.dt The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Organisation of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers Explained, by Thomas Brassey
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The Organisation of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers Explained
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.nf c
The Organisation
Of The
Royal Naval
Artillery Volunteers
Explained
By
Thomas Brassey, M.P.
London
Longmans, Green, And Co.
1874
.nf-
.pn 3
.sn Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers.
It has been thought desirable to publish the following
statement, for the purpose of giving some explanation
of the services, duties, privileges, and general organisation
of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers.
.sn How to be recruited.
In inviting persons to enrol themselves in the corps,
the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty desire to
extend the volunteer movement, so successfully established
as an auxiliary to the land forces, to the defence
of this country by sea. The proposal is novel and unprecedented
in its character. In any other country
than our own, it would, in all probability, be visionary.
In England, however, we possess a guarantee for the
success of such an undertaking, which cannot be found
elsewhere. A taste for maritime pursuits pervades
this insular nation, and the hope may therefore be confidently
entertained that the appeal, now made to the
.pn +1
patriotism of the nautical and aquatic sections of the
community, will not be urged in vain.
.sn Naval opinions in favour of such a force.
Eminent naval authorities have, for many years
past, recommended the formation of a corps, for the
purposes of coast defence, composed of persons who,
while not possessing the wider experience of the seaman,
are accustomed to the management of boats, and
in the constant habit of going afloat. The Act for the
Royal Navy Artillery Volunteers, passed in the last
session at the instance of the Admiralty, and the regulations
recently issued under that Act, afford the most
convincing proof that, in the estimation of those who
are actually responsible for the efficiency of the naval
service, such a force is desirable. The concurrence of
the naval members of the late administration in the
various steps which have been taken, may likewise be
quoted, in order to show that there is a general desire,
among those to whom the welfare of the navy is an
especial object of solicitude, for the success of the
movement, which it is the object of the present writer
to explain.
.sn The harbour defence only.
It has been already stated that coast defence, and
not service at sea, constitutes the especial sphere proposed
for the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers. The
term coast defence is perhaps, in a certain sense, a misnomer.
The defence of the most important of our
commercial harbours against an attack from the sea
could not be effectually conducted by a force composed
exclusively of men trained for the land service alone.
The approach to all the great ports of the United
.pn +1
Kingdom from the sea involves the navigation of extensive
estuaries, where floating batteries, and armed
rafts, and the use of torpedoes, are essential to a complete
defence, and would in point of fact effectually
prevent the nearer approach of a hostile fleet. In the
laying out of torpedoes on an extensive scale, a flotilla
of boats would be required; and in furnishing crews
for such boats, the well-trained oarsmen, who, it is
hoped, will be found willing to enroll themselves in
the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers, would be enabled
to render valuable service. In all probability, by their
co-operation in the hour of danger, they would release
an equal number of highly trained seamen, who would
form the crews of sea-going cruisers. All our greatest
ports, London, Hull, Newcastle, Leith and Granton,
ports for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Southampton,
Belfast, Dublin, Cork, are situated at the head of an
extensive estuary, or at some distance from the mouth
of a navigable river. The mere enumeration of these
names is sufficient to show how large a sphere there
might be, in the event of a threatened invasion, for
the employment, in the important and essential task of
harbour defence, of an auxiliary force composed, not
of trained seamen, but of persons who may be described
generally as aquatics.
It is to be observed that a mere oarsman, although
not trained at the great guns, or in the use of rifle and
cutlass, would be enabled to do good work in a service
in which the use of boats must be largely resorted to;
and that, in order to take a number at a gun mounted
.pn +1
on a raft, such as the 'Nancy Dawson,' which the late
Captain Cole improvised for our naval operations in the
Sea of Azof, or to serve in a gun's crew in a floating
battery for harbour defence, neither sea legs nor sea
experience are indispensable qualifications. For such
duties those qualities are required which equally combine
to make a good gunner and a good soldier,
whether afloat or on shore--a fair share of physical
strength and activity, intelligence, and, above all,
courage and patriotism.
.sn The force need not be numerous.
Designed, as the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers
have been, for the especial work of coast and harbour
defence, it is not necessary that the corps should be
very numerous. It certainly need not exceed the
numbers of our amateur yachtsmen and oarsmen, for
whom the opportunity, now offered, of taking their
share in the national defence, is chiefly intended.
Enough will have been done, if a brigade can be
formed at each of the principal ports, of a strength
varying from 200 to 600 men.
.sn The training required.
Having described the general scope of the duties,
which would devolve on the Royal Naval Artillery
Volunteers, in the event of their being called out for
actual service, the nature of the training proposed for
the members of the force may be briefly explained.
The first consideration must be to familiarise them, to
some extent, with the management of boats. This instruction
might occupy much time in a corps composed
of men, who had never been in the habit of going on
the water; but, as the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteer
.pn +1
corps is to be recruited in a large proportion from
among aquatics, many of their number may be expected
to possess this qualification without the necessity
for special instruction.
The next point to claim attention will be the exercise
at the great guns. Here I may venture to affirm, from
personal experience, that the naval gun drills have been,
in every detail, so carefully considered, the instructors
are so completely masters of the subject which they
have to teach, and the mechanical appliances are such
effectual substitutes for heavy manual labour, that a
few days of constant attention will suffice to make a
volunteer a useful man in a gun's crew. The class of
recruits required for the Royal Navy Artillery Volunteers
possess advantages of intelligence and education,
far beyond those which the practical seamen can enjoy;
and we may anticipate, from the experience already
acquired, that they will form some of the smartest
gun's crews in any branch of the naval service. There
is neither insurmountable difficulty, nor unduly fatiguing
labour, in the drill at the great guns. The intricacies
could be mastered in a few days, if the
volunteers were kept continuously at drill, as they
necessarily would be, should they ever be called out for
actual service.
The essential point in a volunteer corps is to secure
men physically capable of doing their work, and who
may be confidently relied upon as ready to serve,
whenever they may be called upon.
The small-arm exercises are still more easily
.pn +1
mastered. A rowing man will find himself able to use
his cutlass efficiently in a few hours; and, after a
couple of days of continuous drill, he would be able to
go through the manual and platoon exercises with
satisfactory smartness and precision.
Rowing and yachting gentlemen will perceive that
they will have no difficulty in acquiring the knowledge
of their drills, which is required in order to make them
efficient, in the winter months. They will not find
that their favourite amusements on the water, in the
summer months, are incompatible with service in the
Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers.
.sn Facilities for drill.
Every effort will be made to afford to those, who
may be willing to join the Royal Naval Artillery
Volunteers, the necessary facilities for learning their
drills. For the London brigade, the 'Rainbow,' a gun
vessel well adapted for the purpose, is now being fitted
out at Chatham. This vessel will be ready in two
months from the date of this publication; and, when
completed, will be moored in the Thames in a convenient
position, off Somerset House. Should such an arrangement
be found convenient for members of the Corinthian
and other yacht clubs at Erith, it is possible that the
'Rainbow' may be moved, from time to time, to moorings
near the pier at Erith; and, should a desire to
that effect be expressed by the members of the rowing
clubs higher up the Thames, an effort will be made to
move the vessel to moorings near the boat-houses of
any rowing clubs, which have their head-quarters below
Kew Bridge.
.pn +1
No positive promise, however, can be given that the
'Rainbow' shall be moved. There are many points to
consider, such as draft of water, height and width
of arches, and obstruction of the navigation of the
river.
For those clubs which are established still higher
up the river, where there is not sufficient water to float
the 'Rainbow,' facilities for instruction may be provided
by mounting a 64-pounder gun on a raft, which
could be towed from place to place, and moored to the
bank of the river adjacent to the boat-houses belonging
to the clubs. An instructor would accompany the
raft; and, during the winter months, arrangements
might be made for giving to volunteers an opportunity
of going through their small-arm drills in a drill-shed,
or other convenient place, available for the purpose.
