Naval Stores Department (Royal Navy) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Naval Stores Department

Agency overview
Formed	1869
Preceding agency	Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy
Dissolved	1966
Superseding agency	Royal Naval Supply and Transport Service
Jurisdiction	Government of the United Kingdom
Headquarters	Admiralty London
Agency executives	Director of Naval Stores Deputy Director of Naval Stores Assistant Director of Naval Stores
Parent department	Department of Admiralty (1869-1964) Navy Department (1964-1966)

The Naval Stores Department was a special part of the British government. It was also known as the Department of the Director of Naval Stores. Its main job was to manage and keep track of all the supplies needed by the Royal Navy. This included everything from wood and metal to ropes and tools. They made sure that naval bases and shipyards had what they needed. This department helped build, equip, and repair Royal Navy warships. It existed from 1869 until 1966.

A Look Back: History of the Department

The Naval Stores Department started in April 1869. At first, it was led by a person called the Superintendent of Stores. This new department took over the jobs of an older department. The older department, called the Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy, was closed down. This happened because the British Admiralty (the group that ran the Royal Navy) was reorganized.

In 1876, the leader's title changed. The Superintendent of Stores became the Director of Stores. This department was very important for the Royal Navy. It was in charge of storing and providing all the materials the Navy needed. This included supplies for naval bases and shipyards both in Britain and in other countries.

The Naval Stores Department also managed supplies for other important Navy groups. These included the Department of the Director of Dockyards (which managed shipyards), the Department of the Director of Naval Construction (which designed and built ships), and the Naval Ordnance Department (which handled weapons). It even supplied Royal Naval Colleges, where future officers learned. The Third Sea Lord, a high-ranking naval officer, oversaw this department.

In 1961, another department joined the Naval Stores Department. This was the Victualling Department, which handled food and clothing. Even though they joined, the Victualling Department still ran itself. In 1964, the Admiralty became part of the new Ministry of Defence. The Naval Stores Department continued to operate. However, in 1966, it combined with three other supply departments. Together, they formed a new group called the Royal Naval Supply and Transport Service.

What the Director Did

The Director of Naval Stores had many important jobs. They made sure the Royal Navy always had the supplies it needed. Here are some of their main duties:

• Providing supplies for all Navy ships, whether they were active or in reserve.
• Supplying naval shipyards in Britain and overseas.
• Managing all storage areas for the Dockyards Department.
• Managing all storage areas for the Naval Construction Department.
• Managing all storage areas for the Naval Ordnance Department.
• Handling supplies for Royal Naval and Engineering Colleges.
• Preparing budget plans for the department.
• Sending requests for new purchases to the Director of Navy Contracts.
• Receiving supplies for Navy ships.
• Checking all supply records and money transactions regularly.
• Overseeing the entire department and its staff.

Who Led the Department

Over the years, several important people led the Naval Stores Department.

Superintendents of Naval Stores

• Mr. Nelson Girdlestone: 1869 – 1872
• Mr. Coghlan McLean Hardy: 1872 – 1876

Directors of Naval Stores

• Mr. Coghlan McLean Hardy: 1876 – 1889
• Mr. William G. P. Gilbert: 1889 – 1895
• Mr. Gordon William Miller: 1895 – 1900
• Mr. David Evans: 1900 – 1902
• Sir Frederick W. Black: 1902 – 1906
• Sir John Forsey: 1906 – 1914
• Mr Mark Manley Waller: 1914 – 1918
• Mr G. H, Ashdown: 1919 – 1921
• Mr J. W L. Oliver: 1921 – 1926
• Sir William J Gick: 1935 – 1940
• Mr. Ernest Stephen Wood: 1940 – 1951
• Mr. G. F. R. Marsh: 1951 – 1956
• Mr R. Henderson: 1956 – 1959
• Mr F. C. Wilkins: 1962 – 1964

How the Department Was Organized

The Naval Stores Department had a clear structure to manage its many tasks.

• The Director of Naval Stores was at the top.
• Below the Director was the Office of the Deputy Director of Naval Stores.
  • Then came the Office of the Assistant Director of Naval Stores.
    • This office oversaw the Senior Naval Store Officers at various naval yards.
    • It also oversaw the Superintending Naval Store Officers at different depots.

Some of the important naval yards where Senior Naval Store Officers worked included:

• Bermuda Yard
• Chatham Yard
• Devonport Yard
• Gibraltar Yard
• Malta Yard
• Portsmouth Yard
• Singapore Yard

Some of the Naval Store Depots where Superintending Naval Store Officers worked included:

• Naval Store Depot, Almond Bank
• Naval Store Depot, Copenacre
• Naval Store Depot, Coventry
• Naval Store Depot, Eaglescliffe
• Naval Store Depot, Trecwn

Remember, the Victualling Department joined the Naval Stores Department in 1961. However, it still ran itself under its own Director of Victualling.

Timeline of Naval Supply Management

Here's a quick look at how naval supplies were managed over the centuries:

• Navy Board, Controller of Storekeepers Accounts: 1671-1796
• Navy Board, Stores Department: 1796-1829
• Navy Board, Store-Keeper General of the Navy: 1829-1832
• Board of Admiralty, Department of the Store-Keeper General of the Navy: 1832-1869
• Board of Admiralty, Superintendent of Stores: 1869-1876
• Board of Admiralty, Director of Naval Stores: 1876-1966