Naval Volunteer Reserve Regulations (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1926. No. 180.

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 seventeenth day of December, 1926.

STONEHAVEN,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

C. W. C. MARR,

Acting Minister of State for Defence.

NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE REGULATIONS.

Citation.

1. These Regulations shall be cited as the Naval Volunteer Reserve Regulations.

Repeal.

2. The Naval Volunteer Reserve Regulations (Statutory Rules 1922, No. 75, as amended to present date) are repealed as from the commencement of these Regulations, save as to anything lawfully done, or any right, privilege, obligation, or liability acquired, accrued, or incurred thereunder.

Definitions.

3. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

“Naval Board” means the Naval Board of Administration constituted under the Acts.

“Director” means the officer appointed by the Naval Board to be Director of Naval Reserves and Naval Reserve Mobilization.

“District Naval Officer” means the officer appointed to command any State Division of the Naval Forces.

“Sub-District Naval Officer” means the officer appointed to command any State Subdivision of the Naval Forces.

“Naval Volunteer Reserve” means members of the Citizen Naval Forces enrolled under section 21 of the Naval Defence Act.

“Member” means a member of the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve.

“Officer” includes commissioned, warrant, and subordinate officers, but does not include petty officers.

“Men” includes all members other than officer, except when otherwise expressly stated or inferred.

C.18011.—Price 3d.

 

Constitution.

4. The Naval Volunteer Reserve is constituted under the Naval Defence Act as a section of the Citizen Naval Forces.

Eligibility for Enrolment.

Person ineligible.

5. (1) The following shall be ineligible for enrolment in the Naval Volunteer Reserve:—

(a) A member of the Permanent Naval or Military Forces of the Commonwealth.

(b)An officer on the Active or Retired List of any other Naval or Military Force.

(c) A member of the Royal Australian Fleet Reserve.

(d) A member of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Seagoing).

(e) A civilian officer or employee of the Defence Department of the Commonwealth.

(f) A person undergoing or liable to undergo compulsory training under Part XII. of the Defence Act, except as provided in sub-regulation (2), paragraph (c).

Persons eligible.

(2)Subject to the foregoing sub-regulation and to sub-regulation (4) of this regulation, the following persons may be enrolled in the Naval Volunteer Reserve:—

(a) A person who follows the sea as a profession.

(b)An ex-member of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve who has completed his term of compulsory naval training as prescribed under Part XII. of the Defence Act.

(c) A person liable to undergo compulsory training under Part XII. of the Defence Act who is a member of a quota for which such training has been suspended, provided that any such person enrolled in the R.A.N.V.R. shall be discharged from the unit to which he was previously attached.

(d)A person who, in recreation, follows the sea, and is desirous of sea service in time of war.

(e) Any person possessing such qualifications as are deemed by the Naval Board to render him desirable for appointment or enrolment.

(f) A skilled craftsman, such as plumber, carpenter, joiner, shipwright, telegraphist, or electrician.

(3) An officer on the Retired or Emergency List of another Naval or Military Force will be eligible for enrolment in the Naval Volunteer Reserve, provided that he resigns his commission in such force and is otherwise eligible under sub-regulation (2) of this regulation.

Descent and physical fitness.

(4) No person who is ineligible as regards descent for service in the Commonwealth Naval Forces, or who fails to pass the prescribed Medical Examination, as laid down in the Naval Defence Act, may be enrolled in the Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Age.

(5) Subject to the provisions of regulation 11, there are no restrictions with regard to the age of entry.

 

Liability for War Service.

6. A member shall be liable to be called upon to serve in any branch of the Naval Service within the limits of the Australian Naval Station upon the Naval Volunteer Reserve being mobilized by Proclamation in time of war or emergency and may be required to continue to serve until the termination of the war, notwithstanding that his period of engagement or re-engagement may have expired.

Precedence and Command.

7.(1) Officers of the Naval Volunteer Reserve shall rank with but after officers of corresponding rank in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.

(2) Men of the Naval Volunteer Reserve shall rank and command with corresponding ratings in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve according to seniority.

(3) Unless ordered to do so by a superior Naval Officer, an Officer of the Naval Volunteer Reserve shall not assume any naval command or authority except amongst members of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve and Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Appointment and Entry of Officers and Men.

