Kings Regulations & Admiralty Instructions - 1913 - Pensions and Gratuities to Petty Officers, Seamen, and Boys

Index
 
Kings Regulations & Admiralty Instructions - 1913

Chapter LIII

Pensions and Gratuities to Petty Officers, Seamen, and Boys

SECTION.   PAGE.

I.

Naval Pensions and Gratuities for Wounds or Hurts, and for Disability,

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II. Naval Pensions for Service 675
III. Greenwich Age Pensions for Naval Pensioners 683
IV. Greenwich Special Pensions for Seamen and Marines 684
V. General 687

SECTION I. NAVAL PENSIONS AND GRATUITIES FOR WOUNDS OR HURTS, AND FOR DISABILITY.

1931. Pensions for Wounds and Hurts.-Every petty officer, leading seaman, seaman, boy, and every other person belonging to His Majesty's Navy; as specified in Article 218 and in Appendix XV., whether serving as part of the complement or as supernumerary of a ship's company of any of His Majesty's ships, who shall be discharged from His Majesty's Service on account of wounds or hurts received in action, or otherwise in the execution of his duty, shall be allowed a pension either for life or for a limited period, at the discretion of the Admiralty, according to the following scale, having regard to the bodily injury sustained, the length of service, rating, and character of the individual, and the circumstances in which he was wounded or hurt, provided he be deemed a fit and deserving object for relief, and that the injury was not caused by his own neglect or carelessness :

(a) Having lost two limbs, or being otherwise so severely wounded or hurt as to require the care and attendance of some other person From 1s. 6d. to 2s. a day
(b) Having lost one limb, or eye, or being otherwise severely wounded or hurt, but not requiring the care of another person From 1s. to 1s. 6d. a day.
(c) For less injury than the foregoing, and able to contribute in a small degree to his own support From 9d. to 1s. a day.
(d) If able to contribute materially to his own support, though unfit for further service From 3d. to 9d. a day.
(e) If able to contribute wholly to his own support, though unfit for further service At the discretion of the Admiralty.
(f) If totally blind from unavoidable causes, clearly attributable to the Service. 3d. a day permanently in addition to the amount to which he may be otherwise entitled under Scale (a).

(g) Single ruptures.-Under 10 years' service, 6d. a day, at the rate of three months' pension for each year of service, or a gratuity of �5. if the total pension on this scale would amount to less than that sum. Above 10 years' service, 6d. a day for life.

(h) Double ruptures. 6d. a day for life, irrespective of length of service.

Additions for good conduct badges and medal are allowed when long service pensions are awarded ; together with the usual allowance for petty time laid

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down in Article 1938, clause 1. Service with very good character reckoning as petty time* will be doubled in the case of a continuous service man holding a petty officer rating or a rating ranking as leading seaman with over three years' service as such, irrespective of the length of his continuous service.

2. Service Pension in addition.-When a pensioner employed in a ship shall become unfit for further service through wounds or injuries received in the actual performance of duty, such addition to his pension may be awarded to him within the limits of the pensions granted for wounds and injuries as the Admiralty shall think fit in the circumstances of the case.

3. Gratuities for Injuries.-In all cases of injuries, gratuities may be given in lieu of injury pensions, or in addition to service or disability pensions at the discretion of the Admiralty.

4. A gratuity for injury may be given in addition to an injury pension, where a hurt certificate has been granted for a separate and distinct injury unconnected with the specific injury for which the man is discharged.

1932.-Disability Pension.-Any person referred to in the preceding Article, except those excluded by Article 356, who shall be discharged for disability contracted in the Service, and not from want of proper care on his own part, provided he shall appear a fit and deserving object of relief, shall be allowed a pension for life, as laid down in the following scale, or, if the disability be not considered permanent, such temporary pension as the Admiralty may decide.

2. After 14 years' service, 6d. to 9d. a day for life, whether materially able to contribute to his own support or not ; or a gratuity at the discretion of the Admiralty.

A continuous service man, after 15 years' continuous service, may be granted 8d. a day for life.

3. Less than 14 years.-In similar cases, but with less than 14 years' service, the Admiralty, when they shall deem it proper to do so, may award a gratuity, or a pension from 3d. to 6d. a day, according to the following scale :

  1. If not at all able, or able in a small degree only, to contribute to his own support:---
  2. from 3d. to 6d. a day, at the rate of three months' pension for each year of service, except in the case of a continuous service man who has completed 10 years' continuous service, who may be granted 6d. a day for life, or a gratuity may be awarded, calculated on the scale shown at (b).

    These pensions may be continued beyond those periods or made permanent in special circumstances.

  3. If materially able to contribute to his own support

A gratuity at the rate of �1. each completed year of service, in full compensation, except in the case of a continuous service man who has completed 10 years' continuous service, and who may be granted 6d. a day for life ; and except in special cases, where pensions calculated at the above or lower rates may be awarded in lieu of gratuities.

4. Additions.-In the assessment of pensions granted under this Article additions will be made for good conduct badges and medal as allowed when

* The allowance for petty time will, in certain cases of men holding a rating counting for petty time prior to 1st July 1908, be assessed in accordance with the regulation as regards character in force before that date.

� In the case of ratings who are required to pass a qualifying examination for advancement to petty officer, this privilege is not to apply to any time served prior to passing the examination.

