Examples
of Officers’ Service Records of the Indian Marine, Royal Indian Marine, Indian
Navy and Royal Indian Navy
Source: BL:
IOR: L/MIL/16/2 - Naval Officers’ Services L-Z c.1840-1895
This is one of two
of the earliest volumes of service sheets proper theoretically from c.1840
through to 1947, in all likelihood these were not begun until the formation of
the Indian Marine in 1877. Nevertheless, these give backdated service, some
going back to the old Indian Navy years. The alphabetical index is a separate
volume found on the catalogue shelves. These earliest two volumes are in rough
alphabetical order as well and not only contain line officers down to
mate/sub-lieutenant, engineers, pursers and including time in lesser positions
such as clerk etc., but also warrant officers such as gunners and
carpenters. Additionally, there seem to be all sorts of the more senior
dockyard staff, storekeepers etc. Beautifully kept, these are probably the best
examples of service sheets that I have ever seen. Incidentally, it would appear
that the Indian Navy was recruiting heavily in Scotland at this time.
.
Example:-
.
p.67
.
John McPherson
b.
Dundee, Scotland on 21st
June 1840
Particulars of
entry: ‘Ordinary’
.
|
Time
Served |
Rank,
Rating, or position held during such time |
Ship,
Establishment, or Office employed in during such time |
Time
so employed |
Remarks... |
|
. 22-1-81 - 25-1.81 26-1-81 - 17-3-82 |
. Gunner -- “ -- |
. Noel Quantung |
Years days ............4 ...1......50 |
. Paid up and discharged on the 18th
March/82 |
.
.
‘Brief History
prior to entry in the Marine
.
Served
an Apprenticeship as Seaman to Allen & Edwards of Dundee for 5 years. Was employed in the Indian Navy
from 1855 to 1859. Since then in the Mercantile Marine, his last service
being in the B.I.S. Company’
.
p.68 (continued)
.
‘Confidential
Remarks as to character and qualifications, &c., special services rendered,
misconduct reported, &c., or other circumstances for or against the officer,
to be noted here.
.
|
31.3.81 |
Qual as Seaman - |
Officer - |
Character |
|
|
V.G. |
V.G. |
V.G |
|
30.6.81 |
V.G. |
V |
V.G |
|
30.9.81 |
V.G. |
V.G |
V.G. |
|
31.12.81 |
V.G. |
Unsatisfactory owing to intemperance’ |
|
.#
.
‘Précis of Certificates for character awarded
.
|
Record No... |
Dates From-To |
Character awarded... |
|
328 .1 |
26-1-81 7-2-81 . . 8-2-81 17-5-81 . . 18-5-81 17-3-82 |
Gunner. Conducted himself
with sobriety and to my satisfaction. ............................................................Sd A Gwyn .............................................................Comdg “Quangtung” .. Gunner. Conducted himself
with sobriety and entirely to my satisfaction. ............................................................Sd G. Wilson .............................................................Comdg “Quangtung” . Gunner. Conducted himself very
unsatisfactorily and is not at all fit to be gunner on board a Government Vessel, owing to his
intemperate habits. ............................................................Sd ? ? Edwards ........................................................Comdg “Quangtung”.’ |
.
Although not shown
in this example, there are also two other sections relating to medals and
awards for services and examinations for qualifications.
Source: BL: IOR: L/MIL/16/6 - Naval
Officers’ Services c.1930-47
These service sheets relate to the Royal
Indian Marine and Royal Indian Navy only. As in the earlier volumes,
this is externally indexed and also as in the earlier service histories, these
are excellent records to use.
.
Example:-
.
Folio No. 26
.
Richard William Peel Yates
.
b. 3rd April 1920
..
|
Time Served |
Rank or position ... |
Ship, Establishment or Office ... |
Remarks... |
|
29-4-38 - 18.7.41 |
Cadet |
Under training in United Kingdom |
D.D. No 89-N2 14.6.38 file No. 121/37 |
|
19.7.41 - 15.1.42 |
Sub-Lieut. |
“Jumna” |
Reported for Duty on 19.7.41 a.m. on
Instructions from Admiralty D.L. 40/41 |
|
16.1.42 - 15.3.42 |
Lieut |
|
Promoted to Lieut |
|
16.3.42 - 5.4.42 |
.....” |
Dalhousie (addl) |
..................................... DL 15/42 |
|
|
|
........ |
|
|
6.4.42 - 29.5.42 |
..... -”- |
“Karachi” in Command |
D.L. 35/42 |
|
30.5.42 - 29.12.42 |
..... -”- |
H.M.A.S. Lismore (Temp) |
Apptd Temporary to H.M.A.S. Lismore D.L. 53/42 |
|
30.12.42 |
..... -”- |
KARACHI |
To draw Command allowance from 30 12/42 D.L. 6/43 |
|
17.9.42 |
..... -”- |
HMAS Lismore (Temp) |
Lived on shore at Colombo (Wt 81/42) 17-9-42 to 24-9-42. Left Colombo for Bombay on permanent duty 24.9.42 arrived Bombay and live in Mess 28-9-42 a.m. D.L. 82/42 (and errata in D.L. 9/43) |
|
18.2.43 |
..... -”- |
“KARACHI” |
Dalhousie addl
and live on shore prior to Long “S” Course in U.K. 18 2/43 Granted 10 days casual leave from 18 2/43 to 27-2-43 ?? D.L. 14/43. |
|
23.3.43 |
..... -”- |
Dalhousie (addl) |
Sailed fro U.K. 23.3.43 D.L. 24/43 |
|
16.3.42 |
..... -”- |
on deputation |
Live on Shore (L.V.) from 16 3/42 (DL. 29/42) - DL. 58/43 |
|
16.1.44 |
..... -”- (2 yrs seniority) |
H.M.S. “Victory” addl |
Advanced to Lt of 2 yrs
seniority 16-1-44 D.L.1/44 In Wt. 35/42 add. ‘and live on shore D. 70/44 |
|
24.7.44 |
|
Retired from |
Service on Account of ill Health D.L. 66/44 |
.
As in the earlier service
sheets, there are additional sections relating to ‘brief history prior to
joining’ etc. In this particular case nothing is recorded.
Incidentally, I
have been contacted by Lieutenant Yates’ son. Very kindly, he provided me with
a little further information on his father. Not shown on his R.I.N. service
sheet, in training he had been appointed a midshipman onboard the R.N. cruiser
CUMBERLAND. Also, post war he became a doctor and was a senior partner in a
large medical practice on the island of Jersey.