Thus it may be found possible to extend the system of
instruction, by effectual, yet inexpensive, means, far up
the Thames, and so to embrace towns such as Reading,
Maidenhead, Henley, Windsor, and even the headquarters
of rowing, the University of Oxford.
Inquiry having been made as to whether members
will be expected to appear in uniform, whenever they
attend drill, it may not be superfluous to mention that
the regulations are silent on this point. Members will
only be required to wear uniform on special occasions,
of which due notice will be given.
.sn Regulations as to drill.
Members of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteer
corps may therefore rest assured that they will have
the opportunity of being thoroughly instructed in the
.pn +1
drills, in which it is considered desirable that they should
be proficient.
The drills will comprise those for great guns, rifle,
pistol, and cutlass, as in the Royal Navy, and no deviation
from these drills is to be permitted.
.sn The Officer-Instructor.
All drills will be carried out by the instructor,
attached to the brigades, under the officer-instructor.
The permanent staff of a brigade will consist of an
officer-instructor and one petty officer instructor for
each battery. The officer-instructor will be commissioned
as a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Artillery
Volunteers, and will be selected from officers of or
retired from the Royal Navy, of and above the rank of
lieutenant. He will keep the muster-rolls, and it will
be his duty to make himself acquainted with all the
members of his brigade, and their qualifications. He
will superintend all drills and exercises, and is to have
complete control over the petty officer instructors, and
to be responsible to the Admiralty for their conduct
and efficiency.
.sn Attendances at drill.
On the important point of the number of attendances
at drill, the regulations require that every
volunteer must attend at least two drills a month, until
he has obtained the standard of an efficient. An
efficient must be able to perform in a satisfactory
manner the duties of any number except No. 1 at
heavy gun exercise, or at revolving gun exercise, as
applicable to the 64-pounder guns mounted in gunboats;
and he must be possessed of a good knowledge
of the manual, platoon, and cutlass exercises.
.pn +1
.sn Service afloat not compulsory.
It has already been explained that these qualifications
may easily be acquired in a fortnight of continuous
attendance at drill, by the application of a very
ordinary amount of intelligence and attention. The
regulations expressly avoid the imposition of any compulsory
service afloat in time of peace. Target practice
afloat is obviously essential to the efficiency of a naval
gunner; and it is therefore desirable that every
volunteer should have a fair number of opportunities
of taking part in this useful exercise. In a long
summer's day, the members of the London Brigade may
embark in a gunboat at Erith or Gravesend, proceed
to the Maplin Sands, off Shoeburyness--which is the
most convenient place for firing practice over a sea
range--and return to London by a convenient hour in
the afternoon or evening. It will doubtless be the
desire of every naval volunteer to avail himself of a
sufficient number of opportunities for target practice,
to secure his own efficiency. But, as there are many
who will be anxious to have a greater amount of
exercise afloat, every volunteer, who wishes it, may
embark once a year, and remain for a period of eight
days in a gunboat, manned by a crew to be furnished
from the battery to which he himself belongs. It
should, however, be observed that, when called out for
actual service, the volunteers will not be liable to
embark in sea-going vessels. Whenever so assembled,
they will serve on board any of H.M, ships employed
in the defence of the coasts of the United Kingdom;
unless, indeed, they volunteer for, and are found
.pn +1
capable of doing duty in, sea-going cruisers. They
will not be required to go aloft, or to attend to the
fires in the stoke-hole. They will, however, have to
accommodate themselves to the berthing and messing
arrangements usual for the seamen of the Royal Navy.
.sn Regulations issued by the Admiralty.
The regulations recently issued contain ample
information as to the organisation of the Royal Naval
Artillery Volunteers; and their practical effect will be
summarised in the following extracts from the code
of rules.
The Volunteers are raised under the Act passed in
1873. They will be called out by Royal proclamation,
and will be liable to serve in any vessels employed for
coast defence. They will be liable to perform all the
ordinary duties of the vessels in which they may be
embarked, in the same manner as those duties are performed
by the regular crews of Her Majesty's ships,
except those duties that can only be performed by
practical seamen.
The Royal Naval Artillery Volunteer force, for
administrative purposes, will be formed into brigades,
and each brigade will consist of four or more batteries
of from 60 to 80 men. Each brigade will be designated
by a local name.
The following table contains the authorised establishment
for brigades and the batteries composing
them:--
.pn +1
.ta l:30 r:7 r:9 r:9 r:9
| |Battery|Brigade of four batteries|Brigade of six batteries|Brigade of eight batteries
Lieutenant-commander | | 1 | 1 | 1
Sub-lieutenant | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8
Chief petty officer | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8
First-class petty officer | 2 | 8 | 12 | 16
Second-class petty officer | 2 | 8 | 12 | 16
Buglers | 2 | 8 | 12 | 16
Leading gunners and gunners (equivalent to leading seamen and able seamen) | 71/51 | 275/195 | 421/301 | 563/403
Lieutenant-instructor | | 1 | 1 | 1
First-class petty officer instructor | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8
Surgeon | | 1 | 1 | 1
Bugle-major | | 1 | 1 | 1
Armourer | | 1 | 1 | 1
Total enrolled | 80/60 | 320/240 | 480/360 | 640/480
.ta-
In this table, two numbers divided by a line
signify the maximum and minimum strength--thus 80/60
means not more than 80 and not less than 60.
Persons wishing to organise a corps to form part of a
brigade of Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers should
place themselves in communication with the Secretary
of the Admiralty.
Whenever it is practicable, a brigade will be formed
at each of the large ports in the kingdom, and the
batteries composing the brigade will be raised in the
immediate neighbourhood of the port.
When the Volunteers are not of sufficient strength
.pn +1
at any port to form a brigade, the batteries enrolled on
a part of the coast formed into a district will be formed
into a brigade, and will be called a district brigade.
The object of this organisation is to unite separate
batteries under one head, to secure uniformity among
them, and to afford them the advantage of an officer-instructor.
Candidates for enrolment as members of the Royal
Naval Artillery Volunteers must be of good character,
and physically fit for the service; their eligibility will
be judged by the commanding officer of the corps,
assisted by such others of the corps as he may think
fit to appoint for that purpose.
No person below the age of 17 is to be enrolled
in the corps without the special authority of the
Admiralty.
Boys of 14 years of age and upwards may be enrolled
for the purpose of being trained as buglers.
Men belonging to any other force liable to be called
out for service in case of war are not to be enrolled.
Apprentices are not to be enrolled without the
consent of their masters.
Persons dismissed from any other service or corps
for misconduct are not to be enrolled without the special
sanction of the Admiralty.
The commanding officer of a corps is to give to
any Volunteer, on his quitting the corps, a certificate
of discharge, when requested to do so by such Volunteer.
Every member has power to withdraw from the
corps upon giving 14 days' notice to that effect.
.pn +1
Enrolled members are classed as efficients and non-efficients.
All enrolled members who do not fulfil the conditions
above referred to are reckoned as non-efficients.
Each brigade will be commanded by a lieutenant
commanding.
Each battery will be commanded by a sub-lieutenant.
In each battery there will be, as it has already been
stated, one chief petty officer, two 1st class, and two
2nd class petty officers.
The petty officers of a battery will be selected by
the commanding officer of the battery.
When assembled for drill or inspection, the Volunteers
will be under the command of the senior naval
officer of the district. When the Volunteers are
assembled for drill, the senior officer will be represented
by the officer instructor, a retired commander or
gunnery lieutenant of the Royal Navy, whose duty it
will be to see that all drills are properly carried out.
When afloat, the Volunteers are to be, in all matters
whatsoever, under the command of the captain or commanding
officer of the ship in which they may be.
The authority of the officers commanding batteries
is strictly limited to their own batteries only. The
discipline will be the same throughout the corps, and
will be enforced by the lieutenant commanding the
brigade, in conformity with the regulations issued by
the Admiralty.