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long service pensions are awarded, and for petty time as laid down in Article 1938, clause 1. Service with very good character reckoning as petty time will be doubled in the case of a continuous service man after 15 years' service, provided he has completed 10 years' continuous service, and is discharged with a petty officer rating or a rating ranking as leading seaman with over 3 years' service as such.*

5. Additions for Injuries.-Additions may also be made for injuries at the discretion of the Admiralty. See 1948 (Medical Report in case of Claims for Hurls).

1933. Examination of Claimants.-The examination of invalids who are claimants for pensions (form P. 145) is to be regulated as follows:

  1. Documents for production.-When any person referred to in Article 1931, serving on board His Majesty's ships, is found, upon survey, to be no longer fit for his Majesty's Service, the Captain is to take care that, if invalided for injuries received on duty, he produces the hurt certificate (form M. 183) provided for in Article 1318, or, if invalided for disease, a sealed document, signed by the Medical Officer and countersigned by the Captain, containing a brief abstract of his case (form M. 188) showing the nature of the disease, whether caused by the Service or not, and whether the man was of sober habits, or otherwise. These documents will accompany the invalid for presentation to the officers by whom he is examined in England, in order that they may be in possession of the full particulars of his case.
  2. When and where to be examined.-Invalids who are claimants for pensions will be examined at such one of the following hospitals as may be most convenient to them, on the dates appointed for the monthly general surveys held under Article 1227, commencing at 10 a.m. :-
  3. Haslar, Plymouth, Chatham, or Haulbowline.

    Applicants who are unable to attend on the above days will be examined, in special circumstances, on other days convenient to the hospitals.

  4. Surveying Officers.-The surveying officers at each hospital on the general invaliding days, shall consist of a Captain as presiding officer, and the senior medical officer of the hospital ; but on other days the examinations will be conducted by the Principal and another medical officer of the hospital.
  5. Boys need not be surveyed for pensions unless invalided for injuries or diseases attributable to the Service.
  6. Invalids in Merchant Ships.-Invalids who are sent home in merchant vessels, and who arrive at any ports in the United Kingdom other than Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Sheerness, may be specially surveyed, on making application, in writing, to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

* In the case of ratings who are required to pass a qualifying examination for advancement to petty officer, this privilege is not to apply to any time served prior to passing the examination.

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SECTION II. NAVAL PENSIONS FOR SERVICE.

1934. Long Service Pensions to Men.-Any person referred to in Article 1931, except those excluded under Article 356, who shall be discharged after 22 years' service on any account other than for misconduct, shall receive a pension awarded at the discretion of the Admiralty upon the following scale, having regard to the character of the individual as shown by his good conduct badges and certificates, and to the number of years he may have served beyond 22 years.

2. In the case of a man who has served under a continuous service engagement, and provided that he shall have completed a period of not less than 10 years upon the continuous and general service system, service for pension shall be reckoned from the age of 18, in other cases it will be reckoned from the age of 20 only.

3. Continuous service men entered before 1st January 1885, require only 20 years from the age of 18 to qualify for long service pensions, and non-continuous service men entered before that date, only 21 years from the age of 20.

4. Long service pensions will not be awarded to Officers' Stewards and Cooks unless they have seven years' pensionable service in sea-going ships in commission. In regard to men already in the Service on 1st July 1889, this regulation will only apply to those who had less than 14 years service on that date.

5. Scale.-Each man who has completed the necessary service for pension under either clauses 1, 2, or 3, shall, subject to the provisions of Article 1935, be entitled to a pension of 10d. a day for life, together with such of the following additions as he may have qualified for:

One good conduct badge �d. a day.
Two good conduct badges 1d. a day.
Three good conduct badges 2d. a day.
Good conduct medal 1d. a day.
V.G. character throughout his service 1d. a day.
Each completed term of three years' service after completing time for pension 1d. a day.

6. Conditions of Award.-In the case of men and boys entered in the Royal Navy in the Seamen and Stoker classes on and after 1st March 1901, me of the conditions of the award of a long service pension will be that the pensioner shall serve in the Royal Fleet Reserve up to the age of 50 years, if his services should be so long required.

1935. Maximum Pension.-The total pension for service, badges, character, and medal shall not exceed Is. 2d. a day, exclusive of any additional allowance for each year's service as a petty officer or in a rating ranking as leading seaman, with over three years' service as such,* under the conditions laid down in Article 1938, unless the man shall at any time have received an injury on duty, when a small addition may be made to that stun. Should, however, the injury be the cause of his being pensioned, he may be dealt with on the injury scale, if more advantageous to him. He cannot, however, be dealt with under both scales.

2. Special Cases.-In specially deserving cases of men who have completed the full period required for the award of a long service pension, the maximum of Is. 2d. a day may be given although the man's service, &c., may not entitle him thereto under the foregoing rules.

* In the case of ratings who are required to pass a qualifying examination for advancement to petty officer, this privilege is not to apply to any time served prior to passing the examination.

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3. Reckoning of Badges in former Ratings.-In the case of a man whose character, while holding other than badge ratings, has never been assessed below " Very Good," badges earned in previous ratings may be allowed to reckon for pension, whether pensioned on the continuous service or non-continuous service scale. See 1948 (?Medical Retort in case of Claims for Hurts).

1936. Additional Pensions.-Members of the Seaman Pensioner Reserve and Pensioners in Class A. of the Royal Fleet Reserve may be awarded an additional pension of 5d. a day on attaining the age of 50, provided they have fulfilled the prescribed conditions as to drill, &c.

