Order in Council of 29 November, 1898

The Order in Council of 29 November, 1898 was a piece of British legislation regulating the number of officers of the Military Branch of the Royal Navy.

Order in Council

WHEREAS we have had under consideration the provisions of Your Majesty's Orders in Council of the Sixteenth day of July 1895, and the Sixth day of March 1896, relating to the number of Executive Officers on the Active List of Your Majesty's Navy;

And whereas we are of opinion that in order to meet the increased requirements of Your Majesty's Fleet, and in view of the large prospective increase thereof, it has again become necessary to gradually increase the Active List of Your Majesty's Fleet.

We beg leave therefore to recommend that Your Majesty will be graciously pleased by Your Order in Council to give effect to the following provisions:—

That the future number of the under-mentioned ranks upon the Active List shall be as follow, viz:—

Flag Officers, 80:—

Admirals of the Fleet	3
Admirals	12
Vice-Admirals	22
Rear-Admirals	43
	—
Captains	245
Commanders	360
Lieutenants (including Lieutenants for Navigating Duties)	1,550

That the rate of increase in the Executive Lists be as follows:—

Flag Officers	1 each year commencing on First day of January, 1899.
Captain	Annual increase of 4 in 1898, 5 in 1889, 5 in 1900, and so on in each succeeding three year.
Commanders	6 in each year commencing with 1898.

And that the rates of increase sanctioned by Your Majesty's Order in Council of the Sixteenth day of July, 1895, shall be cancelled so far as they relate to the Captains' and Commanders' Lists.

And we further beg leave to recommend that Your Majesty may be graciously pleased to authorise us to increase the Lists of Chief Gunners, Chief Boatswains, Chief Carpenters, and Warrant Officers, to the following numbers, viz:—

Chief Gunners	100
Chief Boatswains
(Including 10 officers holding such rank by virtue of their appointments).
Chief Carpenters	20
Gunners	1,150
Boatswains
Carpenters	240

The Lords Commissioners of Your Majesty's Treasury have signified their concurrence in the above proposal.

Bibliography

• The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. VIII. London: For His Majesty's Stationary Office. 1903.