Unusual Naval rank

[Frank Schofield]

While writing up a recent addition to my "Royal Navy personnel who fell in WW1" I came across a naval rank I had not seen before, that of Ship's Corporal, a check with the casualty lists and the CWGC confirms that it was his rank.
My copy of "Janes Naval Terms" tells me Ships Corporal (now obsolete) was a junior member of the ship's police,

Frank Schofield

[Michael Dobbs]

Frank

It just shows that we can learn something new about WW1 every day!  A good find and well done for finding confirmation of such a rank.

Mike  :)

[Colin Tabeart]

The Ship's Corporal was a Petty Officer, (Army equivalent = sergeant) responsible to the Master-at-Arms, Head Honcho of the ship's police. Among other things the Corporal was responsible for teaching ratings how to use small arms. Probably only appointed on big ships (cruisers & above?) Never served in a big surface warship (thank the gods) so dunno when the rank and position disappeared. Certainly never had them in submarines where the Cox'n was I/C disciplinary matters.

[Frank Schofield]

Colin

Many thanks for the input
Might be interesting to find out when the rank disappeared, during WW1??

Frank

[Peter Harvey]

Found the Below:

Circular N o. 7 1.- N

Admiralty, 19th December 1873

(MASTERS-AT-ARMS AND SHIPS' CORPORALS.)

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having had under their consideration the subject of the Organisation of the Ships' Police, are pleased to issue the following Regulations:-

The Naval Police will consist of 3 Ratings:-

Master-at-Arms.
Ship's Corporal, 1st Class.
Ship's' Corporal, 2nd Class.
Men will be entered for the rating of Ship's Corporal 2nd Class, in the Depot Flag-ships at Sheerness, Portsmouth and Devonport, upon passing an Examination before the Captain and Naval Instructor, showing their ability to read and write and keep accounts correctly, and upon satisfying the following conditions:-

Age not less than 25, nor more than 30.
Height not less than 5 feet 7 inches.
Service of 3 years in one or more of H.M.'s Ships as Seaman or Marine.
Very good character for 3 years immediately preceding the Examination.
Continuous Service engagement.
The passing Certificates will be as in the present Form, No. 190 ; they are to be transmitted to the: Admiralty, accompanied by copies of the men's Certificates and any special recommendations they may have received from their Commanding Officers.

A Ship's Corporal 2nd Class, will not be eligible for promotion to Ship's Corporal, 1st Class, until he has served 2 years in that rating ; and a Ships Corporal, 1st Class, will not be eligible for promotion to Master-at Arms until he has served 1 year as Ship's Corporal. 1st Class, and has, after Examination, obtained a Certificate from the Captain of the Ship that he is fully conversant with the duties of the Ships' Police, prescribed in the Admiralty Instructions; but Chief and 1st Class Petty Officers and Sergeants of Marines, if under 35 years of age, who have served three years as such and are duly qualified, will be eligible for Entry as Master-at-Arms, without passing through the grade of Ship's Corporal.

No further Entries from the Army or Police will be allowed.

All promotions to the rating of Master-at-Arms, and all appointments of Master-at-Arms will be made by my Lords. A list for this purpose will be kept at the Admiralty of all Masters-at-Arms and Ship's Corporals, 1st Class, who have passed for Masters-at-Arms, together with a record of their Services and Certificates.

Upon any vacancy for Master-at-Arms occurring in a Ship abroad, the Commanding Officer on obtaining the sanction of the Commander-in-Chief or the Senior Officer, if present, will make an acting appointment.

Quarterly Returns in the annexed Form are to be transmitted on the last day of each quarter, through the Commander-in-Chief, and Commanding Officers are to be careful, in recommending men for advancement, to have due regard to conduct, length of Service, and special fitness for the duty required of the Ships' Police.

Masters-at-Arms and Ships' Corporals will be allowed to remain in the Service until the age of 45, if physically fit.

No Pension can be drawn while serving.

With respect to the Uniform of Masters-at-Arms, the cap shall be with black band, crown and anchor, device of Civil Branch, but without laurel leaf.

The following Regulations are hereby cancelled:

Admiralty instruction, pp. 82, 83, paragraphs I. and IV. of Chapter IX.
Admiralty Instructions, Note to page 84 (from the word "Vacancies ").
"Addenda-Article 104.
By Command of their Lordships,

Robert Hall.

To all Commanders-in-Chief, &c.

[Frank Schofield]

Peter

Thanks for the input, still do's not help when the rank was made obsolete

I feel it was sometime during WW1

Frank