REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910-1918.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this thirty-first-day of December, 1920.
FORSTER,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. H. LAIRD SMITH,
Minister of State for the Navy.
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NAVAL FORCES REGULATIONS.
PART I.—GENERAL.
Section I—Preliminary.
Citation.
These Regulations may be cited as the “Naval Forces Regulations.”
Repeal.
The Naval Forces Regulations (Statutory Rules 1906, No. 20, as amended to present date) are hereby repealed.
These Regulations are divided into Parts, which are further subdivided into Sections, as follows:—
PART I.—GENERAL.
Section I.—Preliminary.
Section II.—Application of the Naval Defence Act and King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions to the Royal Australian Navy.
Section III.—Council of Defence.
Section IV.—Constitution of the Naval Board.
Section V.—Relations between the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.
Section VI.—Rank and Command.
Section VII.—Government.
Section VIII.—Duties of Officers.
PART II—PERMANENT NAVAL FORCES.
Section I.—Entry and Promotion of Officers and Men.
Section II.—Auxiliary Services.
Section III.—Half Pay, Retirements and Resignations.
Section IV.—Discipline—Naval Forces.
Section V.—Leave of Absence.
Section VI.—Furlough.
Section VII.—Uniforms.
Section VIII.—Medals for “Conspicuous Gallantry” and “Long Service and Good Conduct”.
Section IX.—Miscellaneous.
Definitions.
In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears:
“Naval Board” means the Naval Board of Administration constituted under the Acts.
“The Minister” means the Minister administering the Naval Defence Act, or the Member of the Executive Council for the time being acting in his stead.
“The Secretary” means the officer appointed as Secretary of the Navy Office.
“Officer” includes commissioned, commissioned warrant, warrant, and subordinate officers, but does not include petty officers.
“Men” includes all members of the Naval Forces other than officers, except when otherwise expressly stated or inferred.
“District Naval Officer” means the officer appointed to command any State Division of the Naval Forces.
“Commanding Officer” means the senior executive officer for the time being on board any ship or with any body of the Naval Forces on the shore.
“Executive Officer” means the officer responsible for carrying on the Executive duties.
“Gunnery Officer” means the Lieutenant or other officer in charge of gunnery duties.
“Torpedo Officer” means the Lieutenant or other officer in charge of torpedo duties.
“Navigating Officer” means the officer in charge of navigating duties.
“Medical Officer” means the officer in charge of the medical duties of a ship, or body of the Naval Forces on shore.
“Accountant Officer” means the officer in charge of the pay and victualling duties.
“Engineer Officer” means the officer in charge of the machinery and boilers of the ship or Naval Establishment.
“Seamen Class” means all petty officers, seamen, or boys serving in the Commonwealth Naval Forces who take military command.
“Ship” means any vessel belonging to, or attached to, the Commonwealth Naval Forces.
“Division” means the Citizen Naval Forces (Royal Australian Naval Reserve) established at any port.
“The Acts” means the Naval Defence Act 1910 and any later Acts amending that Act.
Section II.— Application of the Naval Discipline Act, and King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions to the Royal Australian Navy.
These Regulations shall not be construed to prevent the application of any provisions of the Naval Discipline Act to the Naval Forces while on active service.
Modifications to Naval Discipline Act.
Under the provisions of section 36 of the Naval Defence Act and the Naval Discipline (Dominion Naval Forces) Act 1911, the Naval Discipline Act (in this regulation referred to as “The Act”) applies to officers and
men of the Commonwealth Permanent Naval Forces (Seagoing), and to other members of the Naval Forces when borne on the books or one of H.M. or H.M.A. ships:—
(a) In normal circumstances, i.e., when ships are under the control of the Naval Board, subject to the following modifications and adaptations, viz.:—
(i) All powers and functions vested in the act authorized or required to be done by the Admiralty, Lords of the Admiralty, or the Commander-in-Chief on a foreign station under sections 19, 24, 32, 46 (when it reads “prescribed by the Admiralty”), 53 (i), 57 (2), 57a (4), 58 (16), 61, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 74a, 75, 76, 78, 80, 81 (2), 93, 98a (2), and 98a (3) of the Act in relation to the King’s Naval Forces shall in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces be vested in and may be exercised or done by the Naval Board;
(ii) All powers and functions vested in and acts authorized or required to be done by a Secretary of the Admiralty under sections 21 and 76 of the Act in relation to the King’s Naval Forces shall in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces be vested in and may be exercised or done by the Naval Board, and all powers and functions vested in and acts authorized or required to be done by a Secretary of the Admiralty under sections 66, 69, and 75 of the Act in relation to the King’s Naval Forces shall in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces be vested in and may be exercised or done by the Secretary of the Navy Office;
(iii) All powers and functions vested in and acts authorized or required to be done by His Majesty under section 53 (1) of the Act, or the Admiralty, or the Commander-in-Chief on a foreign station under sections 53 (3), 58 (9), 58 (10), 58 (11), 58 (12), 59, and 81 (1) of the Act shall in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces be vested in and may be exercised or done by the Governor-General;
(iv) Section 1 of the Act shall, in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces, apply as if the words “the manner and form for public worship adopted for use in the Royal Australian Navy” were inserted in lieu of the words “the liturgy of the Church of England,” and as if the words “in Holy Orders” were omitted;
(v) Sections 45 and 67 of the Act shall, in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces, apply as if the word “Australia” were inserted in lieu of the word “England”;
(vi) Sections 54, 58 (12), 70, and 80 of the Act shall, in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces, apply as if the word “Australia” were inserted in lieu of the words “the United Kingdom”;
(vii) Section 57 (1) of the Act shall, in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces, apply as if the words “if such subordinate officer belongs to the King’s Naval Forces or by the Naval Board for any time not exceeding twelve months, if such subordinate officer belongs to the Commonwealth Naval Forces” were inserted at the end thereof;
(viii) Section 58 (8) of the Act shall, in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces, apply as if the words “the Naval Board or to” were inserted before the words “any officer of His Majesty’s Navy on full pay”;
(ix) Section 58 (16) of the Act shall, in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces, apply as if the words “and District and Sub-District Naval Officers” were inserted after the words “His Majesty’s Dockyards.”
(x) Section 69 of the Act shall, in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces, apply as if after the words “the Secretary of the Admiralty for the time being” the words “if the person tried belongs or did belong at the time of the trial to the King’s Naval Forces, or if the person tried belongs or did belong at the time of the trial to the Commonwealth Naval Forces to the Secretary of the Navy Office for the time being, and if such court martial was ordered by an Officer of the King’s Naval Forces, a complete and authenticated copy thereof shall be transmitted by the Judge Advocate, or Deputy Judge Advocate or person officiating as Deputy Judge Advocate to the Secretary of the Admiralty for the time being” were inserted, and as if the words “three months after the trial if the same took place within the limits of the Australian Naval Station” were inserted in lieu of the words “six months after the trial if the same takes place in the Mediterranean, three months if at any other Naval Station within Europe.”
(xi) Section 98a (1) shall, in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces, apply as if after the words “of any bastard child of which he may be proved to be the father” the words “or for pre-maternity expenses in connexion with such bastard child” were inserted.
(xii) Section 98a (2) shall, in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces, apply as if the words “Active pay and allowances (exclusive of deferred pay and value of rations and quarters or allowances in lieu thereof)” were inserted in lieu of the words “daily pay”; and as if the words—
“in respect of a wife and child, or two or more children:—Three-fifths.”
“in respect of a wife, or one child alone:—Two-fifths.”
“in respect of a bastard child, or in respect of pre-maternity expenses in connexion with a bastard child:—One-fifth.”
were inserted in lieu of the words—
“where the person is a petty officer, or a non-commissioned officer who is not below the rank of sergeant—in respect of a wife or children, one shilling; and in respect of a bastard child, sixpence”;
“in the case of any other person subject to this Act—in respect of a wife or children, sixpence; and in respect of a bastard child, fourpence.”
When modifications do not apply.
(b) When placed at the disposal of the Admiralty under the provisions of section 42 of the Naval Defence Act the Naval Discipline Act will apply without modification.
King’s Regulations.
Any matter not referred to in these Regulations is to be dealt with as nearly as possible in accordance with the King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, but the latter shall constitute no authority for expenditure (see also regulation 137).
Officers and men to know regulations.
Commanding Officers shall be responsible that those under their command have opportunities of making themselves acquainted with the Naval Defence Acts and the Regulations under which they serve.
Section III.—Council of Defence.
Council of Defence.
There shall be a Council of Defence which shall consist of—
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth;
The Minister of State for the Navy;
The Minister of State for Defence;
Two officers nominated by the Minister of State for the Navy; and
Two officers nominated by the Minister of State for Defence.
President.