1937. Periods allowed for Completion of Service.-Men who are claimants for pensions after 20, 21, or 22 years' service, will only be entitled to the same, provided their service shall have been completed within the undermentioned periods :

(a) If after 20 years' service. Within 27 years from the age of 18, provided they shall not have been out of the Service more than five years at any one time.
(b) If after 21 or 22 years' service. Within 30 years from the age of 20, provided they shall not have been out of the Service more than five years at any one time.

2. The Admiralty, however, will take into consideration the claims of men who may serve the necessary time for long service pension, although such time may not have been completed within the above limits.

3. An absence of five consecutive years from the Naval Service from any cause whatever, except as stated in the following clause, forfeits all time served before the date of re-entry.

4. Should the absence have been caused by continuous employment in any other Department of the State or by invaliding, the Admiralty will take the case into consideration with reference to allowing the forfeited naval service to reckon towards pension.

1938. Additional Rates for Petty Officer Time.-A petty officer, or man of leading seaman rank with over 3 years' service as such,* shall be allowed the following additions to the rates of pension awarded to him as a seaman, viz. :

For each year's service as chief petty officer, first class petty officer (O.S.) or petty officer (N.S.) - One half-penny a day;
For each year's service as second class petty officer (O.S.) or in a rating ranking as leading seaman with over 3 years' service as such* One farthing a day;

a further addition for service as chief petty officer is allowed under clause 6.

2. Double Petty Time.-Time with " Very Good " character � as petty officer or in excess of three years in a rating ranking as leading seaman* will be doubled in the case of a continuous service man pensioned after 15 years' service, provided he shall have served for one continuous period of not less than 10 years on the continuous and general service system, unless invalided for wounds or hurts received on duty; and provided also that he shall have

� In the case of ratings who are required to pass a qualifying examination for advancement to petty officer, this privilege is not to apply to any time served prior to passing the examination.

� The allowance for petty time will, in certain cases of men holding a rating counting for petty time prior to 1st July 1908, be assessed in accordance with the regulation as regards character in force before that date.

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been discharged to pension from continuous service with the rating of petty officer or with a rating ranking as leading seaman with over 3 years' service as such.*

3. Petty time served with " Very Good " character t will also be doubled in the case of a man who volunteered from the Royal Marines to be Ship's Corporal or Master-at-Arms, provided he shall have served five years in those ratings and is discharged as such.

4. Breaks caused by Imprisonment, &c.-As an encouragement of good conduct, a single case of imprisonment or detention for not more than three calendar months, or a single case of confinement in cells with deprivation of time, during a period of continuous service, will not be considered as breaking the continuity of service, and therefore depriving the individual of the advantage of double petty time, provided he be otherwise eligible for the allowance, � and provided also that he serve, in addition to his time for pension, a further period equal to double the time forfeited. In the case of a man who has suffered more than one of such punishments the continuity of service will be considered as broken.

5. Invaliding.-Continuity of service for the purposes of this Article will not be considered to be broken in the case of a continuous service man who may be invalided before completing his engagement, and who may afterwards recover and rejoin for continuous service, provided he rejoin as soon as the state of his health will admit, and be otherwise eligible for the allowance for double petty time. �

6. C.P.O. Time.-In addition to the foregoing rates, a chief petty officer who is pensioned on or after the 1st April 1903 will receive an increase of id. a day for each year's service as chief petty officer subsequent to the completion of his first continuous service engagement.

In the cases of chief petty officers who have been transferred from the Royal Marines, this addition will be granted for every year served in the rating,, of chief petty officer subsequent to the completion of 12 years' combined service from the age of 18.

1939. Naval Schoolmasters.-A Naval Schoolmaster will be pensioned on the scale for continuous service petty officers under Articles 1934 and 1938 ; the first 10 years' service as Schoolmaster to reckon as single petty time, and subsequent service as Schoolmaster as double petty time, subject to the usual condition as to character. The further additions granted under clause 6 of Article 1938, for service as chief petty officer subsequent to the completion of the first continuous service engagement, will also be allowed.

2. Naval Schoolmasters shall not be entitled to their pensions while serving: At the discretion of the Admiralty they may be retained after completing time for pension, provided they wish to remain, that they re-engage under Articles 1434 and 1946, and are recommended for retention by the Director of Naval Education.

* In the case of a man who was holding a rating counting for petty time when he joined the Coast Guard, but who only holds the rating of Boatman when discharged to pension, the petty time in the Navy will not be doubled should he be pensioned at his own request; but should he be obliged to leave the Coast Guard from ill-health, or other causes except misconduct, his case for double petty time will be considered, provided his conduct in the Coast Guard shall have been such as to render him fit for promotion and provided he be otherwise eligible.

� The allowance for petty time will, in certain cases of men holding a rating counting for petty time prior to 1st July 1908, be assessed in accordance with the regulation as regards character in force before that date.

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1940. Pension Rules on Lower Deck.-Form S. 408, showing the rules governing the award of pensions for long service, and the serious effect on pension prospects of offences against discipline, is to be posted up on the lower deck of all ships.

1941. When not entitled and Time not allowed.-A person dismissed with disgrace, with ignominy, or from His Majesty's Service, or for offences, or by sentence of a court-martial, shall not be entitled to any pension ; and no period of time shall be allowed to reckon for pension during which a man's character has been noted on his service certificate as " Bad " or " Indifferent," nor periods for which he may have been under sentence of imprisonment or detention (except detention not exceeding 14 days without stoppage of time) either summarily or by sentence of a court-martial, or confined in cells (if deprived of time), nor such time as he may have forfeited through the conviction by the civil power or consequent upon an order under the Probation of Offenders Act (see Article 812) ; and if a deserter shall be re-taken, or shall re-enter the Service, he is to commence a new time from such re-entry, and shall not be entitled to the benefit of any time preceding his desertion unless the R has been removed under Article 802 ; and any person who shall have been dismissed with disgrace or ignominy, and shall re-enter, shall not be entitled to the benefit of any time for his subsequent service.

