Came into operation in January 1860, under the supervision of the Board of  Trade. Any British subject, not over 35 years of age, free from incapacitating disease or infirmity, having within 10 years previous to his joining the Reserve been  5 years at sea, one of those years as an able-bodied seaman, was qualified to join. The inducements were : the sum of 8-pounds per year, payable quarterly, and a pension of not less than 12-pounds per year whenever he became incapacitated from earning his livelihood or having attained the age of 60. In consideration of those rewards he was called upon to attend drill during 28 days in the year and that, if he was employed in his own business or in the merchant service, the time and place of such drill would, as far as public necessity would allow, be at times and in places most convenient to himself. If he desired to take a voyage likely to occupy a period of longer than 6 months, special permission had to be obtained for that purpose. He was to report himself to a shipping master at a port in Great Britain or Ireland once every 6 months unless he had permission to stay abroad for a longer time. During the 28 day period of drill, the volunteer would receive the same pay, victualling and allowances as a seaman of the fleet ,besides travelling expenses to and from the place of drill. Should war have arisen, or any prospect of the Reserve being called-out, each seaman previously enrolled would have reveived the same pay, allowance and victualling, and the same prospects of promotion and prize-money as a continuous seaman of the Fleet. On joining his ship he would receive the same clothing, bedding and mess-traps. If wounded or injured in actual service he would receive the same pension as a regular seaman of the Navy, of the same rating, and would have been eligible for all the advantages of the Coastguard Service and of Greenwich hospital. P& O invited their seamen to join, as did other large shipping companies.

Tony Dalton
marconisahib@hotmail.com

Index   Royal Navy

21.04.02ef