Why did Canada, Australia, and New Zealand not develop separate marine corps?
Short answerLocal force structures were the main reason: armies could supply the role, and there was too little standing amphibious capability to sustain a separate service.
NotesThe absence of separate marine corps is explained through the way each country's own services developed. Australia maintained an amphibious specialty within an army infantry formation. Canada had too little standing amphibious capability to sustain a separate marine institution in this account. New Zealand's small peacetime establishment likewise encouraged reliance on its existing forces. The explanation is local force structure, rather than a common British prohibition on creating marine units.