Engineer (Royal Navy)

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Engineer was a rank of the Royal Navy from 1837 to 1847 and from 1861 to 1903.

History

Engineers were placed on a permanent footing by Order in Council of 19 July, 1837. They were appointed by Warrant by the Admiralty or Commanders-in-Chief on foreign stations, and ranked after Carpenter. They were divided into three classes. A candidate had to "pass such examination as we may from time to time think proper to require, before the Chief Engineer and Inspector of Machinery, or such other officer as we may appoint for that purpose".[1]

In the Queen's Regulations for the Government of Her Majesty's Naval Service of 1844:

A Candidate for an Engineer’s Warrant in one of Her Majesty’s Steam-Ships shall produce Certificates of his Servitude to an Engineer, or other proof of his practical abilities, and of his good Conduct; and shall pass such Examination as the Admiralty may from time to time direct: but no Candidate shall be appointed First Engineer who shall not have served six months as Second, nor be appointed Second Engineer without having served three months as Third Engineer, or having served six months as Chief Engineer in a Merchant Steam-Vessel: and appointments by Commanders in-Chief abroad are only to be deemed acting appointments, until an Engineer so appointed shall have passed the regulated examination in England.[2]

The rank disappeared by Order in Council of 27 February, 1847. By Order in Council of 4 April, 1856, Assistant Engineers could be passed as "Engineers qualified for Charge" but retaining the rank of Assistant Engineer.[3] Under Order of Council of 16 April, 1861, the rank of Assistant Engineer, 1st Class was renamed Engineer.[4]

By Order in Council of 11 June, 1863, Engineers ranked with Sub-Lieutenants.[5] Under the Order in Council of 30 April, 1877, Engineers of over eight years' ranked with but after Lieutenants of less than eight years' seniority. Engineers of under eight years' seniority ranked with Sub-Lieutenants, according to date of Commission.[6] By Order in Council of 17 February, 1886, Engineers of six years' seniority ranked with Lieutenants of under eight years' seniority, according to date of Commission. Engineers under six years' seniority ranked with but after Lieutenants under eight years' seniority.[7] By Order in Council of 29 June, 1900, all Engineers ranked with Lieutenants under eight years' seniority, according to date of Commission.[8]

By Order in Council of 28 March, 1903, all Engineers became Engineer Lieutenants from 1 April.[9]

Pay

As established in 1837:[10]

£ s. d.
1st Class Engineer 9 12 0 a month, and sixpence a day for each apprentice or boy that may be placed under his instruction
2d Class Engineer 6 16 0
3d Class Engineer 4 18 0.

In addition, when serving in the "tropics" they were allowed half the pay in addition during the time steam was up or when employed on repairs. When employed on repairs of other ships they were entitled to an extra two shillings a day.

When borne on the books of guard-ships of the ordinary, for harbour service, and when not employed, the pay was as follows:

£ s. d.
1st Class Engineer 6 6 0 a month.
2d Class Engineer 4 4 0
3d Class Engineer 3 3 0

A year later, by Order in Council of 5 July, 1838, the pay was increased in order to improve retention and recruiting:[11]

£ s. d.
First Engineer 12 0 0 a month.
Second Engineer 8 0 0
Third Engineer 5 6 0

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. pp. 369-370.
  2. ↑ Queen's Regulations for the Government of Her Majesty's Naval Service (1844). p. 28.
  3. ↑ The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. pp. 384, 429.
  4. ↑ Circular, No. 472 dated 7 May, 1861. Docket dated 12 May, 1861. The National Archives. ADM 1/5765.
  5. ↑ The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. II. pp. 63-64.
  6. ↑ The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. IV. p. 61.
  7. ↑ The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. V. p. 103.
  8. ↑ The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. VIII. p. 114.
  9. ↑ The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. IX. p. 33.
  10. ↑ The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. pp. 369-370.
  11. ↑ The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. pp. 370-371.

Bibliography

  • The Orders in Council and Some of the Acts of Parliament for the Regulation of the Naval Service. London: For Her Majesty's Stationary Office. 1856.
  • The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. II. London: For Her Majesty's Stationary Office. 1864.
  • The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. IV. London: For Her Majesty's Stationary Office. 1884.
  • The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. V. London: For Her Majesty's Stationary Office. 1888.
  • The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. VIII. London: For His Majesty's Stationary Office. 1903.
  • The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. IX. London: For His Majesty's Stationary Office. 1908.

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