John Burnett Posted 1 September , 2006 Share Posted 1 September , 2006 One of the men I am researching had prize money paid to his next of kin about 5 years after he was killed in action. What was "prize money" during WW1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 1 September , 2006 Share Posted 1 September , 2006 bounty for sinking another ship ? Navy not my strongest subject ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kin47 Posted 1 September , 2006 Share Posted 1 September , 2006 Hello If you can give me a few specifics, name, ship, etc. I may be able to track this backwards. Prize money awards are noted in the NAVY LISTs. All best don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 1 September , 2006 Share Posted 1 September , 2006 As Coldstreamer alluded to, Prize Money was awarded for sinking or capturing an enemy ship. There was a Prize Court that issued these awards postwar (1919/1920 or so) though some of the sinking attributions, especially for U-boats, are now regarded as suspect or even incorrect depending upon the case. It should be pretty easy to track done what te award was for if we knew what ships your man served on and when. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 1 September , 2006 Share Posted 1 September , 2006 John, Prize money is a reward paid to a ships crew for the capture or sinking of an enemy ship. The Royal Navy formed a “Naval Prize Fund” during the great war and all the prizes (with some exceptions) where lumped together and issued at the rate of 50/- a share to eligible personnel between 1920 and 1926. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 1 September , 2006 Share Posted 1 September , 2006 This Gazette edition is worth a look if only to see the sheer quanity of enemy shipping that was seized at the outbreak of war as prizes Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 1 September , 2006 Share Posted 1 September , 2006 Typing prize court into the Gazette search engine brings up a few results (89) Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Burnett Posted 2 September , 2006 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2006 Many thanks for all the information. You have given me the information I wanted. Although Scottish, I was not checking up to ensure my man got all the prize money he was due down to the last bawbee! However, might be worth a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Johnson Posted 2 September , 2006 Share Posted 2 September , 2006 I think prize money was for capturing ships rather than sinking them. Ships were worth money and in earlier years the crews of the ships taking the prize got a share of the ships value. I think this practice stopped and the prize money was shared out between all eligible servicemen in WW1. I have a copy of my ex wife's grandfather's service papers and the WW1 one (he also served in WW11) has three lines at the end of the second page which read; 1 Aug 1919 - War Gratuity paid 9-4-21 paid £1-5s-0d Naval Prize Fund 17/7/22 Final share of Naval Prize fund paid Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 2 September , 2006 Share Posted 2 September , 2006 Doug, Prize money most certainly was paid out for sinking U-boats. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter B Posted 2 September , 2006 Share Posted 2 September , 2006 Hello all, Was share of prize money based on rank in WW1, or was it an equal share? Only ask as recently visited the Victory at Portsmouth. High ranking officers approx £3000, lower ranking Seaman £6. Regards Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 2 September , 2006 Share Posted 2 September , 2006 Peter, During the Great War this was the distribution of shares; First Class.-Captain in Command. 80 Shares Second Class.-Captain not in Command, and Officers of equivalent Rank, and Commander in Command or serving as Second in Command in a Ship commanded by a Captain. 40 Shares Third Class.- Commander not in Command, and Officers of equivalent Rank, and Lieutenant-Commander in Command, or serving as Second in Command in a Ship commanded by a Captain. 30 Shares Fourth Class.- Lieutenant-Commander not in Command, and Officers of equivalent Rank, and Lieutenant in Command, or serving as Second in Command in a Ship commanded by a Captain. 25 Shares Fifth Class.- Lieutenant not in Command, and Officers of equivalent Rank, and Sub-Lieutenant, Mate, or Commissioned Warrant Officer, in Command. 20 Shares Sixth Class.-Sub-Lieutenant not. In Command, Mate, Commissioned Warrant Officer, and Officers of equivalent Rank, Warrant Officer, R.N., or R.N.R., in Command. 15 Shares Seventh Class.-Warrant Officer, R.N., and equivalent Ranks, and Royal Marine Gunner. 12 Shares Eighth Class – Midshipman, Clerk, Chief Petty Officer, Warrant Officer of Marines, Staff and Colour Sergeant of Marines, and equivalent Ranks and Ratings. 10 Shares Ninth Class.-Naval Cadet, Assistant Clerk, Petty Officer, Petty Officer 1st Class (O.S.), Sergeant of Marines, and equivalent Ranks and Ratings. 8 Shares Tenth Class.-Petty Officer 2nd Class (O.S.), Leading Seaman, Corporal and Bombardier of Marines, and equivalent Ranks and Ratings. 6 Shares Eleventh Class. – Able Seaman, Private Gunner and Bugler of Marines (after training), Second Head Krooman, Second Tindal, and equivalent Ranks and Ratings. 