The lieutenant commanding will make arrangements
.pn +1
for drill, securing, so far as it may be necessary, separate
hours for each battery. Before adopting any final
arrangements for drill, he will confer with the officer
instructor.
There may be an occasional general muster of the
corps, when considered necessary by the lieutenant
commanding.
The batteries will take precedence at general
parades according to their numbers, and not according
to the seniority of their respective commanding officers.
The brigade staff will not be attached to a battery,
but will act under the lieutenant commanding only.
Officers of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers
rank with, but after, officers of the Royal Navy and
Royal Naval Reserve of their respective ranks.
All officers of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers
will be commissioned by the Admiralty.
The commanding officers of brigades will recommend,
for the consideration of the Admiralty, names of
persons for the appointments and promotion of officers
in their brigades.
The appointment of an honorary commander to a
brigade is allowed, and such honorary lieutenants and
sub-lieutenants as the Admiralty may think fit to sanction.
Officers in full pay in the Navy or Army are not
eligible for other than honorary commissions.
The uniform approved for the officers resembles
generally that worn by officers of the Naval Reserve,
silver being substituted for gold lace.
.sn The officers of the corps.
The principle upon which the Volunteers should be
.pn +1
officered has been one of the most frequent subjects of
discussion among those who have associated themselves
with the movement from the commencement, and who
have been provisionally enrolled, with the sanction of
the Admiralty, in anticipation of the passing of the Act
of Parliament of last year.
A desire has been expressed that no officers should
be appointed to the corps, but that the Volunteers
should serve only under direct naval command. Practically,
the desire, so strongly felt, has been fulfilled in
the arrangements which have actually been made.
Whenever called upon to serve afloat, or when
embarked for the purpose of training, the Volunteers
will be under the command of the officer, commanding
the ship, in which they may be. When embarked for
their first cruise in the autumn of the present year, the
arrangements were, of necessity, experimental and provisional.
There was a natural desire on the part of the
officer commanding the 'Foam' to meet the wishes of
the Volunteers themselves in every possible way, consistent
with the efficient performance of the service,
and the carrying on of the drills and exercises required.
The same considerate spirit will doubtless prevail on all
future occasions; but the Volunteers, who make themselves
acquainted with the regulations, will clearly
perceive that, whenever they embark, they place themselves
under direct naval authority; and that, when
afloat, their own officers are never to assume any naval
command or authority whatever, unless ordered to do
so by their superior naval officers.
.pn +1
The officers of the Volunteers will do their utmost
to assist the naval officers to preserve discipline. They
may, if they think fit, set an example to their men by
taking an active part in all the duties and manual
exercises. They may fall in at quarters, and take any
number at the gun. In short, they may become, as
much as they please, active working seamen and efficient
practical gunners. It is for them to use their own discretion
in determining how much or how little they
shall participate in the manual labour, involved in
carrying out the drills and exercises ordered by the
naval officers in command.
When at drill, as it has already been pointed out,
the officer-instructor will superintend the instruction of
the Volunteers, and he will be responsible that all
exercises are properly carried out, in accordance with
the regulations from time to time laid down for the instruction
of the Royal Navy. It will thus be evident
that the paramount and undivided authority of the
naval officers over the Volunteers when afloat, and the
superior responsibility of the officer of instruction when
the Volunteers are at drill, so largely overshadow the
authority of the officers of the Royal Naval Artillery
Volunteers in all matters, excepting those which relate
to discipline and the civil administration and organisation
of the corps, that it could not reasonably be expected
that retired naval officers of rank should
volunteer to become battery officers in the Royal
Naval Artillery Volunteer Corps. Naval officers of
less exalted rank do not often retire, if they have a
.pn +1
great zeal for the service. Some exceptions, however,
there must be to this general rule; and it is probable
that a certain number of retired officers from the junior
ranks of the Navy will, hereafter, kindly offer their
services to command brigades or batteries in the ports
or districts, in which they may happen to reside. The
Volunteers will at all times feel a pride in availing
themselves of such opportunities of acting under
officers, who have received a high professional training
in Her Majesty's naval service.
While the effect of the arrangements, which have
been described, necessarily limits the sphere of the
officers of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers, their
services, in several important points, are not the less
essential. It is to them that the Admiralty must look
for the exercise of their personal influence, in inducing
recruits to join their respective brigades and
batteries; and their moral influence will be the principal
security for the maintenance of good discipline in
a force composed exclusively of Volunteers. Although,
under the regulations, no fixed standard of efficiency is
expressly required in an officer of the Royal Naval
Artillery Volunteer force, those among them, who can
command sufficient leisure for the purpose, will readily
appreciate how excellent an effect must be produced
by the personal example of an officer, who will take
pains to make himself acquainted with the drills and
exercises, in which the men under his command are
instructed. He will have the opportunity of obtaining
the same certificate of proficiency, which is given to
.pn +1
those officers of the Naval Reserve, who become qualified
to drill the seamen of the reserve at the great guns,
and in the small arm exercises.
With the view of enlisting, in support of the Naval
Volunteer movement, the potent influences which are
derived from the esprit de corps, wherever it may
reasonably and prudently be encouraged, it is proposed
to associate certain batteries in the London brigade
with some of the principal rowing and Corinthian
yacht clubs on the Thames, and to give commissions
to any gentlemen, otherwise eligible, who are instrumental
in raising a full battery of Naval Volunteers.
.sn The rowing and Corinthian yacht clubs.
The following list of some of the principal rowing
clubs, will serve to show the large number of gentlemen,
from whom assistance may be expected, in promoting
the success of a movement for extending the
Volunteer service to a certain sphere of naval operations;
.ta l:22 r:10
| Name of rowing club | Number of members
London | 480
Kingston | 425
Thames | 300
Ino | 300
Waldegrave | 200
Twickenham | 175
West London | 170
Oscillators | 162
North | 150
Grove Park | 150
Isleworth | 100
Ilex | 100
Molesey | --
.ta-
.pn +1
The Corinthian yacht clubs on the Thames are
equally able to render assistance, and are indeed
capable of raising, if they think fit, an entire brigade
for the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteer Corps.
The resources of the clubs located on the banks of
the Thames have been particularly specified; because
the present writer, in his connection with the movement
under consideration, is more immediately identified
with that river. Readers of these pages, residing
in the vicinity of any of our great ports, will doubtless
be able to discover equally ample materials for
the foundation of a sufficient force, for the purposes of
co-operation in the defence of the coast, in their own
neighbourhood. A corps, though it may be raised at
some distance from the sphere of its intended operations,
in the event of threatened invasion, will not be
the less valuable for the defence of a great port.
The railway and the telegraph afford the means of
concentrating large bodies of men in a few hours at
any port on the shores of the United Kingdom.
Wherever the coast-guard are stationed, the means
exist of giving instruction to the Naval Volunteers.
All the out-ports, at which men have been enrolled,
can be visited by a gunboat at frequent intervals, to
embark the Volunteers for target practice afloat; while
those who wish to go to sea for an eight days' cruise,
will have, every year, the opportunity of doing so.
.sn The Volunteer movement.
In conclusion, it may not be superfluous to offer a
few observations on the Volunteer movement generally.
The most cogent inducements to Volunteer activity may
.pn +1
appear to be wanting at the present time. Our country
is happily not threatened with the danger of foreign
invasion. A becoming modesty will deter any individual
connected with the Volunteer service from
arrogating to himself any share in the prestige and
distinction, which are the special privilege of the
regular services. It is an essential feature of the
present movement that there shall be no contribution
from the state in the form of pecuniary reward for
services rendered; and that every effort shall be made
by the Volunteers to impose as small a burden as
possible on the Exchequer. The sterner sense of duty,
which is now encouraged among the Volunteers for
land service, is opposed to all attempts to gain popularity
for the auxiliary forces by festivals, holidays, and
entertainments.
