Royal Navy Reserve 1900 - 2 Quick Questions re conditions

[leemeetee]

Hi all,

Much to my surprise have discovered my g.grandfather signed up to the RNR in 1899....we assume this was a way of supplementing his meagre wages as a foundry labourer.

What were the rates of pay for members of RNR at this time?

How many days each year would he have spent training with RNR?

Thanks.

[hanes teulu]

This item from the The Isle of Man Times, 13 Mar 1894 might give you some idea -

[hanes teulu]

There is a lengthy article in the Aberdeen People's Journal, 12 May 1900 where the writer " ... will endeavour to explain the conditions of service, rates of pay &c" of recruitment into the seaman class (old "second class") ..." of the R.N.R. It is being spelled out in order to recruit more fishermen or merchant seamen to the Reserve. Not sure if the same may apply to landlubbers? It is too lengthy to post unfortunately.

Looking at the naval supply estimates for the Reserve - 
1891 - £153,000 and 16,000 men
1893 - £172,000 and 19,000 men
1900 - £271,000 and 28,000 men

There was a £12 pension, payable at 60 (not paid out of the supply estimates quoted above).

Your rellie was not going to get rich signing on. 

[HMac]

Additional to the above, he would enrol for an initial term of 5 years’ service and could subsequently enrol for further 5-year terms. For each of those terms his official service number would change.

First class reserve men, able seamen, were given an annual retainer of £6 and the pay of their rank as non-continuous servicemen in the Royal Navy. The first-class Royal Naval reservist received a pension of £12 a year at the age of sixty, but this was not very much, and no pension at all was given to the second-class men. Of course, the reservist’s pay and conditions changed throughout the years.

Regards
Hugh

[leemeetee]

Many thanks for your advice guys