2. Discrepancies in Character.-In all cases of discrepancy between original service certificates or attested copies and ships' books, the character on the service certificate shall, as a rule, be conclusive ; but should there be reason to believe that the entry on the certificate is incorrect or has been tampered with, the matter is to be referred to the Admiralty for decision.

1942. Retention after completing Time for Pension.-Continuous service petty officers and men, who may be allowed to remain in the Service after completing time for pension, under the provisions of Article 363, may remain until the ages stated below, but they will not be allowed to draw any pension while serving:-

Chief Sick-Berth Stewards 55
Chief Ships' Cooks
Naval Schoolmasters, if their services are required and they are recommended by the Director of Naval Education
Writers, if required, and if thoroughly efficient
All other ratings 50

See 1946 (Service after completing time for Pension).

1943. Marine Time.-Time served in the Royal Marines with " Good " or " Fair " character, shall count with subsequent service in the Royal Navy for pension, provided a break of five years did not take place between the two service. See 1204, clause 4 (Former service allowed to count towards Pension).

2. Pensions under the foregoing circumstances shall be computed as pensions to seamen, the time served in the Royal Marine Corps as Sergeant being reckoned as petty officer time (ICS.), and the time served as Corporal or Bombardier as time served by Leading Seamen after three years' service as such passed for Petty Officer.

3. Army Time.-Men invalided from the Army who subsequently join the Navy may, at the discretion of the Admiralty, be allowed to count all former service with character not inferior to " Fair " towards pension, notwithstanding the length of the interval between the two services, provided that they acknowledge their former service on entering the Navy.

4. Men who enter the Navy after being discharged from the Army for reasons other than that of medical disability may be allowed to count not

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more than four years' former service with character not inferior to " Fair," towards pension, provided that a break of five years did not take place between the two services, and that they acknowledge their former service on entering the Navy.

5. Irish Constabulary.-Service in the Royal Irish Constabulary shall reckon towards pension on the recommendation of the Inspector-General of that force, provided the man left the force for the express purpose of entering the Navy or Marines.

6. Men volunteering in the above circumstances to enter for continuous service shall not be entitled to long service pensions for less than a total period of 22 years' service from the age of 18, or 21 years' service if entered in the Royal Navy before 1st January 1885.

7. Civil Time.-No civil time shall count towards naval pension, and no naval time shall count towards civil pension, except in the cases of Seamen Riggers, and yard craft men, who are dealt with under the Dockyard Regulations.

8. Reserve and Indian Navy Time.-Time served in home, colonial, or Indian Reserve Forces shall not reckon for naval or marine pension.

9. Hired Time is not allowed, under any circumstances, to reckon for pension.

10. Deferred Marine Pension.-The deferred marine pension, authorised by Article 1211, shall not be allowed in addition to a naval pension for life.

1944. Short Service Pensions.-The Admiralty, at their discretion, may award to men entered for continuous service, pensions of 6d. a day after 10 years' continuous service from the age of 18, and 8d. a day after 15 years' continuous service from the same age, with the addition for good conduct medal and badges allowed when the long service pensions are awarded; and with the usual allowance for petty time, as laid down in Article 1938. Service with " Very Good " character* reckoning as petty time will be doubled, in the case of continuous service men pensioned after 15 years' continuous service, provided they are discharged with petty officer rating or one ranking as leading seaman with over 3 years' service as such. �

2. Non-continuous service men are not entitled to the above-mentioned short service pensions.

1945. Applications for Pensions.-The following regulations are to be observed in respect to claims for long service pensions :

I.-As regards Men serving at Home.

  1. An application to the Accountant-General (form S. 409) is to be made in each case about one calendar month before the date on which it is considered the man's period of service for pension will be completed, whether pensioned at his own request or compulsorily. The man's service certificate, in which his character up to the date of the application is to be inserted, is to accompany the application ; he will be deemed to merit this character, and to be still in possession of the same medal and badges, if any, on the day he is pensioned unless information to the contrary is received. A report of any change in rating, badges, character, &c., is immediately to be made to the
  2. * The allowance for petty time will, in certain cases of men holding a rating counting for petty time prior to 1st July 1908, be assessed in accordance with the regulation as regards character in force before that date.

    � In the case of ratings who are required to pass a qualifying examination for advancement to petty officer, this privilege is not to apply to any time served prior to passing the examination.

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    Accountant-General, in order that the pension may be calculated accordingly.

  3. The Captain, before sending forward the application on form S. 537, is to satisfy himself that the man has served the full time to entitle him to a pension. Should he have reason to doubt the validity of any portion of the man's service, he is to state his reasons.
  1. If no communication should be received in the meantime relative to the application, timely inquiry is to be made of the Accountant-General, by reference sheet or telegram, so as to reach the Admiralty three complete days before the expiration of the calendar month.
  2. The Admiralty, when communicating the amount of pension awarded, will fix the date on which the man is to be discharged.
  3. If a man should be detained beyond the day fixed by the Admiralty for his discharge to pension, the circumstances are to be at once reported to the Accountant-General. Pay for the period of the detention is to be paid on the ledger, and any over-payment of pension for the period adjusted on the ledger. Should, however, the detention exceed one week, a special application is to be made to the Accountant-General in respect to continuing to withhold the amount of his accruing pension.
  4. The foregoing regulations apply to men serving in the Coast Guard on shore.