8. (1) Officers of all branches shall be selected by the Naval Board on the recommendation of the Director as follows:—

Firstly, from amongst volunteers who have previously held rank in any other Naval Force;

Secondly, from amongst volunteers who hold certificates which would make them competent to take such rank; and

Thirdly, from amongst volunteers who have qualified by examination;

for appointment to such rank as may be deemed appropriate.

(2) The first engagement of every rating in the Naval Volunteer Reserve shall be in the rating of Able Seaman, or its equivalent in another branch, provided that the first engagement of any person who served during the War in any branch of the Naval Forces of the Empire or of any person who has held a higher rating in such Force, may, with the approval of the Director, be effected in a higher rating.

9. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Regulations, the Naval Board may recommend the appointment of any person to Commissioned or Warrant Rank in any branch provided—

(a) he is not ineligible under regulation 5, sub-regulations (1) and (4); and

(b)he volunteers, in writing, to serve if called upon without the issue of a Proclamation calling out the Citizen Forces.

(2) An Officer appointed under sub-regulation (1) shall not normally be required to undergo any obligatory training or to provide himself with any articles of uniform. He may, however, volunteer, and, with the approval of the Director, perform the full training required of other Officers, and, subject to Naval Board approval, may volunteer to undergo additional voluntary training; in such cases, an Officer shall be entitled to the uniform, pay and allowances prescribed in these Regulations.

 

10. (1) Every person who is enrolled in the Naval Volunteer Reserve shall engage himself to serve for a period of not less than five years.

(2) A member may be re-enrolled for further successive periods of five years, provided he is medically fit.

(3) The period of enrolment or re-enrolment under the above sub-regulations shall in any case be subject to the conditions regarding compulsory retirement prescribed in regulation 11.

(4) Every volunteer, upon enrolment, shall be required to take and subscribe an oath or affirmation of enlistment in accordance with the form prescribed in the Naval Defence Act.

11. (1) A member shall be compulsorily retired on attaining the age, of 55 years in the case of a rating, and 58 years in the case of an Officer, provided that in special cases the Governor-General may approve of the retention of the services of any member, who is otherwise desirable and medically fit, for a further period, not exceeding two years.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in regulation 10, a member may, except in time of war, claim his discharge before the expiration of the period of service for which he engaged, on giving three months’ notice in writing to the District or Sub-District Naval Officer concerned, through the Commanding Officer of his section, of his intention to claim his discharge, and on payment of the sum of £1, provided that the District Naval Officer may, if special reasons for doing so exist, give authority for this payment to be waived.

Promotion and Advancement,

12. The qualifications for promotion of ranks and advancement of ratings of the Naval Volunteer Reserve shall conform as closely as possible to those laid down for equivalent ranks and ratings in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, provided that promotion and advancement shall be dependent upon vacancies existing, except in regard to “additional” officers and men as prescribed in regulation 16.

Organization.

Responsibility of D.N.R.M.

13. The Director of Naval Reserves and Naval Reserve Mobilization shall, under the Naval Board, be charged with the administration and control of all matters relating to the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve other than finance and stores, or as may be prescribed.

Organization.

14. (1) The Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve shall be organized into districts, which shall be identical with the districts of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.

(2) Each district shall be divided into as many sections as may be approved.

Districts and sections.

15. The districts and sections of the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, the respective naval officers commanding, and the drill halls or places of assembly, shall be such as the Naval Board may from time to time prescribe.

Establishments of Officers and Men.

16. The establishment of the various districts and sections shall be as laid down by the Naval Board, except that additional Officers and

 

Men in excess of the establishment of any particular section may be appointed, subject to the approval of the Naval Board, for the purposes of administration.

Uniform—Officers.

17. The uniform to be worn by all Officers is to be of pattern similar to that authorized for Officers of corresponding rank in the Royal Australian Navy, with the following exceptions:—

(a) The cap badge shall display the letters “R.A.N.V.” The letters shall be astride the anchor and below the stock.

(b)The gold distinction lace for Officers is to be of similar pattern to that authorized for Officers of corresponding ranks in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.

18. An Officer shall be supplied, at Government expense, with, such articles of uniform as may be approved by the Naval Board.

19. On promotion of an Officer to higher rank, the cost of necessary alterations to distinctive lace shall be defrayed by the Department on production of receipted vouchers.

Completion of kit on mobilization.

20. Upon mobilization for war or emergency, an Officer shall be paid a gratuity in aid of outfit, as may be approved by the Naval Board, and will be required to provide himself with the additional articles of uniform required.