While, however, all these inducements and attractions
are withheld, a higher standard of efficiency in
the officers and the men is properly insisted on. In
presence of the difficulties which arise from the altered
conditions of the service, some earnest friends of the
Volunteer movement have been oppressed with doubts,
as to the possibility of stimulating the patriotism of the
country to such a pitch, that Volunteers shall still be
forthcoming in a time of profound peace. I do not
conceal my individual opinion that compulsory service
may fairly be required, from every individual of military
age, when the country is in danger. Unfortunately, so
strong a measure would probably meet with an amount
of resistance, which could not be overcome in this free
.pn +1
country, where nothing affecting the social habits and
prejudices of the people can be proposed, which is not
universally popular. But I venture to hope that we
may rely, in the absence of direct legal compulsion, on
motives even more powerful than the strong arm of the
law. If every man who is capable of co-operating in
the defence of his country should feel himself compelled,
by his sense of duty and patriotism, to enter his
name in the roll of her defenders, the liability to service,
thus imposed by the free will of the Volunteer upon
himself, will be a far more effectual safeguard than legal
compulsion, for the security and the honour of England.
The Volunteer movement affords the occasion for
teaching, in the most practical form, the duty of self-sacrifice
in a worthy cause.
In the artificial conditions of modern society, there
are multitudes of men, who, in the ordinary exercise of
their vocation, are unduly deprived of the opportunities
for physical exercise and development. More especially
is this true of the younger members of the professional
and commercial classes. To them an appeal is
now most earnestly made on behalf of the Royal Naval
Artillery Volunteers. In taking a part in our drills and
exercises, they will do a work beneficial to themselves
individually, and conducive to the welfare of their
country.
.pn +1
N.B.--Any gentlemen wishing to join the Royal
Naval Artillery Volunteers, may communicate with Mr.
Thomas Brassey, M.P., or Commander St. Vincent
Nepean, R.N., at the temporary head-quarters, 4, Great
George Street, Westminster. The regular drills of the
corps will not be commenced until the drill vessel 'Rainbow'
has been moored off Somerset House, and all other
arrangements have been completed. Gentlemen are
earnestly invited to send in their names, in the meanwhile,
provisionally, so that the organisation of the
brigade may be completed at an early date; and that
the movement at the out-ports may be encouraged by
the example of the metropolis.
.pn +1
.sp 4
.h2
REGULATIONS FOR THE "ROYAL NAVAL ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS."
.sp 2
.h3
CONSTITUTION AND ESTABLISHMENT.
.sn Authority.
1. The "Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers" are raised
under the "Royal Naval Artillery Volunteer Act of
1873."
They are subject to the provisions of that Act, and to
all regulations made with regard to them by the authority
of the Admiralty.
.sn Liability to Actual Service.
2. By Royal Proclamation, the Royal Naval Artillery
Volunteers may be assembled for actual service; and
whenever so assembled, they will be liable to serve on
board any of Her Majesty's ships or vessels employed in
the defence of the coasts of the United Kingdom, or in
any of the tenders or boats attached to such vessels.
They will also be liable to perform all the ordinary
duties of the vessel in which they may be embarked, in
the same manner as those duties are performed by the
regular crews of Her Majesty's ships, except those duties
that can only be performed by practical seamen.
They will not be required to go aloft, or to attend the
fires in the stoke-hole.
They will accommodate themselves to the berthing
and messing arrangements usual for the Seamen of the
Royal Navy.
.sn Corps, definition of.
3. A Corps is a body of persons who combine, under
common rules, to form a part of the Naval Artillery
Volunteer Force.
The members of a Corps are either enrolled or honorary.
.sn Enrolled Members.
Enrolled members are persons of every grade, whose
names are duly entered for service in the muster-rolls of a
Corps.
.sn Honorary Members.
Honorary members are persons who contribute to the
funds of a Corps, but are not enrolled for service.
.pn +1
.sn Formation.
4. The Naval Artillery Volunteer Force, for administrative
purposes, will be formed into Brigades, and each
Brigade will consist of four or more Batteries of from
60 to 80 men.
.sn How to be named.
5. Each Brigade will be designated by a local name,
in addition to its number in the Force.
Each Battery will be designated by its number in the
Brigade.
Every Corps will bear a local name only.
.sn Commanding Officers.
6. Each Brigade will be commanded by a Lieutenant
Commanding.
Each Battery will be commanded by a Sub-Lieutenant.
Every Corps will have a Commanding Officer, who will
of necessity be the Senior Officer belonging to the Corps,
no matter what his rank may be, and who will be responsible,
under the "Naval Artillery Volunteer Act, 1873,"
for the management of the internal affairs of the Corps.
.sn Establishment.
The following table contains the authorised establishment
for Brigades and the Batteries composing them:--
.ta l:30 r:7 r:9 r:9 r:9
| |Battery|Brigade of four batteries|Brigade of six batteries|Brigade of eight batteries
Lieutenant-commander | | 1 | 1 | 1
Sub-lieutenant | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8
Chief petty officer | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8
First-class petty officer | 2 | 8 | 12 | 16
Second-class petty officer | 2 | 8 | 12 | 16
Buglers | 2 | 8 | 12 | 16
Leading gunners and gunners (equivalent to leading seamen and able seamen) | 71/51 | 275/195 | 421/301 | 563/403
Lieutenant-instructor | | 1 | 1 | 1
First-class petty officer instructor | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8
Surgeon | | 1 | 1 | 1
Bugle-major | | 1 | 1 | 1
Armourer | | 1 | 1 | 1
Total enrolled | 80/60 | 320/240 | 480/360 | 640/480
.ta-
In this table, two numbers divided by a line signify
the maximum and minimum strength--thus 80/60 means not
more than 80 and not less than 60.
.sp 2
.h3
FORMATION OF CORPS.
.sn Course to be pursued for the formation of a new Corps.
8. Persons wishing to form a Corps to form part of a
Brigade of Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers should place
.pn +1
themselves in communication with the Secretary of the
Admiralty.
.sn Reason for formation.
9. The Admiralty, in considering offers of the services of
a new Corps, will have regard to the number of Corps or
Batteries already existing on the same part of the Coast
where the proposed Corps would be.
.sn New Corps not to be formed under certain circumstances.
10. The formation of a new Corps will not be sanctioned,
unless a sufficient number of persons to form a
Battery are prepared to enrol themselves, and whilst any
Battery already existing in the locality is below its establishment.
.sn Information to be given on application.
11. In offering the services of a new Corps for acceptance,
it should be stated:--
.in +4
(a) The place proposed for its head-quarters.
(b) The number of persons who are prepared to
enrol themselves.
(c) The name and address of some person with whom
communications on the subject may be made.
(d) The Brigade of which it will form a part.
(e) That a proper place will be secured for the safe
custody of any Government arms and ammunition
which may be issued.
.in
(Form in Appendix A.)
.sn Single Brigade.
12. Whenever it is practicable, a Brigade will be
formed at each of the large ports in the Kingdom, and
the batteries composing the Brigade will be raised in the
immediate neighbourhood of the port.
.sn District Brigade.
When the Volunteers are not of sufficient strength at
any port to form a Brigade, the batteries enrolled on a
part of the coast formed into a district, will be formed into
a Brigade, and will be called a District Brigade.
The object of this organization is to unite separate
batteries under one head, to secure uniformity among
them, and to afford them the advantage of an Officer
Instructor.
.sp 2
.h3
PRECEDENCE AND COMMAND.
.sn Rank of the Force.
13. The "Royal Naval Artillery Volunteer Force"
takes precedence immediately after the "Royal Naval
Volunteers" established by the Act of 1859.
.sn Precedence of Brigades.
14. The relative precedence of the Brigades forming
the Force is determined by the date on which they were
first severally established.
.pn +1
.sn Precedence of Corps.
15. The relative precedence of Corps is determined by
the date on which the Secretary of the Admiralty has
first received a letter offering the services of the Corps.
