Bosun/Boatswain

[PhilB]

I know roughly what the bosun and his mates did in Nelson`s Navy, but much seemed to be related to sails, rigging etc. So what was their function in the ships of WW1? Phil B

[joseph]

I’m sure his duties are the same today except substitute Coaling for Replenishment At Sea

KR & AI 1913 Vol. I Chapter XV

THE BOATSWAIN.

643. General Duties.-He is to be frequently on deck in the day and at all times day and night when the hands are employed. Assisted by his mates, he is to see that the men severally go quickly on deck when called and do their work well and with alacrity.

2. Rigging, &c.-He is responsible that the standing and running rigging, boats' falls and derrick purchases are in a thoroughly serviceable condition, taking care that they are refitted as necessary, and acquainting himself of their state by frequent examination, reporting the result to the Executive and Navigating Officers, so that immediate steps may be taken to refit or replace whatever may require to be so dealt with. When the ship proceeds to sea he is to see that the anchors are secure, and again on returning to harbour to see that the anchors and cables are ready for immediate use; he is to keep a sufficient supply of anchor strops for clearing foul anchors and to see on commissioning that the necessary strops for laying out Bower anchor are fitted and ready for use.

He is to report at morning and evening quarters when at sea that the sea-boat is properly secured and ready for immediate service, and to see that all booms and gear on deck are secured for sea, also that the boats and appliances for getting them out are ready for immediate use, and that their sails and rigging are in good order, also that all gear used for coaling is in good condition and so stowed as to be readily provided when required.

3. Stores.-He will be guided by the instructions relative to the accounts of the stores in his charge, and keep the necessary books and documents for accounting for their receipt and expenditure, exercising at all times a proper economy in their consumption and care in their safe stowage.

4. Canvas Gear.-He is to examine any sails and all canvas gear received on board which are on his charge, and is to take the proper steps to keep all such stores repaired and fit for use, or, replaced if necessary by the dockyard ; he is responsible that none of them may suffer from damp or vermin, and that they are properly tallied and conveniently stowed in the appointed places so as to be at hand when wanted. He is to keep the Navigating Officer informed of these particulars.

5. On Paying off.-When the ship is ordered to be paid off, he is to see that none of the rigging is damaged or cut, that all rigging for returning into store is properly tallied, and that the necessary documents relative to the return of stores or their retention on board, as may be ordered, are duly rendered into office.

Regards Charles

[PhilB]

Thanks Charles. That all sounds fairly technical. Did he figure greatly in the daily life of the crew? Phil; B

[joseph]

Phil,

The boatswain and his mates took charge of the seaman department of the military branch which was normally the largest proportion of the crew, he and his mates would detail the department for their daily work and ensure it was done. As for figuring in there daily life he would be a main man.

Regards Charles

[per ardua per mare per terram]

When he said "jump" they did, as high as they could! Unless he specified to the contrary.

[PhilB]

Thanks, gents. So not a lot has changed since Nelson`s day, except that they no longer carry rattans or rope ends? The Bosun will be a Warrant Officer, I assume, but, on a WW1 big ship, would his mates (how many?) be of various ranks? Phil B

[joseph]

Phil,

Boatswain was a specialist rank, to achieve this you had to initially be a qualified Gunner or Torpedoman then specialize in seamanship.

Chief Boatswain; was a Commissioned Warrant Officer

Boatswain; was a Warrant Officer

Chief Bosun’s Mate (depending on size of ship) Chief Petty Officer/ Petty Officer

The personnel below them where the petty officers in charge of parts of ship they in turn had their working hands.

A “Bosun.’s Mate” was a slightly different animal in that he assisted the Officer of the Watch/ Officer of the day in the day to day routine of the ship. He was the man that used the “Pipe” (as the army used a bugle) to signal daily occurrences for instance “hands to dinner”.

Regards Charles

[PhilB]

Thanks again, Charles. Makes the Army structure look simple! It must have been difficult for new hands in the old days when many of the office holders didn`t wear uniform or badges of rank and you had to find by trial and error who was allowed to beat you with a rope end and who wasn`t. Phil B

[joseph]

Phil,

You may have hit the nail on the head there, I would assume someone wandering around with a ropes end or bellaying pin had the authority to use it? Maybe that was their badge of rank!

Regards Charles

[healdav]

The bosun would today not usually have anything to do with stores accounting (except for his own stuff, of course). The specialist supply branch does that today.