II.-As regards Men serving Abroad.

  1. Men abroad who have served their time for pension, and who desire to be pensioned, are to be sent home as " time-expired men who have completed time for pension." On their arrival, the Captain of the flag or other ship to which they are transferred, or on board of which they present themselves, will immediately forward their applications for pensions in the same form, filling up their service certificates to the date of the application.
  2. When such men return home in their own ships, the application for pension is to be made on arrival ; it is to be stated therein to what general depot the men will in each case be transferred on paying off, and care is to be taken, if any of these men be granted leave from the general depot, to retain their addresses and all other necessary particulars, in order that they may be finally discharged as soon as their pension has been awarded. Whenever it may be necessary, the Commander-in-Chief will order such men to be discharged to the proper general depot before the day of paying off, to ensure a compliance with these direction.
  3. If any such men return home in a packet or other merchant ship, their characters during the passage will be taken to be the same as those last recorded on their service certificates.
  4. In case any such men sent home in packets or merchant ships in charge of an officer gravely misconduct themselves, the officer will report the full particulars to the Captain of the general depot to which they are transferred on arrival, who, after due inquiry into all the circumstances, will award such character as he may think them deserving. of, specially noting on the certificates that he does so under this Article.

1946. Service after completing Time for Pension.-Continuous service petty officers and men who are allowed to remain in the Navy under the provisions of Article 363 instead of being pensioned after completing time for

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pension will be allowed to reckon the time so served for increase of pension, and also for good conduct medal and gratuity, and good conduct badges, under the usual regulations of the Service as regards continuous service men.

2. The pension and gratuity which they may have earned by service- up to the date of the re-engagement under which they are serving shall be secured to them, notwithstanding any breach of discipline committed during the period of such re-engagement, provided that such breach of discipline be neither mutiny nor felony, nor of such a nature as to cause them to be discharged from the Service with disgrace.

3. Should any man be unable to complete the period of his re-engagement for five years on account of being invalided from the Service, or otherwise discharged with the sanction of the Admiralty, his pension will be computed up to the date of his discharge.

4. All re-engagements under these regulations are to be made on form S. 55 (Continuous service engagement).

5. No man, whether a continuous or non-continuous service man, will be retained in the Service beyond the age of 50, unless specially provided for in the Regulations, or under the special sanction of the Admiralty.

1947. Marines who have completed time for pension will be dealt with in the manner prescribed in the preceding Article, except that on arrival home they will be discharged to Headquarters.

1948. Claims for Hurts.-Whenever an application for a pension for age, long service, or disability, is made by a petty officer or seaman who has received a wound or injury in the Service, the Captain will direct the Medical Officer to make a report, which he will forward with the application for the information of the Admiralty, stating clearly the extent to which the injury affects the man, and the degree in which it incapacitates him from contributing towards his own support.

1949. Notification of Pension.-No man who has completed his time for pension is to be granted his discharge until the notification of his pension has been received from the Admiralty. In all such cases the men are entitled to full pay until discharged.

1950. Dissatisfied with amount.-If any petty officer, seaman, or marine, on being first pensioned, or on his pension. being increased, should consider the right amount of pension has not been awarded to him, if he is still serving, he will make an application through his Captain or Commandant, as the case may be, or, if not serving, he will apply direct to the Secretary of the Admiralty, Whitehall, requesting a reconsideration of his pension ; the grounds for this request are to be fully stated in the application, in order that such further careful investigation may be made into the claim as may be necessary.

1951. Re-entry of Invalided Men.-All men invalided from the Service who re-enter must produce their invaliding certificates, or pension tickets, at the time of their re-entry, to the Captain and the Medical Officer of the ship, in order that their cases may be fully known ; and if they neglect to do so, or fail at the time in assigning a sufficient reason for not doing so, they forfeit all claim to pension for subsequent service.

1952. Pensioners serving.-When, in cases of emergency, pensioners may be called upon to serve, they will be allowed to receive their pensions in addition to their pay; when not called upon to serve, this indulgence will not be granted to them unless under the approval of the Admiralty in each particular instance ; therefore, in the latter case, when pensioners offer themselves' for entry in ships,

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the respective Captains of such ships are to forward to the Secretary of the Admiralty, through the Commander-in-Chief, a return of such pensioners, when the Admiralty will direct whether they shall or shall not receive their pensions while serving. It is to be understood, however, that no short service pensioners, except those mentioned in clause 4, will in any case be allowed to receive their pensions, in addition to their pay, unless when called upon to serve.

2. Writers, Ships' Cooks, and Ships.' Stewards on the old system, Officers' Stewards and Cooks, pensioners rated as Able Seamen, Shipwrights, Carpenters' Mates, and Caulkers, in general depots and harbour ships, as hospital nurses, and as Gunner's Mates in drill ships, may, however, receive their service pensions while so employed, but will receive pensions granted for injuries and disabilities only under the approval of the Admiralty in each particular instance.

3. Such naval pensioners as are permitted to receive their pensions while serving in the Navy will not count any such service towards increase of pension, nor as time towards the qualification necessary for earning a good conduct medal or gratuity. '

4. Pensioners who are in receipt of naval pensions for injury or disability may be permitted to draw their pensions while employed in naval or civil establishments under the Admiralty, and in other cases at the discretion of the Admiralty.

