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Corps Regimental Sergeant Major
British Corps Regimental Sergeant Major
Incumbent
Nicholas Ollive
since 9 December 2021
Ministry of Defence
Mr or Sir
Type Senior enlisted advisor
Abbreviation Corps RSM
Reports to Commandant General Royal Marines
Nominator Commandant General
Appointer Navy Board
Term length Not fixed,
typically 1–4 years
Formation 1 January 1989
First holder David Malcolm Stollery MBE

The Corps Regimental Sergeant Major[1] (Corps RSM) is the most senior warrant officer of the Royal Marines. Responsible for maintaining standards and discipline within the Royal Marines, they act as a parental figure to their subordinates and also to junior officers, even though the latter technically outrank the RSM.

Post creation[]

The post was created in 1989.[2] He is addressed as "Mr" by officers and "Sir" by all other ranks. Routinely known as "the Corps RSM"

"It has been decided to appoint a representative Regimental Sergeant Major, who will be responsible for centralised events involving Warrant Officers and Senior Non Commissioned Officers and upon who the Commandant General can call for advice should he so desire. The Warrant officers so appointed will be called the Corps Regimental Sergeant Major (Corps RSM)"

Royal Marine Routine Orders, Monday 20th February 1989. (signed by Maj. Gen. H. Y. La R. Beverley)

List of Royal Marines Corps Regimental Sergeant Majors[]

Name Took office Left office Time in office Ref
1
David Malcolm Stollery MBE
Stollery, DavidDavid Malcolm Stollery MBE1 January 198922 January 19901 year[2][3]
2
John "Jan" Kenneth Palmer MBE
Palmer, JohnJohn "Jan" Kenneth Palmer MBE9 December 19894 April 19922 years, 3 months[3]
3
J. D. "Des" W. MBE MM
W, JJ. D. "Des" W. MBE MM1 April 199224 April 19942 years[3]
4
W. J. "Willy" S.
S, WW. J. "Willy" S.21 September 19936 March 19951 year, 5 months[3]
5
W. N. M. "Nev" W. MBE
W, WW. N. M. "Nev" W. MBE4 January 19954 April 19983 years, 3 months[3]
6
K. R.
R, KK. R.2 December 199716 November 19991 year, 11 months[3]
7
R. T. MBE
T, RR. T. MBE13 September 199914 October 20027 years, 1 month[3]
8
John Anthony "George" Forster
F, JJohn Anthony "George" Forster14 October 200228 November 20042 years, 1 month[4][5]
9
E. A. C. MBE
C, EE. A. C. MBE29 November 200431 January 20072 years, 2 months[n 1]
10
B. A. "Baz" D. MBE
D, BB. A. "Baz" D. MBE1 February 200719 October 20092 years, 8 months[n 1]
11
Marc Wicks MBE
Wicks, MarcMarc Wicks MBE20 October 200914 July 20111 year, 8 months[6]
12
Alistair Iain "Ally" McGill MBE QGM
McGill, AlistairAlistair Iain "Ally" McGill MBE QGM21 July 201119 November 20143 years, 3 months[7]
13
Philip Steven "Phil" Gilby
Gilby, PhilipPhilip Steven "Phil" Gilby19 November 2014April 20183 years, 4 months[8]
14
Dave Mason MBE
Mason, DaveDave Mason MBEApril 201831 July 20202 years, 3 months[9][10]
15
Richard Angove
Angove, RichardRichard Angove31 July 2020Incumbent5 years, 4 months[11]
16
Nicholas Ollive
Olive, NicholasNicholas Ollive9 December 2021Incumbent4 years[12]

See also[]

Notes[]

References[]

  1. Note that in the British Armed Forces, the plural is "sergeant majors" and not "sergeants major". "No. 48587". 16 April 1981. p. 5671. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/48587/supplement/5671  "No. 25044". 2 December 1881. p. 6467. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/25044/page/6467  The earliest usage of "sergeant majors" in The Times is in 1822. The last of the (very occasional) usages of "sergeants major", except when referring to American NCOs, is in 1938.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Appointment of Corps Regimental Sergeant Major". http://www.rm-badges.com/images/RMRO%2024%201989.pdf. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Forster, J. A.. Register of the Royal Marines Regimental Sergeant Major. Royal Marines Museum, Eastney, Portsmouth. 
  4. "Commander Presents Fathers RSM Cane to Corps Museum". 22 March 2012. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/March/28/120322-Cdr-Terry-Tyacks-Cane. 
  5. "Roll". http://yeomenoftheguard.com/roll.htm. 
  6. "Command Senior Enlisted Leader". 23 August 2010. http://www.act.nato.int/command-senior-enlisted-leader. 
  7. "Trustees". http://www.rmctf.org.uk/our-challenge/trustees/. 
  8. "Sword presentation to the Royal Marine Corps at Royal Marines Museum". http://www.nmrn.org.uk/news-events/nmrn-blog/sword-presentation-royal-marine-corps-royal-marines-museum. 
  9. "WO1 (CRSM) Dave Mason RM Corps Regimental Sergeant Major". https://theroyalmarinescharity.org.uk/our-mission/our-trustees/wo1-crsm-dave-mason-rm/. 
  10. MajGenHolmes (31 July 2020). "On behalf of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, I’d like to thank WO1 (RSM) Mason profusely for his 28 years of dedicated and distinguished service. An outstanding Corps RSM, he hands the cane and the responsibility to WO1 (RSM) Angove.". https://twitter.com/MajGenHolmes/status/1289112545316478977. 
  11. AdmTonyRadakin (31 July 2020). "Thank you, WO1 Mason, for your magnificent service and all that you have done for @RoyalMarines and @RoyalNavy. Congratulations on an exemplary career. And welcome to WO1 Richard Angove as the new Corps RSM. Well done on your appointment, and looking forward to working with you.". https://twitter.com/AdmTonyRadakin/status/1289092818200387584. 
  12. https://twitter.com/WOCarlSteedman/status/1468916346146729991
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