Royal Marines stage historic parade

The Duke of Edinburgh presented new colours

The Royal Marines have staged their largest parade in Britain since World War II.

Nearly 300 of Britain's 6,000 commandos were on Plymouth Hoe on Thursday, from bases in Devon, Somerset, and Arbroath, in Scotland.

They were presented with new colours - regimental flags - by the commandos' Captain General, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The ceremony saw the first gathering of all three Royal Marines units on home soil.

Overseas tours

The only previous massed parade of 40, 42 and 45 Commando took place in Malta in 1952.

It is rare for all three to be in the country at the same time.

Planning for the parade took two years

Forty Commando, based in Taunton, Somerset, are home from Northern Ireland.

The men of 42 Commando have returned to Bickleigh, Devon, after tours in Sierra Leone.

And 45 Commando, from Arbroath, has just returned from Kosovo, along with Brigade Headquarters - normally based in Plymouth.

Each has been presented with two new flags - its own, and the Queen's. The banners each cost £13,000 to make.

City parade

Plymouth Hoe, scene of Sir Francis Drake's famous bowls match before the battle with the Spanish Armada, was closed to the public for the ceremony.

After receiving the colours, the men marched through the city centre to Stonehouse Barracks, accompanied by all three Royal Marines bands.

The Duke broke off to chat with onlookers in Plymouth

The Duke surprised onlookers by striding up to talk to some of the thousands of people who had turned out in the city.

Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Messenger, chief of staff at brigade headquarters in Plymouth, said: "The colours symbolise the traditions and history of the Royal Marines.

"This parade is an opportunity to pay tribute to that and celebrate that history - some 337 years of it.

"It is also a re-affirmation of the allegiance both to the Queen and the nation."

Fallen comrades

In past centuries the colours were carried into battle and used as rallying points.

Major Alastair Donald, a Royal Marines historian, said: "The colours were always in the heat of battle and gradually they became venerated.

The colours are a symbol of regimental pride

"They almost became a memorial to people who lost their lives fighting under those colours."

Tradition said that any regiment losing its colours in battle would not be given a new set until they had recaptured them or seized the flag or an enemy.

A spokesman said: "No Royal Marine unit has ever had its colours captured in battle.

"However, 40 Commando once lost theirs when someone stole them from the mess, but that didn't count."

They were recovered.