The Prime Minister shall preside at meetings of the Council, and, in the absence of the Prime Minister, the senior Minister present shall preside.
Staff.
There shall be a Secretary and such other officers of the Council of Defence as the Council appoints.
Duties of the Council.
The duties of the Council of Defence shall be to inquire into and collect information upon, the following matters so far as they relate to the preparation for, or the prosecution of, war:—
(a) Strategy, and combined operations;
(b) Exports, imports, manufacture and trade;
(c) Intelligence;
(d) Inventions;
(c) Economics;
(f) Transport;
(g) Censorship; and
(h) Legal questions.
Committees.
The Council of Defence shall be empowered to appoint committees consisting of such persons and having such duties as the Council from time to time determines.
Section IV.—Constitution of the Naval Board.
Constitution of Naval Board.
The Naval Board shall be composed of the Minister (President), and the following members:—
The First Naval Member and Chief of Naval Staff;
The Second Naval Member and Chief of Personnel.
The Third Naval Member and Chief of Construction, Supplies and Transport;
The Finance and Civil Member.
The First Naval Member shall be a flag officer; the Second and Third Naval Members, in future appointments, shall be executive naval officers of a rank not lower than captain.
Duties of Naval Board.
The Naval Board shall be charged with the control and administration of all matters relating to the Naval Forces, upon the policy directed by the Minister, and shall have executive command of the Naval Forces. The Governor-General may delegate to the Naval Board the functions, and commission it to execute the office, of Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces.
Naval Board to act as whole.
Except as prescribed, the members of the Naval Board shall act as a whole.
Secretary of Navy Office.
There shall be a Secretary of the Navy Office who shall not be a member of the Naval Board and who shall have charge of the Clerical Staff and be responsible to the Board for Clerical duties and safe custody of confidential books and documents.
The orders of the Board shall be issued over the signature of the Secretary or such other official as the Board may authorize to act for him.
Meeting of Naval Board.
The Naval Board shall meet weekly or as may be directed by the Minister, or in his absence, by the senior Naval Member of the Board present.
Two members of the Board, of whom one must be a Naval member of the Military Branch, shall constitute a quorum.
The Minister when present shall preside at meetings of the Board.
In the absence of the Minister, the First Naval Member shall preside; and in the absence of both, the senior Naval member present shall preside.
Conduct of business of control and administration.
The following rules govern the conduct of the business of control and administration:—
(a) Matters of routine as defined by the Naval Board shall be decided by the member of the Board to whose special sphere of supervision they belong;
(b) Any member of the Board may refer to the Board such matters as he considers should be dealt with by the Board as a whole; and the Minister or the First Naval Member may refer to the Board any matters dealt with by individual members of the Board if he considers that they ought to be dealt with by the Board as a whole;
(c) All decisions of the Board which involve a matter of policy or important principle, an increased vote or transfer of votes of expenditure, or any new expenditure, shall be submitted for Ministerial approval;
(d) On other decisions of the Board no action shall be taken until the Minister has been advised and Ministerial sanction has been obtained, unless the Minister has directed that the matter need not be submitted for his approval;
(c) In the event of a recommendation of the Naval Board being disapproved by the Minister in a matter considered by the Board to be of vital importance, any member of the Board, or the Board as a whole, may place on record in writing a statement of his or their reasons for the recommendation.
Agenda of meetings to be forwarded to Minister.
The members of the Naval Board shall forward to the Minister, two clear days before any meeting of the Board, the agenda of the subjects they desire to discuss, with a recommendation thereon.
Every decision of the Board, when the Minister has not been present at the meeting of the Board, shall be communicated to the Minister, initialed by each member signifying his concurrence or dissent.
Powers of Minister.
The Minister shall have the general direction and supervision of all business.
Sphere of supervision of members.
The special sphere of supervision of each member of the Naval Board, other than the Minister, shall be such as the Board may decide from time to time on the following principles:—
First Naval Member.......
Operations of war and all Staff business; all large questions of naval policy and maritime warfare.
Second Naval Member......
Personnel.
Third Naval Member.......
Materiel (including Construction and Works).
Finance and Civil Member...
Finance and Contracts.
Operations of war in absence of First Naval Member.
In the absence of the First Naval Member, operations of war shall belong to the sphere of supervision of the Second Naval Member, and it shall be the duty of the First and Second Naval Members to keep in close communication with respect to all matters relating to those operations.
Flag of Naval Board.
The Flag of the Naval Board is the Admiralty gold anchor on a red and blue field bisected horizontally, the top half red and the bottom half blue. The Flag of the Naval Board is to be saluted by firing fifteen guns, within the waters of the Commonwealth of Australia, on the same occasions as those on which the Admiralty Flag is saluted.
Section V.—Relations between the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy.
Commissions and warrants.
All British Naval officers, whether belonging to the Royal Navy or the Permanent Naval Forces of the self-governing British Dominions shall receive commissions “in His Majesty’s Fleet”; these commissions, whether issued by the British Admiralty or by the Dominion Governments, will be of one form extending to service in all the Naval Forces of the Crown, including the Royal Navy and any Dominion Fleet.
Ranking with Royal Navy.
The officers and men of the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy shall rank and command with each other according to their ranks and ratings and their seniority in such ranks or ratings.
Australian Naval Station.
The following are the limits of the Naval Station, which will be controlled by the Commonwealth Government, acting through the Naval Board:—
North.—From a point in 95° east longitude and 13° south latitude along that parallel to the eastward to the meridian of 120° east longitude; thence along that meridian to the northward to 11° south latitude; thence to an easterly direction to the southern termination of the eastern boundary of Dutch New Guinea in about 11l° east longitude: thence along the meridian of the boundary to the northward to the Equator; thence along the Equator to the eastward to 170° east longitude.
East.—From a point on the Equator on the meridian of 170° east longitude along that meridian to the southward to 32° south latitude; thence along that parallel to the westward to the meridian of 160° east longitude; thence along that meridian to the South Pole.
South.—The South Pole.
West.— From the South Pole by the meridian of 80° east longitude to the northward to 30° south latitude; thence along that parallel to the eastward to the meridian of 95° east longitude; thence along that meridian to the northward to 13° south latitude.
Procedure when H.M.A. Ships are outside station.
In the event of the Commonwealth Government desiring to send ships to a part of the British Empire outside the Australian Naval Station, they will notify the British Admiralty.
In the event of the Commonwealth Government desiring to send ships to a foreign port outside of the Australian Naval Station, they will obtain the concurrence of the Imperial Government, in order that the necessary arrangements with the Foreign Office may be made, as in the case of ships of the British Fleet, in such time and manner as is usual, between the British Admiralty and the Foreign Office.
In the event of H.M.A. Ships being at a foreign port, outside of the Australian Naval Station, Reports of Proceedings are to be forwarded by the Officer in command to the Commander-in-Chief of the Station, or to the British Admiralty. A copy of such Reports of Proceedings is to be forwarded to the Secretary of the Navy Office, Melbourne. The Officer in command of H.M.A. Ship, so long as he remains in such foreign port, will obey any instructions be may receive from the Government of the United Kingdom through the British Admiralty as to the conduct of any international matters that may arise, and he is to keep the Naval Board informed of all such instructions received.
Should the Commanding Officer of one of H.M.A. Ships have to put into a foreign port outside the limits of the Australian Naval Station without previous arrangement on account of stress of weather, damage, or any unforeseen emergency, he is to report his arrival and reason for calling (by telegraph, if practicable) to the Commander-in-Chief of the Station, or to the Admiralty, and is to obey, so long as he remains in the foreign port, any instructions he may receive from the Government of the United Kingdom as to his relations with the authorities, keeping the Naval Board informed of all such instructions received.
Senior Naval Officer.
When ships of the British Admiralty and ships provided and maintained by the Dominions, or ships provided and maintained by two or more Dominions, meet in a British port, the Senior Officer will have the right of command in matters of ceremony or international intercourse, or where united action is agreed upon; but he will have no power to direct the movement of ships of the other service or services unless the ships are ordered to co-operate by mutual arrangement.
In foreign ports the Senior Officer will, in addition to the above, take command, but not so as to interfere with the orders that the junior may have received from his own Government.
Combined Fleet exercises.
While ships of the Royal Navy and of the Dominion Naval Forces are taking part in Fleet exercises or joint training, all such ships will be under the command of the Senior Naval Officer, but such Senior Naval Officer is not to interfere in the internal economy of the ships of another service further than is absolutely necessary.
Reporting movements.
(1) The Commanding Officer—or the Senior Officer when two or more ships are in company—is responsible for reporting the arrival and departure of H.M.A. Ships at all ports except Sydney, where the Commodore Superintendent H.M.A. Naval Establishments, will undertake this duty. All movements of H.M.A. Ships, except those referred to in sub-regulation 4 below, are to be reported by telegraph to:—
Admiralty, LondonNavy Office, Melbourne
From ports embraced in the Commonwealth Naval Station.
