In 1948 I joined the RN Electrical Branch from civvy street via HMS ROYAL ARTHUR then the Electrical School HMS DEFIANCE ,Devonport . I did the Course and became an Electricians Mate 2nd class , then a draft to HMS HOWE where I became an EM 1st class mainly doing telephone system maintenance . Then Submarines >>> until 1955 . My own discharge papers leave no doubt.
My point --- several web sites state that it was not MATE in 1948 , but Mechanic . Now this is just not so -- at least until after 1955 when I left AMPHION and the RN , where I had been the ELECTRICIAN in charge of a Leading Electrician's Mate and two Electrician's Mates 1st Class . .
It is said on the web that in 1947 when the Electrical Branch was formed that it was Electrical Mechanic , not Mate .This simply incorrect and when I questioned this I was told it was because in 'about' 1957 it changed from Electrician's Mate to Electrical Mechanic .( a rather strange reason ? But--)
Does anybody know when it changed for Mate to Mechanic ?
It has some historical significance -- the crew of the lost submarine AFFRAY 1951 is listed on the web by a reputable naval webpage and it calls the EM s Mechanics , when in 1951 they were Electrican's Mates , as I was on ARTEMIS in the same Flottilla . On the day she was reported missing I was drafted to TRUNCHEON as an Electrician's Mate .
So like so many things in Naval History , its knowing the correct ranks and ratings that help get to the truth of the story many years later . In any case I think these men who died on AFFRAY in 1951 , should listed with their rating at the time .
So to repeat , if anybody knows if and when Electrician's Mates became Electrical Mechanics I would be most grateful .
Another topic when I joined a submarine early 1950 as an additional for training , I discovered the WW2 Electrician and his EMs , had a converted from LTOs , that previously formed the ship electricians within the Torpedo Branch prior to 1947. They were not actually Torpedo men , being trained in ship electrical maintenance . There are those who state on the web that the new 1947 Electrical Branch was formed mainly by "Wire men" --- this not so .
This was not so --"Wire men" were recruited in WW2 from the ranks of civilian electricians and were released after the war . Many served in electric mine sweeping -- dodgy job . However they did NOT form the 1948 RN Electrical Branch , it was the older LTOs and lads like me .
Funnily enough , even in my time when I was an Electrician on a submarine , I was known as the POLTO and friend of mine tells me that in his day on the SSBN , the Electrical PO was still known as the POLTO .
Grateful for any useful comments .
TUI BIRD
My point --- several web sites state that it was not MATE in 1948 , but Mechanic . Now this is just not so -- at least until after 1955 when I left AMPHION and the RN , where I had been the ELECTRICIAN in charge of a Leading Electrician's Mate and two Electrician's Mates 1st Class . .
It is said on the web that in 1947 when the Electrical Branch was formed that it was Electrical Mechanic , not Mate .This simply incorrect and when I questioned this I was told it was because in 'about' 1957 it changed from Electrician's Mate to Electrical Mechanic .( a rather strange reason ? But--)
Does anybody know when it changed for Mate to Mechanic ?
It has some historical significance -- the crew of the lost submarine AFFRAY 1951 is listed on the web by a reputable naval webpage and it calls the EM s Mechanics , when in 1951 they were Electrican's Mates , as I was on ARTEMIS in the same Flottilla . On the day she was reported missing I was drafted to TRUNCHEON as an Electrician's Mate .
So like so many things in Naval History , its knowing the correct ranks and ratings that help get to the truth of the story many years later . In any case I think these men who died on AFFRAY in 1951 , should listed with their rating at the time .
So to repeat , if anybody knows if and when Electrician's Mates became Electrical Mechanics I would be most grateful .
Another topic when I joined a submarine early 1950 as an additional for training , I discovered the WW2 Electrician and his EMs , had a converted from LTOs , that previously formed the ship electricians within the Torpedo Branch prior to 1947. They were not actually Torpedo men , being trained in ship electrical maintenance . There are those who state on the web that the new 1947 Electrical Branch was formed mainly by "Wire men" --- this not so .
This was not so --"Wire men" were recruited in WW2 from the ranks of civilian electricians and were released after the war . Many served in electric mine sweeping -- dodgy job . However they did NOT form the 1948 RN Electrical Branch , it was the older LTOs and lads like me .
Funnily enough , even in my time when I was an Electrician on a submarine , I was known as the POLTO and friend of mine tells me that in his day on the SSBN , the Electrical PO was still known as the POLTO .
Grateful for any useful comments .
TUI BIRD
