| Admiralty Secretariat | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Preceded by | None |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1693 |
| Abolished | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Whitehall, London, England |
| Head | Deputy Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty |
| Deputy Head | Assistant Secretary Admiralty Secretariat |
| Role | Management of Marine Pay |
| Affiliations | Royal Navy |
| Parent Department | Department of Admiralty |
| Succeeded | ? |
The Admiralty Secretariat was the department staffed by HM Civil Service members of the Admiralty initially charged initially with assisting the First Lord of the Admiralty, until the creation of the office of Secretary to the Admiralty and Second Secretary to the Admiralty in the execution of their responsibilities. The structure of secretariat was divided into various branches one responsible for each member of the Board of Admiralty. The Secretariat existed from as early as 1693 until the Admiralty department was abolished as a department of state in 1964, however it continued under the new Ministry of Defence but the structure and responsibilities of the agency changed over time. The secretariat was part of the Department of the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty.
1) History
The Admiralty Secretariat was the department staffed by civilian members of the Admiralty initially charged initially with assisting the First Lord of the Admiralty, until the creation of the office of Secretary to the Admiralty and Second Secretary to the Admiralty in the execution of their responsibilities. The structure of secretariat was divided into various branches one responsible for each member of the Board of Admiralty. they included a Civil Branch (‘C Branch’) liaised with the Treasury on matters relating to finance, the Legal Branch or (‘L Branch’) to deal with Justice Department and Admiralty Court's system, the Military Branch or (‘M Branch’), liaises with First Sea Lord's, office dealt with the fleet; the Naval Branch or (‘N Branch’), liaises with Second Naval Lord’s, dealt with personnel. The Ships Branch (‘s Branch’), liaises with the Surveyor of the Navy later Controller of the Navy dealt with procurement. The secretariat is conducted under the direct personal orders of the Board, and the branches were administered until 1907 by a Principal Clerk later called (Assistant Secretary's) except the Civil Branch, which is in charge of the Secretary himself. The Secretariat existed from as early as 1693 until the Admiralty department was abolished in 1964, however it continued under the new Ministry of Defence but the structure and responsibilities of the agency changed over time.
2) Branches
The branches of the Department were directly administered by the Secretary, whose duties consist of obtaining a practical knowledge into all Admiralty business, concerning whatever Department it is; conduct and process all Admiralty administrative matters; signing all letters in the name of the Board, from which ever Department it comes from; Monitor all Departments to ensure they do not act independently of each other.
2.1) Air branch
Role: The Secretariat served as intermediaries between Ministers and the Office of the Fifth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Air Services. The Air branch or (A Branch), was added in 1938 and was responsible for examining and advising all matters in regard to Air Requirements.
2.2) Civil branch
Role: The Secretariat served as intermediaries between Ministers and the Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty The civil branch or (C Branch) generally dealt with civil matters in regard to all appointments, promotions, retirements, pay, allowances, and leave of all salaried persons (including naval officers at the Admiralty) in Admiralty establishments, and of all persons on day pay, as well as with Civil Service examinations for these classes. The branch is further occupied in matters relating to civil appointments and fees at Greenwich Hospital, and civil superannuations and gratuities. Again, it deals with compensation to officers for wounds and injuries, with naval and Greenwich Hospital pensions, etc., to seamen and marines, with medals for long service, conspicuous gallantry, and meritorious service, with widows' pensions, compassionate allowances to children of naval and marine officers, and much else.
2.3) Legal branch
Role: The Secretariat served as intermediaries between Ministers and the Judicial Department The Legal Branch or (L Branch) deals with questions of discipline, courts-martial, courts of inquiry and naval courts, desertions, discharges with disgrace, prisons and prisoners, punishment returns, etc. It also supervises the inspection returns of ships, and deals with matters concerning the slave trade, flags, colours, ensigns, and uniforms; and questions relating to the Queen's Regulations, and the legal aspect of blockades, prizes, etc., fall within its range. The Record Office, in which papers are stored upon an admirable system, is also attached to the Secretariat, in addition to the Registry and Copying Branches.
2.4) Military branch
Role: The Secretariat served as intermediaries between Ministers and the Office of the First Sea Lord and the Admiralty Naval Staff
Military Branch or (M Branch) - having its most important duty in time of peace in regard to the commissioning, distribution, and paying off of ships, their complements and questions of leave - takes charge also of political correspondence, the suppression of piracy, and the protection of trade and fisheries, matters of quarantine, scientific exploration, signals and signal books, salutes, and much other like business. This branch is the secret and political office of the Admiralty, and is entrusted with the conduct of confidential affairs, and, in war time, would be generally the directing channel of operations, charged with questions relating to home and colonial defence, blockades, embargoes, prizes, and other matters incidental to hostile operations.
2.5) Naval branch
Role: The Secretariat served as intermediaries between Ministers and the Office of the Second Sea Lord
The Naval Branch or (N Branch) is largely occupied with the great work of officering and manning the fleet, and is therefore the main channel of the Second Sea Lord's operations. Here all general arrangements and regulations are made for the entry of men and boys, and the work of training ships, and the badges, promotion, and discharge of men. Again, the branch is concerned with all that relates to the education of officers, and to appointments, promotions, leave, retirements, removals, restorations, services, and claims of officers, good service and other pensions, and generally of honours, distinctions, decorations, medals, etc. The establishment and internal economy of the Corps of Royal Marines, and the general arrangements and regulations of the Coastguard and Reserves, are also within the scope of this branch, with other work relating to the personnel.
2.6) Ship Branch
Role: The Secretariat served as intermediaries between Ministers and the Office of the Third Sea Lord. The Ship branch or (S Branch) that was previously under the domain of the Third Sea Lord was responsible for examining all Naval Shipbuilding Estimates. It also handled all correspondence in relation to the planning and procurement process and in matters concerning shipbuilding yards.
3) Subsidiary Offices
3.1) Admiralty Record Office
Main article: Admiralty Record Office was charged with responsibility for collecting, filing and managing official Admiralty documents (1809-1964)
4) Responsibilities and duties
- Administer secretarial duties of Military Branch.
- Administer secretarial duties of other Branches.
- Administer secretarial duties of Admiralty and Navy Board, Admirals’ Journals and Ships’ Logs.
- Administer Foreign Intelligence and Geographical Information.
- Advise on the handling of all inter-departmental Admiralty business and precedents.
- Conduct all other Admiralty secretarial work.
- Co-ordinate Admiralty non-technical business.
- Ensure the non-duplication of work of the Departments.
- Ensure the non-duplication of work of the Naval Staff Divisions.
- Process Captured Enemy Documents.
- Process reports from Flag Officers.
- Process correspondence from Officers.
- Process correspondence from other Naval Boards.
- Process correspondence from Naval Yards.
- Process correspondence from Marine Establishments.
- Process correspondence from other Naval Officials and Establishments.
- Process correspondence other Officials and Departments.
- Process correspondence, In-letters.
- Process correspondence, Out-letters.
- Process correspondence, General Correspondence.
- Provide all common secretarial services.
- Undertake all work that free's up the specialist duties of Naval Officers and Professional Admiralty civilian staff e.g. Scientists and Researchers.
5) Sources
6) Attribution
- Admiralty flag by Martin Grieve at crwflags.com: https://fotw.info/flags/gb-lha.html