Admiralty, LondonCommander-in-Chief of the localNaval StationNavy Office, Melbourne
From ports outside the Commonwealth Naval Station.
(2) Commanding Officers may arrange, at their discretion, with the District or Sub-District Naval Officer, where such Officers are stationed, to despatch the telegrams, but the responsibility for taking the necessary action will remain with the Commanding Officer or Senior Naval Officer afloat, as the case may be.
(3) Messages are to be abbreviated as shown in the Economic Code.
(4) Telegraphic reports of movements of H.M.A Ships need not be sent to the Admiralty when a ship leaves a port and will return within a few days to the same port or immediate vicinity (e.g., movements inside Port Phillip need not be reported to the Admiralty).
Section VI.—Rank and Command.
Officers.
The relative rank of officers of the Naval Forces shall be as laid down in the King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.
The seniority of officers in the Reserve Forces in their respective ranks shall be regulated by the date of their appointments, and when appointments are of the same date by their previous appointments; or in the case of first appointments by the order in which the names appear in the Gazette or in the Government Gazette of a State, or of a colony which has become a State, in which their appointments are notified. Officers of the Reserve shall rank junior in their respective ranks to officers of the Active Force.
Men.
Petty officers, seamen and others shall rank and command as laid down in the King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.
Precedence.
(1) Naval Divisions will take precedence according to the seniority of their respective Commanding Officers.
(2) Naval Detachments, when landed and paraded with the Military Forces, will take the same position relatively as that accorded to the Royal Navy when paraded with troops, that is, the senior position on the right taking precedence of all other unmounted troops.
Section VII.—Government.
Whole time to be devoted to Service.
Every member of the Naval Forces permanently employed shall faithfully and diligently employ the whole of his time in the service of the Commonwealth, and shall in all things obey the orders and directions of the Naval Board, or other his superior for the Naval Service.
Government orders.
All orders and directions of the Government with respect to the administration of the Forces shall be communicated by the Naval Board. All communications intended for the Naval Board shall be addressed to and forwarded through the Secretary.
Neglect to carry out orders.
If any officer at any time neglects or refuses to carry out and give full and complete effect to these Regulations or if any officer from any cause becomes or is unable to perform his duties, the Governor-General may suspend or remove him.
Section VIII.—Duties of Officers.
Detailed duties.
The detailed duties of, and instructions to, officers shall be as laid down in the King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, in so far as they are applicable, together with such other duties as may be required by the special conditions of the Commonwealth Service, and may from time to time be ordered.
District Naval Officers.
The position of District Naval Officer shall be considered as constituting a definite and separate command at the port where he has his office, but only in so far as the Auxiliary Services are involved. He will in no way be concerned with the duties or movements of the Seagoing Fleet other than as laid down by the Naval Board or in compliance with requests as to local arrangements, e.g., provisions, &c., nor shall his actions conflict at any time with those of any officer commanding one of His Majesty’s Australian Ships or Naval Establishments located permanently or temporarily at the port. He shall on no occasion fly the Senior Officer’s Pendant, and unless himself an officer on the Seagoing List will not be entitled to fly a pendant from, his boat when proceeding afloat in the execution of his duties. In the absence of any Senior Officer of the Seagoing Force holding official appointment in the port or in command of H.M.A. Ship or Ships either permanently or temporarily stationed in the port he shall, as the local Naval Representative at the port, make, receive, or return calls, whether made by Officers of the Navy or by Foreign Commanding Officers, who may have occasion to visit the port in their respective vessels. In such cases he, shall carry out the authorized procedure in matters of ceremony or international intercourse.
PART II.—PERMANENT NAVAL FORCES.
Section I.—Entry and Promotion of Officers and Men.
Appointment of officers.
The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Naval Board, and subject to the qualifications and conditions prescribed by these Regulations, recommend to the Governor-General suitable candidates for appointment as officers to the Permanent Naval Forces.
All Commissions and Warrants for Naval Officers shall be signed by two members of the Naval Board before being submitted to the Governor-General for signature.
Medical examination.
No candidate shall be accepted unless he is certified as fit for service by a Naval or other qualified surgeon.
Appointment for duty.
Officers shall be appointed, by the Naval Board, to their respective ships and duties, from time to time, according to the requirements of the Service.
Qualifications for entry, &c.
The entry, appointment, and promotion of officers and men are to be governed by the regulations contained in the King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, except in those cases where special regulations are made for the Royal Australian Navy.
The regulations for the entry of officers for the Military and Engineer Branches are, except as prescribed in regulation 53, prescribed in the Naval College Regulations.
Record.
A. record of every officer and man, and his service, shall be kept at the Navy Office in regard to Permanent Naval Forces and at the Head-Quarters of every State division in regard to Citizen Naval Forces.
Concealment of disease and producing also papers.
Any member who is discovered to have been, at the time of engagement, suffering from disease, or to have sustained injury which incapacitates him from duty, and who has concealed such disease or injury, or who is discovered to have made any false representations, or have produced any false papers on the occasion of engagement, may be summarily dismissed and will be liable to forfeit all claims to pay or other advantages of the Service.
Appointment of officers as Aides-de-camp to His Excellency the Governor-General.
(1) Officers, not exceeding two in number, may be appointed as Aides-de-camp to the Governor-General, for gallantry or distinguished service in action or for meritorious service in the interests of the Commonwealth.
(2) The period of appointment shall be for five years. In exceptional circumstances officers may be re-appointed for an additional two years.
(3) Officers eligible for the above distinction must, during their tenure of office, be on the Active List of the Permanent or Citizen Naval Forces, and not below the rank of Lieutenant-Commander.
(4) Aides-de-Camp to the Governor-General shall wear, on the right shoulder, when on duty, a special gold cord aiguillete of a somewhat similar design to that worn by Aides-de-Camp to the Sovereign.
(5) The appointment of an officer as an Aide-de-Camp shall not entitle him to any pay or allowances in respect of the appointment.
(1) A limited number of engineer graduates of approved educational institutions will be appointed as Engineer-Sub-Lieutenants under the following conditions:—
(a) All candidates nominated by the Universities are required to have completed a University Course of not less than four years in mechanical engineering. Exceptional cases of graduates in other branches of engineering will be considered on their merits.
(b) Not to have less than twelve months’ workshop experience in the aggregate.
(c) To be medically fit, according to the requirements prescribed for service in the Royal Australian Navy.
(d) Age not to exceed 24 years, except in special circumstances.
(2) Candidates on entry will be given the rank of Probationary Engineer-Sub-Lieutenant, with the pay and allowances as laid down for Engineer-Sub-Lieutenants on promotion. Probationary Engineer-Sub-Lieutenants are required to provide themselves with the minimum requirements of Naval Uniform only.
Probationary Engineer-Sub-Lieutenants will be confirmed in the rank of Engineer-Sub-Lieutenant after a year’s training in ships or Naval Establishments, provided the probationary service has been satisfactory. Seniority in rank will date from original entry as Probationary Engineer-Sub-Lieutenant, and service as such will count as full time.
(1) Engineer-Sub-Lieutenants shall be eligible for promotion to Engineer-Lieutenant on completion of two years’ service in the rank of Engineer-Sub-Lieutenant, provided they have passed the prescribed examination, and are recommended for promotion. This period may be reduced in the case of officers displaying conspicuous ability.
Examination for Engineer Lieutenant.
(2) The Examining Board is to consist of an Engineer Officer not below the rank of Engineer-Commander and an Engineer-Commander or Engineer-Lieutenant-Commander. The examination is to be conducted in the presence of a Captain or Commander, or of such officer as may be nominated for the purpose.
(3) The following qualifications are required of candidates for the rank of Engineer-Lieutenant:—
To be fully acquainted with the principles of Marine Engineering, and fully competent to perform the various duties of an Engineer-Lieutenant.
(4) The result of the examination is to be noted as “Ordinary,” “Creditable,” or “Very Creditable.”
Chaplains.
Chaplains shall be appointed on the nomination of the Protestant Nominating Committee or the representative of the Roman Catholic Church in Australia. A Chaplain shall be appointed on probation for two years, and, at the termination of the probationary period, his appointment may, on the recommendation of the Naval Board, be confirmed.
Chaplains shall not hold any Naval rank, but shall retain, when afloat, the position to which their office would entitle them on shore.
A Chaplain may also be appointed as Naval Instructor, if qualified.
Naval Instructor Branch.
To qualify for appointment to the Naval, Instructor Branch a candidate must have an Honours Degree in mathematics and have a knowledge of mechanical and physical science.
(1) Appointments to the Naval Instruction Branch will first, be offered to those Assistant Masters at the Royal Australian Naval College who are qualified.
