History of the Royal Naval Reserve facts for kids
The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is a special part of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. It's made up of people who train part-time to support the main Navy. They are ready to serve if needed, especially during wars or emergencies.
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Old Ways of Joining
For a long time, the Royal Navy used a method called impressment. This meant they could force men to join the Navy. It was a way to get enough sailors for their ships.
Officers, who are leaders, joined differently. They got paid when they were working. If they weren't assigned to a ship, they received half their usual pay.
Extra Payments
Sailors and officers could also earn extra money through a "Prize" system. This usually happened when they captured an enemy ship. The Navy would buy the captured ship. The money was then shared among the crew. For regular sailors, it was a small bonus. But for the commanding officer, it could be a lot of money. This meant many captains became quite wealthy.
Asking for Volunteers
In the early 1800s, the Navy stopped using impressment. They wanted people to volunteer for full careers. This worked well in peacetime when fewer sailors were needed.
However, when a war started, the Navy needed many more people quickly. In 1853, the Royal Naval Coast Volunteers (RNCV) were created. These were boatmen and fishermen who would serve near the coast during a conflict.
But this still wasn't enough. During the Crimean War, the fleet needed more sailors. So, in 1858, a special group looked into how to get more people for the Navy. This led to a new law in 1859. This law allowed the Navy to create a new group of volunteer sailors. These volunteers came from merchant ships and fishing boats. They would train with the Navy every year. They could be called to serve in the fleet if there was a war. By 1862, this new force had 12,000 volunteers.
This new volunteer force was named the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR). At first, it was just for regular sailors. But in 1861, officers could join too. RNR officers wore special wavy stripes on their uniforms. Both RNR officers and sailors were ranked just below their regular Royal Navy counterparts.
To help with training, old naval ships were placed in major ports. Sailors could train there when they returned from voyages. Officers spent longer periods training. They learned naval practices on shore and on ships.
In the early 1900s, the Navy was growing fast. It became clear the RNR couldn't provide all the trained men needed. So, a new plan was started. This allowed men with jobs on land, who weren't connected to the sea, to train part-time. They trained at special shore bases. They also spent a few weeks each year with the fleet to gain experience.
This new group was called the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). It was known as the 'Wavy Navy'. This was because the rank stripes on their officers' sleeves were wavy, not straight. The RNVR was organized into 'Divisions'. These divisions were named after the places where their main centers were. Cities like London, Edinburgh, and most large seaports had these divisions. Each division was led by a Captain.
Newfoundland's Reserve
In 1902, the Navy decided to start a Royal Naval Reserve unit in St. John's, Newfoundland. A small, older ship called HMS Calypso was sent there for training. About 600 local fishermen and sailors joined. Many trained with the North Atlantic and West Indies Squadron. During the First World War, the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve served with the regular Navy. In 1916, the Calypso was renamed H.M.S. Briton.
Helping in World War II
In the late 1930s, the Navy realized they would need even more people for the upcoming war. So, they created the Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve (RNVSR). Many amateur sailors joined this group. They received quick training to get them ready for wartime service. The RNVSR uniform was the same as the RNVR one. This group was stopped after World War II.
During World War II, most officers who joined were considered part of the RNVR. They wore the RNVR uniform. Many RNVR officers served on landing craft, Coastal Forces, and in the Atlantic Convoys. Regular Navy officers were impressed by how well they performed. Many RNVR officers even became commanders of ships like corvettes and frigates. Some also joined the submarine branch. A few even commanded submarines, like Commander E.P. Young.
See also
- Royal Naval Patrol Service
- Royal Australian Naval Reserve
- Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve
