Engineer Branch (Royal Navy)
Until 1902 the Engineer Officers of the Royal Navy formed part of the Civil Branch. By Order in Council of 24 March, 1902, Engineer Officers formed part of the Engineer Branch.[1] The Engineer Officer of a ship was Engineer Branch officer in charge of the machinery and boilers of a ship.[2]
In a memorandum dated 28 December, 1863, it was announced that Queen Victoria had sanctioned the introduction of purple velvet stripes between the distinction lace.[3] By Memorandum No. 1 E of 14 January, 1864, it was clarified that the purple stripes were to be a quarter of an inch wide and had to be worn by 1 July.[4]
From 1 January, 1915, the Engineer Branch was incorporated into the Military Branch. Engineer officers retained their existing titles and were not allowed to command and on board ship were still "subject to the authority of any Officer who may be in charge of the Executive duties of the Ship."[5]
D. K. Brown claimed, "Until 1903 seagoing naval engineers did not have commissions and were technically civilians in uniform."[6] This is categorically untrue.
Ranks
| Prior to 1 April, 1903.[7] | ||
| Denomination. | Years' Service of Seniority. | To Rank With. |
| Engineer-in-Chief | Rear-Admiral | |
| Chief Inspector of Machinery. | Captain of 3 years' seniority. | |
| Inspector of Machinery. | Of 8 years' service. | Captain of 3 years' seniority. |
| Under 8 years' service. | Captain under 3 years' seniority. | |
| Fleet Engineer. | Under 5 years' service. | Commander. |
| Staff Engineer. | Lieutenant above 8 years' seniority. | |
| Chief Engineer. | With but after Lieutenant of 8 years' seniority. | |
| Engineer. | Of 6 years' seniority. | Lieutenant under 8 years' seniority. |
| Assistant Engineer. | With Sub-Lieutenant. | |
| Engineer Student. | Naval Cadet. | |
| Relative Rank after 1 April, 1903.[8] | ||
| Denomination of Rank. | Years' Service or Seniority. | To Rank with. |
| Engineer-in-Chief | Vice-Admiral or Rear-Admiral, according to the date of Commission in each rank. | |
| Engineer Rear-Admiral | Rear-Admiral, according to the date of Commission. | |
| Engineer Captain | Of eight years' service as such. | Captain of three years, whose seniority will reckon from the completion of three such years in that rank, that of the Engineer Captain from the completion of eight years' service as such. |
| Engineer Captain | Under eight years' service as such. | Captain under three years' seniority. |
| Engineer Commander | Commander; … according to date of Commission. | |
| Engineer Lieutenant | Of eight years' seniority, duly qualified and selected. | Lieutenant above eight years' seniority. |
| Engineer Lieutenant | Under eight years' seniority, or over that seniority but not duly qualified and selected. | Lieutenant under eight years' seniority, according to date of Commission. |
| Engineer Sub-Lieutenant | With, but after Sub-Lieutenant. | |
| Engineer Cadet | Naval Cadet, according to date of entry. | |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. VIII. pp. 212-213.
- ↑ The King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, 1913. Volume I. p. x.
- ↑ The Navy List, Corrected to the 20th December, 1863. p. 388.
- ↑ Memorandum No. 1 E dated 14 January, 1864. The National Archives. ADM 7/892.
- ↑ Order in Council of 7 January, 1915.
- ↑ Brown. The Grand Fleet. p. 19.
- ↑ Adapted from table in The Navy List, (April, 1891). pp. 562-563.
- ↑ The King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions (1906). pp. 59-61.
Bibliography
- The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. VIII. London: For His Majesty's Stationary Office. 1903.
- Admiralty (1906). The King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions for the Government of His Majesty's Naval Service. 1906. London: By Authority.
- Admiralty (1913). The King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions for the Government of His Majesty's Naval Service. 1913. Volume I. London: By Authority.
- Brown, David K, RCNC (1999). The Grand Fleet: Warship Design and Development 1906 — 1922. London: Chatham Publishing. (on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk).
