Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Created in 1903, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve provided much of the manpower Britain required to crew the massive number of vessels required during the Great War. In particular, the crews of the many trawlers and drifters brought into service was enriched by many R.N.V.R. personnel. It was administered by the Admiralty Volunteer Committee.
Peacetime Strength
In early 1914 the R.N.V.R. was organised into six regional divisions further comprising 47 companies, the overall strength of which on 1 January, 1914, were:[1]
| Royal Naval Volunteers | Establishment | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Officers | 213 | 178 |
| Honorary Officers | — | 25 |
| Petty officers and men | 4,612 | 4,127 |
| Permanent Staff:— Officers Petty officers and men |
7 82 |
7 80 |
The divisional strength of the R.N.V.R. on 1 January, 1914, was:[2]
| Division | Establishment | Strength | Officers[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | 413 | 377 | 22 |
| Clyde | 1,434 | 1,243 | 56 |
| London | 1,025 | 886 | 45 |
| Mersey | 719 | 691 | 36 |
| Sussex | 617 | 495 | 24 |
| Tyneside | 617 | 613 | 31 |
Wartime Growth
The Reserve underwent rapid expansion during the conflict; the Navy List of October 1918 lists just about 7,600 officers.[4]
Uniform Regulations
Taken from the Navy List for October, 1915:
60. The Uniform to be worn by Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve is to be of the same patters as for Officers of corresponding ranks in the Royal Navy, with the following distinctive exceptions:—
1. Instead of each distinctive stripe of half-inch gold lace round the sleeves of the coats, there is to be a waved line of quarter-inch gold braid. the half stripe worn by Lieutenants of over 8 years' seniority and Officers of corresponding rank is to be a waved line of one-eighth inch gold braid.
2. The buttons are to be of the Royal Naval pattern, with the letters R.N.V. in Old English characters across the anchor.
3. Instead of the anchor on the epaulettes there is to be a badge, consisting of an anchor in the centre, surrounded with the words "Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve" embroidered in gold. The anchor is to be silver for the Military Branch, and gold for the other Branches.
4. The device on the cockade of the cocked hat is to be of gold braid, the loop in the centre being twisted for Officers of the Military Branch, and straight for Officers of other Branches.
5. Badge for the Cap.—A silver anchor for Officers of the Military Branch, and a gold anchor for Officers of other branches, with the letters "R.N.V." above it in gold on a medallion of black velvet, encircled by an edging of gold lace, surrounded by a laurel wreath of gold embroidery except at the top, where a crown, embroidered in gold and silver, with a crimson velvet centre, is to be placed over the medallion.
6. The plate for the sword=belt to be the same as for Officers of the Royal Navy, but with the letters "R.N.V." across the anchor in the centre.
7. For Midshipmen the distinguishing mark at each end of the collar, instead of the white turn-back, is to be a buttonhole of maroon twist.
60a. Assistant Paymasters under 4 years' seniority will wear one stripe; those of over 4 years' seniority will wear two stripes (and corresponding uniform,) provided they are qualified under Article 15 (2) R.N.V.R. Regulations.[5]
Practical Research Considerations
The Service Records of R.N.V.R. men in the ADM 337 tranche (and possibly others?) of The National Archives are rather compact, but fairly legible, in contrast to many of those of the Royal Naval Reserve. — TONY LOVELL, Editor.
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ Statement of the First Lord of the Admiralty Explanatory of the Navy Estimates, 1914-1915. p. 16.
- ↑ Statement of the First Lord of the Admiralty Explanatory of the Navy Estimates, 1914-1915. p. 17.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1914). pp. 527-530. These data are technically as of 18 December, 1913.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1918). pp. 1797-1897.
- ↑ The Navy List, for October, 1915, Corrected to the 18th September, 1915. p. 838a.
