Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve regulations and instructions

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Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve regulations and instructions

Publisher Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (1921 - 1973)

Date1921

Object number00046745

NameBooklet

MediumCardboard, paper, cloth

DimensionsOverall: 240 x 156 x 4 mm, 114.34 g

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThe Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANVR) was formed in 1921. Naval authorities were keen for men who worked in marine professions or had a keen interest in sailing to join the Reserve. This booklet contains detailed information about conditions of service, including the requirement to volunteer for five years, to attend fourteen days training per year and to purchase your own uniform.HistoryThe Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANVR) operated from 1921 until 1973. Volunteer citizen naval reserves have been a part of Australian naval defences since the formation of the colonial naval brigades in the 19th century. In 1903 the Royal Navy established an Australasian branch of the Royal Naval Reserve. In 1911 when the Royal Australian Navy was formed this Australasian branch became the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. In 1921 there was a reorganisation of the reserves and the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANVR) was formed. Those who had experience as yachtsmen, fisherman or worked in marine occupations were encouraged to join up. Though the booklet states that entry is open to 'Anyone who in recreation, follows the sea and who are desirous of sea service in time of war'. Volunteers were required to sign up for a five year period and participate in fourteen days of training in their first year, which included at least seven days continuous service. By the depression years, the number of men in the RANVR had dwindled to about forty officers. An influx of men joined up during the Second World War, though for administrative reasons their service was recorded as being in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, rather than the RANVR. During peacetime members of the RANVR received no payment for training in drill rooms, however they did receive payment when training at sea or serving during wartime. From 1950 onwards volunteer reserve force training continued separately. In 1973 two separate branches of reserve forces, the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Seagoing) comprising professional civilian seamen, and the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve were abolished and members were absorbed into the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.SignificanceThe booklet is of historic value for the information it provides about conditions of service in the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve during the 1920s.