(2) On appointment as Instructor-Lieutenant seniority will date from the date of first appointment as Assistant Master, but in no case will more than three years’ seniority be allowed.
Director of Naval Medical Services.
A Medical Officer, usually a Surgeon-Commander of at least six years’ seniority, may be appointed as Director of Naval Medical Services, and whilst holding that appointment will hold the equivalent rank of Captain of three years’ seniority. The salary attaching to the appointment shall be as determined by the Governor-General in Council.
Entry of Medical Officers Qualification.
A Medical Practitioner will be eligible for appointment as Surgeon-Lieutenant in the Permanent Naval Forces subject to the following conditions:—
(a) that he is not under 21 nor over 28 years of age;
(b) that he is of pure European descent and the son of natural-born British subjects; (in doubtful cases the burden of clear proof will rest upon the candidate himself, his parents, or guardians);
(c) that he labours under no mental or constitutional disease or weakness, or any other imperfection or disability which may interfere with the most efficient discharge of the duties of a Medical Officer in any climate;
(d) that he is ready to engage for general service at home or abroad as required;
(e) that he is a duly registered practitioner under the States’ Medical Acts, or that he holds qualifications which entitle him to become a legally registered medical practitioner under the States’ Medical Acts.
Application for appointment as Medical Officer must be made on the prescribed form.
Competitive examination.
The Naval Board may direct applicants after passing the physical test to present themselves for a competitive examination held by an Examining Board appointed by the Naval Board from nominations by the Universities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. No candidate shall be permitted to sit more than twice for this examination.
Probationary period.
Successful candidates shall, on entry, be appointed to the rank of Surgeon-Lieutenant, and will be on probation for one year from date of commencing Naval duty. If recommended, appointment will be confirmed on the termination of the probationary service; seniority in rank will date from the date of probationary appointment.
Deferred appointment.
A candidate who at the time of entry into the Medical Branch of the Service holds, or is about to hold, an appointment as Medical or Surgical Officer at a recognised civil hospital, may be permitted to serve in such civil appointment provided the period of service in that appointment does not exceed one year after the date of entry into the Royal Australian Navy. Pay from Naval funds will be withheld from Surgeon-Lieutenants so serving, but the time so served will count towards seniority and for purposes of increments in active and deferred pay, if approved by the Naval Board.
Instruments.
Surgeon-Lieutenants are required to provide themselves with the regulation pocket case of instruments and stethoscope, other necessary instruments, drugs, and utensils being supplied by the Service.
Private practice.
Private practice is not allowed, but where Medical Officers, in special circumstances approved by the Naval Board, attend on patients not provided for in the Regulations they may accept fees. No such attendance must, however, interfere with, or take any officer from the vicinity of his Service duties, which are to be considered first in every case.
Promotion to Surgeon-Lieutenant Commander.
A Surgeon-Lieutenant will be promoted to the rank of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commander on attaining six years’ seniority as Surgeon-Lieutenant, subject to the approval of the Naval Board and the following conditions, viz.:—
(a) That he has served three years at sea.
(b) That he has passed the qualifying examination.
(c) That he is recommended for advancement.
Except that during a time of war and for twelve months thereafter, a Surgeon-Lieutenant shall not be required to pass the professional examination referred to in (b) above, in order to qualify for promotion.
Special promotions to the rank of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commander will be made, at the discretion of the Naval Board, in cases of distinguished service or conspicuous professional merit. Such promotions will be exceptional, and will not exceed one in three years. This limitation will not, however, apply to promotions for gallantry in action.
Accelerated promotion.
Certificates shall be granted to Surgeon-Lieutenants at the qualifying examination for Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commander according to the following scale of marks:—
(a) 50 per cent. of marks for a pass;
(b) 75 per cent. of marks for a first class certificate;
(c) 85 per cent. of marks for a special certificate.
An officer obtaining a first class certificate will be eligible for an advance of twelve months’ seniority, and one obtaining a special certificate eighteen months. This accelerated promotion will not be granted on the examination results alone, but an officer must also be recommended as deserving advancement. The Naval Board reserves the right to reduce this advancement if considered advisable. If a Surgeon-Lieutenant fails to pass at the first attempt, the result of a successful second trial will not count towards accelerated promotion.
Examination for Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commander.
The examination for the rank of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commander will be held once a year or more often as requisite, and shall consist of written papers on medicine, surgery (clinical and operative), pathology, bacteriology, hygiene, and naval hygiene. Questions on diseases of the eye, ear, nose, throat, also on anæsthetics and tropical diseases, may be included in the papers.
The papers will be set by an Examining Board appointed by the Naval Board from nominations from the Universities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. The examination will be held during the fifth or following year’s service, and at such time as will meet the requirements of the candidates.
Compulsory registration.
A Surgeon-Lieutenant who fails to obtain a pass shall be allowed a second trial, but will not have a second course of instruction. If he fails at the second attempt he shall be compulsorily retired on reaching six years’
seniority or on the second failure. Should a Surgeon-Lieutenant not pass until over six years’ seniority, his seniority as Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commander will be dated back to the day on which he attained six years’ seniority as Surgeon-Lieutenant, but he will only be eligible for increase of active pay and deferred pay from the date of passing the examination.
Should a Surgeon-Lieutenant reach ten years’ seniority without having passed the examination for the rank of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commander, he will be required to resign his commission except in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the Naval Board.
Promotion to Surgeon-Commanders.
A Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commander will be promoted to the rank of Surgeon-Commander on attaining eight years’ seniority as Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commander, subject to the approval of the Naval Board and the following conditions, viz.:—
(a) That he has served three years at sea, in the rank of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commander.
(b) That he is recommended for promotion.
(c) That he has never declined service except for reasons which were acceptable to the Naval Board.
Special promotions to the rank of Surgeon-Commander will be made, at the discretion of the Naval Board, in cases of distinguished service or conspicuous professional merit. Such promotions will be exceptional, and will not exceed the rate of one in four years. This limitation will not apply, however, to promotions for gallantry in action.
Hospital study
Three courses of Hospital study will be available to Medical Officers of the Royal Australian Navy, as follows:—
(a) For Surgeon-Lieutenants prior to the Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commanders’ examination.
(b) For Senior Medical Officers over fourteen years’ seniority.
(c) For any Medical Officer required to take up some special work.
Under regulation 79 (a) Surgeon-Lieutenants after completing four and a half years will, subject to the exigencies of the Service, as soon as possible take a six-months’ course of study at an approved Medical School, after which they must sit for the next Surgeon-Lieutenant-Commanders’ examination.
Surgeon-Lieutenants attending a course shall submit a programme of their proposed studies to the Director of Naval Medical Services, and shall produce certificates of attendance. The course shall include clinical medicine and surgery, operative surgery, pathology, diseases of the eye, ear, nose, throat, and hygiene. Optional subjects are bacteriology, skiagraphy, electro and serum therapy. The cost will, up to a limit to be decided by the Naval Board, be borne by the Service.
Under regulation 79 (b) Medical Officers who have completed fourteen years will be permitted to take a three-months’ course as occasion arises to refresh their general knowledge. Officers shall submit a programme of their proposed studies to the Director of Naval Medical Services. The cost will be borne as prescribed in regulation 81.
Entry of Surgeons for temporary service.
A limited number of medical practitioners will be entered for temporary service in time of war or emergency.
Surgeon-Lieutenants entered for temporary service are required to hold the following qualifications
Qualifications.
(a) To be of pure European descent, and sons of natural-born British subjects.
(b) To be duly registered practitioners under the States’ Medical Acts; or to hold qualifications which entitle applicants to become legally registered medical practitioners under the States’ Medical Acts.
(c) To be reported fit after medical examination.
(d) Age not to exceed 40 years.
Conditions of service.
Surgeon-Lieutenants entered for temporary service—
(a) must engage for six months certain, but liability of service is limited to five years;
(b) shall be liable to immediate discharge for misconduct or incompetency;
(c) shall be given two calendar months’ notice (not including period of leave due) of services being no longer required;
(d) shall rank with, but after, Surgeon-Lieutenants in the Permanent Naval Forces (Sea-going);
(e) shall be under the general rule of the service as regards discipline;
(f) will be allowed to resign voluntarily subject to the exigencies of the service, but in this case any leave due shall be forfeited thereby;
(g) shall be required to sign a Declaration of Service when taking up appointment;
(h) must be willing to serve when, and where required after signing the declaration;
(i) shall be required to provide themselves with a stethoscope and a pocket case of instruments; other necessary instruments are provided by the Service.
Dental Surgeon.
