date, the next stage was to decide on a suitable glossy publication which would honour the history of the PT Branch and highlight some of the many achievements on the sports fields over the years. Once I had agreed the broad outline of the design and taken suggestions on the contents it was then that the staff heads came together to decide on the detail and research the actual personalities to be mentioned in the script.”Former PTI veterans travelled from far and wide to attend and many friendships and much camaraderie was once again enjoyed over the weekend. The event was such a success that the PT Branch Reunion Club was formed, and a PT Reunion was then held every year at Lympstone. After the mid-2000’s, the PT Reunion was held bi-yearly, right up until the current date. In 2019 the PT Reunion Club became the RMA PT Branch, with a total membership of over 350 former and serving PTI’s. THE CENTENARY PT BRANCH REUNION IN 1971:100 YEARS OF HISTORY!

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THE CLOSING OF THE PT BRANCH GYMNASIUM AT DEAL: In the late 1980’s, with the sprung gym floors coated with blood, sweat and tears and having trained hundreds of RM PT Instructors and thousands of RM recruits to the highest standard of physical training and sports for over 100 years, the RM Deal Gymnasium was finally closed without ceremony. After the closing of the RM Deal Barracks, this fine historic gymnasium was converted into flats, thus, ending over 100 years of the building’s fine history between 1871-1971. However, for many Deal PTI’s the fond memories and happy days will remain forever!72

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73PO/X 4697 PTI SGT. CHARLES FORREST RM: Charles’ fellow Scotsman & Royal Marines PTI mentor wasPTI/RSM “Jock” Chisholm BEM (Front row right):Charles was also a very good artist and cartoonist – often capturing the experiences and spirit of Royal Marines PTI’s(Above): Charles at a PT Branch Reunion with Maj. Gen. Garry Robison CB, Former CGRM.PO/X 4697 Sgt. PTI Charles Forrest regularly attended the PT Branch Reunions, when he was over 80 years of age, travelling on his motor-bike from Scotland, until he had an accident & fell off and broke his hip in a 9-force gale!Charles’s apology for missing the PT Branch Reunion:

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THE PTI’s MEMORIAL BENCH ON THE WALMER SEAFRONT:Former PO/X 4897 Charles Forrest became a PTI in 1944, was a Corps Heavyweight Boxing Champion and was very loyal to the PT Branch until his sad passing in 2019. Upon his passing, his generous bequest provided the funding of The PT Branch Memorial Bench, which is located on the Walmer seafront, near the RMA Club. The PT Branch Memorial Bench lists the names on an engraved plaque, on the rear of the bench, of all departed PTI’s who have served at Deal from the year 2000. A QR code situated on the side of the bench accesses a short presentation on the history of the PT Branch in Deal, including the history of Charles and the PTI’s Memorial Bench. (Above): Former Corps Boxer & Deal PTI, Charles Forrest, in an Ayrshire hospital on his 96th birthday, being presented with a PT Branch Sweatshirt and birthday cake. Sadly, Charles died a few days later. His ashes were then brought down from Scotland and were scattered behind his bench in the Deal that he loved so much. Charles Forrest with PT Qualifiers at CTCRM.74

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2000:2012/2013: 2019:Jock Chisholm Rod Tuck Dave Nicholson Jimmy BrittainJohn Stark MBEEric Thompson Jim Rae Roy Sims Alan CooperChris GoodePeter Marshall Ted Kelland Paul Cochrane Gordon Russell2022:Charlie Gordon 2009: 2014: Bill SykesMartin FryerNorman Joy Bob Clash Royston KearCharles ForrestPeter RanftAlbert Gardiner Eddie (Spike) Sullivan Leslie John MakerJacques HartDave (Nobby) ClarkBernie Finan John Parkes Sandy MacVicar Fred RileyRobert (Ginge) RiversCapt. Ron Priddle RM Doug Oseland Raymond Wood Ray Hill2023:2001: Peter Best 2015 Vince GreenwoodMaurice WyllieHarry Russell John Hardstaff Geoff Barker Capt. Jack McNultySteve SmithMervyn Steadman Alan (Henry) Phelps Baz Pinder Capt. Kim BellamyJudd BarkerNorman Sargeant Ali Beaton John Rae Ken WilsonRon MoyseJack Hawse Keith Murray Andy Lucas John BarrattBryn Slaney2002: Roger Towse George Kitson 2020:Lt. Col. Phil Sampson RMDerek Mann 2010/2011: 2016: Harry Hurrell2024:Ron Hubble Johnny Scott Ron Mollins Tony HigginsJohn McDonough2004: Richard (Pincher) Martin Derek SheriffBob KnightIan Ross Dusty Miller Neville AylingCliff Watts2006 Peter Shakespeare Terry MoranDavid BarnardBen Novak (KIA)George (Trog) Royle2017:Frank Allen2007/2008: Bob Anderson Bill Manning2021:Johnny RiceJim EdmondBilly NeilsonGreg ForrestBrian StokesDave ClaridgeJimmy PreeceSam SmithD.D. SmithColwyn Reece2018:Maj. Jeff Beadle MBE MC RMRoger KnightJim (Mick) RutherfordAlex (Tosty) TostevinCol. David Storrie OBE RMStan MasonRob NapierHumphrey LinganeTony TomsWE WILL REMEMBER THEM:The names of fine RM PTI’s who have passed on from the year 2000: 75

