RN Painter 1st Class (NS) - what's NS?

[Bathe]

My great uncle served in the Royal Navy from 1908 until 1923, having joined the Royal Marines in 1900 and transferring to the Navy in 1908.

His records show he was a Painter 1st Class with three Good Conduct badges. At some point, his rating changed to Painter 1st Class (NS), but I don't know what the NS stands for.

Does this rating qualify him as "a man ranking as a Petty Officer" even though there is no record of him being promoted to PO?

The attached photo shows him with his branch badge on his left arm and a PO's badge above his good conduct stripes on the other.

So what's NS?

[Nepper]

Possibly Naval Stores Branch; see this list http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/admiralty-index-digest.htm

[horatio2]

NS = New System - a reorganisation of ratings from 1907.

[Bathe]

Thanks both of you - but would that qualify him to wear PO insignia?

[ARABIS]

Thanks both of you - but would that qualify him to wear PO insignia?

The fact that he is a Painter 1st Class is what makes him a Petty Officer. The [N.S.] affects his rate of pay. Equivalent Petty Officers with the notation [O.S.] i.e., a rating ordered to die out after 1st October 1907 would be on a lower rate of pay.

David.

[Bathe]

Thanks very much David. That explains a lot