A Dental Practitioner will be eligible for appointment as Surgeon-Lieutenant (D) in the Permanent Naval Forces of the Commonwealth, provided—
(a) that he is not under 21 nor over 30 years of age;
(b) that he is of, pure European descent and the son of natural-born British subjects. (In doubtful cases the burden of proof will rest upon the candidate himself, his parents, or guardians);
(c) that he labours under no mental or constitutional disease or weakness, or any other, imperfection or disability, which may interfere with the most efficient discharge of the duties of Surgeon-Lieutenant (D) in any climate;
(d) that he is ready to engage for general service at home or abroad, as required;
(e) that he is a duly registered practitioner under the States’ Dental Acts, or holds qualifications which entitle him to become a legally registered dental practitioner under the States Dental Acts.
Application for appointment as Surgeon-Lieutenant (D) must be made on the prescribed form.
Probation.
Successful candidates will, on entry, be appointed to the rank of Surgeon-Lieutenant (D), and will be on probation for a period of one year from the date of commencing Naval duty. If candidate is recommended, appointment will be confirmed on the termination of probationary service, and seniority in rank will count from the date of probationary appointment.
Rank.
Surgeon-Lieutenants (D) will rank with Surgeon-Lieutenants in the Permanent Forces, according to the dates of their commissions, but in regard to their duties, Surgeon-Lieutenants (D) will always be subject to the orders of the Medical Officer of the Ship or Establishment, regardless of rank and seniority.
Private practice.
Private practice is not allowed, but where Surgeon-Lieutenants (D), in special circumstances approved by the Naval Board, attend upon patients not provided for in the Regulations, they may accept fees. No such attendance, must, however, interfere with, or take any officer from the vicinity of his Service duties, which are to be considered first in every case.
Promotion from Warrant Rank to Mate.
(1) A limited number of warrant officers will be selected for promotion to the rank of Mate, Mate (E), and Mate (W/T), subject to the following qualifications:—
(a) To have completed three years’ service as warrant officer, of which two years have been in a ship of war at sea.
(b) To be recommended by his, Commanding Officers as in all respects suitable for commissioned rank.
(c) Not to be over 35 years of age.
(2) These officers shall first be appointed acting on probation. At the end of one year’s service on probation an officer will be confirmed in rank if his probationary service has been satisfactory. If his probationary service has not, been satisfactory he will revert to the rank of warrant officer.
(3) At the end of two years’ service (including acting time), an officer shall be eligible, subject to passing the examination prescribed, to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant or Engineer-Lieutenant, as the case may be.
Entry of Men. Engagements.
(1) On entry in the Permanent Naval Forces (Sea-going), a man will be required to execute an engagement for twelve years from the date of entry, or from the date of attaining the age of eighteen years, if such date is subsequent to date of entry. He may be allowed to re-engage for two further periods of five years, subject to, the requirements of the Fleet and satisfactory conduct.
(2) In exceptional cases as may be approved by the Naval Board, a man may be allowed to continue serving in the Sea-going Forces until he attains the age of 50 years.
(3) In special cases engagements may be for shorter periods.
In special cases where the date of entry is prior to the date of attaining the age of eighteen years, the Naval Board may approve of the first engagement counting from the date of entry.
The re-engagement of officers’ cooks and stewards, and of men holding ship’s cook ratings, will be conditional on recommendation of the officer under whom they serve.
Men lent from Royal Navy.
Men lent from the Active Service of the Royal Navy will be required to engage for service in the Royal Australian Navy for a period not exceeding three years, which period may, in special circumstances, be extended.
Section II.—Auxiliary Services.
Auxiliary Services.
The Auxiliary Services of the Permanent Naval Forces consist of—
(a) The Royal Australian Naval Reserve Staff;
(b) Members appointed for other special service on shore.
Appointment to Auxiliary Services.
Officers who have reached the age for retirement from the Seagoing Forces, or who voluntarily retire from active service at sea, also officers and men who may be physically unfit for sea-going service provided the degree of their unfitness is not incompatible with service onshore, will be eligible by selection for appointment to the Auxiliary Services of the Permanent Naval Forces.
Promotion in Auxiliary Services.
Promotion in the Auxiliary Services will not be dependent on officers possessing the qualifications prescribed for Sea-going Officers, but such promotion will be held, so far as relations with the Sea-going Force are concerned, to be an honorary promotion, and officers of the Auxiliary Services will rank with the officers of the Sea-going Force according to the rank they last held, on the Sea-going List. They will, nevertheless, have and hold the full authority of their rank in the Auxiliary Services in dealing with officers and men of that Service while holding, an appointment for duty in connexion therewith.
Relative rank of auxiliary services officers in presence of R.N. and R.A.N. (sea-going) officers.
In the presence of officers on the Active List of the Royal Navy and Sea-going Officers of the Royal Australian Navy, officers of the Auxiliary Services, while holding such appointment, shall be entitled, in matters of ceremony, to the rank they hold in the Auxiliary Services, but in their relations with the Sea-going Force they shall only exercise executive command by virtue of the rank they last held on the Sea-going List.
Auxiliary Services officers sitting on courts martial.
Officers of the Auxiliary Services are only eligible to sit on Courts martial by virtue of the rank they last held in the Sea-going Force and their seniority in that rank They are not eligible to sit unless they and the ship on whose books they are borne are present at the place where the Court martial is held.
District Naval Officers shall not be summoned to sit on Courts martial unless specially directed by orders from the Naval Board.
Sea-going Force officers serving in Auxiliary Services.
Officers of the Sea-going Force may, from time to time, hold appointments in the Auxiliary Services, but these appointments will be of a temporary nature, and such officers will be considered as always being eligible for sea-going appointments so long as they remain on the Sea-going List.
Qualifications for promotion to Warrant Officer.
Warrant Officers of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve Staff will be appointed from warrant officers and chief petty officers who have passed educationally and in seamanship for Warrant Rank of the Permanent Naval Forces (Sea-going) and who volunteer for such appointment, except that—
(a) Chief Petty Officers of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve Staff who were appointed as such prior to 1st July, 1911, and who had six years’ service in the force on that date will be eligible for promotion to the rank of Warrant Officer on passing the special examination prescribed. (See Appendix A.)
(b) Chief Petty Officers of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve Staff who were appointed before 1st July 1918, will be eligible for promotion to the rank of Warrant Officer if they have at least two years’ service in a sea-going ship, and have passed the Educational and Seamanship Examinations for Warrant Rank in the Sea-going Forces.
Transfer to R.A.N.R. Staff.
Candidates for appointment to the Royal Australian Naval Reserve Staff shall be selected from volunteers from the Permanent Naval Forces (Sea-going) who are not less than 35 years of age and of “V.G.” character.
Instructors.
Instructors on the Royal Australian Naval Reserve Staff shall be selected from Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officers who are competent to instruct in Gunnery, Seamanship, Mining and Electricity, or Signals. They must be recommended by their Commanding Officer as fit to perform the duties of instructor in one of these branches.
Ratings for other duties.
Appointees in the Stores Branch, as messenger and for other duties, shall be selected from ratings not lower than that of Able Seaman.
Probation.
All first appointments to the Royal Australian Naval Reserve Staff shall be for six months on probation, during which time instructors shall be required to attend, a course of instruction in the Gunnery (or other) School. Probationers who do not give satisfaction during this period shall be returned to the sea-going service to complete the unexpired period of their engagement.
Engagement.
Engagement in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve Staff shall be for five years, including the period of probation; if recommended, re-engagement will be permitted for a further period of five years, or to the date of reaching age for retirement if less than five years, subject to a maximum period of service on the Naval Reserve Staff of ten years.
Section III.—Half Pay.—Retirements and Resignations.
Half pay List
(1) An Officer of the Permanent Naval Forces may, at the discretion of the Naval Board, be placed on a Half-pay List at any time when his services cannot conveniently be fully employed in His Majesty’s Australian ships or Naval Establishments, or when the Naval Board considers that, for any reason, he should not be employed on the Active List of the Naval Service.
(2) An Officer who is placed on the Half-pay List shall receive pay at the rate of one-half of the full active pay of his rank exclusive of all allowances.
An Officer who has been on the Half-pay List for a period of six consecutive months may, if not then re-employed, be placed on the Retired List, when Half Pay shall cease. An Officer who has been on the Half-pay List for twelve consecutive months shall be placed on the Retired List from the date on which the twelve months’ Half-pay time is completed.”
Officers unfit for Sea-going Services may be transferred to Auxiliary Services.
Officers who, for any reason, may be unfitted or not qualified for service in sea-going ships in the rank they hold (unless the unfitness is temporary only), will be retired from the Sea-going List, but may be employed in the Auxiliary Services.
Sea-going Force officers transferred to Retired List.
Officers of the Permanent Naval Forces (Sea-going) shall be placed on the Retired List on attaining the ages set forth below:—
Captain and Engineer Captain..............................................
55
Commander and Engineer-Commander...........................................
