Hello

One of my relatives was given 42 days detention at Cork Military Prison whilst serving on HMS Venus in 1914.

On his service record it says officers warrant 31.

Can someone tell me what this is or how to find out the offence.

Thanks

I am not certain, but I don't think you can actually tell his offence from what is on the record; I suspect that this is warrant number 31.

King's Regulations for 1913, which governed the Royal Navy at this time, may be found at:

http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/KR&AI/Index.html

and looking at the 'table of punishments' section, at:

http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/KR&AI/Discipline.html#Tables

then one can see both that all punishments are numbered (detention was no.4) and there is a table to show when No.4 punishment would be awarded.   This reveals that to be confined in detention, it would normally mean a serious offence, such as desertion,  deception, wilful disobedience, drunk on duty, skulking from your post, insubordination, insolence and contempt, criminal damage to naval property etc.

The National Archive series ADM53 (Admiralty, and Ministry of Defence, Navy Department: Ships' Logs) contains records maintained by the Officer of the Watch for every ship of the Royal Navy in commission. They provide a permanent and consecutive daily record including disciplinary action (i.e. the reading of punishment warrants).

The lists are maintained on an annual basis where possible, and under each ship alphabetically by months. In the case of HMS VENUS see ADM 53/31553 (1912 Nov. 17 - 1913 Nov. 7), ADM 53/31554 (1913 Nov. 8 - 1913 Dec. 27) and ADM 53/67153 (1914 June 15 - 1915 Feb. 23)

Any logs, out of sequence due to being retained as exhibits in Boards of Enquiry or Courts Martial proceedings, are placed at the beginning of each new annual batch and cross-referred where possible in the Standard list set.

Also see ADM 178/87 Admiralty: Naval Courts Martial Cases, Boards of Inquiry Reports, and Other Papers (Supplementary Series)- Punishment warrants: signature before approval (1911-34).

Hope this helps.

Regards

stontamar