Fears were expressed as early as 1868 that
the Royal Marines would be leaving Walmer. The East Kent Mercury of
5 December 1868 reported:
"We are sorry to
announce that it is expected that the Royal Marine light Infantry
Depot, which has been stationed at Walmer several years, will leave that
station very soon. This, we believe, is caused by the government
having resolved to reduce this force very considerably."
This was corrected on 9 January 1869:
"The Royal Marines. We
are enabled to state that there is no intention, and there never was, of
disbanding the Marines. The distinguished Corps will continue to exist
and be ready when called upon to maintain the high reputation which it
has acquired, but in such reduced numbers as the altered state of the
day demands."
|