50
Lieutenant-Commander, Engineer Lieutenant-Commander, Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander, Lieutenant and Engineer-Lieutenant, Instructor-Lieutenant and Paymaster-Lieutenant
45
Sub-Lieutenant, Engineer Sub-Lieutenant, Paymaster Sub-Lieutenant, or Mate.............
Paymaster-Captain, Paymaster-Commander, Instructor-Commander, and Chaplain...........
60
Lieutenant-Commander or Lieutenant (or equivalent rank) promoted from Warrant rank, Commissioned and other Warrant Officers
55
Surgeon-Lieutenants shall be compulsorily retired, under the conditions prescribed in regulation 75.
An officer of the Permanent Naval Forces (Sea-going) who for five consecutive years has not served in one of the sea-going ships of the Fleet shall, at the discretion of the Naval Board, be liable to be retired from the Sea-going Forces, but such retirement will, not necessarily affect his eligibility under regulation 97 to employment in the Auxiliary Services.
Auxiliary Services.
Officers of the Auxiliary Services shall be retired at the ages set forth below, but the Governor-General may, nevertheless, on the recommendation of the Board, require any officer who would otherwise so retire, notwithstanding his age, to continue to perform his duty for a period not exceeding two years:—
Medical Officer.......................................
57
Officers of rank or relative rank of Lieutenant or above, who have been promoted from Commissioned Warrant Officer; Commissioned Warrant Officers, and Warrant Officers
60
Dismissal.
Officers are liable to be dismissed from the Service or compulsorily retired at any time for misconduct or for inefficiency.
Voluntary retirement.
Voluntary retirement, subject to the approval of the Naval Board, or resignation under the conditions of section 13 of the Naval Defence Act, may be allowed at any time. In all cases officers must enclose their Commissions with letters tendering resignation.
Emergency List.
118.(1) Medical Officers, on resigning their Commissions in the Permanent Naval Forces may, subject to the approval of the Naval Board, be appointed to an Emergency List, and in such cases shall be allowed to retain their Commissions and to wear their, uniform on the occasions when officers of the Retired List are allowed to do so.
(2) Only those Medical Officers who continue to practise their profession shall be eligible to remain on the Emergency List.
Retired Medical Officers of the Royal Navy shall also be eligible for appointment to the Emergency List, provided they intend to settle permanently in, Australia, and the Royal Navy has no prior claim on them.
Medical Officers on the Emergency List shall be compulsorily retired on attaining the age of 55 years.
Medical Officers on the Emergency List may, if desirous; transfer to the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. If transferred, such officers will count seniority on the Emergency List towards seniority in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, and they will be eligible for appointment as District Naval Medical Officer. They will wear the uniform of a Medical Officer of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, but permission may be given to wear the uniform as an officer on the Emergency List.
Officers on the Emergency and Retired Lists will be liable to be “called up” for service with the Permanent Naval Forces in times of war or emergency. They must, therefore, report by letter to the Secretary, once a year, in January or February, and also whenever they change their permanent address. Officers failing to report regularly will be liable to have their names removed from the Navy List.
Purchase of discharge.
Petty officers, men, and boys shall be permitted, subject to the approval of the Naval Board, to purchase their discharge on the terms laid down in the Naval Financial Regulations.
Discharge on account of age.
Compulsory discharge from the Permanent Naval Forces (Sea-going) on account of age shall be as prescribed in regulation 92.
Members of the Auxiliary Services below the rank of officer, shall be discharged on reaching the age mentioned below, viz.:—
Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officers and all other ratings..........55 years.
Extension of service.
(1) Should a District Naval Officer consider it necessary in the interests of the Force to retain the services of any officer or man of the Auxiliary Services who would be otherwise discharged, he may recommend, for the approval of the Naval Board, that the said member be, notwithstanding his age, retained for a period not exceeding two years.
(2) All such recommendations are to be accompanied by a report as to medical fitness; and no extension will be granted for a longer period than one year at a time.
Section IV.— Discipline—Naval Forces.
Misconduct, Officers.
If any officer of the Naval Forces is guilty of improper conduct, or of any civil offence bringing discredit on the Service, or is negligent in the performance of his duties, the Governor-General may cancel his commission or warrant, but before such cancellation the officer shall be notified, in writing, of the complaint or charge against him, and shall be called upon to show cause in relation thereto.
Outside influence prohibited.
(1) The use of outside influence to support applications for personal advantages, or to represent complaints, is contrary to discipline, and the only proper course is to apply through the recognised official channel. Any attempt to obtain favorable consideration to requests or grievances by other means will prejudice the application, and will be severely dealt with.
(2) Attempts to obtain favorable consideration for such applications by the use of outside influence will be regarded as an admission on the part of the applicant that his case is not sufficiently good upon its own merits.
Officers to maintain discipline.
All officers are at all times responsible for the maintenance of good order, and the rules and discipline of the Service. They are to afford the utmost aid and support to the Commanding Officer. It is their duty to notice, repress, and instantly report, any negligence or impropriety of conduct in petty officers and men, whether on duty or off duty.
Combinations prohibited.
Deliberations or discussions by members with the object of conveying praise, censure, or any mark of approbation towards their superiors or any others in the Naval Forces are prohibited. The publication of laudatory orders on officers relinquishing an appointment is forbidden. Commanding Officers are to refuse to allow subscriptions for testimonials in any form to superiors on quitting the Service or on being removed from their ship or division. Every officer will be held responsible should he allow himself to be complimented by means of presents of plate, swords, &c., or by any collective expression of their opinion, by members who are serving, or who have served, under his command.
Charge against as officer.
Every officer whose character or conduct as an officer and gentleman has been impugned must submit the case within, a reasonable time to his Commanding Officer, or other competent Naval authority, for investigation. Pending the investigation, an officer may be suspended from duty, in which case he will be placed under the same restrictions as an officer in open arrest.
Bankruptcy.
If any officer by bankruptcy, liquidation, composition, or other like legal proceeding, finds himself unable to meet his engagements, he should at once notify the fact to the Commanding Officer. The latter will then at once ascertain and report the circumstances of the case for the information of the Naval Board, who will decide whether the officer shall be permitted to hold his commission. No such officer is to be in charge of public funds.
Private employment prohibited.
(1) No member of the Permanent Naval Forces, except on the recommendation of the Naval Boards and with the permission of the Governor-General shall—
(a) Accept or continue to hold an office in or under the Government of any State, or in or under any public or municipal corporation; or
(b) Accept or continue to hold or discharge the duties of or be employed in a paid office in connexion with any banking, insurance, mining, mercantile, or other commercial business, whether the same be carried on by any corporation, company, firm, or individual; or
(c) Engage in or undertake any such business whether as principal or agent; or
(d) Engage or continue in the private practice of any profession; or
(e) Accept or engage in any paid employment other than in connexion with the duties of his office or offices under the Commonwealth.
(2) Provided that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prevent a member from becoming a member or shareholder only of an incorporated company or of any company or society of persons registered under any Act in any State or elsewhere.
Attendance at political or religious meetings.
(1) Members of the Naval Forces are forbidden, when in uniform or on duty, to institute, or attend, any meeting, demonstration, or procession for any religious or political purpose.
(2) This regulation applies to bands, and does not apply to—
(a) Attendance at church or funeral services; or to
(b) Attendance at charity gatherings, for which authority has been duly obtained from the Commanding Officer.
Communications to press prohibited.
Members of the Naval Forces are forbidden to publish or communicate to the press any information without special authority, either directly or indirectly. They will be held responsible for all statements contained in communications to their friends which may subsequently be published in the press.
Members of the Naval Forces are not to attempt to prejudice questions under investigation by the publication, anonymously or otherwise, of their opinions, and they are not to attempt to raise a discussion in public about orders, regulations, or instructions issued by their superiors.
Discipline. Application of King’s Regulations.
The regulations contained in Chapters XVII., XVIII., and Sections II., III., IV., and V. of Chapter XIX., and Appendix XXII. of the King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions (1913 edition), as amended by the Addenda and Admiralty Printed Orders from time to time, shall apply to the Naval Forces subject to the following modifications:—
(a) The following articles and clauses shall not apply:—
Article 740, clauses 2 and 4.
Article 750.
Article 751, clauses 7 to 16 inclusive, and 22, and all reference to gratuity.
Article 757, Table II., Punishments 14, 17, 18, 19 and 20.
Articles 795, 798, and 799.
(b) The punishments mentioned in Table II. of Article 757 are not applicable to boys under training in H.M.A. Training Ships and Establishments, for whom special regulations have been adopted, but, subject to the omissions mentioned above, they apply to all other ratings in those ships and establishments.
(c) All reference to the Royal Marines is omitted.
(d) Wherever the words “Home,” “United Kingdom,” “England,” or similar words occur, the words “Commonwealth of Australia” are to be read in their stead.
