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Naval Reserve Forces (See below for M.M.R., R.N.V.R., R.N.V.S.R., R.N.S.R., R.F.R., R.F.A.S. and the Coastguard Service) |
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ROYAL NAVAL
RESERVE
Although there
had been precursors, such as the River & Sea Fencibles
during the French Revolutionary Wars; and some
provision for naval reserves made (but dropped through the fall of the Whig
government to the Tories) in 1852; it was not until 1859 that the R.N.R. as
such came into being (provisionally named the Royal Naval Volunteers). In the
teeth of vociferous opposition from much of the R.N. establishment, in 1861
there was the separate formation of an officers’ reserve.
It was not
until much later that ratings received proper naval
uniforms (but then these had only been first introduced for ratings in the R.N.
in 1857). However, even although officers’ wore uniforms from the start, not
only were their cap badges and buttons different, the rings for were of a very
ornate ‘intertwined’ pattern from the R.N.’s plain bands of gold, instantly
identifying R.N.R. officers as different.
With a
commonplace lack of strategic thought to be found in governmental and military
organisations, this reserve basically found itself to be something of an
equally badly-trained replacement for the Royal Naval Coast Volunteers. While
the organisation periodically changed, it was not until the 1880s that there
were any real improvements in the R.N.R. Official incompetence
during the Russian war scare of 1885 led to the first provision of proper
armed-merchant cruisers, which in turn meant the potential of meaningful sea
time for the reservists. (There had been only very
limited experiments at taking reservists to sea in men-o-war by this time.)
Further, but grudging opportunities availed themselves through the Naval
Defence Act (1889) and subsequent building campaigns, as the professional navy
became overstretched from the 1890s onwards. Through these decades, in spite of
continuing opposition from much of naval establishment the R.N.R. had grown
significantly, not only in size, but also in complexity, with the addition of
more branches of service. Nevertheless, it was still seen primarily in terms of
a gunnery reserve and incompetently at that, since the training remained out of
date and poor.
During the
Edwardian period, the R.N.R. survived Admiral Sir John Fisher‘s attempt to disband
it in 1905 and ironically through this, was put on a far more useful footing.
With massive building programmes and the retention of older, larger warships as reserve fleets,
the manning problems of the R.N. were by then severe. It was in the role of
keeping the pre-Dreadnought men-o-war at sea that the mainstream R.N.R. came to
be used. (This becomes very apparent when looking at the
casualties in the disastrous sinkings of HOGUE,
ABOUKIR, CRESSY, MONMOUTH and GOOD HOPE in 1914.) Also, a relatively
small scheme for keeping naval ports free of mines had been developed by using civilian
fishing craft. As of 1910 the Royal Naval Reserve
(Trawler Section)
was formed.
As the First
World War progressed, more and more roles were found for reservists. Almost
immediately German mining operations meant a massive expansion of the R.N.R.(T) along with other craft of the ‘Auxiliary Patrol’. Day
to day blockade duties fell to Cruiser Force B/10th Cruiser
Squadron, which by 1915 were made up of Armed Merchant Cruisers. Other A.M.C.s,
such as the famous CARMANIA, formed integral parts of the patrolling cruiser
squadrons throughout the world. The transportation of troops and matériel required officers with
mercantile experience, which were duly used. And, later masters and mates of vessels
taken up for government service (non-commissioned Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries)
were also temporarily commissioned into the R.N.R. Yet more officers found
themselves on other duties, such as in the salvage of semi-sunken merchantmen.
There were
also R.N.R. men in 1914, who along with all sorts of other reserves, ended up
in Winston Churchill’s Royal Naval Divisions. If they survived long enough, in
Belgium, Gallipoli and Flanders, they became soldiers not just in appearance,
but in reality by being transferred to the army in 1916 (although the Admiralty
retained some control over them at least administratively).
Unsurprisingly,
during the inter-war period the R.N.R. did not figure highly in defence
spending - such that this was anyway. However, once again during the Second
World War these professional mariner reservists showed their mettle. In the
post-war era there was yet more re-organisation and while retaining the title
Royal Naval Reserve lost its professional basis, by being amalgamated with the R.N.V.R.
As for records
pertinent to genealogical searches, these are mostly in The National Archives,
Public Records Office, Kew. Only brief descriptions of
documents will be given here, since formats and types of information recorded
changed with the many re-organisations. Also, records of ratings and
commissioned officers were substantially different. Therefore, these will be
dealt with separately.
Surviving ratings’ records can
basically be split into two bodies. There are those from 1860 until 1913 and
those from 1914 onwards.
The pre First
World War documents comprise of ledgers, with ‘service sheets’ written up. This
was similar to the practice for R.N. ratings of the time. In the case of the
reservists, a great deal of information could be recorded: not only
of their reserve activities, but also their civilian employment. Also, men
enrolled for five-year engagements and their entries in these ledgers reflect
this. So, if they signed on for a second, third, fourth time their official
numbers changed and they were entered into different ledgers. Also, with
numerous re-organisations there were different schemes of reserve, getting
evermore complex as time progressed.
In total the
percentage of these particular records available to the public is small.
Nevertheless, a greater number of ledgers, twelve in all, concerned with deck
ratings of the First Class Reserve survive. These cover the period of 1860 to
the late 1890s in one form or another. There are five ledgers for deck ratings
of the Second Class Reserve and these cover some years between 1870 and 1899.
The small Third Class Reserve for deck ratings is dealt with by one ledger,
between 1877 and 1899. And lastly, there are three ledgers for the Firemen’s
Reserve, covering periods between 1888 and 1896.
Unfortunately no indexes to any of these
ledgers have been released. Therefore, one needs to know a reservist’s official
number to stand a realistic chance of obtaining any information. These numbers
were often to be found on other documentation, such as crew lists and
agreements. So, in effect, for the period dealt with here, these records are
hardly of use for genealogical research into mariners other than certificated
officers (see example below).
The second
tranche of ratings’ documentation is more helpful however. It has become
patently obvious that these form part of the card index system compiled by the
office of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. Theoretically these
cards stretch from 1914 until the amalgamation of the R.N.R. with the R.N.V.R.
in the 1950s. However, it is thought that there are no entries later than the
1930s and personally I have seen no entries later than 1937 (of a leading
seamen known later to have been killed on a submarine during the Second World
War). Originally in the form of cards, these are now presented as microfiche.
Copied well, they are still not very easy to use. However, this is merely due
to the amount of information crammed onto them, especially during the war
years. The best way I have found to deal with these, is to photocopy entries on
as large a format as possible and work through the considerable detail at
leisure at home. Of course, entries in red do not show up particularly well,
but this is a problem with many mercantile/naval records on film and fiche.
(The above beg
questions that as yet are unanswered. Was there an earlier card index for
R.N.R. ratings at the R.G.S.S. prior to 1914? If so, what happened to it? And,
presumably there were also ledgers of service for R.N.R ratings held by the Admiralty
from 1914 onward and since Ministry of Defence officials maintain that they
have no further personnel files in their possession, what was their fate?)
By comparison,
the service records of R.N.R. commissioned officers are far more complicated. This situation has arisen
through uncoordinated and thoughtless processing by modern civil servants,
apparently both at the Ministry of Defence and
at the Public Records Office.
Dealing with
those maintained by the Royal Navy, for officers on the active list during the
period from the 1860s through to the 1890s, their service sheets are in the
form of original ledgers. While not indexed, these were organised by number and
date of commission. So, rank and date of seniority must be known for officers’ initial commissions to be found without undue
searching. These 19th century volumes again give much information
for officers active within the reserve. After promotion (if indeed this
happened) further detail is recorded in the original ledgers.
Continuing
with officers on the active list (where commissions were gained in peacetime)
or on the retired list employed in war, it can now be worked out that the
ledger system remained in use in the 20th century, stretching (as
far as so far seen) to the immediate post First World War period. Having
finally been released (far later than other series) these are in microfiche
form. There are indexes for these, for the executive branch they are externally
in two microfiche at the beginning of the series. But, for other branches, such
as in engineers and paymasters, each original volume was apparently internally
indexed and can be found at the front of each volume’s microfiche.
Additionally,
there are other ledgers for officers holding commissions from the late 1890s
through to immediately before the First World War. It might be that these came
from the commissions and warrants department. These are not particularly
useful, especially now as service sheets are available. Also, with
re-organisations these psychically become smaller gradually, recording less and
less information. The 20th century ledgers are small red
leather-bound books, which deal with one rank only. So, if promoted more than
one search is required, for very little information recorded.
During the
Great War (1914-19) a large number of temporary commissions were given. Until
recently, these when drawn were in their original ledger form. However, in late
2005 I found that these are now also in microfilm format. They are arranged by
rank and rough date of their initial R.N.R. commissions. It
should be noted that indexes for these are external and also on microfilm.
For
researchers not au fait with naval
administrative terminology these wartime ledgers can be difficult records to
understand. They were written up in pen and ink and heavily abbreviated. Unlike
earlier service records no reference was made to officers’ civilian life
though. Saliently no certificate numbers were quoted for qualified seamen and
engineering officers. Compounding potential difficulties, often the handwriting
is atrocious. Apart from details of individuals’ service there can be some additional interesting information
recorded on these entries. Seemingly immediately prior to discharge, their
service sheets were ‘written up’ by relevant flag officers. These comments can
indicate something of individuals’ characters. Also, details of next of kin and
addresses where officers were living on discharge are often (although not
always) recorded. And, it should be noted that merchant mates and masters on
Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries later in the war who were awarded commissions for
individual voyages on government service are not
shown (as far as I can determine) within these ledgers.
There were
also honorary commissions given to a small number of individuals. Often the
recipients were marine superintendents of the prestigious liner companies, as
well as to others of the ‘great and the good’. There are also ledgers in the
form of ‘service sheets’, but giving very limited information on these
characters: from the earliest days through to the 20th century.
I would
suggest that searches are made of the Navy
List
or Royal Navy List prior to going near
the above documents, in order to gain as much relevant information, as this may
well save considerable time and effort. A word of warning
however. These lists are often not simple documents to use: especially
in times of conflict. As an example of this, near the end of the First World
War there were three separate lists for commissioned officers of the R.N.R alone
in the Navy List. In order to get the
most of these a working knowledge of the esoteric concept of militaristic
‘seniority’ is required.
There is also
a perhaps surprising problem dealing with these documents, especially the late
19th century volumes. The leather of the spines and covers has
deteriorated into a powder, which is deposited on anything it comes into
contact with. The result is brick-red grubby fingers and clothing (if brushed
against).
Clear as
daylight to me at least, part of the R.N.R. officers’ card index as compiled by
the R.G.S.S. has also now been released. All the officers’ records so far
mentioned have been in the class ADM 240. But, these are part of ADM 340.
Completely incompetently handled by the modern civil servants, although these
form a separate series they have been lumped with miscellaneous bits and pieces
of personnel records of individuals of the R.N., R.N.R, R.N.V.R., R.M.,
W.R.N.S. and apparently even the nursing services. The R.N.R. officers’ cards
cover officers of all branches of service from the 1890s to well into the 20th
century. This not complete by any means, as far as can be determined from study
up to now, a high proportion of wartime ‘temporary gentlemen’ from the First
World War are missing, as are most from later in the 20th century.
Arranged alphabetically, searches for these are quick and easy to do and can be
well worth conducting, as the amount of
information recorded can be voluminous and includes civilian employment, both
at sea and sometimes ashore after retirement. (It should also be noted that
there are other bits and pieces of
R.N.R. officers’ in the miscellaneous ‘series’ as well.)
And,
previously released is also a separate listing for R.N.R. officers in the
Second World War, listing awards, casualties, deaths, prisoners of war and
those missing. I have, however, not viewed this, so cannot pass any comment as
to its usefulness.
The bulk of
the historical background for this section is to be found in Frank C. Bowen: History of the Royal Naval Reserve (London: The Corporation of Lloyd’s, 1926). However, a
number of details came from other sources.
