Royal Naval Reserves - Officers

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Order in Council - March 1, 1864

At the Court at Windsor, the 1st day of March, 1864.

Present,

The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council

Whereas by the Act twenty-four and twenty-five Victoria, chapter one hundred and twenty nine, Her Majesty was empowered to avail herself of the services of a certain number of Officers of the Merchant Service of the United Kingdom, and of the Colonies and Dependencies of Great Britain, as Officers of Reserve to the Royal Navy ; and whereas certain Regulations have been made under the said Act, and in pursuance of the said Act and of the said Regulations made thereunder, a considerable number of such Officers have been enrolled as Officers of Reserve ; and whereas by the Officers of Royal Naval Reserve Act, 1863, twenty-six and twenty-seven Victoria, chapter sixty-nine, it is enacted as follows, viz.:-

"1. It shall be lawful for Her Majesty to accept from time to time the offers of any persons who have been, are, or shall be Masters, Mates, or Engineers of Ships in the Merchant Service aforesaid, or of other British Ships not belonging to Her Majesty, or of any persons who have been Commissioned Officers, Masters, or Engineers in the Indian Naval Force of Her Majesty, or in the Naval Force the East India Company, to serve as Officers of Reserve to the Royal Navy, upon such terms and conditions as to Her Majesty may from time to time seem fit.

"2. The Lord High Admiral, or the Commissioners for executing his office, hereinafter called the Admiralty, may enrol as Officers of Reserve to the Royal Navy so many of such persons as aforesaid as the Admiralty may from time to deem expedient, under and subject to such rules, orders, and regulations as the Admiralty may with the consent of Her Majesty in Council, from time to time establish ; and such persons enrolled shall bear such rank in respect to the Officers of the Royal Navy as the Admiralty may from time to time direct, and shall when called out for training or exercise, or on actual service, be subject to all the laws, regulations, and customs for the time being in force for the government and discipline of the Royal Navy.

"3. Such persons so enrolled as Officers of Reserve shall be entitled to receive such pay and allowances as the Admiralty, with the consent of Her Majesty in Council, may from time to time appoint ; and if any such person is disabled or receives any hurt or wound in actual serve, he shall be entitled to the same allowance or pension in shall be entitled to the same allowance or pension in respect thereof as an Officer of the Royal Navy of corresponding rank would be entitled to under similar circumstances ; and if any such person is killed in action, or dies from any wound or accident resulting from the performance of his duty, his widow (if any) shall be entitled to the same pension as the widow of an officer of the Royal Navy of corresponding rank would be entitled to under similar circumstances.

"4. It shall be lawful for Her Majesty to continue the services of all persons who have been enrolled as Officers of Reserve to the Royal Navy before the passing of this Act, and the services of all such persons shall be deemed to be continued by Her Majesty as if this Act had not been passed, unless and until Her Majesty thinks fit to discontinue the same.

"5. All rules, orders, and regulations relating to persons enrolled as Officers of Reserve to the Royal Navy made before the passing of this Act by the Admiralty, with the consent of Her Majesty in Council, shall, with respect to all persons enrolled before the passing of this Act, continue in force as if this Act had not been passed, and shall also extend and apply, as far as may be (mutatis mutandis), to all persons so enrolled after the passing of this Act, but so that any rules, orders, and regulations made as aforesaid from time to time under this Act may repeal or alter all or any part of any rules, orders, and regulations made before the passing of this Act, and shall, unless otherwise expressed extend and apply as well to persons so enrolled before the passing of this Act as to persons so enrolled after the passing of this Act.

"6. On the passing of this Act the Act of the Session of the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth years of Her Majesty (chapter one hundred and twenty-nine), 'to enable Her Majesty to accept the services of Officers of the Merchant Service as Officers of Reserve to the Royal Navy,' shall be repealed; but this repeal shall not affect the past operation of the said Act, or the validity of anything already done, or any right, title, obligation or liability already accrued thereunder."

And whereas the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have submitted for the approval of Her Majesty the Regulations appended to this Order, as Regulations proper to be substituted for the Regulations hitherto in force under the Act twenty-four and twenty-five Victoria, chapter one hundred and twenty-nine :

Now, therefore, Her Majesty is pleased to direct that the said Regulations appended to this Order shall take effect from the date hereof.

