Two examples of early twentieth century R.N.R. service records as sub-lieutenants

Source: TNA: PRO ADM 240/17

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No. of Comm	Surname and Christian Name of Sub Lieutenant	Date of Birth	Date of Commission Date for Seniority	Description of previous Service	REMARKS. Particulars of Service, &c.
001761	Blair, David	11.11.1874	1) 29.9.05 2) 9.7.1904	OM 030119	Confirmed Prob Sub Lt M 18013/05 Commn recd M23316.05*

Source: TNA: PRO ADM 240/17

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No. of Comm	Surname and Christian Name of Sub Lieutenant	Date of Birth	Date of Comm Date for Seniority	Description of previous Service	REMARKS. Particulars of Service, &c.
001498	Lightoller, Chas. Herbert	30 Mar 1874	15 Apl 1903 (M 10196-03)* 1 April 1903	M. Marine	M7769-03*

* These were internal ‘M’ Branch references to documents. Much of this original paperwork has been ‘weeded’, but it is sometimes still possible to locate individual documents through the original Admiralty digests, though this can be a frustrating process.

Both these men were later linked inextricably, by the ill-fated White Star liner TITANIC. David Blair should have been her 2^nd Officer for the maiden voyage, but due to personnel changes at the top he was left out of this crew. Charles Lightoller was originally to have been her 1^st Officer, but was reduced to 2^nd for this disastrous trip. Lightoller was senior survivor of TITANIC. Both men served as R.N.R. lieutenants on the armed merchant cruiser OCEANIC until her embarrassing grounding and total loss off the Shetlands in September 1914. Whilst he never got a merchant command, during the war Lightoller went on to win the Distinguished Service Cross - twice.

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Go to medal roll entries for Charles Lightoller

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