Deciphering some information on death certificate

[tellx]

It does look like RA. I wonder if he was attached to a bomb vessel as an ordnance officer?

[ShaunJ]

It appears that the Royal Marine from Rochdale married Lora Ann Jones in 1871 and had several children including a son Joseph (with him in the 1891 census) who was birth was registered in Medway in 1Q 1878 mmn Jones. SO that doesn't fit too well.

I agree that you need the 1874 marriage record to get a better fix on the identity of Selina Pope's husband.

[dobfarm]

There is no rank of Corporal in the Royal navy (The equivalent in the RN is a Leading Hand) but could be Royal marines corporal on ship.

RA corporal
In the Royal Armoured Corps, a Corporal commands an individual tank.

The Household Cavalry and Foot Guards have different ranking systems where the ranks progress directly from lance-corporal to lance-sergeant. The Royal Artillery has the rank of bombardier, while the Royal Navy has the equivalent rank of leading hand or leading rate.

[GR2]

There is no rank of Corporal in the Royal navy (The equivalent in the RN is a Leading Hand) but could be Royal marines corporal on ship.

Although corporal was not a rank in the Royal Navy, an assistant to the master-at-arms was referred to as the ship's corporal. It was a position, not a rank.

[ShaunJ]

Joseph Pennington:  born Portsmouth 20 October 1846. Joined the navy in 1864. Ship's Corporal 2nd class 1875, Ship's Corporal 1st Class 1877. Pensioned 1884, died 6 October 1890.

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/60522/images/43283_adm_188_25-0184

So it's RN on the death cert (or should be) , not RA or RM.

[overlandermatt]

Thanks Shaun. That's very good to know. I'm sure I can link him to Plymouth at that time now and the wider family story.

[David Boulding]

 In some navies, a ship's corporal is a position—not the rank—of a petty officer who assists the master-at-arms in his various duties. Historically, a master-at-arms was responsible for the training of soldiers during peace time, or actively involved in leading the defense of a fortification during war time.

In some countries, the term navy police is used for a part of a navy responsible for law enforcement, such as the Royal Navy Police, known as the Royal Navy Regulating Branch until 2007.

[tonepad]

Admiralty, 19th December 1873

The Naval Police will consist of 3 Ratings:-

Master-at-Arms.
Ship's Corporal, 1st Class.
Ship's' Corporal, 2nd Class.

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~pbtyc/Navy_List_1879/Ships_Police.html

also

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/story/64611



Tony

[overlandermatt]

Thanks David and Tony for your explanations. I was unaware of this position and its role prior to posting the question here. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

From a family history context, this is interesting because of the 9 siblings that lived to 'full age', all 3 boys did a full 21 years in the marines and 5 of the 6 girls married marines. The other one married a ship's corporal!