Example of ‘missing’ R.N.R. service within an entry in Lloyd’s Captains Register
Example of crew list showing mobilisation of R.N.R.
ratings from Barnstaple coaster C.F.H.
Example of a nineteenth century rating’s service in
the 1st class R.N. reserve
Two examples of early twentieth century R.N.R.
officers’ records as sub-lieutenants
Example of First World War temporary R.N.R. officer’s
service sheet
Example of a ratings’s entry in the First World War R.N.R. medal roll
Example of entries of a R.N.R. officer awarded the
D.S.C. and bar
Example of a R.N.R. officer mentioned in dispatches and awarded a foreign decoration
Go to the main First World War Medal Roll for the Merchant Service and Reserves
Go to Royal Naval Campaign Medals
Go to the Certification of Seamen Officers
Go to the main Mercantile Page
MERCANTILE
MARINE RESERVE
Although there had been general pay rates for merchant
mariners in peacetime, especially through trade union pressure, these were not
standard. War, of course, brought great instability and by 1916 there was a
significant variance, depending on what had been negotiated by unions and even
individuals signing on. This was even the case on commissioned M.F.A.s.
Admiralty Weekly Order, number 1856, issued on 8th August 1916
announced that it had been ‘decided to standardise the rates of pay of
Mercantile Marine Ratings employed in Commissioned Fleet Auxiliaries’.
Separately, merchant officers on these vessels were also to be treated
similarly.
However, this order went much
further. It was also stated that arrangements had ‘been made for the
maintenance of a Reserve at the R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth, of the principal
Ratings required to fill vacancies in Commissioned Fleet Auxiliaries. Such men
will be engaged from time to time as necessary by the Superintendents of
Mercantile Marine and will be signed on the Agreement Form T.124X for the S.S. “Sunhill,” which will be regarded as the parent ship for Mercantile
Ratings at Portsmouth...’. Although officers were not specifically mentioned in
this edict, from my own research it would appear that some were appointed at
least nominally to SUNHILL later in the war.
At least some ships’ articles for commissioned M.F.A.s
(early in the war anyway) are to be found within the normal mercantile ‘crew
lists’. But, apart from those there are precious few records relating to the
M.M.R. surviving. There is a small number Admiralty Transport Department files
dealing with administrative subjects (until this department was subsumed into
the newly formed Ministry of Shipping). But, the only documents of real
potential interest to genealogists will be the two medal rolls for the First
World War era. Incidentally, these show men serving as early as 1914 and this
would appear to have been an administrative short cut.
Incidentally, as of October 1918 Protection and Identity
Certificates were issued to members of this reserve (as well, apparently, as
the R.N.R.).
Example of a T124 form for the commissioned M.F.A.
CROWN OF ARRAGON for 1914-15
Go to the main First World War Medal Roll for the Merchant Service and Reserves
Go to the main Mercantile Page
ROYAL NAVAL
VOLUNTEER RESERVE and ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER SUPPLEMENTARY RESERVE
If
in the early years the R.N.R. was seen more in terms of coastal artillery
through lack of any proper assigned role, then the R.N.V.R could most
definitely claim to be successors to the Royal Naval Coastal Volunteers. Even
though the R.N.C.V. was disbanded in 1873 (with it’s
members supposedly encouraged to join the R.N.R.’s newly formed 2nd
Class Reserve), largely through the efforts of Thomas Brassey
M.P., a purely amateur band of coastal artillerymen known as the Royal Naval
Artillery Volunteers sprung up in the same year.
A delightfully interesting and highly colourful
organisation, their larger and more affluent divisions were often reported
within the social columns of the best newspapers. However, coverage was not
always beneficial and much public bickering did not endear them to the R.N.
Apart from some old cannonry, a gunboat or two and some instructors, which were
supplied by the state, they had to pay for everything else. This included their
uniforms, the officers having wavy bands of silver. Keen as mustard, with their
ancient cannons and cutlasses, the R.N. had little interest in them and in 1891
tried to offload them onto the army. The volunteers chose to disband themselves,
rather than suffer this indignity!
