Genealogy Chat

Abigail As Carole has said the job of a CPO will depend very much on what career path that the person took on entering the Navy. One person has written about mechanical engineer and stoker but there are many career paths within the navy, and stoker would be just one job but then you would also have catering and sick bay amongst many others. My father went into the navy as a Sick Bay Attendant and rose to the ranks of CPO, but he was mainly attached to RN Hospitals and Hospital Ships and though he did serve on battleships, his work took him mainly to the Hospitals so in the end his CPO would be more like a Senior Nurse. However, even that explanation is too simple because many people in his field in 1920 would have come into contact with the newer medical careers in Radiography, Physiotherapy etc and learnt on the job by educating themselves in these newer fields. In my father's case he went into Radiography within the Royal Naval Hospital and became a radiographer long before this career needed a Diploma and eventually a Degree. Sadly,although he had been self taught and saving lives all though his life with this new Radiography, he was asked at the age of 59 to sit an exam, which he did not pass, because he had never taken any exams in his life, but suddenly Radiography needed qualified people ie they needed a piece of paper not his 30 years experience! I suggest that you first of all find out as much as you can the career path that your relative took in the Navy and that will help you to understand more what his job of CPO would have meant. Janet

Teresa. If your GGF was a Chief Stoker, he would have been a Chief Petty Officer. Ray.

Hi Abigail My father was a Chief Stoker and became Chief Petty Officer in the RN. From his records I see he had to pass an Internal Combustion Engineering Course, He was also part of the Engineer's Electrical Party. For the Chief Petty Officer he had to pass certain educational and engineering courses. Hope that is helpful to you in a general sort of way? Rgds Maggie

Thanks Jools, that was really helpful in explaining where everyone comes in the ranking. I still don't know what they do though. Teresa, that is very sad, It has always felt a bit odd around Remembrance Day as I am from a line from a second marriage of a woman who was widowed in WWI. Thanks Abigail

My Great Grandfather was Chief Stoker and had just got promotion to Petty Officer when he was killed in WW1.

Thanks all! Just got back after watching the Royal Family - brilliant! Regards Abigail

My husband and my father were both CPOs, not that that is any help to you but thought I would tell you anyway. Ann Glos

Have a look at http://www.navynews(.)co(.)uk/articles/2005/0508/0005080502.asp Remove the ()

Don't know whether this is any help:Royal Navy In the Royal Navy, the rank of Chief Petty Officer comes above that of Petty Officer and below that of Warrant Officer Class 2. It is the equivalent of Colour Sergeant in the Royal Marines, Staff Sergeant in the Army, and Flight Sergeant in the Royal Air Force.

I have been on all sorts of sites just now, looking for a scale of ranks in the Royal Navy. I have no idea what comes where and what they did. Does anyone have any tips on a good source for this info or, (creep creep) can you tell me now? Thanks Abigail