(e) Wherever reference to the Admiralty is necessary, reference is to be made to the Naval Board; and wherever reference to the Commander-in-Chief or other Flag Officer is necessary, reference is to be made to the Officer Commanding H.M.A. Fleet from ships under his orders, and to the Naval Board in all other cases.
Arrest
Warrants for the arrest and detention of any member of the Naval Forces who is absent without leave or deserts may be issued by a member of the Naval Board, or a District Naval Officer, or a Commanding Officer, and should, if possible, be on the authorized form, but the use of any particular form shall not be necessary for the validity of any such warrant.
Concealment of contagious disease.
Concealment of a contagious disease, such as small-pox, measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhoid fever, &c., and also of any venereal disease, from the knowledge of the Medical Officer (or, in his absence, of the Commanding Officer) shall be considered as an offence against the Regulations, and any person in the Permanent Naval Forces who is guilty of such offence may be subjected to stoppage of the whole of his pay during such period as he may be under medical treatment and absent from duty.
Section V— Leave of Absence.
Leave of absence.
(1) Officers and Men regularly employed may be granted leave of absence for any periods not exceeding in the whole the number of days stated which include Sundays and public holidays) at such times as the Commanding Officer may deem convenient.
(a) In Sea-going Ships....................................42 days per annum.
(b) In Harbour Establishments..............................35 days per annum.
(2) The above scale is to be adhered to whether Ships are employed on the Australian Station or elsewhere. Should a Ship be absent from the Australian Station for more than one year, special consideration will be given to the case.
(3) The scale of leave prescribed in sub-regulation (1) for Harbour Establishments shall apply also to officers and men of the Royal Australian Naval Auxiliary services provided that, in such cases, a year for leave purposes shall commence on the first day of February in each year and terminate on the thirty-first day of January in the following year.
Subject to the requirements, of the Service, Commanding Officers shall make such arrangements as will allow each officer or man under their command leave of absence annually according to the foregoing regulations, but if it is found impracticable to grant such leave in any year, or for other sufficient reason, Commanding Officers may permit the leave to be taken in the following year in addition to the leave for such year, provided that in other cases leave not taken during the year it accrues shall lapse.
(1) Officers and Men lent from the Royal Navy may, if they so desire, defer portion of their leave each year and they shall be entitled to take this deferred leave as Foreign Service leave on their return to the United Kingdom on the conclusion of their service in the Commonwealth Naval Forces. The Admiralty scale of Foreign Service leave has been adopted, and fifteen days for each period of six months or two days per month for shorter periods, will, therefore, be allowed to accumulate during service in the Royal Australian Navy. Any leave taken in Australia in excess of the balance of twelve days per annum, i.e., 42 days allowed, less 30 days approved to be accumulated, will be deducted from the accumulated leave on return to the Royal Navy.
(2) In the case of ratings, a Notation is to be made on a man’s Conduct Sheet, on his discharge from one ship to another, stating the number of days’ Foreign Service leave to which he is entitled on the date of his discharge. At the same time the rating should be informed of the amount of foreign Service leave stated to be due to him, and the Notation on the Conduct Sheet should be initialed by the rating as indicating that he is aware of the amount of leave due to him, and is satisfied of its correctness. More especially is it essential that this procedure should be followed in the case of the discharge of a rating to Depôt, for passage to England.
In exceptional cases additional leave may be granted, subject to the approval of the Naval Board, to cover the period occupied in travelling.
Sickness.
Leave of absence in case of illness shall not be reckoned, nor included, in prescribed allowance of recreation leave.
Absence on account of sickness.
Any person remaining on shore without leave, owing to illness, shall without delay send notice to his Commanding Officer, who shall cause inquiry to be made into his case. Persons failing to comply with this regulation shall be liable to the penalties for absence without leave.
Section VI.— Furlough.
Furlough. After twenty years.
When any person, including members of the Permanent Naval Forces (Sea-going) has continued in the service of the Commonwealth under the provisions of the Defence or Naval Defence Acts at least twenty years, the Governor-General may grant to him, on the recommendation of the Naval Board, leave of absence for a period not exceeding twelve months on half-pay, or six months on full pay.
Where a person has become transferred or appointed from any position of a permanent nature under the State or Commonwealth to a permanent position in the service of the Commonwealth under the provisions of the Defence Act or Naval Defence Act, all continuous service of such person under the State or Commonwealth shall, for the purpose of furlough, as provided in regulations 146 and 149, be reckoned as service in the service of the Commonwealth under the provisions of the Defence Act or Naval Defence Act.
Retirement or decease.
Where a person not having been granted the leave of absence provided in regulations 146 and 149 retires from the service after at least twenty years’ service, the Governor-General, on the recommendation of the Naval Board, may authorize the grant to such person of six months’ salary upon retirement, or, upon the death of any person who has continued in the service for at least twenty years, and has not been granted leave of absence under the provisions of regulation 146, the Governor-General, on the recommendation of the Naval, Board, may authorize the grant to the dependants of such deceased person of a sum equivalent to six months’ salary of such person. Provided, that where any such person has been reduced in position or salary through misconduct, such misconduct shall be taken into consideration in determining whether the whole or any portion of the prescribed leave of absence may be granted, or, in the event of retirement or death of any such person, whether payment may be made under the conditions prescribed herein, and as to the terms of such payment.
Lesser periods.
(1) The Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Naval Board, grant to any person of satisfactory service who is not eligible for the furlough prescribed in regulation 146, leave of absence with full pay as follows:—
Service of sixteen years and under twenty years.......................Five months
Service of twelve years and under sixteen years......................Four months
Service of eight years and under twelve years.......................Three months
Service of four years and under eight years..........................Two months
Service of less than four years....................................One month
Always provided, that such person has attained the prescribed age for retirement or will attain the prescribed age for retirement on or before the expiration of such leave of absence.
(2) In lieu of such leave the Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Naval Board, authorize the grant of a sum equivalent to such person’s salary for such period of leave, or, in the event of the death of any person who was eligible for, but had not been granted, the leave prescribed herein, may authorize payment to the dependants of such deceased person of a sum equivalent to the salary of such person for the period of leave which he could have been granted under this regulation.
Definition of salary.
In the case of persons on sea-going rates of pay, salary shall mean the total emoluments at date of granting furlough, including deferred pay and allowances for uniform, rations, and quarters, whether drawn in cash or in kind.
Filling positions.
The positions of officers who are granted leave of absence on furlough prior to retirement may be filled before actual retirement at the expiration of such leave or furlough takes place, provided funds are available on the Appropriation.
Section VII.— Uniforms.
Officers
Officers shall wear the uniform prescribed in the Uniform Regulations for Officers of the Royal Navy, with the exception that—
(a) The buttons are to be of the special design adopted for the Permanent Naval Forces.
(b) For Dental Officers, the distinctive cloth between the gold stripes shall be dark green.
(c) For Temporary Surgeon-Lieutenants, instead of the stripes of ½ in. gold lace round the sleeves of jackets, there are to be waved lines of ¼ inch gold braid.
Officers of the Reserve Forces, of the Retired or Emergency Lists, and Honorary Officers shall wear the uniform of their rank only when actually employed on Naval duty, or when attending State or other ceremonies and functions in virtue of their Naval rank.
Officers of the Royal Navy serving temporarily in the Permanent Naval Forces shall wear the distinctive stripes according to the rank held by them in the Permanent Naval Forces, but will not be required to alter the buttons of their uniform.
Men.
The uniform for petty officers, men and boys, is to be the same as in the Royal Navy, except that—
(a) All artisans (not being chief petty officers) shall wear Class III. rig.
(b) Cap ribbons shall bear the designation H.M.A.S. followed by the name of the ship to which the member may be attached.
Kit.
The kit for petty officers, men and boys, shall be as may be ordered by the Naval Board.
Boys.
Boys in the training ship shall wear the uniform prescribed in the Training Ship Tingira Regulations.
Section VIII.— Medals for “Conspicuous Gallantry” and “Long Service and Good Conduct.”
For long service and good conduct.
The regulations for the award of long service and good conduct medals will be governed by the King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions as applied by regulation.
For conspicuous gallantry.
(1) A silver medal, having on the obverse the Royal effigy and on the reverse the words “For Conspicuous Gallantry,” and on the rim the seaman’s name, rating, and official number, may be granted to a petty officer or seaman of, the Permanent Naval Forces, if specially recommended by the Naval Board to the Governor-General.
(2) Before this medal is awarded, the Admiralty shall adjudicate upon the application.
(3) In the case where a petty officer or seaman already in possession of a medal for conspicuous gallantry is recommended on account of further distinguished conduct, a bar shall be added to the medal.
(4) As these rewards, are intended only for such men as shall have rendered themselves individually conspicuous by some special act of preeminent gallantry in action with the enemy, great care is to be taken that the cases recommended come strictly within the spirit of this regulation, and that each case be accompanied by a full statement of the grounds on which the claim to distinction is founded.