Nevertheless, many of the same men reformed themselves into
‘naval cruising clubs’ and lobbied in high places for some place in the
country’s defence. In time this bore fruit and in 1903 the Royal Naval
Volunteer Reserve was formed. Unfortunately, prior to the
First World War the R.N.V.R. retained all the worst aspects of the old R.N.A.V.
In an era of massive technological and organisational change, unsurprisingly
the R.N. treated them as a joke. At this time the term ‘wavy navy’ after the
pattern of gold rings their officers wore and the adornment on ratings’
blue-jean collars was coined, though later it became something of a term of
endearment.
Just like the R.N.R. during the First World War the men of
the R.N.V.R. came to fill lots of roles, regarded by the R.N. as secondary, but
nevertheless essential. Again they were called on in the Second World War. And,
as already mentioned they disappeared into the R.N.R., although in essence they
took it over.
Researching the careers of officers and men of the R.N.V.R.
is generally simpler than that of the R.N.R. Nevertheless, there are
complications, again due to the disinterest and haphazard activities of modern
civil servants.
The vast majority of commissioned officers’ service records
that can be viewed publicly are those serving during the First World War (with
demobilisation dates up to c.1922). These are in hand-written ledgers and
individuals’ histories are located via a card index in the microfilm reading
room at Kew. As with R.N.R. officers, these are in a highly abbreviated form
and may be difficult to
understand by those without expert knowledge, both of naval operational and
administrative procedures.
There are also others, among the ‘odds and sods’ in ADM
340. While there are some
relating to the Second World War period, these relate to those born before
1900. It should be stated that I have found precious few R.N.V.R. officers in
my searches of this collection.
However, for the records of commissioned officers serving
after the First World War the same procedures for regular Royal
Naval officers
need to be followed. This can be a truly frustrating process.
Available
R.N.V.R. ratings’ service records also relate mostly the First World War
period. These can be in a number of different forms, depending on the part of
the organisation belonged to. However, individuals’ service numbers are
required and these can be found via the relevant medal roll. (It should also be
mentioned that some men had more than one service number.) Most of these are
viewed in microfilm form, with those of the Royal Naval Division recorded on
microfiche. It should be noted that for men in the R.N.D. there may also be
divisional records as well as their cards (with differing information).
Not all
R.N.V.R. ratings’ service sheets are at Kew though. Due to an apparent lack of
interest by bureaucrats, the Fleet Air Arm Museum, at R.N.A.S. Yeovilton took some that were not wanted elsewhere. These
include Birmingham electrical volunteers; ‘Kitchener Army’ recruits and R.N.
entries trained at Crystal Palace; some men of the Motor Boat Reserve; others
of the Royal Naval Division; and the Shore Wireless Service in greater or
lesser parts.
Enquiries to Yeovilton should be made to:-
Records and
Research Department,
Fleet Air Arm
Museum,
P.O. Box D6,
R.N.A.S. Yeovilton,
Ichester,
SOMERSET BA22
8HT.
Tel: 01935
842628
E-mail: jan@fleetairarm.com
There is also
a very small selection of records described at Kew as ‘Divisional Records’ 1903
to 1939. These are drill attendance books, those post First World War tend to
also give some relevant info on individuals, but not all that much.
Additionally,
within the records of the R.N.V.R. at Kew are those of the Mine Clearance
Service. As can be determined from its title, this was a post First World War
organisation recruited to clear the hundreds of thousands of mines sown during
the war. It was drawn from all arms of the R.N. and it’s reserves, but also included past merchant
mariners and those that had never been at sea before. It is stated in the
P.R.O.’s leaflets that the M.C.S. was administered by the R.N.V.R., but I have
seen no documentary evidence to back this claim. As far as I
can determine, that their service sheets were written up on R.N.V.R. forms does
not constitute proof of an organisational link, merely that there were lots of
such forms printed at the end of hostilities. Anyway, these records are
difficult to use, simply because there are no known indexes. So, unless one has
a service number from other sources, it is a very long haul searching these
microfilms.
