Conditions of Service of Engineers in Her Majesty's Service - 1842

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Navy List - Dec 1843

Conditions of Service of Engineers in Her Majesty's Service


Admiralty, 23rd June, 1842.

Examination.-No person will be deemed eligible for an appointment as Engineer, or for promotion to the Second or First Class, until he shall have passed an examination on the points stated below, or on such other points as the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may from time to time think proper to require, before the Captain Superintendent of Her Majesty's Dock Yard at Woolwich, and the Chief Engineer and Inspector of Machinery, or before such other Officers as their Lordships may appoint for that purpose.

Before presenting himself for examination, the candidate must prepare specimens of working sketches, and of his proficiency in accounts.

First Class Engineers.- No person will be considered qualified to hold the Warrant of a First Class Engineer who is not able to keep accounts, and to make notes in the Log of every particular of the working of Engines and Boilers.

He must be thoroughly acquainted with the principles on which the machine works in all Its parts, capable of working the engines and boilers, and of setting right any defects which may arise in them, and of adjusting the length of the various rods and motions, slide valves, eccentrics, &c.

He must also be able to make rough sketches, with the requisite dimensions fit to work from, of every part of an engine, and be willing to take charge of and teach the Engineers' Boys.

Second Class Engineers. Must not be inferior in education to those of the First Class, and but little inferior to them in mechanical acquirements, and must also be willing to take charge of, and teach the Engineers' Boys.

Third Class Engineers. Must be equal in education to the Second and First Class Engineers, and acquainted with the principles of Maine Engines and Boilers, and with the names and uses of all their parts. They must also be able to make rough sketches as before described.

Those who have not served in Her Majesty's Navy as Engineers' Boys must be examined by the Surgeon of the Establishment as to their being of sound bodily constitution, and they most produce well authenticated certificates from the Engineers in whose Factories they have worked, of their being skilful workmen, of good disposition, and of good conduct in every particular, especially its regards sobriety.

Appointment.- Engineers are appointed by Warrant from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, or by Commanders in Chief on Foreign Stations in vacancies occasioned by death, in the same manner as other Warrant Officers of the Navy are appointed.

No person will be considered eligible for a Second Class Engineer without having served at sea as an Engineer, nor for the First Class without having served as Chief Engineer of a sea going Steam Vessel ; in either case, the candidate must produce satisfactory testimonials of his efficiency and good conduct while thus serving at sea.

An Engineer after having served 3 years in the Third Class will be permitted, if he can produce good certificates from the Commanders under whom he may have served, to present himself for examination for the Second Class, when a suitable opportunity shall offer, and in like manner after having served 3 Years in the Second Class, he will be permitted to present himself for examination for the First Class. If, however, on examination it shall appear to the examining Officers that the qualifications of a candidate are such that a shorter period than 3 years may be sufficient to enable him to acquire the experience necessary for performing the duties of a higher class, a note thereof, with the reasons, will be made upon the passing certificate, which will render him eligible for examination and promotion in less than 3 years, if his subsequent conduct should appear to merit it.

Rank.- Engineers are distributed into three classes, they rank next below Carpenters, and with each other according to their standing on the official list.

Pay and Allowances.- To Engineers when serving on board one of Her Majesty's Steam Vessels in Commission ; or in any of Her Majesty's Dock Yards, whenever their services may be required there ; or in repairing their own or any other vessel in the Home Dock Yards, Holyhead, the River Thames, Portsmouth or Plymouth Harbour ; or when the Vessel to which they belong is paid off, and they are still retained on board:

  • 1st Class, �12 per lunar month.
  • 2nd Class, �8 per lunar month
  • 3rd Class �5. 6s. per lunar month
  • When borne on the books of the Guard Ships of the Ordinary, and not actually employed in the charge or repair of Steam Machinery:

  • 1st Class, �7. 17s. per month
  • 2nd Class, �4. 18s. per month
  • 3rd Class, �3. 8s. per month
  • The First Class Engineer of Ships in Commission is to have the instruction of two Engineers' Boys, and to receive an allowance of 6d per day for each.

    When there are three Engineers' Boys the Second Class Engineer is to instruct the junior boy of the three, and to receive the allowance of 6d. per day.

    When there are four Engineers' Boys the senior Second Class Engineer is to instruct the third boy. The junior Second Class Engineer the fourth boy, and each is respectively to receive the allowance of 6d. per day for the instruction of the boy placed under him.

    The allowance is to be granted only on the production of a certificate fro the Commanding Officer under whose orders the Engineers may be actually serving, that the boys have been duly instructed in conformity with the established regulations, and such Certificate is never to be granted, unless the Superintendent of the Dock Yard, or the Officer in command of the Vessel, be thoroughly satisfied, from personal observation, that the intentions of these Regulations have been strictly carried into effect.

    Engineers when serving on board one of Her Majesty's Steam Vessels within the tropics, while the steam is up, are to receive one half the amount of the pay of the respective classes in addition: for which they may draw every six months whether they allot or not.

    When Engineers do not draw for their tropical pay, a Certificate is to be granted to them, similar to that on the back of the Bill, for the adjustment of their claims to the said pay on their arrival in England.

    Engineers of Vessels in Commission when employed in repairing defects of other Vessels than those in which they are serving, except in the Home Dock Yards, Holyhead, the River Thames, Portsmouth or Plymouth Harbour, to be allowed extra pay as Warrant Officers in addition, according to the scale established by Her Majesty's Regulations, namely, two shillings a day.

