The Historical Maritime Society

About HMS - Officers and Crew

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The society portrays the many diverse roles that were found within the 'wooden world', of a Royal Naval ship. HMS members represent the key commissioned sea officers, the warrant officers, the 'petty officers' and the body of the 'people'. Warrant officers were professionals, specialising in areas such as navigation, medicine and carpentry, whereas the commissioned officers, educated from an early age as seamen, took command of the ship.

The Master, the most senior of the warrant officers, is the navigator and forever in conflict with the 'young gentlemen' to whom he teaches navigation.

The Surgeon dealt with the treatment of fractures, hernias, toothache, scurvy and 'recreational' ailments. These latter often required the administration of the 'little blue pill'. In times of need he could remove a man's leg in a matter of minutes, and HMS's surgeon is no exception, having the instruments to prove it.

The Purser, was responsible for victualling the ship. Although he was a warrant officer, he was paid at a lower rate than the others and would make up the difference by saving on the men's rations. A successful purser would usually be a man with connections in both the business and naval worlds, and was generally held in the greatest suspicion by the crew.

The 'people' of a ship were divided into experienced seamen, ordinary seamen, landsmen and idlers. Seamen stood watch day and night. Idlers, or daymen, worked by day and slept at night, unless the call for 'all hands' was made. Idlers also included specialist such as the carpenter, purser, surgeon etc and their subordinates.

The Bosun, or Bos'n, was responsible for the rigging and the crew were under his control,'....and he is ordered by his instruction to perform his duty with as little noise as possible.'