Another
organisation that may cause severe confusion is that of the Royal Naval Volunteer
(Supplementary) Reserve. This was formed in 1936 and recruited overwhelmingly
from yachtsmen thought to be potentially useful in time of war.. No routine peacetime contact with the R.N.V.R. was
maintained, being trained separately. Also members held no rank until they had
been ‘granted temporary commissions as Probationary Sub-Lieutenants, R.N.V.R.
or temporary appointments as Probationary Midshipmen, R.N.V.R., on or after
Mobilisation’. After being commissioned, there was no apparent differentiation
from other officers of the R.N.V.R.
Most of the
historical information for this section came from J. Lennox and Wilfred
Granville: The R.N.V.R. - A Record of Achievement (London: George Harrap,
1957). However, similarly some detail came from other sources.
Example of a R.N.V.R. rating’s First World War
service sheet - Anti-Aircraft Section
Example of a
R.N.V.R. rating’s service sheet - Clyde Division pre First World War entry
Example of a R.N.V.R. rating’s First
World War service sheet - Wartime entry through Crystal Palace
Example of a R.N.V.R. rating’s First World War
service sheet - Motor Boat Reserve
Example of a R.N.V.R. rating’s First World
service sheet - Royal Naval Division
Example of a R.N.V.R.
officer’s First World War service sheet
Example of a R.N.V.R. officer’s Second World War service sheet
Example of a Mine Clearing Service rating’s post First World War service sheet
Go to the main First World War medal rolls for the Merchant Service and Reserves
Go to Royal Naval campaign medals
Go to the main Mercantile page
Go to the main Royal Naval page
Unlike the R.N.V.S.R. (see R.N.V.R. above) this reserve was
for ratings. This was short-lived however and affected comparatively few men.
The Military Training Act of May 1939 required the registration of all men aged
20 to 21. The Admiralty therefore formed this reserve in order to recruit from
this pool of labour that was liable for service in the army. Volunteers for the
R.N.S.R. would therefore become subject to calling out by the R.N. rather than
the army. Events overtook this, with war in September 1939 and the passing of
the National Services (Forces) Act. As far as I understand there are virtually
no records pertaining to this reserve.
Go to the main Royal Naval page
ROYAL FLEET
RESERVE
This
was a reserve commitment begun in 1901, whereby Royal Naval ratings of good
character who
had completed their time, for receiving an annual retainer could be liable to
be returned to service in times of emergency (that is, war). While ex
‘blue-jackets’ could equally have sought employment ashore, some became
merchant mariners.
Along with other reserves, the R.F.R. was called out in
August 1914. This was similarly the case in 1939. With a loss of the bulk of
traditional ‘long service’ ratings through the Second World War the rules were
changed. So, some ratings that had been H.O. (Hostilities Only) were recruited
into this reserve, with some being called up for the Korean War (1950-53). I
believe, the R.F.R. may again
have been called out during the Suez Crisis of 1956. Two years later this was
reorganised into the normal reserve commitment of its day. Some
‘Fleet reservists’ are definitely known to have been returned to service in
1982 for the Falklands War.
There are no operational or administrative documents
intrinsically dealing with the R.F.R. However, there are occasional references
to men under this liability rejoining the R.N. This is apparent from crew-lists
and agreements of the latter half of 1914. Perhaps because of considerations
such as geography, or even a similarity in working conditions, there seem to
have been higher percentages of men in the North Atlantic passenger liner
companies working out of Southampton in the R.F.R., than elsewhere in
mercantile service. A good example of this can be found in the crew-lists and
articles for the White Star Line’s OCEANIC for 1914.
Study of the original legislation formed the basis of this
section. I do not know of any published work dealing with this subject.
Nevertheless, my attention has been drawn to information on a website by the
descendent of an R.F.R. man that had been very active post First World War in
bettering the lot of Royal Fleet Reservists. This makes most interesting
reading and can be found at http://www.doverlife.co.uk/
and going to
‘history articles’.