.sn Precedence of Officers with others.
16. Officers of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers
rank with, but after, Officers of the Royal Navy and Royal
Naval Reserve of their respective ranks.
.sn Precedence of Officers with each other.
17. The relative precedence of Officers of the whole
Force is determined solely by the rank and date of their
commissions in the Force.
.sn Precedence of Officers of same date.
18. The relative precedence of Officers bearing commissions
of the same date is determined by the order in
which their names appear in the Navy List.
Nothing in these Regulations is to give a claim to any
Officer of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers to assume
command of any of Her Majesty's Land Forces on shore,
nor to any Officer of Her Majesty's Land Forces to assume
command of any of Her Majesty's Naval Forces.
But when Officers of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers
are employed on shore on joint service with Her
Majesty's Land Forces, their relative rank shall carry with
it all precedence and advantages attaching to the rank
with which it corresponds, except command as aforesaid.
.sn To be under command of Senior Naval Officer whenever assembled.
19. All Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers, when assembled
for drill or inspection, or voluntarily doing any
naval duty either afloat or on shore, will be under the
command of the Commander-in-Chief, or Senior Naval
Officer of the district within which such Royal Naval
Artillery Volunteers are undergoing drill or inspection, or
doing duty.
.sn Not to assume Naval Command unless specially ordered.
20. The Officers and Petty Officers of the Royal Naval
Artillery Volunteers shall command each other, and the
Gunners and Buglers of the Force, agreeably to their
respective ranks, in all matters relating to their duties;
but none of them are ever to assume any naval command
or authority whatsoever, unless ordered to do so by their
Superior Naval Officers, and they are to be, in all matters
whatsoever, under the command of the Captain or Commanding
Officer of the ship in which they may be, and of
the Officer of the Watch for the time being whatsoever
his rank may be.
.sp 2
.h3
HONOURS AND DECORATIONS.
.sn Guards.
21. A Guard of Honour may be provided as a matter
of course for a member of the Royal Family, or the
Admiralty, on arrival in the neighbourhood of the headquarters
.pn +1
of a Brigade; but in no other case will any body
of the Naval Artillery Volunteers take part in any public
procession or ceremony, or form a Guard of Honour, without
the special authority of the Admiralty or the Senior
Naval Officer of the district.
.sn Decorations.
22. The only decorations that may be worn on the
left breast are those given by the Queen or by a Foreign
Sovereign.
In the last case mentioned, Her Majesty's permission
to accept and wear the decoration must have been
granted.
The medal of the Royal Humane Society may be
worn.
.sp 2
.h3
OFFICERS.
.sn Appointment.
23. All Officers of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers
will be commissioned by the Admiralty.
.sn Commanding Officers to recommend.
24. The Commanding Officers of Brigades will recommend
for the consideration of the Admiralty, names of
persons for the appointments and promotion of Officers in
their Brigades.
In order to enable the Admiralty to judge the qualifications
of the persons recommended, the Commanding
Officer will forward, with his recommendation, a statement
giving the name, age, residence, place of education, and
occupation or profession of the Candidate, as well as a
Medical Officer's Certificate, stating that the Candidate is
in good health and fit to perform the duties of an Officer.
.sn Holding a commission in other Forces.
25. If any person recommended for an appointment as
an Officer holds a commission in the Royal Navy or other
Force, the nature of such commission should be stated in
the letter of recommendation.
.sn Eligibility of Full Pay Officers.
26. Officers on full pay in the Navy or Army are not
eligible for other than honorary commissions.
.sn Honorary Commander.
27. The appointment of an Honorary Commander to a
Brigade is allowed, and such Honorary Lieutenants and
Honorary Sub-Lieutenants as the Admiralty may think
fit to sanction.
.sn Honorary Chaplain and Surgeon.
28. The appointments of an Honorary Chaplain and
Staff-Surgeon to a Brigade are allowed at the discretion
of the Admiralty.
.sn Honorary appointments when to cease.
29. The appointments of all Honorary Officers will
cease whenever the Force is called out for actual service,
unless the Admiralty shall see fit to accept the services of
any such Officers who may volunteer for active service.
.pn +1
.sn Precedence of Honorary Officers.
30. No Officer holding an honorary commission can, in
virtue of it, take precedence of any Officer holding a
substantive commission of the same rank.
.sn Officers to possess a knowledge of duties, &c.
31. Every Officer is required to possess a competent
knowledge of his duties, and to give a proper attendance
at the drills of his Corps.
Any Officer who does not attend the number of drills
prescribed for the enrolled Volunteers of his Corps, to
qualify them for certificates of efficiency, will not be
allowed to retain his commission unless the Admiralty may
see special reasons for a relaxation of this Regulation.
.sp 2
.h3
PETTY OFFICERS.
.sn Appointment.
32. The Petty Officers of a Battery are appointed by
the Commanding Officer of the Battery, from among the
enrolled members of the Battery.
.sn Leading Gunners.
33. Leading Gunners may be appointed by the Commanding
Officer of a Battery, in the proportion of one to
every twenty of Enrolled Gunners.
.sn Reduction.
34. A Petty Officer or Leading Gunner may be reduced
by the Commanding Officer of a Brigade, for any sufficient
cause; such cause to be judged by the officers of the
Brigade sitting as a Court of Inquiry.
.sp 2
.h3
ENROLLED MEMBERS.
.sn Qualification.
35. Candidates for enrollment as Members of the Royal
Naval Artillery Volunteers must be of good character and
physically fit for the Service; their eligibility will be judged
by the Commanding Officer of the Corps, assisted by such
others of the Corps as he may think fit to appoint for that
purpose.
.sn Age.
36. No person below the age of 17 is to be enrolled in
the Corps without the special authority of the Admiralty.
Boys of 14 years of age and upwards may be enrolled
for the purpose of being trained as Buglers.
.sn Disqualification.
37. Men belonging to any other force liable to be
called out for service in case of war are not to be enrolled.
Apprentices are not to be enrolled without the consent
of their masters.
Persons dismissed from any other Service or Corps for
misconduct are not to be enrolled without the special
sanction of the Admiralty.
.sn Certificate of Discharge.
38. The Commanding Officer of a Corps is to give to
any Volunteer, on his quitting the Corps, a Certificate of
.pn +1
Discharge, in Form B of the Appendix, when requested to
do so by such Volunteer.
.sn Classification.
39. Enrolled Members are classed as Efficients and
non-Efficients.
.sn Efficients.
40. An Efficient Member must have fulfilled the conditions
prescribed by the Admiralty from time to time.
.sn Non-Efficients.
41. All Enrolled Members who do not fulfil the conditions
above referred to are reckoned as non-Efficients.
.sp 2
.h3
HONORARY MEMBERS.
.sn Number and position.
42. The number of Honorary Members attached to any
Corps is not regulated by the Admiralty, and such Members
are not included in the muster-roll of the Corps to which
they are attached.
They are not subject to discipline nor allowed to interfere
with the duties of the Corps, but they are permitted
to wear its uniform, unless a special provision to the contrary
is contained in the authorised Rules of the Corps.
.sp 2
.h3
RULES.
.sn Must be approved.
43. In order to give legal force to the Rules of a Corps
for the management of its affairs, they must be submitted
to the Admiralty for approval.
.sn To be transmitted in duplicate.
44. All Rules which are to be forwarded for approval
must be transmitted in duplicate, one copy to be retained
at the Admiralty, the other to be returned to the Corps,
with any alterations that may be required.
.sp 2
.h3
COURTS OF INQUIRY.
.sn Nature of.
45. A Court of Inquiry is not a judicial body; it has no
power to administer an oath.
It is to be considered as a Board of which the Admiralty
or an Officer in command of a Brigade or Corps may make
use, to assist him in arriving at a correct judgment on any
subject upon which it may be expedient to institute an
inquiry.
.sn Duties of.