ARTHUR HELPS

REGULATIONS REFERRED TO IN THE FOREGOING ORDER

Number, Class and Rank.

The Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve on the Active List shall not exceed the total number of seven hundred, and shall consist of four classes, viz. :-

1. "Lieutenants" of the Royal Naval Reserve, whose number shall not exceed one hundred and thirty, and who will, as to seniority and command, rank with, but after, Lieutenants and Masters of the Royal Navy.

2. "Sub-Lieutenants" of the Royal Naval Reserve, whose number shall not exceed two hundred and seventy, and who will, as to seniority and command, rank with, but after, Sub-Lieutenants and Second Masters of the Royal Navy.

3. "Engineers" of the Royal Naval Reserve, whose number shall not exceed one hundred, and who will rank with, but after, Engineer of the Royal Navy.

4, First Class "Assistant Engineers" of the Royal Naval Reserve, whose number shall not exceed one hundred, and Second Class "Assistant Engineers" of the Royal Naval Reserve, whose number shall not exceed one hundred. First Class Assistant Engineers will rank with, but after, First Class Assistant Engineers of the Royal Navy; and Second Class Assistant Engineers will rank with, but after, Second Class Assistant Engineers of the Royal Navy.

Appointment.

The whole of these Officers shall be appointed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; but their applications for appointment shall be made through the Board of Trade, Whitehall, London.

Qualification.

The following Officers shall be eligible for Commissions as Lieutenants of the Royal Naval Reserve, viz.:-

1. Masters of British Merchant Ships or of other British Ships not belonging to Her Majesty, under 45 years of age, who hold certificates of competency under the " Mercantile Marine Act, 1850, " or the " Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, " and who have commanded vessels of not less than 500 tons gross burthen for not less than two years, and who are actually afloat and in command at the time of making their application for a commission.

2. Officers under 45 years of age, who have attained the rank of Master, or a higher rank, in the Indian Naval Force of Her Majesty, or in the Naval Force of the East India Company.

The following Officers shall be eligible for Commissions as Sub-Lieutenants of the Royal Naval Reserve, viz.:-

1. Chief Mates of British Merchant Ships, or of other Ships not belonging to Her Majesty, under 35 years of age, who hold Masters' or Chief Mates' Certificates of Competency under "The Mercantile Marine Act, 1850," or "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854," and who have sailed as Masters or as Chief Mates in vessels of not less than 500 tons gross burthen for not less than two years, and who are actually afloat as Masters or Chief Mates at the time of making their application for a commission.

2. Officers under 40 years of age, who have attained the rank of Second Master, or higher rank in the Indian Naval Force of Her Majesty, or in the Naval Force of the East India Company.

The following Officers shall be eligible for Commissions as Engineers of the Royal Naval Reserve, viz.:

1. Engineers of British Merchant Ships, or of other British Ships not belonging to Her Majesty, who hold First Class Engineers' Certificates of Competency under "The Merchant Shipping Act Amendment Act, 1862," whose age does not exceed 40 years, and who at the time of making their applications are actually afloat in charge of engines of upwards of 100 nominal horse power.

2. Engineers who have attained the rank of Engineer, or a higher rank, in the Indian Naval Force of Her Majesty, or in the Service of the East India Company, and whose age does not exceed 40 years.

The following Officers shall be eligible for Commissions or Appointments as Assistant Engineer of the Royal Naval Reserve, viz.:-

(1.) For First Class Assistants of the Royal Naval Reserve, viz.:-

(a) Engineers of British Merchant Ships, or of other British Ships not belonging to Her Majesty, who hold First or Second Class Engineers' Certificates of competency, under "The Merchant Shipping Act Amendment Act, 1862;" whose age does not exceed 40 years, who have served as First Engineers of Home Trade passenger steam ships with engines of 100 nominal horse power or upwards for not less than 3 years, or as Second Engineers of foreign-going steam ships, with engines of 100 nominal horse power or upwards for not less than 3 years, and who, at the time of making their application are actually afloat.