5. With the approval of the Admiralty a limited number of continuous service or non-continuous service Writers may be retained in certain posts on the home stations as pensioner 'Writers until 60 years of age, if required, and if thoroughly efficient. They will be allowed to draw pension whilst serving, as well as provisions or compensation in lieu. Such service will not count towards increase of pension or civil superannuation, nor as time towards the qualification necessary for earning a good conduct medal or gratuity. This regulation applies only to men appointed pensioned Writers prior to 1st January 1894.

6. No pensioner is to be retained after the age of 60.

1953. Periods of increase to Pensioners serving.-The following rules will be observed in regard to the periods when pensions will he increased on account of time served, or medals or badges gained, by pensioners subsequently to their being pensioned :

(a) When called out After every 12 months' service.
(b) When not called out, but allowed to receive their pensions No increase.
(c) When not called out, and not allowed to receive their pensions On discharge.

2. Claims to increase of pension will be considered on the final discharge of every pensioner, whether he had been in the receipt of his pension or not.

1954. Documents of Pensioners re-entering.- All pensioners, on re-entering the Service, are to be required to produce their pension identity certificate, showing the period up to which their pensions are paid, in order that, in cases where they may not be allowed to receive their pensions while serving, any payment for a period beyond the date of their re-entry may be charged against their wages on the ledger, and a report of the same having been done is to be sent by the Captain of the ship to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

1955. Pensioners required to serve when called out.- Pensioners who shall not be wholly incapable, or whose age shall not exceed 55 years, are liable to

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forfeit their pensions, and to be apprehended and punished as deserters, for neglecting to attend at such port or place, and at such time as, during war, or in prospect of war, or in any emergency, shall be appointed for the assembling of pensioners by the Admiralty ; or by neglecting or refusing to serve His Majesty in such manner as to the Admiralty may seem proper; and except when such neglect to appear, or such neglect or refusal to serve, shall be accounted for by an excuse which is admitted by the Admiralty to be reasonable.

1956. Pensioners, Return of.-A return of all naval pensioners serving afloat is to be forwarded to the Admiralty by their respective Captains at the end of every quarter on form S. 178.

2. In the first quarterly return which is sent in after a ship is commissioned, the names of all pensioners serving on board are to be entered ; after which, only the names of such men are to be entered as have joined since the preceding return was sent in.

3. Service Certificates.-As an additional precaution against men who are pensioners not declaring themselves to be such when they re-enter the Navy, Captains are to note on the service certificates of men who are discharged to pension the words "Discharged to Pension," with the date.

.4. In the case of invalids, where the original service certificate comes to the Admiralty, the notation thereon will be made in office.

5. As all men must show their service certificates on rejoining the Service, this regulation will be a ready means of enabling Captains to fill up form S. 178.

6. These regulations are applicable to marines as well as to seamen.

1957. When Pensioners may draw their Pensions.-Naval pensioners may draw their naval pensions while serving in British merchant ships, or residing in any British possession abroad, but not for any period during which they serve under a foreign flag, or reside in any foreign country of which they are not natives, unless with the special permission of the Admiralty. Naval pensioners may also draw their pensions while serving in His Majesty's naval or civil establishments, including yard craft.

2. Pensioners temporarily on shore abroad.-When a pensioner, serving in' a British merchant ship; has been compelled temporarily to reside on shore in a foreign country, owing to the wreck of the ship in which he may have been serving, or other unavoidable occurrence, his pension may be paid for the period of such residence, provided he take the earliest opportunity of joining another British ship, or of returning to England.

1958. Payment of Pensions to Wives, &c.-In special circumstances, and with the consent of any naval pensioner, the Admiralty may order his pension, or any portion of it, to be paid to or for the benefit of his wife, or, if he have no wife, to or for the benefit of his child or children.

1959. Entry of Civil Pensioners.- No civil pensioner is to be entered without permission from the Admiralty.

1960. Advance to Pensioners emigrating.-An advance of naval pension, not exceeding six months, may be made to a pensioner for the purpose of assisting him to emigrate to any of His Majesty's possessions abroad.

SECTION III. GREENWICH ACE PENSIONS FOR NAVAL PENSIONERS.

1961. Amount and Conditions.-Greenwich age pensions of 5d. a day for seamen and marine pensioners over 55 years of age, and of 9d. a day for seamen

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and marine pensioners over 65 years of age, are awarded under the Greenwich Hospital Act of 1865, according to the following regulations:-

  1. The age pension of 5d. a day, at the discretion of the Admiralty, may be granted to seamen and marines over 55 years of age, who are in receipt of naval pensions for life (men in the receipt of the deferred marine pension excepted), and who have been five years continuously on the pension rolls, such period being reckoned from the date of their final discharge from the Service, unless they drew their pensions while serving. The age pension of 9d. a day may be granted to seamen and marines over 6 5 years of age who are in receipt of naval pensions for life (men in receipt of the deferred marine pension excepted), and who have been l0 years continuously on the pension rolls, such period being reckoned from the date of their final discharge from the Service, unless they drew their pensions whilst serving.
  2. These pensions are only for those who have served as seamen or marines, except in the cases of yard craft men and Seamen Riggers, who are specially provided for in sub-clause (f).
  3. Greenwich age pensions may be drawn by men residing in British possessions abroad.
  4. The Greenwich age pension shall not be awarded to any man whose general conduct in the Service was inferior to " Good," or whose character and conduct since his discharge shall be considered by the Admiralty to be bad or indifferent.
  5. All applications for Greenwich age pensions-shall be made to the Secretary of the Admiralty (G. H. Department), London, S.W.
  6. Yard craft men, including Masters and Mates, and Seamen Riggers, whether established or not, who have been granted civil superannuations, as well as those who have been granted naval pensions, or who have been pensioned under the old Dockyard Regulations, shall be eligible for the Greenwich Hospital age pension, as they are eligible for all the benefits of the Greenwich Hospital ; but breakwater men are not entitled to these pensions, never having been eligible for the benefits of Greenwich Hospital.