5 Share Twelfth Class.-Ordinary Seaman, Private, Gunner and Bugler of Marines (before completion of training), and equivalent Ranks and Ratings; Native Seamen and Stokers. 3 Shares Thirteenth Class.-Supernumeraries (except as provided in paragraph 6) and Canteen Attendants. 2 Shares Fourteenth Class – Boys. 1 Share Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 2 September , 2006 Share Posted 2 September , 2006 Doug, Prize money for ships and boats sunk was added to the fund at 5 pounds per member of the crew serving on the craft that was lost. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kin47 Posted 3 September , 2006 Share Posted 3 September , 2006 Hello Just to show an example of prize bounties, for the Battle of the Heligoland Bight, the following ships were awarded LION, INVINCIBLE, PRINCESS ROYAL, QUEEN MARY, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTHAMPTON, BIRMINGHAM, NOTTINGHAM, LOWESTOFT, FALMOUTH, LIVERPOOL, ARETHUSA, EURYALUS, BACCHANTE, CRESSY, HOGUE, ABOUKIR, AMETHYST, LURCHER, FIREDRAKE, PHOENIX, LANCE, JACKAL, DEFENDER, LANDRAIL, LAWFORD, LIZARD, BADGER, LINNET, FEARLESS, LUCIFER, LARK, LYDIARD, LYSANDER, LEGION, LAUREL, LOOKOUT, LIBERTY, LLEWELLYN, LENNOX, LAFOREY, HIND, BEAVER, LAPWING, DRUID, FORESTER, SANDFLY, FERRET, ARIEL, ATTACK, ACHERON, ARCHER, GOSHAWK, LOUIS, LAERTES, LEONIDAS, D 2, D 9, E 4, E 5, E 6, E 7, E 8, and E 9. Date of distribution was 5 November 1917. All best don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorac Posted 3 September , 2006 Share Posted 3 September , 2006 This is an excellent link for lots of information (ie: pay, prize money, shooting prizes, promotion etc etc) for the R.N. 1907 to 1949 http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/LondonGazette/Index.html Lorac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter B Posted 3 September , 2006 Share Posted 3 September , 2006 Charles, thanks for your reply, much appericated Regards Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ionia Posted 7 September , 2006 Share Posted 7 September , 2006 Hello Just to show an example of prize bounties, for the Battle of the Heligoland Bight, the following ships were awarded LION, INVINCIBLE, PRINCESS ROYAL, QUEEN MARY, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTHAMPTON, BIRMINGHAM, NOTTINGHAM, LOWESTOFT, FALMOUTH, LIVERPOOL, ARETHUSA, EURYALUS, BACCHANTE, CRESSY, HOGUE, ABOUKIR, AMETHYST, LURCHER, FIREDRAKE, PHOENIX, LANCE, JACKAL, DEFENDER, LANDRAIL, LAWFORD, LIZARD, BADGER, LINNET, FEARLESS, LUCIFER, LARK, LYDIARD, LYSANDER, LEGION, LAUREL, LOOKOUT, LIBERTY, LLEWELLYN, LENNOX, LAFOREY, HIND, BEAVER, LAPWING, DRUID, FORESTER, SANDFLY, FERRET, ARIEL, ATTACK, ACHERON, ARCHER, GOSHAWK, LOUIS, LAERTES, LEONIDAS, D 2, D 9, E 4, E 5, E 6, E 7, E 8, and E 9. Date of distribution was 5 November 1917. All best don Perhaps this was a payment of Head Money rather than Prize Money. In WW1 all Prize Money was paid into a Naval Prize Fund and distributed in bulk in 1919 (an Admiral received four thousand pounds and an AB received twenty-five pounds). . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombadier Posted 9 September , 2006 Share Posted 9 September , 2006 Interesting list of Jutland ships awarded bounty but apparently not an exhaustive list. My grandfather was on HMS Blanche although she didn't fire a shot during the battle. His records show the following:- Paid £12-10-0 Naval Prize Fund in VictoryI 23 May 21 Paid 3/1 Jutland Prize Bounty 19 Dec 23 Paid supplementary share Naval Prize Fund. Thought somebody might be interested as it adds to the sort of sums awarded. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 27 January , 2007 Share Posted 27 January , 2007 Did any aspects of prize money linger on into WW1 in the navies of the time? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 27 January , 2007 Share Posted 27 January , 2007 Yes, Ive seen mention in the service paper of a Q ship sailor. Wasnt much though seeing they got themselves a submarine. gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 27 January , 2007 Share Posted 27 January , 2007 Presumably the question of prize money only arose if a vessel was captured and brought into a friendly port? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 27 January , 2007 Share Posted 27 January , 2007 All eligable personnel recieved a payment from the Naval Prize Fund. Many idividual ship actions also had prize money granted. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 27 January , 2007 Share Posted 27 January , 2007 Yes, and on the service record cards of Royal Naval Reserve ratings the amount they received is recorded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 27 January , 2007 Share Posted 27 January , 2007 The Penshurst did sink 3 subs and damaged several others but I dont know what this prize was for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 27 January , 2007 Share Posted 27 January , 2007 The topic has previously been covered on the forum http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...;hl=prize+money Very informative link, thanks. Must have been galling for the RFC man who shoots down several aircraft or the infantry unit that captures a town! Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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