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Ah, Gibraltar – that stubborn chunk of limestone jutting out like a sore thumb at the mouth of the Mediterranean.

Today, it's famous for its apes, its airport runway that doubles as a pedestrian crossing, and being a British outpost that's survived more sieges than a medieval castle in a fantasy novel.

But rewind to 1704, and you'll find the Royal Marines at the heart of one of history's cheekiest land grabs. Picture this: a bunch of red-coated sea soldiers, fresh from the decks of His Majesty's ships, storming ashore not for a beach holiday, but to seize a fortress that could choke off trade routes and make empires weep. It's a tale of cannon fire, sneaky climbs, and sheer bloody-mindedness – all wrapped up in the timeless Commando Spirit that defines the Corps to this day.

Let's set the scene. The War of the Spanish Succession is raging, a messy European scrap over who gets to sit on Spain's throne after King Carlos II kicks the bucket without an heir. Britain, allied with the Dutch and Austrians, is keen to stop France's Louis XIV from turning the whole continent into his personal backyard. Enter Admiral Sir George Rooke, a no-nonsense sailor with a fleet itching for action. After a failed poke at Cadiz, he's eyeing Gibraltar – a rocky peninsula guarded by Don Diego de Salinas and about 500 Spaniards who think their defences are impregnable. Spoiler: they weren't.

On July 21st, 1704, Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt (yes, the same lineage that ties into modern royals like Prince Philip – as noted in Peter C. Smith's Per Mare Per Terram) leads 1,900 Marines ashore. These lads aren't your average infantrymen; they're amphibious warriors, trained to fight from sea to land with the adaptability of a chameleon on steroids.

They sever the isthmus, cutting off the Rock from the mainland, and the siege begins. The next day, Rooke's fleet unleashes hell: 15,000 cannonballs in five hours, turning the Spanish defences into Swiss cheese. As the smoke clears, Captains Hicks and Jumper – names that sound like they belong in a pirate yarn – scramble into the mole's fortifications with their pinnaces (small boats, not fancy hats). They're the first in, holding the platform despite a nasty Spanish mine that kills two lieutenants and 40 men, wounding 60 more.

Courage? These Marines had it in spades. Stepping forward into the unknown, doing what's right even when it's exploding under your feet – that's the Core Commando Spirit right there. But the fun's just starting. The garrison surrenders on July 26th, and Rooke plants Queen Anne's flag, not the Austrian one the Prince had hoisted. Cheeky? Absolutely. But practical – Gibraltar was too juicy a prize to hand over.

Grabbing and Holding 'the Rock' 

Now, holding the Rock? That's where Determination kicks in. Rooke leaves the Marines with 60 guns and three months' rations before sailing off for repairs. By October, the Spanish and French are back with a vengeance: a massive army under Marquis de Villadarias, plus a French fleet. The Marines, now the bulk of the garrison, face assault after assault.

They sortie against trench-digging parties, repel storms on the Round Tower and Land Port, and even counter a "forlorn hope" of 400 Spaniards who sneak up the eastern cliffs to St. Michael's Cave. Led by Colonel Bor (a descendant of whom pops up in later Marine lore), 500 Marines charge in and wipe them out – the attackers had only three rounds each, and no diversionary attack materialised. Talk about unselfishness: putting the team first, holding the line despite being whittled down to 1,000 men by sickness and wounds.

The siege drags on eight months, with disease claiming 12,000 enemy lives. Convoys slip through thanks to the Royal Navy, and on March 20th, 1705, Sir John Leake smashes the French fleet in the bay. By April, the besiegers blow up their trenches and slink away. As The Triumphs of Her Majesty's Arms (1707) put it: "Encouraged by the example of the Prince of Hesse, the garrison did more than could humanly be expected, and the English Marines gained an immortal glory."

Gibraltar remains the sole battle honour on the Corps' Colours to this day – a badge of mental fortitude and resilience under extreme stress.

But let's add an entertaining twist: Imagine those Marines, hunkered down amid the cannonade, cracking jokes to keep morale high. "Oi, mate, this Rock's harder to crack than the Sergeant's sense of humour!" Cheerfulness in the face of adversity – another pillar of the Commando ethos.

It's the same spirit Gareth Timmins describes in Becoming the 0.1%, where recruits harness it to overcome adversity in training. Or as seen in modern ops, like the volunteers in a short history who blended seamlessly with regulars, their determination making them indistinguishable.

Gibraltar wasn't just a win; it was a blueprint for the Royal Marines' identity. From sea soldiers to elite commandos, they've embodied adaptability, leadership with humility, and that unbreakable team bond. Next time you see the Rock, remember: it was grabbed by men who laughed in the face of mines and sieges. 

Capture of Gibraltar 24th July to 1st August 1704