Application for medals.
(5) Names of men recommended for the medal for conspicuous gallantry are to be transmitted to the Naval Board, and the recommendation is to be accompanied by descriptive returns, record of service, and of the wounds, and distinction of the petty officers or men recommended.
Letters containing medals, when forwarded through the post, are to be registered.
Lost medals.
(1) When a medal is lost, a Board of Inquiry shall investigate and record the cause of the loss. If the loss is accidental, the loser may be recommended by the Board to be supplied with a new medal at once, either at his own expense or that of the public, according to the circumstances of the case. In order to justify the replacement of a medal at the public expense, the loss must be proved to have occurred on duty by some accident absolutely beyond the control of the loser.
(2) In such a case as a medal being lost through carelessness, the loser must pay for it himself.
Section IX.—Miscellaneous.
Canteens.
Canteens may be established in Ships or Naval Establishments under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Naval Board.
Industrial disputes.
No member of the Permanent Naval Forces shall be ordered or required to do any work, or to act in the place of civilians who have refused to work because of some dispute as to wages, hours, or conditions of labour, unless and until the matter has been referred to the Minister, and his consent to the Permanent Naval Forces doing such work has been obtained.
Funeral parties.
(1) Funeral parties are to be composed, as far as, possible, in accordance with the following scale, in addition to the officers and men who may voluntarily accompany the procession, but the officer in charge of the whole procession is not, to be below the rank of a Lieutenant.
Rank of Deceased.
Firing Party.
Commanded by—
Commander........................
200 men
Lieutenant
Lieutenant.........................
100 „
Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant......................
40 „
Sub-Lieutenant
Warrant Officer.....................
30 „
Sub-Lieutenant
1st Class Petty Officer and all juniors.......
26 „
1st Class Petty Officer
(2) The firing parties are to be accompanied by a proportionate number of junior officers and petty officers and a bugler.
(3) The pall is to be supported by officers and others of equal rank to the deceased.
(4) In the case of an officer, all available officers of the ship to which he belonged are to attend.
(5) The order of the funeral procession shall be:—
Firing Party.
Band.
Pall bearers. Coffin. Pall bearers.
Chief Mourners.
Followers—Juniors in front going, vice versâ returning.
(6) Three volleys will be fired over the graves of all officers, petty officers, seamen and boys.
(7) The instructions for marching, firing, &c., as laid down in Field Exercise are to be strictly adhered to.
Funerals at sea.
(1) At the funeral of a Captain or Commander of a ship, such number of minute guns as the senior officer present shall direct not exceeding twenty, shall be fired by the ship he commanded or to which he belonged, when the body is put into the sea, or when it is put off the ship to be carried on shore. If the ship be alone, the officer succeeding to the command shall order this to be done.
(2) At the funeral of any other officer, man, or boy, three volleys of musketry shall be fired over the body when put into the sea.
Guards of Honour.
A. Guard of Honour, as a general rule, and a Band, will attend—
(a) Upon the King and other Royal Personages; and upon Presidents of those Republican States in which the Sovereign is represented by an ambassador.
(b) At State ceremonials.
Similar Guards of Honour will attend upon the Governor-General, Governor, and officers administering the Governments of His Majesty’s possessions, and upon such occasions as are customary within the Governments. (Guards of Honour will not be detailed when the Governor-General, Governor, and officers administering the Government are returning after leave of absence, the duration of which has not exceeded three months, nor when they are merely arriving at, or departing to or from, one or other of the ports within their Government; nor on merely changing their residence.)
A Guard of Honour, and a Band, shall attend—
(a) When a Foreign General or Flag Officer lands within His Majesty’s Dominions to visit the Governor-General, the Governor, Naval Board, District Naval Officer, or Commandant.
(b) To receive distinguished personages other than those mentioned in regulation 166.
Voluntary Guards of Honour, as in regulation 167, may be furnished for the Governor-General or the Governor of a State when visiting cities or towns in the Commonwealth on other than State occasions, and provided that men are available without expense.
Distinguishing flags and pendants.
All ships and vessels of the Royal Australian Navy shall fly at the stern the White Ensign as the symbol of the authority of the Crown, and at the jack staff the distinctive flag of the Australian Commonwealth.
The pendant, broad pendant, or burgee shall be according to H.M. Royal Naval Service pattern.
Impressment of vehicles, boats, &c.
The Commanding Officer of any ship or detachment of the Naval Forces on active service in time of war shall be authorized to require such person or persons as are possessed of carriages, vehicles, horses, or boats or other craft in the neighbourhood to furnish the same for the service of such ship or detachment, and if any person, after receiving such request, refuses to furnish the same, they may be taken and impressed for such service, and such person shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £5.
No such carriage, vehicle, or horse so impressed or taken may be compelled to proceed more than 30 miles; except in cases where other carriages, vehicles, or horses cannot immediately be had to replace them, and such carriages, vehicles, or horses, shall be paid for at the usual rate of hire.
The impressment of carriages, vehicles, horses or boats or other craft will only be resorted to—
(a) in cases of emergency, when delay would be caused by hiring;
(b) when transport cannot be hired;
(c) when charges for hired transport are excessive.
When a roll is to be made out for any district or division, under section 60 of the Defence Act, the enrolment officer shall advertise the fact in some local newspaper, and any person claiming exemption from service must send notice in writing of his claim to the enrolment officer, within the time mentioned in the advertisement, or in default shall be liable to be placed on the roll as not exempt. When a claim to exemption is made out to the satisfaction of the enrolment officer, he shall exclude the name of the exempted person from, the roll, or place it thereon with a note of exemption, according to the class of exemption. Any enrolment officer may exclude the name of any man from the roll upon any evidence which he may think sufficient, or upon his own knowledge of the fact that the man is entitled to exemption. In case of the refusal of an enrolment officer to allow a claim to exemption, there shall be an appeal to two justices of the peace, but until such appeal shall be decided, the name shall remain on the roll and the man be liable to be balloted.
Whenever in times of war or invasion or danger of war or invasion it is necessary to hold a ballot under the provisions of the Acts, it is hereby prescribed that such ballot shall be taken in the following manner:—
(a) The ballot, shall be taken in the presence of three magistrates (of whom the police magistrate or the mayor or other chief officer of the place shall be one) and of such number of men liable to be balloted, as the presiding magistrate may allow, according to the space at his disposal.
(b) In the case of a ballot for men to serve in an existing division, the Commanding Officer shall be present; in other cases the recruiting officer shall be present.
(c) The presiding magistrate shall give such public notice, by advertisement or otherwise as he may think best, of the time and place for the ballot, and of the number of men liable to be balloted who will be admitted.
(d) Two scrutineers shall be appointed, one by the men present liable to be balloted, and the Commanding Officer or recruiting officer, as the case may be, or some other person to be specially appointed, shall act as scrutineer on behalf of His Majesty:
(e) The presiding magistrate shall be responsible for conducting the ballot in accordance with the Acts, and in such a manner as to produce an impartial result.
Exemptions from service.
(1) The following persons between the ages of 18 and 60 shall be exempt from enrolment, and from actual service at any time:—
(a) The superintendents, gaolers, and warders of gaols, and the officers, keepers, and warders of all public lunatic asylums;
(b) Persons disabled by bodily infirmity;
(c) The only son of a widow, being her only support.
(2) No person shall have the benefit of exemption unless he proves his right thereto.
(3) Where exemption is claimed, whether on the ground of age or otherwise, the burden of proof shall be upon the claimant.
(4) Exemption shall not prevent any person from serving if, he so desires, and is not disabled by bodily infirmity.
APPENDIX A.
STANDARD OF EXAMINATION FOR CANDIDATES FOR RANK OF WARRANT OFFICER, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVAL RESERVE STAFF.
(a) Educational—
To be able to write a legible hand.
To be able to spell.
To know the first four rules of arithmetic, least common multiple, and greatest common measure.
To be able to add, subtract, divide, and multiply by vulgar fractions or decimals.
(b) Gunnery—
To understand the mechanism of the 4-in. or 6-in B.L., 4.7-in., 12-pounder, and 3-pounder Q.F.
To be able to take any number at the gun and to instruct and drill a gun’s crew.
To know and to be able to instruct in the Ride and Field Exercises for H.M. Fleet (omitting Brigade Drill).
(c) Ammunition—
To know and to be able to instruct in the ammunition for guns 4-in. (or 6-in) B.L., 4.7-in., 12-pounder, and 3-poundcr Q.F., and the ammunition kept at the various drill-rooms for the Reserve.
(d) Seamanship—
To be able to instruct in the syllabus laid down for the Reserve.
(e) Physical Exercise—
To be able to instruct in the syllabus laid down for the Reserve.
(f) To be able to keep the records, returns, &c., connected with the Reserve.
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Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.