  7. The number of Greenwich Hospital age pensions in force at any one time will be determined according to the funds available for the purpose. Vacancies will be filled up by selection, at the discretion of the Admiralty, regard being had to the circumstances of each case.
  8. Men pensioned under sub-clause (i) of Article 1915 (formerly warrant officers) are not entitled to Greenwich age pensions.
  9. Greenwich age pensions are not payable to men in workhouses.

SECTION IV. GREENWICH SPECIAL PENSIONS FOR SEAMEN AND MARINES

1962. Greenwich special pensions are awarded under the Greenwich Hospital Act of 1869, under which seamen and marines are admitted to the benefits of Greenwich Hospital.

1963. " Benefits of Greenwich Hospital."-By the term " benefits of Greenwich Hospital " is meant the grant of special pensions from the funds of Greenwich Hospital, to seamen and marines of good character who have been discharged from His Majesty's Service, and are permanently or temporarily unable to maintain themselves ; or, the admission of men into hospitals or infirmaries at the expense of Greenwich Hospital.

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1964. Persons eligible.-The undermentioned persons shall be considered eligible for the benefits of Greenwich Hospital if infirm or helpless, or permanently or temporarily unable to maintain themselves :-

Class I.-All seamen and marines who have been granted naval pensions for life.

Class II.-All seamen and marines who have served with good characters for 12 years continuously, or with short intervals.

Class III.-All seamen and marines who, having served for not less than five years,, have been discharged or invalided on account of disease or wounds, and whose present disability is clearly the result of such disease or wounds.

Class IV.-All seamen and marines who have been discharged or invalided on account of disease or wounds clearly attributable to the service of the Crown, and whose present disability is clearly the result of such disease or wounds. '

Class V.-Seamen and marines whose claims may be considered special and exceptional, not coming within the above-mentioned classes.

1965. Admission to Hospitals, &c., and Special Pensions-Seamen and marines coming within any one of the above classes, whose claims to the benefits of Greenwich Hospital have. been allowed, may, after examination, be received into hospitals or infirmaries for temporary treatment, or they may be allowed such special pensions from the funds of Greenwich Hospital as, with their existing pension or pensions, if any, will make up an amount not exceeding Is. 6d. a day, the exact amount within that limit being regulated by the circumstances of each case, and by the money available. In cases of exceptional need or distress, however, they may be granted such special pensions in excess of Is. 6d. a day as may seem to the Admiralty to be fit, but so that the amount thereof shall not, together with their existing pension or pensions, if any, exceed the sum of 2s. 6d. a day.

2. Special pensions may be drawn by men residing in British possessions abroad.

3. All applications for the benefits of Greenwich Hospital shall be made to the Secretary of the Admiralty (G. H. Department), London, S.W.

4. A medical- survey will be held on each applicant, to ascertain the degree in which he can contribute towards his own support.

5. On this report (fore; D. 334) a decision will be formed by the Admiralty as to the claims of the applicant upon the funds of Greenwich Hospital, and the nature of the assistance that should be afforded to him.

6. No man shall be admitted into a hospital or infirmary, without the sanction of the Admiralty, except in case of urgent necessity, and every such urgent case shall be immediately reported to the Medical Director-General by the officer in charge of the hospital.

7. Allowances when in Hospital, &c. When men are admitted into hospitals or infirmaries, under these regulations, money allowances to themselves, and to their wives and families, may, at the discretion of the officer in charge of the hospital or infirmary, be granted as follows, viz. :-

(a) To non-pensioners 1s. a week during good behaviour.
  To pensioners without wives or children; if their pensions do not exceed 1s. a day. 1s. a week during good behaviour, and when retained beyond the quarter for which they last received pension.
  To pensioners without wives or children if their pensions exceed 1s. a day. 2s. a week during good behaviour, and, when retained beyond the quarter for which they last received pension.

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(b) To pensioners having wives or children. 1s. a week during good behaviour, and when retained beyond the quarter for which they last received pension.
(c) To their wives or to persons having charge of their children. If the rate of pension be:-

From 6d. to 1s. a day, 3s. per week.
Over 1s. and not exceeding 1s. 6d. a day, 4s. per week.
Over 1s. 6d. and not exceeding 2s. a day, 5s. per week.

When the pension exceeds 2s. a day the balance is to be given to the men's wives or to the persons having charge of their children, instead of the above allowance, but in such cases the allowances are not to be less in amount than 5s. a week.

8. Similar Greenwich Hospital allowances may also be granted to the wives and families of men maintained in Yarmouth Hospital at the expense of naval funds, when sanctioned by the Admiralty in cases of exceptional need.

9. The allowance of 3s., 4s., or 5s. a week, or as the case may be, will not, in any circumstances, be paid to the pensioners themselves, but it will be paid on the first Friday in each month to the wives, or to the person in charge of the children, or to their representatives in case of inability to attend. Persons living at a distance may receive the allowance by post office order from the agent of the hospital.

10. The pensions of all men admitted under these regulations to hospitals or infirmaries will be paid to the funds of Greenwich Hospital, which are chargeable with their maintenance.

