Admiralty Order in Council No. 174.

26 September 1901.

G.H.

Whereas we deem it expedient that provision be made from Naval Funds for the widows and children of non-commissioned Officers and Petty Officers and Men belonging to Your Majesty's Navy and Marines or Reserve Forces who may be killed or drowned, or who may die from wounds or injuries received, or disease contracted, during warlike operations :

We beg leave to recommend that Your Majesty may be graciously pleased by Your Order in Council to sanction the following regulations to govern the grant of pensions and allowances to such widows and children accordingly : -

Royal Navy.

Regulations for the Grant of Pensions to Widows and Allowances to Children of Seamen and Marines.

1. Pensions and allowances maybe granted by the Admiralty to widows and children of non-commissioned Officers and Petty Officers and men of the Royal Navy and Marines, and of the Reserve Forces who are killed or drowned, or who die from wounds or injuries received, or disease contracted, during warlike operations.
2. These pensions and allowances will be granted only in cases where men have, during warlike operations, -
1. been killed or drowned; or
2. received wounds or injuries, and have died therefrom within 12 months ; or
3. contracted or developed disease which terminated fatally within 12 months of removal from duty on account of such disease.
The pensions and allowances will not be granted to the widows or children of men who were killed or drowned, or who died, before the 11th October 1899.
3. Pension or allowance will not be granted when death has been due to a man's own culpable action or negligence, or when the widow was not legally married to the man before the receipt of the wound or injury, or before the disease was contracted.
4. Scale of Pensions and Allowances : -

Rank of Husband in Royal Navy, Marines, or Reserve Forces.	Widow's pension per Week.		Allowance for each Child dependent on the Mother per Week.
	s.	d.	s.	d.
(1.) All Naval Ratings below that of 2nd Class Petty Officer and Marines and Marine Artillery below Corporals	5	0	1	6
(2.) Second Class Petty Officers, Corporals of Marines and Marine Artillery	6	0	1	6
(3.) 1st Class Petty Officers, Sergeants of Marines and Marine Artillery	7	6	2	0
(4.) Chief Petty Officers, Colour and Staff Sergeants of the Marines and Marine Artillery.	9	0	2	0

5. If a widow remarries, her pension will cease, and she will be eligible to receive a gratuity equal to one year's pension in full discharge of all claims upon the public bounty. The allowances to the children may be continued.
6. Pensions and allowances are tenable subject to good behaviour, and are granted at the discretion of the Admiralty. They cannot be claimed as a right. Any assignment, sale, or contract relating to a pension or allowance is void.
7. If the mother dies, or the children are removed from the mother's control on account of her misconduct {see paragraph 6) the allowances in respect of the children may be paid at twice the normal rates (see paragraph 4) ; or provision may be made for the maintenance of the children in a benevolent institution subject to the concurrence of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.
8. If parish relief is afforded in respect either of the widow or .her children, the pension and allowance may, under such conditions as shall from time to time be laid down, be applied in whole or in part towards satisfying the claims of the parish authorities.
9. The widow will be required to make a declaration quarterly or whenever it may be considered necessary, before a duly authorized person, as to her continued widowhood, and of any particulars required in reference to her family. (Forms for this purpose will be supplied.)
10. Boys above 14 and girls above 16 will in ordinary circumstances be ineligible for allowances. If, however, it is shown to the satisfaction of the Admiralty that, owing to mental or physical infirmity, the boy or girl is. unable to maintain himself or herself, the allowance may be granted up to an age not exceeding 21.
11. If the claim of the widow to a pension be not established before her death, through her own neglect or omission, the amount of the pension to which she would have been entitled if living will not be allowed to her representatives.
12. These regulations apply only from the 1st July, 1901.

The Lords Commissioners of Your Majesty's Treasury have signified their concurrence in the regulations.

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