Accelerated Advancement 1948

Written by Godfrey Dykes

© RN Communications Branch Museum/Library

  This file below (ACCELERATED ADVANCEMENT) is of great interest to all and dates from 1948. By my time in the navy 1953, the rules laid down here had changed by AFO 5/53. It amended BR 1066 (the Advancement Regulations) and its implications were far reaching. From 1953 onwards, all communication Boys were advanced to the Ordinary rate when they were aged 17½ and to the Able rate when aged 18¾. Any accelerated advancement was to be applied to the Able rate only and a total of five months was available on merit and recommend, two months for getting a First Class Pass out of Boys Training, two months for a First Class Pass in ET2 and one further month at the discretion of the CO at the time a rating reached his advancement age. Thus, a Telegraphist (for example) could be backed-dated for the Able Rate, and with it the back pay of course, to an age of 18 years 4 months. 'Red Ink' was used by commanding officers in two ways in those days. First off was that if you were a 'flyer' and massively above average, he could write your report actually using Red Ink and this helped in the advancement stakes and subsequently on how quickly you could 'climb the ladder'. On the other hand, if you were a 'skate' and had so under performed as to warrant a down grading of efficiency from VG, your report would be written (or typed) in 'Black Ink' and then heavily UNDERLINED in Red warning others in your next ship of a potential 'bad egg'. It stayed on ones report for a long time and it was a stigma.

Accelerated Advancement

  This little Table does not auger well for the prospects of P.O.Tel (RS) in the Portsmouth and Chatham Rosters and this extremely slow promotion was causing concern in the late 1940's. Far better being a 'Guzz' rating, where, with the exception of the Chief Yeoman (CYS), things look rosy ! The adoption of Central Drafting was the only sensible answer and it brought with it much improved conditions of service for all communicators.

A. = Number of vacancies at present existing. B = Number of additional vacancies which will occur during 1950. C = Numbers recommended and awaiting course.