46. The duties of a Court of Inquiry depend on the
instructions which the convening authority may think
proper to give.
It may be either employed merely in collecting and
arranging evidence, or it may, in addition, be directed to
give an opinion as to the facts established by that evidence;
but it has no power to pronounce any judgment as to the
.pn +1
course to be taken by the convening authority in dealing
with those facts.
When facts connected with the conduct of an individual
are submitted to the investigation of a Court of Inquiry,
it is necessary that the instructions for the guidance of
the Court should be sufficiently specific, as regards matter,
names, dates, and places, to convey clearly to the Court
the nature of the subject into which it is appointed to
inquire, and also to enable the person whose conduct is
called in question to know what he has to answer.
It rests with the authority who orders the assembly of
the Court of Inquiry to decide whether it shall be open or
closed.
All evidence taken by a Court of Inquiry is to be recorded
as nearly as possible in the words of the witness
and in the order in which it is received.
The proceedings when closed are to be signed by the
President and Members, after which they are to be forwarded
by the President to the convening authority.
.sn May be re-assembled.
47. A Court of Inquiry may be re-assembled as often
as the superior authority may deem necessary, and on every
occasion of its meeting it is competent to receive and record
new evidence.
.sn Power of Commanding Officer to assemble.
The Commanding Officer of a Brigade is authorised to
assemble a Court of Inquiry, to investigate any matter
with which he himself has the power of dealing.
.sp 2
.h3
DISCIPLINE.
48. The course to be adopted as to the Discipline of
the Volunteers will be found in Part III of the Naval
Artillery Volunteers Act.
.sn Meetings not to be held on Actions of Superiors.
49. Meetings are not to be held in the Corps for the
purpose of expressing an opinion upon the acts of a Commanding
Officer, or of recommending him to take a particular
course of action; nor are memorials to be drawn up
to the same effect; and no meetings except those called
together by or under the authority of the Commanding
Officer of a Brigade or Corps, who will be responsible for
doing so, will be recognised.
If any Volunteer has cause to think himself aggrieved,
he will represent his case to the Commanding Officer of
his Battery. Any appeal against the decision of the Commanding
Officer of the Battery will be made through
him to the Commander of the Brigade, and any further
appeal will be made through both these officers to the
Admiralty.
.pn +1
.sn Not to attend political meetings in uniform.
50. Members of the Force are not, individually or collectively,
to attend political meetings, or join in public
political discussion or demonstrations in uniform.
.sn Bands of music.
51. Bands of Volunteer Brigades are not to appear in
uniform, for any purpose, without the consent of the Commanding
Officer of the Brigade.
.sn Permanent Staff not to receive presents.
52. Members of the Permanent Staff will be held
responsible that they do not allow themselves to be complimented,
either directly or indirectly, by presents or
collective expressions of opinion from persons who are
serving or who have served in the Brigade to which they
are attached.
.sn Volunteers to salute Superiors of all Services.
53. Officers and men of the Royal Naval Artillery
Volunteers, when in uniform, are to pay the customary
marks of respect to such Officers of the Navy, Army, and
Auxiliary Forces as are entitled to be saluted by Officers
and men of corresponding rank in their own Service.
.sn Officers to observe and enforce all Regulations.
54. Every Officer and Petty Officer shall make himself
acquainted with and shall duly observe and obey, and as
far as in him lies, enforce the due execution of the "Royal
Naval Artillery Volunteer Act, 1873," and the Regulations
for the "Royal Naval Artillery Volunteer Force," together
with all Regulations, Instructions, and Orders, which may
from time to time be given or issued by the Admiralty, or
by any Superior Officer, and shall in all respects conform
his conduct to the customs and usages of Her Majesty's
Naval Service.
.sn Discipline in Camp.
55. When Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers are assembled
with the Regular Forces of the Army in Camp or for
training, they will be under the "Naval Discipline Act,
1866," in the same manner as if they were on actual
service, and will be placed under the immediate command
of an Officer of Her Majesty's Navy.
Camp rules will apply in all respects to the Royal
Naval Artillery Volunteers.
The Naval Volunteers must perform the Camp duties
of fatigue, cooking, &c.
.sn Case of misconduct when training to be reported.
56. In case of grave misconduct of any of the Royal
Naval Artillery Volunteers whilst on board any of H.M.
ships for the purpose of training, the Officer in command
of the ship will report the circumstance to the Admiralty
through the usual channel.
.sp 2
.h3
ASSEMBLIES OF THE FORCE.
.sn Conditions on which to meet under Arms.
57. The Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers are not to
.pn +1
assemble under arms for any purpose unconnected with
Parade, Drill, or Rifle practice, except with the approval of
the Admiralty.
.sn Brigaded with other Forces.
58. The Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers may, when
circumstances permit, be brigaded with other Forces, the
sanction of the Admiralty having been previously obtained.
.sn Visiting Garrison or Camp.
59. When any of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers
desire to visit any Garrison or Camp as a naval body, the
permission of the Secretary at War must first be obtained
through the Admiralty.
Upon all occasions of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers
entering a Garrison or Camp as a body, the Officer
in command must duly report his arrival to the Senior
Naval Officer present, or, if there is not one, he will wait
on the Officer in command of the Garrison or Camp.
.sn Command at Rifle Shooting Matches.
60. When the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers are
brought together under arms at Rifle Shooting Matches,
on other occasions, with other Volunteer Corps, or with
any of Her Majesty's Land Forces on shore, the Officer in
Command of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers, present,
shall take care that everyone under his command complies
with all the Regulations of the Land Forces relative to the
Camp or ground on which they may be, and he shall
confer with the Senior Officer of the Land Forces, and act
in concert with him, so that the Royal Naval Artillery
Volunteer may in all cases act in accordance with the
orders under which the Land Forces are acting; but it is
to be distinctly understood that nothing in this Regulation
is to give a claim to any Officer of Her Majesty's Navy, or
of any Naval Volunteer Corps, to assume command of any
of Her Majesty's Land Forces, nor to any Officer of Her
Majesty's Land Forces to assume command of any of Her
Majesty's Naval Forces.
.sn Surplus ammunition to be collected.
61. When the Volunteers, at the termination of an
exercise, are to return by railway or boat to their head-quarters,
the arms are to be examined, and all the ammunition
which has not been expended must be collected and
placed in a metal or leather case, with a view to its being
conveyed in safety to the head-quarters.
.sp 2
.h3
STORES.
.sn Responsibility for and care of.
62. The Commanding Officer of a Corps is responsible
to the Admiralty for all stores which are supplied by
Government for the use of the Corps.
.sn Arms to be supplied by Government.
63. Each Corps will be supplied gratuitously with
.pn +1
arms from the Government stores to the full number of its
enrolled members, if required.
.sn Description of arms.
64. The arms to be supplied are in Appendix C.
.sn Armouries to be available before arms are supplied.
65. Before any Government arms can be issued, it is
necessary that the Admiralty shall be satisfied that one or
more places of security for the custody of the arms have
been provided at the expense of the Volunteers. The
Drill Ships, Coast Guard Stations, or Police Stations will
probably be available in some places for the purpose.
.sn Application for arms.
66. Commanding Officers of Corps are to apply for
the arms required in the prescribed Form of Requisition
given in Appendix D, addressed to the Secretary of the
Admiralty.
.sn Marking arms.
67. The arms of a Brigade will be marked previously
to their issue, and a request to that effect is to be inserted
in the requisition on which the arms are demanded.
No other marks than those on them when issued are on
any account to be put on the arms.
.sn Responsibility for arms.
68. All arms issued to the Corps remain the property
of Her Majesty's Government, and the Commanding Officer
for the time being is held responsible for their being at all
times in a serviceable state, and for their being returned
into store when required in good condition, fair wear and
tear excepted.
.sn Cleaning and care of arms.
