Victualling Department (Royal Navy) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Victualling Department

Agency overview
Formed	1832
Preceding agency	Victualling Board
Dissolved	1964
Superseding agency	Naval Stores Department
Jurisdiction	Government of the United Kingdom
Headquarters	Admiralty London
Agency executives	Director of Victualling Deputy Director of Victualling Assistant Director of Victualling
Parent department	Admiralty

The Victualling Department was a special part of the British Admiralty. It was in charge of making sure the Royal Navy had enough food, drinks, and other supplies. This department also managed the places where these supplies were stored, called Victualling Yards. It operated from 1832 until 1964.

History of Naval Supplies

For a long time, getting food and supplies for the Royal Navy was handled by different people. At first, it was done by special companies. Then, a person called the Surveyor-General of Victuals took over this job from 1550 to 1679.

The Victualling Board

In 1683, a group called the Victualling Board was created. This board was in charge of all naval supplies. It also took over medical services for the Navy in 1817.

Changes in the 1800s

In 1832, big changes happened in the British Admiralty. The Victualling Board was closed down. Its duties were given to a new department. This new department was led by a "Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services." This person worked under the Fourth Naval Lord.

Later, in 1862, a new department was created just for transport services. This meant the Victualling Department could focus only on supplies. In 1869, the "Comptroller" role ended. The job of buying supplies went to a new "Contract and Purchase Department."

The Director of Victualling

In 1870, a "Superintendent of Victualling" was put in charge of storing and supplying food. This role was renamed "Director of Victualling" in 1878. This new department managed all the food and drink for the Royal Navy.

Merging Departments

In 1961, the Victualling Department joined with the Naval Stores Department. It still worked on its own for a while. Finally, in 1964, the British Admiralty became part of a bigger government group called the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence. The Victualling Department's work continued within this new, larger ministry.

Leaders of the Department

Over the years, different people led the Victualling Department. Here are some of the main leaders:

Comptrollers of Victualling and Transport Services

• Captain Jame Meek, 1832 - 1850
• Thomas Tassell Grant, F.R.S., 1850 - 1858
• Charles Richards, Paym, 1858 - 1862

Comptroller of Victualling

• Charles Richards, Paym, 1862 - 1870

Superintendents of Victualling and Stores

• Sir Samuel Sayer Lewes, Kt, 1870 - 1878

Directors of Victualling

• Sir Samuel Sayer Lewes, Kt, 1878 - 1886
• Sir Henry Francis Redhead Torke, 1886 - 1905
• Sir Oswyn Alexander Ruthven Murray, 1905 - 1911
• James Henry Brooks, 1911 - 1918
• C. R. B. Lane, 1939 - 1944
• Oscar Stanley Norman Rickards, 1944 - 1948
• R. H. Shipway Esq., 1958 - 1968
• A. W. Holden, 1968 - 1970

How the Department Was Organized

By 1962, the Victualling Department had a clear structure. It was led by a Director, with Deputy and Assistant Directors helping.

Victualling Yards

The department managed many "Victualling Yards" around the world. These were places where supplies were stored and prepared for ships. Over time, the number of these yards changed. Some examples included:

• Antigua Yard
• Bermuda Yard
• Chatham Yard
• Deptford Yard
• Devonport Yard
• Gibraltar Yard
• Malta Yard
• Portsmouth Yard
• Singapore Yard
• Sydney Yard

Each yard had someone in charge of its supplies. This person might be called an Agent Victualler or a Victualling Stores Officer.

Victualling Stores

Besides the main yards, there were also smaller Victualling Stores. These were places like:

• Harnley Road, Chandler's Ford
• Lumb Mill, Delph
• Roche Court, Fareham
• Botley, Winchester

Timeline of Supply Management

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

• Navy Board, Surveyor-General of Victuals, 1550-1679
• Navy Board, Victualling Board (Board of Victualling Commissioners), 1683-1832
• Board of Admiralty, Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services, 1832-1862
• Board of Admiralty, Comptroller of Victualling, 1862-1869
• Board of Admiralty, Victualling Department, Superintendent of Victualling, 1869-1878
• Board of Admiralty, Victualling Department, Director of Victualling, 1878-1964