(b.) Engineers who have attained the rank of Engineer or First Class Assistant Engineer, or a higher rank, in the Indian Naval Force of Her Majesty, or in the Service of the East India Company, whose age does not exceed 40 years.

(2.) For the Second Class Assistant Engineers of the Royal Naval Reserve:-

(a.) Engineers having similar qualifications to those required of a First Class Assistant Engineer, excepting that they need not have served afloat for a period of 3 years.

Engineers and Assistant Engineers of the Reserve will not be required to undergo drill.

In selecting applicants for Commissions, preference will be given to those possessing Extra Certificates of competency, provided their merits appear to be equal in other respects.

Qualification for a Lieutenant's Commission will be a qualification for a Sub-Lieutenant's Commission; and a qualification for an Engineer's Commission will he a qualification for an Assistant Engineer's Commission.

After the 1st January, 1865, no person will eligible for a Commission as Lieutenant on the List in the Royal Naval Reserve until he has held a Commission as Sub-Lieutenant on the Active List of the Reserve for one year or upwards. And after the same date no person will be eligible for a Commission as Engineer in the Royal Naval Reserve until he has held a Commission or Appointment as Assistant Engineer of the Reserve for one year or upwards.

Honorary Commanders, Chief Engineers, Lieutenants, and Sub-lieutenants.

In addition to the Officers of the Reserve on the Active List, there shall be a class of Honorary Officers of the Reserve, not exceeding in the whole 160 in number, and of the ranks named below viz.:-

(a.) Honorary Commanders of the Reserve not exceeding 30 in number, and consisting of Officers of the Reserve who have held Lieutenants' Commissions for not less than 5 years, and who are not less than 50 years of age. Honorary Commanders of the Reserve will rank with, but after, Staff Commanders of the Royal Navy,

(b.) Honorary Chief Engineers of the Reserve, not exceeding 30 in number, and consisting of Officers of the Reserve who have held Commissions as Engineers of the Reserve for not less than 10 years, and who are not less than 50 years of age. They will rank with, but after, Chief Engineers of the Royal Navy.

(c.) Honorary Lieutenants and Sub-Lieutenants of the Reserve, not exceeding 100 in number, and consisting of :

(1.) For Honorary Lieutenants ; Masters of Vessels actually afloat and in command, and possessing qualifications similar to the qualifications of the Lieutenants on the Active List, except that they must be above 45 years of age, and need not be in possession of Certificates of competency ; and

(2.) For Honorary Lieutenants ; Owners of seagoing pleasure yachts of 50 tons register or upwards, who command and act as Masters of their own yachts ; and

(3.) For Honorary Lieutenants ; Superintendents of Mercantile Marine Offices who have served as Masters in the Merchant Service ; and

(4.) For Honorary Sub-Lieutenants ; Deputy Superintendents of Mercantile Marine Officers who have served as Chief Mates, or who have attained a higher rank in the Merchant Service.

Honorary Lieutenants of the Reserve will rank with, but after, Lieutenants and Masters of the Royal Navy ; and Honorary Sub-Lieutenants of the Reserve will rank with, but after, Sub-Lieutenants and Second Masters of the Royal Navy.

The Officers on the Honorary List will not be required to undergo drill, nor will they be liable to be called out for active service, except in cases emergency, and not then, unless they have been at any time on the Active Lilt.

Promotion

Officers of the lower rank in the Active List will, if qualified, be eligible for promotion to the higher rank on that list, at the discretion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

Officers who, when in actual service, may, by the character or length of their service, obtain the special approbation of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, will be eligible to receive Commissions as Officers in the Royal Navy, of the same grade as that with which they may rank at the time. They will then be considered in all respects as Officers on the permanent strength of the Navy.

Officers who, whilst on actual service, shall have distinguished themselves in action with the enemy, or by the character and length of their services, will be eligible, at the conclusion of their service in the Navy, for promotion to the higher honorary ranks of Commander and Captains of the Naval Reserve, at the discretion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

Officers of the Reserve who shall have displayed zeal in promoting the efficiency of the Reserve will be favourably considered for promotion, at the discretion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

Retirement

Officers who wish to retire from the Active List may do so at the discretion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, on consideration of their services ; either

1.) Without rank; or

(2.) On the Honorary List, with the rank they may hold at the time of their retirement ; or

(3.) On the Honorary List at a higher rank.

Uniform

Officers to wear the same uniform as Officers of corresponding rank in the Royal Navy, with the following exceptions, viz.:-

Commanders, Chief Engineers. Lieutenants, Sub-Lieutenants, and Engineers.- Instead of each stripe of half-inch lace round the sleeves of the coats, there is to be a stripe formed of two waved lines of quarter-inch gold braid, intersecting each other, so as to form bands half an inch wide, the blue cloth to show between the curves.

The Engineers' Department are to be distinguished by purple velvet stripes, quarter inch wide, between the gold braid waved lines round the sleeves of the coat.

Engineers who are only entitled to one waved line, the velvet stripe is to be worn below the gold braid on the sleeves of the coat.

Assistant Engineers, one waved stripe of purple velvet, quarter inch wide, round the sleeve; of the coat above the cuff ; without any gold braid.

The buttons to be of the Royal Navy pattern, with the letters '` R.N.R." in Old English character, surmounted by a crown.

Instead of the anchor on the epaulettes and shoulder straps respectively, there is to be a badge consisting of a silver anchor in the centre, surrounded with the words " Royal Naval Reserve'' embroidered in gold.

Instead of the bullion loop on the cocked hats, the loop to be formed of two gold braids, twisted the same as for coat sleeves.

The badge for the caps to consist of a device similar to that on the epaulettes, embroidered on blue cloth and surmounted by a crown.

The plate for the sword-belt to be the same as for Officers of the Royal Navy, substituting the letters "R.N.R." for the anchor in the centre.

Drill.

Lieutenants and Sub-Lieutenants on the Active List of the Royal Naval Reserve will be required to undergo in each year a course of twenty-eight days' drill and gunnery instruction on board one of the District Drill Ships, or if absent from England above a year, and unable to take their drill on board a Drill Ship, they may perform it on board one of Her Majesty's ships abroad having a Gunnery Lieutenant.

But on a special report being made to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty by the Commander of such Drill or Gunnery Ship in the United Kingdom, or by the Captain of such ship abroad, to the effect that a Lieutenant or Sub-Lieutenant of the Reserve is competent to instruct and drill men of the Reserve, then such Lieutenant or Sub-Lieutenant will be required to undergo seven days' test drill each year, and if such test drill is performed to the satisfaction of the officer superintending the drill, the further twenty-one days will be dispensed with ; but if the seven days' test drill is not satisfactory, the further twenty one days' drill must be performed.

Messing.

Officers, whilst on drill, will live on shore, and receive the following subsistence allowance, viz.:-

Lieutenants . . . . .10s. a-day.

Sub-Lieutenants . . 7s. a-day.

All Officers called out for service will mess with Officers of their respective ranks in the Royal Navy.

Discipline.

Officers will be subject to naval discipline when attending drill, and when called out for actual service; and will also at any time whilst belonging to the Reserve be liable to lose their Commissions for conduct unbecoming the character of Her Majesty's service, at the discretion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. They are expected to provide themselves with a copy of the Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.

Service Afloat.

Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve will be called out for actual service by Royal Proclamation ; and they will be liable to serve during the continuance of any national emergency, or until they may be regularly discharged by the direction of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty,

Pay and Allowances and Pensions to Widows

Officers will, whilst called out for actual service, receive the pay of their corresponding ranks is the Royal Navy.

Officers who may receive hurts or wounds whilst on active service in the Royal Navy, or whilst undergoing drill, will receive the same pensions and allowances to which Officers in the Navy would be entitled under similar circumstances.

Widows of Officers who, whilst on actual service, may be killed in action, or die from accident resulting from the performance of their duty, will receive the same pensions as the widows of Naval Officers of corresponding rank would be entitled to under similar circumstances.

Repeal.

All Rules, Orders, and Regulations made in pursuance of the Act twenty-four and twenty-five Victoria, chapter one hundred and twenty nine shall be repealed from the date when these Regulations come into operation ; but this repeal shall not affect the validity of anything already done, or any right, title, obligation, or liability already accrued thereunder.

Source: Navy List for June 1870

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