69. Great attention should be paid to the proper cleaning
and care of the arms entrusted to the Volunteers, and
the Commanding Officers are to point out to those under
their command that, should rust be allowed to accumulate
on any part of a rifle, it must inevitably impair the accuracy
and efficiency of the weapon.
.sn Depositing arms.
70. The arms are to be deposited after drill in the
armouries of the Brigade or Corps, except when the Commanding
Officer may judge it expedient to permit members
of the Brigade to keep their arms at their own
houses.
As the Commanding Officer is responsible for the
condition of the arms, this permission may be withdrawn
by him whenever he may consider it necessary.
The arms retained in private custody will be subject
to inspection at any time, and they are to be examined at
least once in six months by the Commanding Officer of
the Brigade or Officers appointed by him for that purpose.
.sn Repairs of arms.
71. Arms requiring repair are to be deposited with the
Gunner of the Drill Ship to which the Brigade is attached.
.sn Charge for repairs.
72. Repairs of arms arising from fair wear, found to be
.pn +1
necessary in order to make the arms serviceable, will be
executed free of charge; the expense of other repairs will
be borne by the Corps.
.sn Allowance of Ammunition.
73. Ammunition in the following proportion, to be
reckoned from the 1st April in each year, is allowed:--
.sp 2
.h3
For Guns.
.ta l:30 l:7 r:3
For each Battery of Brigade| Shot| 100
" " " | Shell| 25
" " "| Blank| 30
.ta-
or
.ta l:30 l:7 r:3
For each Trained Man| Shot| 4
" Efficient | Shot| 2
And for the Battery | Shell| 25
" " | Blank| 30
.ta-
.sp 2
.h3
For Small Arms.
.ta l:20 l:13 r:8 r:10 r:8
| | | Gratis. | Allowed to be purchased. | Total.
For every Efficient for his first year's service | Rifled Ball | 70 | 50 | 120
| Blank | 10 | 50 | 60
| Pistol | 100 | 100 | 200
| Caps | 110 | 110 | 220
For every Efficient after his first year's service | Rifled Ball | 50 | 70 | 120
| Blank | | 60 | 60
| Pistol | 50 | 100 | 150
| Caps | 60 | 110 | 170
.ta-
.sn Storing of Ammunition.
Requisitions for small arm ammunition, in accordance
with the established proportion, are to be forwarded to the
Commanding Officer of the nearest Drill Ship or District
Coast Guard Ship for transmission to the nearest Control
Officer. Special demands should be forwarded to the
Secretary of the Admiralty by the Captains of the above
ships for approval, on Form given in Appendix E.
74. Every Brigade is required to provide a secure
place for the custody of its small arm ammunition; but in
cases where the store of ammunition is sufficiently large
to make it desirable that it should be stored in the magazines
of any of Her Majesty's ships, used as Drill Ships for
the Volunteers, Commanding Officers of such ships will
afford facilities for its reception.
.sn Conveyance of Ammunition.
75. Every care is to be taken in the conveyance and
general handling of ammunition, and the Regulations and
customs of the Royal Navy in that respect are to be
strictly adhered to.
.pn +1
.sn Metal Cylinders, &c.
76. Metal cylinders, or leather cartridge cases, for conveying
the surplus ammunition collected from the pouches
of Volunteers, under the provisions of Article 61, will be
supplied at cost price.
.sn Return of articles unserviceable or obsolete.
77. No article of equipment will be returned into store
for the purpose of being replaced, until it has become
thoroughly unserviceable. No articles will be returned
into store on account of being of an obsolete pattern
without the authority of the Admiralty.
.sn Stores lost or injured to be paid for.
78. All arms or other stores supplied free of cost and
placed in the custody of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers,
are, if lost, destroyed, or injured by fault or neglect,
to be paid for by the Corps.
.sn Demands for Stores.
79. All demands for stores, in accordance with the
established proportion allowed, are to be made out in the
War Office Forms in use in Her Majesty's Navy, and are
to be forwarded by the Commanding Officers of Brigades
to the nearest Drill Ship or Coast Guard Ship for transmission
to the nearest Control Officer. Special demands
should be forwarded to the Secretary of the Admiralty for
approval by the Captains of the above-named ships.
.sp 2
.h3
DRILL.
.sn Nature of.
80. The drills of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers
will comprise the drills for Great Guns, Rifle, Pistol, and
Cutlass, as in the Royal Navy, and no deviation from those
drills is to be permitted.
.sn By whom to be carried out.
81. All drills will be carried out by the Instructors
attached to the Brigades under the Officer Instructor, and
when on board any of Her Majesty's ships they will be
also subject to the supervision of the Commanding Officer
of the ship.
.sn Qualification for "Efficient."
82. The qualification necessary for an Efficient will be
found in the Appendix F, and may be amended as the
Admiralty may from time to time think necessary.
.sn Badge of Efficiency.
83. A Badge of Efficiency will be worn by men who
were returned as "Efficient" in the last Annual Return of
the Brigade.
The Badge will consist of a chevron of silver lace
worn on the right arm above the wrist.
Men who have been five times returned as efficient
may wear one star, and those who have been returned
ten times may wear two stars above the badge.
.sn Trained Man.
84. Volunteers who pass the examination for Trained
Man, as in the Royal Navy, will be so designated, and will
.pn +1
wear two chevrons of silver lace on the right arm above
the wrist.
.sn Non-efficients to attend drills.
85. Every Volunteer must attend at least two drills a
month until he has obtained the standard of an "Efficient."
.sn Firing practice to be superintended.
86. No firing practice with great guns is to be carried
on by Volunteers, except under the superintendence of an
Officer of the Royal Navy, or of an Officer Instructor of
Volunteers, unless a relaxation of this rule has been
especially sanctioned by the Admiralty.
.sn Precautions when at gun-practice.
87. Sword bayonets are not to be worn at gun-drill,
or when moving powder.
No smoking is on any account to be allowed in the
vicinity of magazines or cases containing powder.
No persons are to be allowed to congregate round
barrels or cases containing powder.
Powder cases or barrels are not to be opened either
inside a magazine, or immediately outside the door.
.sp 2
.h3
ALLOWANCES.
.sn On actual service.
88. When on actual service the Royal Naval Artillery
Volunteers will receive the same pay, allowances, and
victuals as the Officers and Continuous Service Seamen of
the ranks and ratings in the Royal Navy of relative rank,
and will have the same means of allotting pay to wives,
relatives and friends, and whilst on actual service will be
treated in the same manner in every respect.
.sn Not on actual service.
89. When not on actual service and embarked on
board any of Her Majesty's ships for more than forty-eight
hours, the Volunteers will be victualled for the
whole time they are so embarked, or receive compensation
for provisions at the rate of 1s. 6d. per day; but when
they are embarked for less than forty-eight hours, they
will not receive victuals or an allowance in lieu.
.sn Wounds or injuries on service or drill.
90. If a Volunteer is wounded or injured on service
or on drill, he will be entitled to the same pension to
which any seamen in Her Majesty's Navy would be entitled
for a similar wound or injury; or if killed, slain, or
drowned on service, or on drill, his widow (if any) will be
entitled to the same gratuities, out of Greenwich Hospital
Funds as the widow of any other Seamen of the Navy of
the same rating.
.sn Hospital or Sick Quarters.
91. Volunteers taken seriously ill or injured whilst
undergoing drill, may be sent to a Naval Hospital or
Sick Quarters for treatment.
.sn Applications for Pensions.
92. Applications for pensions or compensations for injuries
or hurts received whilst on service or drill, are to
.pn +1
be specially made to the Admiralty; the nature and cause
of the injury are to be fully reported, and the names of
the witnesses, as also whether blame was attributable to
the Volunteer making the application, when the case will
be considered as it deserves.
.sn Purchase of clothing, &c.
93. Volunteers are allowed to purchase at the Government
rate any clothing or necessaries that may be requisite
for their outfit or dress as belonging to the Corps.
.sp 2
.h3
PERMANENT STAFF.
