Lives of the First World War

Despite gallant efforts by volunteers who have increased the number of RNR men from a few hundred to around 10,000 the majority of these part time sailors remain absent from this memorial. The Royal Naval Reserve was the Navy equivalent of the Army's Special Reserve, part time trained men who would be called to help man the Fleet in Wartime. RNR men can be found almost anywhere the Navy went, from the smallest tug to the largest battleship. On the seas in requisitioned liners, hunting U-boats in "Q" Ships or under the waves in British Submarines. On land at Antwerp and Gallipoli with the Naval Division or even on special duties, Polar Exploring with Shackleton or helping out Lawrence in Arabia!. It is rare to find a wartime ship that doesn't contain at least a few RNR men. If you are interested in these men their medal rolls can be downloaded from the National Archives or searched on ancestry. Officers ADM 171/92 - ADM 171/93 and Ratings ADM 171/120 - ADM 171/124 Service records for Officers can be found in ADM 240 and 340 (often several for each man) and Ratings in BT/377 Some of these men were ex RN regulars so have RN records and some were awarded the Mercantile Medal so appear in the Merchant Navy seeds (their cards are usually marked RNR or Navy)

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