21. The uniform supplied to an Officer shall remain the property of the Government until replaced. An Officer whose commission is cancelled, or who is permitted to resign his commission, shall be required to return all articles of uniform and accoutrements which are Government property. Officers retired on account of reaching the prescribed age for retirement may retain all articles of uniform except greatcoats, and, if they so desire, may retain their swords, sword knot, sword case and sword belt on payment of the unexpired value, based on a life of twelve years.

Uniform—Men.

Description of uniform.

22. The uniform to be worn by ratings of the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve shall be of the same pattern as that of the equivalent ratings of the Permanent Naval Forces, with the following exceptions, viz:—

(a) Men not dressed as Seamen.—To wear a “R.A.N.V.” Badge on the left sleeve of the coat, the bottom of the “R.A.N.V.” to be 4 inches above the bottom of the sleeve; Badge to be red on blue uniform and blue on white uniform. The letters “R.A.N.V.” are also to appear in the Cap Badge.

(b) Men dressed as Seamen.—To wear a “R.A.N.V.” Badge on the left sleeve of the jumper, the bottom of the “R.A.N.V.” to be 4 inches above the bottom of the sleeve; Badge to be red on blue uniform and blue on white uniform. A distinctive cap ribbon shall also be worn, the gold lettering being “R.A.N. Volunteer Reserve.”

Badges.

23. A rating shall wear the badges of the substantive and non-substantive ratings for which he may qualify, such badges being red for blue uniform and blue for white uniform and of the same pattern as those authorized for the Permanent Naval Forces.

Articles issued free of cost.

24. Every rating shall be supplied at Government expense with such articles of uniform as may be approved by the Naval Board.

Completion of kit on mobilization.

25. When called out for service under Proclamation in time of war, or emergency, ratings shall be supplied free of cost with such additional articles of uniform as may be prescribed by the Naval Board.

26. Articles of uniform issued to ratings shall, except for the period under Proclamation, remain the property of the Government until replaced. Ratings about to be discharged before expiration of their first engagement are, prior to discharge, to return all articles issued to them, or their full or part-worn value. Ratings being discharged before the expiration of any subsequent period of engagement shall in like manner account for the last issue to them of each article of-uniform.

27. (1) All ratings will be held personally responsible for the safe custody and preservation of articles of loan bedding and loan clothing.

(2) Any rating who loses an article of loan bedding or loan clothing whilst undergoing training must report such loss to the Commanding Officer of the Training Ship or Establishment, through the Officer of his Division, in order that the lost article may be traced, if possible, before the rating is discharged. If the article cannot be recovered, a brief report of the loss is to be forwarded from the Training Ship or Establishment to the District or Sub-District Naval Officer, for his guidance in deciding whether loss is to be charged against the rating concerned.

Uniform—General.

Part uniform, part plain clothes forbidden.

28. A member is forbidden to appear dressed partly in uniform and partly in civilian clothes.

Decorations and medals.

29. Decorations and medals shall be worn in conformity with the King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.

Uniform—when to be worn.

30. (1) A member shall be required to wear the prescribed uniform when on duty, assembled for parade, or attending drills.

(2) A member shall be permitted to wear his uniform on ceremonial and other occasions as prescribed by the Regulations.

(3) Uniform shall not be worn otherwise than as prescribed in the foregoing sub-regulations.

Training.

Volunteer general lines of training.

31. The scheme of training of members of the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve shall be such as may be approved by the Naval Board from time to time.

Training year.

32. The training year shall commence on the 1st July of any year, and extend to 30th June of the following year.

Arrangements for drills.

33. (1) District Naval Officers shall arrange the instruction in their districts in accordance with the orders issued by the Director, and Sub-District Naval Officers shall be responsible that all drills in their sub-districts are carried out as directed by the District Naval Officer.

 

(2) No drills may be held during normal business hours nor on Saturdays during the yachting season, and otherwise drills shall be ordered at such times as shall least interfere with the private business of members.

(3) For the purpose of training, a whole day’s drill shall be of not less than four hours’, and a half day’s drill of not less than two hours’ duration.

Periods of obligatory training.

34. (1) A member, except when required to undergo the training prescribed in sub-regulation (4) of this regulation, shall be required to complete the following prescribed courses of training:—

During year of enrolment.

(a) Fourteen days’ drill during the training year in which first enrolment takes place. This drill shall include at least seven days’ continuous training in one of H.M.A. Ships or Establishments.