11. All men admitted to the benefits of Greenwich Hospital, who may apply at naval hospitals or infirmaries, will be allowed medical advice and medicine gratis, upon the approval of the officer in charge of the establishment, and under such regulations as he may deem necessary to prevent abuse and irregularities.

12. All pensioners whose claims to the benefits of Greenwich Hospital have been allowed, after examination, and who may be living at a distance from hospitals or infirmaries, if ordered by the Admiralty to be admitted to such hospitals or infirmaries, will be furnished with railway passes, and, on their final discharge therefrom, they will be again furnished with a similar means of transit to their homes.

13. Men not in receipt of pensions when ordered by the Admiralty to be sent to hospitals or infirmaries must not only pay their own travelling expenses, but must be furnished with sufficient money to take them home again in the event of their being rejected by the medical officers as unfit cases. If admitted, the money expended in travelling will be refunded, and the patient will be given a railway pass when he is discharged from hospital. Similarly, the expenses of passes supplied to pensioners will be deducted from their pensions, in the event of their being rejected.

14. When pensioners eligible for the benefits of Greenwich Hospital become inmates of lunatic asylums supported at the public expense, their wives, or the persons having charge of their children, may, in cases of exceptional need, be paid allowances at the same rate as in the case of pensioners who are maintained in naval hospitals, less such portion, if any, of the naval pension as may not be claimed by the parish authorities.

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1966. Persons ineligible.-The following persons shall not be considered eligible for the benefits of Greenwich Hospital :

  1. Men who are materially able to contribute towards their own support.
  2. Men with less than 12 years' service, however old they may be, who were discharged in good health, and do not come under Class V.. Article 1964.
  3. Men discharged for any form of venereal disease, unless they be life pensioners, and men suffering from any such disease contracted since their discharge from the Service, whether life pensioners or not.
  4. Men whose general character has been inferior to " Good."
  5. Men in workhouses.
  6. Foreigners entered after 24th April 1900.

1967. Civil and Army Pensioners who, in consequence of naval or marine service, may be eligible for the benefits of Greenwich Hospital, shall not be granted special pensions if their other pensions be equal to, or exceed, the amount which might be awarded to them as special pensions from the funds of Greenwich Hospital, if they were not in receipt of civil or army pensions. If, however, their pensions be less than such amount, they may be awarded the difference between the two, if otherwise eligible.

2. Should such men be admitted into hospitals their pensions will be paid to the funds of Greenwich Hospital, as in the case of naval pensioners.

3. Time served in the Army shall not be allowed to reckon with subsequent naval service for the benefits of Greenwich Hospital.

1968. Yard Craft Men and Riggers.-Yard craft men, including Masters and Mates, and Seamen Riggers, whether established or not, who have been granted civil superannuation, as well as those who have been granted naval pensions, or who have been pensioned under the old dockyard regulations, shall be considered eligible for all the benefits of Greenwich Hospital, but breakwater men are not eligible for those benefits.

SECTION V. GENERAL

1969. Age of Applicant.-The age of all applicants for naval and Greenwich pensions shall be computed in every case from the statement made by them on their first entry into the Service, and no certificate of birth or baptism or any other document shall be accepted in support of an application to have the statement of age on first entry set aside, except when otherwise directed in Article 355.

1970. Assignments, &c.-Any assignment, sale, or contract relating to a naval or Greenwich Hospital pension is void.

1971. Mode of paying Pensions.-Pensioners will be paid by the Accountant-General, either quarterly or at such other periods as may be authorised.

1972. Violence towards Paying Officer.-Any pensioner guilty of violence or outrage towards any person employed in paying the pensioners, shall be punished by the loss either of a part or of the whole of his pension, in addition to any other punishment which the law may inflict for such offence.

1973. Striking off Pension List.-Any pensioner convicted of felony, or of an attempt to commit a fraud in the receipt of pension or prize money, shall be struck off the pension list :

  1. The personating or falsely assuming the name or character of a naval pensioner in order to obtain his pension money, or procuring any other to do the same, is made felony by Act of Parliament.
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  3. All pensions are granted during good behaviour, and may be forfeited by misconduct on the part of the pensioner, to be judged of by the Admiralty, but the Admiralty, at their discretion, may restore any pensioner who shall have forfeited his pension for misconduct or on conviction of felony, either to his original pension or to a lower rate of pension.

1974. Pensioners receiving Parish Relief.-Naval pensions, under such conditions as may from time to time be laid down, are liable to the claims of the parish authorities, in the event of a pensioner being relieved, or becoming chargeable in respect to relief afforded to himself or to any person whom he is liable to maintain.

1975. Neglect to draw Pension.-A pensioner who neglects to draw his pension for four successive quarters will be struck off the pension list and not replaced unless he account satisfactorily for such omission; and the Admiralty, at their discretion, will grant or withhold the arrears, or any portion thereof, but in no case will arrears be paid for a longer period than two years, unless the man shall have been serving in the Navy in a rating which entitled him to receive his pension while so employed.

1976. Balance due t0 deceased Pensioner.-The widows or legal representatives of deceased pensioners may be allowed to receive their pensions up to the end of the quarter in which the pensioners died, provided such pension shall not already have been paid, and provided there be no stoppage against the pension on account of maintenance in a hospital, or other reason.

2. If a man shall have received his pension up to the end of the quarter in which he died, and his death take place within two days from the end of the quarter, a month's pension may be paid to the widow on special authority from the Admiralty.

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