P14 Royal Marines Issue??

Attachment 102002Attachment 102001The butt disc on this rifle would indicate a date of October 1917 with a possible rack number 995. The previous owner seemed to think that the R.M. L.I. on the disc stood for
"Royal Marines Light Infantry" but I can't find any reference to this in all the reference books I have checked including the "Broad Arrow".
The rifle is very well marked, it is an ERA "Fat Boy" with matching numbers to the barrel which is 1917 dated, & the action. However the woodwork carries the number R6286 which is repeated on the bolt along with the rifle serial number 362625.
Both the barrel and action carry the mark "Not English Make" which I have not seen on a military rifle before, I understand it was probably applied when the rifle was first proofed.
A very pleasant surprise was when I discovered that it still had its original serial numbered oil bottle in the butt along with the pull through.
The R6286 number is a bit of a puzzle as it seems to be wrong for a serial number and no attempt has been made to obscure it from the bolt handle any ideas???

It's entirely possible the Real Marines used P-14's. Suspect their web site will have at least some info. Dunno for sure.

For interest and clearly the P14's came in later. Here are two images of the RMLI one in Ostend WW1 and the other dated 1914:

Royal Malta???

I have learned that the Royal Marine Light Infantry was formed in 1855 with the Royal Marine Artillery being formed in 1859, they were merged on the 22nd of June 1923 and became the Royal Marine Corps.

Royal Marine deployment to Gallipoli The Long, Long Trail

Here's a reference to RMLI and a potted history of the Naval Division.

breakeyp,
Malta only had the Royal Malta Artillery Regiment so not them mate!;)

Certainly looks to be Royal Marine Light Infantry, the 10.17 presumably being the date, & the other number being the rack number. We had an instance recently where a rifle bore an unexpected butt marker disc, & this could be another example where a rifle has been fitted with an 'interesting' butt disc from another rifle after the event; the screw slot in the disc screw is somewhat chewed up, though it is almost impossible to say whether they were always together one way or the other for sure.

Units of the RMLI were incorporated into Royal Marine Brigades early in WW1 along with surplus naval personnel who had been combed out & re-tasked with serving as infantry. The brigades were soon incorporated into the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, coming under army control, though with its personnel retaining their naval ranks. The RND served with distinction in various battles during the Great War, including the Battle of the Ancre in November 1916, & at Gavrelle during the Battle of Arras in the spring of 1917.