During each alternate year.

(b)Fourteen days each alternate year following the year in which first enrolment takes place. This drill shall include at least seven days’ continuous training in one of H.M.A. Ships or Establishments.

(2) The biennial training prescribed under paragraph (b)of sub-regulation (1) must be completed within either one of the two training years concerned, and may be carried out wholly in one of H.M.A. Ships or Establishments if preferred, provided that every member shall attend one registration muster at his authorized depot in each half-year.

Continuous training may be waived.

(3) Should no opportunity occur within any training year for the carrying out of continuous training prescribed in sub-regulation (1), paragraphs (a) and (b), such training may, with the authority of the District Naval Officer, be waived.

(4) A member enrolled under the provisions of paragraph (c)of sub-regulation (2) of regulation 5, being under 25 years of age, shall be required to perform a period of training in each year not less than the period he would be required to perform in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, provided that such training may be performed in any of H.M.A. Ships or Naval Establishments in one or more periods within the year.

Failure to attend drill.

(5) A member who, being a person liable to training as prescribed in these Regulations, fails, without sufficient reason to attend the required number of drills during the training year shall be liable to be discharged from the Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Programme of drills to be notified.

35. (1) The District Naval Officer shall inform all members within his district, by means of a drill card, of the drills (in drill halls) arranged.

Commanding Officers of sections to notify dates convenient.

(2) The Commanding Officer of each section shall inform the District Naval Officer of the dates upon which it is convenient for the members of his section to carry out their obligatory training in one of H.M.A. Ships or Establishments, and such information shall be forwarded by the District Naval Officer to the Director.

Presence of H.M.A ships in port to be availed of.

(3) Should an occasion arise when the visit of one or more of H.M.A. Ships to a port provides opportunity for training afloat, the District Naval Officer shall inform the Commanding Officers of the sections concerned in order that any volunteers, able and willing to do so, may avail themselves of such opportunity.

 

Voluntary training and service.

36. Amember who volunteers in time of peace for training or service with the Seagoing Forces in addition to the period of obligatory training required of him, may, if his services are required, be permitted to serve in one of H.M.A. Ships or Establishments for a limited period.

Discipline.

37. A member, whilst undergoing continuous training or whilst serving in one of H.M.A. Ships or Establishments, shall be borne on the books of such Ship or Establishment, and shall be subject to the Naval Discipline Act as applied by the Naval Defence Act.

Leave of absence from obligatory training.

38. Leave of absence from obligatory training may be granted by District or Sub-District Naval Officers when such is necessary owing to temporary absence from the locality or on account, of illness or other unavoidable cause.

Recreation leave when serving under proclamation or undergoing voluntary service.

39. Members of the Naval Volunteer Reserve serving under Proclamation or undergoing Voluntary Service may be granted Recreation Leave allowed to corresponding ranks and ratings of the Permanent Naval Forces; provided, however, that any such leave not taken prior to discharge is forfeited.

Pay and Allowances.

During training.

40. A member shall not receive any pay or allowances during the period of training in drill rooms as prescribed in regulation 34; but, during continuous training or voluntary service in one of H.M.A. Ships or Establishments, rates of pay and allowances as prescribed for the Permanent Naval Forces (Sea-going) (with the exception of Deferred Pay, Married Allowance, and Dependant Allowance) shall be paid.

When called up by proclamation.

41. When called up by proclamation in time of war or emergency, a member shall be paid the rates of pay and allowances prescribed for his corresponding rank or rating in the Permanent Naval Forces (Seagoing), as prescribed in the Naval Financial Regulations (including Deferred Pay and Married and Dependant Allowances).

42. (1) Service while called up by Proclamation shall count for the purpose of increase of pay governed by service.

(2) An Officer shall not be entitled to pay according to his seniority as stated in the Navy List, but shall receive the lowest rate of pay of his rank, except as provided in sub-regulation (3).

(3) Service during the late war in a confirmed rank shall count for increase of full pay in that rank, and any application to credit an Officer with a rate of pay above the minimum rate of his rank is to be forwarded to the Naval Board for consideration.

Medical treatment and compensation for injuries.

43. A member of the Naval Volunteer Reserve shall also be entitled to receive medical treatment and compensation for injuries sustained or disease contracted whilst on duty, and his dependants to compensation in the event of the member’s being killed or dying whilst on duty, under the same conditions and at the same rates as may from time to time be approved for members of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.

 

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by H. J. Green, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.