§ 11. Commander Nobleasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the duties of the new quartermaster branch of the Royal Navy.
Mr. DugdalePrecise details of this new branch are still under consideration. There will be three grades, corresponding to the rates of able seamen, leading seamen, and petty officer or chief petty officer, respectively. Courses of instruction will be given, and ratings will have to pass qualifying examinations for promotion as for other technical rates. The quartermaster branch will provide quartermasters and boatswain's mates in all H.M. ships, and will absorb the existing rates of destroyer and submarine coxswain. The quartermaster will be able to rise to warrant and commissioned rank under the same conditions as other seamen.