.sn Composition.
94. The Permanent Staff of a Brigade will consist of
one Officer Instructor to the Brigade, and one Petty
Officer Instructor for each Battery composing the Brigade.
.sn Appointment.
95. The appointments to the Permanent Staff will be
made by the Admiralty, and will be tenable for a term of
five years, or for such lesser period that the Admiralty
may think fit.
.sn Officer whence selected.
96. The Officer Instructor will be commissioned as
Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers, and
will be selected from Officers of, or retired from, the
Royal Navy, of and above the rank of Lieutenant.
.sn Qualification.
97. The Officer Instructor will be required to undergo
a course of Instruction in one of the Gunnery Ships to
qualify him for the duties of Instructor in Heavy and Truck
Gun Drills, Rifle, Pistol and Cutlass Exercises.
.sn Not to hold other appointment.
98. As the services of an Officer Instructor will be at
all times required by the Volunteers, he will not be permitted
to follow any profession or appointment, public or
private.
.sn Age.
99. No Officer whose age exceeds 50 years is eligible
for the appointment of Officer Instructor.
.sn Rank and position.
100. An Officer Instructor of Naval Volunteers is
purely a Staff Officer, and except for the purpose of Instruction,
is not entitled, by virtue of his superior rank, to
take the command of any Force of Naval Volunteers,
when an Officer of the Corps is present.
.sn General duties.
101. An Officer Instructor is appointed to give Instruction
to the Volunteers. He is subject to the orders
of his Commanding Officer, and he is required to assist
him in carrying on the naval duties of the Brigade; but
he is not to take any part in the civil affairs of the
Brigade.
It is his duty to keep the muster-rolls of the Brigade,
and to make himself acquainted with all the members of
Brigade, and their qualifications and dispositions.
.pn +1
He is to superintend the drills and exercises of the
Brigade, and is to have complete control over the Petty
Officer Instructors of the several Batteries, and is responsible
to the Admiralty that their duties are properly
performed, and that the drills are in accordance with those
laid down for the Royal Navy.
.sn Diary.
102. The Officer Instructor is required to keep a diary
of the Instruction imparted by him to the Volunteers according
to Form G Appendix. This diary is to be certified
by the Commanding Officer of the Brigade, and transmitted
to the Admiralty on the 1st of every month.
.sn Control over Petty Officer Instructors.
103. The Officer Instructor will, under the Commanding
Officer of the Brigade, have control over the Petty
Officer Instructors, both as regards their discipline and
their duties as Instructors; and he will, should he have
occasion, report any misconduct or incompetency of a
Petty Officer Instructor to the Admiralty.
.sp 2
.h3
PETTY OFFICER INSTRUCTORS.
.sn Rank and position.
104. The Petty Officer Instructors will have the rank
First Class Petty Officers in the Royal Naval Artillery
Volunteer Force, and will be selected from Pensioned
Petty Officers of the Royal Navy and must hold a Certificate
from one of the Gunnery Ships of competency as an
Instructor in Heavy and Truck Gun Drill, Rifle, Pistol and
Cutlass Exercises.
They will be purely Staff Petty Officers, and will not
be entitled, by virtue of their superior rank, to take the
command of any of the Naval Volunteers, when a Petty
Officer of the Corps is present, except for the purpose of
instruction.
.sn Duties.
105. The Petty Officer Instructors are to give instruction
to the Volunteers under the direction of the Officer
Instructor. They are subject to the Command of their
superior Officers of the Naval Volunteers, and are to
assist them in carrying on their Naval duties, but they are
not to take any part in the civil affairs of the Brigade.
.sn Conduct.
106. The Petty Officer Instructors will be expected, on
all occasions, to set an example of what the Naval Volunteers
should attain to, and they will only be allowed to
retain their position so long as they conduct themselves
as Petty Officers of the Royal Navy should do.
They are to consider the Officer Instructor as their
immediate head, and apply to him in all matters that may
be necessary.
.pn +1
.sn Diary.
107. The Petty Officers Instructors will each keep a
diary of the instruction imparted by him to the Volunteers
according to Form in Appendix H. This diary is to
be certified by the Commanding Officer of the Battery,
and transmitted weekly to the Officer Instructor.
.sn Pay of Permanent Staff.
108. The Permanent Staff will receive pay as follows:--
.ta l:25 l:30
Officer Instructor | 10s. per day.
Petty Officer Instructor | 3s. "
.ta-
.sp 2
.h3
Uniform For Officers.
109. The Uniform to be worn by the Royal Naval
Artillery Volunteers is to be of the same pattern as for
Officers of the corresponding ranks in the Royal Navy,
with the following exceptions viz.:
.sn Distinctive lace.
110. Instead of each distinctive stripe of half-inch gold
lace round the sleeve, there is to be a stripe formed of two
waived lines of quarter-inch silver braid, running parallel
to each other so as to form bands three-quarters of an
inch wide, the blue cloth to show quarter of an inch between
the lines of braid.
.sn Buttons.
111. The buttons to be of the Naval Pattern, with the
letters R.N. on one side of the anchor and A.V. on the
other side.
The crown and anchor to be gilt, and the remainder of
the button silver.
.sn Epaulettes.
112. The epaulettes to be silver, and, instead of the
anchor on the epaulette, there is to be a badge consisting
of an anchor in the centre, surrounded by the words
"R. N. A. Volunteers," embroidered in gold.
Crown and stars, when worn on the epaulettes, to be
embroidered in gold.
.sn Hat.
113. Instead of the bullion loop on the cocked hat, the
loop to be formed of two silver braids, waved as on the
coat sleeves, and the tassels to be silver.
.sn Badge for cap.
114. The badge for the cap to have the letters R.N.
placed on one side of the anchor, and the letters A.V. on
the other side.
The anchor and letters to be embroidered in gold, and
the surrounding laurel leaves in silver. The crown to be
embroidered in gold and silver, as in the Naval Pattern.
.sn Sword-belt.
115. The plate of the sword belt and the swivel to be
.pn +1
silver. The crown and anchor on it to be gilt, and the
letters R.N.A.V. on each side of the anchor, also gilt.
.sn Lace and embroidery.
116. All lace and embroidery, except where otherwise
ordered in these Regulations, is to be of silver.
.sp 2
.h3
Dress Uniform.
117. Coat the same as undress.
Trowsers.--The lace on the seam to be silver.
Sword-belt.--The embroidered lines to be silver.
The dress-trowsers and sword-belt to be worn only on
such occasions as are customary in the Royal Navy.
.sp 2
.h3
Petty Officers and Gunners.
118. The Uniform to be of the same pattern as for
Petty Officers and Seamen of the Royal Navy, with the
following exceptions, viz.:--
.sn Buttons.
119. The buttons on jackets of Chief Petty Officers to
be of silver, the same as those of the Officers.
The buttons of the Petty Officers and Gunners to be of
the same pattern, but of black horn.
.sn Trimmings.
120. The tape trimmings of the white frock to be
waved in the same manner as the braid on the coat sleeves
of the Officers.
.sn Badges.
121. All badges are to be of silver embroidery on the
jackets, and of silver or white on the blue serge.
On the white frock they are to be blue.
.sn Cap ribbons.
122. The cap ribbon to have a crown and anchor in
front, with the letters R.N. on one side of the anchor, and
the letters A.V. on the other.
The crown and anchor and letters to be embroidered in
silver on a black silk ribbon.
The letters to be five-eighths of an inch in size.
.sp 2
.h3
CORRESPONDENCE AND RETURNS.
123. All official correspondence from the Volunteer
Brigades except the correspondence of the Officer Instructor
in his capacity of Instructor, is to proceed from
the Commanding Officer, or to pass through him.
.pb
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Transcriber's Notes:
Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected.
Typographical errors were silently corrected.
Spelling and hyphenation were made consistent when a predominant
form was found in this book; otherwise it was not changed.
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Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (italics).
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