Order in Council of 9 March, 1914
The Order in Council of 9 March, 1914 was a piece of British legislation which further regulated promotion and retirement of the higher ranks of the Royal Navy, allowing the Board of Admiralty to forcibly retire captains on promotion to Rear-Admiral whom it did not intend to employ, and created the rank of Lieutenant-Commander to replace that of Lieutenant of eight years' seniority.
Order in Council
WHEREAS by Order in Council of His late Majesty, bearing date the eighth day of December, 1903, regulations were laid down as to the retirement for non-service of Officers of the Military Branch of Your Majesty's Navy:
And whereas we are of opinion that the periods of non-service leading to compulsory retirement as laid down in the aforesaid Order in Council should be reduced, and, further, that we should be empowered to place on the retired list any Captain on the occasion of his promotion to Flag Rank whom we have decided not to employ further:
And whereas we consider it desirable to introduce the rank of Lieutenant-Commander as a substantive rank in Your Majesty's Navy to replace the rank of Lieutenant of eight years' seniority:
We beg leave humbly to recommend that Your Majesty may be graciously pleased by Your Order in Council to sanction the following proposals:
That a reduction shall be made in the period of non-service which entails compulsory retirement in the ranks of Flag Officer, Captain and Commander, and that the following rules be laid down:
Admirals.—To be retired so soon as three years have elapsed since their last 'Service' as Flag Officer, but no Admiral to be retired under this rule until he has completed one year on the list of Admirals.
Vice-Admirals.—To be retired so soon as three years have elapsed since their last 'Service' as Flag Officer, but no Vice-Admiral to be retired under this rule until he has completed one year on the list of Vice-Admirals.
Rear-Admirals.—To be retired so soon as two and a half have elapsed since their last 'Service' as Rear-Admiral, or, if they have not served as Rear-Admiral so soon as two and a half years have elapsed since their promotion to Rear-Admiral or three years since their last service as Captain; or, if they have not hoisted their Flag at sea, on promotion to Vice-Admiral.
Captains.—To be retired so soon as two years have elapsed since their last 'Service' as Captain after having been appointed to the command of one of Your Majesty's Ships, or three years if they have not served as Captain.
Commanders.—To be retired so soon as two years have elapsed since their last 'Service' as Commander, or, if they have not served as Commander, so soon as two years have elapsed since the date of their promtion.
Flag Officers promoted while serving not to count their service in their new rank to save them from compulsory retirement for non-service in that rank in cases where we have definitely assigned the appointment to an Officer of lower rank.
A Captain whom we have decided not to employ further after promotion to Flag rank to be retired, at our discretion, on his promotion to the rank of Rear-Admiral.
The substantive rank of Lieutenant-Commander to be established to replace the rank of Lieutenant of eight years' seniority. Lieutenants to proceed automatically to the new rank on attaining eight years' seniority and all the regulations at present relating to Lieutenants of eight years' seniority to apply to Officers of the rank of Lieutenant-Commander.
(a) The regulations set forth in Section I. to take effect as regards Flag Officers only as they are promoted to the lists of Admiral, Vice-Admiral, and Rear-Admiral on or after the first day of April, 1914, and as regards Captains and Commanders from the first day of January, 1915.
(b) The regulations set forth in Section II. to take effect from the first day of April, 1914, for Officers promoted to a higher rank on or after that date.
(c) The regulations set forth in Sections III. and IV. to take effect from the first day of April, 1914.
The Lords Commissioners of Your Majesty's Treasury have signified their concurrence in these proposals.
Primary Source
- The National Archives. ADM 1/8370/665.