Go to the main Mercantile Page
Go to the main Royal Naval Page
Awarded official status in 1911, elements of this
mercantile support service to the R.N. had been in existence for some years
before, under the control of the Admiralty Transport Department at first. It is
not entirely clear how this came into being, but from the vessels acquired
previously it is apparent that at least one original important aim was
experimentation into fuelling (both coal and oil-fuel). Through the Great War
1914-19 there was growth in this service, but in total terms of the tonnage of
the ‘Merchant Service’ this was negligible. It should be explained that
although government owned, the crews of these vessels were not subject to the
Naval Discipline Act. Instead, they were governed by the Merchant Shipping
Acts, like the majority of civilian mariners.
There are no personnel documents per se,
as far as I understand, within the Admiralty Transport Department files dealing
with officers and men of the R.F.A.S. The records of this department were
operational and administrative documents and there are hundreds of fascinating
files dealing with running commercial vessels on Admiralty account, some of
which deal with R.F.A.s. (With the massive administrative shake ups in the
Admiralty, imposed by the politicians later in the war, this department was
disbanded and the work was taken over by the newly formed Ministry of
Shipping.) Just occasionally individuals are mentioned in these documents,
dealing with everything from extra pay to mutiny. However, this is not a body
of work that is generally profitable for genealogical research.
This is not an organisation which has been widely written
about. Nevertheless, an useful work is Captain E.E. Sigwart: Royal Fleet Auxiliary - its ancestry and affiliations
1600-1968 (London: Adlard Coles, 1969).
Go to the main Mercantile Page
Go to the main Royal Naval Page
THE
COASTGUARD SERVICE
Although in some respects closer, historically,
to the Royal Naval Reserve this section has been placed at the foot in order to
allow readers not necessarily au fait with the nature of the
various reserves given the title ‘Royal’ to differentiate between these easier. In support of the
Revenue’s cruizers offshore and customs officials
ashore, the first formal peacetime ‘coastguard’ (of Riding Officers) was formed
in 1698: all aimed at impeding smuggling. In 1809 another element was added.
Operating inshore this was the Preventative Water Guard. Seven years later
there was a major reorganisation. Most of the Revenue cruizers
were to be operated by the Admiralty; the Preventative Water Guard was put
under the control of the Treasury; and the Riding Officers were the perks of
the Board of Customs. Additionally, the Admiralty also formed the Coast
Blockade in 1816. This was another shore-bound anti-smuggling unit.
Perhaps not
surprisingly, this bureaucratic mess did not survive uninvestigated.
After committee activity in 1821 a year later the Coastguard came into being.
This united all the above, apart from the Coast Blockade - at least initially.
Nine years later the Coast Blockade disappeared into the Coastguard. Under the
Board of Customs, its officers were to be nominated by the Admiralty.
During the
Crimean War (1854-56) the Coastguard had already been used in effect as a naval
reserve, with men serving onboard warships on operations in both the Black and
Baltic Seas. Through the Coastguard Service Act of 1856 the Coastguard was
transferred to Admiralty control and became properly a reserve for the R.N. in
time of war. Internal reorganisation followed and three groups were formed -
the Permanent Cruiser Force, the Guard Ships and Shore Force. The first continued
the work of the Revenue cruizers, along with fishery
protection duties and other miscellaneous tasks; the second comprised R.N.
warships used as floating headquarters in major ports (with annual
sea-training); and the third obviously worked ashore.
Post First
World War (in 1919) the Permanent Cruiser Force was done away with (probably a
‘victim of the Gedes Axe’). In this year the Shore
Force became manned completely by naval pensioners and in 1923 was transferred
to the Board of Trade. In the Second World War the Shore Force was put under
operational (but not administrative) control of the Admiralty once again. Along
with the Auxiliary Coast Guard, comprising of part-time volunteers, they
carried out various miscellaneous duties, including coast watching.
Post 1923 the
Coastguard Service has been administered the Board of Trade 1923-39; the
Ministry of Shipping 1939-40; the Ministry of War Transport and its successor
Ministry of Transport 1940-64; and the Department of Trade and its successors
from then.
Long before
1856 there had been significant naval input in relation to manpower and this is
reflected in the records. The first signs in the original documentation begin
around 1819 and get stronger from 1857 onwards. At this point I do not have very much experience with
Coastguard records and so will not comment further - until I can write
confidently on this aspect. Officers are also first shown in the Navy List in mid 1831.
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