    Allotments and Monthly Allowance.- The following are the Scales of Allotments and Monthly Allowance for Engineers while actively employed, and while employed in Guard Ships

    Allotment
    While actively employed
        �. s. d.
    1st Engineer Per calendar month 6 10 0
    2nd Engineer Ditto 4 6 0
    3rd Engineer Ditto 2 17 0

    While in Guard Ships

    1st Engineer Per calendar month 4 5 0
    2nd Engineer Ditto 2 13 0
    3rd Engineer Ditto 1 16 0
    Monthly Allowance
    While actively employed
    1st Engineer Per calendar month 3 10 0
    2nd Engineer Ditto 2 5 0
    3rd Engineer Ditto 1 10 0

    While in Guard Ships

    1st Engineer Per calendar month 2 10 0
    2nd Engineer Ditto 1 10 0
    3rd Engineer Ditto 1 0 0

    Uniform of First Engineers

    Coat.- Blue Cloth, double breasted ; buttons, having a Steam-engine with a Crown above embossed on them, to be placed four and four, and a large button of the same kind upon the Collar.

    Waistcoat.- With buttons similar to those on the Coat.

    Trowsers.- Plain Blue Cloth

    Cap.- With a narrow Gold Lace Band

    Superannuation and Pensions.- The following Rules shall be observed in regard to the Superannuations and Pensions of the Engineers of Her Majesty's Fleet.

    1st. That when Engineers shall be found upon survey unfit for further service, they shall be allowed �3. A year for each year they shall have served as Warrant Officers in ships in Commission ; and �1. A year for each year they shall have served as Warrant Officers in Ships in Ordinary, or as Supernumeraries in Guard Ships.

    2nd. That in cases in which the services of Engineers shall appear to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to be more than ordinarily meritorious, a further sum may be allowed to the said Warrant Officers in addition to the Pension allowed by Art. 1, varying from one pound to fifteen pounds a-year, reference being had to the character of the Officer, and the cause which may have rendered him unfit for service

    3rd.

    (1st) That Engineers who may lose two limbs in action:-

    (2nd) or who may receive wounds or injuries in action equal to the loss of two limbs

    (3rd) or who may receive injuries or hurts in the service, though not in action, equal to the loss of two limbs,

    shall be allowed Pensions (as the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may deem proper), not exceeding in the 1st case, �50 a year, nor in the 2nd case exceeding �45 a-year, nor in the 3rd case exceeding �35 a-year.

    4th

    (1st) That Engineers who may lose one limb in action

    (2nd) or who may receive wounds or injuries in action equal to the lost of a limb

    (3d) or who may receive injuries or hurts in the service, though not in action, equal to the loss of a limb,

    shall be allowed Pensions (as the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may deem proper), not exceeding in the 1st case, �25 a year, nor in the 2nd case exceeding �20 a-year, nor in the 3rd case exceeding �15 a-year.

    The Pensions for wounds and hurts to be granted after a careful survey held on the Officer at his Office, when practicable, and to be in addition to any other Pension the Officer may be entitled to.

    5th. No Engineer to be allowed to reckon as service towards Superannuation any period of time during which he shall not have maintained a good character in the ship in which he has served.

    -----------------------------

    Regulations as to the Instruction and Qualifications of Engineers' Boys.

    Fourth Class.- Boys on entering the Service as Fourth Class Apprentices must not be less than 14, nor more than 17, years of age. They must be of good moral character and sound bodily constitution, and able to write, and work a question in the Rule of Three.

    Third Class.- At the expiration of their third year of service, provided their conduct has been good during that period, the boys will be considered eligible for removal to the Third Class, if on examination they appear to have made themselves acquainted with the names and uses of every part of the engine, gauges, barometers &c.

    Second Class- If boys on the fourth year from their entrance into the service, be acquainted, through the instruction of the Engineer under whom they may be placed, with the whole principle of the engine and boilers, with the use of all the various tools, and with the mode of effecting repairs, as far as they are performed on board ; if they be able to take off and replace an any of the working parts; pack the slide valves, pistons, piston-rods and stuffing-boxes ; if they understand the action and condensation of steam, the return of the water into the boilers, the construction of all the pumps and of the feeding and blowing off apparatus, safety valves etc, and can chalk out roughly the out. lines of the engines and wheels, and have become generally useful, they will be considered fit for removal to the Second Class, provided their conduct has been good.

    Boys of the Second Class, having attained the fifth and last year of their service, will be transferred to Her Majesty's Dockyard at Woolwich, where they will receive instructions on various subjects connected with the construction and management of engines and boilers.

    First Class.-At the expiration of the fifth year, if, on a strict examination, the boys be found qualified for the appointment of Third Class Engineers, and their conduct has been in all respects satisfactory, they will be removed to the list of the First Class, and be considered candidates for promotion, and will take precedence according to conduct and abilities.

    Pay of Engineers Boys

      �. s. d.  
    First Class 1 14 0 Per lunar month
    Second Class 1 6 0 Do
    Third Class 1 3 0 Do
    Fourth Class 0 14 6 Do

    Monthly Allowance

    During the first 12 months' servitude from the time of their first entry on board the ship, 2s. ; after 12 months' servitude, at home, 3s. ; abroad, 4s.

    By command of their Lordship.,

    Sidney Herbert

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