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THE EARLY HISTORY OF MILITARY FITNESS - GENERAL INFORMATION RESOURCES:For excellent resources of articles and books on early military fitness visit: • https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/online books page • https://wellcomecollection.org/collections• https://journals.sagepub.com/home/jrs• https://www.hathitrust.org/• https://archive.org/OTHER SOURCES ON THE HISTORY OF MILITARY FITNESS INCLUDE: The National Archives and Records Centre at Kew:https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/The History of Fitness: Lance C. Dalleck, M.S. and Len Kravitz, Ph.D. www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/history.html A Guide to the History of Physical Education (374-pages) by Fred Eugene Leonard (1923) https://archive.org/details/of physical education (1923) by Fred Eugene Leonard M.D. The (1904) Inter-Departmental Committee on Physical Deterioration Report. Printed for HMSO (London) by Darling & Son for the HMSO:https://babel.hathitrust.org/1904 HMSO Report on Physical Deterioration."The Army Isn't all Work": A study of the physical culture in the evolution of the British Army (1860-1920): Report on Committee on physical training of recruits (1896). https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/The Army isn't all Work.“ “Fit To Fight - A History of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps (1860-2015)”https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Fit_to_Fight_A_History_of_the_Royal_ArmyRoyal Navy History Archives, Portsmouth Dockyard: https://www.nmrn.org.uk/collections-and-conservationThe Royal Marine Depot, Deal.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Marine_Depot,_DealThe Commando Training Centre Royal Marines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commando_Training_Centre_Royal_MarinesThe Public Domain Review: provides out-of-copyright material to share without restriction – e.g. The History of Indian Club Exercises. https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/eastern-sports-and-western-bodiesTHE HISTORY OF MILITARY FITNESS - BIBLIOGRAPHY & RESOURCES:Compiling the history of the RM PT Branch from the limited archive information available was not easy. However, the information provided has been gathered from a wide variety of sources and is believed to be as accurate as possible. It has been supplemented with the past living experience of the author. N.B. The electronic links below can be downloaded as a separate document by visiting: https://simplebooklet.com/historyofthermptbranchbibliographydoc In 1811 Fredeich Jahn (“The Father of German Gymnastics”) opened the first German gymnasium in Berlin.An early YMCA Gymnasium in London (1888) showing gymnastics, rope-climbing & club-swinging. A Victorian prison treadmill in the 1800’s, used to exhaust prisoners & grind corn for up to 10 hours a day. 76

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77THE CROSSED-CLUBS BADGE:A military system of gymnastic exercises and a system of fencing ... by Archibald MacLaren. To which is appended a series of exercises for the regulation clubs, by Lt. Anderson. https://babel.hathitrust.org/MacLaren’s (1868) Book “A Military System of Gymnastic Exercises and Fencing.”Indian Club Exercise by Sam Kehoe (1866) - Its use in England, and introduction into the British Army: https://archive.org/details/indianclubexerci00kehorichBritish Manly Exercise by Donald Walker (1834): https://wellcomecollection.org/Donald Walker (1834) British Manly Exercise.‘MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO’: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_sana_in_corpore_sanoARCHIBALD MACLAREN AND THE FIRST MILITARY GYMNASIUMS:Friedrich Ludwig Jahn - German educator.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Friedrich Ludwig Jahn and the Development of Gymnastics in Germany(1905) by Fred Leonard.Friedrich Ludwig Jahn and the development of gymnastics in Germany (1905) by Fred Leonard. Archibald MacLaren’s first (1858) purpose-built gymnasium in Oxford:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_MacLaren#Oxford_GymnasiumArchibald Maclaren’s, 1885 (543-pages) book: “A System of Physical Education, Theoretical and Practical.” can be viewed at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3141382&seq=11Archibald MacLaren’s actual 1862 (285- pages) book: “A Military System of Gymnastic Exercises for the use of Instructors” can be viewed at: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/b6nztbkx/items?canvas=5Archibald MacLaren’s (1868) Book “A Military System of Gymnastic Exercises and a System of Fencing for the use of Instructors” can be viewed at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/MacLaren’s (1868) Book “A Military System of Gymnastic Exercises and Fencing.”Archibald MacLaren’s (1864) address to the Royal United Services Institution, on the Design of Military Gymnasia can be viewed at: https://www.tandfonline.com/MacLaren's Military Gymnasia Recommendations.The British Army’s first gymnasium, built to MacLaren’s design at Aldershot in 1868.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aldershott_Gymnasium_1868.jpgTHE BUILDING OF THE RM GYMNASIUM AT DEAL:History of the Royal Marines:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Royal_Marines• NB. Kew Records Office - Original 1867 Plans.• DEPOT ROYAL MARINES Improvement of buildings, 1894 Vol 2 136• DEPOT ROYAL MARINES Swimming Bath - commencement of work Vol 1 9 Archibald MacLaren designed the first military gymnasiums and physical development exercise programmes in Great Britain in the late 1800’s.OTHER BIBLIOGRAPHY & RESOURCES:

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78PORTRAIT OF AN 1800’s PTI - SERGEANT JOSEPH IVES COLE RMLI: A well- researched PDF document prepared by his great, great grandson, Trevor Crittenden (trev.critt@virginmedia.com).WHY IS SGT COLE WEARING A CROSSED-SWORDS BADGE?(A Special Army Circular dated 14 August 1868, paragraph 10) Reference: WO 32/9451: (Code 43(K)): Badges for the Army Physical Training Corps (1940-1943). Also: Reference PCOM 9/1302. Physical Training Instructors Qualifications. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2544325BAYONET- FIGHTING:Physical Exercise Tables and Bayonet Fighting Royal Marines (1937) R.M. Pamphlet No. 1561/37.T.PEHR HENRIK LING’s SWEDISH PT SYSTEM:The History of Pehr Henrik Ling: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pehr_Henrik_Ling“The Gymnastic Free Exercises of P.H. Ling” – Translated by M. Roth M.D. with 58 Illustrations(1853) Arranged by Hugo Rothstein and translated by Mathias Roth:https://archive.org/details/63810470R.nlm.nih.gov“The Evolution and Benefits of Swedish P.T. “– The Surgeon General, U.S. Navy’s Report on Swedish P.T. (1910).Extracted from the original report: The Benefits of the Swedish PT System (PB research notes) .pdfBritish Army - Manual of Physical Training (HMSO 1914):https://babel.hathitrust.org/British Army - Manual of Physical Training (HMSO 1914):THE ROYAL NAVY SCHOOL OF PT (1902): Report of the Committee on the Regulations for the Entry and Training of Boys in Her Majesty’s Navy, 15 Dec. 1879, Paragraph 24, ADM 116/704, National Archives, quoted in Walton, ‘A Social History of the Royal Navy’, p. 200.“The Food of the Bluejacket,” Francis H. Miller, The Navy and Army Illustrated 2 (4 September 1896): 110.General Order 4091. Physical and Recreational Training Branch. (C.W. [N. 3301. 1.1.1920.) RM P & RT INSTRUCTORS IN THE EARLY 1900’s: Badges for Specialist Qualifications PT instructors authorised to wear badge, 1905. Physical Training (Specialist Qualification): From https://rmhistorical.com/files/content/SQ%20PTI.pdf (ref: GO 27 3-1905) , (GO 9 1917) , (RMRO 205 1951) , ( AFO 1422 1953) , ( AFO 2231 1953) , (AFO 1153 1962) and (RMRO 26 2000).WW1 & THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORT IN THE ARMY:Army Manual of Physical Training, 1908. London : Printed for H.M.S.O., by Harrison, 1908.https://wellcomecollection.org/works/uvhv8wtjThe foundation of the Army Sport Control Board was officially notified on 20 November in Army Council Instruction No. 1299 of 1918, which set out the objects of the Board. “Sport and the Military: the British Armed Forces 1880-1960”. Tony Mason and Eliza Riedi. (Cambridge University Press, 2010), 5.WW1 & THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORT IN THE RN & RM:RE: Instructions from The Director, Physical Training & Sports Branch, to The Superintendent, P.R.T. School, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth. 10th October 1923.General Order 4091. Physical and Recreational Training Branch. (C.w. [N. 3301. 1.1.1920.) Ling’s Swedish PT System was widely used across Europe and the UK for Military and Schools Physical Training and for both male and female participants. OTHER BIBLIOGRAPHY & RESOURCES:

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79CDR. COOTE & POST-WAR SPORT IN THE RN & RM:“R.N. Physical Training & Sports Branch – The P & RT Conference 1921”, from the original document held at the National Archives in Kew (Ref: ADM/8619/24) Retrieved December 2023.“A Scheme For National Physical Education“. A paper written by Surg. Cdr. K. Digby Bell R.N. (School of Physicaland Recreational Training, Portsmouth.) for a meeting of The Royal Society of Medicine, held January 21, 1920.RM FOOTBALL IN THE 1900’S & THE TUNNEY CUP: Website: https://royalmarinesfootball.co.uk/tunney-cup.htmlTHE P & RT INSTRUCTOR SYLLABUS OF THE 1930’S: Information from the RM PT Branch Archives held at CTCRM, Lympstone.THE RM PHYSICAL & RECREATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL (1926 ):Notice 3370. Royal Marine P.R.T. Instructors Allocation Complement: (N. 4324/26.-10.12.1926.) RM PHYSICAL TRAINING & SPORT IN THE 1940’s: Information from the RM PT Branch Archives held at CTCRM, Lympstone.Royal Marines Applied Physical Training Handbook 1945, Including Bayonet Fighting and Close Combat.Basic and Battle Physical Training – The War Office 1945.THE 1940’s PT2 COURSE SYLLABUS: Information provided by the RM PT Branch Archives held at CTCRM, Lympstone.WW2 & PTI’s SERVE BOTH ON LAND & AT SEA:'History and Training 1940 -1945’ - Commando Veterans Archive at: https://www.commandoveterans.org/CommandoBasicTrainingCentre Commando Basic Training Centre (United Kingdom) at:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commando_Basic_Training_Centre_(United_Kingdom)THE POST- WW2 PHYSICAL TRAINING BRANCH: Communication Sheet (Ref. No: 1/2/45) from The Superintendent P..&.R.T. R.M., Dated: 8th September 1945, to The Commandant General, Royal Marines.Information also provided by the RM PT Branch Archives held at CTCRM, Lympstone.THE 1950’S PT2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS:282.-Uniform-Royal Marine Physical Training Instructors-Re-introduction of Red Edged Vests Gymnasium(V.2A/551/6/55.-3 Feb. 1956.) at: https://rmhistorical.com/files/content/AFO%201153%2015-6-1962.pdf(U)1153.-Uniform-Badges-Physical Training Sub-Specialisation-Track Suits- Wearing of S.Q. Badges. (D.C.S.D.-15 Jun. 1962.) (A.F.O. 815/62.).RM PTI SPORT & SPORTS CHAMPIONS OF THE 1950’s: From the RM PT Branch Archives held at CTCRM, Lympstone.CORPS SPORT IN THE 1960’s & 1970’s:PT Newsletters (1-24) 1955-1966 held at the Royal Navy History Archives, Portsmouth. Royal Marines Sport – PT Branch Newsletter No 11 (1960). The RM PT Branch has maintained the highest levels of excellence in physical fitness & sport for over 100 years. OTHER BIBLIOGRAPHY & RESOURCES:

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THE HISTORY OF MILITARY PHYSICAL FITNESS - SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT:In WW1 and WW2 between 40-60% of recruits were rejected as being unfit for military service, due to poverty, poor nutrition and low levels of fitness, resulting in a shortage of military volunteers. The same situation is prevalent in today’s modern sedentary age.In today’s technological age, the great majority of today’s military recruits will have received very little physical development during their school education years, and invariably will have poor nutritional habits and a typically sedentary lifestyle. Basic physiology does not change and throughout 100 years of military fitness history, has consistently shown the importance of providing at least an initial 12-week physical development for recruits, to prepare them for the harder military training to follow. The previous initial basic 12-week training programme, that was conducted at the Depot RM, Deal in the 1960’s and 1970’s, was very successful in gradually preparing recruits for the harder infantry and commando training at CTCRM, resulting in few injuries and very few leaving the Corps prematurely. Pehr Henrik Ling’s Swedish PT system played an essential part in their physical preparation.Also, participation in sport and recreational activity has been shown throughout history to be an important factor in the recruitment and retention of recruits, as well as raising esprit de corps, but there appears to be little time for this in today’s intensive training. Today’s shorter and more complex recruit training programme at CTCRM makes gradual physical development very hard to achieve and may be a major factor in the low recruitment of new recruits, high injury-rates and then opting to leave service-life prematurely.Our previous RM Basic Recruit Training Programme at the Depot RM, Deal, was well-tested and successful. Captain Capon RAMC’s experimental programme for medically failed Army recruits during 1936 -1939, also provided valuable insights for the physical preparation of previously medically failed recruits during WW2 (See: “Captain Capon's Cure—Food, Fitness and the British Army's Physical Development Depots, 1936–1939” at: https://bootcampmilitaryfitnessinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Captain-Capons-Cure-Food-Fitness-the-British-Armys-Physical-Development-Depots-1936-1939-Davenport-2014.pdf Basic human physiology does not change, and basic physical development is a slow and gradual process, that cannot be hurried. In today’s time-pressured age, the history of military physical training and sport provides some valuable lessons that may provide some food for thought for the future recruitment, physical training and retention of RM Recruits. (Peter Brown MBE MSc.2024) 80“Nations have passed away and left no traces, And history gives the naked cause of it- One single, simple reason in all cases;They fell because their peoples were not fit.” (Rudyard Kipling).