What is this rating?

[John Vickers]

I wondered if anyone could help me out decipher this rating. It's probably been discussed elsewhere but I can't search for what I don't know.

Thanks,

John

[DoubleD]

Acting Second Class?

[thetrenchrat22]

I would say Second Class as well.

 

[wallace2]

If you add his service number it may help provide the answer.

[John Vickers]

Thanks. All I have is this:

[seaJane]

Acting 2nd Class what, though? Boy? Able Seaman? (did ABs come in classes? I don't think so ... )

[Ron Clifton]

Artificer?

 

On the first entry he would have been a few days short of his 19th birthday, so presumably no longer "Boy".

 

Ron

Edited 29 November , 2017 by Ron Clifton

[wallace2]

Previous occupation was Gardener so would he have qualifications for Artificer?  Exemplary character through out service!

[DoubleD]

If his previous occupation had no influence on the branch he joined (not much call for gardeners) could it be Stoker 2nd Class, or the lowest rating in a number of other branches?

 

Dave

[MerchantOldSalt]

In the 1881 Census he appears in HMS Salamis as "Commander's Servt", at least that's what I think the abbreviation says, further down the list is one Elijah Packer who is described as "Wardroom Servt" same word but am I reading it correctly?  So probably a Steward in that case.

TH

[Lawryleslie]

Steward 2nd Class would be your best bet from the information provided by MOS above. What is strange, or maybe not, is that he spent his whole 8 year career as 2nd class rating. For information HMS Dasher was a small steam paddled survey vessel and HMS Salamis was a despatch boat ,operating in the Med. Despatch boats  were used before radio to relay orders and information to and from fleets.

Edited 30 November , 2017 by Lawryleslie

[John Vickers]

Thanks, everyone for your contributions and information. Much appreciated!

[Terry_Reeves]

It is Artificer 2nd Class. I have just been researching a man with the same rating.

 

TR

[horatio2]

I beg to differ. I think he was actually a Domestic 2nd Class. By 1873 artificers were on Continuous Service and they would not have been "Paid off" at the end of a commission. Domestics were generally on Non-Continuous Service and liable to discharge after short periods of service.

Edited 5 December , 2017 by horatio2

[horatio2]

2nd Class Domestics included;  Baker, Captain's Steward, Wardroom Steward, Wardroom Cook, Gunroom Steward, Gunroom Cook, Captain’s Servant, Commander’s Servant, Secretary’s Servant, Engineer’s Servant, Engineer’s Cook, Warrant Officer’s Cook.

[Lawryleslie]

Would agree with H2 because Artificer 2nd Class held the substantive rank of Chief Petty Officer, third in line behind Chief Artificer and Artificer 1st Class. Upon joining the Navy he would have been given the rank of a Acting 4th Class Artificer if he was a qualified technician or 5th Class/Apprentice if he wasn’t . None of this is indicated on his records

 

Edited 9 December , 2017 by Lawryleslie